N

E
W
S
L
E
T
T
E
R

O
F

V
E
N
T
A
N
A

V
I
S
T
A

E
L
E
M
E
N
T
A
R
Y

S
C
H
O
O
L



ISSUE #8

NOVEMBER 22
, 2013



, 2013



,
2013



, 2012



MARCH 23, 2012



, 2010




XZXC0000

09



APRIL 24, 2009



, 2008

,


Principals Message


CFSD is a GREAT Place to Be!
Another Honor for VVE!

I am happy to announce that Ventana Vista has been recognized as a 2013
NCEA Higher Higher Performing School. Recognition as an NCEA Higher
Performing School indicates a schools deep commitment to raising student
achievement and putting more students on the path to college and career
readinessregardless of socio-economic barriers or any other obstacles that
might otherwise impede success. These schools stand out as shining examples
of what can be achieved when staff, students and parents work together toward a
unified goal of better preparing students for life after high school.

NCEA identifies Higher Performing Schools based on one or both of two
measures: 1) The Growth Measure evaluates schools whose students perform
better than predicted for a school with similar demographics and prior
achievement using statistical analysis, and/or 2) The Performance Measure
compares schools on the percentage of students at or above the achievement
level closest to NCEAs College and Career Readiness (CCR) Targets.

Ventana Vista was recognized according to the Growth Measure in Writing in
2013.

NCEA began identifying Higher Performing Schools in 1998 and continues to
annually release these lists as well as College and Career Readiness Charts for
every public school in Arizona.































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

DATES OF INTEREST

Tuesday, November 26
th
NO EARLY RELEASE

Wednesday - Friday,
November 27
th
- 29
th

Thanksgiving Break NO
SCHOOL

Thursday, November 28
th

Chanukah Begins

Tuesday, December 3
rd
EARLY RELEASE
AM Kinder 8-10:15
PM Kinder 11:15-1:30
Grades 1-5 8:00-1:30

Wednesday, December 4
th
Picture Retakes

Friday, December 6
th

Next VISTAS published

Tuesday, December 10
th

EARLY RELEASE
AM Kinder 8-10:15
PM Kinder 11:15-1:30
Grades 1-5 8:00-1:30

Sunday, December 15
th

FFO Fundraiser Dinner @ Sweet
Tomatoes 5-8 PM






















Mission Statement

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.

Office Hours for 2013-2014 are:

7:30 AM 3:30 PM

7:30 AM 2:00 PM
(Early Release Tuesdays)

Main Office 209-8000
Health Office 209-8004
Attendance Line 209-8090
FAX 209-8070
Durham (Bus) 615-7635







Happy Thanksgiving!
Winter Concert Information

Grades 1/2 12/13 @ 1:30

Grade 3 12/16 @ 11

Grades 4/5 12/17 @ 9:30
Parking Lot Reminders

Please remember that school
personnel are in the parking
lots and crosswalks to
ensure the safety of all
students; bus riders, car
riders and walkers. Be
patient and courteous when
dropping off and picking up
your child.

The safety of our students is
very important!



November 1, 2013



To: Parents of CFSD Students

From: Mary Kamerzell, Superintendent of Schools

Subject: Open Enrollment for School Year 2014-2015


Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-816 Catalina Foothills School District will begin its open enrollment
procedures for the 2014-2015 school year effective December 1, 2013. The law requires every
Arizona school district to follow a prescribed procedure and timetable for admitting out-of-
district transfer students and resident transfer students (those who live in the District but are
attending a school outside the attendance area of their residence). All students who currently
attend CFSD schools and reside in other districts, and all CFSD resident students who are
attending a different school than they would based on their residence, are impacted by this law.

We require that all open enrollment students apply for admission each year.
Therefore, if your child is a resident transfer (open enrollment) student and you want him/her to
continue in that capacity, or if your child resides outside of the district and you want him/her to
continue to attend a CFSD school next year, please complete an application form between
December 1, 2013, and February 28, 2014.

Open Enrollment applications and information regarding the application
process are on the district web site, www.cfsd16.org (as of December 1, 2013), or
at the district office Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The district office is located
at:

Catalina Foothills School District
J. W. Murphey Administration Center
2101 E. River Road
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 209-7539

Applications will be available as of December 1, 2013, and may be completed on line
(www.cfsd16.org), or submitted in person at the district office. Electronic applications must be
submitted no later than February 28, 2014, and hard copies by 4:00 p.m. February 28, 2014.
Decisions about admission, based on capacity, will be made by April l, 2014. At that time, all
applicants will be notified whether their applications have been accepted, wait listed, or declined.


Catalina Foothills Unified School District #16
2101 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 209-7500 (520) 209-7570 FAX !!!"#$%&'(")*+



A 21
st
Century Learni ng Communi ty
! A few rules:
! ro[ecLs can be done as lndlvldual, Leams (2-3), groups
(4+) or as a classroom. ro[ecLs wlll be evaluaLed aL Lhe
hlghesL grade level of any member. SLudenLs can
paruclpaLe on more Lhan one pro[ecL.
! ro[ecLs are performed ouLslde Lhe classroom and are
monlLored (buL noL done) by adulLs or parenLs.
! ro[ecLs cannoL lnvolve Lesung on anlmals (anyLhlng wlLh
a splne) or conLaln any dangerous/hazardous/gross sLu.
Any pro[ecLs LhaL employ Lhese meLhods wlll be
dlsqualled.
! Pow Lo geL SLarLed:
! Ask quesuons abouL whaL lnLeresLs you: Why? Pow
come? WhaL lf? Look aL Lhlngs ln naLure (planLs, rocks,
weaLher), sporLs, cooklng . Lhe llsL ls endless
! SLarL a lab noLebook and wrlLe down everyLhlng as you go
! ConsLrucL a hypoLhesls
! uevlse experlmenLs wlLh slmple equlpmenL Lo LesL your
hypoLhesls
! lf you cannoL devlse a slmple experlmenL, go back and
change your quesuon or sLarL wlLh a dlerenL Loplc.
! CeL SLarLed now!
! More lnfo aL: www.sarsef.org
! Cr conLacL lngrld klesLadL: venLanasclence[gmall.com
! lease submlL ro[ecL roposal lorms wlLh pro[ecL deLalls
Lo Lhe vv Cmce as soon as posslble


!"#$%#% !'($% )*'"#*" +%',
lamllles Ln[oylng Sclence 1ogeLher
! 1he Annual Sclence lalr wlll be held ln Lhe week of !anuary 27, 2013.
SLudenL pro[ecLs wlll be [udged based on Lhelr use of Lhe sclenuc meLhod
and Lhe curloslLy dlsplayed. All lndlvldual and Leam paruclpanLs wlll
recelve a medal for paruclpauon. 1he Lop 3 pro[ecLs ln each grade wlll
recelve awards. Addluonally, 4
Lh
and 3
Lh
grade pro[ecLs wlll be lnvlLed Lo
glve an oral presenLauon of Lhelr pro[ecLs before a panel of parenL
sclenusLs. lollowlng Lhe school sclence falr, Lhe Lop 10 pro[ecLs from
venLana vlsLa wlll recelve enLry lnLo Lhe SouLhern Arlzona 8eglonal
Sclence and Lnglneerlng lalr (SA8SLl) ln March 2014.
Ask a quesuon
uo background
research
ConsLrucL a hypoLhesls
erform experlmenLs
Lo LesL your hypoLhesls
Analyze your resulLs
and draw concluslons
8eporL your resulLs
1he Sclenuc MeLhod
1o paruclpaLe ln Lhe venLana vlsLa Sclence lalr, please compleLe Lhls form (1 form per
pro[ecL) and reLurn lL Lo Lhe omce. ?our early response ls appreclaLed.
venLana vlsLa Sclence lalr 2013-14
ro[ecL roposal lorm
" CeL SLarLed now!
" More lnfo aL: www.sarsef.org
" Cr conLacL lngrld klesLadL aL venLanasclence[gmall.com
)$-."#$ /%0"( 1,%." 2"%*3",
4%,"#$ 5, 2"%*3", 65#$%*$ 70%'8 435#" 9
4,5:"*$ )'0;8" < )35,$ ="(*,';>5# ?@,'$" 8"A'B8C ;8"%("DE
(lf more space needed, auach a page)






Winter Musical Information

The following are winter concert dates
and times. All concerts will take place
in the MPR.

Friday, December 13
th
at 1:30 PM
combined First and Second Grades

Monday, December 16
th
at 11:00 AM
Third Grade

Tuesday, December 17
th
at 9:30 AM
combined Fourth and Fifth Grades

Ventana Vista Elementary
Yearbook 2013-2014
only $25
Price increases to $30 after November 26, 2013!
EXTRA ORDER FORMS
AVAILABLE IN OFFICE
ITS NOT TOO LATE TO RESERVE
YOUR COPY THIS YEAR!
For questions regarding whether you have purchased a yearbook or to
submit photos for the yearbook, please e-mail: mtertel@comcast.net.
Winter Break Winter Break
1. Mongolian Beef Stir Fry w/Rice
2. Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich
3. Fiesta Taco Salad
w/Homemade Salsa
4. Turkey & Cheese Sub
on WW Bun
Steamed Carrots
Seasonal Fruit
1. Fiesta Nachos w/Meat & Cheese
2. BBQ Beef Rib Patty on Bun
3. Asian Chicken Salad w/Roll
4. Italian Wrap w/Mozzarella Cheese
on WG Tortilla
5.Spinach Wrap on WG Tortilla
Steamed Green Beans
Applesauce
1. Italian Pepperoni Pizza or
2.Homestyle Cheese Pizza
3. Oven Baked WG Corn Dog
4.Greek Chicken Caesar Salad w/Roll
5.Crispy Chicken Wrap on
Whole Wheat Tortilla
Black Beans
Banana
1. Italian Spaghetti with Meatsauce
2. Chicken Patty Sandwich on WW Bun
3. All American Chef Salad w/WW Roll
4. Sunbutter & Jelly Sandwich
Steamed Broccoli
Apple
1. Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets
with WW Roll
2. Charbroiled Beef Patty w/Cheese
on a WW Bun
3. Antipasto Salad w/WW Roll
4. All American Sub on WW Roll
5.Garden SaladWrap
Tater Tots
Pineapple
Low-Fat 1% or Non-Fat Chocolate Milk Offered Daily
1. Homestyle Chili Con Carne
w/Cornbread Muffin
2. Chicago Style Hot Dog on WW Bun
3. Cobb Salad w/WW Roll
4. Italian Sub w/Mozzarella
5.Veggie Sub on WG Tortilla
Cole Slaw
Peaches
1. Italian Pepperoni Pizza
2.Homestyle Cheese Pizza
3.Southwest BBQ Chicken Sandwich
on WW Bun
4. Crispy Chicken Salad w/Roll
5. Heart Healthy Tuna Salad Wrap
Glazed Carrots
Apple
1. Sizziling Chicken Soft Tacos
2. Oven Baked Patty Melt on WW Toast
3. Fiesta Chicken Salad w/Roll
4. Heart Healthy Egg Salad Sub
on WW Bun
Ranchero Beans
Banana
1. 3 Cheese Mac N Cheese w/Roll
2. Charbroiled Western Beef Patty
on WW Bun
3. Spicy Buffalo Chicken Ranch Salad
w/WW Roll
4. Turkey & Cheese Wrap
on WG Tortilla
Steamed Spinach
Diced Pears
1. Pineapple Orange Chicken Stir Fry
w/Steamed Brown Rice
2. Fiesta Taco Joe on WW Bun
3. Heart Healthy Spinach Salad wRoll
4. Spicy Turkey Sub on WW Bun
Corn Cobette
Seasonal Fruit
EAT GREAT! BUILD A BALANCED PLATE!!
1. Italian Pepperoni Pizza
2.Homestyle Cheese Pizza
3. Grilled Ham & Cheese on WW Bread
4. All American Chef Salad w/Roll
5.Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap
on Whole Grain Tortilla
Carrot Raisin Salad
Canned Fruit
1. Italian Baked Lasagna
2.Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets
with a WW Roll
3.Sunbutter & Jelly Sandwich
4.Anipasto Salad w/ WW Roll
Cauliflower
Orange
1. Sizzling Beef & Cheese Nachos
w/Homemade Salsa
2. Charbroiled Beef Patty w/Cheese
on a WW Bun
3. Greek Chicken Caesar Salad w/Roll
4. Turkey & Cheese Sub on WW Bun
5.Tuna Salad Sandwich on WW Bread
Mexican Beans
Banana
1.Suprise Entree From Mr.Whiskers!
2.Chicken & Waffle w/ Maple Syrup
3. Asian Chicken Salad w/Roll
4. Chef Salad Wrap on a
WG Tortilla
5.Garden Salad Wrap
Potato Patty
Apple
1. Terriyaki Beef Stir Fry
w/Steamed Brown Rice
2. Parmesan Chicken Sandwich
3. Fiesta Beef Taco Salad
w/Tortilla Chips and Salsa
4. Turkey Ham & Cheese Sub
on a WW Bun
Broccoli
Canned Fruit
REMEMBER TO PICK AT LEAST 3 AND ONE OF THEM MUST BE A FRUIT OR VEGGIE!!
Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break
Winter Break
Ventana Vista
$PurchaseOrder.Id=7692 $PartName=WithBorder
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS PICK AT LEAST 3!!!
Cereal Bar & String
Cheese
Fruit
Milk
Breakfast Cookie w/
Graham Cracker
String Cheese
Seasonal Fruit
Milk
Bagel & Cream Cheese
Seasonal Fruit
Milk
Mini Strawberry
Pancake
Fruit
Milk
Ultimate Breakfast
Round
String Cheese
Fruit
Milk
Cereal Bar & String
Cheese
Fruit
Milk
Reduced Sugar Cereal
Graham Cracker
Fruit
Milk
Mini Blueberry Waffle
Fruit
Milk
Bagel & Cream Cheese
Fruit
Milk
Breakfast Cookie w/
Graham Cracker
Fruit
Milk
Mini Cinnamon Waffle
Fruit
Milk
Trix Yogurt
& Graham Cracker
Fruit
Milk
Cereal Bar
& String Cheese
Fruit
Milk
Mini Maple Pancakes
Fruit
Milk
Winter Break
Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break
Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break Winter Break
$PurchaseOrder.Id=7692
Yogurt & Graham
Cracker
Fruit
Milk
Build A Balanced Plate to Help You Feel Great! The Five Components are:
VEGETABLE
FRUIT
GRAIN
PROTEIN
MILK - Pick at least 3 of the 5 Components and at least one must be a FRUIT or a VEGGIE!!
$PartName=WithBorder




November 22, 2013
To all parents, faculty and staff of Ventana Vista Elementary:
Ventana Vista Elementary does not have any asbestos-containing building materials in
its school buildings. However, Ventana Vista Elementary is required to comply with the
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). AHERA rules regulate activities
involving asbestos-containing materials in school buildings.
An asbestos management plan detailing AHERA required information is available for
review at the Catalina Foothills Facilities Office located at 4300 East Sunrise Drive,
Tucson, Arizona.
If you have any questions regarding asbestos-containing building materials you are
encouraged to review the management plan or contact the Director of Facilities, Basil
Callimanis, at 209-8508.

Community Schools
Wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving
Important Dates to Mark Down
December 6th
3rd Quarter Brochures
go home with Students
December 27th, 30th, 31st
Winter Break Field Trips
December 9th-20th
Registration for 3rd
Quarter Classes
Printed courtesy of
Presented by

Everyone has a story...tell us yours

The Tucson Unied School District , CFSD, or any other district neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity
represented in this material. The distribution or display of this material is provided as a community service.
We Are Looking For
Stories with compelling characters, satisfying
development, vivid use of language and
distinctive style.
Stories that affect us, make us feel and think.
Stories that show a childs distinct point of
view.
Original student-initiated work, not
retellings of movies, TV shows, books
or other media.
Inviting all students Pre-K through 12th grade residing in Pima County to submit
an original story.
Sixth Annual
Young Writers Competition
Stories can be submitted online at TucsonFestivalofBooks.org or mailed to:
Tucson Festival of Books Young Writers Competition
UA BookStores, Bldg. 19
1209 E. University
Tucson, AZ 85721-0019
Awards will be given and nalists recognized at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 15-16,
2014 at the University of Arizona.
Visit TucsonFestivalofBooks.org for details and application form
Stories Must Be
Maximum length: 1,000 words
(no minimum).
Written legibly or typed, single-spaced on
white, letter-sized paper.
Accompanied by an entry cover sheet
available at TucsonFestivalofBooks.org
Postmarked or emailed by midnight,
Sunday, December 1, 2013.
Tucson, AZ
Sponsored by
Presented by

Second Annual Student

Illustrator/Artist Competition
The Tucson Unied School District , CFSD, or any other district neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity
represented in this material. The distribution or display of this material is provided as a community service.
Sponsored by
Printed courtesy of
We are looking for:
Maximum size of artwork: 11X14
original piece
Media: crayons, pencil, pastels, paint,
colored pencils, charcoal or markers
Photography, digital art and sculpture
are excluded
Artwork can be submitted or mailed to:
Tucson Festival of Books
Young Illustrators Competition
UA BookStores, Bldg. 19
1209 E. University
Tucson, AZ 85721-0019
A picture is worth a thousand words...
Inviting all students Pre-K through 12th grade residing in Pima County to
submit an original artwork depicting subjects celebrating Arizonas history and/or
diverse cultures.
Deadline for submissions:
Monday, December 2 by 5pm.
Awards will be given and nalists recognized
at the Tucson Festival of Books
March 15-16, 2014
at the University of Arizona
For details and application form visit
TucsonFestivalofBooks.org
Be sure to ll out application form completely.
FAMILY BLOGGERS NEEDED
The Ventana Vista Site Council is interested in the great stories you
have about our school!
Do you enjoy Ventana Vista and Blogging? Then volunteer on our Family Bloggers Team! We
would like to share information about our wonderful school to our local and global community.
Events, stories, happenings or exciting details about your days at Ventana Vista are welcome!
Please contact Mrs. Hunt for more information! ghunt@cfsd16.org
(All posts subject to school approval)
Calling All Photographers!
In Preparation for the Ventana Vista 20th
Anniversary, Our Flickr Page Needs Your
Help!

Are you interested in photography? Help the Ventana Vista Site Council nd
great images (new or from the last 20 years!) for our Flickr site! We would
love to post your pictures of the school! Pictures must be in good taste and
only contain images of the school, activities, or your own personal images
(not those of others who may not want to be published; remember the rules
of good digital citizenship!). Visit our Flickr page at:
http://www.ickr.com/photos/ventanavista/
Simply email your images to Mrs. Hunt at:
ghunt@cfsd16.org
VENTANA VISTA
YouTube Video Contest
Create your movie and send it to Mrs. Hunt
by January 31st, 2014!
Winners will be announced on February 14, 2014!
Questions? Send Mrs. Hunt an email at ghunt@cfsd16.org
Make a Video
About Ventana Vista for Our YouTube
Channel in preparation for our 20th
Anniversary!
Do you enjoy making movies? The Ventana Vista Site Council
would like to see what your family thinks makes Ventana Vista
special! Movies must be 3 minutes or less, contain school
appropriate images, and speech.
2
0
th
A
n
n
iv
e
rsa
ry

A
u
g
/
2
0
14

B
e
a
S
ta
r
visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/VVElementary