
The Viking View
2022-2023
Parent Edition
Holiday Breakfast & Coffee Bar
Help us sprinkle some cheer for our wonderful Vandeventer staff with treats for a breakfast bar and a coffee/tea bar. Please drop off at Vandeventer on Monday, December 12th or Tuesday, December 13th (before 9 a.m.). Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you! VMS PTA
December 12 - December 16
Week-at-a-Glance
Monday, December 12th
College Day - Wear your favorite college shirt with jeans!
Drop Off Breakfast & Coffee Bar Donations
8 Period Day
- Advisory Lesson
- Sign Up for Viking Time
Spelling Bee
- Cafe
- 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13th
Made to Shine: Wear your FISD shirt with jeans!
Drop Off Breakfast & Coffee Bar Donations
8 Period Day
- Viking Time - Priority Day - ILA
Wednesday, December 14th
Block Schedule (Periods 1,3,5,7)
- Viking Time - Priority Day - Social Studies
Elementary Winter Tour
- Isbell Elementary School
- Band/Orchestra/Choir
7 BBB Staley vs. VMS @ VMS
- 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
8 GBB VMS vs. Staley @ Staley MS
- 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 15th
Block Schedule (Periods 2,4,6,8)
- Viking Time - Priority Day - Math
Thespian Club Winter Social
- Theatre Room
- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
7 GBB Staley vs. VMS @ VMS
- 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
8 BBB VMS vs. Staley @ Staley MS
- 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 16th
Holiday Themed Dress Day
- Get Ready for a Long Winter's Nap - Wear Holiday PJs
8 Period Day
- Viking Time - Priority Day - Science
Club Proposal Deadline
- 4 p.m.
Band Winter Concert
- Liberty High School
- 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
December
19 Band Locker/Candy Cane Party
19 Anderson ES - Course Selection 23-24
20 Isbell ES - Course Selection 23-24
20 Theatre Art III - Field Trip
20 Leadworthy Field Trip
20 Band - Midwinter Concert @ LHS
20 Choir Community Caroling
20 Choir Cluster Concert @ LHS
20 Theatre Improv Night
21 Semester Transfer Window Closes
21 Art Club Meeting
21 Ensemble Pictures (band/orchestra/choir)
22 Q2/Semester 1 Last Day
23-January 9 Winter Break
January
10 Q3/Semester 2 Begins
Viking Highlights
Student Helper Holiday Pizza party
PTA Spirit & Game Night!
Friends, food, and fun! Thank you to everyone who showed up to support the Vandeventer PTA! Our students and staff has a great time at Bella Bella Mozzarella on Monday night!
Fine Arts Visit Feeder Elementary Schools
Solo Cup Stacking Challenge
In Coach Young's Leadworthy class, small teams of students worked together to stack their cups using a piece of yarn and a single rubber band. Students were not allowed to touch the cups with their hands. The activity required students to communicate and work collaboratively.
12 Reasons Why NOT To Be In A Play
Student Work on Display
Amazing "Gift" Art
Lost & Found Items To Be Donated
All items currently in our Lost and Found will be donated over Winter Break. Please ask your student to visit the Lost & Found if they are missing an article of clothing, tennis shoes, jacket/coat, water bottle, gym bag, lunch pale, and/or pencil bag. The last day for students to collect lost items is Thursday, December 22.
Don't Forget to Sign Up!
Upcoming Events
Library Happenings
Notes from the Nurse
If your student is/has been sick, please err of the side of caution when decided whether or not to send them to school. If you send your student to school while sick, other students and staff may be exposed and your student may have a longer recovery time. Students who have had a temperature of 100 degrees or higher must be fever free for a twenty-four-hour period without the use of fever reducing medications before they can return to school as per our district fever policy in Frisco ISD.
Please be mindful of Frisco ISD's medication policy as we are seeing many students carrying medications as well as giving medications to other peers. ALL medications with the exception of inhalers and Epi Pens (only with prior written doctor approval and on file in the clinic with the campus nurse) are NOT to be carried by students. This includes ANY OTC medication or ANY other prescription medications. Certain over-the-counter medications can be kept in the clinic and require a medication consent form to be on file and signed by a parent/guardian. Please see this link to access medication forms.
If you have any questions regarding our medication policy, please contact Heidi Teeling, School Nurse. These measures are in place for the safety of your students as well as other students on our campus. Students who bring medications to school are subject to disciplinary consequences.
Wishing you and your families much health and wellness in the coming months!
High School Registration Information
Neighborhood News
Isbell Zone - Trash & Recycling Route Change
Please be aware of these changes as this will impact alleyway and street traffic in the Isbell attendance zone. Families can visit www.FriscoTexas.gov/recycle for more information.
Athletic Information
Buy Athletic Tickets Online
All tickets to athletic events hosted at FISD venues (including Ford Center and Toyota Stadium) must be purchased online. No tickets are available at the front entrances, but tickets can be purchased up through game time using the ticketing website. Visit tickets.friscoisd.org to purchase season passes and individual tickets.
Game Expectations
- School dress code applies at all school events.
- Students should remain in the stands to watch the games and limit their trips to the concession and restroom areas to halftime and between games. Students are not allowed to loiter/hang out around the concession and restroom area at any time.
- Students and other spectators are not to bring food or drink into either of the gyms (volleyball/basketball). Bottles of water are allowed in the gym.
- Once students leave the game, they are not allowed to return.
- Students’ conduct should promote sportsmanship and reflect their team in a positive and respectful manner. Conversations should be appropriate, and profanity is prohibited.
- Students should not have the following items or similar items with them: football, soccer ball, tennis ball, skateboard, scooter, etc. Please leave items such as these in the car or at home. These items will be confiscated if brought to the stadium/gym.
- Students must be picked up no later than 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game to attend future extracurricular events. Students are encouraged to call their parent/guardian at the beginning of the last quarter/last set rather than waiting until the game is over. Administrators will wait with students until they are picked up to ensure student safety, so please ensure that your student has a ride immediately following the game.
- Students not meeting these expectations may be asked to sit with their parents (if parents are present), or to call their parents to pick them up. Students may also not be allowed to return for future extracurricular events.
Previously Posted District Information
Zoning Approved
Frisco ISD Trustees have approved attendance zone boundary changes for the 2023-24 school year that impacts current and future students on our campus. Impacted families received an email on November 15th with pertinent information. Access the approved maps and learn more: https://bit.ly/3URdsGk
District Takes All Threats Seriously
Recently, there have been threats made to campuses by students via social media. Every threat is taken seriously and Frisco ISD is thankful for its strong partnership with area police departments and emergency services. Watch Frisco Police discuss why words matter.
Please remind your children that while they may be “joking” about having a weapon or
threatening harm to a school campus, the punishment by law is at minimum a Class-A
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail. The punishment can be as severe as a third-degree felony, punishable by up to $10,000 and two to 10 years in prison. Frisco ISD supports the Frisco Police Department's full prosecution of any individual that threatens harm to our students, staff and campuses.
[TX Penal Code 22.07 Terroristic Threat]
[TX Education Code 37.125 Exhibition, use, or threat of exhibition or use of firearms]
Notably, families have the means to report concerns anonymously to the campus 24 hours a
day. Frisco ISD uses the STOPit for students, parents and the community to report any
concerns anonymously via web-based reporting or through the app. Please take a moment to
Middle School Free Online Tutorials
Frisco ISD teachers offer weekly online tutorials in the evenings, saving parents time and money that might otherwise be spent on outside tutors. The tutorials are facilitated by District teachers who have worked with the Teaching and Learning Department to ensure alignment between what happens in the classroom and what is covered in online tutorials.
Find the full list of subjects and tutorial dates/times here.
Links
Stephanie Taylor, Principal
Ms. Taylor began her career in education in 1997 with Irving ISD after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. After several years as a teacher and coach, she obtained her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas and continued in Irving as a middle school assistant principal. In 2006, she transitioned to Dallas ISD where she worked in various leadership roles until moving to the Frisco area five years ago. This is Ms. Taylor's fourth year as the Viking principal, and she looks forward to another great school year!
Elizabeth Murray, Assistant Principal
Elizabeth Murray grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Lamar University. She started her teaching career in 2006 as a 6th grade math teacher at Clark Middle School and then spent the next 14 years teaching all grade levels of math at Fowler Middle School. During the 2021-2022 school year, she was selected as an Administrative Intern for Staley Middle School. Mrs. Murray will be join Vandeventer Middle School this year and she is so excited to be a Viking!
Marla Smith, Assistant Principal
Marla Smith got her start in marketing and public relations, but found her true calling in education with the Dallas ISD in 2002. She taught RLA for 10 years and was a master teacher before transitioning to Central Office and School Leadership for another 7 years. Mrs. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Howard Payne University and her Masters degree in Education Technology from Lamar University. She has a husband and two teenagers. Mrs. Smith is excited to begin her fourth year at Vandeventer Middle School.
Counseling Team
Nikki Summers
Dennis Thorpe
Kristi Garcia
Support Staff
Iryna Faulkenberry
Emily Shelton
Nancy Pontius
Vandeventer Middle School
Email: vandeventer@friscoisd.org
Website: https://schools.friscoisd.org/campus/middle-school/vandeventer/home
Location: 6075 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX, USA
Phone: 469-633-4350
Facebook: facebook.com/VandeventerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @VandeventerMS