INFO FLO
Mar. 13, 2007 Vol. 4 #28
 
Dates to Remember
Wednesdays……………………..SCHOOL LETS OUT AT 1:00PM
Thursday, Mar. 15…….Theatre production – Branching Out….See below
Spring Break….March 19-30………..NO SCHOOL
Return Monday, Apr. 2
Friday, Apr. 6……….Good Friday…….NO SCHOOL


Reminder to Parents:  Please remember to let me know if you change your phone number.  It is very much needed if there is an emergency with your student.  Thanks, Peggy
 
Branching Out, Annual Spring Musical
This is the week of our performances by the K-1-2-3 students.
Wednesday, March 14: Walk-through rehearsal at Kilauea Theater, 8:30 to 10:30. Performers will be bussed to the theater and back to campus before lunch.
Thursday, March 15: First performance (for other VSAS classes), 9:30 at Kilauea Theater. Everyone will be bussed to the theater and back to campus before lunch.
Thursday evening, 6 p.m. at Kilauea Theater, a performance for families and community. Performers should arrive at the theater by 5:30 p.m. We plan to start on time.
Performers should wear Volcano School shirts (any color), or a plain (no pictures/words) shirt, any color, with dark long pants.
PLEASE SEND a morning snack with your child on Wednesday and Thursday. Food will help keep the children focused and happy. And please feed your child before the evening performance. If you are having logistical problems getting your child to the theater for the evening show, contact me or your child’s teacher and we will try to work something out.
Come early to set up video, if you want. This is truly going to be a memorable and wonderful show. Classes have been working hard for ten weeks, and the effort shows in the quality of their performances. Please support your child in this culminating activity. Guaranteed to make you smile.
--Dina Kageler, 967-8151
 
Many, Many Mahalos: To the Ng Family (Cyndi, Clarence, Bobbie Jo and nephew, Sun) for installing the motion-detecting security lights around the office, elementary and multi-purpose buildings.  It’s great to be able to see at night!  YOU LIGHT UP OUR LIVES!!!
--Pineapple MataBishop
Facilities Coordinator
 
Hawaii State Assessment Testing
HSA Testing will be held this year the week of April 9 – April 13 for all 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.  There will be 3 reading assessments and 3 math assessments given over the course of the week. Testing will be about an hour and a half a day.  Parent Information Booklets with information about the testing was enclosed last week for students in grades 3 – 8. Please ensure that your children are in school on those days and do not schedule doctor, dentist, or other appointments for your child during the week of April 9 – 13.  We appreciate your support with this! 
Mahalo, Kim Miller,
Counselor & Test Coordinator
 
Young At Art: Four group art pieces from VSAS students have been accepted into the Young At Art show at the East Hawaii Cultural Center in Hilo. “Tribute to Grant Wood II” was done by Ms. Hiestand’s fifth
grade math class. The interdisciplinary activity called on the students to measure using the metric system, calculate ratios, draw to scale, and use a medium of choice to interpret individual sections of a whole. The pieces were then assembled into a work interpreting a famous painting by Grant Wood. “Kapa”, was also done by Mrs. Hiestand’s class and uses stamped kapa cloth which the students pounded and painted with their hand-made stamps.
The two middle school pieces in the show are “Coral Reef” and “Ornamentations”. These group pieces were created in the elective middle school ceramics classes. “Ornamentations” was created by the first semester students and “Coral Reef” was created by the second semester students. Teachers for these projects have been Lora Gale, Angie Libadisos and Dina Kageler.

The Young At Art show will run through March 26 at the East Hawaii Cultural Center. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a wonderful collection of art done by public, private, charter and home schooling students in East Hawaii. If you get a chance, take your family by to view this show. Questions? Dina 967-8151
 
TarWars Poster Contest
Earlier this school year, a doctor from O`ahu came to the fifth grade class to present TarWars, a program to help kids understand the effects of smoking on their bodies and their lives.  She presented information and activities to the students.  At the end of her presentation, she invited the students to participate in a poster contest.  Derrick Velez made a poster that was selected to represent our school.  He and his family were invited to O`ahu to attend the awards banquet. Although he did not go on to Washington, D.C., we are all very proud of his achievement.
—Marilyn Hiestand

PTO Kick-Off Meeting Report
On 3/8/07, a kick-off meeting was held to launch a VSAS parent teacher organization.  Childcare was provided and a pasta dinner followed the meeting.  Kalima Cayir facilitated the event (and made the trays of delicious lasagna).  Kalima presented information about joining the national PTA vs. being a locally run PTO, insurance and non-profit requirements, and some of the current needs at VSAS.  Eighteen parents and twelve staff members attended the kick-off event.
 
Some of the goals and functions that were discussed for the PTO include: 
·        Being a gateway for parent involvement at VSAS
·        Coordinating volunteer opportunities and needs at VSAS
·        Facilitate communication between parents and teachers at VSAS
·        Being a vehicle for parent and family education
Some of the critical points that were raised include the role of the PTO to support and promote a more cohesive school community, to work within the existing infra-structure of VSAS, and to be parent driven.  One parent pointed out that for her, rather than PTO feeling like one more meeting in her busy life, she found the opportunity to connect with other parents and with teachers supportive and energizing. 
Three parents volunteered to spearhead the continued planning and development of the VSAS PTO.  They are:  Terry Bowers, Jennifer Mahone, and Carrie Tucker.
Thank you to Kalima Cayir, Lora Bristow, Lisa Barnard, Val Odachi, Pineapple MataBishop, and Kim Miller for dinner; to Carrie Tucker and Dennis LaPointe for help with clean up; and to Marilyn Hiestand, Tashina Heistand, Adam Ibarra, Serena Seal, Heather Lewis, Djemanesh Aneteneh, Briana Tucker-Archie, and Kitana Toft for help with childcare.  Stay tuned for information about the date and time of the next PTO planning meeting coming up in early April.
Submitted by:  Kim Miller, Counselor
 
Inserts:
Vision screening results 3rd & 5th grade;
Writing assessment results 4th & 6th grade;
Spring Break Art Camp flyers 3rd–6thgrade; Auto trash bags – compliments of Rotary Club.