1. Healthcare

Ventura Elementary School &
VGH Junior High School
February
&
March 2015
From the Administration:
Greetings, Viking Community!
Has 2015 been good to you so far? 2015 will find us wrapping two fantastic districts into one fantastic district.
The 2015-2016 school year will be the beginning of a newly created district titled Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
Community Schools. Ventura and Garner-Hayfield will no longer exist independent of each other, and a new
district will be formed July 1! How exciting! The GHV Board has made some big decisions and will have many
more to make. That Board meets the second Monday of the month at 7:30 at the GHVHS Media Center if
you’d like to offer your input on future decisions.
Building Information:

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary will serve Grades PK-4 at the former Garner-Hayfield Elementary
Campus.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Intermediate will serve Grades 5-6 at the former Ventura Elementary Campus.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Junior High will continue to serve Grades 7-8 in Ventura.

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School will continue to serve Grades 9-12 in Garner.

The two buildings in Ventura will continue to have blue and gold school colors with the Viking mascot.

The two buildings in Garner will continue to have red and black school colors with the Cardinal mascot.
I’m VERY excited to have two beautiful buildings in Ventura full of eager learners!
Wrestling and girls’ basketball are underway. Coach Steve Eastman is leading our wrestlers this year, and
they’re already pinning and winning! If you’ve never been to a wrestling meet, you should go and witness
some serious excitement! Coaches Greiman and Svare are continuing to lead our basketball program.
Check our calendar and try to see a game!
There has been much discussion in the state about the start date for next school year. The law has stated for
quite some time that school will begin the week of Sept. 1. That same law has provided opportunities for a
waiver to start earlier if the local district determines that’s a better fit for their communities. While the waiver
still exists, the guidelines to be granted one will be much stricter. GHV will comply with the law, and we will
make it work!
The most important thing we do is treat each other with kindness and respect! If you have comments,
concerns, or suggestions, I’m happy to listen.
Willing to serve,
Debra Steenhard
Principal for Ventura Elementary and Ventura/Garner-Hayfield JH
Please follow me on Twitter for updates, schedule changes, information, and sports scores.
@VGHJHPrincipal.
I am
Ventura Elementary School & VGH Junior High School
Page 2
Band News at VGHJH
34th ANNUAL BAND BONANZA
By: Griffin-Benzing-Jolivette
All GHV Bands will be featured in one concert in the GHV High School Gym on Monday,
March 23, at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy listening to the combined GHV 5-6 bands, the middle school
bands, and the high school bands. Each perform two pieces alone. The grand finale
includes all band students in grades 5-12 performing two pieces together.
EIGHTH GRADE TRANSITION NIGHT
By Angie Bierle
Eighth graders and parents/guardians in the Ventura/Garner-Hayfield Schools are
encouraged to attend the Transition to High School Program which has been scheduled
for 6:30 P.M. on Monday, March 16th in the High School Auditorium. Mr. Haag, Mr.
Newton, and Mrs. Bierle will provide informational items. The high school student council
members will conduct tours of the high school building with the students. Parents are also
welcome to tour the high school facility with the administrators. Handouts will be
provided including the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School Curriculum Guide and Fall
Course Registration materials for the 2015-16 school year. Individuals needing additional
information are encouraged to contact Mr. Newton, Guidance Counselor
(641) 829-4484 at the VGH middle school; or Mrs. Bierle, High School Guidance Counselor
at the high school, (641) 923-2632.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held March 24 and 26 from 4-8 p.m. in the VGH Jr.
High gym. Parent–Teacher Conferences will be held at the Ventura Elementary at the
same time parents signed up for during fall conferences. VGH Jr. High Student Council
members will be holding a bake sale both days in the Jr. High and in the Elementary.
Valentine’s Cookies
Student Council will be selling Valentine’s
Cookies for Relay for Life in February.
Cookies will be on sale Wednesday,
February 4 & Thursday, February 5. Cookies are
about 4” and are $3 each. Purchase as many as
you would like. Please email Becky Ziesmer to order
yours!!! [email protected]. Pick up will
be Friday, February 13 in the VGH Jr. High Office.
FUN~GAMES~FAMILY~
Please be watching our website
(www.venturaschools.org)
for an exciting, fun filled
day at the Ventura Elementary
in March!!!!!
Page 3
Ventura Elementary School & VGH Junior High School
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary is excited to announce
that we will be offering 3-year-old preschool and early
childhood special education programs starting in the 2015-16
school year. There will be two sections of morning preschool,
one on Monday and Thursday, and the other on Tuesday and
Friday from 8:25-11:15. The early childhood special education
program will be offered in the afternoons on Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday from 12:15-3:25. Planning is still taking
place, and more details will be provided as they are available.
If you have a child that will be 3 years old on or before
September 15, 2015, please contact the office (641-923-2831) to
place your name on the list.
Kindergarten Round-Up
Will be held in Garner this year. More
information to come in the April/May
newsletter.
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Parents/guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their
child/ren in another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware of the
following dates:
March 1, 2015 – Last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2015-2016 school
year.
September 1, 2015 – Last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten
students and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2015-2016
school year.
Parents/guardians of open enrolled students whose income falls below 160% of the
federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance. This may be in the
form of actual transportation, or in the form of a cash stipend. For further details,
contact the superintendent’s office.
Parents should be aware that open enrollment may result in the loss of athletic
eligibility.
Please check the school web site (www.venturaschools.org) for
activities/athletic calendar, teacher websites, notices, and other updated
information!
Ventura Elementary School & VGH Junior High School
Page 8
Ventura Elementary News
Box Tops
Box Tops are worth 10¢ for your child's school!!!
Don't toss 'em... clip 'em!
Thanks for supporting our school! Our earnings goal this year is
$375.90...together, we can make that happen. Keep clipping Box Tops and
send them to the Ventura Elementary Office. This money goes directly to the
students for field trips, Christmas activities, and playground equipment.
Ventura Elementary Spring BEC Foods Fundraiser
VGH Elementary Students will begin selling Bec Food items FEBRUARY 17th.
Please help support the Elementary by ordering!!
Tuesday, February 17—Kids start selling
Monday, March 2—Orders are due back to the Ventura Elementary
Tuesday, March 17—Pick up orders at the Ventura Elementary from 3 p.m.—5 p.m.
Elementary Spring Pictures—March 6
Spring Pictures are coming up soon. Here are a few reminders:
All students are photographed for the same package
No money is brought on picture day
One package is provided to each student unless a note is given to the photographer for
a second package
Pictures will be sent to school in approximately 3 weeks
No retakes are offered
Price sheet is included with package-all payment envelopes are specific to that child by
means of a barcode
Parents may purchase entire package or individual sheets
Parents may send check, money order, (payable to Lifetouch) or cash or may pay online
and then write online code on payment envelope
Parents need to return pictures they are not purchasing
Reminder notices are sent to the school after 2nd pick-up date for any unreturned
pictures
Each child must return his or her picture package and/or payment envelope (with full
name on envelope) as they are specific to that child by means of barcode
Pictures and/or payment should be returned to school within 2 weeks
Questions may be directed to Lifetouch at 1-800-529-3039
HOT LUNCH NEWS
February & March 2015
P.O. Box 18
Ventura, IA 50482
Junior High School - 641-829-4484
Fax - 829-3995
Elementary - 641-829-4482
Fax - 829-3906
Email - (1st letter of first name followed
by last name)@venturaschools.org
We’re on the Web!
www.venturaschools.org
FOR YOUR INFORMATION



Dates/Items change on the
master school calendar.
Please check the monthly
newsletter calendar and/or
the website.
Our Hot Lunch Program is a computerized system with each student having a lunch
account where money is deposited. As the students eat each day the cost of the meal
and any extra items are deducted from the account.
Breakfast Cost = $1.45
Lunch Cost = $2.35
Extras = $.25 - $1.00
Most students choose to eat extra items, and this does cause a lunch account balance
to dwindle quicker than just eating meals.
Please pay ahead by sending money regularly for your lunch account. This will help
keep your account with a positive balance. Accounts in the negative receive a parent
email almost daily as a reminder. Typically accounts between $1-$12 in the positive
receive an email notification on Fridays to remind parents to send lunch money. Paper
notices are given to the students periodically if it appears the emails aren’t getting to
the right person.
If you think you might qualify for free or reduced lunches there is a form provided in
this newsletter or you can call me for an application. The guidelines are quite generous
and it helps the school qualify for reimbursements and additional funding for early
childhood programs. It is completely confidential for you and your student. Not even
the people entering lunch data can tell who is free or reduced.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the school by note, phone
(641-829-4484) or email ([email protected]). THANKS! –Nan
UPDATE ON LUNCH ALA CARTE ITEMS:
Recently our head cook Linda Quackenbush has been offering many
more choices for school lunches/a la carte items! These range in
variety from homemade PBJ Uncrustables to Apples with Caramel
Sauce and everything in between! Prices are still between 25 cents and
$1.00 and the choices vary by day and by the school building. There are
usually more offerings at the Junior High level as they also are able to
purchase these items at lunchtime to use as after school snacks when
they stay for sports.
Please keep an eye on your lunch account and replenish when needed.
We can also block extras on accounts if you do not want your child to
purchase them. Any questions please contact Nan at the JH building.
[email protected]
Gym Use/Availability for activities should
be checked out through Cameo
Echelberger, Adm. Asst. email:
This & That:
[email protected]
* Please be sure to let the office know if your address, phone numbers, email, emergency
information changes through-out the school year so staff are able to reach you.
* The Superintendent & Board Secretary may be reached at the Elementary Building: Phone
641-829-4482
Long distance phone calls need to be
limited from the school office.
Please make appointments and
* 2014-15 school calendars will be published in each month’s newsletter or available on the
social arrangements outside of
school website:.
school hours.
* The Athletic/Activities Calendar is available and updated on a link on the school website:
THANKS!
www.venturaschools.org
Please contact either the Junior High Office (641-829-4484) or the Elementary Office
(641-829-4482) with any additional questions you may have!
A Note Concerning School Board Meetings
Ventura School Board conducts their regular meetings on the 3 rd Monday of each month. These meetings begin at 7:15
p.m. and are held in the Media Center at the Junior High School building. All regular meetings are open to the public, however if you
wish to be on the agenda, you must contact the School Board Secretary the Wednesday prior to the meeting you wish to attend and
state your reason for wanting on the agenda. -Nancy Watson, School Board Secretary