Kodiak Family Update
03/01/21 - 03/05/21
Our Mission: Partners in Learning, Preparing for the Future
In this Update
- From the Principal
- Virtual School House Quarter 4 Enrollment
- Course Selection Process
- Parent/Guardian Survey
- Seeking Applicants
- Lost and Found
- Upcoming Events
- Team One and Team Two Weekly Schedule
- Health and Safety Reminder
- District COVID-19 Dashboard
- See, Tell, Now
- Red Cross Blood Drive
- Yearbooks
- PTSO Volunteer Opportunities
- Withdrawing a Student
- Kodiak Coaches' Den
- Employment Opportunities
- Important Links
From the Principal
Kodiak Families,
Please take 5 to 10 minutes to complete our State Engagement Survey. This survey is a part of our continuous improvement plan and counted towards our state report card. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey by March, 31, 2021.
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. Due to the number of students that will be in the building at one time, physical distancing will not be possible in areas such as classrooms, gyms, cafeteria, and hallways.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Go Kodiaks!
Partners in learning,
Will Schumaker, Principal
Virtual School House Enrollment
With the board approving a plan for students to return to four days of in person instruction beginning March 30th, we wanted to take this time to provide families with information in regards to virtual learning. With this change, we know some families may be uncomfortable with their student returning to full time instruction. If your family is not comfortable with this adjustment, Virtual School House is opening their enrollment beginning fourth quarter. Students that choose to remain full time at VMS will be expected to attend four days per week (Tuesday through Friday) and one day online (Monday) to meet the minimum attendance expectation per state code.
If you are considering a transfer to Virtual School House for Quarter 4 of the 2020-2021 school year, please click here to complete the interest form. After the request window closes on March 5, 2021, at 11:59 PM, you will receive information from VSH about the next steps for transferring to VSH the week of March 8, 2021. This form is NOT intended for students currently enrolled in Virtual School House. For additional information please visit the Virtual School House website at www.westada.org/vsh.
Course selection for 2021-2022 Victory Middle School Students
5th to 6th grade students should have received their 6th grade course selection packets at their elementary school this week. Parents and students should complete the forms and return them to the elementary school on or by March 3, 2021.
6th to 7th and 7th to 8th grade students will view videos highlighting elective options at Victory Middle and will receive their course selection packets March 3 and 4 in their advisory class. Students will complete the forms at home with their parents. Signed forms are then to be returned to the student’s English teacher on or by March 9 and 10. On March 16 and 17, students will select their electives online in their English classes based on their completed course selection forms.
Parent Survey
Parents and Guardians,
One of the pieces of Idaho’s school accountability system is a parent survey. This survey asks for your input on several topics to help measure how our schools are doing in meeting your student’s needs. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous. You can submit your survey until March 31, 2021.
We will use these survey responses to identify opportunities for improvement.
Additionally, the state will report the results and the number of responses on Idaho’s new school report card (https://idahoschools.org/districts/002/profile).
Please log in to this anonymous survey at the link below, select your school from the drop-down list and complete the survey. If you have students attending more than one school and do not want to take the survey multiple times, please select the school attended by your oldest student. If you do not mind filling out the survey for each of the schools your students attend, please feel free to do so.
Take the survey: Click Here
If you would like to preview the survey it can be found at the link below. To take the survey you must log in to the link above.
https://sde.idaho.gov/assessment/surveys/ Copies of the surveys are under the “Files” tab on this page.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.
VMS Administration
Seeking Applicants for Paraprofessional, Noon Duty, Bus Drivers, and Substitute Teachers
Lost & Found
Is your child missing a coat, lunchbox, or water bottle? Have them check the lost and found tables in the hallways by the gym March 2-5 for any lost items. Unclaimed items will be kept for 90 days and then donated.
March Upcoming Dates
01 - Wrestling begins
12 - Late work DEADLINE
16/17 - Panda Express during lunches
18/19 - Donut sales during lunches
20~28 - NO SCHOOL, Spring break
30 - All students return for in person instruction (Tuesday through Friday)
COVID-19 Important Information
Non-urgent hotlines for stakeholder questions regarding COVID-19
St. Luke's COVID hotline 208-381-9500
CDH COVID Call Center 208-321-2222
See, Tell, Now! Report School Safety Threats
Hello Parents,
We recognize that creating a safe learning environment is a critical part of helping each child achieve academic success. This year we will introduce the See, Tell, Now! School Safety Tipline, a new system that students can use to report school safety threats. See, Tell, Now! will give your child another medium for communicating with our school administration when school safety incidents occur.
How does the See, Tell, Now! Tipline work?
Students can access the See, Tell, Now! Tipline through a link on our school website or they may go directly to the seetellnow.org website. Tips can be submitted through the web form on the See, Tell, Now! website, live call and mobile app.
Why is there a need for a tip line system?
The number one reason why children do not report is the fear of retaliation from their peers. The See, Tell, Now! tipline can be accessed from the privacy of a phone, home computer or other Internet equipped device, eliminating the possibility of being identified by another student and thus, increasing the likelihood that a school safety threat would go unreported.
I encourage you to learn more about the TipLine by visiting the See, Tell, Now! website at www.seetellnow.org
Sincerely,
VMS Administration
Red Cross Blood Drive
Victory Middle School is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive through the Future Blood Donor program. This program will introduce students to the importance of blood donation and will provide lifesaving blood products for hospital patients. Our students will have the opportunity to show leadership and help save lives by recruiting blood donors for our upcoming blood drive. Each student who recruits an adult to donate will be recognized as a Future Blood Donor with a fun gift from the Red Cross.
You can support this program by donating blood and recruiting other donors. Please schedule your blood donation appointment at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code VICTORYMIDDLE, by downloading the Blood Donor App, click on the link provided below, or contact Cara Schmidt at schmidt.cara@westada.org.
Victory Middle School Blood Drive
March 10, 2021
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
920 Kodiak Drive
Meridian, ID 83646
CLICK here TO SCHEDULE YOUR DONATION!
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. We hope you will join us and help save lives!
Click here about common questions regarding Blood Donation.
Click here for information about a Power Red Donation.
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