The Lion Update

Hello Vilseck Lions!

It was another wonderful week at VES with so many exciting events happening around our school!

Our Kindergarteners celebrated a special milestone this week with their Royal Tea Party! In the faraway Noble Name Kingdom, the Lord of Letters was preparing for a most splendid Royal Tea, but there was one problem—he could only invite Kindergarteners whose names he could read on the grand invitation scroll! Each week, our brave Kindergarteners have been practicing writing their names on royal primary lines, and on Fridays, the Lord of Letters himself stops by to check their progress. This week, so many of our Kindergarteners wrote their names clearly enough to earn their invitation to the Royal Tea! Congratulations to all our Kindergarteners on this achievement, and a huge thank you to our PTSA for helping coordinate and providing delectable treats for this special celebration.

We were also fortunate to have Trevor Romain visit our 3rd-5th grade students this week. Trevor is an author, illustrator, and motivational speaker who shared powerful messages about resilience, kindness, and believing in yourself. Our students were engaged and inspired by his stories and humor. A special thank you to our school counselor, Ms. Fischer, for coordinating this meaningful experience for our Lions.

Weather Reminder: As the weather continues to turn colder and wetter, please make sure your child comes to school with a coat and appropriate gear for outdoor play. Recess is very important for our students' physical and mental well-being, and we will only hold indoor recess when absolutely necessary.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on November 6-7. A link will be sent out soon where you can sign up for a time that works best for your family. We look forward to connecting with you!

I continue to enjoy watching our Lions learn and grow each day. Thank you for being such a supportive school community!

🌟 Grade Level Spotlight: Third Grade

Growing Curiosity-Plants & Crayfish in ACTION!

Our third graders are diving into science with hands-on exploration that’s sparking excitement across the grade level. As part of their unit on the life cycle of a plant, students have planted bush bean seeds and are observing their transformation from seed to sprout. Each day brings new discoveries as they track growth, measure changes, and record observations in their plant journals.
In addition to their plant investigations, students have been studying crayfish to explore animal structures and behaviors. Through close observation, they’re learning how crayfish move, adapt to their environment, and interact with one another building connections between plant and animal life cycles.
These experiences are helping students practice key science skills like making predictions, noticing changes, and communicating their findings. Whether watching a sprout reach for sunlight or a crayfish wave its pincers, our young scientists are growing more than just plants. They’re growing their understanding of the world around them.

💡 Parent Tip of the Week: Celebrate the Little Victories

Big growth starts with small steps. This week, take a moment to recognize one of your child’s everyday wins: finishing a homework assignment without reminders, showing kindness to a classmate, or simply getting out the door on time. A high five, a note in their lunchbox, or a heartfelt “I’m proud of you” can go a long way.

Celebrating these small victories at home can have a powerful impact in the classroom:

• Boosts confidence. When children feel recognized for their efforts, they’re more likely to take academic risks, participate in class discussions, and tackle challenging tasks with a positive mindset.
• Reinforces positive behavior. Acknowledging kindness, responsibility, or perseverance at home encourages those same behaviors at school, leading to stronger peer relationships and better classroom dynamics.
• Builds motivation. Small celebrations create a sense of progress. When students see that effort leads to praise, they’re more motivated to stay engaged and keep trying, even when learning gets tough.
• Strengthens home-school connection. When parents echo the values and goals of the classroom, students feel supported from all sides. This alignment helps them feel more secure and focused during the school day.

Progress matters more than perfection. Your encouragement helps them believe it.

Have a wonderful weekend, and see you next week!

With Lion Pride,
Dr. Goldsmith