Patriot NewsFlash

Monday, September 9

SBDM Meeting-3:00

Wednesday, September 11

Wellness Wednesday

Thursday, September 5

PTA Meeting via Zoom or in the VPE library 7:45am

Volunteer Training to follow at 8:30

On September 24, in order to celebrate KY Kids Day, the PTA is hosting a silent disco in the gym for all students and we need your help to make it happen. If you can volunteer even a portion of your time that day to help classes transition and clean headphones between each use, please sign up using this link.

For our September Spirit Project, VPE is partnering with the Kentucky Blood Center to host a mobile blood drive on Monday, September 23rd from 12:00 p.m-5:00 p.m. The mobile donation bus will be located on the side of the bus loop. Appointments are preferred and can be made at: bit.ly/sept23blooddrive. Walk-ins are also welcome! If we reach 18 or more donors our school will earn a grant to help stock our VPE Woot Woot Wagon!! The Kentucky Blood Center is very low in supply and operating on less than a one-day supply for every blood type. Please consider donating to save a life!

What is STLP? STLP is a club for 3rd - 5th graders led by Ms. Ely (VPE’s former technology teacher) that allows students to design, make, connect, and learn through technology utilization and creation of original digital content. In STLP club, we mainly focus on creating original digital content; however, STLP also uses project-based learning principles to empower student learning and achievement. STLP can also provide recognition to students who use technology to create at home and in other classes.

For more information and to sign up for STLP, please see this document.

VPE is considering starting a cross country club and as part of the planning process we would like to gather input as to how many students are interested. Please complete the follow survey if your student(s) are interested in participating in cross county.

https://forms.gle/ZWxdy9kyJpjjeVN48

SCAPA at Bluegrass will be hosting an information night on Thursday, September 12, 6PM for parents and students interested in SCAPA for the 25-26 school year.

Remember that SCAPA no longer hosts auditions, but rather are a part of the district-wide GT VPA auditions. Your school GT resource teachers will also have information about GT VPA auditions which will take place in November and December 2024.

Here are four pieces of information that might be useful:

1) SCAPA Information Meeting: Tuesday, September 10, 6PM, SCAPA at Bluegrass, Multi-purpose Room .400 Lafayette Parkway (directly behind Lafayette High School).

2) SCAPA Website: scapa.fcps.net

3)SCAPA Audition Flyer 2024 (see below)

4) Register for audition email/text lists from SCAPA

Veterans Park Elementary School-Based Decision-Making Council is made up of elective parents, teachers, and the principal. The council seeks input from various committees within the school to assist them in obtaining information about the school and developing policies.

The following committees are seeking parent involvement and will meet on the fourth Tuesday, of the month at 3:00 p.m. in September-April except for December. Meetings will be scheduled in various locations throughout the building.

IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES/EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & PROGRAM ASSURANCE COMMITTEE:

(Membership – Two Parents & VPE Staff)

Analyze the program review demonstrators and characteristics

Determine essential elements that show effective implementation of demonstrators and characteristics

Identify effective evidence

Decide on the use of the budget to help extra-curricular groups such as chorus, band, orchestra, and academic team and to purchase supplies as necessary.

Work with the SBDM Council, principal, and other SBDM standing committees to facilitate the development, implementation, and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan.

Work closely with the first vice president of the PTA or designee to determine programming for in-school performances

Other duties as assigned by the principal or council

PLANNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

(Membership –Two Parents & VPE Staff)

Develop, coordinate and administer professional development activities

Gather input from other SBDM committees to determine the professional development needs of the staff

Formulate an annual Professional Development Plan with the SBDM Council’s approval, and submit it to the Kentucky Department of Education

Monitor progress of required PD hours

Other duties assigned by the principal or council

WELLNESS & RESOURCES COMMITTEE (INCLUDES PBIS)

(Membership – Two Parents & VPE Staff)

Annually review and revise (if necessary) the SBDM policies on Discipline, Classroom Management, and Safety Plan, Emergency Management Plan, Extracurricular Programs, Instructional and Non-Instructional Staff Time Assignment, Parental Involvement, and Wellness (Legally required for Primary to grade 5). Draft revisions for council approval/adoption.

Develop a set of “non-negotiable” school rules consistent with district policies and directives.

Review/revise the school-wide discipline plan as needed based on feedback and data.

Recommend discipline and classroom management changes based on annual needs assessments and data gathering.

Recommend discipline and classroom management changes based on annual needs assessments and data gathering.

Review the school safety plan every odd-numbered year following the procedures outlined in the Discipline, Classroom Management, and School Safety Policy. Recommend any necessary changes based on needs assessments and data gathering. In consultation with the council and first responders, recommend changes in the Emergency Management Plan based on the annual review of the plan.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE

(Membership - Two Parents & VPE Staff)

COMMUNICATION

Assess needs and develop plans for effective communication among all staff

members, parents, and community

Plan and conduct activities to promote a positive image of the school in our community

Address staff, parent, and student morale by conducting a morale survey of staff and parents on alternating years.

CURRICULUM/EQUITY/RESOURCES

Analyze achievement/assessment data to establish curriculum and instructional goals

Analyze outcomes and assessments in relation to meeting the needs of all children

Make recommendations pertaining to any changes and/or additions to the school curriculum/equity/resources (i.e. textbook adoption plan)

Develop plans to improve student performance in all the academic areas and make recommendations for professional development

Determine reporting processes and instruments to be used for communicating student performance to parents

Develop the ESS plan and implement it according to District guidelines

Address equity issues

Other duties assigned by the principal or council

TECHNOLOGY

Develop, implement and annually update the school’s technology plan and KETS budget to support the school’s School Improvement Plan

Submit the Technology Plan, including the KETS budget to the SBDM Council for approval annually

Assess the staff’s needs and plan for professional development to meet these needs

Participate in professional development activities as presenters when appropriate

Other duties assigned by the principal or council

If you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please complete the attached form and return it to the VPE Office by, Friday, September 8, 2023. You can turn in the form the following ways: drop it off, fax it to 859-422-9975, or email it to molly.dabney@fayette.kyschools.us

The complete committee policy as well as all council policies are available on our website at http://www.veterans.fcps.net/sbdm.

Click here for more information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B_-_oLxq1E_QxDsXG-_lnlfgygfqMxeqjV8eyzZBXvU/edit?usp=sharing

Registration form: https://bit.ly/VPEchorus2024

We can’t wait for an exciting year of Battle of the Books at Veterans Park! If your child loves to read and enjoys friendly competition, this club is for you! Each year, FCPS hosts a Battle of the Books competition among elementary schools in the district. Participants compete in a “battle” in April over questions comprised from 12 different books they have read throughout the year. This is a voluntary reading incentive program open to students in grades 3-5. If your child is interested in signing up, please see this form for more information and to register. Our first meeting will be on September 11 at 7:15a.m. in the VPE library. If you have questions, please reach out to Ms. Ault at jessica.ault@fayette.kyschools.us.

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE

Before enrolling in elementary school for the first time, children must have a current Kentucky Immunization Certificate showing that they have received:

· Four or Five Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) doses, with the last one administered after age 4

· Three or four polio doses, with the last one administered after age 4

· Two Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) doses administered at least one month apart on or after 12 months of age

· Three Hepatitis B doses with last dose on or after 24 weeks of age

· Two Varicella (chicken pox) injections if child has not had chicken pox disease

State law also requires that children have:

· Physical Examination done within one year prior to or 30 days after entering school.

· A Kentucky Eye Examination done by a licensed Ophthalmologist or Optometrist before January 1 of the year of enrollment. (Students 4-6 years of age only.)

A Kentucky Dental Examination done by a licensed Dentist or Dental Hygienist is required for all 5- or 6-year-olds enrolled in public school, by January 1 of the year of enrollment. (Kindergarten only.)

Dear Veterans Park Elementary Families,

For the 2024-25 school year, students will be charged for meals. Students, who qualified, in our district, for free/reduced last year will receive a 30-day grace period but must reapply before the deadline of 9/25/2024.

If you are interested in applying for F/R meal assistance, please continue reading.

-Income guidelines are below that may help determine if you should complete the application.

-If your child already received an automatic approval of benefits letter in the mail (for this 2024-25 school year), you do not need to fill out the form. Their free status is on file.

-Only one form per family needed, and it only takes a few minutes.

Application opens August 1st @ http://bit.ly/FCPSMealApp .

(If you need any help filling out the application on-line, please contact Jessica Morgison, Programs Assistant for FCPS Child Nutrition at 859-422-2152 or the school’s contact, Nicole Love at 859-422-0025.)

Thank you for your help!

Molly Dabney

Principal, Veterans Park Elementary

Meal Assistance FAQ

Families & Parents are Welcome to Join Us For Lunch...

VPE’s wellness policy does not allow fast food lunches or soft drinks for you or your child in the cafeteria. Please help us promote healthy living by not bringing in outside fast food.

For safety’s sake, strollers may not be in the cafeteria during lunch.

To not displace a student from his/her class, we ask that parents eat at the round tables with only their child.

Send lunch money to school in a labeled envelope with the child's name and homeroom teacher listed. Lunch accounts may also be accessed at My School Bucks - https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home Accounts can be paid and monitored from this site.

We love cafeteria helpers...especially during Kindergarten Lunch times 10:50-11:25! Little hands need extra help at the beginning of the year opening lunches so we welcome volunteers!

Uk Women's Soccer is inviting all VPE Patriots to Fan Appreciation Match on October 10th against LSU at 7:30pm. Down below, you will find the group ticket link to this match. Feel free to reach out with any questions!

https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/24SOC14W

VPE loves to have volunteers helping throughout the school day, attending field trips, and helping out in the building. Any and all adults accompanying a school group while on a field trip must first undergo and pass the background checks required for all FCPS volunteers through the volunteer application system. This applies to listed chaperones, volunteers, and anyone who travels separately to join the group at the respective venue. If you plan on coming to help in the building at any point in the future when allowed you will need to complete the following background check: Volunteer Application.

Parents don't need to be approved to eat lunch with their child, attend parent/teacher conferences or attend evening events. All other activities will require you to be an approved volunteer. These background checks are good for three years.

Each month VPE celebrates Wellness Wednesday and Family Focus Nights on the third Wednesday of the month. Students are encouraged to dress in athletic gear on that day and walk extra laps at recess or participate in a movement activity. On that Wednesday a flyer will be sent home and families will be encouraged to share what "family" event they participate in that night. Students can return that form to school to be entered into a drawing for a prize!

We need to have the following on file for ALL students:

• Utility Bill & Deed/Lease

• Birth Certificate

• Physical & Up-to-date Immunizations

• Dental Exam

• Eye Exam - by an ophthalmologist or optometrist

As we check our student folders, we may be contacting you to provide the information that is missing or out of date. Thank you for helping to keep our records current.

This year we will be offering PTA meetings on two platforms - in person and on Zoom. They are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 7:45 in the VPE Library or using the following Zoom link: https://fcps-net.zoom.us/j/99018941544

Did you know that our VPE newsletters in Smore can all be translated into many languages if needed. Simply click on the translate button at the top of this newsletter and choose your language.

Newsflash - Weekly SMORE newsletter will be emailed to families on Friday afternoons via Infinite Campus.

Twitter - @vpepatriot

Instagram - vpeinaction

Infinite Campus - Attendance, weather calls & more! https://fayetteky.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/fayette.jsp