VAMS Panther Paws Newsletter
February 8, 2019
Calendar
- Friday, February 8 - Valentine's Dance - 5th/6th grade dance 5:30-7:00 and 7th/8th grade dance 7:30-9:30
- Monday, February 11 - VAISD Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 13 - 8th Grade Parent Meeting for High School Information 5:30-6:00 in the VAHS cafeteria - Academic Expo to follow from 6:00-7:00 (more information below)
- Friday, February 15 - Star Card Treat After School
- Monday, February 18 - NO SCHOOL
- February 19 - 22 - Book Fair Week in the VAMS Library
- Tuesday, February 19 - STEM Night at VAMS from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm (more information below)
- Wednesday, February 20 - Personal Graduation Plan Meetings with 8th Graders (Sign-up information coming soon)
- Thursday, February 21 - Progress Reports Go Home
- Friday, February 22 - Star Card Hat Day
- Monday, February 25 - Testing - 5th Math, 6th ELA & Social Studies, 7th ELA, 8th Reading
- Tuesday, February 26 - Testing - 5th Reading, 6th Science & Math, 7th Science & Social Studies, 8th Social Studies
- Friday, March 1 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Texas A&M Commerce
- Friday, March 1 - Star Card Hat Day
- Tuesday, March 5 - Last Day of Shoe Drive (more information below)
- March 11-15 - Spring Break
Dress Code for Student Dances
Students must follow the school dress code for the dance. The only exception is that girls may wear a dress that has a three finger width strap. If a dress has spaghetti straps or is strapless, a sweater or cover-up must be worn at all times. Only VAMS students are allowed to attend student dances.
attention 8th grade parents
STEM Night
Quarterly 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).
5th Grade
Monday, Feb. 25 - Math
Tuesday, Feb. 26 - Reading
Monday, Mar. 4 - Science
Tuesday, Mar. 5 – ELA & Social Studies
6th Grade
Monday, Feb. 25 – ELA & Social Studies
Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Science
Monday, Apr. 1 – Math
Tuesday, Apr. 2 – Reading
7th Grade
Monday, Feb. 25 – ELA
Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Science
Monday, March 4 - Reading
Monday, Apr. 1 – Math
8th Grade
Monday, Feb. 25 - Reading
Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Social Studies
Monday, Mar. 4 - Science
Tuesday, Mar. 5 – Math
Monday, Apr. 8 - Algebra
Connecting the dots expo
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 2019-2020 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,
Corey Adams, LVN
Van Alstyne Middle School
903.482.8878
All state requirements may be found at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize
Student Council Shoe Drive
Parent Portal Resource
As our district grows, our goal is to allow parents to be as connected as they can be. Parent Portal is one a wonderful resource for parents. Click the link below to access a Parent Portal assistance page. It has videos and a pdf overview of Parent Portal.
Panther sports
Next games
VAMS Track - Boys & Girls Track Meet - Tuesday, February 26 in Anna at 4:00
Boys Basketball - Saturday, February 9 - Boys Basketball District Tournament in Blue Ridge - 7A & 8A Go Panthers!
Monday, February 11 - at home vs. Bonham at 4:30 p.m. - 7B, 8B, 7A, 8A
Go Panthers!
Attendance
If your child is absent, please send a doctor's note to school within 3 days of the absence. Notes sent after the 3-day window may not be accepted, therefore, your child's absence will be documented as unexcused. If you have questions or concerns about attendance, please contact Glynn Smith at 903-482-8804 or gsmirth@vanalstyneisd.org.
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