Message from the Principal

Week of September 30, 2024

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Message from the Principal

Dear Virginia Lake Families,

We are excited for our upcoming Halloween celebrations. Please kindly take a moment to review our plan and expectations for Thursday, October 31, 2024. Please also note that candy and food will not be provided nor shared. We look forward to a memorable and fun celebration!

Please review and follow the below guidelines when choosing a costume this year.

Parent/Student Handbook

Per the Student Handbook: Students are permitted to wear costumes on Halloween as long as their attire complies with the above student appearance policy and meets the following set of expectations for a school setting:

Children should not wear bloody, gruesome, or especially scary costumes. Costumes involving fake blood are not allowed.
Actual weapons, look-alike weapons, toy weapons or weapon-like objects are not allowed.
Masks that cover the face and head are not allowed.
Costume make-up is allowed provided it does not cover the student’s entire face. Staff members must be able to identify students.
Costumes that could be offensive or perpetuate a stereotype about someone’s culture, gender, heritage or religion are not allowed.

Costumes may be worn to school on Halloween. Please ensure the costume is comfortable enough for your child to engage in learning activities in the morning.

The schedule on Halloween is as follows:

2:15 p.m.- Classroom party volunteers will be welcomed into the building at 2:15. Volunteers can begin checking in at 2:00 in the foyer. We will have pre-printed badges. Classroom volunteers should be shared with the classroom teacher, so we can prepare badges. If you are not in our Raptor system, please stop by the office to have your license scanned into our system. Each classroom may have four volunteers for Halloween.

2:20-2:50 pm-Students will parade outside in their costumes. Parents are welcome to view the parade on the parade route. The route will be shared prior to Halloween.

2:50-3:50 pm-Classroom Halloween Parties will take place which are sponsored and organized by our PTA and our parent volunteers. Only parents who are signed up to help with classroom parties will be allowed to participate. Students will be dismissed from school at 3:55 pm. Please note that our classroom parties will be activity and game based. Food will not be provided.

Let’s make it a great week!

Warmest Regards,

Patti Van Winkle, Principal

Picture Day

Picture Day is scheduled for Monday, September 30th.

Please have your child bring their envelope with cash or check payments or the online order confirmation printout on picture day.

Social Directory- Reminder

Virginia Lake is creating a social directory for K-4 classrooms. The purpose of this directory is to provide families with contact information of students' families in their classroom. The contact information can be utilized to schedule play dates, birthday parties or other social events outside of school. By submitting your information on this form, you are providing Virginia Lake with permission to share your information with the families of students in your child’s grade level. Please complete this form if you would like to be included in the social directory. All of the families in the grade level will receive the information. It will be email by Mrs. Van Winkle. Please complete this form for every child in your family. Please complete this form by Friday, October 4th. We will share responses with the entire grade level.

Virginia Lake Social Directory

Health Forms

Any medical forms and questions should be directed to Nurse Sasha Mendez, our school nurse, at mendezs@ccsd15.net and/or 847-963-7102. Forms and information can be found below for your review. Please contact her directly related to any medical matters. Thank You Health Exams Forms.

Students in kindergarten or new to Virginia Lake, must have their physical and immunization forms submitted by October 15th. After this date, students will be excluded from school. If you need support with making an appointment, please contact Mrs. Mendez.

Vision and Hearing Screening

Hearing screening must be provided annually for preschool children 3 years of age or older in any public or private educational program or licensed child care facility, and for all school age children grades kindergarten, first, second and third; are in special education class; have been referred by a teacher; or are transfer students. These screening services shall be provided in all public, private, and parochial schools. In lieu of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form, indicating the child had an ear examination by a physician and an audiological evaluation completed by an audiologist within the previous 12 months, is acceptable.

Vision screening must be provided annually for preschool children 3 years of age or older in any public or private educational program or licensed child care facility, and for school age children in kindergarten, second and eighth grades; are in special education class; have been referred by a teacher; or are transfer students. Such screening services shall be provided in all public, private and parochial schools. In lieu of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form, indicating that an eye examination by a doctor specializing in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist has been administered within the previous 12 months, is acceptable.

The parent or legal guardian of a student may object to hearing or vision screening tests for their children on religious grounds. If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the local school authority. Virginia Lakes Elementary Screening Date is October 9, 2024. All students who fall under the state-mandated screening requirements will be screened unless we have a recent vision or audiological examination or religious objection on file in the health office. Please refer to your school's health office with any questions.

Highlights from Virginia Lake

Reading Discussions

Students engage in discussions about how to choose a right fit book.

Presentations

Students in 5th grade share information about their families cultural background.

Illustrative Math

Students in 3rd grade work together on math activities.

Did you know? Regular school attendance boosts your child's social skills and friendships.
Tip: Encourage your child to participate in school clubs and activities. Strive for 9 or fewer absences this year!

Trunk or Treat Volunteers Needed- Friday, October 25th- 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Our Halloween Trunk or Treat event is one of our students favorite events. We are in need of families to host a car for the event. Please sign up if you are interested.

PTA Fundraiser

Get excited! The Virginia Lake PTA fall fundraiser starts next week, and students have the opportunity to earn cool prizes by selling cookie dough, gift wrap and other gifts. The money raised from the fundraiser goes directly to the PTA to fund events and activities at the school and provide resources for students and teachers. You can get a head start by registering today!

It's as simple as 1, 2, 3!

1. Register TONIGHT at https://www.shopfund.com/
2. Click on "seller and parent" to setup an account

3. Share custom student support links with family & friends.
4. Student Goal: 5 Online Supporters.

REGISTER-SHARE-WIN: Sharing gets you tickets for chances to win over $100,000 in instant prizes.

Fundraiser Links:

* How To Videos - (https://vimeo.com/showcase/8752027)
* Kick-Off Videos - (https://vimeo.com/showcase/11299106)
* Parent Letter - (https://grpsvcs.link/YqMOT5)
* Prize Program - (https://grpsvcs.link/FyIeuP)

Materials will go home next week so be on the lookout in your child's backpack!

We are quickly approaching the first day of school and wanted to remind you to renew your PTA Membership for the 2024-2025 year!

The pricing for standard memberships remains the same this year.

Single Adult Membership $10

Faculty/Staff Membership $8

Two Adult Family Membership $16

New this year are Booster Memberships! Get all the same perks as the standard membership with an additional donation included. Booster Memberships include up to two adults, a bonus item as a thank you and a donation that goes directly to the PTA to help support activities and events at the school. The levels are as follows

Silver $25 - (receive up to two memberships and a VL window cling perfect to display your support for the PTA)

Gold $50 - (receive up to two memberships, VL window cling and a stuffed dolphin)

Platinum $75 - (receive up to two memberships, VL window cling and a dolphin baseball hat)

Diamond $100 - (receive up to two memberships, a VL window cling and a VL tumbler cup)

All funds raised are used to sponsor school programs, events and resources for our students. Homecoming is the first PTA sponsored event on Friday September 6th!

A reminder that we ALWAYS appreciate the support you provide however that comes. Joining does not require any commitment of time and you do not need to volunteer if unable.

Please follow the link to get signed up!

https://www.virginialakepta.com/membership#ghUtwZ