September 4th, 2026 - Volume 4
Dear Viking Families,
Welcome to September! As we settle into the rhythm of a new school year, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for all that lies ahead. Our theme this year, “Together We Lead, Together We Rise, Together We Grow” is already coming to life in our classrooms, hallways, and community events. At Vickery Creek, we are a community igniting the joy of learning and inspiring leaders—and it shows! When we think about proactive leadership that builds a lasting impact, it is hard not to think of Dolly Parton. While her music made her famous, her true legacy was built on her proactive commitment to uplifting others through literacy, kindness, and community. As Dolly wisely put it:
"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader."
This month, we’re focusing on Habit 1: Be Proactive from the Leader in Me framework. Students are learning what it means to take responsibility for their actions, choices, and learning. We encourage families to talk about this habit at home and celebrate proactive behavior together!
Please join me in congratulating Katie Keith, our 2026 - 2027 Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Keith exemplifies dedication, creativity, and leadership in everything she does. We’re also proud to announce that she is our August Spirit of the Viking Award recipient as well—an honor given to any staff based on our monthly focus. August was the Core Paradigms, and Mrs. Keith is our first recipient of this award. Please vote for September's Spirit of the Viking below!
We’re thrilled to kick off our PTO Boosterthon fundraiser on September 9th and the Boosterthon run will be on September 24th! This exciting event not only promotes fitness and fun but also helps us raise money for important school initiatives. Check out the video below to see what monies raised will go to this year.
We’re excited to welcome families back into the building for lunch with your child on Tuesday, September 8. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child during the school day and see the joy of learning in action. You are welcome to purchase a school lunch through the cafeteria. Your child can show you how! We can’t wait to see you. Please note the safety reminders of our building below.
We hope everyone enjoyed a restful Labor Day weekend. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of all our families, staff, and community members who make our school a special place to learn and grow.
Our Extra curriclular activty regisation is officially underway! From Kickball to Singing, there’s something for every Viking to explore. We’ve also launched Precess before school—a great way for students to get moving, connect with friends, and start the day energized. It is not too late to register (We have extended the deadline date to September 6th at 11:59 pm or until activites are full)- Extracurricluar Activites Website
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are building and sustaining a community igniting the joy of learning and inspiring leaders. Please note the MRA Fall Survey linked below. Our goal is to have 200 families fill it out! This survey drives our focus for the year and your voice is invaluable in that decision. It is a time we hope you will brag about VCE and share what you love most about our school.
With gratitude,
Elizabeth Ihle
Principal
We are so excited for you to join us for lunch beginning September 8th. Please see the flyer for guidelines and remember, once your lunch is over, please do not walk students back to class. Please exit the building - your child is able to walk themselves back to class. See you soon!
Teacher of the Year
Katie Keith
Sarah Gill was awarded $4,818 dollars today from the Education Foundation. She applied last Spring for Next Gen Creators: Bridging the Digital and Physical Worlds. Her grant will provide our students with tangible coding and robotics tools like Sphero iNdi cars for k-2 students and Sphero BOLTs coding using JavaScript for our older students. Her grant also will provide students knowledge about the fundamentals of 3D design using CAD softwhere and 3D printers! We are so excited to see what our students create with this grant.
We are incredibly proud to announce Officer Mac as our Spirit of the Viking Playmaker award recipient. Every single day, Officer Mac brings endless positive energy to our school, greeting students by name as they arrive and making every individual feel deeply seen, known, valued, and safe. He understands that school safety is built on strong relationships, which is why you can often find him running on the kickball field during recess, playing Uno with students at a classroom table, or patrolling our halls with a helpful hand and a warm smile. As a true playmaker, his kindness, dedication, and cooperative spirit shine behind the scenes and alongside our teachers, always stepping in to support our Viking family whenever and wherever he is needed. Thank you, Officer Mac, for your servant heart, your joyful conversations, and for making Vickery Creek Elementary such a safe and happy place to grow!
We will have a Joint LSC meeting with other West Community LSC's. This is open to the public. Board Members Dorian Usherwood and Wes McCall will be there to share the focus for the year. Chief of School Safety, Todd Shirley, will also be there to share about safety and the recent addition of Centegix badges. If you plan on attending, please let me know at eihle@forsyth.k12.ga.us so can plan accordingly. It will be at Kelly Mill Elementary School on Setember 10th starting at 8:30.
Boosterthon is our biggest fundraiser for the year! Sign up is open and we kick off on September 16th with our run on September 24th. Thank you for your contribution and support. Thanks to past Boosterthons, we have some brand new playground equipment, a refreshed cafeteria, Media Center, and Gym, new nets on the k-2 playground, and an interactive system students love for PE. Stay tuned for our goal and what we will be doing this year!
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