SBDM Election

Any parent of a current VPE student in grades K-4 are able to vote along with incoming Kindergarten parents/guardians.  Voting is open from now until Friday, April 16 at 5:00pm.  Please use the following link to vote: https://forms.gle/BCekM1VpfMLPS4kHA

Randa Remer-Eskridge

Bio

My name is Randa Remer-Eskridge. I am a native Lexingtonian and graduate of the Fayette County Public School System.  As well, I am a mother of three children, Jae (15), Rory (8), and Mackenzie (4). My educational background is that of a Licensed Professional Counselor with a PhD in Educational Psychology. Professionally, I have more than 23 years of experience working in a variety of roles in higher education, typically with an emphasis on student life. Currently, I teach undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky and run undergraduate initiatives aimed at student success (i.e., Diversity Healthcare Program in partnership with Bryan Station High School and the PATHfinders Peer Mentor program in the College of Health Sciences). Significantly, I have experience working in concert with the K-12 system educating elementary, middle, and high school students regarding health professions and teaching them how to navigate their paths to higher education.

Interest in the position

Elementary education is pivotal to the long-term success of students. Training related to educational psychology teaches me that motivation is central to helping students succeed. Effective teachers and administrators must view students holistically, attending to their academic, social, psychological, and physical needs and recognizing that all these aspects are crucial to student success.

Building a culture of diversity and inclusion is critical to student success at Veterans Park Elementary. Students need to belong to their academic and social communities, feel safe, and have a positive view of themselves. Creating this sense of belonging is critical to students’ overall development that occurs in part through the establishment of mentoring relationships and peer connections.

Accordingly, I seek to serve on the School Based Decision-Making Council to help ensure outstanding student services, including initiatives to create safe and inclusive spaces for diverse students. Having safe and welcoming contexts for learning requires attending to students’ diverse identities. It is imperative that we break down barriers to create access for all students.

Jeffrey K. Rice – 

Brief Biography:

I am a long time resident of Lexington and my children have attended VPE since kindergarten.  My son is completing fifth grade this year and my daughter is a fourth grader.  My children enjoy VPE and I have enjoyed being involved as well.  I have served as a parent member on the SBDM council for the past two years and prior to this year, I have volunteered in other ways, too, such as working with the COSI program and helping lead events at Fun Day.

I am a program/portfolio manager with Humana Inc. leading a team of project managers responsible for completing various health care related projects.  I earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Morehead State University and also an MBA from Xavier University.  In addition, I have experience as an adjunct university faculty member.

 I have experience with serving and leading various groups.  In addition to serving on the VPE SBDM council, I just stepped down after four years of serving as the Committee Chairman of Cub Scout Pack 221 which serves Veterans Park Elementary primarily.   At our church, I lead an adult class, have led preschool music, coached soccer and served on various committees. 

My wife, LaRaine, supports my nomination and is a former teacher who currently serves as the Lexington area director for Orphan Care Alliance.  As a family, we have a heart for supporting foster and adoptive families. 

As a volunteer at VPE and through my work with Cub Scouts, I have become acquainted with many VPE students and families.  I look forward to continuing to serve on the SBDM council.

Your support and consideration are appreciated.  I would love to talk with any parents and teachers who have questions or would like to know more about me.

Brief reason why I should be elected to this position:

I want to use my experience to help maintain VPE as a strong academic center especially after so much disruption during the past year.  Supporting our students, teachers, staff and families by continuing to serve on the SBDM council would be an honor!

A Letter from Ms. Dabney

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Good Morning VPE Families,

Families should have received communication from the district that Fayette County Public School will no longer be checking temperatures during arrival and on buses.  These changes come based on the Kentucky Department of Education Safety Guidelines and consultation with the Lexington Health Department.  

So what do these changes look like at VPE?  We are continuing to ask that families follow the health assurance expectation and check your child for symptoms prior to attending school each day.  In the morning, students will now be able to immediately exit their cars in the drop off lanes and enter the building through the main entrance.  We will continue to only use the front doors to ensure traffic flows in the same direction in the building and all students will have access to breakfast pick up when they enter. VPE staff will continue to take the temperature of any student displaying symptoms and follow our health protocols that have been established for when we have a sick student at school.  

Your children have done an excellent job following these new safety expectations in school since our return and we continue to be impressed with them!  Thank you for your continued support this school year and the flexibility it has taken to ensure your students are learning.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Molly Dabney

Principal 

Veterans Park Elementary

Yearbook Orders

Please see this flyer for more information on how to order your 2020-2021 yearbook.  This will definitely be a year we'll never forget! 

Parent Placement Letter

Please see this letter from Ms. Dabney regarding student placement in classrooms for the 2021-2022 school year.

KPREP Testing

VPE has set the dates for our spring KPREP testing. Testing is shortened this year and will be taking place over two days.  Students who are in-person learning in grades 3-5 will test on Monday, May 10th and Tuesday, May 11th.  Students who are remote learners who wish to come into school to test will be able to do so on Thursday, May 6th and Friday, May 7th.   Unfortunately, due to state guidelines KPREP can not be administered remotely like MAP testing and will require students to come to school on the noted testing days. Please email shannon.headley@fayette.kyschool.us if you want to have your remote learner scheduled to test during the remote testing dates. The KPREP testing schedule as follows:

• Remote Learners - Thursday, May 6th & Friday, May 7th - @ 8:00

• In Person Learners - Monday, May 10th & Tuesday, May 11th
• Daily Schedule
• Day One: 3-5 Student Survey, Reading Part A & Math Part A
• Day Two: 4th - Science & 5th On Demand

MAP Testing

During the month of April student will be taking the MAP test.  This test will be administered in both reading and math.  Students will complete the assessment with their homeroom teacher if in-person learning.  Students who are learning remotely will take the assessment with their Caring School Community staff member.  During assessment days the remote schedule will be altered.  Please look for communication from your child's teacher regarding the testing dates and schedule.

Patriot Place Information

Registration for 2021-2022 School Year: Please note that Patriot Place openings for incoming Kindergarteners is now on a lottery system.  Therefore, once a family officially registers they can be placed in the lottery system.  Families will be notified by the end of May if they have been randomly selected for a spot after both spring registration windows have closed.  Please note families with older siblings will be given priority to keep families together.  Families who have been enrolled in the program prior to closing for Covid  will be contacted to re-enroll this spring for registering for the 2021-2022 school year.  As spots open for the older grades we will contact families from our waiting list.   

Patriot Place Remains Suspended & Refund Checks: Patriot Place will remain suspended the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.  Families who have current fifth graders who will not be returning next school year will be mailed a refund for their balance. 

Enrollment Changes

We continue to have enrollment location change requests each week and now have over 90% of our students back in in person instruction.  Please note that all enrollment change requests must be in writing to the principal at molly.dabney@fayette.kyschools.us .  All changes for in person learning received by Fridays @ 10:00 am will start at the beginning of the next school week to ensure safety protocols have been established. 

The Book Fair is Coming!

April Spirit Project

Throughout the month of April, VPE will be partnering with On the Move Art Studio, a nonprofit mobile art room that travels to low-income neighborhoods to host free arts classes for kids in Central Kentucky!  On the Move Art Studio is in need of the following items: glue, plastic table covers, watercolors, sharpies, paper towels, baby wipes, washable paint, tissue paper, or any other art-related supplies.  

Donated items can be dropped off in the bin outside of the counseling office, located in the front hallway.

Kindergarten Registration

Please note the following dates for incoming Kindergarten Registration:

• April 5- 30 
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays

Sign up for an appointment using the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4eaead29a6f94-vpenew 

To enroll a new, first-time student, families may begin the process online here. Items to bring with you are:

• Deed and/or Current Lease
• Utility Bill
• Birth Certificate
• Immunization Certificate

Bus Routes

Please see this document for current bus routes.

FCPS shares updates on meals pickup & P-EBT cards

As a reminder to FCPS families, all meals are free for all students whether in the cafeteria or via pickup if still in remote learning. This federal waiver is in effect for the rest of the 2020-21 school year. 

• Meal distribution adjustments

Eligible families also receive help buying groceries through the federally funded Pandemic-EBT cards, which go out to qualified students. 

• Round 3 of P-EBT benefits

Yearbook Help Needed

Fifth Grade Promotion

Immunization Records 

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping our students healthy and ready to learn. If you have not had a chance to get your child's immunization record updated at school, please find time as soon as possible to obtain certificates for your student from your healthcare provider. Students not in compliance may be excluded from attendance, especially in the event of widespread illness. If you are unsure if your student's records are up-to-date, please check with our school nurse Deddie VanBussum or the front office staff.

Live homework help

The Lexington Public Library offers free, live homework help and tutoring from 2 to 11 p.m. daily.  You must have a library card and/or a Student Success Card to access.

• Homework help flyer

VPE Library curbside pickup

Please review these library hold directions on how to place a hold at the VPE library, and then review these curbside pickup directions.

New to VPE? 

If you are new to VPE, please watch our virtual tour to become acclimated to the building and to meet the staff.  We are glad you're here! 

Tech support

The district offers technical assistance with FCPS email accounts and Chromebooks. The Student Tech Support line, (859) 381-4410, is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Translators are available.