Patriot NewsFlash
November 1
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 5
No School-Election Day
Wednesday, October 30
Wellness Wednesday
Picture Make-Ups
Lost & Found
It is overflowing with jackets and sweatshirts! If you're missing an article of clothing, please watch this video to see if it is in our Lost & Found.
Parents and families wishing to attend can purchase from this link:
Movie
The school-side movie showing on December 20 will be Shrek. This movie is rated PG. If you have objections to your child watching this, please reach out to their teacher and we will make other arrangements.
The Book Fair is Coming!
Readers are wanted and adventure awaits in books galore at this season’s Book Fair!! Students will shop during their library class time, or you can shop together during Multicultural/Unity Night.
Where: Veterans Park Elementary
When: November 18-22
Don't forget: Multicultural/Unity Night
Thursday, November 21
5:30 – 7:00 pm
We accept cash, check, credit card, or you can deposit money in your child’s eWallet. To set that up or to order online, please visit:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/vpe2024
United Way Sweet Dreams Program
The Veterans Park Family Resource Center is excited to partner with the United Way's 'Sweet Dreams Program' this December. Each child who participates will receive a book, a set of pajamas and snacks! Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis, and spots are limited! Items will be sent home with your student in mid-December.
Participation is for students who are eligible for Free/Reduced Meals who attend Veterans Park Elementary (there are not spaces available for non-VPE siblings at this time)
Use the link below to sign up! (Complete one form per child)
Henry Clay HS Band Fundraiser
The Henry Clay Band is having a 1-day mattress sale at the HS this Sunday 11/3 , from 10 AM-4PM– offering full factory warranties on name brand mattresses and sleep accessories. You can find info on the attached PDF and/or the band’s facebook post, here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1075809294330282/?ref=newsfeed
And if you don't know a HC student, but are interested in shopping the sale, you are encouraged to shop on behalf of VPE alum, Ethan Ives. 😊
Repeat Information
Multicultural Night Help Needed
We are excited as we prepare to host Multicultural Night at VPE on November 21st from 5:30-7:00. We would love your help to bring aspects of many cultures to life for the students and families of our school community! We are looking for families or businesses who are interested in preparing food samples, sharing performances, or bringing artifacts from another culture to share with VPE families. If you or someone you know would like to help, please fill out this Google Form or contact Ms. Hall at andrea.hall@fayette.kyschools.us *Please know we don’t have a monetary budget for this event, so we are looking for those who are able to donate their time and talents. We appreciate your help!
PTA Survey
The Veterans Park Elementary PTA knows that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community members is important to the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which grows partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students.
We need your help! As part of the process outlined by National PTA, we are requesting feedback from families, administrators and teachers at two points in the school year—the beginning and the end. Using the community feedback, we will build an Excellence Action Plan to strengthen family-school partnerships.
Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at this school and complete this survey. Please complete this survey by Friday, November 8th.
Here is the Link:
Magnet & School Programs
Fayette County Public Schools wants to help students explore their talents and refine their career interests before they graduate. That’s why we offer more than 30 magnet and school programs designed to foster skills in art, music, automotive maintenance, carpentry, emergency medical services, welding, engineering, and more.
If your student would benefit from these programs, we encourage you to attend our Innovation Showcase on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tates Creek High School. Showcase participants can browse resource tables and talk with teachers and staff from each of our available programs.
Applications for our magnet and school programs open on March 1, 2025 and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on March 17, 2025. To learn more about our application process, visit our website. For general questions, please email Vee Pryor or call 859-422-0071.
Important Dates
- Oct. 21 - Nov. 29: Cognitive and achievement testing window
- Nov. 1 - Dec. 20: Visual and performing arts auditions window
- March 1 - Applications open
- March 17 - Application deadline
- March 31 (high) & April 1 (elementary and middle) -- notifications to families
We look forward to sharing more information with you about our Innovation Showcase and programs in the coming weeks.
Tax Help Needed!
VPE's PTA is looking for someone to do their annual taxes. If this is your area of expertise and you are willing to help out, please contact Lisa Amick, treasurer, at lisa.amick@uky.edu. Thank you in advance!
Reflections
If your child is interested in participating in the 2024 Reflections contest, please see the attached information for more details as well as the entry form.
Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for volunteers to help run students to and from classrooms during our vision screening next month. Please use the following link to sign up to help volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4EAFAF28A1F58-52114000-vision
New Safety Tool
Dear FCPS Families:
We are thrilled to announce our new safety tracker — a website where you find up-to-date information on situations impacting the safety of the school community, emergency procedures, and more. Simply visit fcps.net/safety.
Providing a safe environment to work, learn, and grow is a priority for Fayette County Public Schools.
Since 2018, we have added 83 mental health specialists, doubled our number of police officers and school nurses, and secured every school entrance.
To learn more about safety improvements in our schools, watch this brief video.
We are grateful to everyone who makes the safety tracker possible and to those who help keep our schools safe.
School Insurance
- Did you know that FCPS does not provide medical coverage for student accidents that occur at school?
- Did you know Fayette County Public Schools offer parents a Voluntary/Optional Insurance Policy?
- This a great opportunity for families that do not have health coverage or for families that do have insurance to offset the cost of out-pocket expenses.
Insurance Coverages available are:
At-School Accident Only
24-hour Accident Only
Extended Dental
Head to the FCPS student accident page for more information.
Volunteer Background Checks
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.
PTA Meetings In Person & via Zoom
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
Translation Feature in Smore
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.
Ways to Stay Connected
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