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."

PTA needs volunteers to work the concession stand during the upcoming basketball home games. If you are interested in working any of these games, please complete the information via the QR codes pictured on the flyer to the left or via the links below.

Thank you for supporting Vandeventer PTA!! Please join the PTA today!

Monday, November 7th

College Day - Wear your favorite college shirt with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Advisory Lesson
• Sign Up for Viking Time

Cross Country Invitational

• Liberty High School
• 5 p.m.

All Region Band Auditions

• Fine Arts Hall/Various Classrooms
• 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Tuesday, November 8th

Made to Shine: Wear your FISD shirt with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - ILA

Midterm Election Day

• VMS Practice Gym
• 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Art Club Meeting

• Cafe
• 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

• Nelson vs. VMS @ Independence HS

Wednesday, November 9th

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Social Studies

Band Spirit Night

• Bella Bella Mozzarella
• Mention VMS When Ordering
• 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

7 BBB VMS vs. Wester @ Wester

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 GBB Wester vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

IB Parent Meeting

• Frisco High School
• 6 p.m.

Thursday, November 10th

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

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Math/Science

7 GBB VMS vs. Wester @ Wester

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 BBB Wester vs. VMS @ VMS

• 5:30 p.m/6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 11th

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

UIL Eligibility (Students Regain Eligibility)

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Priority Day - Science

Yearbook Ordering Deadline

• Details Below

Veterans Day Celebration

• All Lunches

All Region Band Clinic

• 5:30 p.m. - 8 :30 p.m.

Saturday, October 12th

Choir Clinic

All Region Band Clinic/Concert

• 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

November

14 Cross Country District Meet @ Warren Park

15 Aim for Success Parent Meeting (6th Grade)

15 Spelling Bee Meeting

15 Middle School Tennis (Lawler vs. VMS)

16 7 BBB Scoggins vs. VMS @ VMS

16 8 GBB VMS vs. Scoggins @ Scoggins

17 Cadet Color Guard Meeting

17 Thespian Club Meeting

17 7 GBB Scoggins vs. VMS @ VMS

17 8 BBB VMS vs. Scoggins @ Scoggins

18 Career Day/8th Grade Registration

18 Pep Rally Schedule

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

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!

Voting is underway in the 2022 midterm elections, and Vandeventer MIddle School will be a Collin County voting location on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please note additional traffic and activity around our campus is expected.

Under Sec. 43.031 of the Texas Election Code, Frisco ISD is legally required to make its buildings available for elections. Voting will occur in our campus auxiliary (practice) gym, which has its own exterior entrance. Signage will direct voters to this entrance.

Several security measures will be in place:

• The polling location will be blocked off completely from students and staff.

• A police officer will be stationed inside the campus near the polling location, and other police and District security staff will provide extra campus patrols.

• All doors except the single entrance to the polling site will remain locked, and the doors to the polling location will not be allowed to be propped open.

• All polling place workers and authorized volunteers must check in at the front office and wear the visitor badge while on campus.

• Election workers will be permitted access to a designated restroom only. No voters or other individuals will be allowed to access the rest of the school for any reason.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we serve as an Election Day polling location. If you haven’t already cast your ballot, we encourage you to do so. Our campus may be a convenient option for you to consider.

We are ecstatic to announce that 31 Vandeventer Orchestra students were awarded placements across the three All-Region Orchestras. This is the 2nd highest amount of total students making All-Region from all of the middle schools in Frisco ISD, Mckinney ISD, and Prosper ISD. We are thankful to have many talented and dedicated musicians on our campus!

Additionally, we had 13 students make the highest orchestra placement, "Chamber Orchestra," the greatest amount of students from all of the middle schools in the entire region! This is the first time Vandeventer Orchestra has claimed this position and we are so proud of our musicians!

The 31 students’ names are placed on the VMS Orchestra website's "All-Region" page to commemorate their success. This can be found by scrolling toward the bottom of the page linked here: https://www.vandeventerorchestra.com/all-region-orchestra

Congratulations to the following students that placed into an All-Region Orchestra (listed alphabetically by first name):

It’s already time to start thinking about your high school options! Students will begin the 4-year planning and course selection process for high school towards the end of this semester. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an advanced high school option that is open to all FISD rising 9th grade students and located at Frisco HS. If you are interested in learning more about our district’s IB Diploma Programme, please be sure to attend the in-person meeting on November 9th @ 6 p.m. at the FHS auditorium.

Want to explore about the IB Diploma Programme prior to the meetings? Check out the FISD IBDP website! Please contact the IBDP Coordinator if you have any questions – Jenna Gates at GatesJ@friscoisd.org

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!

Students in Grades 5-7 and their parents are invited to learn more about Advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Credit, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings in Frisco ISD. The event will be in a webinar format and will start at 6 p.m. Register through the link below.

• November 14, 2022

• 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Register now (Grades 5-7)

Students in Grades 8-11 and their parents are invited to learn more about Advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Credit, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings in Frisco ISD. The event will be in a webinar format and will start at 6 p.m. Register through the link below.

• November 16, 2022

• 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Register now (Grades 8-11)

The Navy ROTC program at Lebanon Trail High School will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The webinar is for all interested FISD students currently in grades 8-11 and their parents.The meeting will be hosted by Naval Science Instructor, Major Billings. This application process for incoming cadets for the 2023-2024 school year will be open to all participants afterwards.

How it works:

• All interested students and parents can sign up here to attend the informational webinar hosted by the program’s Senior Naval Science Instructor, Major Billings.

• The webinar will take place on Tuesday, November 15th from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Applications for incoming cadets will be available after the webinar

• Selected students will become Lebanon Trail High School students and become part of the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program in 2023-2024.

Now in its second year, the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program has already established a culture of leadership, character, honor, and service across Frisco ISD. Cadets participate in classroom instruction as well as physical training that prepare them for life beyond high school. To learn more about the program, please sign up for the informational webinar here.

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.

Middle school students and parents are invited to taste test new possible additions to the school breakfast and lunch menus and provide feedback on existing menu options. The Child Nutrition Department will host an Open House at 5:15 p.m. on October 25 to seek input and answer questions regarding meal programs. Learn more and RSVP.

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.

The community folder area of the District website is full of advertisements and links to information about goods and services that may be of interest to the FISD community. You can find everything from discounts on kids’ camps to volunteer opportunities. The folder does not represent the viewpoint of the District and is not an endorsement of the advertiser, products, or services listed.

Frisco ISD parents have access to the curriculum outline and pacing guides used Districtwide for each core course. The curriculum outlines are created and revised each year by District educators and are rooted in the statewide curriculum standards provided by the Texas Education Agency, called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS.) Access the curriculum and pacing page

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