EAST EXPRESS - A NOTE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL THIS ISSUE: Vestavia Hills City Schools
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OCTOBER 2021
EAST EXPRESS
Monthly Newsletter of the Vestavia Hills Elementary East PTO
Providing Parent Support to the Students & Teachers
of Vestavia Hills Elementary East
THIS ISSUE:
Note from Dr. Richardson
PTO Announcements
Upcoming Dates
PIE Sponsors
A NOTE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Dr. Mark Richardson
Dear Parents,
Let me begin by stating how fortunate I feel to serve as principal at a
school with families who are so committed to supporting education. I
see this all the time through acts of volunteerism and kindness and
generosity. The recent All in for East campaign has demonstrated that
commitment in a big way. I want to thank our PTO, led by President Katie
Howell, our All in for East committee, which includes Lauren Cater, Andi
Jost, Melissa Pierce, Anna Coreno, and Sarah Stevens, and all of those
families who donated to help make our school a more inviting and
engaging place for our children.
We are off and rolling this school year, and, as I do each year, I wanted
to make you aware of our school goals for the year. Each year we have
a school leadership team that meets to examine data and have a
conversation in order to develop goals that would benefit our students.
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 1
SEPTEMBER 2021
In doing this, we not only examine student assessment data, but we look at district goals, standards
from our accreditation agency, and other factors that help guide us in determining what areas to
focus on for the year.
This year we have settled on three primary goals, which I have typed below, and you can see on our
website with action steps here: East School Goals.
To implement an effective and meaningful character education program focused on our core
values.
To improve student learning by implementing professional learning teams.
To successfully implement the Bridges math curriculum.
Today I’d like to share a bit about our first goal, which is our effort to share and instill some very
positive core values in all of our school community. Last month, I listed those, which are part of our
EAGLE acronym: empathy, acceptance, grit, love, and excellence. We are working to teach these
values in a variety of ways, and maybe the most innovative way is the implementation of Character
Houses. There are five groups, or “houses,” one for each core value, and all of our students and staff
will randomly be assigned to each house. Each house will have an international name for that core
value, along with a color, and its own animal symbol. I, for example, am in the Acceptance House,
which has the name “Svikary” which is the Hindi word for acceptance, our color is orange, and our
animal symbol is wolf, because of the way wolf packs care for one another.
In October all of our students will be assigned to a group. I’d like to thank Casey Palmer and Katie
Smith, two outstanding teachers at East, for their leadership in developing this program. Stay tuned
for more information about this innovative way to establish community around our core values at
school!
Another way we are teaching core values is through administrator visits to each classroom. Cindy
Echols and I are working our way around to every classroom. Cindy reads a book focusing on core
values and discusses them with the children, and I do a science demonstration and connect the core
values with that demonstration. This year I am using an “Energy Stick” to demonstrate simple
electrical circuits and the idea of conductivity. In the lesson, we establish an electrical circuit with all
members of the class participating. After the science concepts are demonstrated and discussed, I
talk about creating a class that effectively “conducts kindness” with acts of love and kindness
flowing through as easily as electricity through metal. It’s always a lot of fun to get back into the
classroom and teach our kiddos.
Having a Wonderful Time at School, - Mark
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 2
SEPTEMBER 2021
THANK YOU!!
WE BLEW AWAY OUR
4
GOAL BECAUSE OF YOU!
03,13
1
Our deepest thanks to all our East families
and community partners that supported
our second ALL IN FOR EAST fundraiser!
$
We continue to be humbled by the
generosity of our East community and
thrilled to share this year's grand total!
PTO NEWS
Katie Howell, VHEE PTO President
Fall is in the air, and there are so many wonderful things that are happening through the PTO
this month!
Our PTO meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 9:15 am in the new
lunchroom and all are welcome! Please remember that we will also have an online option for
watching the meeting. PTO meetings are a fantastic way to hear about all of the wonderful
things going on at EAST and learn about ways that you can help our school. We hope to see
you at our next on November 2, at 9:15 am.
ALL IN FOR EAST just wrapped up and it was an incredible success ALL because of you!!
Each of you supports our school each day, and ALL IN FOR EAST week was a wonderful way
to see your love and commitment to our sweet school. THANK YOU!! Also thank you to the
volunteers that worked hard to organize and execute this big fundraiser including the
committee, Sarah Stevens, Andi Jost, Lauren Cater, Anna Coreno, and Melissa Pierce.
Spirit Shop items are still coming in and our winter spirit shop will be open all of November.
There will be a new system from Bandwagon for the winter shop, as soon as you place your
order, you will be receiving your items within the following week. This will be great for gifts
under the Christmas tree!!
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 3
SEPTEMBER 2021
Class T-shirts should be delivered to your child’s classroom throughout the month of October,
so be on the lookout.
Gift Wrap Sales were only online again this year and your students did an unbelievable job-
thank you for your emails, social media posts, and texts. We are absolutely thrilled with
money that was earned through your efforts. A HUGE thank you to Catherine Dempsey and
Amy Stacy for making this fundraiser such a success!
Feast for East, made for a delicious Thursday night meal for so many of our families to enjoy!
Catherine Dempsey headed this effort up and it was our most delicious fundraiser yet!
This month brings everyone’s favorite night back at East. CARNIVAL, The Sweetest East
Adventure, spearheaded by Elise Hollinhead, Lauren Thomason, and Nicole Hardekopf. The
event will be on October 28th from 5-8, so get ready to have some candy-filled fun! During
this fabulous week we will also be having Red Ribbon week, October 25th - 29th, led by Kira
Strid, and lastly, a new addition to the most fun week of the year, is our silent auction that
will have tons of fun East Experiences to bid on, more information to come. Ann Berkmeier
will be leading this cause, and of course, it will be a great one!!
Thank you for all your support in so many different ways to our amazing school! October is
going to be an amazing month at Vestavia East Elementary!
Katie Howell, PTO President 2021-22
UPCOMING DATES
10/12: No School, Professional Development
10/15: Report Cards Go Home/Makeup Picture Day
10/20-21: Camp McDowell (5th Grade)
10/21: Community Helper Day (Kindergarten)
10/24-29: Red Ribbon Week
10/28: Carnival 5-8 pm
11/2: PTO Board Mtg 9:15 am (in-person & virtual)
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 4
SEPTEMBER 2021
The Sweetest East Adventure is getting closer!
We can’t wait for you all to join us on Thursday, Oct. 28 from 5-8 p.m. for our annual carnival. Don’t
miss this opportunity for your kids to enjoy games, sweet treats, a haunted house, a cakewalk, live
music, and much more.
To purchase items for Carnival, CLICK HERE. If you need assistance navigating to your cart within
the PTO Membership Toolkit (MTK), click here for a tutorial.
A few important reminders about the event:
T-shirts – t-shirt sales ended Thurs, Oct. 7. There will only be a limited quantity of t-shirts
available for purchase at the event on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Food – food sales ended on Monday, Oct. 11. A limited quantity of dinner will be available for
purchase at the event on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Options include:
Option 1: Large cheese or pepperoni family pizza for $12.
Option 2: Individual meal with hot dog, chips, and a drink for $6.
Drinks will be available for purchase at the event for $2.
Tickets – this year’s event will only cost $10 a ticket with access to all games and activities.
Children over the age of 2 years need a ticket. Adults don’t need tickets.
*Please note that food, Sweet Shoppe and t-shirts are not included in the ticket price.
Volunteer opportunities – Be sure to sign up to work a shift in your student(s) classroom, check
with your Room Mom for the signup - there are many slots still available. For everyone to have the
best Carnival experience each classroom booth needs to have attendants for each shift.
Sweet Shoppe – the Shoppe will feature a wide range of sweet treats. These items are not
included in the price of the ticket, so please be sure to have cash or credit the night of the event.
Parking – there will be no parking on the East campus during Carnival. Parking will be available at
Vestavia Methodist, or the surrounding neighborhoods.
Thank you, and we look forward to a fun evening of sweet celebration at East!
VHEE Carnival 2021 Committee
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 5
SEPTEMBER 2021
Sunbeam Room SUPPORT VHEE PTO
while your shop!
Have gently used burp cloths,
bibs, or smaller pillows (bed rest
pillow, and/or study pillow,
pregnancy pillow) or sheets?
The Sunbeam Room always
welcomes donations such as
these for their room! Donations
can be left in the office care of
The Sunbeam Room.
HELFUL LINKS
VHEE Calendar VHEE Website
https://www.vestavia.k12.al.us/site
https://www.vestavia.k12.al.us/Domain/10
/Default.aspx?PageID=14
Cafeteria Menu Membership Toolkit App
https://schools.mealviewer.com/school Apple App
/VestaviaHillsElementaryEast Google Play
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 6
SEPTEMBER 2021
THIS MONTH'S FEATURED
PLATNIUM SPONSORS
Thank you for your support of East!
www.frplegal.com
www.childrensurgent.com/location/vestavia
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 7
SEPTEMBER 2021
Corporate
PIE SPONSORS
PLATINUM
Yanosky Orthodontics Chick-Fil-A
Angela Stevens / Realty South McDonald's
Norris Orthodontics Megan Kincaid / ARC Realty
Blair Moss / Ray Poynor Blair Smith Interiors
Medplex Big Color
Farris, Riley and Pitt, LLC Bandwagon
Duncan & Thompson Construction VHUMC
Vestavia Title / Mark Gualano VH Pediatric Dentistry
Kids Urgent Care Seeds Garden Design
F3 Nicole Hardekopf / ARC Realty
GOLD
Eco Three
Susan Klyce Interior Design
SILVER BRONZE
Drew and Sarah Stevens
Marianne Strong Interiors
Rees Denham / Keller Williams
Taco Mama
Pulmonary Medicine Associates
Asia Rug Company
Cater Design & Landscape Ashley Hood/ Rodan & Fields
Total Garden Scapes Connect Pediatric Speech Specialists
Narrows Dentistry
Cafe Iz
Dear Emmaline
Scott & Katie Howell Nothing Bundt Cakes
Backyard Market
The Lili Pad
Noto Home Builders
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 8
SEPTEMBER 2021
Family
PIE SPONSORS
PLATINUM GOLD
Will & Ann Berkmeier Jason & Christy Dillon
Rees & Amanda Denham
Jordan & Elizabeth Jones
SILVER BRONZE
Ammar & Sloan Almehmi Matt & Angie Anderegg Charles & Robyn Kown
Davis & Shannon Browne Jeff & Meredith Lees
Chad and Alicia Austin
Wes & Jordan Caudell Ryan & Lindsey Lutz
Michael & Lindsay Booth
Joe and Megan Drumm Will & Andrea Martin
Eric & Melissa Cates
Traci Fassina David & Lowrey McCabe
Jonathan & Ann Cunningham Adam & Barcley Gerndt Ryan & Anna McClendon
Stephen & Alyssa Daniels Michael & Celia Grammas Levi & Elizabeth Mixon
Brad & Valencia Garrett Tucker & Ashley Groves Michael & Jennifer Mummert
Jonathan & Lindsay Handey Daniel & Pary Payne
Mark & Anna Gualano
John & Paige Hedrick Michael & Laura Prewitt
Brett & Lydia Hollett
Michael & Martha Hovater Ken Riley
Nathaniel & Lindsey Humphreville
Brian & Dane Hoven Butch & Lindsey Roebuck
Ray & Joanna Jones John & Ty Howell Trey & Jennifer Smith
Ryan & Mary Austin Jones Howard & Shea Hunn Loren Spiller
Jason & Amber Kessler Brad & Mary Johnson John & Kira Stridd
Bill & Lauren Jones Clark & Elizabeth Worrell
Scott & Julie Kirkpatrick
Bill & Sarah Kay Wos
Walker & Heather May
Christopher & Margot Morrow
Edwin & Blair Moss
Trey & Jennifer Nelson
Luke & Katie Newell
Nathan & Becky Reamey
Partners in Education (PIE) is a program by which individuals and
Joel & Whitney St. Laurent businesses can support VHEE through donations of money, goods or
Patrick & Marianne Strong services. These individuals and businesses are recognized throughout
the year in many ways including monthly school publications. PIE is
Matt & Jen Stuenkel
supported by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and all
Doug & Sharon Williams donations directly benefit the students of Vestavia Hills Elementary
East. To become a sponsor and learn more please contact Lindsay
Handey at pievhee@gmail.com.
EAST EXPRESS PAGE 8
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