VAMS Panther Press Newsletter
January 7, 2022
Calendar
- Wednesday, January 12 - Spelling Bee at 2:00 PM in VAMS Cafeteria
- Friday, January 7 - Star Card Treat After School
- Wednesday, January 12 - Spelling Bee at 2:00 PM in VAMS Cafeteria
- Friday, January 14 - Star Card Break the Dress Code
- Monday, January 17 - No School
- Friday, January 21 - Star Card Hat Day
- Saturday, January 29 - Band Pancake Breakfast in the VAMS Cafeteria from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (more information below)
- Thursday, February 17 - Van Alstyne Education Gala (more information below)
Report cards went home today. Please sign and return to school.
SPELLING BEE
6th Grade
Lillian Friday
Payton Meacham
Dakota Williams
Laura Tran
Brian Alonzo
Henry Hudgen
7th Grade
Lucas Brock
Madison Hanning
Jack Mosby
TJ Thomas
Joel Rejino
Riley Weaver
8th Grade
Nick Bustos
Connor Garris
Jett Jackson
Owen Moses
Yulissa Navarro
Nirmani Walpola
VAISD District Improvement Meeting
Parents, the District Improvement Team will be meeting on Wednesday, January 19th at 4:00 in the boardroom at the administration building. This meeting will also be a public hearing for revision of our District of Innovation plan (link to the proposed plan is below), as well as a public hearing regarding ESSER funding.
A little bit about the District of Innovation (DOI) plan: The 84th legislature passed a bill that allowed traditional school districts the ability to access flexibilities which had previously been reserved for charter schools. In order for an independent school district to obtain these flexibilities, they had to seek designation as a “District of Innovation.” The Van Alstyne ISD Board of Trustees initiated the process by adopting a resolution to pursue a “District of Innovation” designation and a committee was formed and came up with a DOI plan for our district. The plan is good for 5 years, and will be up for renewal at the conclusion of this school year. We have used this plan to give us flexibility in a number of areas, and would like to continue to have these flexibilities, as well as add some additional flexibilities we feel would be in the best interest of our staff and students.
For questions regarding the plan, please contact Ryan Coleman, Assistant Superintendent, at rcoleman@vanalstyneisd.org, or 903-482-8802.
Van Alstyne Education Foundation Gala
Join us for A Mardi Gras Evening at the 9th Annual VAEF Gala and Auction. You will enjoy casino tables, entertainment, silent / live auction, unlimited food & drinks and much more! The event will be Thursday, February 17th at The Springs Event Venue.
Please click the link below to find out more information about the gala, how to be a sponsor, and/or how to donate.
Attendance Reminders
Just a few reminders about attendance:
Please send a note giving a detailed description of the reason for the absence within 3 days of any absence. Notes received after 3 days will result in an unexcused absence. Please send a doctor's note anytime your child misses school for an appointment. If your child is absent longer than 3 consecutive days because of personal illness, you must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student's extended absence. If you have any questions, please send an email to vamsoffice@vanalstyneisd.org.
VAISD Kindness Challenge
As most of you are aware, school districts around the country have been plagued by students participating in TikTok challenges. These challenges ask students to destroy/vandalize school property, steal things, and do other things that can lead to legal consequences. Our youth are better than that! In an effort to combat the negative challenges on social media, VAISD challenges our youth to make a positive impact in our school and our community. Our youth can do great things! #takebacktiktok #supporteducation #VAISD #KindnessChallenge
Complete the Google Form below if you participated in the VAISD Kindness Challenge! We want to hear about the great things our youth are doing!
Panther Sports
Girl's Basketball
Thursday, January 13th @ VAMS vs. Clark beginning at 5:00 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Saturday, January 15th @ VAHS (Van Alstyne Tournament) TBD
Boys Basketball
Saturday, January 8th @ VAHS (Van Alstyne Tournament)- A Teams Only
7A - 1st game at 8:00 AM
8A - 1st game at 9:00 AM
Thursday, January 13th @ Princeton Clark Middle School beginning at 5:30 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Coach Voris, Middle School Girls Athletic Coordinator - jvoris@vanalstyneisd.org
Coach Sedlacek, Middle School Boys Athletic Coordinator - dsedlacek@vanalstyneisd.org
Feed My Sheep Pantry Community Food Assistance Program
The following COVID safety protocols will be in place at the beginning of school:
- Water fountains — All water fountains will be turned on this year. We still encourage students to bring a water bottle from home if they are able to. There are three water bottle refill stations that are accessible to students. Please make sure your child's water bottle has their name on it.
- Masks are optional
- Sanitizing stations — Students will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer throughout the day. Desks will be sanitized between classes.
- Visitors will be allowed — We love our parent volunteers and visitors! Parents and guardians are welcome to come and eat lunch with their child. All visitors will need to check in with Mrs. Twila in our front office where their temperature will be taken.
- Restrooms — We have signs posted on all restrooms asking students to limit 4 people at a time. We will also encourage students to wash their hands for 20 seconds before they leave the restroom.
- Symptom and Temperature Monitoring — All students will be required to enter through our south entrance (8th grade hallway). This entrance has a camera that checks the temperature of each individual that enters the building. A staff member will be at this entrance monitoring the camera. If someone has a fever, they will be asked to go to the nurse for further evaluation. All faculty and students are required to monitor symptoms and no one is permitted to come to class if they are displaying symptoms.
- Building sanitized nightly
- Buses will be sanitized after each route
Parent Volunteer Group
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, and follow us on Twitter at @vamiddleschool
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.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19
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