Viking View

Monday, September 14

Learning Environment Change Request (Window Opens)

Advisory STOPIt

Tuesday, September 15

Learning Environment Change Request

Advisory Schedule

• Grade Level Presentations

Wednesday, September 16

Learning Environment Change Request

Modified Bell Schedule Begins

• Period 1, 3, 5, 7

Advisory Schedule

• Grade Level Presentations

Thursday, September 17

Learning Environment Change Request

Modified Bell Schedule Begins

• Period 2, 4, 6, 8

Advisory Schedule

• Fire Drill

Friday, September 18

Learning Environment Change Request (Window Closes)

Advisory Schedule

• Study Hall

Please click the button below to access our F2F Instruction Campus Safety Protocols & Logistics. All parents and students should review the information thoroughly in the event the decision is made to switch learning environments at the end of the nine weeks.

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

Please refer to information sent by the athletic coaches regarding game expectations for volleyball and football.

1. Spectators are not allowed to bring food or drink into either of the gyms. To minimize gatherings and to ensure social distancing protocols, concession sales will not be permitted this year. Bottles of water are allowed in the gym.
   
2. Gate workers will ensure compliance to social distancing guidelines and face covering requirements for spectators.
3. There will be 100% online ticket sales through Ticket Spicket. There will be no cash sales at the gate. Gate workers will verify virtual ticket purchases.
4. Protocols for identifying family members are being developed and will be in place before the first game so that family may sit together in the stands.
5. Seats will be marked and appropriately distanced 6 feet apart for spectators to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines.
6. There are NO STUDENT SECTIONS at any middle school games this season.
7. Athletes' conduct should promote sportsmanship and reflect their team in a positive and respectful manner. Conversations should be appropriate and profanity is prohibited.
8. Athletes will leave with their parent immediately following their game. Coaches will wait with athletes after the last game of the night.
9. Games will not start earlier than scheduled time, so that parents won’t feel the need to arrive too early.
10. Announcements will be made at the end of each game asking parents to leave the gym to allow space for other parents. Plan is not to completely clear the gyms, but to ask for compliance.
11. Expectation for parents to arrive shortly before the game and leave immediately after the game.
12. Campuses will designate a separate entrance and exit in gyms for event spectators to minimize contact between spectators.

1. Administrators on duty will ensure compliance to social distancing guidelines and face covering requirements for spectators.
2. There will be 100% online ticket sales through Ticket Spicket. There will be no cash sales at the gate. Gate workers will verify virtual ticket purchases.
3. There are NO STUDENT SECTIONS at any middle school games this season.
   
4. Athletes' conduct should promote sportsmanship and reflect their team in a positive and respectful manner. Conversations should be appropriate and profanity is prohibited.
5. Athletes will be able to ride the bus back to school or leave with their parent immediately following their game. Coaches will wait with athletes at campus until the last athlete is picked up.
6. Games will not start earlier than scheduled time, so that parents won’t feel the need to arrive too early.
7. The expectation is for parents to arrive shortly before the game and leave immediately after the game.

Beginning this 2020-2021 season, Frisco ISD will not have Destination Imagination campus coordinators or a district liaison. We recognize the value of the Destination Imagination competition and support parents as they continue to provide these opportunities for their children. Information about the 2020-2021 DI season may be found here.

For further information or direct inquiries about the program, please contact the DI regional directors listed below.

Nikhil Dhoble - nikhil.dhoble@gmail.com

Charlotte Taylor - info.nextregiondi@gmail.com

More information about the program can be found on the NeXT Region Website as well as the Destination Imagination Website. The NeXT Region website provides training opportunities and regional information to support parents throughout the DI season. The National Destination Imagination Website will also be helpful for updates pertaining to this season as they are ensuring safety for everyone involved.

In Frisco ISD, we value providing student opportunities to participate in academic competitions. We are using this year to transition from the traditional Math/Science team competition to a new competition that will not require overnight travel in coming years. Due to ongoing COVID complications, we will not have a Math/Science team this school year and plan to offer additional STEM competitive options in the 21-22 school year.

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Vandeventer Middle School is partnering with World Wear Project (a for-profit, social impact business based in Dallas) to turn excess shoes and clothing in your closets, cupboards and toy bins into funds that will be used for PTA programs for Students, Teachers and Parents.

Some example of past and current programs are: Back to School (PE Uniforms & School Supplies) events, Reflections (Arts in Education), Multi-Cultural Night, All Pro Dad (to promote father involvement), Healthy Lifestyles, SAGE, Teacher Appreciation events, Career Day Luncheon, Veterans Day Luncheon, Teachers Grants, and the Fall & Spring student assemblies.

The bin is placed in the parking spot closest to Independence Parkway on the VMS Cafeteria side of school.

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.

Parents and guardians will have an opportunity to update their child’s instructional format beginning Monday, September 14 at 8 a.m. through Friday, September 18 at 11:59 p.m. Changes will go into effect starting with the second nine weeks which begins October 19.

Parents should note that changing your student's instructional environment could impact class selections and will likely require a change of teacher(s). Because changes will impact staffing allocations the second nine weeks, it’s also possible your student could be affected even if he or she does not change learning environments.

Change requests will be accepted through the Student Portal. No action is required by parents to maintain the same learning environment. Click here for more information and instructions on how to submit a change.

The modified block schedule will begin on Wednesday, September 16th. You may view the modified block schedule via the link below, or in the Quick Links referenced above. The modified black schedule has been provided in all Viking View: Parent Editions since July 2020.

So, what does this mean? Students will follow a regular 8-period day schedule on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Students will attend periods 1,3,5,7 on Wednesdays, and students will attend periods 2,4,6,8 on Thursdays.

Please make note of the new class start and end times on Wednesdays and Thursdays. All middle school campuses will follow the same schedule for the 2020-2021 school year.

Modified Block Schedule

Textbooks and other instructional materials were distributed on Friday, September 4th to our Virtual Academy students. If you were unable to pick-up these materials, please reach out to Mrs. Smith at smithmarl@friscoisd.org to schedule another opportunity to retrieve these items.

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:

1. Follow the campus bell schedule
2. Attend all classes virtually (i.e. Zoom or Google Meets)
3. Participate in virtual classes by keeping the camera on (the teacher needs to see the student's face)
4. Stay on the required virtual session until the teacher dismisses the class for asynchronous assignments
5. 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.

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.

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.

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.

The following procedures will be implemented during morning arrival to eliminate the need for holding areas, ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines, and minimize the number of students in corridors during morning transitions.

Students will enter the building according to their designated entry location:

• ALL bus riders – front entrance
• 6th Grade – café entrance (parent drop-off/walk to school)

• 7th Grade – grade level hallway (parent drop-off/walk to school )
• 8th Grade – tennis court (parent drop-off/walk to school)

Additional safety precautions will be in place. See below

• Doors propped open from 7:45 a.m.-8:25 a.m. will provide for a touchless entry
• Students who arrive after 8:25 a.m. will enter through the main entrance
• Students report to cafeteria from 7:45 a.m.-8 a.m.
• Students will report directly to class from 8 a.m.-8:25 a.m.
• Late arriving students will report to the main office
  
• Each entrance will have a supervising staff member to provide social distancing and face covering reminders
• Upon entering the building, students will apply hand sanitizer via the dispensers located at each entry point

The following procedures will be implemented during dismissal to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines and minimize the number of students in corridors during dismissal.

• Campus administration will stagger dismissal by grade levels to help manage student movement in the building and decrease the risk of potential crowding outside
• Staff will be assigned duty locations outside during dismissal to provide social distance and face covering reminders
  
• Students MUST wear their face covering when exiting the building, while waiting for their transportation, and while riding on the bus
• Reentry to the building after school will not 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.

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.

Parents/guardians who wish to administer medication to their student(s) during the school day must follow the guidelines below.

Parent Medication Administration

• Parents/guardians are required to check-in in the front office
• Parents/guardians must adhere to all campus visitor protocols
• Parents will be asked to wait for their student(s) in the Vandeventer foyer instead of the clinic
• Nurse Teeling will be notified and will greet parent in the foyer to answer any questions

Parent/guardian may reach out to Nurse Teeling via email at teelingh@friscoisd.org or by phone at 469-633-4358 for questions regarding administering medication on campus.

Parents/guardians who wish to keep scheduled medications in the clinic for administration must follow the guidelines below.

Medication Drop Off

• Medication may be kept in the clinic with appropriate documentation for F2F students and VA students participating in on-campus classes
• Parent/guardian must reach out to Nurse Teeling via email at teelingh@friscoisd.org or by phone at 469-633-4358 to schedule a drop off date/time
• All prescription/ medical documentation must be provided at the time of drop off

Students are NOT allowed to bring medication to the nurse and may NOT carry medications on their person unless prior approval has been granted and documentation has been received by the campus nurse allowing the student to do so. This applies to medications such as inhalers, and Epi Pens.

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 use their laminated ID card in the serving line which they received on the first day of F2F instruction.

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.

We will begin accepting lunch reservations on Friday, September 18th to begin on Monday, September 21st. Information regarding the reservation process will be sent out to parents in the September 18th Viking View.

• 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 in the September 18th Viking View. 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.

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.

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.

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 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!

Your Chromebook automatically checks for and downloads updates when it is turned on with the lid open and connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Chrome OS will get updates periodically, so it is important to have the most updated operating system to ensure that applications work the way they are intended. Leaving your Chromebook plugged into power with the lid open overnight will help make sure that any updates needed can run overnight so your machine is ready to use first thing in the morning. If you are having trouble with your Chromebook, checking to see if it has the most updated Chrome OS is the best place to start your troubleshooting. It can affect the performance of many different apps and extensions.

You can check for updates yourself.

Here is an interactive video or follow the steps below:

1. Turn on your Chromebook and make sure that it is open.

2. Connect your Chromebook to Wi-Fi. (Linked help)

3. At the bottom right, select the time.

4. Select Settings .

5. At the bottom of the left panel, select About Chrome OS.

6. Under "Google Chrome OS," you'll find which version of the Chrome operating system your Chromebook uses.

7. Select Check for updates.

8. If your Chromebook finds a software update, it will start to download automatically.

9. After updating, it may ask for you to restart your Chromebook.

Some models of Chromebooks the District distributed could encounter a critical update message. This could take up to 2-3 hours (depending on the strength and speed of your Wi-Fi) for your device to receive this critical update. If you receive this message, do not shut down or restart your Chromebook! Wait until the Chromebook screen messages you that the update is complete. If you did restart your computer or shut it down during the critical update, you will need to contact the campus to schedule a time for you to bring your Chromebook back to the campus to be repaired. Please complete the Device Repair tile in the student portal.

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.

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.

Please help the Vandeventer PTA Stock the Fridge! We are collecting donations on September 22nd from 7:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. We will have a table set-up outside the main entrance for parents to drop off their goodies. You may click this link for a sign-up and list of needed items. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Congratulations to VMS Teachers and Staff for receiving The Golden Apple Award for 2019-2020 school year.

World Wear Project: Continue to donate your unused/unwanted clothing, shoes, backpacks, toys, etc. Proceeds will help VMS PTA to provide programs that benefit Vandeventer students, staff, and parents. Help support this great cause while cleaning out your closets. More details above.

Reflections: National PTA's Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Matter Because... Students can submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. Deadline for entries has been extended to October 30th, 2020. Please remember, VMS PTA membership is required to enter.

Healthy Lifestyle Tip: Cut down on processed food! Processed food is not good because (a) most of the nutritional value is lost in the creation of these foods, and (b) the added preservatives are bad for our body. You might feel “full” after you sit down and eat a frozen pizza for dinner, snack on a bag of chips or satisfy your sweet tooth with some chocolate biscuits, but you can be guaranteed that your body won’t be getting the nutrients that it needs. In general, the more ingredients a food has on the label (ending with ‘ite’ or ‘ate’), the more processed it is. Go for less processed food such as a baked potato instead of chips, fresh fruit instead of canned fruit, and intact grains instead of white bread.

Healthy Snack Food Contest

Sweet, salty, or savory, everyone has a weakness for snack. Please send your favorite healthy snack to HealthyLifestyle.vmspta@gmail.com. PTA board will choose a submission once a month and it will be posted in the newsletter or PTA facebook group.

Join VMS PTA, visit http://vandevikings.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=8

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

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

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

Parents:

Please stop by VMS Front Office to pick up your pre-purchased School Supplies & PE Uniforms for your students. We still have a few items remaining. Thank you!

If your students still need PE Uniforms, they can be purchased directly with Frisco Sports Center. Please visit https://friscosportstx.com for store address, hours & contact information.

The VMS PTA General Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 23rd at 6 p.m. via Zoom

Do plan to attend. The virtual meeting information will be sent via school messenger to all parents/guardians.

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