VAMS Panther Press Newsletter
January 24, 2020
Calendar
- Thursday, January 30 - 8th Grade Field Trip - College Visit to Texas A&M - Commerce
- Thursday, January 30 - Progress Reports Go Home
- Friday, January 31 - Elective Sheets Due
- Friday, January 31 - Star Card Break the Dress Code
- Saturday, February 1 - Band Pancake Breakfast at 9:00 AM in the VAMS Cafeteria (more information below)
- February 3-7 - Counselor Appreciation Week - Show Mrs. Frye some love!
- February 3 - February 13 - Valentine's Candy & Roses Sales (more information below)
- Tuesday, February 4 - VAMS Cheer Tryout Informational Meeting During Lunch - This meeting is mandatory for any 6th & 7th grader interested in trying out for VAMS Cheer.
- Friday, February 7 - Star Card Hat Day
Wednesday, February 12 - 8th Grade Parent Meeting for High School Information 5:30-6:00 in the VAHS cafeteria - Academic Expo to follow from 6:00-7:30 (more information below)
- Thursday, February 13 - VAEF Denim and Diamonds Gala (more information below)
- Friday, February 14 - 8th Grade Course selection sheets due back to Mrs. Frye (more information below)
- Friday, February 14 - Star Card Treat After School
- Monday, February 17 - No School - Staff Development Day
- Monday, February 17 - VAISD School Board Meeting at 7:00 PM
- February 18-21 - VAMS Book Fair in the Library
- Tuesday, February 25 - VAMS Cheer Mandatory Parent Meeting at 7:00 PM in the VAMS Cafeteria
- Friday, February 28 - Student Dance 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Friday, March 20 - VAMS Cheer Tryouts at 4:00 PM (more information below)
VAISD Parent Survey
Please take the time to give us your feedback. You provide a valuable perspective for helping us improve. In addition to each rating, please leave a suggestion or a positive comment so we know what is working well, or a possible solution. The parent survey will be open until Friday, February 7.
Elective Sheets
Elective sheets for the 2020-2021school year were sent home on Thursday, January 23. Every effort will be made to place students in their courses of choice. However, due to class size restrictions or other scheduling conflicts beyond our control, it may be necessary to alter your class requests or to fill classes based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here are some important things you need to know regarding elective sheets...
- Elective sheets are due Friday, January 31
- ALL elective sheets need to be turned in to Twila in the front office
- LIFT class (Learning Interventions for Today) mainly focuses on reading and math intervention while allowing pockets of time to support other STAAR subject areas.
- 7th Grade Parents - please let your child know that office aide, library aide, and yearbook are not guaranteed classes. ALL students need to rank their top 5 electives and then indicate whether they are interested in office aide, library aide, or yearbook.
- Later in the spring, our current 8th graders will have meetings to set up their classes for high school.
VAMS Cheer Tryout Information
Attention 8th Grade Parents
See below for information about the VAHS Academic Expo. This is a great event to attend for you and your child to meet high school teachers, learn about the high school programs, and learn about the different endorsements offered at the high school level. The informational meeting for 8th grade parents is at 5:30 PM
Attention 8th Graders - High School Color Guard
Mrs. Wurtz, Color Guard Director, will have a color guard demonstration in the aux gym during 8th grade lunch on Friday, January 31. This is open to 8th grade students who are interested in learning about color guard. Students who are interested in attending this demonstration session can take their lunch to the aux gym this day.
GT Nominations
Dear Parents,
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.
Parent Inventory forms are available in the office at the middle school office. The deadline for parental referrals is February 5th. If you have any questions regarding VAULT, please contact the undersigned at the school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Moore, Principal
Debbie Cholette, VAULT Coordinator
3rd Quarter Exam Schedule By Grade Level
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 (2 hours).
6th Grade
Monday, Feb. 24 – ELA
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Science
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Social Studies
Wednesday, Mar. 4 - Reading
Tuesday, April 14 - Math
7th Grade
Monday, Feb. 24 – ELA
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Science
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Social Studies
Wednesday, Mar. 4 - Reading
Tuesday, Apr. 14 - Math
8th Grade
Monday, Feb. 24 - Science
Wednesday, Mar. 4 - Reading
Thursday, Mar. 5 - Math
Tuesday, Apr. 14 - Social Studies
Monday, Apr. 6 - Algebra
Notes From The Nurse
Immunizations - Attention 6th Grade Parents
In 2009, the State of Texas began requiring specific immunizations for all 7th graders.
The immunizations that incoming 7th graders need are:
1. Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap): All students entering the seventh will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
2. Varicella (Chicken Pox): All students entering the 7th grade will be required to have 2 doses of varicella vaccine. The 1st dose must be received on or after the 1st birthday.
3. Meningococcal Vaccine (Meningitis): All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.
If your child has already had these immunizations, please send a copy of the immunization record from the health clinic or physician. It must include the month, day and year as well as validation by a physician or public health official.
*Immunization records must be received before schedules will be released for the 2020-2021 school year*
Immunizations are available from your family physician, the Grayson County Health Department 903.893.0131, 515 N. Walnut Sherman, Texas, Collin County Health Department 972.548.5000 N. McDonald St, Mckinney, Texas or local medical/rural health clinics. Please call the health department for hours and availability.
If you have a medical or religious reason that conflicts with these requirements, please contact the school nurse. Information on obtaining a conscious exemption can be found at the following website:
https://corequest.dshs.texas.gov/
Thank you,
Lorie Wilson, LVN
Van Alstyne Middle School
903.482.8878
All state requirements may be found at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
There have been several cases of the flu reported in schools throughout the county. Please watch for symptoms. Symptoms of severe headache, body ache, low-grade fever, cough, sore throat, and congestion. If any symptoms occur, please get tested and notify the school if positive results occur. This year, several flu cases are turning into pneumonia. Resting until fully healed and staying hydrated can help prevent pneumonia. The way to prevent the flu is to stay home if symptoms are occurring and washing hands often.
We have also had a few cases of head lice here at the middle school. Please, take the time to check your child’s scalp. Having lice is not due to bad hygiene. Lice like clean hair and pass by direct contact. There are several over the counter medications for treatment and actual hair salon treatment businesses. If need further information, please contact me for assistance.
Please, stress to your child to be more conscious of handwashing, cover mouth if coughing, and not sharing food/drinks or personal products (headphones, phones, pens/pencils, and etc.).
Thank you for your time and attention to these matters. Please, feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Lorie Wilson, LVN
VAMS Nurse
903-482-8878
School Board Appreciation Month
Dress Code for Student Dances
Parent Portal
Coming Soon!
The Parent Portal/Gradebook Viewer program that parents/guardians utilize to stay connected to student's grades, attendance and enrollment information has undergone some big changes!
The new program, Ascender Parent Portal, provides the same information about your student, but in a format that is easier to read and manage.
Your existing username and password will continue to work on the new program.
The program will be launched on January 27th, 2020.
Important: On January 27th, 2020, the previous txConnect Parent Portal App and program will no longer be functional. Any saved bookmarks or URLs that point to this program will no longer be valid.
The link to the new program, as well as full detailed instructions, will be sent out the week of January 22nd, 2020, as well as posted on the district website and through campus newsletters.
Reminder About Cell Phones
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, after school, and during lunch. 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.
Panther sports
Girls Basketball - Thursday, January 30 @ 4:30 at Home vs Howe - 7B, 8B, 7A, 8A
Boys Basketball - Thursday, January 30 @ 4:30 at Howe - 7B, 8B, 7A, 8A
Go Panthers!
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.
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.
Cafeteria Menus
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