The Viking View

"America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land. Today, programs, partnerships, and parks preserve and share the stories and heritage of Indigenous people. National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November."

We are so excited to kick off the PTA Reflections program for 2022-23 school year. The theme for this academic year is SHOW YOUR VOICE. Please see the flier below for additional details. All entries need to be submitted to the front office by Tuesday, November 1st. The entry form and guidelines can also be found at https://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation. For additional questions, please reach out to arts@vmspta.org.

Thank you for supporting Vandeventer PTA!! Please join the PTA today!

Monday, October 31st

Happy Halloween - Students and staff costume dress up day!

8 Period Day

• Advisory Lesson
• Sign Up for Viking Time

• Memorial High School
• 5 p.m.

Tuesday, November 1st

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - ILA

PTA Reflections Deadline

• See Details Above

IB Parent Webinar

• See Details Below

Boys Basketball Parent Meeting

• Cafe
• 6 p.m.

Tall Cop Presentation

• Independence High School
• 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 2nd

Block Schedule (Periods 1,3,5,7)

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Social Studies

Veterans Day Luncheon (Google Form) Deadline

Girls Basketball Parent Meeting

• Cafe
• 6 p.m.

Thursday, November 3rd

Block Schedule (Periods 2,4,6,8)

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Math/Science

Bella Bella Mozzarella Luncheon

• Kickball Champions/Fundraiser Winners
• 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Emerson High School Registration

• Students Zoned for Emerson 23-24
• Library

• 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m.

Pentathlon Exam

• B105
• 3:45 p.m. 4:30 p.m.

Friday, November 4th

Spirit Day - Wear VMS, LIberty HS or Emerson HS spirit wear!

Q2 6-Week IPR

8 Period Day

• No Advisory/Viking Time
• Pep-Rally Schedule

Fall Pep Rally

• 3:11 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
  

Saturday, October 29th

• Independence High School
• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Rockhill HS (Prosper ISD)
• See Guzman/Jadvani for Details

November

7 All Region Band Auditions

7 Cross Country Invitational

7 Turkey Walk

8 Election Day

8 Art Club Meeting

9 7th Grade BBB VMS vs. Wester

9 8th Grade GBB Wester vs. VMS

9 IB Parent Meeting

10 7th Grade GBB VMS vs. Wester

10 8th Grade BBB Wester vs. VMS

11 Veterans Day Celebration & Luncheon

12 Choir Clinic

12 All Region Band Clinic & Concert

12 Community Parade

Finally, the weather is changing! This means, it can feel like winter in the morning and summer by the afternoon! Please make sure that you are monitoring your student(s) who may have underlying health issues as conditions such as asthma can really ramp up during these next few months.

If your student has been diagnosed with asthma and uses an inhaler, please make sure to contact me as I am allowed to keep these types of medications in the clinic. If your student(s) is in athletics, band, or you feel that they are capable of recognizing when to use their inhaler, there is a form that can be completed and signed by a physician and parent/guardian so that the student may carry their inhaler during school hours and related events. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

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 help me to keep our campus healthy during the upcoming months.

If you have some time, please look at this short article on weather and illness as it contains some helpful information.

Wishing you and your families much health and wellness in the coming months!

To ensure a safe environment, students must follow these costume guidelines:

• students may not wear a mask that conceals the entire face (students may only wear the standard face masks that covers the nose, mouth, chin as a COVID precaution)
• partial face paint is allowed (students may not conceal their entire face with face paint)
• hair coloring and wigs are allowed
• ball caps are allowed but must be turned backwards or turned to the side as to not conceal a student's face
• hats associated with a student’s costume must not conceal the student’s face
• weapons of any kind are not allowed (e.g. plastic guns, knives, sword, club, bat)
• costumes must be school appropriate; skin tight bodysuits are not acceptable (e.g. Spiderman; Cat Woman)
• costumes should not be too distracting or prevent a student from participating in classroom lessons and/or activities

Students and parents may always reach out to the administration for any additional clarification or to seek approval for a costume before being worn on Monday, October 31st.

As a reminder, students may not bring any candy to school following Halloween on Monday, October 31st. All candy will be confiscated and not returned.

Pictured Left to Right: Ayan Shujaat (Trombone); Aryan Kamalapur (Trumpet); Aarush Segal (Saxophone); Joshua Fei (Trumpet); Logan Raymond (Trumpet); Amish Rudraraju (Euphonium); Sameer Din (Euphonium); Ethan Jin (Alto Saxophone); Ethan Nguyen (Oboe); Armaan Gupta (Oboe); Bharath Dharmalingam (Trumpet)

"Last Thursday and Friday, the Theatre Department performed The Jungle Book - Congrats to the entire cast and crew on a fantastic performance!"

Jordan Barrett

Attention all 7th and 8th Graders, it is time for Academic Pentathlon! Our topic this year is The American Revolution and The Founding of a Nation. Academic Pentathlon is only open to 7th and 8th graders and focuses on learning information relevant to the topic in 5 areas: Language Arts, Social Science, Science, Math, and Fine Arts. Students will compete in all 5 areas in the FISD Academic Pentathlon competition in April.

Encourage your student to get a Pentathlon study packet to prepare for the Qualifying Exam. Starting October 17th, students need to come by room B104 or B105 to pick up a study packet. The Pentathlon Qualifying Exam will be held on November 3rd in B105 after school. Students must attend the qualifier to be considered for the team. Please direct any questions to either Mrs. Roberts (robertsk@friscoisd.org) or Ms. Buzan (buzanj@friscoisd.org).

It’s already time to start thinking about your high school options! Students will begin the 4-year planning and course selection process for high school towards the end of this semester.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an advanced high school option that is open to all FISD rising 9th grade students and located at Frisco HS.

If you are interested in learning more about our district’s IB Diploma Programme, please be sure you attend one of our upcoming informational meetings – a webinar version on Nov 1st (click here to register) or in-person on Nov 9th at the FHS auditorium. Both meetings will start at 6 pm and cover the same information.

Want to explore about the IB Diploma Programme prior to the meetings? Check out the FISD IBDP website!

Please contact the IBDP Coordinator if you have any questions – Jenna Gates at GatesJ@friscoisd.org

On Friday, November 11th we would like to honor our military Veterans with a luncheon and celebration during the three lunch periods. Please complete this form by Wednesday, November 2nd if you are a military veteran and family member of a currently enrolled Vandeventer student and would like to be included in our Veterans Day Celebration and/or attend the luncheon on Friday, November 11th. Lunch will be provided for all Veterans. Students may eat a school-issued lunch or bring their lunch on November 11th. We will designate a special area in the cafeteria for our Veterans and students to eat lunch together.

We look forward to honoring all military Veterans, and those attending the luncheon, with a special presentation during each lunch period on Friday, November 11th.

• A Lunch: 11:25 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.
• B Lunch: 12:11 p.m. - 12:41 p.m.
• C Lunch: 12:57 p.m. - 1:27 p.m.

All visitors attending the luncheon must have a completed and approved background check. Please allow 3-5 business days for this process. Click here to get started. When arriving on Friday, November 11th, please have identification ready for check in at the front office 5-10 minutes before the scheduled lunch period.

We look forward to the celebration honoring our military Veterans! Please reach out if you have any questions and/or have any issues completing the form linked above.

The Navy ROTC program at Lebanon Trail High School will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. The webinar is for all interested FISD students currently in grades 8-11 and their parents.The meeting will be hosted by Naval Science Instructor, Major Billings.

This application process for incoming cadets for the 2023-2024 school year will be open to all participants afterwards.

How it works:

• All interested students and parents can sign up here to attend the informational webinar hosted by the program’s Senior Naval Science Instructor, Major Billings.

• The webinar will take place on Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00- 7:30 PM.

• Applications for incoming cadets will be available after the webinar

• Selected students will become Lebanon Trail High School students and become part of the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program in 2023-2024.

Now in its second year, the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program has already established a culture of leadership, character, honor, and service across Frisco ISD. Cadets participate in classroom instruction as well as physical training that prepare them for life beyond high school. To learn more about the program, please sign up for the informational webinar here.

Middle school students and parents are invited to taste test new possible additions to the school breakfast and lunch menus and provide feedback on existing menu options. The Child Nutrition Department will host an Open House at 5:15 p.m. on October 25 to seek input and answer questions regarding meal programs. Learn more and RSVP.

Parents/guardians are allowed to eat lunch with their student(s); however, we are asking parents/guardians to notify the administration as least 24 hours in advance by completing this form. There will be a 2 visitor/family maximum per lunch per day on a first come first serve basis. Campus office staff will provide an email confirmation to the requestor if the lunch reservation is approved. The requestor MUST receive this email confirmation to redeem the reservation on the date/time requested.

• All lunch visitors must have a completed and approved background check. Please allow 3-5 business days for this process. Click here for more information.
• Lunch visitors must check-in through the front office and receive a visitor badge. All visitors must receive a visitor’s badge upon arrival.
• Students and/or parents should only bring enough food for themselves (no large quantities to feed other students is allowed). The Texas Nutrition Policy does not allow sharing food.
• If the person visiting a student during lunch is not a parent/guardian, the identity of that person must be established, and he or she must be identified as either a visitor (with prior written, confirmed, parent/guardian permission) or emergency contact person on a student’s registration card/eSchool account.

Additional Cafe Information

• Microwaves will be available in the cafeteria for student use.
• Lunch drop offs will not be accepted at the front office. Students may receive parent/guardian lunch drop-offs via the grade level coolers outside the cafeteria entrance. Food drop off services are not allowed - NO EXCEPTIONS (i.e. DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc).

For more information about school meals, visit Frisco ISD Child Nutrition Link.

1. School dress code applies at all school events.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Once students leave the game, they are not allowed to return.
5. Students’ conduct should promote sportsmanship and reflect their team in a positive and respectful manner. Conversations should be appropriate, and profanity is prohibited.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

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

learn about the STOPit resource.

The community folder area of the District website is full of advertisements and links to information about goods and services that may be of interest to the FISD community. You can find everything from discounts on kids’ camps to volunteer opportunities. The folder does not represent the viewpoint of the District and is not an endorsement of the advertiser, products, or services listed.

Frisco ISD parents have access to the curriculum outline and pacing guides used Districtwide for each core course. The curriculum outlines are created and revised each year by District educators and are rooted in the statewide curriculum standards provided by the Texas Education Agency, called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS.) Access the curriculum and pacing page

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.

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 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 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.

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