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 just wrapped up our Reflections program and we are in the process of judging all of the submissions. The details on who is moving forward will be sent out in the coming weeks. Thank you to all the students who participated!

Basketball season has kicked off and we are looking for volunteers to help in concessions. We need support for both the Boys and Girls games. Please use the link to sign up for a time slot.

If you are interested in supporting the PTA, but don't have extra time, consider joining or purchasing some spirit wear.

Thank you for helping us support our students and staff!

Vandeventer PTA

Monday, November 21st

• No School

• No School

• No School

• No School

• No School

Monday, November 28th

College Day - Wear your favorite college shirt with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Advisory Lesson
• Sign Up for Viking Time

Tuesday, November 29th

Made to Shine: Wear your FISD shirt with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - ILA

Middle School Tennis

• VMS vs. Maus @ Liberty HS

Wednesday, November 30th

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Social Studies

7 BBB VMS vs. Lawler @ Lawler MS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 GBB Lawler vs. VMS @ Vandeventer MS

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 1st

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Math

7 GBB VMS vs. Lawler @ Lawler MS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 BBB Lawler vs. VMS @ Vandeventer MS

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Friday, December 2nd

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

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Science

2nd 3-Week IPR

Scoliosis Check - Via Science

• 7th Grade Girls
• 8th Grade Boys

December

5 Spirit Day - Bella Bella

5 Aim for Success 6th Grade Assembly

6 V/H/AN Screening

6 VMS Tennis vs. Scoggins

6 Theatre 2 Showcase

7 Winter Orchestra Concert @ LHS

7 Fine Arts Winter Elementary Tour

7 7 BBB VMS vs. Roach

7 8 GBB Roach vs. VMS

8 7 GBB VMS vs. Roach

8 8 BBB Roach vs. VMS

9 UIL Eligibility

9-10 Collin County Hoopfest

9 Winter Social - School Dance

9 Choir Concert

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!

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

We would like to thank all our volunteers for speaking with the 8th grade students during our Career Day and Registration Event. We would also like to thank the Vandeventer PTA for providing lunch for the volunteers! It was an amazing day! Thank you!

All items currently in our Lost and Found will be donated over Winter Break. Please ask your student to visit the Lost & Found is they are missing an article of clothing, tennis shoes, jacket/coat, water bottle, gym bag, lunch pale, or pencil bag. The last day for students to collect lost items is Thursday, December 22.

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.

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