BULLDOG BRIEF
PERSONALIZED. INNOVATIVE. GLOBAL.
Preschool Update
The school board approved a plan at its December school board meeting to start a four-year-old preschool program for up to two classrooms with a morning and an afternoon session of classes that will serve a total of 80 kids or up to 20 in each section.
At this time, we have 45 students registered for preschool. We can serve more! If you know of other families not currently enrolled, please have them contact Mr. Tibbetts, or Kris Koster in the elementary office. More information about preschool can be found here.
If this remains as the number of students enrolled, we will have two classes in the morning and one afternoon class. Though the district will only provide transportation to preschool in the morning, and home after the afternoon preschool, it does sound like the Methodist Church and University Kids will be providing transportation to and from daycare during the day.
Again, if you have any questions, please contact Mr. Tibbetts or Kris in the elementary office.
Mental Health Support
Continued efforts in building resources to grow the well-being of our students remain vital to the Van Meter district. Recently, we have added a school social work position to build awareness of potential student needs.
Children today are increasingly touched by social forces that can negatively affect their roles as students. Every family experiences transitions and changes throughout their child’s time as a student. Currently, the school social worker may assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, skill-building, crisis intervention, positive behavioral support, academic, and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators as well as community resources. It is the goal of the district to continue furthering academic success by meeting the whole child’s needs.
A website to further describe the VM school social work role and some affiliate links for developing the well-being of our students is currently being constructed. Until then, you may find general feedback on school social work at the following website.
https://www.sswaa.org/school-social-work
Feel free to reach Jayci Kuhns at jayci.kuhns@vmbulldogs.com if you have any questions or concerns regarding your student's success at Van Meter.
Reminder from the Nurse's Office
Hello, Bulldog Families -- The flu season is upon us and we do have a confirmed case of influenza at school. Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and stomach symptoms among others. As always, the best defense is to wash hands often and cover coughs and sneezes. For more information, visit https://wiki.idph.iowa.gov/Portals/3/userfiles/79/Information%20on%20Other%20Diseases/Influenza%20Fact%20sheet%20For%20the%20home%20final.pdf
Katie Hovda
Open Enrollment Guidelines
The board will use similar guidelines for the 20-21 school year. We will have open enrollment slots in the kindergarten class for sure and we are allowing applications in other grade levels, but it is unlikely that those will be approved.
More information can be found at https://www.vmbulldogs.com/district/openenrollment.cfm
Let us know if you have any questions.
20-21 School Calendar
The 2020-2021 School Calendar has been approved by the school board. It is very similar to this year's school calendar. The first day of school will be Monday, August 24, Winter Break will be a little shorter, and the last day of classes is scheduled for Friday, May 21. The calendar is linked below.
GO DAWGS!
Athletic Website and Schedules
Contact Us
Email: firstname.lastname@vmbulldogs.com
Website: www.vmbulldogs.com
Location: 520 1st Avenue, Van Meter, IA, USA
Phone: (515) 996-2221
Facebook: https://facebook.com/VanMeterSchools/
Twitter: @vanmeterschools