VAIS Family Newsletter

1/27/2024 Chinese Mini-school at VAIS 9-10:30am

2/6/2024 Chinese New Year Parade at VAIS (students only) 1:45-2:15pm

2/8/2024 Chinese New Year Dress Rehearsal at BRMS PAC (students only) 12-2pm

2/9/2024 Chinese New Year K-12 Spring Festival Showcase at BRMS PAC (open to all) 12-2pm

2/10/2024 Chinese New Year Celebrations - Verona Public Library 9:30-11:30am

2/12/2024 VAIS Governance Council Meeting - on Zoom 6:30-8:30pm

2/13/2024 Battle of the Books District Wide Competition

2/15/2024 Friendship Parties in Classrooms 1-2pm

2/16/2024 No School - May switch to a school day if we hold another inclement weather day by 2/16

2/22/2024 Family Conference Night 3-6:30pm

It’s that time of year when we are recruiting students for Fall 2024. For the 2024-25 school year, we have 14 spots in Kindergarten and 2 spots in 1st grade to fill (without any Mandarin experience). We can also fill spots in upper grades (in classes with less than 22 students), but the school does ask about language proficiency for those entering 2nd-5th grade. The charter school application form is now open and can be found here: https://form.jotform.com/240033948398161.

Please note the charter school application deadline this year is Wednesday, February 14th.

In February there are two VAIS recruitment events: 1) Lunar New Year Celebration on Friday, February 9th from 12-2pm at BRMS PAC and 2) Chinese New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 10th from 9:30-11:30am at Verona Public Library (crafts run 9:30-11:30, with story times at 10 and 11am). If you know of any 3k/4k families, please feel free to share these events with them.

VAIS Yard Signs

With next year's school enrollment just around the corner, the Community Outreach committee has an annual goal to make sure we fill the incoming Kindergarten class.

Please help by sponsoring a $10 VAIS yard sign! Signs can be proudly displayed in your yard any time of year, but are especially valuable during recruitment season in January and February. We want the public (especially incoming kindergarten families) to see them and "Say YES! to VAIS." If you already have a yard sign in good condition, please consider sponsoring an additional sign for a high-traffic area, OR refreshing your sign if you don’t have the latest designs. Preview the signs and order via the Google form found at https://www.vaisverona.org/resources/yard-signs/ Signs will be delivered in January. Thanks in advance for your support!

VAIS Governance Council

The VAIS Governance Council makes the high level or “big picture” decisions concerning the day-to-day operations of VAIS. The Governance Council generally meets on the 2nd Monday of the month. The next meeting is Monday, February 12th, 2023 at 6:30pm on Zoom (no in person meeting in February). The agenda will include the director’s report, committee updates, and recruitment season. For more information, please join us on the 12th or email us at gc@vaisverona.org . Thank you for your time and consideration!

Come celebrate The Year of the Dragon at the VASD K-12 Mandarin language learners Lunar New Year Festival. This Spring Festival Showcase will host performances by students in all grades including singing, dancing, drumming, and more. Join us in the Badger Ridge Middle School Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 9th from noon-2.

Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with Madison Metropolitan School District and SSM Health this spring to offer two more school vaccine clinics to get students up to date on their school vaccines ahead of the 2024-25 school year. These clinics will take place on Saturday, February 10th and Saturday, May 11th 2024. Both clinics will be from 10am to 2pm at the Holtzman Learning Center in Madison. It is highly encouraged that appointments are scheduled through the website listed on the flier attached. Vaccine Clinic

Here is the link to a Google Public Calendar with this year’s updated NCS events:

VAIS Public Google Calendar

This calendar will be updated continually throughout the year with school events, such as swim and gym days, library days, Picture Day, Back to School Night, field trips, parent/teacher conferences, days off of school, Governance Council meetings, and so much more! We hope that this will make things easier for you!

Have you joined the VAIS Facebook Groups?

All Current families are welcome to join “VAIS Parents Group” on Facebook. We will be posting events and pop-up playdates in this group. This is also a great resource for new parents/guardians to ask any questions they may have. Please also like and follow our VAIS School Facebook here, or take a look at our website here.

We’re asking for your help to keep all children safe near and on Main Street. Our city is growing, our schools are growing, and Main Street is at times very busy. We have, combined, nearly 1,000 elementary students attending our three schools here on Main Street, including many students who are walking or biking in the area. Our close neighbors on this campus, Core Knowledge Charter School and Badger Ridge Middle School, have an additional 1,200 students. We need your help to keep each and every child safe, and that means:

• Recognize that you are in a school zone, and please follow the posted speed limit.
• Be aware that this area is populated by … children. They are small, not as careful as they should be, and need all of us adults to keep them safe.
• Accept that a school zone will naturally result in times when there is a great deal more traffic.
• Increase your awareness around crosswalks for pedestrians and bikers.
• Be on the lookout for buses. We support our drivers at Sugar Creek, New Century and VAIS! They are trying their best to get their riders to and from school on time and safely.
• Please obey crossing guards. We are so lucky to have the great team we do, including Laurie and Rhonda, pictured above.
• Conditions will generally deteriorate as we move into autumn and then winter, as our world becomes darker, snowier, and colder. It is imperative that drivers give themselves more space and time to stop in the event of an emergency.
• We team with the Verona Police Department. They know our concerns, our suggestions, and our busy times, and they have been good partners.
• Drive like every child you see was your own child.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Our students experience having two different classroom teachers throughout the day. It can be confusing for families to know which teacher to communicate with at times. If you are reaching out to your child’s teacher, please include both teachers on any communication.

The Bridging Brighter Smiles program is a safe, affordable, accessible way to meet a dental hygienist... right here in Verona Area School District!

Learn more at https://bridgingbrightersmiles.org/

If you need assistance with lunch costs please visit our Free and Reduced Lunch application for information on income levels and an application for assistance.

If your student is ill, has an early morning appointment or early pick up, or will be late arriving to school for another reason, in addition to notifying their classroom teachers please make sure that you contact one of the following PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY:

1) EMAIL VAIS Attendance: vais-attendance@verona.k12.wi.us or

2) CALL the office at (608) 845-4500 (If you are making a change after 11:00 am the same day, then please call the office).

Please do not email the school secretaries directly if possible.

It is time for our annual physical education swim unit. Swimming lessons will begin Monday, January 8th and go through Friday, February 23rd. In order to reduce transportation delays and increase instructional time in the pool, we will be hosting these lessons at the Natatorium.

Children who are unable to swim will be able to sit in the stands and complete classwork, read and/or observe instruction. Students in all grades are allowed to wear their own swimming suits; the Natatorium will provide towels. If a swimming suit is forgotten, there will be suits available.

1. One piece swimsuits are preferred, but not required.

2. We ask that parents/guardians provide some type of plastic bag to store their child’s suit in.

3. Children without a suit on their swimming day can wear a suit provided by the Natatorium .

Swimming caps or a ponytail with an elastic band are required for students with hair that is shoulder length or longer. Students may bring a cap from home or purchase one at the Natatorium. Students may also bring optional swimming items such as swimming goggles, nose, and earplugs. The Natatorium provides towels.

If you have questions about the swimming program, please don’t hesitate to call us at 608-845-4505.

One of our best outreach efforts is our current families. We encourage you to share with other VASD families about VAIS. We want families to know their options.

The charter school lottery for new incoming families the ‘24-’25 school year will be open from January 11 - February 14. (Pre-existing students do not need to complete the lottery again, only the first time into the charter school.) In addition to our incoming K class, we usually have some openings in grades 1-5. If you know any VASD families with incoming K students, or students in grades 1-5 who are interested in attending VAIS, please have them enter the VASD Charter School lottery. In order to be eligible for openings in grades 1-5, families still need to join the Charter School Lottery now.

Students enrolling in grades 2-5 should have some Mandarin experience. We have had more families enrolling at VAIS with Mandarin experience, so we have been able to fill more of those openings.

Families can find more information about enrollment and the lottery from our registrar’s office.

Help welcome guests to the Spring Showcase on Feb 9! Since this is a public event, we would love some friendly VAIS faces to greet new families and share info about our school. We also need photographers and videographers of this awesome event.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C44A9A828A4FA7-47373538-spring

We need your help to have a great Chinese New Year Event at Verona Public Library on Saturday February 10th. Volunteers are needed from 8:15-11:45am, though crafts will run 9:30-11:30am and story times will be 10 and 11am. The volunteer Sign-up Genius for Chinese New Year at VPL on February 10th can be found here. All positions would be MS/HS student friendly, so VAIS alumni are also encouraged to join us. We hope to see you there! Verona Area International School: 2024 CNY Celebration (signupgenius.com)

Our Spring Classroom party is coming up on Feb 15 from 1 to 2pm. These parties are a great way for parents to get in the classroom and work with the students. The children (and teachers) love the festivities! We are looking for volunteers to plan, prepare and lead an activity (craft, game or worksheet) for each grade.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C44A9A828A4FA7-46245694-classroom

We will treat the NCS and VAIS staff to a yummy soup dinner during conferences on Thursday, February 22. Please sign up by clicking the link to bring your favorite soup, salad, fruit, dessert, snacks, or disposable dishes. Any questions, please contact Lindsey Loeffler at loeffler.lindsey@gmail.com

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094DAAAA29A4FD0-47415001-ncsvais

Please help us replenish dwindling supplies and fill the teachers' lounge with delicious snacks. Explore the Sign Up Slots and lend a hand if you can. Ensure your contribution reaches the school office by 2/13/24, so we can create a vibrant atmosphere for Friendship Day on 2/14. Your support is truly appreciated—thank you!

Please reach out to Shannon Ratchman, NCS/VAIS Sunshine Committee Chair, with any questions. Shannon.Ratchman@lls.org.

Interested in getting to know our kiddos and helping to build community within our schools? Do you have a couple of hours to spare occasionally or is your time flexible enough that you can come once a week? We would love to have you assist in our lunchroom.

All volunteers will need to be background checked through the district here. **We are especially in need for help on Tuesdays at this time.**

Please complete this short survey with your availability.

Volunteers keep the library running smoothly and our 9,583 books organized.

They are so appreciated! Please consider signing up for a one-hour shift on our updated Sign Up Genius link.

The Sunshine Committee is made up of many amazing family members of students from our schools whose mission is to spread kindness and support for families and school staff. They do this by providing support in the form of cards, meals, gift cards, and other resources to families and staff in need of a little pick-me-up. They also have provided support to our school through stocking those awesome bathroom supply baskets in our staff bathrooms and by helping organize our winter clothes.

Sign up here to support the snack pile in the teacher workroom, especially for upcoming Friendship Day February 14th.

For more information and to assist in brining sunshine to our community please contact Shannon Ratchman at Shannon.Ratchman@lls.org.