VCS
e-News
An Electronic Newsletter from Volusia County Schools
June 4, 2009
In this issue…
Last Day of School Tomorrow FCAT Results and Report Cards No Makeup Days for Three Schools End of School Year Celebration a Success Schools and District Offices Closed Fridays Energy Management Savings Add Up Apply Now for K-8 Volusia Virtual Program Volusia Virtual School Offered for Grades 9-12 Sign Up Now for FREE Summer Pre-Kindergarten
Last Day of School Tomorrow
Friday, June 5, is the last day of school for students. Teachers will wrap up the year on Tuesday, June 9, and report cards will be available on June 17.
FCAT Results and Report Cards
FCAT reports will be available for pick up at schools the week of June 15; however, since report cards will not be available until June 17, parents may wish to wait and pick up both at the same time. Since schools may vary regarding when the reports will be packaged and ready for pick up, individual schools will be communicating exact dates and times to parents.
No Makeup Days for Three Schools
The Commissioner of Education approved the district’s request for a waiver of two instructional days missed due to flooding. Students, staff and faculty at Turie T. Small Elementary, Campbell Middle and Chiles Academy will not be required to make up the days.
End of School Year Celebration a Success
The End of School Year Celebration at the Volusia Mall was a success. Students from Volusia County public schools participated with performances ranging from bands, chorus and chimes to dance, drama and drum lines. There was even science experiments and a cup stacking demonstration and contest. Over $6,000 was collected, getting the Ad Hoc Community Cadre closer to meeting its goal to raise $100,000. About $6,000 is still needed. The money is being used to pay for the reinstatement of academic competitions, performing arts events and junior varsity sports for this school year. To make a donation, checks should be made payable to Volusia County Schools with a notation for Academic/JV Sports Support Fund. Send checks to: Bertie Trawick, Director of Finance Volusia County Schools 200 North Clara Avenue DeLand, FL 32720
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Schools and District Offices Closed Fridays
Schools and district offices will be closed Friday, June 12, as part of the district’s energy cost-savings initiative. Schools and district offices will also be closed on June 19, June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14.
Energy Management Savings Add Up
Thank you to everyone for helping reduce our utility consumption this year. To date, electricity usage has been reduced by over 16,000,000 kilowatt-hours and $2,000,000 has been returned to the operating budget. This is due to the superintendent’s energy program and recommendations from the cost saving committee. Measures taken include guidelines for thermostat set points, removal of personal appliances, dark campuses and control of lights and computers. Also included are the many efforts made by school staff, purchasing of more efficient equipment, and by applying good energy practices throughout the district. As compared to last year’s electric usage through March, schools have reduced consumption by: High Schools 23.1 % Middle Schools 17.4 % Elementary 15.9 % With summer and the four-day work weeks starting on Monday, the district will be reducing consumption in all areas that are unoccupied so that we can all benefit from the continued success of the district energy management program.
Apply Now for K-8 Volusia Virtual Program
Volusia County Schools will provide a full-time virtual program option for Volusia County students in grades K8. Registration for the K-8 Volusia virtual program is now open and closes on Friday, September 18. The K12/Florida Virtual Academy will be the provider of the program. To begin registration, go to their website at http://www.k12.com/flvp and click on “Enroll now.” Enrollment in K-8 Volusia Virtual School is open to any student residing within the district who meets one of the following criteria: • The student has spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school in the state of Florida and was enrolled and reported for funding. • The student was enrolled during the prior school year in an existing K-8 virtual program in the state of Florida (Florida Virtual Academy or Florida Connections Academy). • The student is a dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who was transferred within the last 12 months to Florida from another state or from a foreign country pursuant to the parent’s permanent change of station orders. • Due to the prior public eligibility requirement, kindergarten enrollment is limited to students who either meet the military requirement listed above or currently receive full funding from their district as part of a special education program. To learn more about the K-8 virtual curriculum, please visit the provider’s website at http://www.k12.com/flvp or call Allene Dupont, K-12 curriculum director, at (386) 734-7190, 255-6475 or 427-5223, extension 20657.
Volusia Virtual School Offered for Grades 9-12
The School District of Volusia County will offer virtual classes to high school students at the start of the 200910 school year. Application packets are available on-line for the new Volusia Virtual School. Offering virtual classes during the school day will provide scheduling flexibility for schools while meeting the needs of students who may not be able to attend school for the full day. Providing students with virtual options may allow those with personal or employment issues an alternative to dropping out of school. Moreover, a virtual environment can meet the needs of students who learn more productively in their own time, in their own space. Home school students may enroll, provided they are partially enrolled at their home high school.
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Parents and students wishing to learn more can download an information guide and the application packet from the district’s website. Visit www.volusia.k12.fl.us and click on “Parents” or “Students,” then go to “Volusia Virtual School.” On that page, there will also be an informational webinar for parents and students. Once all courses are full, students will be placed on a waiting list.
Sign Up Now for FREE Summer Prekindergarten
Volusia County Schools continue to accept registrations for the free, summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK). VPK is a 300-hour developmentally appropriate instructional program the summer immediately prior to kindergarten entry. State certified teachers will provide instruction June 22 to August 13, Mondays – Thursdays, 7:37 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. To be eligible, a child must be 5 on or before September 1, 2009, a resident of Volusia County and have a valid certificate of eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties. To obtain a certificate of eligibility parents should call 386-323-2400 or go to www.elcfv.org. Summer 2009 VPK is scheduled at the following elementary schools: Blue Lake, DeBary, Deltona Lakes, Palm Terrace, Sugar Mill and Read-Pattillo. To register, families must go the public school where their child will attend kindergarten. All children who are eligible may attend, regardless of the school zone in which they live. For more information about the summer VPK program parents can go to www.volusia.k12.fl.us, click on “Parents” and then click on “Pre-K (VPK)” or call DeLand (386) 734-7190, (Daytona) (386) 255-6475, (New Smyrna Beach) (386) 427-5223, or (Osteen) (386) 860-3322 and ask for extension 20670.
For more information, to make comments or to add your name to the mailing list, please e-mail VCS Community Information at CommunityInformation@volusia.k12.fl.us.
To view prior editions of e-News, please visit: http://www.volusia.k12.fl.us/communityinformation/E-News.htm
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