Volume 2016-17
Issue 35
May 12, 2017
A weekly publication by your Head-of-School
Also available on the Ventana School
website.
Upcoming Events
•••
Minimum Day
Friday, May 19th
Elementary Students
Dismiss at 12:15 PM
•••
Memorial Day Holiday
Monday, May 29th
No School
•••
th
5 Grade Graduation
Thursday, June 1
Church Sanctuary 9:00 AM
•••
End-of-Year BBQ
Friday, June 2
Lower Lawn 5:00 -7:00 PM
Keeping You Informed
Annual Auction Update
The organizers of our Around the World in 80 Days event with to THANK YOU for attending and
supporting our school. It is though the tireless efforts of the few and the generous contributions
of the many that we achieve success.
We offer a special THANK YOU to our auction sponsors: at the General Steamer level; the Claassen
family, at the Wind Powered Sledge level; Heritage Bank, and at the Elephant Ride level; the
Randheev family!
From the “stringers of the lights,” to the “clean-up crew,” we THANK all the volunteers who made
this event happen.
Please note: Auction winners should have received a
statement in a separate email. The auction coordinators
recommend - to avoid extra credit card charges - that
payments be made by check in the Ventana School office.
Please pick up artwork and winning baskets in the Parish
Hall or certificates at the office.
For those who could not attend and who would still like to
help, the auction coordinators suggest a contribution to
Fund a Need, or the purchase remaining items on sale
at www.ventanaschoolauction.org.
Special Note: One piece of children’s art from the Auction
has gone missing. Perhaps you have seen it? It’s called
Butterflies. The family who bid and won it would love to
claim it. If you have seen it, please alert the Ventana School
office right away. Thanks!
ANNUAL PARENT SURVEY LAUNCHED
Every year, Ventana School reaches out to its parent community to gather feedback about our
program. It is our desire to provide the best educational and
social/emotional atmosphere for your children. Your voice matters.
Your candid and anonymous responses will assist us as we “tweak”
our program to meet the needs of all constituent groups. The survey
was launched last Friday, May 5th, and will remain open until Friday,
May 26th. The online survey link is embedded below. Please take a
moment to provide your thoughts. We thank you in advance for your
participation. Here is the link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ventanasurvey2017
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Elementary Yearbooks Arriving Soon
We are now taking orders for the 2017 Ventana Elementary Yearbook! The book will have
approximately 45 pages and is modeled after last year's book. School-wide event photos are in
the front, followed by each class photo, students' individual photos, and a photo collage of
activities of the past year for each class.
You can choose to have a hard cover
or soft cover. Hard cover books cost
$37 each, and soft cover books cost
$30. We plan to have the yearbooks
delivered in time for the last week of
school, so the students can have their
friends sign them. LAST DAY!
We MUST have all orders and checks
in the Ventana office by Friday, May
12th so we can place the order.
Do not miss out! Please come into
the school office to place an order and
leave your payment. Check should be
made out to Ventana School.
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Education Connection Event Cancelled
Please note: Because our presenter for this event will not be available, the Education Connection
activity, Communications Fun with Improv for All Ages, originally scheduled for Thursday, May 18
from 6:00 –7:30 PM has been cancelled. We expect to offer this fun, family workshop early in the
new school year. We regret any inconvenience this cancellation may cause.
Also, please join us in thanking Rosanne Lee Vathana for her unflagging energy and conscientious
coordination of every Education Connection event this year. THANK
YOU, Rosanne! We will miss your dedication to our Parent Education
work. We are now seeking a willing parent to fill Roseanne’s shoes for
the upcoming school year. If you are interested in getting involved in
Parent Education activities next year, please contact Yesi, in the
school office.
Annual Kiwanis Los Altos Pet Parade
Come along! Join Ventana School’s contingent at the Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade. Walk with your
pet or a classroom pet and participate in this unique community event that is celebrating 70 years
this year. Pet costumes are optional.
Date: Saturday, May 20,2017
Time: 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Where: The march goes down Main Street and State Streets in Los Altos
RSVP: Elementary parent Paul Vinger is our school contact. Please email him at [email protected] or
the school office at mailto:[email protected] and let us know by Friday, May 5th if you
are interested in participating. Consider donating $1 per pet to the Kiwanis organization.
To read more about this annual event and Kiwanis fundraiser and to see photographs of previous
parades follow this link
http://www.losaltoskiwanis.org/Page/21428 Show off your four-legged friends at a unique
community event. Looking forward to marching with you and your furry, feathered or scaly friends!
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2017-18 Orientation Packets
Can you believe it? We are just about to complete another school year! The administrative staff
is busily preparing for the next. Orientation packets are being emailed. Please take a moment to
open and read each document as we require updated information for your child(ren) before the
end of the school year. Some of the items included in this packet are:
 2017-18 Family /School Days Calendar
 2017-18 Events Calendar
 Volunteer Sign-up Forms
 Directory Forms
Please note any and all changes and return forms to the Ventana Office before Jun2 2nd. Thank
you for your prompt response to our request for important demographic and health updates.
End-of-the Year BBQ
Join us for the Annual End-of-the-Year BBQ. This get together of the members of Ventana School
and Christ Church will take place on Friday, June 2nd from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. The Church is hosting
the event on the Lower Lawn and will do all the cooking. They will provide hamburgers and
hotdogs, as well as a vegetarian option. Ventana families will bring “pot luck,” picnic side dishes
(green and pasta salads, chips, pickles, baked beans, etc.) and desserts. VePA will provide drinks,
paper goods, and clean up support.
This event is a great way to kick off the summer and a wonderful way to bring the Church and
School communities together. New-to-Ventana families will be invited to attend, providing a
unique opportunity to welcome the new comers and strike up a new family association. So, set
your calendar alert today! And save room for “s’mores!” Join us for a picnic on the lawn two weeks
from today!
Semi-Annual Camping Trip
Always a wonderful opportunity for community building; the 9th Semi-Annual Ventana Camping
Trip at Huddart Park is scheduled for June 16-18. The trip welcomes all Ventana families,
preschool and elementary. This year the location can’t be beat. Huddart Park, just 30 minutes away
in Woodside, offers all the joys of the great outdoors without having to drive hours into the
outback.
It’s time to make plans to celebrate the end of the school year by relaxing in the closest, nicest
campground we have here in the Bay Area. Come along! Sleep under the stars. Eat great campstyle food. Enjoy the warmth of an open fire. Go on awesome
hikes. And, let the kids run wild. Parents who have attended in the
past say, “It is the event of the year! One that is NOT TO BE
MISSED!” Do you have questions? Email Julie Stanford
at [email protected].
To sign up or to get more information, follow this link:
http://ventanacamping.brownpapertickets.com/.
Notes and Reminders
• BrainMatterZ Magic: We are looking for two or three more Ventana students to become part
of a 2-week (July 31 – August 11) summer camp opportunity around Tere Linzey’s BrainMatterZ
clinic. This opportunity is offered for a maximum of 5 students in 2nd – 5th grade who would benefit
from a pre- and post-analysis of brain function, and a 20-hour program over two weeks on
retraining the brain in the areas of executive functioning, visual and auditory processing, attention,
and working memory. Cost for this program will be generally higher than for our art and sports
camps, and cost will be established as need is determined. If you are interested, please alert Yesi
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Guizar at [email protected]. For more information about Tere Linzey or this program go to
http://www.brainmatterz.com/
Find your
classroom blog at
the Parent Portal
• Lost & Found: Our stash of garments continues to grow. With the change in the weather, many
of our children discard their outerwear during recess and active play. We have accumulated an
array of jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts. These garments are hanging on a coat rack in the upper
piazza. Please browse the rack and identify what might belong to your children before the end of
the school year. Happy hunting!
• New Flyer Posting Protocol: It is important that we maintain the Reggio look and feel of our
beautiful campus and prevent damage to the exterior of the church buildings. Pins, tacks, and
staples should not be used to affix flyers to building walls. Should you have an event that requires
publication, please take your printed flyer to our Ventana School office so that it can be properly
mounted/backed with black paper and laminated to withstand the weather. Until we purchase
and affix bulletin boards at various high-traffic locations on campus, the office staff will post your
event to the building exterior with removable tape. Thanks for your cooperation.