Viking View

Student | Staff Holiday

Tuesday, October 15th

Viking Time Schedule

PTA Reflections Projects DUE

National School Lunch Week

VMS PTA Fundraiser @ Chipotle (See Below)

• 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

8 FB VMS @ Liberty HS

• 5:30 p.m. B Team vs. Griffin
• 7 p.m. A Team vs. Lawler

Wednesday, October 16th

Viking Time Schedule

National School Lunch Week

7 FB VMS vs. Lawler @ FISD Memorial Stadium

• 6 p.m. (Only 1 Game)

8 VB VMS @ Lawler

• 5:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.

IB Mtg @ FHS (8th Grade Students & Parents)

• 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 17th

Viking Time Schedule

National School Lunch Week

C-Hall | TNR | TNS

• 3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

7 VB Lawler @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.

Rising Redhawks Tailgate Event @ Liberty HS

• 5:30 p.m. (Tailgate) & 7 p.m. (Game Time)

Friday, October 18th

Pep-Rally Schedule

National School Lunch Week

End of 9-Weeks (Q1)

Fall Pep-Rally

• 3 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.

"Out of This World" School Dance (Gyms)

• 4:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m.

October

21 - 2nd 9 Weeks Begins

21 - Red Ribbon Pajama Day

21 - 8 FB Staley vs. VMS @ LHS

22 - Red Ribbon Twin Day

22 - October Fire Drill

22 - 7 FB Staley vs. VMS @ LHS 6 p.m. (Only 1 Game)

22 - School Picture Retakes

23 - Red Ribbon Red or Pick

23 - 8 VB VMS @ Staley

24 - Red Ribbon Crazy Hair

24 - 7 VB Staley @ VMS

24 - C-Hall | TNR | TNS

25 - Red Ribbon Dress Past Decade

25 - Official UIL Eligibility End Q1

Students are not allowed to have any medications in their possession at school. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbs. All medication must come from home and must be in the original container and properly labeled. All medications must be left in the school clinic with the nurse where it is kept in a locked cabinet at all times. This includes over-the-counter drugs, as well as prescription drugs. The school nurse will not administer allergy or vitamin injections.

A registered nurse is assigned to Vandeventer full-time. Students who are ill should report to the nurse with a pass from their teacher. If it is deemed necessary, the nurse or other school personnel will contact a parent or guardian. Students should not use their personal cell phones to contact parents and ask to be picked up due to illness; in case of illness, students must check-out through the clinic.

Parents/Guardians,

Per Texas state law, the following screenings have been scheduled to take place at VMS for our 7th and 8th grade students:

November 6th - Vision, hearing, and Acanthosis Nigricans (early indicator for diabetes) via science classes (All 7th Graders)

November 15th - Scoliosis via P.E. and athletics classes (7th Grade Girls & 8th Grade Boys)

To limit distractions during the school day, cell phones and smart watches MUST be turned off and put away (in locker) unless a teacher has assigned a BYOD day. If a teacher has assigned a BYOD day, it will be posted outside the classroom door, and the teacher will direct students regarding how to access the technology as they enter the classroom.

Teacher directives are expected to be followed throughout the period regarding technology usage. Cell phones and other personal technology devices are not allowed to be out in the hallways or at lunch time.

Any student seen accessing technology in the hallways during passing period or during lunch will have his/her device confiscated. If a phone is taken up, it will be turned into Mrs. Garcia, AP Secretary. The teacher will send an email to the parent letting them know the phone was taken up and why.

The following consequences will be enforced for violations of the electronic device policy:

• 1st offense – Warning (phone is confiscated and returned to the parent)
• 2nd offense – $15 Fine (phone is confiscated and parent/student pays $15 fine)
• 3rd offense – $15 Fine (phone is confiscated and parent/student pays $15 fine)
• 4th offense – Restrictions (student relinquishes cell phone at the start of school daily)

If a phone is confiscated from a student who is required to turn in his/her phone each day, then the phone will be held for the remainder of the school year. Office staff will keep track of cell phone violations and consequences.

Students took their school portraits and received their school I.D. badge and lanyard on September 24th. Please click here for school picture online ordering information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please note that students will get in free to athletic events and other campus related activities if they present their ID badge. If students do not wish to carry their ID badge, to an event or school related activity, they may take a picture of their ID badge with their cell phone and present the picture to school staff. If students do not have their ID badge or a picture of their ID badge they may pay to enter the event or activity.

Canvas is our new learning management system (LMS), and it is taking the place of Learning Hub, Google Classroom, and class websites. Canvas provides an online platform in which students can interact with course material and activities. As parents, you can be an observer in the Canvas courses that your students are enrolled in this year. An observer can see due dates, announcements, and other course content but cannot participate in the course. The instructions provided will help you get started by creating a Canvas account and pairing it with your students.

Canvas for Parents

We hope that this new tool increases efficiency with you partnering with us in your child’s educational journey.

Come support our students at the Vandeventer School Dance on October 18th. The theme for the dance is VMS is Out of This World! Students may dress up in their best galactic wear. Details below.

When: October 18th

Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

What: Out of This World Dance

Where: VMS Gym

Cost: $5.00 (buy at the door or during lunches 10/15-10/18)

Requirements: Only open to current VMS students; students must have their student ID (or a picture of it) for entry; and students must be passing the 1st 6 weeks

FISD is currently undergoing authorization to be able to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Frisco High School. The IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous high school graduation program recognized world-wide where students complete challenging coursework and IB specific requirements to develop well-rounded students who are able to contribute their talents to a global society.

If you are interested in joining this program next year, please be sure to attend one of the IB Information Nights at FHS.

IB Information Nights

October 23rd or October 28th

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Frisco High School auditorium (rear of building)

6401 Parkwood Blvd, Frisco 75034

Parents and students can also learn more about the IB Diploma Programme on the district website by clicking HERE or through the International Baccalaureate website www.ibo.org. Please email any questions about the IB Diploma Programme to Jenna Gates, IB Coordinator at FHS. GatesJ@friscoisd.org

Parents, Vandeventer Middle School’s Sixth Annual Career Day is right around the corner on Friday, November 22nd. We are looking for 50 to 60 speakers to share their chosen career field with our students.

This event is such a special day and the students look forward to it every year. If we are able to get 50 to 60 speakers, there will be 20 to 22 students in each of the 4 sessions that the speakers will be facilitating. After the 4 sessions, we will treat all of our speakers to lunch.

Please consider participating in this wonderful event and sharing your career with our students. Interested speakers may contact Dennis Thorpe at thorped@friscoisd.org for more details and/or to sign-up for our Sixth Annual Career Day.

Curricular Clubs:

National Junior Honor Society - Sponsor Kim Shea (Tuesdays-As Needed)

Art Club - Sponsor Leanne Rainey (Tuesdays 1/Month)

Academic Pentathlon - Sponsors Kristen Roberts & Jamie Buzan (Thursdays-As Needed)

Math & Science Team - Sponsors Ping Trinh & Sarah Stirman (Tuesdays @ 3:40)

Thespian Club - Sponsor Madison Davis (Viking Time)

STUCO - Allison Hillman (Mondays @ 3:40)

Environmental Club - Wendy Stelly (Fridays @ 7:55)

Vikings Read Book Club - Amy Hon (Tuesday @ 3:45)

Non-Curricular Clubs:

Students may provide information related to their non-curricular club to their peers via student created posters, word-of-mouth, and student announcements.

We would like to thank all the parents and students that have joined Vandeventer PTA so far! We already have 201 members and would like to double this number!! Reminder, your student needs to be a PTA member to be able to participate in the Reflections program.

Sign up for PTA Membership Here

Click here to like Vandeventer’s PTA Facebook Page

Sign up for PTA Membership Here

General Meetings

Vandeventer Middle School Library

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

April 22nd

8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

January 29th

May 21st (Tentative: Volunteer Breakfast)

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 for the next twelve years in various leadership roles at the campus and central office levels, including a middle school principalship and the role of an executive director overseeing nine campuses. Ms. Taylor looks forward to becoming part of the Viking family.

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 spending the last 7 years in Central Office and School Leadership. 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 who works in advertising and two kids who enjoy being teenagers.

Mrs. Brotherson grew up in Grapevine, Texas, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas. She began her teaching career at Spears Elementary as a 5th grade teacher in a self-contained classroom. After five years, she made the jump to middle school, teaching GT ILA at Cobb Middle School and serving as the Lead GT Teacher for FISD for the past five years. Mrs. Brotherson obtained her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Mrs. Summers grew up in Laguna Beach, CA. with an early livelihood in the film industry. She started her educational career in 2002 as a Reading teacher in Houston ISD. In 2014, she joined FISD as an Integrated Language Arts teacher at Stafford & Roach Middle school. The majority of her career has been spent in the middle school setting with the exception of one year in elementary. Mrs. Summers has a passion for working with and helping students grow socially, emotionally, and academically. Her Bachelor’s degree is from Prairie View A&M University, and her Master’s degree in Counseling was earned at the University of Saint Thomas.

Mr. Thorpe has served an educator and counselor for the past fourteen years in the state of Texas. He began his career in education in 2000 as a middle school math teacher in Carrollton, Texas. After spending ten years in the classroom Mr. Thorpe became a middle school counselor also in Carrollton where he served on the district crisis intervention team for two years before joining Vandeventer Middle School in 2013. His bachelor’s degree is from Texas State University and his master’s degree is from Amberton University.

allmondt@friscoisd.org

469-633-4350

Maggie Garza, Data Clerk (Registrar | Attendance)

garzarodrig@friscoisd.org

469-633-4357

Iryna Faulkenberry, Principal Secretary

faulkenberi@friscoisd.org

469-633-4356

Frisco, Texas 75035

Email: vandeventer@friscoisd.org
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/campus/middle-school/vandeventer/home
Phone: 469-633-4350
Facebook: facebook.com/VandeventerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @VandeventerMS