June 10, 2009

Dear Families,

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

Upcoming Events

JANUARY

Wed., Jan. 13 – 2010-2011 Open enrollment period begins

Friday, Jan. 15 - End of second evaluation period

Monday, Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King – NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, Jan. 19 – Professional Day – NO SCHOOL for students

Thursday, Jan. 21 – 8:45 - Upper Elementary assembly

Thursday, Jan. 21 – 10:15 – Middle School assembly

Sunday, Jan. 24 – IVMS open house 1-3 PM both campuses

Friday, Jan. 29 – Quarterly Report 2nd quarter – Friday folders

FEBRUARY

Tues. – Thurs., Feb. 9-11 – FCAT Writing grades 4th and 8th

Friday, Feb. 19 - Monthly progress report (elementary)

Friday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day –

Thursday, Feb. 13 – 2009-2010 Student enrollment closes

Monday, Feb. 15 – Presidents’ Day – NO SCHOOL

Thursday, Feb. 18 – Jogathon grades K – 3 (Pinebrook Park)

Friday, Feb. 19 – Jogathon grades 4 – 8 (Pinebrook Park)

MARCH

March 9 – 18 – FCAT testing – 3rd – 8th

March 24 – End of 3rd grading period

Friday, March 26 - Professional Day – no school for students

March 29 – April 2 – Spring Break – no school

OPEN ENROLLMENT -JANUARY 14 – FEBRUARY 13

Our 30-day open enrollment period begins January 14th and end February 13th. IVMS will accept applications for next year during this time for all programs. Pre-kindergarten students must fill out an application for kindergarten to guarantee a kindergarten spot for next year. Current students do not need to re-apply at this time.

Open enrollment applies to students desiring enrollment for the 2010-2011 school years in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade at the Sarasota Campus and grades kindergarten through 6th grade at the Venice campus. Enrollment is closed to new students in grades 7 and 8. Open enrollment applies to charter programs only.

IVMS FOCUSES ON THE ARTS

As a natural extension of the Montessori cultural studies, Island Village has been developing its arts programs over the past few years with the addition of many programs in music, visual arts, drama, choir, dance, improvisational theater, and graphic arts.

There are two major performance opportunities for our students at the end of each semester. This year’s winter performances were held over four nights with a total of seven performances! Our original Arts’ Day celebration has evolved into an entire week devoted to the arts. Arts Week includes student performances, visits by guest artists, visual art exhibitions, and class studies of art history.

In addition, the music department has organized a series of music performances under the sunshade where students perform for their peers. The afterschool program continues its focus on drama and choir, and has developed a partnership with Venice Little Theater allowing our students to perform on a professional stage. Many field trips focus on the arts such as the Van Wezel, Venice Symphony, Ringling Art Museum, and Embracing Our Differences at the Sarasota Bay Front.

Future Directions for the Arts

This June, IVMS will be the new site for the Venice Symphony’s Summer Music Camp. The SILLS Arts Lecture program will be held at the church facility on Monday afternoons throughout the spring. IVMS students have been invited to attend. Through the new partnership with Venice Symphony, IVMS will develop more opportunity for students to be involved in orchestra.

The school has begun plans to build an intimate performing arts center on its campus to support its theater and performing arts programs. More information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks. We are looking for your involvement!

SIGN UP FOR THE IVMS EMAIL LIST

Make sure you are on our email list so you don’t miss out on any of our IVMS updates. Sign up through the school Website at www.islandvillage.org. Paper copies will be available in the office. In an effort to save paper, IVMS updates will not always be sent out in the Friday folders. You must sign up each year for security reasons.

UNIFORM POLICY REMINDER

Please remember our uniform policy. Compliance is part of your agreement in attending our school and is plainly described in both the student and parent contracts.

1st instance: students will be asked to comply as a verbal reminder.

2nd instance: Parents will be called as a courtesy reminder.

3rd instance and after: Parents will be asked to bring the correct article of clothing to school.

All students must wear enclosed, rubber-soled shoes (tennis shoes or sneakers). Boots, shoes with heels or hard soles, crocks, and other sandal or open toed or heeled shoes are not allowed.

No clothing with emblems, logos, or lettering of any kind other than the school logo. This includes coats, sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts, raincoats, umbrellas, hats.

Lunch boxes may be plain or have designs but must be without cartoon characters, advertising or any kind, or company logos.

Healthy Lunches - leave sodas and candy at home! We also request that your child has a balanced lunch rather than simple carbohydrates that impede concentration. Some type of fruit, whole grain, protein, is best.

Kym Elder,
Executive Director
Island Village Schools