September 2013: We're A Great Team!Come Help in the Garden this Saturday
This Saturday from 9am-12pm, we will be working in the Venable garden. No experience required--just a desire to have a good time with friends and a willingness to get a little dirty! Bagels and drinks are provided. If you have simple yard tools you can bring, please make sure that they are labeled with your name on them. For more information, see the Venable's Vegetables website. |
Thank you to PTO!
Thank you to the PTO leadership and to everyone who contributed to such an awesome Welcome Back Picnic! We loved seeing so many Venable families and both current students and alumni gathered for food and fun. Next year we will put out two buffet lines! Thank you also to the PTO for providing our 3rd and 4th graders with agenda books and all our students with Thursday folders! Minds In Motion Begins Classes for 4th GradersThis week, Minds In Motion, the Richmond Ballet dance program for fourth graders, began weekly classes. Students will participate in Minds in Motion throughout the year, culminating in an all-city dance performance at the end of May. Classes take place during the regular specials schedule and are considered part of our PE program.
Please Join Us for Back to School Night
Please plan to come to school on Tuesday, September 17 for our annual Back to School Night. This is your chance to hear from your child's teacher about the plans that are in place for the school year. You will get an overview of classroom routines, instructional plans, and schedules. You will also have a chance to ask questions and/or set up a time for a conference with the teacher to discuss individual concerns. Child care will be provided by our CLASS after-school staff and pizza for children will be provided by PTO. The schedule for Back to School Night is as follows: 5:30pm--student drop off for childcare 5:40pm--all parents gather in auditorium for introductions, announcements 6:00pm--session 1 (go to one of your child(ren)'s classrooms 6:30pm--session 2 (go to another classroom, if applicable) 7:00pm--end of Back to School event Salad Sensations
In response to requests from parents and students, Nutrition Services offers a vegan and vegetarian lunch option at all schools. While some vegetarian choices have previously appeared on the menu, “Salad Sensations” offers made-to-order veggie trays or salad plates. A "Salad Sensations" order form can be found here (on the CCS website--or included in this Thursday's folder) and taken to school. |
Lock Down and Severe Weather Drills Planned
On Friday, September 13, we will conduct the first of our two planned school lock down drills. The purpose of a school-wide lock down is to safely secure students if an intruder entered the school building. This should not be a frightening experience for your child and should last about 15 minutes. The plan is for us to review emergency preparedness and lock down procedures at our Student of the Week assembly on Friday morning and then transition back to the classrooms for the drill immediately following our assembly. Classroom teachers will also be preparing students ahead of time so they know where to go and what to do in the event of a lock down. Our first severe weather drill will take place on Friday, September 27, following the Student of the Week assembly. Please contact Mrs. Kershner or Mrs. Paige if you have any questions or concerns. Library Volunteers Needed
We have seen a tremendous increase in book circulation among first graders this year due to a new effort to have students come to the library in the mornings to check out new books. We could use a few parents who would be interested in helping our first graders return books and check out new ones each morning from 8:10-8:45am. If you are able to volunteer in the library, please contact Ms. Schrank at [email protected]. Thank you! |
Move 2 Health ChallengeThis week the City of Charlottesville and the Charlottesville City Schools are kicking off the Move 2 Health Campaign. We are encouraging Students, Families, Teachers, and Staff to move 30 minutes everyday, five days a week! The Move 2 Health Challenge is from September 6-December 31. All you have to do is register at www.move2healthcentralva.org and then log how many minutes you move everyday! Walk. Bike. Dance. Play. Thirty minutes every day!
Join UVA's Baseball coach, Brian O'Connor and us this Friday, September 6th, at Fridays After 5 for a kick-off event. A flash mob will happen at 7:15 and we are asking our families to participate. The kids will learn the dance in PE, BUT you can learn it at home as well. Click on the link below to see what we are doing! More info will follow on where we are going to meet on the downtown mall for the big dance. Flash Mob Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDwqjhe5ZmE. Come Move with Us in October!
Be on the lookout soon for information about our annual Venable Walk-A-Thon! Our Walk-A-Thon is being held in conjunction with International Walk To School Day this year on October 9, 2013. All students will receive a free Walk to School Day t-shirt to wear on that day. We can't wait! |