Kodiak Family Update
11/29/21 - 12/03/21
Our Mission: Partners in Learning, Preparing for the Future
From the Principal
Kodiak Family,
No School 12/03/21
On Friday, December 3rd there is NO SCHOOL for students. Teachers and staff will be working collaboratively to continue to answer the four Professional Learning Community questions.
- What do we want students to know and be able to do?
- How will we know when students have learned?
- What will we do if students have not learned?
- What will we do if students have learned?
Through the collaborative process, we ensure at VMS that ALL students are learning at high levels! Thank you for your support in allowing teachers to have this valuable time to work together in the best interest of students.
Crosswalks
We are seeing an increase in students NOT using the crosswalks before and after school. We have a paid crossing guard, Mary Seal who does a wonderful job of ensuring students safely cross at the intersection of Kodiak Drive and Stoddard. Please remind your student to safely cross at the crosswalks. Thank you!
Substitutes Needed!
We are still in desperate need of substitutes. On a daily basis we do NOT have enough subs to cover our staff absences. If you are willing to help sub at VMS, please contact the main office and we will help you through the process.
Administrator Request Form
If a student or parent/guardian would like to schedule an appointment with an administrator please click here to fill out the appointment request form. We will receive the request and be in contact with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, thank you to every one that partners to create a wonderful community of learners for all students! I hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving week holiday break. See you all on Monday, November 29th.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Go Kodiaks!
Partners in learning,
Will Schumaker, Principal
November Staff Member of the Month
19 - Late work DEADLINE
20~28 - Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL
27 - VMS Night out with the Steelheads, 7 pm
29 - School Resumes
02 - VMS PTSO meeting, library at 6 pm
03 - No SCHOOL for students06 - Girls basketball at LCMS
06 - Wrestling vs. LCMS
08 - Girls basketball vs. LHMS
08 - Wrestling at LHMS
11 - District wrestling tournament
13 - 6th - 8th band concert
16 - Panda Express during lunches
17 - Donut sales during lunches
17 - Late work DEADLINE
18 - 01/02 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break
Physical Education at VMS
Please Monitor for Symptoms
Please monitor for the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4 or higher
- Loss of smell or taste
- Chills
- New or unusual headache
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Congestion/runny nose.
If your child has any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for further guidance, and inform school attendance. Guidelines may change based on Central District Health community transmission category designation. Current category designations can be located here.
Attendance & Tardy Policy
PLEASE NOTE: If you are keeping your student home and they join the live Teams meeting, they are still counted as absent per the policy below.
- When a student is absent from school a parent or guardian should call or email the school by 10:00 a.m. that day with the following information: a) parent or guardian's name b) student's name c) reason for absence d) estimated date of return.
- If no call has been made the student must provide the main office with a note from a parent or guardian stating the reason and dates of the absence. After 48 hours, unverified absences will be noted as a truancy.
- Students who arrive at school after the first tardy bell should report to the main office to sign in.
- Students are allowed six (6) absences per class period during the semester. Students who receive seven (7) absences in any class will lose credit unless cleared by the attendance office as extraordinary within five (5) days of the absence. Verbal communication must come from a parent/guardian within 48 hours of the absence to prevent truancy.
- The following absences count against a student’s total of six (6) absences: Illness (Ill), Out of School Suspension (OSS), Parent Call (PRC), Truancy (TR), Unverified (A), Verified (VER)
- Students found to be in violation of any part of the attendance policy may be assigned to Saturday School, the Safe School suspension room, lunch detention or after school detention to make up the time they have missed.
- EXCESSIVE ABSENCES If a student is absent for fifteen (15) consecutive school days, whether or not the absences are verified, the student may be dis-enrolled from school. At the time the student returns to school, the student may be re-enrolled. Students served by homebound tutors or absent due to illness documented by licensed medical personnel will not be included in this procedure.
- MAKE-UP WORK After an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher for make-up work. The student must complete and turn in work within a reasonable time in accordance with the teacher’s late work policy.
- TARDIES Students are considered tardy if not in their assigned classrooms when the tardy bell rings. Students are informed of all tardies which includes documentation in PowerSchool. Tardies accrue on a semester basis. The tardy policy incorporates the following:
- First Tardy -- Teacher informs student and documented in PowerSchool
- Second Tardy -- Teacher informs student and documented in PowerSchool
- Third Tardy -- Student assigned to designated detention and parent notified by school
- Additional Tardies -- Administrative Discretion Parents please note: Only students riding school provided transportation shall be eligible for excused tardies.
- All other tardies and late arrivals (except from medical appointments) are considered unexcused.
- TRUANCY Truancy is defined as a student being absent without approval of his/her parents, guardian, or school officials. Truancy occurs when: 1. an unauthorized phone call is made; 2. an unauthorized note is sent to school; 3. the parent refuses to excuse an absence; 4. the student leaves school without permission to leave; 5. the student is in the building but is out of class without permission. Full-day truancies or single-period cuts will result in a parent contact or conference. A third truancy may result in suspension.
Withdrawing a student from Victory Middle School
If you will be withdrawing your student from Victory Middle School, please contact the registrar (westfall.leah@westada.org) 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. Thank you in advance for your communication and assistance.
Student to Student E-mail
Please be aware that per district e-mail policy, students are able to use their school Outlook e-mail to e-mail West Ada staff and students. It is the expectation that e-mail should be used for school/educational purposes only. If students are not using their e-mail appropriately, West Ada does reserve the right to turn e-mail off for students that abuse their e-mail privileges.
Math Help!
RETAKE Math ASSESSMENTs
Our Math Intervention Teacher, Mrs. Shalz, is available during the sessions listed below to provide math 6, 7, and 8 students with extra practice and an opportunity to retake assessments to demonstrate deeper understanding of the grade level math concepts. Please Note: This help is not available for students in honors or advanced math. Students in honors and advanced math should work with their math teacher to schedule a re-assessment.
Students should bring their graded Math assessment so Mrs. Shalz can help make corrections. Students are welcome to attend retake sessions even if they don’t have their graded Math assessment.
Students should get a pass from their Math Teacher or Mrs. Shalz before attending retake sessions.
ROOM: 112
TEACHER: Mrs. Shalz
Monday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Tuesday 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Thursday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Friday 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Counselor's Corner
Families,
Below are some interesting short reads about the "Amazing Teen Brain". Hopefully you will find this information helpful as you navigate these years together. Please remember to reach out to your grade-level counselor if we can be of assistance to you or your student.
PTSO 100% Fundraiser
VMS Night out with the Steelheads
NJHS Toy Drive
The National Junior Honor Society is conducting a Toy Drive at VMS to support the Marine Toys for Tots collection. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. All VMS students who want to help can turn donations in to their advisory teacher. Last year the Marines supported 13,675 children in our community alone. The Toy Drive runs through December 4th.
NJHS Rake Up Boise
Members of the National Junior Honor Society, and some siblings and parents, took part in Rake Up Boise last Saturday! The team collected over 20 bags of leaves from a backyard with lots of gravel and flower beds for leaves to hide in. Thank you to everyone who turned out to lend a hand!
VMS Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest 2021
Fuel Up To Play 60 is hosting our annual Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest. The competition will begin before advisory and will run through advisory.
(Serious hoop shooters only please)
Participants will shoot best out of 25 shots. Tie breakers will be made during Make Up Day.
Top girl and boy from each grade level will be awarded a trophy!
12/2/21 Thursday: 6th grade competition/7th grade
12/9/21 Thursday: 8th grade competition
12/10/21 Friday: Make up day for all grades
· Girls and Boys arrive to check in at the big gym at 7:50am.
· Girls will shoot in the small gym and boys in the big gym
Kodiak Coaches Corner
What a week we had for Victory Athletics! Both the wrestling and girls’ basketball teams swept Lowell Scott and Star. The teams are coming together and we are excited to see how they end their seasons. The tournaments will be on the following dates:
GBB, December 15, 16, and 17 at Eagle MS
Wrestling ,December 11 at Meridian HS
Both teams will have picture day on December 2. Picture packets will be sent home the week we return from break. We apology for any delay with fall pictures, we have been in contact with the representatives and hopefully will get those back soon. Our hope moving forward is that we will get our pictures back in a timely manner.
Our next sports season will be 8th grade BOYS basketball. Information can be found online or follow us on social media (@victorykodiaks) for current updates. Tryouts for the season will be on January 3 right after school. Please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Pence (pence.dane@westada.org) if you have any questions. Enjoy the break and go Kodiaks!
About Victory Middle School
Established: 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