Volume 1 Issue 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 2011
Welcome to the Village School Newsletter.
September - October 2011
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 News from the Principal’s Office…     Welcome to this new school year and our first edition of the Village School Newsletter for 2011-2012.  We’ve had an outstanding opening with a current enrollment of 433 students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. As students have settled into their new classroom communities, they’ve been highly engaged in numerous learning activities and team building with their classmates. We were especially pleased to be able to offer Class Team Building Events for all of our students on August 31st and September 1st, an extremely important activity for new classrooms.
      We were especially pleased at the turn out for our Village School Open House that was held on September 6th. It was our pleasure to officially welcome students and their families to their new classrooms and Village School.Â
 At Village School, we value parental input and will work hard to find ways to share many of the things that are happening. Our bimonthly newsletter will focus on items of interest, student events, parent information, and special activities. We’ll hold monthly PIE (Partners in Education) Meetings and host activities and conversations of topical interest throughout the year, thus providing further opportunities for parental communication and times to gather as a new school community.
      Fall assessments play a big part to thes tart of this school year. Over the last few weeks, your child has been involved with several testing sessions, as part of our district (state) assessment program.Â
·     Kindergarten students participated in the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) and students in 1st and 2nd grade took CBM (Curriculum Based Measures) assessments in math and reading.Â
·     Students in 3rd grade and those new to Village School will take the NWEA-MAP (Northwest Educational Association –Measures of Academic Progress), an online, computer-based assessment in the areas of reading, math and language usage. Â
·     All students in grades threet hrough five have taken the NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program) in the areas of reading, math and writing (5th Grade.)Â
 We appreciate your support during this time in encouraging rest, good eating habits and helping your child to do their personal best. Additionally, it is important for children not to get overly stressed about their assessment performance, as these are part of a larger system of teaching and learning, thus providing us valuable information about their learning needs.
 As noted, we’re looking forward to hosting our monthly PIE (Partners in Education) Meetings throughout the year that will allow open conversations with administrators at Village School and work toward planning many of our social events for the year.  Primary focus areas will be student wellness, community service & outreach, school beautification and serve in an advisory capacity as needed. These PIE meetings will generally occur on the first Thursday of each month as noted below and are held in the Village School Library from 6:00-7:00p.m. We hope that you’ll be able to join us. Check the dates under the P.I.E. News section.
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October 21, 2011 will be our K-5 Bus Driver, Custodial and Food Service Staff Appreciation Day. This time will serve as a special recognition time for the tremendous work these people do for us throughout the year.
 September and October are both busy months at Village School. In September, we had our Picture Day, New Volunteer Orientation, Vision and Hearing Screening for students in Kindergarten and grades 1, 3 and 5, as well as our 5th Grade DARE Parent Information Night. Our Extended Kindergarten Program began on September 26th for targeted Kindergarten students. Â
We’re committed to our belief that these activities offer a personalized connection to students and families, thus providing a basis for building a sustainable and productive home to school relationship. We look forward to an exciting and successful year ahead!
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Respectfully submitted,
Brian A. Porter
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 Upcoming Activities
·     October 21, 2011: K-5 Bus Driver, Custodial and Food Service Appreciation Day
·     October 24, 2011: 4th & 5th Grade Human Growth & Development Parent Information Night: 5:00-7:00 p.m. – Cafeteria
·     October 27, 2011: Early Release Day for Students. No P.M.Kindergarten
·     October 27 & 28, 2011: Village School Parent Conferences
·     November 3, 2011: Village School Spaghetti Supper (5:00, 5:30,& 6:00 p.m.) Cafeteria
·     November 15, 2011: Village School Picture Retakes
·     November 15, 2011: Village School Math andLiteracy Data Screening
·     November 23-27, 2011: Thanksgiving Holiday Break (No School for Students)
·     Kids Clubs are starting soon. Look for more information to come home!
·     Odyssey of the Mind is starting soon. Please check with Diane Knott, 222-1376 by 10/31 for further information.
 Nurse News from Mrs. Greatorex
Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Parents:
An informational meeting will be held in the gym at Village School on Monday, Oct. 24, from 5-7PM regarding the Growth and Development classes (puberty education) offered to fourth and fifth grade students as part of the Health Curriculum in Gorham schools. The meeting will only take about 15-20 minutes for fourth grade parents, followed by approximately another hour for fifth grade parents to give them time to view the videos used in fifth grade classes. All of the handouts and materials used in classes will be available for you to review. This is the same program that has been offered for the past 15 years in Gorham (except for the updated videos) and will be offered in all fourth and fifth grade classes at Great Falls, Village and Narragansett schools. The parent meeting will ONLY be held at Village this year.
Students are strongly encouraged to bring home their packet of handouts for you to review with them and to help with their homework (in fifth grade) in order to facilitate discussion with you.
Please contact your child's school nurse with questions.
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Beth Greatorex, RN, BSN
Village School Nurse
222-1336
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Get your Flu Vaccine!!
For all K-8 Students
When: October 27, 2011 from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
       October 28, 2011 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: GMS GYM
**Parents must be with student
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Village School PIE (Partners in Education)
 At Village School, we look forward to hosting our monthly PIE (Partners in Education) Meetings throughout the year that will allow open conversations with administrators atVillage School and work toward planning many of our social events for theyear.  Primary focus areas will bestudent wellness, community service & outreach, school beautification andserve in an advisory capacity as needed. These PIE meetings will generally occur on the first Thursday of eachmonth as noted below and are held in the Village School Library from 6:00-7:00p.m. We hope that you’ll be able to joinus.
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o November 3, 2011 – Village School Spaghetti Supper
o December 1, 2011
o January 5, 2012
o February 2, 2012
o March 1, 2012
o April 5, 2012
o May 10, 2012
o June 7, 2012
Please find on the Village School Website, a copy of some of our Guiding Documents as well as minutes and related informationthat is shared during these meetings. Wewelcome your participation and continuing support for all of our work in ourNew Village School Community.
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