August president's message

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Welcome back. I want to start by saying I hope Summer gave you a chance to recharge your batteries. Next week a brand new group of fresh faces will be in their seats looking to you for guidance. So here are my wishes for you: may this be the best year ever. May your students be attentive and full of joy. May you ignite the spark of learning in your students. And may you experience the satisfaction that comes from making the world a better place. Don’t forget that you all do this each and every day.
The 2016/17 school year promises to be a busy one. Among other things the NGSS teachers are really excited about the innovations coming to K-8 science.  I got to spend a couple of days seeing all the great work they were doing. I am looking forward to working with all of you to help make VUSD the best that it can be. Please share your stories with us, @vtapresident, #vistata or via our facebook page support VUSD teachers.
Have a great Year,
Tod Critchlow

Important Dates (Please click links for details)
Monday, Aug 15th - MVHS PD Day
    Sign in starts at 7:30, Shuttles will be running from Home Depot
    Don’t forget to sign out!!!
Tuesday, Aug 16th - Site Day
90 Minute Staff meeting first then the rest of the day is yours
Wednesday, Aug 17 - Students!!!

Rep Council, Monday Aug 29
    VTA Calendar

New Teachers
This year VTA would like to welcome approximately 100 new certificated members. They are teachers, counselors, librarians, SLPs and psychologists. VTA will be collaborating with VUSD to implement a buddy system. Your site has received a list of new members and we are looking for members to step up and just be a buddy for our new colleagues. Please let us know if you interested in helping with this.
Permanent Status
Congratulations to all VTA members that are starting their third year in VUSD. In most cases this means that you have achieved permanent status. By my estimates there are around 175 of you. Way to go. You made it through your two years as a probationary teacher. Please contact your VTA rep if you have further questions.

VTA Scholarship Fund
I know that you all go over and above your obligations, but that’s the nature of our job. Teachers as a group are incredibly generous and caring people. Are you interested in helping even more? Do you want to be part of something bigger? Do you want to help make an even bigger difference in your students lives? The VTA scholarship fund needs you. This year will mark 30 years of generosity on the part of VTA members. Please consider using our monthly payroll deduction to contribute directly to the VTA Scholarship fund. Please consider giving $3,$5 or even more a month. For more information please check out the website. Or click HERE to get the payroll deduction form. Together we can make an even bigger difference.

VTA Officers and Executive Board
Please welcome the following to the VTA executive board. They were elected last spring and they are here to support you. Please congratulate them if you see them.
MaryPat Lee - VTA Secretary
Eric Walker - Special Ed
Reed Monson - High School
Todd Mehrer - Middle School
Ken Butler - Elementary
They will be joining me (Tod Critchlow) and the other Exec Board members: Reagan Duncan, Debi Wheelock, Patrick Emaus, Laura Whitehouse and Gail Cantrell.

Political Action Committee (PAC)
Reagan Duncan our Vice President is also the chair of our PAC. She has a group of dedicated members that work with her, but she is always looking for others that share her passion for the political process.  Please contact her (or VTA) if you have any questions. She would love to talk to you about the November elections. This is a great way to get involved if you want to help make a difference. Whether you are outgoing and love talking to people or would rather just stuff envelopes there’s something for everyone in this committee. And we can use all the help we can get. We (VTA) have endorsed Rosemary Smithfield for VUSD School Board District 1. Rosemary is one of our own and we will be counting on all you to help support her.