ISSUE #14 MARCH 22, 2013

Principals Message
Math-a-Thon Madness! Thank you for all of the support of our Math-a-Thon! Thanks to the generosity of Ventana Vista families and friends, our FFO has raised over $18,000! Its not too late to turn in additional money collected. This is the FFOs largest fundraiser, and its proceeds directly MARCH 23, 2012 benefit students in a variety of ways providing funding for field trips, Raz-Kids, special projects/assemblies, etc. Every class earned an Eegees party, and other prizes --including participants in this years Minute to Win It Staff vs. Students Challenge --- will be announced soon! We are SOOOOO thankful for the leadership of Math-a-Thon , 2010 chairs, Hui-Chen Huang and Gina Chen. Science Fair 2013 A huge thank you to Science Fair chair, Bryn Allen! In this, our 3rd year of an all-school Science Fair, we had a record 48 projects submitted, and fifteen (15) advance to the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). I am happy to XZXC0000 announce that the following students received awards at SARSEF. Way to go, scientists! Isabella DePonio (Gr. 2) and Sophia DiPonio (Kdg) Are Saguaros with arms more attractive to Gila Woodpeckers SciEnTeK-12 Foundation 1st Place Recognition from International Wildlife Museum Recognition from Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society Ainsley Limesand (Gr. 5) Is the 5-Second Rule True? SciEnTeK-12 Foundation 3rd Place Jenna Derman and Gianna Dispenza (Gr. 5) Windex vs. Simple Green SciEnTeK-12 Foundation 3rd Place Kathryn Jie (Gr. 2) When a Cactus Absorbs a Lot of Water, Does It Ever Explode? Recognized by the Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society Trey Allen, Logan Chung, Makenna Ley, Gabriel Mojica, & Andrew Moukabary (Gr. 4) What a Blast! SciEnTeK-12 Foundation 2nd Place Standardized Testing AIMS DPA and Stanford 10 (SAT 10) achievement testing for grades 2-5 will take place the week of April 15: Monday, April 15 Tuesday, April 16 Wednesday, April 17 Thursday, April 18 Gr. 4 AIMS Science/Gr. 5 AIMS Writing Gr. 3-5 Reading and Math, Part I Gr. 2 SAT 10 Reading Gr. 3-5 Reading and Math, Part 2 Gr. 2 SAT 10 Math Gr. 3-5 Reading and Math, Part 3 Gr. 2 SAT 10 Language
09 , 2012

NEWSLETTER OF VENTANA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

APRIL 24, 2009

, 2008
,

Principals Message Continued Please ensure that your child arrives to school on time, and avoid scheduling any appointments that would require your child to leave school early on these days. In addition, below are some things you can do to help your child have a positive experience with taking these standardized tests. Encourage your child to do his/her best, but avoid pressuring. Too much pressure can cause test anxiety and lead to worse, not better, scores. Understand that these tests are just one way that schools measure a childs ability. Give your child brain food. A healthy breakfast will help your child concentrate and think clearly. Ensure that your child gets plenty of rest. This is always important, and even more so before a testing situation. Remind your child to pay attention to written and oral directions, and to take their time. Kim Boling Principal 520-209-8000 kboling@cfsd16.org

DATES OF INTEREST Tuesday, March 26th EARLY RELEASE AM Kinder 8:00-10:15 PM Kinder 11:15-1:30 Grades 1-5 8:00-1:30 April 1st April 5th Spring Break NO SCHOOL Tuesday, April 9th EARLY RELEASE AM Kinder 8:00-10:15 PM Kinder 11:15-1:30 Grades 1-5 8:00-1:30 *Please see attached flyer for Spring musical times by grade level.

Lost and Found Come check out the Lost and Found for your lost sweaters and jackets! Items not claimed by Friday, April 26th, will be donated to charity. It is helpful to put student names in jackets, lunchboxes, etc. This helps staff members return items to the rightful owners!

Catalina Foothills School District Dr. Mary Kamerzell, Superintendent 209-7500 mkam@cfsd16.org Governing Board Members Mary Lou Richerson, President 299-4746 mlricherson@cfsd16.org Carole Siegler, Vice President 529-1379 csiegler@cfsd16.org John Bergan, Member 878-6180 jbergan@cfsd16.org Eileen Jackson, Member 299-3828 ejackson@cfsd16.org Sherri Silverberg, Member 615-9224 ssilverberg@cfsd16.org State of Arizona Legislative Representatives for CFSD (please check www.azleg.gov for contact information) Legislative District 9 Senator Steve Farley Rep. Ethan Orr Rep. Victoria Steele

Mission Statement

Important Parking Information! Office Hours for 2012-2013 are: 7:30 AM 4:00 PM 7:30 AM 2:15 PM (Early Release Tuesdays) Main Office Health Office Attendance Line FAX Durham (Bus) 209-8000 209-8004 209-8090 209-8070 615-7635 When visiting the school campus, please be sure you are parked in a designated parking spot. Parking in NO PARKING areas is strictly prohibited! Consider the parking spaces in the north lot, while school is in session.

The mission of Catalina Foothills School District and Ventana Vista Elementary School is to guarantee that each student achieves academic and personal excellence, becomes a lifelong learner and is a responsible citizen of the world, by engaging all students in meaningful programs which meet the highest educational and ethical standards within a caring, collaborative learning community.

Music is Great! The Spring concerts this year are going to be fabulous. Our theme this year is Disney Broadway songs! Listed below are the concert dates and times.
Friday, May 10th--Kindergarten and 1st grade concert from 8:309:15 am Monday, May 13th ---2nd grade concert from 11:15-12:00pm Tuesday, May 14th--4th grade concert from10:30-11:15am Wednesday, May 15th--5th grade concert from 9-9:45am Thursday and Friday, May 16th AND 17th--3rd grade Musical, "Theseus and The Minotaur" will be performed from 9:45-10:30am Show choir will perform a number at the 4th grade concert and one at the 5th grade concert. We have some great music and performances planned for you to enjoy. Bring your applause! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! czandbergen@cfsd16.org

ATTENTION PARENTS OF 5th GRADE STUDENTS Please mark your calendars for 5th grade Open House at Esperero Canyon Middle School. Come and meet the faculty, see students in action in various classes, learn about the extra curricular offerings, and get answers to questions you have about middle school life. The date is MONDAY, APRIL 29th, FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 7:30 PM. Future students are welcome to attend with their parents. If you come 15 minutes early, there will be a panel of current 6th graders to answer questions from students points of view.

Spring Administration of the Cognitive Abilities Test In accordance with state requirements, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is offered at different times during the year. The Spring administration of the CogAT will be during the week of April 8th (see below for actual times and locations). Parents of Kindergarten and 1st Grade students may request testing at this time. It is recommended that parents of primary students consult with the classroom teacher and/or gifted specialist before requesting testing. Cognitive testing is NOT required for the identification of primary students for differentiated or extended groups in math and/or reading in the primary grades. Requests for testing must be made in writing by Thursday, March 28, 2013. Forms are available in the school office. Testing times for Ventana Vista will be Wednesday and Friday, April 10 and 12, 2013, beginning promptly at 7:15 a.m. in Mrs. Coopers room. Students must be present both days of testing.

CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death in children 4 years and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC have provided recommendations for best practices to optimize safety in passenger vehicles for children from birth through adolescence: All children younger than 13 years old should ride in the rear seat of the vehicle not the front seat. Use rear facing car safety seats for infants up to 2 years of age. Use forward facing car safety seats for children through 4 years of age. Use belt positioning booster seats for children through 8 years of age. (In 2012 Arizona enacted a law requiring the use of booster seats for children up to the age of 8). Use lap and shoulder seat belts for all children who have outgrown booster seats (taller than 4 ft 9 inches)

Children less than 13 years old and riding in the front passenger seat, are at great risk for serious and possibly fatal injuries related to air bag deployment even in low speed collisions. Many of the injuries and deaths are preventable through proper use of child restraints and proper positioning in the vehicle. Please make sure you and your children are properly buckled up for every trip in your vehicle.

TO PARENTS OF 5TH GRADE STUDENTS Arizona Law requires all students entering 6th grade have proof of the following vaccinations for the beginning of the 2013-2014 School Year. 1. Tdap 1 dose is required when 5 years have passed since the last DTAP.DTP DT or TD and the student is 11 years old. 2. Meningococcal 1 dose is required for all incoming 6th graders who are 11 years and older. Proof of these vaccinations is required by the first day of school 8-8-2013 for students 11 years of age. Students who are not yet 11 on the first day of school should have their vaccinations on or shortly after their 11th birthday. A notice of immunization needs for students entering 6th grade will be sent out in May. If your child receives any immunizations before the end of the current school year, please bring in documentation to the Health Office at Ventana Vista so that we can update our records accordingly. Many thanks, Kathy Cowgill RN Deborah Moyer, Health Assistant

Lunch Money Accounts

As the end of the school year is getting closer, if you will be leaving the school district at the end of this school year, it would be very helpful if you could use the money you have left on your lunch account before May 21, 2013. For seniors, we will not be accepting any more pre-payments as of April 12th, and we would appreciate it if you could use your lunch money before you graduate. If you feel that you will not have enough money to last until the end of the school year, please do not replenish your account, but pay with cash instead. Thank you very much for your assistance with this. Your help is appreciated.

Language Immersion in CFSD

In CFSD, we believe in developing all students cultural competence. World Language instruction is part of our core curriculum. At the elementary level, students either participate in our K-5 Spanish program (taught by a specialist for 120 min./wk.) OR in one of our Language Immersion programs.

at Ventana Vista
started in 2009 Gr. K-4 for 2013-14 Open to K-4 students
must meet language criteria) (students entering gr. 2-4

Spanish Immersion

at Sunrise Drive
starting in 2013 Gr. K-1 for 2013-14 Open to K-1 students

Chinese Immersion

The overall goals of our Language Immersion programs are for students to: meet or exceed academic achievement levels in all areas of the district curriculum; acquire a high level of communicative and academic prociency in English and the target language (Spanish or Mandarin); gain an appreciation of other cultures and a deeper understanding of their own culture; and increase capacity for creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
For more information click on the Spanish Immersion or Mandarin Immersion link in the Express Lane on the CFSD website: www.cfsd16.org. Call for dates of any informational evenings for parents (Ventana Vista - 209-8000; Sunrise Drive - 209-7900), or nd them on the schedule at the Open House/Tour Opportunities link in the Express Lane on the CFSD website.

REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP NOW

Camps Weekly Begin May 28th and go Through July 26th Offerings available for Pre-K to High School Choose Your Camp Schedule by the Hour
Summer is just around the corner. Have you made your plans yet? If not, it is time to give Camp Foothills a good look. We work hard to provide a quality enrichment program that will keep your student engaged all summer long. The greatest part of our camp is the flexibility we provide to you. Enjoy the chance to schedule your day based on your interests. At Camp Foothills we believe summer should be your choice. We provide classes by the hour, three hours or all day. Would you like to build a rocket in the morning and play basketball in the after noon? Well, thats your choice. How about writing camp this week and Art Camp next week. Once again, thats your choice. No other camp can provide you the ability to explore your interests fully in just one week. Our camp also provides opportunities for kids of all ages.. While your 1st grader is enjoying building with clay, your high schooler can be getting ahead with our Health for Credit class. Dont limit yourself to one camp this summer. Try them all at Camp Foothills.

Its Your Choice

https://cs.cfsd16.org/webreg2

is right around the corner! Registration For CAMP F OO THILLS!

Begins on March 13!

SUMMER

Register online at

cs.cfsd16.org/webreg2 2101 E. River Road

or at the district office