Vista Ridge Academy's Weekly Newsletter
3100 Ridge View, Erie, CO 80516
Telephone: 303-828-4944 Fax: 303-828-1525

www.vistaridgeacademy.org
e-mail vraoffice@mesanetworks.net

September 20, 2005

Calendar

Hot Lunch

Attention : This year due to lack of cooks, (please let us know if you could help!) there will be one day a week that you will have to provide a sack lunch for your student. Please watch the schedule as it will vary what day from week to week.

Music Performances

Choir

Band - A Band and 2nd Year B Band Members

All appointments are at the morning 11:00 services except for the Spanish church it is in the afternoon.

Classroom News
Kindergarten
Mrs. Tusken  

Our theme this week is shapes. Yesterday we ventured around the school looking for different shapes. Once we found one, we took a picture! And now we are going to make a shape book with our pictures! Next week we will focus on apples and Johnny Appleseed.

Our literature connection this week is “Shapesville” by Andy Mills and Becky Osborn.

I have placed a finished snack schedule in your child’s folder. I had to move a few people around because some signed up for the same week Please let me know if the week I placed you on won’t work for you. Just a reminder, I have 15 children in the class. Thanks to everyone who signed up. I REALLY appreciate all of your help!

I entered the book orders, so they should be in by early next week.

Grades 1-2
Mrs. Gaines

Thanks for the Snack Shack contributions. They have been very well received! All proceeds will go to our mission project in Mongolia. Don’t forget, you can purchase a Snack Shack punch card for $5.00. It really makes things go quite smoothly when the students have one.

Our science unit on geology has been lots of fun! We’ll finish it in the next couple of weeks. On Wednesday, September 26th, we’ll be making stone soup, using a super, special, magical stone that is kept for fantastic soup making only! Details will be coming.

Reports for this week and next are on bees, wasps, or any stingiiiiiiing insect.

Remember to send a snack with your student each day.

Grades 3-4
Mrs. Morgan

I have been delighted with the Science projects that have come in this week. We have all enjoyed learning new facts about the sea creatures in the presentations given in class. Taking the Iowa Tests has been a new experience for the majority of students in the 3rd and 4th grade classroom and we are working very had on them. As a result, there are no Spelling, MV, or States/Capitals tests this week. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Track and Field Day on Sunday!

Grades 5-6
Mrs. Hodgson

We have a field trip next Wednesday, September 28 with grades 7 & 8 to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). We will leave the school about 9:15 and return before lunch. We have room for a couple more sponsors. If a parent is interested, please contact me immediately as we have to notify NOAA for security purposes.

This Sunday is Track and Field Day. Additional information is listed in the newsletter. This is considered a regular school day. If you need transportation for your child, please let me know.

Check your folder for information regarding “Crop Walk” scheduled on Sunday, October 9. It would be nice to have as many of our classmates as possible participate in this fundraiser to help those around the world who lack adequate food and water.

Each student will need a white t-shirt (it doesn’t have to be new) for art this week. We will be tie dying. The t-shirt needs to be at school by Thursday. Please bring old clothes to wear.

Finally, students are given a typed assignment sheet each day. The assignment sheet can be easily glued into their assignment book. Students who have their assignment books up to date with a parent signature can receive five extra points weekly for the class of their choice.

Students must wear athletic shoes in order to participate in PE class.

Grades 7-8
Miss Schneider 

We have a field trip next Wednesday, September 28 with grades 5 & 6 to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). We will leave the school about 9:15 and return before lunch. We have room for a couple more sponsors. If a parent is interested, please contact me immediately as we have to notify NOAA for security purposes.

ITBS testing today and Wednesday. This is to help the school focus the educational planning.

School Dress - K-10

Thank you, parents, for helping your students dress for success in the classroom. Please remember to leave the following at home: jewelry, flip flops, thin strapped tank tops, athletic attire (except for PE), short shorts/shirts, and baggy pants. Detailed information is printed in the school bulletin or can be obtained from the office.

Soccer Schedule

The soccer team did a great job last Friday. The game with Cedarwood ended with a tie after the second overtime. The score was 0-0. The next game will be against Brighton on Sept. 23.

Track and Field Day

September 25, Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

At Legacy High School Track, 2701 W. 136th Ave., Broomfield. This counts as a regular school day so attendance is required. Put this on your calendar and more details will follow.

Lost and Found  

Debbie Smith is our new Lost and Found Coordinator for Vista Ridge Academy

If you are looking for an item please contact her at 303-469-8043. All items will be put out on a table at the end of each month. Please have your student check and you parents if you are at the school please look for your items.

If you label your property. Debbie will get it back to your student. Please help Debbie because this has been a big problem.

Home and School News  

The family pack fundraiser is in full swing. If your student is interested in selling the Family Pack of Coupons, please submit a permission form to the school office (form attached). The secretary will give them the number of packs that you agree for them to sign up for.

There are two other ways to earn funds during this campaign.

1. There is a fundraising letter that can be sent to out of state relatives and friends. These letters are available in each classroom. Just let the teacher know how many you would like to take. PLEASE DO NOT SEND THESE LETTERS OUT FROM YOUR HOME! Take the letters home, fill in the blanks, address the envelope to your out of state relatives/friends, and bring it back to the school. We will put a stamp on it for you, insert a return envelope for the school, and mail it.

2. You may make a donation.

Please keep in mind that ALL PROCEEDS UP TO $7,500 ARE BEING MATCHED! Let’s make sure we make the most of this generous offer and get the full $7,500 matched!

If you have any questions regarding the fundraiser, please call the school office at 303-828-4944 or Ivy Lee at 720-890-4875.

Hug and Drop Zone/Parking

Please make sure you do not leave your vehicle if you pull up to the front of the school. This is a “ No Parking/Fire Lane” Zone. Please use the parking lot if you need to come in to the school.

Fund Raising Opportunities  

Albertson’s

Shop at Albertson’s and raise money for our school! If you have a Community Partners card, present it with your Preferred Shopper card at the checkout and they will scan both. After that, you will need only the Preferred Shopper card. If you do not have the Community Partners card, pick up the application in the school office or apply online at www.albertsons.com, click on the “In the Community” link to find the Community Partners logo link. The I.D. # for the school is: 4 90001 7741.

Box Tops for Education

Help VRA earn cash and a play parachute.

Bring in all your Box Tops for Education and Campbell's Labels! Vista Ridge Academy participates in two programs that earn free money and supplies for our school.

Box Tops for Education

Cut the "Box Tops for Education" squares off grocery items and put them in the Box Tops bowl in the school office. VRA receives 10 cents for each one. So far, we have earned about $325. Our goal this year is to submit 3,000 Box Tops and earn $300. We'll keep you posted when we have a specific item we want to purchase with that money.

Campbell 's Labels for Education

Cut off the label from all Campbell's products (or save the lid on certain items), and put them in the collection bin in the school office. VRA can use them to "purchase" items for our school. Our goal this year is to purchase a 24-foot colorful play parachute for the younger grades. We'll need at least 2,200 more labels this year.

Watch your grocery receipts for bonuses and Labels for Education promotions listed at the end.

Thank you for your help!

Grades 9-10
Mr. Wuerfel
Drama

We are presenting “How To” speeches and everyone is doing very well.

Work has begun on the Christmas program!

Mr. Pauls

As you may already know, I teach the 7th & 8th grade Science, Bible, and Keyboarding, 8th grade Math and 9th and 10th grade Computer Applications.

Next week the 7th and 8th Science will be joining Mrs. Hodgson’s class on a field trip to NOAA. Looking forward to seeing weather patterns on a global level.

The 7th and 8th grade Bible class does a “challenge” at the end of every lesson. I display their work on the wall on our end of the hall every week. Stop by and see just how creative they can be in discovering God’s word.

Other than an occasional computer glitch, everything else is going well. I look forward to meeting more of you parents this Sunday.