| Re-enrollment Packages |
January 2008
Dear Village School Parents,
Re-enrollment packages will be mailed during the week of January 28, 2008. In order to reserve a spot for your child for 2008/2009, please complete, sign, and submit the re-enrollment contract by February 22, 2008. We have had an increase in the number of applicants to The Village School and, therefore, anticipate waiting lists for a number of our grade levels.
Along with your re-enrollment contract, you will also need to remit a $1,000.00 deposit for your first child and a $500.00 deposit thereafter, payable to The Village School. This non-refundable deposit includes the registration and several fees as well as a portion of the tuition. We do recognize that this deposit amount is greater than has been required in the past. However, in order for The Village School to remain competitive in the independent school marketplace, the School must make commitments to faculty and programming earlier in the spring than has been the case in the past.
After receiving your re-enrollment contract, if you have any questions regarding re-enrollment, tuition, or fees, please contact our business office at your earliest convenience. It has been a pleasure serving you and your child this year, and we look forward to working with your child for another exciting year at The Village School.
The Village School Administration |
| Appointment of Mr. Stéphane Ruz |
 The Village School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mr. Stéphane Ruz as its first Director of the new Village High School. Mr. Ruz was one of five finalists to visit and interview for the director position. During his visit, in which he met with school officials as well as a group of Village School 8th graders and parents, Mr. Ruz impressed all with his warmth and passion, and his vision for what our new high school will become.
Mr. Ruz has demonstrated great versatility over the past fifteen years in three very competitive school environments, most recently as the Chair of the Foreign Language Department of The Ensworth School (Nashville, TN). Prior to his time at Ensworth, Mr. Ruz worked for three years at The Middlesex School (Concord, MA), and for seven years at The Awty International School (Houston, TX). Mr. Ruz has built a language department, coordinated trips to Spain and France, taught AP French Literature, AP French Language, IB French at the B and A levels, Spanish, and AP Art History. He has supervised dormitories, chaired the school's discipline committee, and served as faculty sponsor for the school newspaper. He has also been a very successful coach of varsity soccer. In addition to his studies at La Nouvelle Sorbonne (Paris, France), Mr. Ruz earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in French Literature (University of Houston, TX).
Mr. Ruz has a reputation as a wonderful educator and communicator and, therefore, will be a tremendous fit for The Village School. One of his former heads of school wrote of Mr. Ruz: "He is highly respected by his colleagues for his professional and personable approach to students, parents and colleagues. He is adored by students and athletes he coaches. He brings the best out of the people with whom he works because he cares deeply for others and has the ability to organize and motivate others to achieve along side of him. He has a deep knowledge and appreciation for art, for literature, and for cultural and international affairs."
Mr. Ruz will be joining Dr. Silver, President of The Village School, in February at two private school hiring conferences, in Atlanta and New York City, to interview candidates for other Village High School faculty positions. And, in March, he will visit The Village School for a more formal and personal introduction to our community and rising 9th graders.
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CUPCAKE SALE 1st - 8th Grade |
Monday, January 28th
50 cents
All proceeds will be donated to the BEAR room at Child Protective Services.
Sponsored by VMS students and Mrs. Merrifield's Homeroom!! |
| What is Spring Fling? |
It's a time for family, staff, friends, and the community to come  together for a day to play games, ride rides, eat terrific food, meet people and relax. Come see our children, their families and all the booths they design and create to have fun. The tremendous support from the families at The Village School make this day so popular and successful. It's a day for our families to laugh and have fun together.
The Spring Fling committees are almost complete. We do need a few more volunteers to help expedite the process of creating a great carnival. We have exciting new members as well as awesome seasoned members working together. Our t-shirts have been created and order forms will be available on V-Flash starting next week. The themes for each booth have been chosen, and room mothers will be contacting you about the games and asking for decorating ideas for the booths. Our carnival is on its way!!
Any questions? Click to email Roberta Bernstein or call 281-493-5325. Click to email Jane Deyhimi or call 281-578-5564. |
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We're Off to See the Wizard!!! |
KIII will attend a performance of The Wizard of Oz at the Stratford High School Playhouse on Wednesday, January 30th (9:00-12:15 A.M.). This delightful adaptation of the musical classic has several former Village School students in the cast. |
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SCOUT PICTURES, Wednesday 2/6 |
ALL scouts are welcome to have their pictures taken for the yearbook. You do NOT have to be in a Village School troop. Please report IN SCOUT UNIFORM (no one will be photographed if they are not in a scout uniform) to the Koehl Gym on February 6th. Middle school scouts report at 8:00 A.M. and lower school scouts report at 9:00 A.M. |
| Beginner Violin--Space Available |
If you are interested in having your child participate in beginner violin, there are still spaces available in Mika Hasler's Tuesday/Thursday class. Click on the link below to get all the details.
To sign up--print the form, fill it out, attach your check and turn in to Sharon or Kristi in the office. |
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Ballet PreK - 2nd |
 CLASSES HAVE STARTED
Limited spaces still available. Spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Forms to sign up can be downloaded by clicking on the link below or you can pick up a form at the front reception desk.
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| A Note from the Nurse |
 There are a large number of absences in school due to high fevers, vomiting/diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. Please help us break the cycle of infecting others by not allowing your child/children to return to the classroom until they are completely symptom free for a period of at least 24 hours without medication, including Tylenol or Motrin. As always, drinking plenty of fluids and getting additional rest is encouraged. | |
| Physician Order for Medication |
The flu season is upon us and the clinic is seeing a high volume of headaches and fevers. Additionally many students having orthodontic work may need pain relief. A large number of students do not have the proper documents required for Tylenol and Advil to be administered. If your child is in grades 1st through 8th and you wish to exercise this option it is necessary to submit the completed medication forms that can be located at this link (click here).
If there is any doubt as to whether or not your child has a form on file please submit an additional form properly signed by the parent and physician. Without this form, your child will not be able to receive pain medication. The clinic will no longer be contacting parents regarding the absence of necessary documentation to dispense pain relievers. |
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Village School Hosts and Wins at Chess Tournament |
The Village School Chess Team hosted its annual tournament on Saturday, January 12. Two hundred and fifty students showed up from all over Houston to play chess in the Moore Gym. The Vikings acquitted themselves well, winning the overall team trophy, as well as twenty-nine individual trophies! Thanks to perfect scores from Amit Kavadi and Zack Westenhaver, the team trophy was a runaway with Village scoring 18.5 points out of twenty to win by three points.
Individual trophies include Section wins by Zack Westenhaver and Amit Kavadi, second place trophies for Arjun Reddy and Timothy Mashinski, and third place trophies for Shaunak Seth and Paschalis Economou. Becky Huang recently joined The Village School and the Chess Team. She backed up her high rating with an impressive third place trophy in the Championship section. Nice job Becky and welcome aboard!
Each year the tournament hosts an Invitational section played by some of the top scholastic players in Houston. This year's $100 prize was shared by Artur Safin and Joseph Wong from Lamar Consolidated and John Cooper respectively.
Putting on this tournament is a boatload of work. Without the help of Linda Ahkter, D'Juanna Jackson, Victor Garcia, Bea Flato, Mr. Tana, Bob Hymson and Betty Moore, we would have been sunk before we started. Thanks also to the large crew of parent volunteers who carried the load of running the many facets of both the tournament and handling the care and feeding of 500 people. Very Special Thanks go to Coach Don who solved a serious problem for us by rescheduling a basketball game, no small task especially at the last minute! The chess team plays next at the Klein Winter Tournament on January 26th. Wish them luck! | |
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DATES TO REMEMBER |
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January 26
9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Girl Scout Father-Daughter Square Dance, 7:00-9:00 P.M.
January 28
Cupcake Sale
January 29
Daytime Open House for prospective parents,
9:00-11:00 A.M.
Fine Arts Photos, during music classes
January 30
"Second Cup of Coffee" with Amy Nelson, 8th grade Cafeteria - 1st - 5th Grade Parents: 8:00 A.M.
Pre K & K parents: 9:00 A.M.
February 1 Spirit Shirt Day
STARS Rehearsal,
3:30 - 6:30 P.M.
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| SPELLING BEE |
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Our school spelling bee to pick the top student to represent our school at the Houston Chronicle Spelling Bee was held Tuesday, January 22nd.
The five finalists who participated--Vinay Gajula-5th grade, Sita Yerramsetti- 4th grade, Eric Lee-7th grade, Hannah McMorris- 5th grade, Julia Rowley-4th grade--received a medal.
Mrs. Koehl, Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Arend were all present at the Bee. Mrs. Koehl pronounced the words.
The winner was Vinay Gajula-5th grade. Julia Rowley-4th grade, was second. She will be the alternate.
Vinay will represent The Village School at the Area level of competition on February 27th.
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FINE ARTS PHOTOS, TUESDAY 1/29 |
 Band, choir and orchestra students should come to school in their performance UNIFORMS (including proper shoes, tights, socks, pearl necklaces, etc.) on Tuesday, January 29th.
Students should bring their regular school uniform with them, as well. They will change clothes after the photos are taken.
To order the photo, which will be included in the yearbook, please click on the link below and download the order form.
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| Second Cup of Coffee with Counselor Amy Nelson on Wednesday 1/30 |
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Join Counselor Amy Nelson on January 30, 2008.
Topic: Charting the Right Course: Parenting Patterns in the Early Years
1st - 5th Grade Parents--8:00 to 8:45 A.M.
PK-K Parents--
9:00 to 9:45 A.M.
8th Grade Cafeteria
If you plan to attend, please email your RSVP to:
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| Care Highway Fundraiser |
(notecard design #5) |
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Parents, please support the non-profit Care Highway Humanitarian Organization by purchasing packs of cards and wristbands. One pack of cards costs $5 and a wristband costs $2. The profits will go to orphaned children in Kenya, Africa.
Your child(ren) should have received an order form in school. If it has been misplaced or you wish to download it, click the link below.
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| FEBRUARY IS PTA MEMBERSHIP MONTH |
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A membership drive will be taking place in February for our newly formed PTA. Watch this space for information on joining this important school organization. You must be a member in order to vote. | |
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La Gloria Donations |
 The VMS Student Council wish to thank all the families who have already contributed to our La Gloria Charity Project. We will continue to accept donations in the front office of gently used clothing, shoes, linens, and blankets through Friday, February 8th. We are eager to deliver your contributions to the community of La Gloria, Mexico, on Saturday, February 16th. Your generosity has amazed us! |
| Labels and Boxtops for Education |
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Continue to collect those boxtops and labels!! The next collection day will be Wednesday, February 6th.
For a list of eligible Campbell's Products, click the link below.
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Morning Greeters Still Needed! |
 The 8:30 Morning Greeters still need your help. Do you have 20 minutes to spare one morning a week? The shift runs from 8:25 to 8:46 A.M. Call Sharon Wezniak at 713-983-9459--she will add you to the schedule!
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V-Flash |
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We hope you are enjoying The Village News Flash (or V-Flash). The deadline for submitting articles or announcements to Sharon or Kristi is Wednesday at 5:00 P.M. Feedback is always welcome!
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