Vinewood Weekly Bulletin 10-30-23

Thank you families for your thoughtful and professional responses on our uniform policy survey! The survey closed on Friday, January 10th. I will review the data below at our next Parent Club meeting which is at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15th. It will be held in our school cafeteria.

Here are some key points on the outcome of the survey.

• We had 114 participants by Friday at noon, with a total of 2,277 star ratings given to other participants' comments.
• AI summary on responses and ratings: " Responses to Vinewood Elementary School's student uniform policy are mixed. Some parents appreciate the policy for promoting equality, reducing bullying, simplifying morning routines, and fostering a sense of belonging and discipline. They believe uniforms create a safer environment and minimize distractions. However, others criticize the policy for being inconsistently enforced, causing discomfort, and imposing financial burdens. Some parents argue that uniforms limit self-expression and are unnecessary, advocating for a dress code instead. Overall, while many support the policy for its benefits, there is significant concern about its enforcement and impact on students' comfort and individuality."
• See the two images down below for the main key word and topics.

The Lodi Unified School District Board of Education allows schools to adopt uniform policies if at least two-thirds of families, voting in a school-wide ballot, are in favor. Also, at least 50% of families (one ballot per family) will need to vote to make it a valid process. If the School Uniform Policy fails to receive the support of a two-thirds majority of the families who vote, and if a simple majority of families submit a vote, the Board of Education shall consider rescinding the policy at that school at the first Board of Education meeting in April. An electronic ballot will be sent out to each family before the middle of February where you can vote on whether or not you support continuing the uniform policy. It's one vote per family.

If the policy is upheld, students will be expected to wear uniforms every school day, except on College Logo Days (Wednesdays), special Spirit Days (such as Crazy Socks Day or Sports Day), and Fridays when students may wear Vinewood-branded gear. There will also be options for exemption requests and provisions for students facing economic hardships or religious reasons as required by law.

Please note that California Ed. Code 35183 (f) states, "If a governing board chooses to adopt a policy pursuant to this section, the policy shall include a provision that no pupil shall be penalized academically or otherwise discriminated against nor denied attendance to school if the pupil’s parents chose not to have the pupil comply with the school uniform policy. The governing board shall continue to have responsibility for the appropriate education of those pupils." This law is why we cannot strictly enforce Vinewood's uniform policy.

A huge THANK YOU to the DalBianco and Yu families for their end of year donation to our Vinewood Mustangs in conjunction with PG&E’s donation match program!

Our next meeting is this Wednesday, January 15 at 6pm in the cafeteria, hope to see you all there! Student supervision is available in room 1.

We are in need of 2 committee chairs:

• Love Vinewood (held in conjunction with Love Lodi), the past chair is happy to assist in the planning
• Spiritwear - the past chair is happy to assist!

Our library still has books that need relabeling - sign up to volunteer: bit.ly/3WJDIGp

We have one place where all our links are updated: Linktr.ee/vinewoodparentclub

We have formed a Vinewood Science Camp committee to create a sustainable plan to get our Mustangs to science camp in 6th grade year after year. We would love to have more parents be part of our committee. Please reach out at vinewoodsciencecamp@gmail.com

Current 5th Grade Families for the 2025 Trip - We ask that ALL current 5th grade families come to the fundraising meeting on January 15th at 5:15 p.m. (just before the VPC meeting) in the cafeteria to discuss upcoming fundraising plans. Now is the time to start fundraising, estimated cost is around $50,000, needing to be raised by fall break 2025.

The California state mandate for vision/hearing screening is to be done in kindergarten, second grade, fifth grade, and eighth grade, as well as upon referral at any grade level. (California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 2952 (c)(1)) . Vision and hearing screening in California public schools must be conducted by a Credentialed School Nurse. Vinewood's vision and hearing screening will be conducted during the school day on January 16th and 17th. Only the families of students who did not pass the screening will receive a letter regarding the screening results and recommended next steps. Students who passed the screening(s) will not receive a letter.

Monday, January 20th is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. There will be no school on this day.

The only minimum day in January is Wednesday, January 15th. Students in grades 1-6 are dismissed at 12:25. Mrs. Kermgard's afternoon kindergarteners attend school in the morning from 8:00-11:20 (optional lunch time 11:20-11:40).

Please click on the link below for the 2025-2026 Instructional Calendar:

https://www.lodiusd.net/families/calendars

The Board of Education of LUSD Policy 5116.1 regarding Intradistrict Open Enrollment requires us to notify parents of this option at the beginning of each school year. Existing law requires each child is to attend the school in which the residence of the parent or legal guardian is located. Assembly Bill No. 1114 adopted July 20, 1993, required that the governing board of each school district establish a policy of open enrollment within the district.

A child already attending school in the district may request an Open Enrollment agreement to attend another school in the district outside of their attendance area. Pursuant to the policy, an Intradistrict Open Enrollment request can be filed starting December 1st, 2023, and no later than February 1st, 2025, for next year’s enrollment. New students registering for kindergarten have a deadline of February 14th , 2025, to turn in the request.

In K-6 and K-8 schools, applications must be submitted each year. In high schools and middle schools, once the application is approved, it is valid for the remaining years.

Under this policy, parents may apply for enrollment in any district school, however, the following limitations will apply:

▪ Requests for Intradistrict Open Enrollment Agreements must be received by February 1st each year for enrollment the following school year. Applications may be accepted after this time if the principal determines that special circumstances exist.

▪ Students are accepted only if space is available and pupils residing in the attendance area are not displaced.

▪ Schools will retain some seats for projected enrollment of new students coming into their attendance area whenever possible.

▪ The district shall retain authority to maintain appropriate racial and ethnic balance among respective schools.

▪ Transportation shall not be provided for a student on an Open Enrollment Agreement.

Alternative attendance programs within the district include:

▪ Independent Study K-12: Grades K-12 at Independence School in Lodi. Students must meet certain criteria for enrollment.

▪ Valley Robotics Academy

Parents may obtain an open enrollment application from their school. Notification will be no later than July 2025, for grades K-12, of a student's acceptance or denial for entrance to a school, for the 2025-26 school year. If a request is denied, parents may reapply the following school year before February 1st. To appeal a site level decision, parents can contact the Child Welfare and Attendance Office.

2nd Trimester Important Dates

Wednesday, January 15th – Common Planning - Minimum Day / Spirit Day! (Free Style Day)

Wednesday, January 15th – Science Camp Informational Meeting for 5th Grade Families (5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria)

Wednesday, January 15th – Parent Club Meeting (6 p.m. in the Cafeteria)

January 16th & January 17th – Vision & Hearing Screening for K, 2, 5, & Referrals (Library)

Thursday, January 16th – Student Council Meeting (2:30-3:30 in Pod D)

Friday, January 17th – ELAC #2 (8:30 a.m. in the Cafeteria)

Monday, January 20th – Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (No School)

Wednesday, January 22nd – College Logo Day!

Tuesday, January 21st – Happy 100th Day of School!

Wednesday, January 22nd – Vinewood’s GATE Info. Parent Night for Incoming 4th Grade Families (5:30 p.m., Cafeteria)

Sunday, January 26th – Stockton Kings National Anthem Performance (4-6 & Choir) at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29th – College Logo Day!

Friday, January 31st – Student Council Meeting (12:25-1:15 in Room 12)

2/1 – 2/14: Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Roundup for 2025-2026 School Year

Tuesday, February 4th – Happy 110th Day of School!

Tuesday, February 4th – Kona Ice Truck Fundraiser (2:25 on Virginia Street)

Wednesday, February 5th – Assessment & Collaboration - Minimum Day

Wednesday, February 5th – Spirit Day! (Crazy Hair Day)

Wednesday, February 5th – Parent Club Meeting (6 p.m. in the Cafeteria)

Friday, February 7th – Holiday: Lincoln’s Birthday (No School)

Tuesday, February 11th – 1st Grade Musical Concert for Students (1:40-2:10 in the Cafeteria)

Tuesday, February 11th – 1st Grade Musical Concert for Families (5:30-6:00 in the Cafeteria)

Wednesday, February 12th – College Logo Day!

Monday, February 17th – Holiday: Washington’s Birthday (No School)

Wednesday, February 19th – College Logo Day!

Thursday, February 20th – Dine Out at Smack Pie Pizza

Thursday, February 20th – Student Council Meeting (2:30-3:30 in Pod D)

Wednesday, February 26th - College Logo Day!

Thursday, February 27th – Lodi Middle GATE Informational Night for Parents (5:30 p.m. at Lodi Middle)

Thursday, February 27th – Lodi Middle Parents Informational Night (6:00 p.m. at Lodi Middle)

Friday, February 28th - Trimester 2 Report Cards Are Due and Sent Home

Saturday, March 1st – San Joaquin County’s Science Olympiad (McNair High)

3rd Trimester Important Dates

Monday, March 3rd – 3rd Trimester Begins

3/10-3/14: Dine Out at Squeeze Burger

Tuesday, March 4th – Kona Ice Truck Fundraiser (2:25 on Virginia Street)

Wednesday, March 5th – Assessment & Collaboration - Minimum Day

Wednesday, March 5th – Spirit Day! (Mix Match Day)

Tuesday, March 11th –Mrs. Osterlie and Mrs. Pilcher’s Play for Families (6-7 p.m. in the Cafeteria)

Wednesday March 12th - College Logo Day!

Wednesday March 12th – Music In Our Schools (MIOS) Concert (6 p.m. at Lodi High)

Thursday, March 13th – Student Council Meeting (2:30-3:30 in Pod D)

3/17 - 3/28: Spring Break

Tuesday, April 1st – Kona Ice Truck Fundraiser (2:25 on Virginia Street)

Wednesday, April 2nd - College Logo Day

Friday, April 4th – Yearbook Orders Are Due

Saturday, April 5th – LUSD’s Math Olympiad Tournament (Bear Creek High)

4/8 – 4/11: Spring Book Fair (Cafeteria)

Wednesday, April 9th – Common Planning - Minimum Day

Wednesday, April 9th – Spirit Day! (Fancy Day)

Wednesday, April 9th – Parent Club Meeting (6 p.m. in the Cafeteria)

Friday, April 11th – ELAC #3 (8:30 a.m. in the Cafeteria)

4/14-4/19: Dine Out at Casa Mexicana

Wednesday, April 16th – College Logo Day

Wednesday, April 16th – Student Council Meeting (Pod D)

Friday, April 18th – Humpty Dumpty Day (Egg Drop) at 10:30 on the Primary Playground

Wednesday, April 22nd – Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day!

Saturday, April 26th – Love Vinewood in Conjunction with Love Lodi for Campus Beautification (9-12)

April 28-May 2: CAASPP State Testing (3rd-6th Graders)

Wednesday, April 30th – College Logo Day

Thursday, May 1st – Music In Our Schools (MIOS) Concert (7 p.m. @ Tokay High)

May 5-May 9: Makeup Week for CAASPP State Testing (3-6 Grade Students)

5/5 – 5/9 Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

Tuesday, May 6th – Kona Ice Truck Fundraiser (2:25 on Virginia Street)

Wednesday, May 7th – Common Planning / Minimum Day

Wednesday, May 7th – Spirit Day! (Beach/Hawaiian Day)

Friday, May 9th – Jog-A-Thon

Friday, May 9th – Student Council Meeting (Room 12)

Saturday, May 10th – Vinewood’s Band to Music in the Parks & Six Flags Vallejo (6am-9pm)

Tuesday, May 13th – 2nd Grade Spring Concert for Families (6:30pm-7:10pm in the Cafeteria)

Wednesday, May 14th - College Logo Day

Thursday, May 14th – Open House (6:00-7:00 p.m.)

Sunday, May 18th – Vinewood’s 4th-6th & Choir Sing The National Anthem at the Sacramento River Cats

Tuesday, May 20th - Senior Walk (Time TBD)

Wednesday, May 21st – Assessment & Collaboration Day/ Minimum Day

Wednesday, May 21st – Spirit Day! (Anything But A Backpack Day)

Monday, May 26th – Holiday: Memorial Day

Wednesday, May 28th – College Logo Day

Wednesday, May 28th – End of the Year Awards 8:35-9:10 4th Grade; 9:30-10:00 5th Grade; 10:20-10:50 3rd Grade; 1:30-2:15 6th Grade

Thursday, May 29th – 6th Graders to Lodi Lake (10-1)

Friday, May 30th – Spirit Day! (Class Color Day)

Friday, May 30th – Minimum Day - 12:25 Dismissal/ Last Day of 2023-2024 School Year

Friday, May 30th – 6th Grade Birthday Cake Walk (8:20-8:40 at the Birthday Cake)

Friday, May 30th – Class Color Day! (K- Red, 1st- Purple, 2nd- Orange, 3rd- Green, 4th- Yellow

5th- Blue, and 6th- Tie Dye)

Friday, May 30th – Field Day (9-10)

Friday, May 30th – Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony (9:30-10:00 at the Birthday Cake)