Kodiak Family Update
02/15/21 - 02/19/21
Our Mission: Partners in Learning, Preparing for the Future
In this Update
- From the Principal
- February Staff Member of the Month
- Seeking Applicants
- Upcoming Events
- Team One and Team Two Weekly Schedule
- Health and Safety Reminder
- District COVID-19 Dashboard
- PowerSchool Messages
- Red Cross Blood Drive
- Yearbooks
- PTSO Volunteer Opportunities
- Withdrawing a Student
- Kodiak Coaches' Den
- Employment Opportunities
- Important Links
From the Principal
The Board of Trustees approved a plan to return to in-person learning for all students four days per week starting Tuesday, March 30th. Monday's will remain a remote learning day.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Go Kodiaks!
Partners in learning,
Will Schumaker, Principal
February Staff Member of the Month
Seeking Applicants for Paraprofessional, Noon Duty, Bus Drivers, and Substitute Teachers
Upcoming Dates for High School Registration
February 18th and 19th Students will receive registration information and instructions for MVHS and MHS during PE classes. Information will be posted on the VMS website.
February 23rd and 24th Question and Answer sessions available during 8th grade lunch.
February 25th and 26th Forms due to PE teacher.
March 2nd and 3rd MVHS and MHS will be at Victory to help students enter registration information to the online system Class Choice.
Please contact 8th grade counselor, Shawna Manhire, with questions.
February Upcoming Dates
17 - PTSO meeting, VMS library at 7 pm
23 - 8th grade boys basketball tournament at TBD
24 - 8th grade boys basketball tournament at TBD
25 - 8th grade boys basketball tournament at TBD
23/24 - Panda Express during lunches
25/26 - Donut sales during lunches
COVID-19 Important Information
The Big 6
To keep all students and staff healthy during this time, we are focusing on the Big 6 health and safety protocols:
- Sanitation (both hands and high touch surfaces)
- Facial Coverings (Cloth Face Covering)
- Physical Distancing (6 feet or greater)
- 15 minutes (not within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes cumulatively)
- Monitoring for Symptoms (fever 100.4 (without taking fever reducing medication), loss of smell or taste, chills, new/unusual headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/loss of appetite, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, congestion/runny nose)
- Covering coughs and sneezes (In a tissue, or in your elbow)
Non-urgent hotlines for stakeholder questions regarding COVID-19
St. Luke's COVID hotline 208-381-9500
CDH COVID Call Center 208-321-2222
PowerSchool E-Mail Messages to Resume
Great News! The school district is restarting the PowerSchool e-mail services. This feature allows parents to optionally receive grades, attendance, and assignment information to be emailed for students linked with their PowerSchool parent account. Parents who were receiving this information prior to the 20-21 school year will begin receiving email notifications the week of February 15.
How do Parents enable this service or change their existing preferences?
Log into the PowerSchool parent account at ps.westada.org/public. Once in the parent account, click on the “Email Notifications” link and update the following fields:
Frequency Form Area (required) - Please select either the daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly frequency option for receiving student information emails.
What Information Would You Like to Receive Form Area (required) – select at least one of the options for receiving student assignment and grade information.
Additional Email field (optional) - input any additional emails, comma separated, for others that might benefit from this information, such as family members.
Once in the parent account, click on the “Account Preferences” link to verify the email address that will be receiving the student information.
PLEASE NOTE – this email address is associated with the PowerSchool parent account and is not synced with the SchoolForms (Registration) Household contact information. It is important to check both Web forms applications to make sure the data is accurate.
How do parents stop receiving student information email notifications?
Parents can stop receiving student information email notifications by logging into their PowerSchool parent account and clicking the “Email Notifications” link and setting the Frequency Form Area to Never.
Red Cross Blood Drive
We are so excited to host our first VMS blood drive! Please save the date for March 10, 2021. VMS is hosting its first Blood Drive through the Red Cross on March 10, 2021 from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM. More information to follow soon.
PTSO Volunteer Opportunities
Seeking Parent Volunteers
We are looking for parent volunteers to work with small groups of students in a socially-distanced setting. Volunteers would help students with assignment completion during all lunches during Tuesday-Friday, 11:20 AM to 1:35 PM. Volunteers would be required to get fingerprinted, wear a mask and adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Knowledge of Microsoft Teams is a plus, but not needed as training will be provided.
Please email Sharon Borton if you are interested at borton.sharon@westada.org. Volunteers are expected to follow the expectations outlined in the West Ada School District Volunteer Handbook.
Yearbooks
February 26th will be the LAST DAY to pre-purchase Yearbooks.
There is no guarantee that there will be extras at the end of the year, so be sure to order today!
Send a cash or check (made payable to VMS) to the bookkeeper or pay online at myschoolfees.com
Withdrawing a Student from Victory Middle School
If you will be withdrawing your student from Victory Middle School, please contact the registrar (Leah Westfall) at least two days prior to your student’s last day at the school. We have a simple form to complete and some basic information to collect in order for your student to make a smooth transition to his/her next educational environment. Please be prepared to return all items that have been checked out to your student (ie. laptop, charger, stylus, hotspot, textbooks, building access badge, etc.) Thank you in advance for your communication and assistance.
Kodiak Coaches' Den
Tentative start dates for spring sports:
Wrestling: March 1st
Tennis: April 12th
Track: April 12th
7th Grade Basketball: April 19th
Specific information will be provided to students a few weeks before the start date.
Covid-19 reminders: Please do not send your child to practices and competitions if he/she is not feeling well. Each athlete is encouraged to have their own water bottle and hand sanitizer.
For more information about Covid-19 and athletics visit https://www.westada.org/domain/11103
Questions? Contact athletic director Scott Dew dew.scott@westada.org
Did you know you can follow Victory athletics on Twitter? @VictoryMiddle
Go Kodiaks!
West Ada Seeking Special Education Paraprofessionals
The West Ada School District is actively looking for dedicated, caring, and compassionate paraprofessionals to join our special education team assisting students within both general and special education classrooms. You will be working with students to provide them the supplemental academic, social and/or behavior support they need. Typical tasks include working with students in groups and individually during lessons as well as perform other duties to assist the school in providing meaningful instructional experiences for all students.
Interested in working with us?
For more information about the application process: Classified Application Process Steps
To see a list of current job openings: WASD Special Education Paraprofessional Openings
The following quotes are just some of the great feedback we have received from current paraprofessionals:
“My children attended this school and I love having the opportunity to give back to those who impacted my own child’s life in such a positive way!”
“I knew I wanted a position where I could help others. This one is perfect! I get to work with the most wonderful children.”
“I applied to be a paraprofessional because the hours were great and I could still take my college classes in the late afternoon and evenings. What surprised me was how much I love this job!”
“The students and staff are like family! There are places where I could make more; but, I have never found a job that has given me so much fulfillment”
“…love my job!”
“What started as just a temporary job has become a career!”
“I had no idea that as a paraprofessional, after working for as little as five years, I could receive a lifetime benefit at retirement through PERSI (Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho)!”
Important Web Links
Below is a list of important links that can be found on the VMS and West Ada websites.
About Victory Middle School
Established: August 2016
Email: schumaker.william@westada.org
Website: www.westada.org/vms
Location: 920 West Kodiak Drive, Meridian, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 350-4443
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoryMiddle/
Twitter: @VictoryMiddle