Upcoming Dates
February 1 Golden Apple Nominations due to Mrs. Kershner Report cards go home in Thursday folder February 2 School-wide Morning Meeting, 8:05am in the gym Walker Peace Squad Assembly for grades 1-4, 10:30am PTO Bingo Night, 5:30-7:00pm (PTO providing pizza; donations welcome) February 12 Kindness Spirit Week Begins "Dreaming of a World of Kindness": PJ Day PTO Meeting in the library, 6-7pm (pizza & childcare provided) February 13 "Ride the Kindness Wave": Wear beach attire February 14 "We Have the Power to be Kind": Superhero day February 15 "Nothing Beats Team Kindness": Favorite team gear February 16 "Crazy for Kindness": Mismatched clothes and/or crazy hair 2nd grade to the Paramount, 11:15am to see Petra & the Wolf Soul Fest, 5:30-7pm February 19 Teacher Professional Learning Day. No School for students February 22 4th Grade to Paramount, 9:15am to see Freedom Riders February 23 Prospective Parent Tour, 9:15am March 2 School-Wide Morning Meeting, 8:05am Want More Dates? Access the Venable Parent Calendar at the Charlottesvilleschools.org website with the most up-to-date information about what's going on. Long-Sleeved T-Shirts & Sweatshirts Available
We are going to place an order for additional Venable logo apparel. If you are interested in purchasing a short-sleeved shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or sweatshirt for family members, please use this link to reserve your order. Short-sleeved shirts remain at $8; long-sleeved shirts will be $12; sweatshirts will be $20 (unless we have a large order, which will bring down the cost). Orders are due by Friday, Feb. 2 and merchandise will be ready in time for pick up at Soul Fest. Bingo Night is Friday, February 2!
This PTO-sponsored event is sure to be fun for the whole family. This year, our PTO will be providing the pizza free of charge, although donations to offset cost are welcome. We hope your family will be able to join us in the gym for this annual event. Bingo cards are $5 each. Families should plan to stay and play together. More information can be found on the flyer below and in today's Thursday folder. If you are able to help out, please indicate your ability on this sign-up form: http://tinyurl.com/yaxkxshs
Soul Fest Is Coming February 16!
We have some amazing performers joining our third grade chorus and first grade presenters this year! Thanks to Jon Lohman and the Virginia Folklife Program, our students will perform along with Cora Harvey Armstrong, a renowned gospel singer from Virginia. Ms. Armstrong sings, plays the piano, and was at one time the musical director for the Virginia State University Gospel Choir. We are in for another treat this year! We will also be showing Team Nussbaum's video, "The Rainbow Schoolbus Goes Deep Into Protesting," which they entered into the Virginia Film Festival earlier this fall. More information is coming in next week's Thursday folders. Get Your Family Moving for Heart Month
February is Heart Month. At Venable, Mrs. Martin will be promoting healthy heart activities throughout the month. Your family can follow along with this interactive calendar that gives ideas for movement each day of the month: https://www.shapeamerica.org/jump/Heart_Month_Interactive_Calendar.aspx |
Ms. Raylaja Waller joins staff as 2nd grade Instructional AssistantStudent-Led Conferences Coming This Spring
Our second-annual student-led conferences, an additional conference time Venable has added to the school calendar, will be taking place in March. Student-led conferences are not like your ordinary parent-teacher conference! You will be meeting with the student, not the teacher (she or he will be overseeing several conferences at one time). These conferences are an opportunity for you to hear from your child about his or her learning. Your child will walk you through some samples of work from the year, telling you about what was learned, how it was learned, and what the next steps in learning will be. We will have sign-up sheets coming in early March for 15-20 minute time slots where you will come with your child to hear about his or her reflections on the learning that has taken place so far this year. Your role will be to listen, ask questions about the work, and help your child set some goals for the remainder of the year. Third and fourth grade conferences are March 15 after school and PreK-second grade conferences are March 29 after school. Mark your calendars! See the document below for more information about student-led conferences and how they differ from parent-teacher conferences. Maker Space Needs Volunteers for 3rd Quarter
If you have a student in Ms. O'Brien's class or Ms. Shook's class, this quarter your child will be participating in Maker Space every Wednesday with Ms. Combs and Ms. Schrank. We would love to have a few extra sets of hands to help with the projects. Here's a link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4baba82ba3fd0-makerspace1 Nominate an Outstanding Venable Teacher for the Golden Apple Award
The Golden Apple Award program is designed to honor outstanding teachers in public and private schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City. One winner is selected from each school, and eight winners also will receive a $1,000 Golden Apple Grant, which can be used for classroom materials or to support the recipient’s professional development. Please consider nominating a teacher at Venable who has made a difference for your child. Nomination forms should be submitted to Mrs. Kershner by February 1 and are available online at http://www2.k12albemarle.org/dept/instruction/Pages/golden-apple-award.aspx. Venable's most recent recipients of the Golden Apple Award are: 2017: Nicole Driggs, Speech 2016: Cindy Cartwright, Quest 2015: Diane Forasté, 1st grade 2014: Karen Minor, Kindergarten 2013: Michael Salvatierra, Music 2012: Traci Martin, PE 2011: Brenda Payne, Kindergarten 2009: Nancy Mimms, 2nd grade Winter Illness Reminders
Please make sure that your child stays home if he or she has a fever greater than 100.0 or is vomiting or has diarrhea. Children must stay home for 24 hours after these symptoms have subsided without medication. If symptoms present while they are at school, we will call you to pick up your child and remind you of the return policy. Reminders for washing hands and covering coughs/sneezes are a good idea as well. Thank you for your help keeping the germs away from school as much as possible! |