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

We want to send a huge thank you to our Vandeventer PTA for the ice machine (teacher's lounge) and new student microwaves (cafeteria)! Our teachers and students will enjoy for years to come! We also want to thank our parents for the generous donations to make this happen!

Monday, November 14th

College Day - Wear your favorite college shirt with jeans!

American Education Week

8 Period Day

• Advisory Lesson
• Sign Up for Viking Time

Cross Country District Meet

• Warren Park
• 4:30 p.m.

FISD Board Meeting

• 22-23 School Zones Approved

• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
  

• Register now (Grades 5-7)

Tuesday, November 15th

Made to Shine: Wear your FISD shirt with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - ILA

Academic UIL Interest Meeting

• Room D113
• 3:50 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.

Aim for Success (6th Grade)

• Virtual Parent Meeting
• Email thorped@friscoisd.org for Zoom Link
• 5:30 p.m.

Middle School Tennis

• Lawler vs. VMS @ Liberty HS

Navy ROTC Program Informational Webinar

• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Sign Up Here
  

Wednesday, November 16th

Educational Support Paraprofessional Day

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Social Studies

STUCO Celebration (Door Decorating Student Participants)

• Library
• 7:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.

7 BBB Scoggins vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 GBB VMS vs. Scoggins @ Scoggins

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Register now (Grades 8-11)

Thursday, November 17th

Substitute Appreciation Day

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Math/Science

Cadet Color Guard Interest Meeting

• Band Room
• 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Thespian Club Meeting

• Theatre Art Room
• 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

7 GBB Scoggins vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 BBB VMS vs. Scoggins @ Scoggins

• 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 18th

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

Career Day

8 Period Day - Modified Schedule

Staff/Student Volleyball Game

November

21-25 Thanksgiving Break

29 Middle School Tennis (VMS vs. Maus)

30 7 BBB VMS vs. Lawler @ Lawler

30 8 GBB Lawler vs. VMS @ VMS

December

1 7 GBB VMS vs. Lawler @ Lawler

1 8 BBB Lawler vs. VMS @ VMS

2 Q2 IPR

2 Scoliosis Check

5 Spirit Day - Emily's Pizza

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

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!

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.

Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans--living or dead--but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all military veterans! Thank you for your dedication and service to our country. Your sacrifice has afforded all Americans the protections granted in the United States Constitution, and we thank you!

On Saturday, November 5th, we had 28 students compete in the FISD Vocal Solo & Ensemble Competition at Independence High School. These students represented Vandeventer very well receiving two "excellent" ratings and 26 "superior" ratings! Congratulations to Mrs. Cotten and the following students:

In addition, those names in BOLD received an "Outstanding Soloist" nomination. The four students ultimately named "Outstanding Soloist" were from other campuses; however, Vandeventer had more nominations than any other middle school. Go Vikings!

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