Valley Oaks News
Fall 2006, 1st Issue

Dear Valley Oaks Community,

Welcome to Valley Oaks for the 2006-2007 school year!

Valley Oaks School offers a high quality education to students, Kindergarten to Grade 12. Using an independent study model, Valley Oaks School provides students and families with an exciting public school alternative. Currently, our elementary and junior high programs are looking for increased enrollment. This is a viable way to have a personalized education provided for your children with the same high standards maintained by the traditional public schools. Freed from a traditional daily schedule, students and their families have the opportunity to explore advanced sports, arts, and dance training. This also supports students pursuing career opportunities that would not be possible with a traditional school schedule. Credentialed teachers create individualized, standards based courses that motivate students to learn and grow to their potential. Valley Oaks School is open for enrollment now and throughout the year. If you have any family or friends who would like more information about our school, call Valley Oaks at 778-4794.

Linda Hansen, Interim Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

Of Interest to All

Valley Oaks Sweatshirts: You can order a school sweatshirt. We also have a few in stock. They are maroon sweatshirts (pullover with hood or zip-up with hood). If you are interested, see Mrs. Park or Mrs. Parker.

School Site Council: We need student and parent representatives to participate on this council. The council helps provide direction for Valley Oaks and oversees a budget that is used to support the students and teachers. The council only meets one time per quarter. Parent representatives from both elementary and secondary (grades 7-12) levels are needed, as well as student from the secondary level. If you are interested, please call Mrs. Park, Secretary at 778-4794. Our first meeting date is still open.

Student Reports: Our students will be presenting a fall school report to the Petaluma School District's Board of Education on November 14 at 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to support our students. Our site's spring presentation to the Board is set for March 27, 2007.

Superintendent's Lay Advisory Board: VO needs a parent representative! A parent volunteer is needed to serve as our representative on the Superintendent's Lay Advisory Council. This group consists of parent representatives from all schools in our district. This council meets monthly (Tuesday mornings) with Superintendent Greta Viguie. We need a parent to represent the interests of Valley Oaks students, parents, and staff. The first meeting of SLAC is set to begin on October 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Petaluma Schools District Office, 200 Douglas Street. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Park, Secretary at 778-4794.

Photo Day: Student Photo Day is set for October 24 at Valley Oaks. Steven Yeager Studio will be taking photos from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Student body card photos are to be taken at this time. Photo packets are available in early October. Photo packets are available as follows: Elementary students see June Nason, Junior high students see Mrs. Brosius, and high school students can pick up a packet at the sign-in counter in Building #1. Any questions, call Mrs. Park, Secretary at 778-4794.

On-Going Fundraiser: We collect all empty printer cartridges, cell phones and new this year laptops and PDA's. Our request is for all VO families to bring to school empty printer ink cartridges from their home printers and fax machines. Our site will be collecting all year long. There is a drop-off box in Building #1 at VO. This program enables our school to raise funds and also help the environment.

High School Highlights

Student Opportunity: Help design web pages for include in the Valley Oaks School website, create a school brochure, or create a flyer about Valley Oaks. You can earn elective credit for these Special Projects. For complete details, see our Valley Oaks teacher, June Nason. She will serve as your high school instructor. June is available Monday through Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Science with Mrs. Parker: Would you like to earn a silver dollar? (Name withheld) was the first winner this year. He correctly answered the science question on the science bulletin board next to my door. All students are welcome to try! Please put your answer in my box. You may also win by academically responding to the science fact or science current event. Please put your written answer in my box.

Sonoma County Science Fair - Mrs. Parker: It's like a big party! Don't miss out! The County Science Fair is for all students. I can help you prepare your project and poster board. You have to do a science fair project for your physical science and biology courses. If you have already done one of these courses with me then all that's left to do is make the poster board. The fair is Thursday and Friday, April 19 & 20, 2007. Valley Oaks students have won a first, a second, and a third prize (name withheld). You can win too! It's a lot of fun. Please leave a note in my box or talk to me at your appointment. See Mrs. Parker for complete details!

Community Service - Mrs. Parker: We encourage you to do community service! Please join the list of VO high school students who are earning elective credit and/or fulfilling National Honor Society requirements by completing community service hours.  If you would like help and ideas for how to get started or if you would like to talk to me about the community services that you are already doing, please come meet with me. There is a sign-up sheet on my doorway. If you would like to earn membership in the National Honor Society or become part of the Leadership Class then come meet with me. Both are excellent opportunities for service-oriented students. Both involve service that benefits the school and all Valley Oak students. Thanks to the National Honor Society candidates who worked very hard pulling weeds and uncovering all the handsome stones in front of our school. Students are now able to sit on the bench stone once again. NHS & Leadership Class students will be working on a project next month to help the Petaluma Kitchen: collecting food, egg crates, and novels to donate and then working on a Saturday together at the Kitchen.