Viking View

Please note that we will be providing more information to families once face-to-face (F2F) and Virtual Academy (VA) instruction begins on September 3. The first three weeks of school will be facilitated in a virtual learning environment for ALL students in Frisco ISD.

Once F2F instruction begins on September 3rd, we will provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to retrieve hard copies of textbooks and other supplemental materials to assist in the facilitation of virtual instruction. During the first three weeks of virtual learning, all students have access to the online resources listed above.

For questions/concerns related to athletics, please reach out to the appropriate athletic coordinator. More information regarding expectations for athletics is forthcoming.

Girls' Athletics

Coach Jaime Siess @ SiessJ@friscoisd.org

Boys' Athletics

Coach Andrew Casares @ Casaresa@friscoisd.org

• Beginning August 13th, students who selected face-to-face (F2F) on-campus instruction will participate in online learning for the first three weeks of school due to the emergency school closure.
• F2F (in-person) learning will begin September 3rd.
• While Frisco ISD recommends that all students engage in the scheduled, live interactions using the synchronous platforms available to our school community, we realize that this may present challenges for some families and want to provide flexible options.

• During the times when our campuses or classrooms are 100% virtual, F2F students will follow their daily bell schedule to receive live instruction and interact with their teacher and classmates. They will also have the option to log into their Canvas course and watch recorded lessons/videos at later times, as they are available.

• While the District highly encourages students to participate in the frequent synchronous instructional sessions at the scheduled times, teachers will post instructional materials and activities online to allow for greater family flexibility in watching and accessing class resources.
  

• Students will have the opportunity to receive tutoring virtually from their campus teachers before and after school. Additional certified teachers will be available through the RAIL evening program for tutorials.
• Attendance will be counted if the student is present during the synchronous class activities or if the student submits DAILY assignments via Canvas by midnight each day.
• No athletic practices will be taking place ON CAMPUS during the first three weeks of school. Athletes will be participating in athletics virtually during the 3 week closure.

• Beginning August 13th, students who selected Virtual Academy instruction will begin their virtual learning experience.
• Students are expected to adhere to the live, synchronous expectations of checking in with their teacher each class period on a daily basis. This is consistent with the expectation throughout a student’s participation in Virtual Academy.
• Attendance will be taken each class period during the live, synchronous instruction.
• No athletic practices will be taking place ON CAMPUS during the first three weeks of school. Students will be participating in athletics virtually during the 3 week closure. Once F2F instruction begins, VA students will be expected to attend athletics ON CAMPUS during the appropriate grade level athletic period. Upon request, accommodations will be provided for 7th grade athletes to participate in their 1st and 8th period VA classes on campus.

• Students and parents/guardians will receive more information next week with instructions on how to access teacher lesson plans.
• 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.
  
• For the first two days of instruction, parents will be able to access teacher lesson plans via our campus website by 4 p.m. on August 12th in preparation for the first day of virtual instruction, Thursday, August 13th.

Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education, to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences.

Reporting an Absence:

If your child is going to be absent from school for any part of or the entire day, please provide our data clerk with a parent note/email or doctor’s note within three school days of your child returning to school. Only 8 parent notes are allowed per year for absences.

Missed Work Due To Absences:

It is a good idea to email your child’s teachers if they are out multiple days to get any work that can be done at home if possible. Students are responsible for collecting make-up work the first day they return to the class(es) that were missed. After receiving their make-up work, students will turn in their work as follows: one day of absence, one day (next class period) to make up work; two days absence, two days (class periods) to make up work; three days or more absent, three days (class periods) to make up work.

Truancy Prevention:

When a student between ages 6 and 19 incurs unexcused absences:

• On the 3rd unexcused absence: The school administrators will notify a student’s parent (including a letter), as required by law, to remind the parent that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. A student attendance behavior intervention plan will be initiated.

• On the 5th unexcused absence: The school administrators will notify a student’s parent (including a letter), as required by law, to remind the parent that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. The student attendance behavior intervention plan will be updated.

• On the 7th unexcused absence: The school administrators will meet with both the student and parents to review attendance concerns and update the student attendance behavior intervention plan. The district Truancy Prevention Facilitator will be notified and students and parents will be referred to the Frisco ISD Truancy Tribunal with Judge Payton. Parent notes will no longer be accepted to excuse absences.

• On the 10th unexcused absence: A referral to truancy court will be made if the student is absent without excuse from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year. Missing one class period and tardies count as parts of days.

90% Attendance:

The state requires 90% attendance. Students who are in attendance less than 90% of the school year are at risk of losing credit. Students will be expected to make up instructional time outside of the regular school day through tutorials, Thursday Night Reflections, etc.

See the FISD Student Handbook for more information on attendance, including excused/unexcused absences, truancy, exemptions, and family vacations.

Grade Categories:

Major

● weighted 60% of 9-weeks grade

● includes tests, major projects, essays, etc.

Minor

● weighted 40% of 9-weeks grade

● includes quizzes, short term projects, practice, daily work. etc.

Reassessment/Retest Guidelines:

Grades reflect a student‘s relative mastery of the curriculum and should provide feedback on

student progress. Students will be able to receive credit for evidence of increased mastery for

major grades 84 and below for a maximum score of an 85. Students scoring an 85 or above on the original major grade will not have an opportunity to reassess for a higher grade.

1. Students will have a window of five school days after the grade is returned to re-assess.(Remediation and reassessment must be completed by the end of the five-day window.)
2. Reassessment may be targeted to areas not mastered on the original assessment.
3. Requirements to reassess, such as attending tutoring sessions and/or completing remedial assignments, will be determined by campus guidelines.

This retest policy would not include major assessments classified as Projects which follow

Project Guidelines. Projects can include but are not limited to presentations, physical or

electronic products, speeches, and lab reports.

• Disease activity levels
• Screening and isolation
• Protective measures, including face coverings
• Hand washing/sanitizing
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Transitions (hallway, restroom, class change)
• Arrival/dismissal
• Cafeteria (breakfast/lunch)
• Library usage
• PE class (dressing out, locker room usage)
• Extra-curricular activities

When possible, campuses will utilize virtual meeting options to limit campus visitors. All visitors who enter the building will be required to wear a face covering during substantial and moderate transmission levels. Individuals who proceed beyond the reception area will follow specific guidelines for visitors.

Welcome back to Vandeventer Middle School! I am in the process of obtaining and updating student shot records and have been notifying families of students who are still in need of updated immunizations. Please note that if your student is not in compliance with shot records, he/she will not be able to access their schedule in HAC on 8/12 nor will they be able to attend classes on 8/13. Note that whether your student will be attending virtual or face to face immunizations must be current. If your student is transferring from another FISD campus, I do not need a copy of the record, unless you obtained a vaccine over the time that we were out of school.

Feel free to contact me at teelingh@friscoisd.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Vandeventer Middle School has a new security doorbell/camera installed at the main entrance as an additional safety measure to protect our students and staff. Visitors must ring the doorbell and wait for assistance from office staff when requesting entry into the building. Office staff will ask visitors to show their ID to the camera before granting access. So, please have your identification ready. Access to the building will NOT be granted without proper identification. Upon clearance, the office staff will grant access to the building.

Students and parents/guardians will receive an email at the end of the day Monday, August 10th with information about how to access our Virtual Viking Camp. Please be sure to view all the important information that will be included in our Virtual Viking Camp.

Virtual Viking Camp

• Teacher Welcome Videos
• Virtual Campus Tour
• Technology Information (HAC, Canvas)
• Campus Expectations
  

FISD is providing instructional continuity with online learning through synchronous and asynchronous learning. District device availability is limited, so we ask that if each of your students already has a device that can be used for online learning, please do not request additional devices. We need your help to ensure every child in our community has access!

If your child needs a device in order to participate in online learning, please complete this form. You will need to complete one form for each student in your family who will need a device. Here is the link to the Student Device Request Form.

If you have NOT completed the registration process (POR/immunizations/infosnap) you will not be eligible for a device. Please note that we will only distribute Chromebooks for students enrolled at Vandeventer MS.

If you missed the pick-up date/time, please reach out to Emily Waltz, VMS Receptionist at waltze@friscoisd.org to schedule a date/time to pick up a device.

We will use the same procedures implemented during materials exchange. The pick-up location will be on the north side of the building at the band/orchestra entrance.

Prior to arrival:

• post the following information on a piece of paper and display on the passenger side window of your vehicle:
  

1. instrument being pick-up
   
2. student's name
3. grade level
4. ID number

• stay in vehicle
• staff will assist families

6th Grade - August 11th, 4-6 p.m.

For questions, reach out to Mr. Guzman, Band Director, @ GuzmanJ@friscoisd.org.

Please pick-up orchestra instruments at your preferred store location. There will not be a designated day on campus to pick-up instruments. For additional questions, please reach out to Mr. Fickling, Orchestra Director, @ ficklingc@friscoisd.org.

Frisco ISD requires families to provide proof of residency each year to complete the student enrollment and registration process. Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, all FISD campuses will utilize an online submission process for proof of residence across all campus levels. This program is intended to reduce paper waste, improve accuracy, and save time for both parents and campus staff.

Once submitted, your proof of residency will be reviewed by campus staff to verify it meets the acceptable proof of requirements outlined below. If it is not accepted, you will be contacted for further information.

• A copy of a current (current or previous month) utility bill (electric, gas, or water) which shows the current usage.
• A current lease (for 30 days until a utility bill is available).
• If you have recently purchased your home, a copy of the closing papers will suffice until a utility bill is available to reproduce (within 30 days).
• If you are living with a relative or friend in the FISD attendance zone, an affidavit must be completed, notarized, and returned to the school office along with a current utility bill.
• Students living apart from parents—Refer to Policy FDB (LOCAL).

Shot Records* (7th Grade)

• Currently Accepting Electronic Submissions via Nurse Teeling @ teelingh@friscoisd.org

Proof of Residence (POR)

• Currently Accepting Electronic Submissions

Registration

• New Student Enrollment
• Returning Student Enrollment

Middle school campuses will facilitate an electronic schedule distribution via HAC beginning Wednesday, August 12th. Therefore, students will not be able to view their class schedule until the window opens on Wednesday, August 12th. Students participating in face-to-face instruction MUST bring a copy of their class schedule when classes begin for F2F instruction on September 3rd. Additional communication will be sent to families if the window to view schedules changes to an earlier date.

Please be advised that the Home Access Passwords are no longer stored. The district has replaced the old HAC credentials on STUDENT ACCOUNTS with the student's "portal/network" log-in credentials that are used to gain access to many programs in FISD and their lunch account.

• Username: Student ID

• Password: Date of Birth mmddyyyy (default) or other password if "reset by the student" (Parent should ask the student the password) Those parents with a GID (Gateway) will not be impacted.

When schedules are released next week, parents and students will need to use the above log-in credentials to access the class schedule in HAC.

Due to providing virtual and face-to-face instruction this year, schedule change requests may not be accepted after the first day of instruction. Please keep in mind that students who are participating in virtual instruction may be served by teachers from other FISD middle school campuses. Face-to-face students will be served by our Vandeventer Middle School teachers.

To minimize the traffic flow, and to adhere to social distancing guidelines, students will NOT be assigned lockers this school year. Students participating in F2F instruction will be required to carry a backpack with their individual school supplies for class. Sharing classroom supplies will not be allowed.

*Rolling backpacks will be permitted.

There will be safety protocols in place for sanitizing classroom materials that MUST be provided by the school in order to facilitate instruction (i.e. science lab materials, Chromebooks, desks, etc.). Students who are participating in F2F instruction must bring their individual school supplies as sharing individual supplies will be discouraged.

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 librarians will provide 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. More information forthcoming regarding when this will be available to VA students.

• 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. Families will receive more information about how to request a lunch reservation before F2F instruction begins. Stay tuned!
  
• 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.

To minimize campus traffic inside the building, we have relocated the lunch drop-off location. Parents/guardians may drop-off lunches for their student(s) via the grade level coolers/buckets placed outdoors in front of the cafeteria entrance. Please have your student's lunch (NO DRINKS) labeled before placing inside the grade level cooler/bucket.

To avoid cross-contamination, students will NOT be allowed to use microwaves in the cafeteria. To avoid contamination in the serving line, scanners have been installed so that students will no longer be required to punch in their ID number to receive breakfast/lunch. Students will be provided a laminated ID card on the first day of F2F instruction, which may be utilized in the cafeteria serving line. Additional lunchroom procedures will be provided to students when F2F instruction begins.

Students who did not pick-up their yearbook during the material's exchange process facilitated in May, will have a few additional opportunities to pick-up their items. We will use the same procedures implemented during materials exchange. The pick-up location will be on the north side of the building at the cafe entrance/driveway.

Prior to arrival:

• post the following information on a piece of paper and display on the passenger side window of your vehicle:
  

1. student's name
   
2. grade level
3. ID number

Upon arrival:

• stay in vehicle
• staff will assist families

Please schedule a date/time to pick-up the yearbook via this link. Dates/times listed below.

Friday, August 21

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, August 28

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

If you did not purchase a yearbook last year, extras are available here while supplies last.

This year's school portraits will take place at the end of October for both Virtual Academy and Face-to-Face learners. Student IDs will be handed out in November. More information about group portraits is forthcoming.

To capture Vandeventer Middle School related activties and to ensure that all students are included in this year's yearbook, we need your help. Parents/guardians, students and faculty may drop any school related pictures here. Adding a photograph to this link does not necessarily guarantee publication. We appreciate your assistance!

The calculator used in HS and 8th grade is the TI-84 Graphing Calculator. If a student is 8th grade, or planning on studying in any STEM related field after HS, it would be best if they purchased their own calculator to use all through HS and college.

If this is not not an option for your family at this time, there are a couple of apps that can be used. See below. Also students may access an online graphing calculator at Desmos.com. It is very user friendly.

TI-84 Calculator Emulators (for phones)

Wabbitemu

Calculate84

Desmos Graphing Calculator

Website: https://www.desmos.com/calculator

Chrome extension: Desmos Graphing Calculator

Please be advised that the Home Access Passwords are no longer stored. As of this Friday evening, August 7th, the district has replaced the old HAC credentials on STUDENT ACCOUNTS with the student's "portal/network" log-in credentials that are used to gain access to many programs in FISD and their lunch account.

• Username: Student ID

• Password: Date of Birth mmddyyyy (default) or other Password if "reset by the student" (Parent should ask the student the password) Those parents with a GID (Gateway) will not be impacted.

The district is working with Technology and Communications to send a District- Wide School Messenger to families with a general "template" providing access requirements to district programs. This is the Technology Applications Template being sent through School Messenger to parents and students. When schedules are released next week, parents and students will need to use the above log in credentials to access the class schedule in HAC.

Greetings Parents!

PTA online store is open. Please visit http://vandevikings.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=6 to purchase Spirit Wear, Yard Signs, and Car Decals.

As stated online, for items ordered now through the first 3 weeks of virtual school, delivery date will be set for 9/8. Delivery for Virtual Academy students is pending.

For students who need still PE Uniforms, they can be purchased directly with Frisco Sports Center starting the week of August 10. Please check their website at https://friscosportstx.com for store address, hours and other relevant details.

Support Vandeventer & VMS PTA by signing up for membership here:

http://vandevikings.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=8

Like our Vandeventer PTA Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/vandeventerpta/

We are looking to add members to our PTA Board. The following positions are open:

Arts in Education

Council Delegate/Legislative

VP of Fundraising

Programs

Spirit Wear

Community Liaison

Environmental

Please contact president.vmspta@gmail if you are interested on being on the PTA Board. All are welcome and no experience necessary!

*** We are starting something new! Our Healthy Lifestyle Chair is going to have Health and Wellness tip every week. There is also a contest. ***

HEALTH and WELLNESS TIP

Drink lots Water!

Stay hydrated throughout the day. Our body is made of 60% of water. To hydrate properly, one should drink up to six or eight glasses of water a day. Choose water instead of soda, tea or coffee. Drinking lots of water improves concentration and focus. It charges the body so that one feels cheery throughout the day. Always carry a water bottle and keep it handy throughout the day!

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