February
24, 2010
BUDGET
FOR 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR:
The entire state of Arizona is facing a significant funding reduction in
education. Due to the
severity of the cuts all TUSD schools have been asked to make 4%, 6%, 8%
and 10% cut in the budget for the 2010-2011 school year. Keep in mind
that the 4% is the best case scenario and 10% being the worst (at this
point we are looking at the 10%).
The budget cuts will affect the following positions: Principal,
Office Manager, Teachers, office supplies, teaching supplies, custodial
supplies, and substitutes for Van Horne teachers when they are absent.
Monitors and the Library Assistant will not be affected because
their salaries are paid from the Civic Center funds (YMCA and other
renters).
Our effort to merge with Wrightstown here at Van Horne was voted
down by the Wrightstown site council and they chose to merge with Henry
Elementary. However,
Schumacher Elementary has expressed interest in merging with Van Horne
at their campus. As communicated in previous newsletters TUSD has
empowered schools to take a proactive measure to maximize educational
resources with an Optional Merger Incentive.
With this in mind, we will be having a Site Council
meeting on Tuesday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the library to discuss the
possible merger with Schumacher. Julie
Laird the Principal from Schumacher will have a presentation and then
the topic will be open for discussion.
As previously stated your
attendance and opinion on the merger will impact the outcome of the
merger decision. TUSD
will not make the decision to merge, nor will they force us to merge.
The decision will be in the hands of the parents, community,
faculty, staff and site council.
Please
keep in mind that if we decide to remain status quo and endure the 10%
cut Van Horne will look different next year.
With all this mind we can choose to merge with another school or
we can come together to create a positive plan of action that will
provide the students of Van Horne with music, art, PE, a solid
curriculum and anything else you think your child is not receiving by
using our Tax Credit monies or any other creative plan that we choose to
instill. As the principal
strongly encourage you to attend this Site Council meeting on Tuesday.
SITE
COUNCIL: We
will be having a Site Council meeting on Tuesday, March 2 at 5:30 PM in
the library. All families
are strongly encouraged to attend this extremely important meeting
regarding the merger and an overview of the budget for the 2010-2011
school year. Site Council
consists of parents, teachers, the principal and community members that
meet and collaborate goals that focus on school related issues that
directly impact students and their achievements.
All families and community members are always welcomed to attend
the meeting and share their thoughts, concerns, questions and
suggestions regarding Van Horne.
KINDERGARTEN
ROUND-UP:
We are mailing out our invitations for Kinder Round-up today
inviting any and all potential kinders to join us for an informal, fun
and informative get-together on Tuesday, March 9, from 8:30 – 10 AM in
the Library for the 2011-2012 school year. If you know of anyone with a child that will be 5 by August
31, 2011, please pass this information along to them and invite them to
come visit our school. Extra
flyers are available in the office on the front counter.
We are currently accepting open enrollment for students living
outside of our attendance boundary area.
PENCIL
GRAMS:
Josie our Community Representative sold Valentine Pencil Grams
prior to Valentine’s Day. The cost for the Pencil Gram was $.50 for a pencil and a
sweet message. The holiday grams have been extremely successful and the
students just love them. With
that said Josie will be selling Shamrock Wishes:
March 9, 11, and 16 during lunch. Students may purchase a
Shamrock pencil and have it delivered to their friends with a note.
Parents may also stop by the office and purchase them for their
own children. All grams to
students will be delivered Wednesday, March 17th.
All proceeds earned will go towards snack for the students during
AIMS testing and upcoming school-wide events.
TARDY
AND ABSENT:
Student Tardys are still out of control this semester.
The office is currently tracking the tardys and will notify the
parents by letter if a child has consecutive tardys.
Arriving on time to school is a life long skill that must be
learned in elementary school level. Teachers start teaching right at
7:50 AM, as soon at the students enter the classroom.
Therefore, if your child is late they are being deprived of their
education, but it is also disruptive to the other students in the class
and this does go on the child’s permanent
attendance record. Please
support our goal to produce life long learners and productive members of
society.
Student
Drop Off: The
student drop-off zone at the front of the school has become a safety
concern. The drive by
drop-off is for the parent to drive up and for the student to exit the
car in safe manner. When
dropping off please drive your vehicle all the way forward, have your
child exit on the passenger side and wait for the vehicle in front to
proceed. We almost had our
first student injury as a result of impatience and parents passing other
vehicles in this drop off zone. Both
parking lots are now available for you to pick-up or drop-off your
child. When driving let’s keep safety in mind!
IMPORTANT
DATES:
