SCHOOL ZONE 6-25-15

SUMMER COMMUNICATION

The summer break is going by very quickly and planning is well underway for the new school year.  We invite our families to stay in touch with us through our website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.  Throughout the summer we will be posting updated information on summer camps and other activities, as well as posting dates for back to school activities.  For those new to the district, our website is www.vermilionschools.org .  Follow Vermilion Local Schools on Facebook or Twitter @vermilionschool

RIBBON CUTTING FOR NEW VERMILION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mark your calendars for the ribbon cutting ceremony to be held at the new Vermilion Elementary School on Friday, August 21 at 10:00 A.M.  We hope that many of our students and families will be able to join us for this final event before teachers return to school on August 24.  More details will be shared in the near future.

BAND DIRECTOR CHANGE

Many of our parents and members of the community have been interested in the change of staff for our instrumental music department.  We are pleased to announce that Sailorway music teacher and assistant band director Rachel Blenman will move into the high school position recently vacated by Michael Komperda.  Our team feels that Ms. Blenman is the best candidate to step into the position.  Not only is Ms. Blenman an excellent teacher, but she will be able to quickly assume leadership in the department, and facilitate a smooth transition for our students. 

PERFORMING ARTS AREAS UPGRADED

In addition to the completion of field house construction, we are moving forward with renovations to the music wing and auditorium at Vermilion High School this summer.  The auditorium is being completely remodeled and will feature new seating.  These seats have not been replaced since the building was opened in 1969.  To support ongoing performing arts in our schools, we are offering the opportunity for alumni, community members and others to purchase one or more name plates to honor or memorialize alumni or former graduates.  You can choose to have your name plate placed either on the arm of a new seat or on a plaque that will hang outside the entry doors.  This is a great way to honor parents, friends or children who have participated in performing arts programs at VHS.  All proceeds will support performing and visual arts programs at VHS.  Call 440-204-1723 if you wish to purchase a name plate.   

SCHOOL ZONE 6-11-15

VES YEAR END VIDEO PROJECTS

VES students produced videos at the end of the school year to highlight what is best about their school, and say goodbye to the old building.  First, third graders took musician Jesse Ruben's October "I Can" message to heart, by making four goals and working toward meeting them on the playground throughout the school year. Recess monitors, office staff, and teachers gave students "I CAN" coupons when they were observed meeting their goals.  At the end of the year students made video clips to document their success in meeting their goals. The clips were used in a movie students produced for Jesse Ruben, in hopes of securing a return performance for spring, which they were lucky enough to experience the week before the end of the school year.  Here is a link to the movie students sent to Jesse Ruben, as evidence that they met recess goals, inspired by his fall performance: https://youtu.be/YmA7QEZi-uA

Second, VES third graders put together a "song and dance" to celebrate the end of the school year, and their anticipated promotion to middle school.  Nine students practiced choreography during recess, then performed the dance while two third grade classes sang an accompaniment.  You can view the video at https://youtu.be/Q4c1cI2STMA

Finally, all four VES grade levels contributed to a "Goodnight VES" movie, documenting the end of the school year, and the end of the Vermilion Elementary School "Decatur Street" era.  The link to the video is http://youtu.be/OF6HthfWBrI

SUMMER LEARNING RESOURCE GUIDE

Looking for ways to engage your student this summer and prevent the over 2 months of knowledge loss that typically occurs over break? Technology Coach Jennifer Bengele can help with her list of online tools that will help to keep students fresh and ready to learn in the fall. 

1.      Prodigy Math Game. Prodigy is an adventure game for students in grades 1-7 aligned to the common core math standards. Students will create a wizarding avatar and defeat enemies using their math skills. https://www.prodigygame.com/USA/?

2.      TenMarks. Tenmarks, an online math program created by Amazon, is offering a free summer program for families with students in grades 1 - Algebra 2. https://www.tenmarks.com/summermath

3.      ReadTheory. Read Theory offers free reading and writing exercises for all grade levels designed to increase critical thinking skills. http://www.readtheory.org/

4.      CommonLit. If you are looking for a piece of literature you can discuss with your 5th-12th grade student, look no further than Common Lit. This program allows you to select a text centered around a theme and discussion question. http://www.commonlit.org/

5.      Summer Math Challenge. Metametrics, the same company that brought us the Lexile measure for reading, is offering a free math skills maintenance program for students that have completed 2nd-6th grade. https://www.quantiles.com/content/summer-math-challenge/

6.      Activate Instruction. If you really want to go crazy with the online curriculum this summer, check out Activate Instruction which provides content in a diversity of subjects delivered playlist-style for your student. http://www.activateinstruction.org/

7.      Cool Math. Cool off on a hot day with free math lessons and games at all skill levels from cool math. http://www.coolmath.com/

8.      Braingenie. Braingenie is a curriculum program offering content videos and questions in science and math grades 1-12. https://braingenie.ck12.org/

9.      ReadWriteThink. Do you want to encourage your child to further their reading and writing skills, but need ideas on how to help? ReadWriteThink is the site for you. http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/

10.  Book Adventure. Using this free Sylvan Learning program, students in grades K - 8 are able to take comprehension quizzes on library books and earn prizes as incentives for reading. http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx

11.   Reading Bear. Reading Bear for emerging readers introduces young ones to letter sounds and blends. http://www.readingbear.org/ 

2015 RETIREES

Please join us in congratulating our teaching and non-teaching employees who are retiring this year.  We will miss all of these experienced employees, but wish them the best as they move on to the next phase of their lives.  Retirees this year are:  Phil Brickner, athletic director; Lisa Fiedler, teacher; Marvin Gibson, custodian; Steven Hansen, teacher; Hope Ingersoll, educational aide;  Paul Nabors, teacher; Linda Rayl, cafeteria worker; Heidi Riddle, Director of Blended Learning; Joy Sigrist, teacher and Susan Winiasz, teacher.