VAHS NEWSLETTER
Dedicated to empowering EXCELLENCE every Panther, every day!
April 2024:
Happening this Week:
- Boys Regional Golf Tournament @ Van Zandt Country Club - Monday & Tuesday, 4/15-16
- 24-25 Bass Team Meeting @ VAMS - Monday, 4/15 6:30
- JV Softball @ Celina HS - Tuesday, 4/16 4:30
- Varsity Softball vs. Van HS @ Rockwall-Heath HS - Tuesday, 4/16 6:30
- Baseball vs. Bonham @ Home - Tuesday, 4/16 JV - 4:30, Varsity - 7:00
- Girls Regional Golf Tournament @ Van Zandt Country Club - Wednesday & Thursday, 4/17-18
- Varsity District Tennis @ Anna HS - Wednesday & Thursday, 4/17-18
- Jazz Band Concert @ VAHS - Thursday, 4/18 7:00
- Track Regional Meet @ UNT - Friday, 4/19
- JV District Tennis @ Anna HS - Friday, 4/19
- Regional Bass Tournament @ Possum Kingdom - Saturday, 4/20
- Prom @ Primrose Hill Event Center - Saturday, 4/20 8:00-11:00 p.m.
Thursday/Saturday School....
Students who have hours to make up can attend Thursday or Saturday. Attendance Hour logs can be picked up from Mrs. Fletcher in the front office.
Thursday: 3:45-6:30 (MPR)
Saturday: 8am-2pm(Cafeteria)
STAAR TESTING/EOC Exams....
STAAR/EOC testing Tuesday-Friday. We are a CLOSED CAMPUS these days - no bells, no announcements, no visitors, no food deliveries (even from parents). The library will be closed during these days, as well. Please plan accordingly.
April 16, 17,18, 19, 23, 30th- Closed Campus Dates!
SOFTBALL IS HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS...
The 2024 Van Alstyne Softball Playoff Shirts are now available for purchase. Orders can be placed using the following link: https://hometeamprints.net/store#!/Panther-Softball-2024-Playoff-Gear/p/647389818/category=34441505 Through the checkout process, you will have the option to choose where (campus) you would like your order to be delivered. The order deadline is this Monday, April 15, and shirts will be delivered to campuses on Wednesday, April 24. We are VA!
Help us Celebrate all the great things at VAHS...
Teacher & Paraprofessional of the Year
Congratulations to our campus Teacher of the Year - Kelly Weatherly! She has also been chosen as the VAISD Secondary Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to our campus Paraprofessional of the Year - Chris Cary!
We are so grateful for your dedication to our students and staff - this honor is very well deserved!
FCCLA
Van Alstyne High School FCCLA members competed at the State FCCLA Contest this weekend and did a fantastic job! Owen Benway & Fatima Paniagua placed 4th with Food Innovations. Rebekah Colwell placed 5th with Cupcake Presentation. Parker Bedard, Konnor Bloom, & Sage Weatherly placed 5th with Sustainability Challenge. Making it to the top 5 in the State is amazing! We are so proud of our students and their teacher/sponsor, Mrs. Kelly Weatherly!
Theater
Congratulations to the One Act Play cast & crew of “Lord of the Flies” for advancing to the Regional Contest!
Ethan Kneece - Honorable Mention All Star Cast
Riley Duckworth - Honorable Mention All Star Cast
Jake Martinez - All Star Cast
Rachael Pierce - All Star Technician
Winter Drumline
Congratulations to John Apodaca and our VAHS percussion students on a fantastic Winter Drumline season - Championship Silver Medalist at the 2024 NTCA!
Choir
This amazing group of young people stepped up today and had a stellar showing at VAHS’s first ever High School Choral Concert and Sight-reading Contest! The hard work that each of these students have put in over the past semester has really paid off. Congratulations Choir on an EXCELLENT performance!
FFA
AREA V FFA CDE RESULTS TAMCU
Ag Mech 2nd out of 12 Teams in Area State Qualifiers!!! Alex Mcafee 3rd high individual out of 48!!! Hayden Woods 4th high individual!!! Lane Henneman 6th high individual!!! Taylor Thompson Livestock 12th out of 75 Teams in Area State Qualifiers!!! Ainsley Williams 10th high individual out of 282!!! Kennedy Heck 30th individual out of 282!!! Alyssa Blythe Alyssa Edwards Floriculture 26th out of 60 Teams in Area!!! Aruna Kasturi 25th individual out of 211!!! Grace Nelson Aleha Bishop Isabella Noe
AREA V FFA CDE RESULTS TARLETON
Ag Sales 3rd out of 16 teams!!! Ashley McClellan 3rd high individual!!! Regan Stovall Luke Harrelson Timothy Martinez Homesite 6th out of 13 teams!!! Lauren Malone 4th high individual!!! Aruna Kasturi Jessa Hobbs Entomology 15th out of 33 teams!!! Carson Mcclearan Kevin Rodriguez Caleb Coleman Isabella Vanstrein Vet med 26th out of 76 teams!!! Ashley Mcclelan Regan Stovall Ryleigh Bigham Nirmani Wapola Horse Lily Quick 26th individual out of 278!!! Sydney Powers
Track
Congrats to our JV/Varsity Track teams on a great season!! They competed hard and had a lot of PR's at the district meet! The following students will be advancing to Regionals and competing on April 19th-20th.
Girls:
Kinzi Schrage: high jump
Savanna Young: Pole Vault
4x400 Relay: Phoebe Montgomery, Payton Murray, Zoe Henderson, Sarah Wyatt
Boys:
Garrett Skaggs: High Jump
Spencer Powell: High Jump/ 800/ 400
Riley Hunter: Triple Jump
Tim Moore: Long Jump
4x200 Relay: Riley Hunter, Tim Moore, Brady Carson, Jace Gailley
4x400: Spencer Powell, Tim Moore, Hunter Emerick, Brady Carson & Caleb Coleman (Alternate)
Tennis
Congrats to our Tennis Athletes that competed in the Celina Tournament-
Avinash Kasturi: 1st place
Tatum Snider: 3rd place
UIL
Van Alstyne High School had a wonderful day at the District UIL Academic Meet at Anna on Friday! We are very proud of our scholars and their hard work.
VAHS results: Calculator Applications - Vinuki Jayawardena **(5th Place) and Rylee Weaver Current Events - Aruna Kasturi **(5th Place), Nirmani Walpola, Luke Harrelson, Ashley McClellan, Alex Cruz, and Parker Bedard Informative Speaking - Regan Stovall* (2nd Place), Nirmani Walpola** (4th Place), and Aruna Kasturi (5th Place) Mathematics - Regan Albertini, Sam Fazzino, Wesley Gossett, Vinuki Jayawardena, Avinash Kasturi, and Charlotte Sankale Number Sense - Sam Fazzino, Wesley Gossett, Vinuki Jayawardena, Avinash Kasturi, Kevhan Santil, and Camden Wilson Persuasive Speaking - Jacob Martinez* (1st Place), Ashley McClellan* (2nd Place), and Alex Cruz (5th Place) Poetry Interpretation - Alexia Songer** (4th Place) Prose Interpretation - Nuwani Walpola* (3rd Place) and Aleah Bishop **(4th Place) Ready Writing - Regan Albertini** (6th Place), John Jenkins, and Makayla Gregory Science - 1st Place Team - Sam Fazzino* (Top Individual - Chemistry), Sadie Walker* (Top Individual - Physics), Vinuki Jayawardena*, Wafa Ramadan*, Regan Albertini** and Peyton Webster** Social Studies - Jacob Hilligoss and Lucas Brock Spelling - 1st Place Team - Nuwani Walpola *(1st Place), Rylee Weaver* (6th Place), and Alex Benton* *Regional Qualifier **Regional Qualifier Alternate
Girl's Golf
The VAHS Girls Golf Team of Rileight Aaron, Lily Quick, Karli Schrage, Hannah Cuthbertson, Kinzi Schrage and Payton Murray finished 3rd place at the district tournament.
Karli Schrage finished in 12th place. Hannah Cuthbertson finished 7th place and qualified for the regional tournament. Congrats to the Lady Panthers Golf Team on a great season!
Boy's Golf
The Van Alstyne High School boys golf team competed in the 2-day district golf tournament at Westridge GC on Monday and Tuesday. They finished in 3rd place as a team. Individually Luke Comegys finished in 7th place. Dawson McDonald finished in 1st place with a 2 day total of 152 (74, 78)!!! Dawson and Luke both qualified for the regional tournament in two weeks. Congrats!!
Mark your Calendars- Band Happenings....
Prom 2024
Fine Arts Night 2024
Van Alstyne ISD Showcases Student Artists at Upcoming Fine Arts Night
Friday, April 26
Van Alstyne ISD will host its 4th Annual “Fine Arts Extravaganza” on Friday evening, April 26, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., showcasing students involved in all genres of the Arts from all four campuses – elementary, middle, and high school. The event will take place at Van Alstyne High School where three stages will be set to host all musical and theatrical performances, while artwork from the visual arts departments from all four campuses will line the walls.
Performances from our Theatre Department, HS Jazz Band, and small instrumental ensembles will be held on the cafeteria stage throughout the evening. The upper gym will host our Choir Programs and the Art Gallery. Finally, the lower gym will become the stage for the MS/HS School Color Guard and Middle School Bands.
As those in attendance travel back and forth from the various stages, they’ll be treated to the best works of art – paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. – from the Art students at all four campuses.
Parents & Students......
Lunch Balances Due!
No Charging for School Meals starting on May 1, 2024
Starting May 1st, no charging will be allowed in the district. Please send student with a lunch/breakfast if they do not have money in their account to purchase one. Per VAISD District policy, an alternate meal at a reduced price (.40 lunch) will be offered. This meal will consist of a cheese sandwich, fruit, and milk. The alternate breakfast meal will consist of a milk (.30 breakfast).
Negative balances need to be paid as soon as possible and before the end of the school year at the latest.
Thank you,
Child Nutrition Staff
Attendance Matters- we need documentation of all absences!
YEARBOOK ORDERS!!!!
Have you ordered your yearbook yet? Prices increase this weekend, so be sure you order yours today! Got a great pic that you think belongs in the yearbook? Upload your pics today and you can be a part of the memories!
Order here: https://yearbookforever.com/schools/van_alstyne_high_school_buy_yearbook_314872/mh0p7eO6o8uzmIRG1Ndgyt75
Upload here: https://snap.yearbookforever.com/snap/index.html#/upload/1-23J-12782 Access code:24kGold
Testing Dates
Make note..... NO LUNCH DELIVERIES OR VISITORS ON STAAR TESTING DAYS! PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY!
April
Apr 16: Eng 1 STAAR
Apr 17: Eng 2 STAAR
Apr 23: Bio & US Hist STAAR
Apr 30: Alg 1 STAAR
May
May 6: AP Chem
May 8: AP Eng Lit
May 13: AP Calculus
May 14: AP Eng Lang
May 16: AP Spanish
May 13-17: Non STAAR Q4 Assessments
SENIOR PICTURES NEEDED
SENIORS 2024.... Mark your Calendars!
2024 End of Year Important Dates
Important Dates and Information:
May 1st Decision Day 9am (HS Gym)
May 1st Deadline to turn in Scholarship information to counselors
May 3rd Invitations for Senior Scholarship Night sent home
May 6th- May 9th Senior Class Finals
May 10th - Senior grades are due - Failing students cannot go to Six Flags
May 10th Six Flags
May 13th - May 17th Verification Week Seniors Must Be in Attendance
May 14th - Class Awards: 9:15am 11th grade, 10:15am 10th grade, 2:15pm 9th grade
Thursday, May 16th, 10 a.m. Senior Awards (cafeteria)
Thursday, May 16th, 6:30 p.m. Senior Scholarship Awards (cafeteria)
Sunday, May 19th, 6:00 p.m. Baccalaureate Services (cafeteria) Seniors need to be in the cafeteria at 5:30pm in dress code, gowns only, not caps.
Monday, May 20th Senior Checkout (cafeteria) Seniors Must Be in Attendance
Tuesday, May 21st, 9:00 a.m. Senior Picnic
Wednesday May 22nd Senior Send Off - Elementary and Middle Schools. Seniors need to meet in the cafeteria at 8:30am
Thursday, May 23rd, 9:00 a.m. Senior Breakfast
Thursday, May 23rd, 6:00 p.m. Top 10% Dinner (cafeteria) Invitations will go home by May 18".
Friday, May 24th, 9:00 a.m. Graduation Rehearsal (gym) Seniors must be present in casual dress.
Friday, May 24th, 7:00 p.m. ALL SENIORS IN GYM FOR GRADUATION Group picture at 7:15 in the gym. (All seniors must be present in dress code wearing cap and gown. Boys will need to be wearing a tie.)
Friday, May 24th, 8:00 pm GRADUATION Gates will open to all parents at 6:30pm
*Dates, times and locations are tentative and subject to change.*
INFORMATION
Doors will open at 7:30am
Students may eat breakfast in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30am.
Students will not be allowed to leave the cafeteria to go to their first period class until 8am.
SCHOOL HOURS: 8:10a.m – 3:44 p.m.
If parents are interested in serving on the Campus Improvement Team or being a school volunteer, please contact the office or your child’s teachers at 903-482-8803.
Following our Van Alstyne High School Facebook page is also a great way to keep informed, as well as signing up for the grade level Remind accounts through our counseling department.
Want to Volunteer?
Just a reminder that you will need to fill out the volunteer form for the 2023-2024 school year before volunteering in any capacity at a VAISD campus or activity.
The form must be completed each year. Thank you in advance for your willingness to serve and please allow 3-5 business days for processing.
Dress Code
The VAISD Student Code of Conduct, VAHS Student Handbook and student dress code are on the school website, www.vanalstyneisd.org. Hard copies for each of those documents will also be available upon request in the high school office. Please be familiar with the student dress code to help us proactively head off any issues before they arise.
PARENT PORTAL
Parents, please stay connected to Parent Portal so you can accurately track your child’s progress. An added perk of the program is that you can set alerts to let you know if and when your child scores below whatever standard you set. The link to sign in is under the “Parents” tab on our school website. If you need login information, you can contact our receptionist, Amy Fletcher, at afletcher@vanalstyneisd.org or by calling 903-482-8803.
Important Information
Any student being signed out of class early will require an email from the parent. This email will need to include the following information- students name, time student will need to leave the campus and the reason for the early dismissal. The email can be sent to Amy Fletcher at the following email: vahsoffice@vanalstyneisd.org
https://form.jotform.com/222084745887064
School lunches are no longer free for all students. Attached is the application for free and reduced lunches.
VAN ALSTYNE HIGH SCHOOL
Krista Beal, Principal
James Otto, Assistant Principal
Mandy Danielson, Counselor
Denise Jensen, Counselor
1722 N. Waco Phone: (903) 482-8803
Van Alstyne, TX 75495 Fax: (903) 482-8885
January 12, 2024
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage
of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options for, as well as how to talk to your child
and others about, the safe storage of firearms.
In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services (SHS)
reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides and that 59% of all suicides in Texas were by
firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in
reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal
violence often end in suicide.
It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children are likely to be and
can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13 , a person commits the offense of making a
firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with
criminal negligence:
Failed to secure the firearm; or
Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access
The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500
fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two).
Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax .
Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You
can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at
https://safegunstoragetexas.com .
Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.
Student Drop Off
We are asking that students not be dropped off or picked up in the front of the school. This is a safety precaution we are going to make moving forward at VAHS. If you have questions about this change, please email Dr. Otto (jotto@vanalstyneisd.org) and he will be happy to explain the “Why?” behind this change in drop-off and pick-up on campus.
Food/Drink at School
To lower the risk of disease transmission and to reduce classroom disruptions, students will not be able to eat food in classrooms.
Students should bring a water bottle.
Students CAN NOT have food delivered through Door Dash or any restaurant.
All food/delivery drop offs are to be made in the front entry way.DO NOT DROP OFF IN OFFICE! Leave items on grade shelf and label your students items. Deliveries will be made during your child's scheduled lunch. Please have lunches delivered prior to your child's scheduled lunch time.
A Lunch 11:38-12:08
B Lunch 12:08-12:38
C Lunch 12:38-1:08
**In accordance with state law, parents are not allowed to provide food for any child other than their own. This includes dropped-off lunches, sharing of pizza, cupcakes for their friends, etc.
Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30 AM
PARKING PERMITS- $25
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bStiOmpF87nbqGk0H5W8vktBVcqHt-1UXqQEP0ZCzkY/edit
*Complete the google form.
*Once completed stop by the front office, with payment (cash or check only) and Mrs. Fletcher will issue you your parking permit.
Van Alstyne High School
Feel free to stop by our office or call us at 903-482-8803 any time you have questions or concerns. Thank you for your support.
Email: VAHSoffice@vanalstyneisd.org
Website: https://hs.vanalstyneisd.org/
Location: 1722 N Waco St, Van Alstyne, TX, USA
Phone: 903-482-8803
Twitter: @VAHSpanther