SCHOOL ZONE 8-27-15

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL

The start of a new year is always exciting as students and staff members return to updated and improved facilities.  This year is especially exciting for our youngest students as they begin attending a brand new school building.  As always, we invite you to visit and see for yourself what has been done to improve our campus.  I know you will share our pride in the facilities that we offer. 

SAILORWAY DRIVE  UPGRADE

Improvements around the campus were enhanced by the re-paving of portions of Sailorway Drive this summer.  We would like to express appreciation to Mayor Bulan and City Council for making the project a reality in 2015.  With the improved road we will begin enforcing a no parking zone on the shoulders along Sailorway Drive from Douglas Street east to Sanford Street.  This is for the safety of students and visitors who are walking and crossing the street in this area.  No parking signs have been placed on both sides of the street.  Convenient parking is available in the designated lots at Vermilion High School, the VHS stadium, Sailorway Middle School and Vermilion Elementary School.  The parking ban will be strictly enforced by the Vermilion Police Department, and tickets will be issued to those who violate the parking ban.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUR SCHOOLS

We make it a priority to communicate information to parents and community members in a variety of ways.  The district calendar located on the home page of our website contains all of the information about the activities and events happening around the district.  We invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates.  Questions posted on Facebook are always answered within 24 hours.  Principals post information in their blogs, and many of our teachers have classroom websites for students to follow.  Contact your school office if you need help using any of these tools. 

NEW COMMUNITY CENTER FOR STUDENTS!

Did you know that the most popular time for teenagers to experiment with drugs and alcohol are the hours between after school and dinner? Imagine a place that existed solely to provide positive after school activities and homework support.  Open Door Church will host the grand opening of Vermilion’s new student community center, “The Anchor”, located in the Open Door Student Community Center, 1230 Beechview Drive, Vermilion.  The Anchor will be open to students in grades 7 through 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning September 9 from 2:30-5:30 PM. Activities, tutoring, snacks, pep rallies, and so much more will be offered to students!   A special VIP tour of the Anchor will be held on Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 pm. We encourage you to attend and take an active role in our community and the development of our teenagers.

REMINDER TO UPDATE STUDENT INFORMATION

Parents and guardians who have not completed the Student Information Update should do so now.  Each year we ask for updated contact and health information for each student.  The online review replaces the paper forms we used to send home with each child every year. Now parents or guardians can easily make changes and complete necessary school forms. The update may be completed at your convenience on your home computer through August 26.  Ritter Public Library also offers computers for public use and a computer is available at the Administration office throughout the summer.  The link to the online information update page is:  https://studentinfo.vermilionschools.org. Please call the school office if you need assistance accessing the program.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  

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SCHOOL ZONE 8-6-15

UPDATE STUDENT INFORMATION NOW

The Online Information Update for the new year is now available.  Each year we ask that parents or guardians of returning students review and update their child’s contact and health information.  The online review replaces the paper forms we used to send home with each child every year. Now parents or guardians can easily make changes and complete necessary school forms. The update may be completed at your convenience on your home computer through August 26.  Ritter Public Library also offers computers for public use and a computer is available at the Administration office throughout the summer.

Username and password information was mailed to all families on July 17.  The link to the online information update page is:  https://studentinfo.vermilionschools.org .  All students should have updated information on file by the first day of school.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

SAILORWAY SEEKING STUDENT MENTORS FOR 2015-2016

Looking for a way to volunteer in your community? Interested in helping students improve reading skills? Sailorway Middle School is looking for adults who are willing to volunteer their time to read with students.  In cooperation with Project MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence), we need adults who are willing to work with students in a 1-on-1 setting. Volunteers are asked to follow the script provided by the program facilitator, and build a relationship with the student. Volunteer mentors need commit to only 30 minutes per week while school is in session. The schedule can be flexible – you decide the day of the week that is best for you.  If you are interested in helping our students become successful readers, please email Sailorway Principal Brian Zeller at bzeller@vermilionschools.org or call the school at 440-204-1702, ext. 551. We look forward to working with you! 

RIBBON CUTTING FOR NEW VERMILION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Join us at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 21 for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Vermilion Elementary School, 1285 Douglas Street.  There will be a brief ceremony, followed by an open house and light refreshments.  Families of students in Kindergarten through grade 3 who have not yet visited the school are invited to attend. 

CHECK OUT THE NEW ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

The Vermilion High School Athletic Department has created a new website devoted solely to providing parents and students with up-to-date information about our athletic teams and activities.  Specific information about each team, including game and event schedules can be found on this page.  Visit www.vermilionathletics.org for more information.

HONORS AND AP SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS

Students enrolled in honors and advanced placement classes for the coming school year should be completing their required summer reading assignments prior to the start of school.  Assignments for all of these courses are listed on the Vermilion High School page from our district website.

SALES TAX HOLIDAY COMING UP

The Ohio Department of Taxation is sponsoring a tax holiday this weekend, Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 for qualifying purchases.  This is a great time to stock up on school supplies and clothing for the coming school year.  Qualifying purchases are:  (1) clothing priced at $75 or less; (2) school supplies priced at $20 or less; and (3) school instructional material priced at $20 or less.  There is no limit on you total purchases; tax exempt status will be determined for each individual item. 

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.