VAMS Panther Press Newsletter
January 13, 2023
Calendar
- Monday, January 16 - NO SCHOOL
- Friday, January 20 - Star Card break the dress code
- Thursday, January 26 - Progress reports go home
- Saturday, January 28 - Band Pancake Breakfast 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the VAMS Cafeteria (more information below)
- Tuesday, January 31 - VAMS Pep Rally at 3:00 PM - Parents and guests are welcome to attend!
- Thursday, February 2 - Elective sheets go home (more information coming soon)
- Thursday, February 2 - Star Card Break the Dress Code
- Friday, February 3 - NO SCHOOL
- Friday, February 10 - Elective Sheets Due
- Friday, February 10 - Start Card Treat After School
- Friday, February 10 - VAMS Valentine's Dance (for VAMS Students ONLY) - 6th grade dance 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM and 7/8 grade dance 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
No School on Monday, January 16
School Board Appreciation Month
Spring Testing Dates
Our quarterly exam schedule will look a little different the 3rd nine weeks. STAAR-tested areas will be giving full benchmark exams (4 hours) to help pinpoint students needing interventions before STAAR testing time, while non-tested areas will be giving regular cumulative quarterly exams.
Please know we pattern our quarterly exams after the STAAR tests, which are at a very high, rigorous level. Don't be alarmed when your child brings home a grade lower than what they are accustomed to getting on normal, everyday assignments and tests. To compensate for the difficulty of the tests, the state lowers the passing standard to below 70%. Please communicate with your child's teacher if you have a question or concern.
QUARTERLY TESTS & BENCHMARK DATES
Tuesday, February 21 - 6th-8th Math & Algebra Benchmark
Wednesday, February 22 - 6th-8th Reading Benchmark
Thursday, February 23 - 8th Science Benchmark
Monday, February 27 - 6th & 7th Science 3rd Quarter Exam
Tuesday, February 28 - 8th Social Studies Benchmark
Wednesday, March 1 - 6th & 7th Social Studies 3rd Quarter Exam
STAAR DATES
*Grade levels not testing will have a normal schedule. Students will need to be quiet during testing days.
Wednesday, April 19 - 8th Reading STAAR
Tuesday, April 25 - 7th Reading STAAR
Wednesday, April 26 - 6th Reading STAAR
Thursday, April 27 - 8th Science STAAR
Tuesday, May 2 - 8th Social Studies STAAR
Wednesday, May 3 - Algebra EOC
Thursday, May 4 - 8th Math STAAR
Tuesday, May 9 - 7th Math STAAR
Wednesday, May 10 - 6th Math STAAR
GT Nominations
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Referrals are now being accepted for the Van Alstyne Unique Learners and Thinkers (VAULT) program. VAULT is designed to provide an academic challenge for children who have been identified as gifted and talented through a process of academic testing. Children, who possess the ability to function above their current grade level, or demonstrate outstanding academic performance, should be carefully considered.
Parent and teacher evaluations constitute two of the six assessment parameters used to determine placement in VAULT. Therefore, I strongly encourage that you consult with your child’s classroom teacher prior to requesting a referral to be tested.
Click the link below to access a copy of the VAISD Gifted and Talented Parent Inventory form. This form needs to be completed by a parent or guardian and returned to the school turned into the middle school office. The deadline for parental referrals is Friday, February 10th. If you have any questions regarding VAULT, please contact the undersigned at the school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Moore, Principal
Debbie Cholette, VAULT Coordinator
Talent Show
We are excited to have a VAMS Talent Show this year! Talent showpieces can include, but are not limited to: singing, dancing, acting, joke-telling, juggling, playing musical instruments, different tricks, and other entertaining talents. You may audition with more than one piece. The talent show is open to VAMS students only.
If your child is interested in trying out for the VAMS Talent Show, please click the link below to access the Talent Show Tryout Application.
- Talent Show Application Due - Friday, March 3
- Tryouts - Wednesday, March 8 from 4:00 - 5:30 in the theatre arts classroom (Room C08)
- Tryout Results Posted outside the Library - Thursday, March 9
- Optional Rehearsal - Thursday, March 30 from 4:00-5:30 in the main gym
- Mandatory Rehearsal - Tuesday, April 18 from 4:00-5:30 in the main gym
- Mandatory Rehearsal - Tuesday, May 9 from 4:00-5:30 in the main gym
- TALENT SHOW - Wednesday, May 17 from 9:00-10:00 and 1:30-2:30 in the VAMS auxiliary gym (parents are welcome to attend)
8th-Grade Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Night - SAVE THE DATE
News From Nurse Wilson
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.
Parent Volunteer Group
2022-2023 Yearbook Orders
Buy early and save money!
Secure your memories!
Cost: $47.00 if you order by March 18, 2023.
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
Girls Basketball
Saturday, January 14 - 7A & 8A Basketball Tournament at VAHS
Thursday, January 19 at Southard MS in Princeton at 5:30
Main Gym - 7A & 8A
Aux Gym - 8B & 7B
Thursday, January 26 at VAMS vs. Anna 5:00
Main Gym - 7A & 8A
Aux Gym - 8B & 7B
Boys Basketball
Saturday, January 14 - 7A & 8A Basketball Tournament at North Lamar
Thursday, January 19 at VAMS vs. Princeton Southard
Main Gym - 8C @ 4:15, 7A @ 5:30 & 8A @ 6:30
Aux Gym - 7C @ 4:15, 8B @ 5:30 & 7B @ 6:30
Thursday, January 26 at Anna
Gym 1 - 7A @ 6:30 & 8A @ 7:30
Gym 2 - 8B @ 6:30 & 7B @ 7:30
Coach Ingram, Middle School Girls Athletic Coordinator - kingram@vanalstyneisd.org
Coach Sedlacek, Middle School Boys Athletic Coordinator - dsedlacek@vanalstyneisd.org
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