VVMS Weekly Community Update
Week of October 30th, 2023
Principal's Update
Ms. Wright
⚾ Let's go, Diamondbacks!
What a wonderful time to be an Arizonan! We hope you all enjoy the World Series this week! Please see our updates for the week below!
🎃 Halloween- Half Day - No Costumes
- To keep the focus on learning, we will not be allowing any costumes, face makeup, or masks on Tuesday, October 31st, 2023. Students should dress in their usual dress code appropriate attire for classes that day.
- Students will be dress coded and potentially sent home if they arrive in costume.
- We will be following a half day schedule on 10/31/2023. Students will be released at 12pm.
Fall Dance 🥳
- Our first dance of the year is Friday, November 3rd from 3:00-4:00pm hosted by the VVMS Student Government!
- Tickets are $5.00 and must be purchased ahead of time.
- Tickets will be on-sale next week during both lunches. Students must have their accounts reconciled to be able to purchase tickets (meaning, if they have outstanding fees (IDs, sports fees, etc), those fees will need to be paid).
- Students can only purchase tickets for themselves.
- Students who have a suspension during 2nd quarter and/or more than 10 tardies will be unable to purchase tickets to attend this extra curricular opportunity.
Civics Test
- We had over 80% of our 8th graders pass the Civics Exam last week! Hooray!
- Our Social Studies team will host a makeup day this week on Thursday during 1st and 2nd period.
- Please support your student in attending a study session Wednesday after school if they need to take it this week. Students attending the study session must be picked up by 4:10pm if they are typically picked up. If they ride are approved to ride the bus, they can take the late bus that day.
Thanksgiving & Winter Recess
While we honor and acknowledge that time with family to celebrate is precious and important, we ask that you help us secure your child's success by ensuring they are in school in the days leading up to and after districtwide holidays and recesses. Students who fall behind due to extended vacations struggle to catch up and stay on-target towards their goals to ensure they are prepared for state assessments and the next grade level.
- Thanksgiving Recess: Wednesday-Friday, November 22nd-24th
- Please ensure your child is present Monday, November 20th & Tuesday, November 21st
- Winter Recess: Saturday, December 23rd-Sunday, January 7th
- Please ensure your child is present through the final day of the term: Friday, December 22nd.
Upcoming Master Schedule Changes & Updates
Due to unavoidable staffing changes for the spring semester, the entire master schedule has been updated to drive student equity, student opportunity, and ensure balanced class loads for teachers. Students in both grade levels will likely face schedule changes which could include a change of their schedule (order of classes) and/or teacher updates.
We are also adding "Game On" - a new elective - for 1st period with Ms. Spier. Students who currently have a 1st period elective will have the opportunity to be considered for this new elective along with students who may experience a schedule change as a result of the overall master schedule update and need a 1st period elective.
While we understand that schedule changes can be frustrating, the silver lining is that students will have a better understanding of how schedules can fluctuate and change at the semester which is similar to how their schedules operate in high school and in post-secondary education.
We will have second semester student schedules ready to distribute before the end of this term (during the final week of classes). We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as a result of these changes. Please reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.
Ms. Gina So - 7th Grade English
Parents/Guardians of Ms. So's 7th Grade English classes, please keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow for an important update from Ms. Wright & Ms. So.
PTSA Sponsorship Drive
Do you or someone you know own a business? Support the VVMS PTSA with a 2023-2024 Sponsorship! Attached below is our sponsorship request letter and packet. Please download and share!Assistant Principals' Update
Ms. Koda & Ms. Kellen
Emergency Cards must be updated annually to ensure each student's safety and wellbeing. If you have not returned your 2023-2024 emergency card, please do so immediately. Attached below is a letter regarding the Emergency Response Procedures here at VVMS following district and state guidelines. We have already practiced two fire drills as well as one lockdown with minimal interruption to the school day. Drills will continue throughout the school year to prepare students and staff in the event of an emergency situation. Please read through the attachment and if you have any questions or concerns about emergency procedures, please let me know.
Sports Spotlight
Athletic Director: Ms. Carrie Bonnell (cabonnell@pvschools.net)
Our Track and Field sports season is here!
If you are interested in joining Track and Field please go see coach Newell or Coach Bonnell in the gym for a packet.
Requirements:
- Registration Card (yellow)
- Not required for students that played softball/baseball
- Students cannot practice until the yellow card is received by Coach Bonnell.
Nurse Notes
with Ms. Mrza
Cold & Flu Season
Please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms. Students should not be sent to the nurse during the first hour of school (barring an emergency) for cold and/or flu-like symptoms and will be sent home.
Frequent Visitors
As an effort to ensure the Health Office is available to see high priority visits and to operate efficiently (for screenings, health records, new students, etc.), we will be tracking students who are visiting the Health Office on a regular basis for issues that do not merit the Health Office. To protect student's health information and confidentiality, emails will only be sent to the teachers who have these students. Thank you for your help and understanding on this matter.
Important Dates
Civics Test Make Up Day
Thursday, Nov 2, 2023, 08:00 AM
Fall Dance
Friday, Nov 3, 2023, 03:00 PM
Thanksgiving Recess (11/22-11/24)
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023, 08:00 AM
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