Daniel Bettis, Principal
August 17, 2015
Didget Dennis, Secretary
Newsletter
Greetings, Parents & Guardians:
I would like to welcome you to Fir Grove/Vista Program for the 2015-2016 school year! I
hope that you and your family have had a fun and restful summer, and that you are ready for
an exciting year of learning. Our staff has enjoyed their summer break, and is eager to open
our doors to herald the new school year.
The first day of school is Wednesday, September 2nd. The school hours are:
Vista 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Fir Grove 8:25 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
It is with excitement that we welcome the following staff to Fir Grove/Vista - Becky Davis
and Rob Talbott Mental Health Specialists, Danielle Baumaunn new 3-5 grade teacher,
Brandi Stockton new para educator Elizabeth Quade OT, Susan Synold SLP, Carrie Bryant
nurse and Didget Dennis our new Secretary.
As we look ahead, it’s important to recognize the critical roles we all play in your child’s
education. Our staff values your time, and we appreciate your support of our efforts to
achieve success. We encourage you to establish a collaborative partnership with our
teachers, administrator and our school.
Any parent who would like to participate in our Learning Improvement Team, please call
Didget at 313-1800. The primary role of members is to provide the principal and staff with
advisory input regarding our school’s Student learning Improvement Plan and building
programs. The LIT is not a decision-making body but its recommendations will be seriously
considered when decisions are made. The parent representatives bring valuable input and
perspective from the community, and also can help with improving communications between
home, school and community. The committee will meet four times during the year. The
meetings are scheduled for Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Dec. 10 and March 17 2:30 p.m. at Fir Grove.
On behalf of our staff, welcome! We’re looking forward to a fantastic school year!
Sincerely,
Daniel Bettis,
Principal
Your student’s teacher for this year is:
Dates to Remember
September
September 4
September 28
October 5
October 12
October 21
October 22 & 23 October 26 -
2 First Day of School
1 hour early release
1 hour early release
School Pictures
1 hour early release
2 hour early release
No school, parent conference
1 hour early release
From the Cafeteria
Meal fees this year will remain the same as last year. They will be as follows:
Student Lunch- $1.95
Adult Lunch- $2.90
Milk/Juice- $0.40
Student Breakfast- $0.80
Adult Breakfast- $1.50
Reduced Price Lunch grades K-3- free
Reduced Price Lunch grades 4 and 5- $0.40
Reduced Price Breakfast- free for all grades
If you have any questions regarding the breakfast and lunch program for Fir Grove/Vista, please
be sure to call Nutrition Services for the Vancouver School District at 313-1190.
Reminder: Please send your new free/reduced application form back with your
student on the first day of school.
Immunizations
When enrolling a new student, you must provide our office with proof of your child’s
immunizations (to be in compliance with state law) or the child will be excluded from school until
the shots are current.
Student Safety
The safety of our students is a top priority at Fir Grove/Vista. To
ensure their safety we ask your cooperation in the following areas:
Adult supervision begins at 7:45 a.m. for the Vista students and
8:25 a.m. for the Fir Grove students’, please wait until this time to
drop off your child.
Visitors – All visitors must sign in at the office immediately upon arriving on campus.
Releasing of Students – If it is necessary to pick your child during the school day, we ask
that you come to the office to check him/her out. Teachers will not release students
directly from the classroom. If someone, other that the registered parent or guardian, is to
pick them up, we will need written permission from the parent and picture identification.
Should your child be ill or need to be absent from school, please call 313-1800 before 9:00
AM. If you call in the evening, dial 313-1800 and at the voiced message simply press the
number 3 and start talking, there is no prompt. Simply state your name, your students’ name,
the reason for the absence, and day(s) of absence.
All communication in regards to change of address, telephone#, day care or emergency
contacts must be in writing. Please send a note with your child or come to the office and
complete a Change of Information form.
Medication at School
The Vancouver School District recognizes that in certain cases school children must
take prescription and non prescription medication at school. When it is necessary,
because of a health condition for you child to be given prescription or non
prescription medication during school hours, authorization must be given by the
child’s parent or guardian accompanied by written instructions and the signature of
the prescribing health professional. The authorization must include inclusive dates for
each prescription and any changes in the dosage or administration instructions as they occur.
Only medication containers properly labeled by a physician, dentist, or pharmacist and brought
to school by the parent may be accepted for administration by the school. Forms are available in
the school office and must be renewed each year. Medication will not be administered without
the required signatures on the form (no exceptions).
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
** Please send your “Authorization to Administer Meds. At School” with your student on
the first day of school.
Teacher Qualification Notice
In an effort to keep parents informed of the qualifications of teacher, the reauthorization of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allows parents to inquire at school whether
their child(ren)’s teacher(s) have met state qualifications and certification requirements for the
grade level and subject taught. Parents may inquire whether a teacher is under emergency or
conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and they may request
information about undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate
certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration. Parents can also
ask about paraprofessionals working with your child in reading, writing, and/or mathematics. We
can tell you whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional and whether he/she meets
state qualifications and/or licensing requirements.
Vancouver Public Schools annually conducts an audit of teacher assignments to assure that no
teachers are assigned to areas for which they do not meet Washington State certification
and/or endorsement requirements. Only on rare occasion does the District seek a wavier to
certification. When this does occur, it is typically for a teacher who is within a few credits of
completing the endorsement and is actively working on such completion.