Viking View

January is School Board Recognition Month, and the District wants to take the opportunity to recognize and thank trustees for their tireless dedication to the community.

Frisco ISD is thankful for the Board of Trustees, which is made up of community members who volunteer their time to make the education of children in the community a top priority. While they preside at monthly Board meetings as the District’s policy-making body, they spend countless hours behind the scenes donating their time and energy to get to know the names and needs of students, staff and parents.

On behalf of the students and staff of Vandeventer Middle School, thank you for your service. Click this link https://flipgrid.com/11d23240 to access appreciation videos from our faculty and students. A special thanks to Mrs. Hillman and STUCO for organizing and collecting these thoughtful messages.

Monday, January 25

Holocaust Remembrance Week

Q3 IPR (Assignment Cut Off)

Advisory Schedule

Fire Drill @ 1:30 p.m.

Band UIL Practice

• 3:50 p.m - 5:20 p.m.

Tuesday, January 26

Holocaust Remembrance Week

Viking Time Schedule: Week 1/1st Period

ALL Future Emerson HS Students

• Zoom Meeting
• 1:37 p.m. - 2:09 p.m.

UIL Band Practice (Cafe)

• 3:50 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.

Wednesday, January 27

Holocaust Remembrance Week

Modified Block Schedule

• Period 1, 3, 5, 7

"Like" Social Media Viewing Assembly

• Science Classes

PTA General Meeting

• Virtual Meeting
• 8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Viking Time Schedule: Week 1/2nd Period

7B BB Wester vs. VMS @ Wester

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8G BB Wester vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 28

Holocaust Remembrance Week

Modified Block Schedule

• Period 2, 4, 6, 8

Viking Time Schedule: Week 1/3rd Period

IPR Posted in HAC

"Like" Social Media Viewing Assembly

• Science Classes

UIL Theatre Art Practice (Stage)

• 3:50 p.m. - 5 p.m.

TNS/C-Hall

• 3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

7G BB Wester vs. VMS @ Wester

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m.
  

8B BB Wetser vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 29

Holocaust Remembrance Week

Regular 8 Period Day Schedule

Viking Time Schedule: Week 1/4th Period

UIL Theatre Art Practice (Stage)

• 3:50 p.m. - 5 p.m.

February

1 Regain Eligibility

1 Theatre Arts UIL Practice

2 Band UIL Practice

3 7B BB VMS vs. Fowler

3 8G BB VMS. vs. Fowler

4 7G BB VMS vs. Fowler

4 8B BB VMS vs. Fowler

4 Theatre Arts UIL Practice

4 Choir UIL Practice

5 Theatre Arts UIL Practice

5 Wear Read - American Heart Association

6 GT Testing

There has been a recent increase District-wide in the number of COVID-19 cases as evidenced by the COVID-19 dashboard. While we do not see evidence of significant disease spread at the campus, we must all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 both at school and in the community.

Keep in mind these east tips on ways we can stop the spread as a community:

• Maintain 6 feet of distance when possible and wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Screen your student daily prior to school for signs and symptoms of illness
• Keep your student home if an undiagnosed symptom or illness is noticed
• Be wise with social activity and follow recommendations from the CDC and local health service authorities

The Frisco ISD COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions is an excellent resource as you have questions about how this pandemic has impacted our District.

Submission Packet

The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission (yes, sweetpotato is actually one word!) is hosting #TeachSweet, a social media contest running from Jan. 15-Mar. 15, 2021 for teachers and homeschool parents all over the country. Get a chance to win the grand prize of a $500 classroom shopping spree and $500 cash by teaching about sweetpotatoes!

To participate in the upcoming contest, you just have to follow these four steps:

1. Go to https://ncsweetpotatoes.com/curriculum/ and pick a lesson plan appropriate for your student(s)

2. Use the lesson plan and take a photo or video of you implementing an aspect of the curriculum (i.e. student project of sweetpotatoes growing in classroom or at home, reading a book virtually to your classroom over Zoom)

3. Post the photo to your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #TeachSweet and tagging the NC SweetPotato Commission (@ncsweetpotatoes). Please make sure your post is public so you can be entered to win!

4. Sit back and wait for the winner to be announced!

The last day to post is Mar. 15, 2021 and the winner will be announced in late March 2021.

Thank you for your interest and good luck!

https://ncsweetpotatoes.com/curriculum/

Starting January 5, Frisco ISD schools will notify parents and staff on a weekly, rather than daily, basis if a student or staff member who was on campus during the infectious period tests positive for COVID-19. Parents and community members can continue to track new daily case reports on the District’s COVID-19 dashboard once the dashboard returns Jan. 6. This change applies only to the general email notification of a COVID-19 case on campus; students and staff who were in close contact with the positive individual will continue to be notified as soon as possible regarding their potential exposure and need to quarantine. Learn more about the District's COVID-19 notification protocols.

Open referrals for FISD’s Gifted and Talented program are now available. Open referrals will be accepted January 7 through January 21. All paperwork must be submitted by midnight on January 24. If you are interested in having your child screened for our GT program, please contact Kristen Roberts at robertsk@friscoisd.org. If your child is already receiving GT services, your child does not need to be rescreened. For more information concerning this process, please visit the department section on the FISD website and click on the Gifted Education link.

FISD librarians believe that reading is the foundation for all learning and contributes greatly to student success in school. Recent research suggests that print remains the preferred medium for reading. As such, we believe that getting books into the hands of FISD students is critical to increase opportunities for independent reading and academic success.

In order to support literacy development, Frisco ISD has created opportunities for students enrolled in the Virtual Academy to checkout print books from their home campus library and pick them up on designated days and times.

Please review this presentation for specific guidelines for Vandeventer Middle School. Reach out to Mrs. Hon for questions at hona@friscoisd.org.

Please use this link to schedule your lunch visitation. Due to social distancing guidelines, there is a two family minimum for each lunch time.

• Parents will be allowed to eat lunch with their student(s) during the fall semester; however, we are asking parents to notify the administration as least 24 hours in advance.
  
• Parents/guardians are NOT allowed to bring food and/or eat lunch with students other than their own.
• Social-distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced in the cafeteria.
• There will be tables designated for parents eating lunch with their students(s).
• Parents/guardians MUST check-in at the front office to receive a visitor badge.
• Parents/guardians must comply with campus expectations regarding face coverings and social-distancing.
• Students may still receive lunch drop-offs via the grade level coolers/buckets placed outdoors in front of the cafeteria entrance.

The sign-up form is now available to pick-up meals at no cost for the third nine weeks of school. The first distribution day will be Thursday, January 7th and will continue through Friday, March 19th.

Enrolled Frisco ISD students participating in Virtual Academy and non-Frisco ISD children 18 years old and younger are eligible to participate. Five days’ worth of breakfast and lunch are distributed once a week at one of the District’s drive-thru locations. Sign up here.

Please note: Because students have the option to switch to on-campus instruction after each grading period, families who wish to continue to pick-up meals must complete a separate sign-up form for each grading period. That means families who have been participating should sign up again to continue receiving meals.

Students attending face-to-face instruction receive their free meals at the campus when they select a complete meal, which includes a fruit or vegetable. Per USDA regulations, each student/child is allowed only one free breakfast and one lunch per day, so to-go meals may not be picked up by parents of students who are already receiving free meals in the school cafeteria.

The Academic Partnership and Community Partnership teams are working on gathering information about virtual service opportunities for students. Click here to view a list of cooperating agencies willing to provide virtual service opportunities.

To capture Vandeventer Middle School related activities and to ensure that all students are included in this year's yearbook, we need your help. Faculty, students, and staff can upload pictures here (password: 415464688). Students who are not allowed to be photographed will be edited if the submission is selected for publication. Adding a photograph to this link does not necessarily guarantee publication. We appreciate your assistance! Deadline is 01/31/2021.

To order a 2019-2020 yearbook, please click here. Deadline is 01/31/2021.

In order to provide the safest and most orderly environment possible at VMS sporting events, please adhere to the following rules:

• Parents should only purchase their allotted number of tickets (up to 3). Attendance at games should be limited to families of participants only. Sharing codes or purchasing more than what is allowed may hinder other families from attending games and could result in a loss of privilege of attending games.

• Family groups should sit together, but 6 feet from other family groups.

• Masks are required at indoor events and encouraged at outdoor events, especially if unable to stay 6 feet apart.

• Families, including younger siblings, should not have the following items or similar items with them: football, soccer ball, tennis ball, volleyball, skateboard, scooter, etc. The items may be confiscated until the end of the event and individuals will be asked to return to their seats.

• Families, including younger siblings, should remain in the stands to watch the games.

• Food and drinks are not permitted in the gym. Bottles of water are allowed.

• Family conduct should promote sportsmanship and reflect our team in a positive and respectful manner. Conversations should be appropriate and profanity is prohibited.

We ask for your continued support in creating a safe environment for our athletes during the pandemic. Potential risks for your family are also a risk for the VMS community. Please consider the following:

• Keep your student home if symptoms are noticed.

• Be forthcoming regarding exposure, potential exposure, or illness with your student and/or family member.

• Be wise with social activity and follow recommendations from the CDC and Health Department. Social activities away from school continue to impact the campus.

Thank you for your support of our FISD athletes, families and spectators – we’ll see you at the games!

We would like to reiterate the importance and expectation of attendance for our virtual academy students. Please make sure your student is adhering to the following expectations:

• Follow the campus bell schedule
• Attend all classes virtually (i.e. Zoom or Google Meets)
• Participate in virtual classes by keeping the CAMERA ON (the teacher needs to see the student's face)
• Stay on the required virtual session until the teacher dismisses the class for asynchronous assignments
• Complete all assignments as directed by the teacher

Virtual students are expected to adhere to all compulsory attendance laws, district policy and campus expectations. Failure to follow these attendance guidelines will be considered a violation of law, and students will be subject to disciplinary action.

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT TURN THEIR CAMERA ON WILL BE MARKED ABSENT. If you are experiencing camera issues with your device, please reach out to our receptionist, Emily Waltz @ waltze@friscoisd.org, to schedule a time to pick-up a Chromebook from the school.

For more information related to attendance, please visit the district's webpage @ https://www.friscoisd.org/about/resources-and-information/school-attendance

If your child is going to be absent from school for any part of or the entire day, please submit the attendance information before 8:30 a.m. via the REPORT AN ABSENCE form by clicking the REPORT AN ABSENCE tab on the top right corner of our campus homepage.

Phone calls are a courtesy, but this form (as outlined below) is the only means for official absence reporting. Parents will be expected to complete the following information by clicking the form from the REPORT AN ABSENCE tab on the top right corner of our campus homepage:

REPORT AN ABSENCE

STUDENT ID - OPTIONAL

STUDENT LEGAL NAME - REQUIRED

DATE OF ABSENCE - REQUIRED

(If absent more than one day, include all days of absence in the explanation on the next field.)

REASON FOR ABSENCE - REQUIRED

(Please include specific information or symptoms; "sick" is not sufficient for our records.)

COVID-19 - REQUIRED
Is this absence related to Covid-19? Yes No

Please provide an email (required) or phone number (optional) where you may be reached.

EMAIL - REQUIRED

PHONE - OPTIONAL

DOCTOR NOTE - OPTIONAL: Upload a doctor's note explaining the reason for your child's absence.

Curricular Clubs: Reach out to the sponsors for virtual meeting dates/times.

National Junior Honor Society - Sponsor Kim Shea

Art Club - Sponsor Leanne Rainey

Academic Pentathlon - Sponsors Kristen Roberts & Jamie Buzan

STUCO - Allison Hillman

Vikings Read Book Club - Amy Hon

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.

Students and parents will be able to access teacher lesson plans via our campus website by clicking this Vandeventer Website link. Once you have accessed the website, please follow these instructions:

• Find the news section on our campus website
• Click on the eLearning 2.0 button
• Find the teachers and click their name
• Follow the teacher's instructions for synchronous and asynchronous learning

Lesson plans will be posted on our campus website by 8:00 a.m. every Monday morning during 5-day work weeks. During holiday/professional development weeks availability to lesson plans dates/times may vary.

If you have trouble locating the teacher lesson plans, please reach out to your teacher. Teacher emails can be located on the Vandeventer Staff Page.

Students may click the link below if experiencing technology issues (Canvas, FISD login, Student Portal, Zoom). From the main FISD homepage, students must click on the word Virtual under the Instruction button, then choose Technology Resources from the menu on the left side of the screen.

World Wear Project: Please continue to donate your unused and unwanted clothing, shoes, backpacks, and toys.

Frisco Family Scavenger Hunt: Frisco PTA will be hosting a Scavenger Hunt on Monday, February 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A registration and entry fee is required to participate. $20 early bird (January 5 - January 18); $25 regular (January 19 - February 7). One entry fee per family. 20% of entry fees goes to VMS. Register at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/the-scavenger-hunt-for-advocacy

Attention Parents: Our next PTA General Meeting will be Wednesday January 27, 2021 beginning at 8:45 a.m. Following the meeting, PTA will be viewing the LIKE movie by IndieFlix production for parents who are in attendance with discussion questions. Your students will be viewing this film during their science class on Wednesday 1/27/21 or Thursday 1/28/21. This is a good opportunity to discuss with your students about social media. Please fill out the google form and zoom meeting info will be sent the week before the meeting.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5x6nLrIwWV_FXHuX6FWDOEOlcrVoa09wGRg5dldpOAmmMdA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please RSVP to the general meeting via the link below. The virtual meeting information will be sent out prior to the meeting to everyone who completes the form.

RSVP General PTA Meeting

LIKE, a Film-Based Education Program on Digital Wellness & Social Media: LIKE is an IndieFlix Original documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain. The goal of the film is to inform, educate, and inspire people of all ages to self-regulate. Social media is a tool and social platforms are a place to connect, share, and care… but is that what's really happening?

Join PTA: Parents, teachers, and students, if you have not had the chance to join VMS PTA this year, please join either through the PTA website http://vandevikings.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=8 or directly at https://www.joinpta.org/.

Visit http://vandevikings.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=6 to purchase Spirit Wear, Yard Signs, and/or Car Decals.

Like VMS PTA Facebook page to see the latest updates vis the following link: https://www.facebook.com/vandeventerpta/

For questions regarding VMA PTA , please contact president.vmspta@gmail.com

I’m on the HUNT for Advocacy! Frisco Family Scavenger Hunt Rules

1. Registration and entry fee required for participation

• $20 Early Bird Registration Fee (Jan. 5th - 18th)
• $25 Regular Registration Fee (Jan. 19th - Feb. 7th)
• One entry fee covers your entire family
• 20% of the entree fee goes to your kid(s)’ school(s)

2. The HUNT may be done completely from home (virtually), in person or a combination of both

3. All answers and photos must be submitted by 3:00 pm on the day of the HUNT

• NO late entries will be accepted

4. Any family may participate given they register and pay the entrance fee

5. All registered participants will have access to the HUNT’s private Facebook (FB) page

6. Each registered family will get a Swag Bag, available for pick up at the school of the participants choosing

7. Clues will be posted starting at 8:00 am, Monday, February 15 on the HUNT FB page

• Some clues will be released at different times during the day

8. Points will be awarded for the following:

• PTA Members automatically get 2 pts each
• b. each correct clue answer gets 1 pt
• Each qualifying photo gets 1 pt
• Extra credit creativity points - 1 pt per clue as awarded by the judges

9. Qualifying photos - only one photo per clue will be counted per family

• Photos have to be posted the HUNT FB page during the actual HUNT to be counted
• posting a photo to the HUNT FB page, the user gives the PTA, at all levels, permission to reuse the photo in future marketing events

10. Creativity points will be awarded for photos or answers that are deemed unique and creative by the judges

11. A total of 3 pts per clue are available - 1 for correct answer, 1 for accompanying photo and 1 for creativity

12. Two grand prizes will be awarded after all points are tallied:

• Virtual Top Prize awarded to the team who turns in all the correct answers first
• In Person Top Prize awarded to the team who collects the most points and turns all the correct answers

13. There will be a cash prize awarded to the School with the MOST ENTRIES

14. There will be a cash prize awarded to the School with the MOST COMBINED FAMILY

POINTS

15. Spots prizes will be available on a finders basis - you find it, you keep it! Virtual spot prizes will be randomly awarded throughout the day and will be available for pick up at your child’s school

16. Raffle tickets will be awarded for each set of 10 clues answered correctly

17. Schools may earn 1 raffle ticket for each social media, or internal school communications to post/send promoting the HUNT

• The schools must submit proof of the promotion to earn raffle tickets

18. Prizes will NOT be awarded on the day of the HUNT. Once all points have been tallied, the

winning families will be posted to the HUNT FB page

Melani Smith, MS, LPC, NCC

Virtual Counseling Office

Student Support Coordinator

smithmela@friscoisd.org

Virtual Counseling Office

Virtual Appointment Request Form

6075 Independence Parkway

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