VAMS Panther Press Newsletter
October 14, 2022
Calendar
Friday, October 14 - VAMS Halloween Dance (organized by parent volunteers) from 6:00-8:00 - free admission (more information below)
- Monday, October 17 - NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, October 18 - NO SCHOOL
- Thursday, October 20 - Report Cards Go Home
- Friday, October 21 - Pumpkin Decorating Submission Deadline (more information below)
- Friday, October 21 - Star Card Treat After School (Star Cards will be passed out next week)
- October 24 - 28 - Red Ribbon Week
- October 24, 25 & 26 - Van Alstyne High School Theatre Haunted House from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Van Alstyne High School - Tickets $5.00 at the door (more information below)
- Monday, October 24 - Stand for the Silent School Assembly (more information below)
- Monday, October 24 - Reception Honoring Chief Burge from 6:30 PM -7:00 PM at the admin building.
- Monday, October 24 - VAISD School Board Meeting at 7:00 PM
- Tuesday, October 25 - Pep Rally at 3:00 PM - Parents and guests are welcome
- Friday, October 28 - Star Card Hat Day
- Monday, November 7 - Dyslexia Parent Night from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM in the Sanford Elementary Cafeteria
- Tuesday, November 8 - Picture Make-Up Day
- Tuesday, November 8 - Screen Time and Social Media: What You Need to Know Presentation at 5:30 PM in the VAMS cafeteria. Open to elementary, middle, or high school parents. (more information below)
- Tuesday, November 8 - Cookie Dough Delivery from 2:30 PM - 4:15 PM (more information below)
Pep Rally Date Change
Cookie Dough Delivery
FCA
What: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
When: Friday mornings at 7:15
Where: Mr. Pierce's classroom (Outdoor Science Room #2)
Who: Any 6th, 7th or 8th grade student. You do not have to be an athlete to attend.
Join Remind for announcements and updates: https://www.remind.com/join/fh86a2 or text the message @fh86a2 to 81010.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Red Ribbon Week Dress Up Days
Veterans Day SlideShow
Stand For The Silent
Stand for the Silent- Stand for the Silent, an engaging program on bullying prevention and youth suicide, will be coming to VAMS on Monday, October 24th, 2022. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will attend the program during the school day. We understand that the topics being discussed are sensitive, so we encourage you to talk with your children prior to the program. Detailed information can be found at Stand for the Silent's website, as well as on their digital brochure. Brochures are also available in the front office. If your family has been personally impacted by these topics, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school counselor, Britni Cady, in case the program brings up challenging emotions for your child.
The Stand For The Silent (SFTS) program addresses the issue of school bullying with an engaging, factual, and emotional methodology. With the help of student leaders, Kirk Smalley presents his inspirational story, and students are shown firsthand the life and death consequences of bullying. Students, some for the first time, develop an empathetic awareness through education and understanding. At the end of each event, pledge cards are given to those who agree to stand for the silent. The pledge illustrates the main lesson taught through the Stand For The Silent program: I AM SOMEBODY.
Stand for the Silent Pledge: “From this day forward, I promise to respect those around me as well as respect myself. I am somebody, and I can make a difference. I can make another feel loved. I can be the helping hand that leads another back to the path of hope and aspiration. I will not stand silent as others try to spread hatred through my community. Instead, I pledge to lift up those victims and show them that their life matters. I will be the change, because I AM SOMEBODY!”
Parent Volunteer Group
2022-2023 Yearbook Orders
Buy early and save money!
Secure your memories!
Cost: $42.00 if you order by Monday, November 21, 2022
Panther sports
Athletics Livestream
Click the link below to view Van Alstyne Athletics Livestream, which includes all Varsity Basketball and Volleyball games played at home in the main gym. Includes ALL home football games played in Panther Stadium (including middle school). The stream will begin 15 minutes prior to the event.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhDOaLSpKozAXVhCfCLfFw/videos?view=57
Click the link below to view the livestream broadcast for Varsity Football (home and away games) .
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEGpBsLGwALyW1zX_TSfuKA
Volleyball
Saturday, October 15 - 7A & 8A Volleyball Tournament in Princeton
Thursday, October 20 @ Piner
5:00 PM - 7A & 8B
6:00 PM - 8A & 7B
7th Grade Football
Tuesday, October 18 at 6:00 & 7:00 PM at Van Alstyne Stadium vs. Denison
Tuesday, October 25 at 6:00 PM at Van Alstyne Stadium - 2nd Annual Panther Bowl
Tuesday, November 1 at 5:15 & 5:30 PM vs. Piner at Bearcat Stadium
8th Grade Football
Tuesday, October 18 at 5:30 & 6:30 PM at Denison
Tuesday, October 25 at 6:00 PM at Van Alstyne Stadium - 2nd Annual Panther Bowl
Tuesday, November 1 at 6:30 & 7:30 PM vs. Piner at Bearcat Stadium
Coach Ingram, Middle School Girls Athletic Coordinator - kingram@vanalstyneisd.org
Coach Sedlacek, Middle School Boys Athletic Coordinator - dsedlacek@vanalstyneisd.org
Varisty Football Games
- Middle school students who are not sitting with their parents/guardians need to sit in the middle school section (top, left side of the bleachers).
- No footballs or other balls can be brought to the game.
- No one is allowed on the football field after the game.
- Students will be asked to leave if they continue to make poor choices after a warning/redirection.
Lunch Accounts
Parents can deposit money into their child’s lunch account online through www.myschoolbucks.com. **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.
Feed My Sheep Program
Backpack food programs provide nutritious, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food to
children to ensure they get enough food on weekends and holidays in an effort to avoid hunger
when they are unable to depend on school meals. By providing kids with the nutrients they need when they’re away from school, they show up on Monday morning healthy and ready to learn. Each student will typically receive 2 breakfast items, 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 snack type items.
If your family would benefit from the Feed My Sheep program, then click the link below to view the Feed My Sheep flyer. Complete the bottom portion of the page and return it to our VAMS counselor, Mrs. Cady.
Attendance
Covid Absences
If your child tests positive for Covid with an at-home test, please email a picture of the positive at-home test along with the dates your child will miss school to our office at vamsoffice@vanalstyneisd.org and our nurse at lwilson@vanalstyneisd.org.
Students Calling Home
Cell Phone Policy
Students are allowed to bring cell phones to school. They are allowed to listen to music and play games on their cell phones before school, during lunch, and after school. Students must keep cell phones out of sight and turned off (not on silent) during the school day. Please reinforce this rule with your child so they are well aware.
Also, please do not allow your child to call or text you from school using their cell phone for any reason, including to come pick them up when they do not feel well. Proper procedure is to report to Nurse Wilson and allow her to use her training to make that determination. Misuse will result in confiscation of the cell phone and the parent will be required to come pick up the phone. If the student continues to misuse their cell phone, the student will be required to check their cell phone into the office each morning.
Community Service Hour Log
Promoting community service is a goal of VAMS! In order to promote and foster serving our community and others, students can earn a community service award at the end of the year awards assemblies to recognize students who give their time, talents, and hearts.
Find opportunities throughout the school year for your child to work on their community service hours. Make sure your child is documenting their community service time on their hour log.
VAMS Community Service Hour Logs are due on Friday, May 1st. Hours are documented digitally. Click the link below to access the digital hour log.
Click on the link below "VAMS Community Service FAQ Flyer" for more information.
Communication throughout the year
Middle School Website: Click HERE to access the VAMS webpage.
Social Media: Want to see what goes on at VAMS during the week? Want to see pictures of students doing awesome things? Want to see what learning looks like on our campus? Be sure to like us on Facebook, Van Alstyne Middle School.
Digital Newsletter: We email parents a digital campus newsletter every Friday. If you are not currently signed up to receive our weekly newsletter, click HERE.
Grade-level Remind Accounts: Please sign up for the appropriate Remind accounts below to help keep you informed. We also recommend having your child sign up as well. Teachers use Remind to communicate important dates and information.
A Note From Our Nurse....
Our clinics must have a Medication Parent Consent Form on file for students requiring medication administered during school hours. This form must be signed by parent/legal guardian. Medication must be kept in the ORIGINAL bottle. (see links below)
Children who have the following symptoms should stay home and not come to school until these symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours without the help of medication.
- Fever (100 degrees or higher)
- Sore Throat (with fever or swollen neck)
- Persistent Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Rash (with fever and itching)
- Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye (your child can attend school 24 hours after starting medical treatment)
A child with a typical cold, but no fever or green drainage, may come to school.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, he or she must receive permission from the teacher before reporting to the school nurse. If the nurse determines that the child should go home, the nurse will contact the parent.
Volunteer Approval Form
Click the button below to access the Volunteer Approval Form. We appreciate our volunteers!
Van Alstyne Middle School
Website: www.ms.vanalstyneisd.org
Location: 1314 N. Waco Van Alstyne, TX
Phone: 903-482-8804
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/VanAlstyneMiddleSchool
Twitter: @vamiddleschool