Lisa Leatham, Principal
S.A.N.T.A. (Sharing 
Among Neighbors Toy Appeal) is once again working to brighten the lives of children and their families this holiday season. An annual tradition for over 20 years, the S.A.N.T.A. Project provides families who live in the Fern Ridge School District or the Crow Applegate Lorane School District toys, books, stuffed animals, and more to help them fill every child’s wish list. They will also have Christmas trees, bicycles, jackets, stocking stuffers, personal care items, and much more for families in need. Any family who could use help this holiday season can come to the S.A.N.T.A. giveaway. Proof of need is not required, but families must bring proof that they live in the C-A-L or FRSD School Districts and that their children live with them. Proof can be a license, mail, medical card, etc.
This year’s giveaway will be in the Veneta Elementary School Gym on Saturday, December 17th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For more information, contact 541-935-3282 or check their website at www.venetasanta.org.
For those who would like to support the S.A.N.T.A. Project in the great work they do, they are always in need of donations of toys, stocking stuffers, books, etc. Drop off boxes are located throughout the community or items can be brought to the school office. S.A.N.T.A. Project also accepts cash donations.
Veneta Element
ary students will shine at the annual Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, December 1st. For the first time ever, it will be held here at Veneta Elementary School in our new bus loop. Santa will arrive at 6 PM and followed by the tree lighting at 6:15 PM. After the tree is lit, the audience will be treated to performances from the Veneta Elementary first grade choir, from Elmira Elementary School’s choir, and from Veneta Elementary’s 4th and 5th grade choir under the direction of Mrs. McGuire. Children will have a chance to visit with Santa and the Kiwanis will be providing free hot chocolate.
Parking might be an issue that night, so give yourself extra time in case you have to park on a side street or at the West Lane Shopping Center.
Don’t forget to also mark your calendar for next weeks Fern Ridge Light Parade on Thursday, December 8th.
Everyone is invited to a community Thanksgiving Feast sponsored by Kiwanis of Fern Ridge and Food for Lane County. It will be Wednesday, November 23rd at 1:00 PM at Veneta Elementary School. This is a free Thanksgiving dinner and all are invited.
This is a sneak peek at our beautiful new mural that has just been installed in our cafeteria. Thanks to the hard work of our artist in residence Jesssilyn Brinkerhoff and the skills of all of our students in creating this art masterpiece. A thank you as well to the Oregon Country Fair for supporting our Artist in Residence Project and to Jeff Thiessen for installing it.
If you want to see the whole mural, stop by the cafeteria during parent conferences next week. Can’t wait till Monday? Come by and shop the Holiday Bazaar and Book Fair Friday and Saturday.
Veneta E
lementary will once again be a site for the Fern Ridge Holiday Bazaar on Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th from 9 AM to 5 PM. We will have over 45 vendors in our gym and cafeteria selling a wide variety of arts and crafts. We will also have tacos and tamales for sale for those who get hungry shopping. PALS will have a booth selling Smencils, t-shirts, and student crafts. Stop by and get a head start on your holiday shopping.
Plus while you are here check out the Scholastic Book Fair in the library. It will be open the same hours as the Holiday Bazaar. The Scholastic Book Fair accepts credit cards and checks.
Veneta Elementary School is happy to announce that our annual Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be open this Thursday and remain open through Parent Conferences. The Scholastic Book Fair features books for all ages including gift items and games. Veneta Elementary earns 40% back of every dollar spent making this a great fundraiser for books for our library and other great items for our school.
The Book Fair will be open for students Thursday and Friday before school from 7:30 to 7:55. The Book Fair will also be open for the Holiday Bazaar on Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th from 9:00 AM to 5 PM. And finally, the Book Fair will be open during parent conferences on November 21st from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and on November 22nd from 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM. This is your chance to help the school and buy great books for family and friends. Books make great presents and the holiday season is right around the corner.
If you can’t make it to the fair in person, you can purchase items on line using the scholastic app at our fair’s home page: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/venetaelementaryschool You can also go to the home page to get a look at the wonderful items that will be at the Book Fair.
We are happy to announce that Track Town Pizza will be holding a fundraiser for Sullivan Kirk on November 22nd. Sullivan is a two year old Veneta child who is facing his third open heart surgery. Sullivan is also the younger brother of Jacquilynne, Skyler, and Ben who attend Veneta Elementary School. As a school community, we are helping to support Team Sullivan and help out the Kirk family.
The fundraiser at Track Town Pizza on November 22nd will give Team Sullivan 50% of the cost of food purchased if you bring in a flyer. Since this will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, its a great time to take a break from cooking and enjoy pizza, salad, and breadsticks at Track Town or pick up a pizza to go.
Remember you must bring the flyer. The link below will get you a flyer you can print out.
http://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/venetaele/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/11/Veneta-Elementary-School-November-Calendar-of-Events.pdfClick on the link below for a list of events happening at Veneta Elementary School this month.
Just a quick update from the Fern Ridge Family Resource Center-
1.) Our next playgroup for toddlers and preschoolers will be November 8th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM. It will be a combination of story time followed by science and art projects. Our goal is to expose students to reading and the wonders of the world around them. Playgroup will be at VES in the Family Resource Center Room 21. 3 to 5 years old from throughout the school district are invited to bring their parents to this fun event. After November 8th, the next story/science time will be November 29th at 1 PM.
2.) It’s not too late t
o take advantage of our free parenting classes on Thursday nights. These classes are designed for all parents to improve their skills- whether your child is two or twelve. Parenting is the most important job there is… learn these practical and effective strategies to help you make parenting more joy and less struggle. Child care is provided and door prizes are given out each week. Here are the topics for the coming weeks:
11/10: Understanding Stress Continue reading
In support of the fundraiser for Sullivan Kirk on November 26th , PALS is hosting a Phineas and Ferb Family Fun Night on Thursday, November 10th at 6:30 to 8:30. We will be showing classic episodes of Phineas and Ferb on the big screen in the gym. You and your family are welcome to join us for some laughs as we enjoy this classic Disney show. PALS will have a concession selling sodas, popcorn, candy, and pizza. Families can bring blankets, pillows, etc.
Phineas and Ferb is a Disney cartoon series about two step brothers who are determined to make every day of their vacation fun. Building a full scale roller coaster, become musicians, travel back in time to meet dinosaurs, and building a beach in their backyard are just some of the adventures they have. Add in a family pet, Perry the Platypus, who doubles as a secret agent and battles evil and you know its going to be nothing but family fun.
If Thursday makes you a Phineas and Ferb fan or if you already are, then don’t forget that you can meet Dan Provenmire, the co-creator of Phineas and Ferb, on Saturday, November 26th. He will sign autographs and answer questions. Admission is a suggested $10 donation and all funds raised go to support Sullivan Kirk. www.facebook.com/teamsullivandaniel