Vintage is excited to announce that we are the recipient of a $2,000 Whole Foods Garden Grant for 2017 thanks to the effort of parent, Ms. Darie, parent of 3rd grader, Nadia W. This grant will provide the desperately needed funds to repair, update, and provide materials and supplies for garden areas around the campus.  With Whole Foods KIds Foundation's help (and the Whole Foods - Northridge store), Vintage knows children will become excited about fresh vegetables and fruit resulting in improved nutrition. We have witnessed the joy, wonder, and peace that students have found working in the garden.  We hope to continue and expand this experience. (If you can help, please respond per the last paragraph.)

Our main focus will be in the Vintage Garden garden plots section off of the Densmore parking lot.  Students have enjoyed harvesting and eating food they grew from these plots.  They have munched on sugar snap peas fresh off the vine. The have sampled chard soup and lettuce wraps from vegetables they grew.  But faulty irrigation has impacted plant growth.  Without regular irrigation needed in this dry, arid area of the valley, students efforts in planting,  tending their garden, harvesting, and eating will fail.  This grant money will allow us to update our irrigation.  Funds will also be used to purchase seeds, plants, garden tools, etc. 

HELP NEEDED:  Please join in helping us in getting the most out of these funds.  Do you like to garden.  Are you a farmer at heart and grow your own vegetables?  Or, do you just enjoy being outside watering?  Are you knowledgeable about plumbing, electrical, wood working?  We are looking for a list of volunteers who can call upon to help us as the need arises.  Please contact Mrs. Stone (from the Computer Lab):  818-892-8661 (Vintage Main Office) or email her: dstone02@lausd.net.  Provide your name, best way to contact you, and your child's name, and their classroom.  Let us know how you would like to help.  Thank you so much!

Thanks to Nadia W's mother, Ms. Darie, a parent volunteer at Vintage and a volunteer leader of these field trip at Sierra Club, Vintage and the Sierra Club ICO have partnered together since 2016 to take students on field trips.  The trips are integrated with the curriculum and give the students an opportunity to experience what they have learned about in the classroom. Leaders coordinate with teachers so that during hikes we can reinforce what students have been studying. We observe and talk about flora, fauna, habitats, erosion, the interconnections between species, and man’s impact on the environment.
 
We visited Malibu Creek State Park, Placerita Canyon, Temescal Canyon Gateway Park, Franklin Canyon, and Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.  We are definitely looking forward to the trip to Leo Carrillo State Park to check out tide pools and Eaton Canyon.  Students got to see the aftermath of Plate Tectonic movement at Vasquez Rocks.  They walked on volcanic rock in Malibu Creek State Park, ate lunch in the caves formed by an ancient gas bubble, they walked by the crumbly landslide in the sedimentary rock. The rocks at Placerita displayed more granite. Temescal Canyon featured cretaceous conglomerates which made sense because it was so close to the ocean.
 
The kids got to see owls and ravens, rattlesnakes and beehives at Placerita Canyon. They heard the woodpeckers in the tree and saw the acorn stash in a tree. They felt how soft the leaves of the sycamore are and why they were so important to the Native People hygiene. They saw plants with little leaves in the desert area and bigger leaves near the ocean.  They learned why leaf size is important for plants’ survival.
 
Students learned to think like a native in order to provide basic necessities such as food and clothing when one of the few plants around is a Yucca. 
 
They walked in a grass hut at Franklin Canyon.  There is not much room in there!   At Vasquez Rocks, the Tataviams used the slanted rocks and caves for shelter.  Some of their pictographs are still visible on the rocks.  At Placerita, the kids saw the small Walker cabin with all the restored period tools and instruments. Twelve children were raised in that small area in the 1900’s.   The ground was giving white oil pure enough for Model “T” Ford engine and the kids got to see the pump.  Specks of gold were found there in 1842, on the roots of an onion, story says.
 
Environmental and resource preservation was discussed in every park.  Franklin Canyon had a period in the 1930s as a water reservoir for the newly formed portions of Los Angeles. There was a small power plant attached to it too. In the 1970’s the area was saved from development by dedicated environmentalists and donated for use by all. Many movies were shot there too. Malibu Creek State Park was for a time a private country club and movie set before it was donated for use by all. Temescal Canyon used to be a church retreat. 
 
Written by: Parent Silvia Darie, a Sierra Club Leader

It is that time of year again! Science Fair time! The science fair project is mandatory for grades 3, 4, and 5, and optional for students in grades K, 1, and 2.  Below is the list of important dates for the Science Fair. Please use these dates to plan out a timeline for your project.  Remember to fill out the proposal form and return it to your teacher by March 30, 2017.

CLICK BELOW for links to important documents that you can print out in order to complete your project. These important documents can be found on our Downloadable Documents - Science Fair page. You will find general information such the timeline for the science fair, entry form, criteria and rubrics as well as specific type of project guidelines that you will need in order to successfully complete the project.

Science Fair 2017 information will be presented by Vintage's Parent Center in a workshop on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.  Two times to attend are available: 8:30AM to 9:30AM or 6PM to 7PM.  The workshop will take place in Vintage's Auditorium. 

Odyssey of the Mind is an amazing program that was introduced to Vintage last year. Students that participate are challenged to solve problems by thinking outside of the box, using creativity, and their knowledge to construct a solution. It is vital that the kids use team work and their communication skills to work together and achieve the best results. There are two types of problems that the kids are required to solve: long term and spontaneous. There are 5 categories for the long-term problems, and each year they have a different title, theme, and problem description. The title of the long term problems for this year were:
 
1. Vehicle: Catch Us If You Can
2. Technical: Odd-A-Bot
3. Classics: It’s Time Omer
4. Structure: Ready, Set, Balsa, Build
5. Performance: To be continued…A Superhero Cliffhanger
 
The spontaneous problems can either be hands on or verbal, and are shorter and faster compared to the long term. An example of one of these problems might be to name as many things that are cold in 2 minutes. Students are judged based on the creativity and originality of their responses for the verbal or their ingenuity for the hands on.
 
The students that participated in this year’s program range from 1st to 5th grade; their names are listed below:
Oliver O. - Rm. 21
Alyssa F. - Rm. 7
Weiwei G. - Rm. 31
Jasmine K. - Rm. 28
Leo K. - Rm. 14
Francisco K. - Rm. 27
Sara P. - Rm. 8
Sebastian A. - Rm. 27
Emma C. - Rm. 8
Viviana M. - Rm. 19
Emanuel H. - Rm. 21
Kaeley D. - Rm. 7
Sophia L. - Rm. 7
Sophia R. - Rm. 7
Serena K. - Rm. 10
Nadia W. - Rm. 15
Alana D. - Rm. 8
Elliott P. - Rm. 8
Marcus B. - Rm. 8
Kaitlyn P. - Rm. 10
Ariana M. - Rm. 10

One of our teams competing in the problem five category, A Superhero Cliffhanger, was awarded the Omer Spirit of the Program Award. This team received this award for their hard work, determination, and improve skills. All of our students put their hearts into their team’s solution, worked together, and represented Vintage in a positive light! Great job to all our Vintage Omers.

- Article submitted by Mrs. Jassem, Rm. 10

Saturday, March 4th 2017 Vintage participated in STEAM Fest at Cleveland High School.  We created displays that showcased our school’s talent in the Hall of Quality Education, Innovating in Our World, Interacting in our World, and Sustaining Our World.  Students, parents, and educators had an opportunity to attend the NW FEST to see examples, demonstrations, and ask questions from the participating schools.  (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

Vintage would like to thank everyone that came out to the NW FEST and those Vintage community members that helped out making our presentations so impressive.

Section: Sustaining in Our World:
Mrs. Stone - Staff
Ms. Darie and Mr. Wilson - Parents
Misses Alyssa F., Annaliese B., Nadia W. - Students

Section: Interacting in Our World
Mr. Goldberg, Mrs. Moorman, Mrs. Cruz, Mrs. Jassem  - Teaching Staff

Section: Hall of Quality Education 
Mrs. Mourou, Ms. Arias, Mrs. Kaufman - Administrative Staff

Section: Innovating in our World
Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Alarcon, Mr. and Mrs. Nolasco, Mrs. Meza, Ms. Reyes, Mr. and Mrs. Nerad-Sultan - Parents
Francisco K., Cassandra P., Enrique N., Sebastian A., Malik N., Conner    - Students

And, a BIG thanks to Vintage's teachers for the projects that you contributed to the displays.  

We apologize if we missed anyone's name.  Everyone's participation means a lot to Vintage. Feel feel to email dstone02@lausd.net and we will add the missing name(s).  Thank you.

Help! The Vintage Magnet Auction is March 17th and we need more DONATIONS. Deadline EXTENDED till March 10th. Details about how you can help and the auction itself follow.

If you have ANY items or gift cards that you would like to donate to the school to auction off, please send them with your child. We have many different themes that your donation can be added to and your child will get credit towards a donation and bear-dollars.

Any help is GREATLY, GREATLY appreciated! If anyone has corporate or community contacts, who are willing to donate, we have a donation letter for tax purposes. Remember your donations are tax deductible. Themes include: Sports, Arts & Crafts, Garden, Movie Night, Everything Girls, Wine Lovers, CA Lottery, Star Wars, Magic, Book Club, Baking, Pool Party, Beach, Coffee, Chocolate, LA Kings, LA Rams, Italian Dinner, Family Game Night, Minecraft, LA Lakers, Earthquake Preparedness, BBQ, Boys Bask, Girls Basket, Science, Spa, Dodgers, Legos and Outdoor Adventures.

DONATIONS EXTENDED till MARCH 10th!! The CLASS with HIGHEST EARNING BASKET WINS a YOGURTLAND SUNDAE PARTY from Yogurtland at 1106 Truman Street, San Fernando.

AUCTIONEER NEEDED Are you a fast talker? Like to be in front of a crowd? We need your skills!

We have a Head Auctioneer lined up but just learned that we need a 2nd to help when the Head Auctioneer needs a break.

Of course, you can also help by bringing the family (grandma and grandpa too) to the auction and bidding on the baskets.  Mark your calendar: Vintage Magnet PTA Annual Auction - May 17, 5:30-8:30PM - St. Patrick’s Day Theme – GOAL is $14,000 - Money collected goes to Classroom Aides and more! Dress in Green.  Enjoy Food Trucks & the Auction of Class Baskets and Donations.

It's coming!! Vintage PTA's Annual Auction.  To help Vintage provide quality programs and services, it takes funding!  PTA auction is a fun way to help raise funds and you can walk away with a fun basket or one of the other fun events. Bring along the relatives, everyone is invited,  and come out for a fun evening.  There will be food trucks, too, to help fuel you for the bidding wars. 

When: Friday, March 17th, 2017
Time: 5:30 to 8:30 PM
Place: Vintage Magnet Auditorium

 Join Vintage in celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday and the fun of reading!  Wednesday, Parents are invited to read in the classroom and the Reader's Oath will be read by all the school.  Thursday, March 2, students and one or more friends can dress alike (but no PJs). Also, a party for students with the most improved reading skills will be held in the Library. Friday, March 3, Wear your crazy socks to school!  Bookmark winners will be announced.  Remember, all three days, students can wear their Dr. Seuss hats. For more details and the sign up form see the flyer below or click here.