Grizzly Family Newsletter

Happy November, Vandergriff Families!

As we begin the month of November, it is a wonderful time to reflect on all the things we are grateful for. We are especially thankful for our amazing students, supportive families, and the special community we share at Vandergriff!

We have an exciting week ahead with several opportunities for our students to learn beyond the classroom! Each third grade class will be heading to Mt. Kessler the next two weeks, our kindergarteners will enjoy a trip to the Botanical Gardens, and our third and fourth graders will get to cheer on the Lady Razorbacks at a basketball game. What a fun week of learning, exploring, and making memories!

Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our Vandergriff family. We are grateful for each of you and the opportunity to work together to help our Grizzlies learn, grow, and shine!

Have a wonderful week, and as always, Go Grizzlies!

💙Andrea

NOVEMBER

2 DAY 1

ATLAS K-2 Math (K & 2), ELA (1) Interim (Nov. 2-6)

3 DAY 2

ATLAS K-2 Math (K & 2), ELA (1) Interim (Nov. 2-6)

Mt. Kessler- Vann's class

4 DAY 3

ATLAS K-2 Math (2), ELA (1) Interim (Nov. 2-6)

Botanical Gardens- Kindergarten (leave 8:45, Return 11:15) *Lunch when return

Mt. Kessler- Thornton's class

5 DAY 4

ATLAS K-2 Math (K ), ELA (1) Interim (Nov. 2-6)

Mt. Kessler- Dotson's class

Fall Picture Retakes

Tacos for Life Spirit Night

6 DAY 5

Lady Razorback Game- 3rd/4th (Leave 9:00, Return 2:00)

NOVEMBER

9 Children's Book Week

9 Mt. Kessler- Richards' Class; Leave 9:00, Return 1:00

9 True Lit with Dan Santat- 4th grade; Leave 11:45, Return 2:00

11 Veterans Day Assembly 8:30

12 Mt. Kessler- Campbell's Class; Leave 9:00, Return 1:00

12 Fall Family BINGO Night- 5:30-7:00

13 National Diabetes Day- Wear BLUE today!

16 Fall Book Fair 16-20

16-19 Fall Academies end this week

18 Grizzly Grub

19 Spotlight Night 3:30-5:30

23-27 Thanksgiving Break

Picture retakes are Thursday November 5th. If you would like your child to have their picture taken again please email shannon.neves@fayar.net OR doreen.trenholm@fayar.net NO LATER than Wednesday November 4th.

As always, please feel free to call the office if you have any questions.

Thank you!

If there is ever a change in how your child will be going home, please be sure to notify both the office and your child's teacher. Any changes must be communicated before 2:45 p.m. to ensure we have time to notify the appropriate staff. If we do not receive notification by 2:45 p.m., your child will be sent home using their usual transportation method.

Thank you for your help and cooperation in keeping dismissal safe and running smoothly for everyone!

This month we’re challenging students to work together toward a common goal and shared purpose. We are partnering with you to grow and develop teamwork in your child. We can do this by modeling gratefulness, acknowledging positive moments, and affirming each other. Use this month’s activities to practice working together and celebrate your family as a team.

ENGAGE: Grateful for you I am grateful for you! Create a culture of appreciation and gratitude at home by celebrating the best in each family member all month. What you give attention to grows! On a sticky note or small piece of paper, write one thing you appreciate each day about your child and post it on their bedroom door. Doing this will plant seeds in their heads and hearts to help them see good things about themselves.

JOIN US AS WE HONOR OUR HEROES!

Date: Wednesday, November 11

Time: 8:30 AM

Location: in the Vandergriff Cafeteria

We invite veterans and active-duty service member parents and grandparents to attend our annual Veterans Day Assembly.

Our Grizzlies are excited to celebrate and thank you for your service!

If you are a veteran planning to attend, please fill out the short form using this link. The form will also let us know which student you represent so we can recognize them during the event.

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled night of BINGO, prizes, crafts, pizza, cupcakes, and FUN! Parents are encouraged to team up with their students for bingo, and pizza and cake will be provided for everyone!

🎟️ Please RSVP at this link so we can plan for bingo cards and refreshments.

We can't wait to enjoy a wonderful evening with our amazing Vandergriff families! 🐻

Hello - The Fayetteville Public Library hosts the True Lit Festival November 9th-12th. This year, there are three authors with after school/evening events. These events are free, but tickets are required. You can click on the link to find more details and request tickets. These authors will also be autographing books after their event. Pearl's Books will have their books available for purchase at the events.

Our 4th graders will be attending a presentation with Dan Santat on November 9th. He will also be doing a presentation at 4:30 that afternoon.

Families are invited to bring old, expired, or unwanted car seats to participating elementary school collection sites to help keep them out of the landfill.

Last year, our school communities diverted more than 125 car seats from the landfill! Let’s build on that success and make an even bigger impact this year.

Together, we can reduce waste and make a difference in our community. Thank you for helping us recycle responsibly! Bins will be at the schools entrances.

#AmericaRecyclesWeek #FayettevillePublicSchools #Sustainability #WasteReduction

PE/Health Newsletter

Please label clothing, coats/jackets, water bottles and lunch boxes! If they are labeled we can get it back to the student. If your child does lose something, we do have a lost and found. We will also periodically post items on our PTO instagram, @vandypto

Bell Schedule: 8:10-3:10

Students need to be in their classrooms at 8:10.

Dismissal is at 3:10.

First bell rings at 7:55.

Tardy bell will ring at 8:10. Students arriving after 8:10 must report to the office with a parent to obtain a tardy slip before reporting to class.

Absences

Please let the office, along with your child's teacher know when your child is absent. This will help with communication. Thank you!

Attendance Matters!

As the holidays approach, it is especially important to make sure your student attends school every day and arrives on time. Regular attendance is vital to your child’s learning, academic success, and social development. Every day in the classroom is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build friendships!

Please help us keep the momentum going by making school attendance a priority, even as the holiday season gets busy. Thank you for your continued support and for helping your child make the most of every school day!

During school hours, please ring the bell on the west side. Our office staff will "buzz" you in. If you come on the east side, the office will ask you to go around. Thank you!

Every Day Counts, Every Student Matters!

1. No cell phones during drop off or pick up please.

2. Our doors open at 7:25. If you drop off your child before then, there will not be any supervision.

3. Have students get out of the car on the sidewalk side.

4. If you need to get out of your car to get your child out in the mornings or afternoons, please park in a parking spot to help traffic flow.

5. You must have a green tag in your window to pick up your child in the car rider line. Please keep it in the window UNTIL your student is loaded. This will help our duty teachers.

6. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH MCNAIR's Parking lot!

7. If you are exiting at Mission in the morning, please turn right. This will help traffic flow and keep everyone safe.

8. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need to speak to them instead of during dismissal while they are on duty. This helps the teacher continue to monitor the students for their safety.

Breakfast is FREE for all students this year due to ACT 123.

From the cafeteria to the classroom, pay anytime, anywhere from your mobile phone

or computer at My School Bucks.

November Lunch Calendar

District Handbook for Families- linked here

Andrea Sego, Principal- andrea.sego@fayar.net

Matt Pledger, Assistant Principal- matt.pledger@fayar.net

Shannon Neves, Administrative Assistant- shannon.neves@fayar.net

Doreen Trenholm, Office Aide- doreen.trenholm@fayar.net

Becca Vest, School Nurse- rebecca.vest@fayar.net

Beth Rogers, School Counselor- elizabeth.rogers@fayar.net

Britton Clark, Instructional Coach- britton.clark@fayar.net

Amanda Davis, Academic Specialist- amanda.davis@fayar.net

Jody Whittle, Technology Specialist- jody.whittle@fayar.net

@vandergriffelementary - Vandergriff official account

@vandypto - Vandergriff PTO News

@vandylib - Vandergriff Library

@vandergriff_art - Vandergriff Art

@dandyvandyhealth - Vandergriff Health

@vandergriff_PE- Vandergriff PE

@fayarpublicschools - Fayetteville Public Schools