The Viking View

Join PTA: It's not to late! Parents, teachers, and students, please join our VMS PTA either through the PTA Website or directly at https://www.joinpta.org/.

You may also visit our VMS PTA Facebook page to see the latest updates. For questions regarding VMA PTA, please contact president.vmspta@gmail.com.

Check out all the Viking gear and order your spirit wear today! https://stores.inksoft.com/VAN074/shop/home

Monday, February 21st

President's Day

Staff/Student Holiday

Tuesday, February 22nd

"We Are One" - Wear your FISD "We Are One" t-shirt!

Themed Dress Day for TWOsday 2-22-22 - Dress alike day!

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - ILA

GT Testing

• Library & Learning Lab
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday, February 23rd

Block Schedule Periods 1, 3, 5, 7

• Viking Time - History

GT Testing

• Library & Learning Lab
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Art Club Meeting

• 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Boys' Soccer VMS vs. Fowler

• Liberty High School
• 5:30 p.m./7 p.m.

Multicultural Night

• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 24th

Wear your PTA inclusion shirt!

Block Schedule Periods 2, 4, 6, 8

• Viking Time - Math

GT Testing

• Library & Learning Lab
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Girls' Soccer VMS vs. Fowler

• Liberty High School
• 5:30 p.m./7 p.m.

Orchestra Beginner Concert

• 5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

Orchestra February Concert

• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 25th

Spirit Day - Wear your VMS, Liberty or Emerson High School gear with jeans!

8 Period Day

• Viking Time - Science

GT Testing

• Library & Learning Lab
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

February

28 Band Pre-UIL @ LHS

28 PTA Board Meeting

28 Boys' Soccer Scoggins vs. VMS @ Emerson

28 Black History Month Essay Due

March

1 TELPAS Reading Test

2 UIL Orchestra SNV/NV/V

2 CIT Committee Meeting

2 Musical Auditions

2 TELPAS Reading Test

2 Lockdown Drill

2 Cross Country @ Wakeland

3 UIL Choir @ Independence High School

3 UIL Orchestra SNV/NV/V

3 Girls' Soccer vs. VMS @ Emerson High School

Max Robinson 1939-1988

A trailblazer in broadcasting and journalism, Max Robinson in 1978 became the first Black person to anchor the nightly network news. But his road to the anchor’s chair wasn’t easy. Robinson got his start in 1959 when he was hired to read the news at a station in Portsmouth, Virginia. His face was hidden behind a graphic that read, “NEWS.” One day he told the cameraman to remove the slide. “I thought it would be good for all my folks and friends to see me rather than this dumb news sign.” Robinson was fired the next day. Robinson’s profile began to rise after he moved to Washington, where he worked as a TV reporter and later co-anchored the evening news at the city’s most popular station – the first Black anchor in a major US city. He drew raves for his smooth delivery and rapport with the camera. ABC News noticed, moved him to Chicago and named him one of three co-anchors on “World News Tonight,” which also featured Frank Reynolds in Washington and Peter Jennings in London. Later in his career, Robinson became increasingly outspoken about racism and the portrayal of African Americans in the media. He also sought to mentor young Black broadcasters and was one of the 44 founders of the National Association of Black Journalists.

—Amir Vera, CNN

Photo: ABC/Getty Images

Constance Baker Motley 1921-2005

Constance Baker Motley graduated from her Connecticut high school with honors, but her parents, immigrants from the Caribbean, couldn’t afford to pay for college. So Motley, a youth activist who spoke at community events, made her own good fortune. A philanthropist heard one of her speeches and was so impressed he paid for her to attend NYU and Columbia Law School. And a brilliant legal career was born. Motley became the lead trial attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and began arguing desegregation and fair housing cases across the country. The person at the NAACP who hired her? Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Motley wrote the legal brief for the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case, which struck down racial segregation in American public schools. Soon she herself was arguing before the Supreme Court – the first Black woman to do so. Over the years she successfully represented Martin Luther King Jr., Freedom Riders, lunch-counter protesters and the Birmingham Children Marchers. She won nine of the 10 cases that she argued before the high court. Motley maintained her composure even as some judges turned their backs when she spoke. “I rejected any notion that my race or sex would bar my success in life,” Motley wrote in her memoir, “Equal Justice Under Law.” After leaving the NAACP, Motley continued her trailblazing path, becoming the first Black woman to serve in the New York state Senate and later the first Black woman federal judge. Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, has cited her as an inspiration.

—Nicole Chavez, CNN

Photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Students may select from one of the prompts listed below and write a 5-paragraph essay. Prizes will be awarded for the top three essays, and winners will be announced on Friday, March 4th. The deadline to submit the essay to the front office is Monday, February 28th at 4 p.m. There will be a drop box located in the front office reception area.

Writing Prompt #1: Why do we celebrate Black History Month?

Writing Prompt #2: How did the civil rights movement change the world?

Writing Prompt #3: Write about the contributions of a famous Black American (e.g. author, inventor, scientist, activist).

Curricular Clubs: Reach out to the sponsors for meeting dates/times.

National Junior Honor Society - Sponsors Kim Shea & Wendy Tamney

Art Club - Sponsor Leanne Rainey

Academic Pentathlon - Sponsors Kristen Roberts & Jamie Buzan

STUCO - Sponsor Allison Hillman

Book Club - Sponsor Tiffany Crites

Thespian Club - Sponsor Jordan Barrett

Kidz Publishing Corps - Sponsor Keegan Lewis

Non-Curricular Clubs: Students may provide information related to their non-curricular club to their peers via student created posters, word-of-mouth, and student announcements.

Congratulations to the following students for winning The Health and Wellness Committee's January Jumpstart Challenge!

6th grade: Laskshimi Kamma

7th grade: Samantha Njau

8th grade: Erik Arroyo

The FISD Achieve Mentoring program is seeking caring and committed adults from across the community to provide student support and inspire success in school and life. Please RSVP and plan to attend a short training on February 23 or March 1. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3IRJLyQ

The District is proud of fine arts students and staff across the District and wants to make sure you are aware of the robust and relevant fine arts happenings throughout the year. Click here to find the latest newsletter or sign-up for the newsletter to get it directly in your inbox.

More than 120 students have science fair projects advancing to the Regional Science Fair, including some of our own! Congratulations to our Vandeventer Middle School students and teachers, and best of luck at Regionals! https://bit.ly/3IaABgM

Thank you to Mrs. Prunty and Mrs. Tara Childers, from Frisco Threads, in organizing the VMS National Junior Honor Society in support of the Frisco Threads Community Clothing Drive. We had a good response. Thank you to all who donated!

On Saturday, Vandeventer Middle School competed in the Zone B UIL One Act Play competition and received the following awards:

1 All Star Tech (Lighting) Award - Isabel P.

1 Honorable Mention Acting Award - Emma G.

2 All Star Acting Awards - Ira P. & Mason C.

Way to go, Vikings! Congratulations to Mrs. Barrett and our awesome students!

Until further notice, parents/visitors will not be allowed to eat lunch with their student(s). We will communicate with our families when the lunch visits become available again.

Mark your calendar! We are celebrating our 10-Year Anniversary this year on March 25th with a huge celebration, to include a pep-rally, outdoor activities (bounce house, obstacle course), games, food trucks, music, PTA auction, and much more! More details forthcoming!

Please drive safely and slowly through the carpool lanes for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Please help create a safe environment by following the procedures outlined below:

Morning Arrival:

• All non-busing students will enter the cafeteria doors located on the north side of the building. Due to the bus drop off, cars are not allowed to drop off students in the front of the building between 7:45 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
  

• All students arriving by car should enter at the carpool entrance and be dropped off on the north side of the building outside the cafeteria.

• Please follow the carpool procedures.

Afternoon Pick-Up:

• Parents may pick up students from the two inside lanes along the traffic flow; the outside lane is reserved for moving traffic.

• 6th Grade – exit 6th grade pod

• 7th Grade – exit 7th grade pod

• 8th Grade – exit 8th grade pod

Additional Recommendations:

1. Alter pick-up time later when there are less vehicles in the carpool lane

2. Rideshare with a friend or neighbor

Arrival & Dismissal Map

How To Buy Tickets (all sports other than varsity football)

• NO TICKET SALES AT THE GATE -- ONLINE ONLY
• Tickets for middle school and high school games are available at events.ticketspicket.com or on the free TicketSpicket app in the Apple Store or Google Play
• IMPORTANT: The TicketSpicket app must be installed on your device to enter an event.

• All sales open on Monday at 10 a.m. on the week of the event.

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 for the next twelve years in various leadership roles. This is Ms. Taylor's third year as the Viking principal, and she looks forward to another great school year!

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 third year at Vandeventer MIddle School.

Mrs. Brotherson grew up in Grapevine, Texas, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas. She began her teaching career at Spears Elementary as a 5th grade teacher in a self-contained classroom. After five years, she made the jump to middle school, teaching GT ILA at Cobb Middle School and serving as the Lead GT Teacher. Mrs. Brotherson obtained her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. This is Mrs. Brotherson's fourth year at Vandeventer Middle School.

Email: vandeventer@friscoisd.org
Website: https://schools.friscoisd.org/campus/middle-school/vandeventer
Location: 6075 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX, USA
Phone: 469-633-4350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VandeventerMiddleSchool
Twitter: @VandeventerMS