Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year at Village Elementary School in the Coronado Unified School District.  I am both happy and honored to have been selected to serve as your principal.  As I begin my first year at Village, I will work diligently with my incredible staff of educators to ensure every student receives a real world, rigorous learning experience to prepare them to excel in higher education and into their careers.

Through a combination of funding, students at Village receive weekly enrichment classes in VAPA (Art), Music (Instrumental and Vocal), Literacy, Science Lab, Computer Lab, and Library.  During the year, we also offer after school foreign language classes on site for a nominal fee.  With a continuous focus on teaching and learning, we provide innovative programs for enrichment and support to meet the needs of each individual learner at Village.  Throughout the year, our teachers participate in joint professional development with Silver Strand Elementary teachers, to discuss best practices and research based strategies to foster the academic success of every student. 

I encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities to be involved throughout the school year.  Join our Parents and Teachers Together (PATT) organization, to work as a collaborative group and support our educational programs.

As partners with the City of Coronado, Coronado Family University, Coronado Recreation Center, Coronado SAFE (Student and Family Enrichment), Coronado Schools Foundation, Islander Sports Foundation (ISF), Military Mom’s Group, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), and the United States Navy, we take great pride in our involvement with the community as part of our student education and together we participate in many activities with these organizations throughout the year. 

Our school office opens on August 8^th . hours are 7:15a.m.-3:45p.m. – Monday through Friday. New student registration is August 8^th and 9^th, and returning student registration is August 14^th and 15^th. New Family Orientation for grades 1-5 is August 22^nd at 9:30a.m. at Village campus. New Family Orientation for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten is August 22^nd at 10:30a.m. at the ECDC campus.  Class assignments will be mailed to all students on August 20^th.  If you don’t receive your assignment, please come into our office on the first day of school.  Visit our school website for registration forms and more detailed information at: www.edline.net/pages/Coronado_USD.

Our morning procedures have changed.  Village main campus gates will now be open each school day at 7:45 a.m.  Village Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) gates will now be open at 8:00 a.m.  Students will have a longer time span to arrive at school.  As students arrive onto either of our campuses, they are to walk directly into the gates.  Students who ride bikes are to park at their grade level designated bike rack area.  Once on campus, students are not permitted to go to classrooms, unless they have a note from the teacher, and must stay out in the designated supervised playground areas.   

At our Village main campus, a line up bell will ring at 8:05 a.m.  Students will line up on their classroom number.  Teachers will come out to greet students and walk them to their classrooms.  At 8:10 a.m., the learning chime will ring and students should be in their seats ready to learn.  Equipment is closed and no balls are allowed in the morning before school.  This morning time is a great opportunity to allow students to talk and be together in a safe, supervised environment before school begins each morning. 

At our Village ECDC, a line up bell will ring at 8:15.  Students will get their backpacks and line up in a designated area determined by the teachers.  Teachers will come out to greet students and walk them to their classrooms.  Parents will not be permitted to follow the students into the classroom, and will need to have hugs, kisses, and goodbyes completed so students are able to easily transition to their classrooms.  At 8:20, the learning chime will ring and that means our students are in their learning zone.

Once the line up bell rings, parents must exit the campus back through the gates quickly, so our custodians may secure both campuses.  If you are volunteering first thing in the morning at either of our campuses, you must exit out of the gates and come into our front office to sign in and receive your visitor badge.

NEW SCHOOL HOURS AT VILLAGE AND ECDC

Village (Grades 1-5)              ECDC (Kindergarten)
School begins at 8:10           School begins at 8:20

Dismissal                               Dismissal
Grades 1-3                             8/23 – 9/14
M, T, Th, F at 2:15 p.m.        11:50 a.m.
W at 1:00 p.m.

Grades 4-5                             9/17 – end of year     
M, T, Th, F at 2:50 p.m.        M, T, Th, F at 2:25 p.m.
W at 1:35 p.m.                        W at 11:50 a.m.

Please stop by and introduce yourself to me, as I look forward to meeting and getting to know you and your family. I welcome any comments or questions you may have in regard to your child’s education.  Remember, we are partners in your child’s education and it takes a Village to raise a child.

Whitney DeSantis
Principal, Village Elementary/ECDC