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ISSUE #2 AUGUST 28TH

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Principal’s Message Thank you to each of the families who are following us on Twitter and Remind. These are great ways to stay in the know about what is happening on our campus. While I have worked to answer questions from those who have had concerns about Twitter, I have also been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from families who are excited about the opportunity to connect with their child’s daily experiences. Those using Remind have also expressed gratitude for the reminders of school calendar items. If you have not signed up to use these applications, information about Twitter and Remind are at the bottom of this page. Thank you to all who attended our Curriculum Nights this week. It is our wish to communicate what and how your children are learning when they are at school. Hopefully you found it informative and an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher. Thanks to those who stopped by to meet our new PE teacher, Eva Lankes, our new Spanish teacher, Lisa Meder, and our counselor Kelsey Faber. Marc Koepsel was also available to help families with ParentVUE questions. If you were unable to attend, it is important that you know that ParentVUE will be the only way for you to access your child’s report card. There will be no hard copies of report cards sent this year. Please be sure to activate your ParentVUE account when you receive your activation key. Contact the office if you need assistance. We are happy to help! This year marks the beginning of our five-year School Improvement Plan (SIP). Our site-specific SIP supports Ventana Vista students in their journey to become college and career ready. The strategies and action steps outlined in our SIP support the overarching District Objectives in the areas of literacy, numeracy, transfer, academic mindsets, Deep Learning Proficiencies (DLP) and communication. I will be highlighting each plan in upcoming newsletters. Lastly, I am pleased to invite you to Save-the-Date for our Plant Science Family Night on October 2 from 5pm-8pm. Please take the time to read the attached fliers. We are excited to kick it off a month early with the Jack and the Beanstalk plant contest. The seeds will be sent home next week for your children to conduct their own experiments of sorts to try to grow the tallest plants. The school year is off to a great start, I look forward to more to come!

Dana Mulay Principal

520-209-8000 dmulay@cfsd16.org

Connect with us through Twitter and Remind

Twitter will share the story of our school. Each day I spend time in classrooms and share photos of what is happening in classrooms in real time on Twitter. If you are a Twitter user you can follow us @vvebobcats. If you are not a Twitter user and choose not to be, you can have our posts sent to your phone as a text message. To do this, send a text to 40404 that says, “follow @vvebobcats”. If you do not want texts or Twitter, you can see the posts on our school website and on our Facebook page. Remind is an app available in your app store for your phone that will send out reminders about events, early release, and information that is needed immediately such as busses being late, etc. To get Remind, you can download the free app to your phone and when it asks for a class code, enter @vvbobcats . If you prefer not to get the app, you can send a text to 81010 and in the message type “@vvbobcats” and when I post a reminder, it will text you with the reminder. You can also get an email from Remind if you send a blank email to vvbobcats@mail.remind.com

C61

Catalina Foothills School District

Dr. Mary Kamerzell,

Superintendent 209-7500

mkam@cfsd16.org

Governing Board Members

Carole Siegler, President 529-1379

csiegler@cfsd16.org

Eileen Jackson, Vice President 299-3828

ejackson@cfsd16.org

Amy Bhola, Member 577-5139

abhola@cfsd16.org

John Bergan, Member 878-6180

jbergan@cfsd16.org

Amy Krauss, Member 887-3377

akrauss@cfsd16.org

State of Arizona Legislative Representatives for CFSD

(please check www.azleg.gov for contact information)

Legislative District 9 Senator Steve Farley Rep. Randy Friese Rep. Victoria Steele

DATES OF INTEREST

Friday, August 28th •FFO General Mtg. @ 8:15 Tuesday, September 1st •EARLY RELEASE

Gr. 1-5 8:00-1:30 AM Kinder 8:00-10:15

PM Kinder 11:15-1:30 Thursday, September 3rd •Book Fair Grand Opening 5-7 PM Friday, September 4th –

Thursday, September 10th •Fall Book Fair Monday, September 7th •Labor Day – NO SCHOOL Tuesday, September 8th •NO EARLY RELEASE Tuesday, 15th •EARLY RELEASE

Gr. 1-5 8:00-1:30 AM Kinder 8:00-10:15

PM Kinder 11:15-1:30

Mission Statement

Catalina Foothills School District and Ventana Vista Elementary School, caring

collaborative learning communities, ensure that

each student each student achieves intellectual and

personal excellence, and is well prepared for college

and career pathways.

Office Hours for 2015-2016 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

A huge THANK YOU to the following parents for

volunteering during DIBELS testing:

Jacki Nichols

Tera Frank Justine Bonomolo

Heather Voss Tam Shaner

Ellen Meckler Erica Brownlee Cathie Ashley

Amber Wesson If you'd like to volunteer for the DIBELS testing in December

and/or April, contact Ms. Golden, VV Reading Specialist:

ggolden@cfsd16.org

Parking Lot

Please refrain from parking at the east end of the parking lot directly in front of the school

(where the bus bay is. Buses cannot easily make the turn.

Open Enrollment Bus Service

Open Enrollment families can apply to ride the bus by

completing the application on the district website.

Go to the Parent Info tab, Transportation and Open

Enrollment Bus Application.

On Twitter? Follow Superintendent Kamerzell’s tweets here.

Easy Ways to Follow Us

Here are some quick & easy ways to stay connected with CFSD and CFHS through Facebook and Twitter. Simply click on these live links to follow all our news.

Click here to follow CFSD on Facebook. Click “See First” in your newsfeed so you don’t miss a post.

Where does the Foothills lifelong learning path lead? Click here to follow Foothills Alumni on Facebook & learn about the college and career news of our graduates.

See Bobcat news first by following Ventana Vista’s Twitter feed here.

See the latest news from our dedicated parent volunteers. Click here to follow VV FFO on Facebook.

Subscribe to the Ventana Vista Elementary School channel here.

Get all the relevant school news at the Ventana Vista blog here.

Is today Early Release? Click here to get all the Ventana Vista posts.

If your family lives in any of the following situations:

•• In a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground

•• On the street

•• In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations, or

•• Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing

Then, you have certain rights or protectionsunder the McKinney-Vento HomelessEducation Assistance Act.

You have the right to:

•• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long youhave lived there. You must be given access to the samepublic education provided to other students.

•• Continue in the school you attended before you becamehomeless or the school you last attended, if that is yourchoice and is feasible. The school district’s local liaison forhomeless education must assist you, if needed, and offeryou the right to appeal a decision regarding your choiceof school if it goes against your wishes.

•• Receive transportation to the school you attended beforeyou became homeless or the school you last attended, ifyou request such transportation.

•• Attend a school and participate in school programswith students who are not homeless. Students cannotbe separated from the regular school program becausethey are homeless.

•• Enroll in school without giving a permanent address.Schools cannot require proof of residency thatmight prevent or delay school enrollment.

•• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for thetransfer of school and immunization records or any otherdocuments required for enrollment.

•• Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choiceeven while the school and you seek to resolve adispute over enrollment.

•• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, asprovided to all other students served in these programs.

•• Receive transportation to school and to school programs.

When you move, you should do the following:

•• Contact the school district’s local liaison for homelesseducation (see phone number below) for help in enrollingin a new school or arranging to continue in your formerschool. (Or, someone at a shelter, social services office, orthe school can direct you to the person you need to contact.)

•• Tell your teachers anything that you think they need toknow to help you in school.

•• Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelterprovider, or a social worker for assistance with clothingand supplies, if needed.

Local Area Contacts:

State Coordinator:

1-800-308-2145

If you need further assistance, call theNational Center for Homeless Education

at the toll-free HelpLine number:

1-800-308-2145

1-800-308-2145

If you need further assistance, call theNational Center for Homeless Education

at the toll-free HelpLine number:

1-800-308-2145

If your family lives in any of the following situations:•• In a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground

•• On the street

•• In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations, or

•• Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing

Then, your preschool-aged and school-agedchildren have certain rights or protectionsunder the McKinney-Vento HomelessEducation Assistance Act.

Your children have the right to:•• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you

have lived there. They must be given access to the samepublic education, including preschool education, providedto other children.

•• Continue in the school they attended before you becamehomeless or the school they last attended, if that is yourchoice and is feasible. If a school sends your child to a schoolother than the one you request, the school must provide youwith a written explanation and offer you the right to appealthe decision.

•• Receive transportation to the school they attended beforeyour family became homeless or the school they lastattended, if you or a guardian request such transportation.

•• Attend a school and participate in school programs withchildren who are not homeless. Children cannot be separatedfrom the regular school program because they are homeless.

•• Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schoolscannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delayschool enrollment.

•• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for thetransfer of school and immunization records or any otherdocuments required for enrollment.

•• Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice evenwhile the school and you seek to resolve a dispute overenrolling your children.

•• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed,as provided to all other children served in these programs.

•• Receive transportation to school and to school programs.

When you move, you should do the following:•• Contact the school district’s local liaison for homeless

education (see phone number below) for help in enrollingyour child in a new school or arranging for your child tocontinue in his or her former school. (Or, someone at ashelter, social services office, or the school can direct youto the person you need to contact.)

•• Contact the school and provide any information you thinkwill assist the teachers in helping your child adjust tonew circumstances.

•• Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelterprovider, or a social worker for assistance with clothingand supplies, if needed.

Local Area Contacts:

State Coordinator:

October(2,(2015(

Ventana Vista School 5 - 8 pmFriday, October 2

It is all about Science and

What is Plant Science Family Night? This is our biggest event of the year and IT IS FUN!Hands-on Science Exploration and Discovery with University of Arizona Scientist and researchers and our local Tucson Community experts. Over 20 learning centers designed for our children… designed to increase knowledge, curiosity and science skills.Plant&Science&includes&how&plants&grow&and&reproduce,&how&plants/animals&interact,&nutri7on,&sustainability,&and&everything&else&about&plants…..&your&family&will&be&amazed&at&the&op7ons.•""If""your"area"of"interest"is"the"dark"skies"and"the"effects"on"animals—"join"us•""If"you"are"curious"about"what"a"research"scien:st"does"and"what"tools"s/he"uses—joinus•""If"you"want"to"help"your"child/children"to"make"“healthy"choices"and"understand"healthy"foods"or"food"labels>"join"us•""If"your"have"an"interest"is"bats"and"pollina:on….."we"want"you"to"par:cipate•""If"you"love"bugs"and"rep:les"that"interact"with"plants…."come"to"PSFN"on"October"2•""If"your"passion"is"leaf"rubbing"and"you"want"the"kids"to"observe"the"similari:es"and"differences>"mark"your"calendar•""If"you’re"a"naturalist"and"love"nature"walks….."join"us.•""If"you"want"grow"a"Community"or"home"garden……."let"the"kids"try"it"at"PSFN,"October"2.•""If"you"or"the"kids"think"fungi"and"mycology"and"other"weird"plants"are"fun.…join"us•""If"we"could"grow"plants"on"Mars"or"the"Moon….."well,"we"can…"joins!•""If"you"know"our"Sonoran"Ocean,"Sea"of"Cortez,"you"know"plants"in"the"ocean"are"essen:al…."build"a"phytoplankton!•""If"your"want"to"understand"DNA"or"photosynthesis…candy"model"DNA"or"the"marshmallow/toothpick"learning"center.•""If"you"are"an"engineer,"design"a"“super"green"crop”…..hands>on"ac:vi:es"increase"understanding"and"curiosity.• If"you"love"PHYSICS,""you"know"plants"understand"PHYSICS.."explore"the"principles"that"affect"plant"growth"and"ecology.""• Do&you&love&learning&and&want&to&increase&curiosity,&engage&thinking&and&discovery,&be&an&advocate&for&SCIENCE,&TECHNOLOGY,&ENGINEERING&and&MATH….&PLANT&SCIENCE&FAMILY&NIGHT&IS&a&STEM&NIGHT!&

Watch&for&more&informa7on&about&Food&Trucks,&learning&centers,&handsRon&ac7vi7es,&buses&from&Bashas,&the&schedule,&journals&and&the&layout&of&the&event&in&the&FFO&and&VV&newsleVers.&

This%event%is%sponsored%by%our%VV%FFO%and%University%of%Arizona%AGI%ins;tute%lead%by%Dr.%Rod%Wing.%%%All%scien;sts,%researchers,%local%experts%and%organiza;ons%are%volunteers.

Make Sure Your Family’s District Directory Listing is Correct The 2015-2016 CFSD District Directory is coming soon – in mid-October. Help us to make sure your family is listed correctly. If you have multiple students in the district and they have: different parent/guardian names different addresses Our sorting process may not pick up all your family members and list them together as one family. Help us out by emailing to us the names of your students as they appear in the district database and let us know that they should be listed together as a family.

Send your emails to cfhsdirectorycommittee@gmail.com

NOTE: Students with distinctly different last names should be listed separately in the directory to make it easier for their friends to find them. But if the last names are different due to the addition of a hyphenation (i.e. Angela Jones is the sister of David Jones-Masters), please let us know about that too.

Page 1 of 2

Approval of Revisions to CFSD Policy CBA Qualifications and Duties of Superintendent (second reading) The governing board conducted the second reading of the CFSD policy related to the superintendent’s job description. During the first reading of this policy on August 11, the board recommended substitution/ addition of a few words and minor revisions to the section titles of Leadership and Board Relations. The board discussed additional revisions during the second reading. Some of the recommended revisions included reference to the district strategic plan, wording modifications, and reordering bullets for better clarity. This policy will be brought back for a third reading and possible approval at the next board meeting. Approval of Revisions to Policy CBI Evaluation of Superintendent (second reading) The governing board conducted the second reading the CFSD policy related to the board’s process for evaluation of the superintendent. During the first reading of this policy on August 11, the board recommended a minor change in wording to the policy. The board discussed additional sentence modification to add consistency and fluidity to the policy. The board approved the policy as amended. Approval of Revisions to Policy GBI Staff Participation in Political Activities (second reading) The governing board conducted the second reading of this policy. During the first reading on August 11, a board member had an interest in adding language that expressed the district’s long-standing practice of prohibiting outside organizational access to district families by scheduling a facility rental that may coincide with a school wide parent/student event. Dr. Kamerzell presented a possible modification to the policy language for the board’s discussion and consideration. This policy will be brought back for a third reading and possible approval at the next board meeting. Superintendent’s Proposed Performance Goals for 2015-2016 (second reading) Superintendent Mary Kamerzell presented and the governing board approved the proposed performance goals for the 2015-2016 school year.

The goals constitute one piece of the superintendent’s performance plan and are in addition to the responsibilities delineated in her job description. Goal areas are in the following categories:

1. Envision21: Deep Learning CFSD Strategic Plan 2014-2020

2. Human Resources 3. Arizona College and Career Ready Standards 4. Technology 5. Community Relations 6. Election

Consent Agenda Items The governing board approved the following consent agenda items. • August 11, 2015, regular governing board meeting

minutes • Expense voucher memorandum • Fund raising request memorandum • Personnel memorandum • Gift and donations memorandum • 1st quarter tax credit eligible fees memorandum • IFB 16-01-20 - backflow testing/maintenance and

reclaimed water inspection memorandum • Addition of sole source vendors for fiscal year

2015-2016 memorandum • Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the

construction portion of the Valley View Early Learning Center Expansion Project memorandum

Upcoming Board Meeting The next regularly scheduled governing board meeting is Tuesday September 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m., Catalina Foothills High School, Building 4, Room 712. The tentative agenda is: • Outstanding Achievements • Star Awards • Approval of Revisions to CFSD Policy CBA

Qualifications and Duties of Superintendent (third reading)

• Approval of Revisions to Policy GBI Staff Participation in Political Activities (third reading)

• CFSD Teacher Retention Report

A S u m m a r y R e p o r t o f t h e A u g u s t 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 C F S D Governing Board Meeting

T h e B o a r d e r A Publication for

the CFSD Community

Staff

Page 2 of 2

CFSD

Please welcome new CFSD staff members: Kathleen Knappenberger, HR Assistant II, MAC Christie Vargas-Unger, Office Coordinator, CS

!

!!!!!!!!: Sept.3, 2015 @ 6:30 pm : Canyon View Elementary on the big field and ramada