VAMS Panther Press Newsletter
January 21, 2022
Calendar
- Thursday, January 27 - Progress Reports Go Home
- Friday, January 28 - Star Card Treat After School Day
- January 31 - February 11 - Valentine's Rose and Candy Sale sponsored by Student Council (more information below)
- Saturday, January 29 - Band Pancake Breakfast in the VAMS Cafeteria from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (more information below)
- Friday, February 11 - Valentine's Dance - 6th grade dance 5:30-7:00 and 7th/8th grade dance 7:30-9:00
- Friday, February 11 - Due Date for 8th Graders to Return High School Course Request Forms to their history teacher
- Wednesday, February 16 - VAHS Academic Expo - Educational Meeting for 8th Grade parents at 5:30 PM in the VAHS cafeteria - Open House come and go with all VAHS departments from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Thursday, February 17 - Van Alstyne Education Gala (more information below)
- Thursday, February 17 - 8th Grade Math Field Test
- Thursday, February 24 - Personal Graduation Plan Meetings with 8th Graders (sign-up information below)
SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS - READ THE INFORMATION BELOW ABOUT PGP MEETINGS
8th Grade Parents,
We are so excited to begin the first step of welcoming your eighth graders to VAHS! What an exciting chapter of life this will be! We would like to schedule about 15 minutes to visit with you and hopefully your student about their schedule options for next year and answer any questions you might have. We will have meetings on campus on Thursday, February 24. Click the link below to sign up. Please make sure you join us!
High School Academic Information
Van Alstyne high school is excited to announce the annual Academic Expo. The intent of the Academic Expo is to provide students and parents the opportunity to explore academic options at VAHS. Please see the information below about the 2022 Academic Expo.
by Texas Education Agency to conduct STAAR Field Testing during a two-week window
in February.
Proposed District of Innovation Plan
VAISD Parents and guardians, please click to see the Proposed District of Innovation Plan that was approved by the District Improvement Team on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. It will be posted on the website until it is presented for approval before the VAISD School Board at the March meeting. Changes to the previous plan are in red, and some of the dates and process remain unfilled until the completion of the process.
If you have any feedback you would like to share regarding the plan, please email your feedback to Ryan Coleman, Assistant Superintendent, at rcoleman@vanalstyneisd.org.
GT Nominations
Dear Parents and Guardians,
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.
Click the link below to access a copy of the VAISD Gifted and Talented Parent Inventory form. This form needs to be completed by a parent or guardian and returned to the school turned into the middle school office. The deadline for parental referrals is February 7th. If you have any questions regarding VAULT, please contact the undersigned at the school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Moore, Principal
Debbie Cholette, VAULT Coordinator
Van Alstyne Education Foundation Gala
Join us for A Mardi Gras Evening at the 9th Annual VAEF Gala and Auction. You will enjoy casino tables, entertainment, silent / live auction, unlimited food & drinks and much more! The event will be Thursday, February 17th at The Springs Event Venue.
Please click the link below to find out more information about the gala, how to be a sponsor, and/or how to donate.
VA AG Boosters Dinner and Auction
The VA AG Boosters have a Dinner and a Silent and Live Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, February 5 at 6:00 PM in the Van Alstyne High School Cafeteria. Dinner will be pulled pork, grilled chicken, sausage, assorted sides, and dessert. Dinner will be followed by a live and silent auction of several great items. All are welcome. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door.
Tickets: Adults $10 per person, Child $5
All Adult tickets are automatically entered into a drawing for a great prize.
Attendance Reminders
Just a few reminders about attendance:
Please send a note giving a detailed description of the reason for the absence within 3 days of any absence. Notes received after 3 days will result in an unexcused absence. Please send a doctor's note anytime your child misses school for an appointment. If your child is absent longer than 3 consecutive days because of personal illness, you must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student's extended absence. If you have any questions, please send an email to vamsoffice@vanalstyneisd.org.
VAISD Kindness Challenge
As most of you are aware, school districts around the country have been plagued by students participating in TikTok challenges. These challenges ask students to destroy/vandalize school property, steal things, and do other things that can lead to legal consequences. Our youth are better than that! In an effort to combat the negative challenges on social media, VAISD challenges our youth to make a positive impact in our school and our community. Our youth can do great things! #takebacktiktok #supporteducation #VAISD #KindnessChallenge
Complete the Google Form below if you participated in the VAISD Kindness Challenge! We want to hear about the great things our youth are doing!
Panther Sports
Girl's Basketball
Thursday, January 27th @ VAMS vs. Anna beginning at 5:00 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Thursday, February 3 @ Denison beginning at 5:00 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Monday, February 7 @VAMS vs. Gainesville beginning at 5:00 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Boys Basketball
Thursday, January 27th @ Anna beginning at 6:30 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Thursday, February 3 @ Van Alstyne VS. Denison beginning at 5:30 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Thursday, February 10 @ Van Alstyne VS. Celina beginning at 5:30 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Monday, February 14 @ Melissa beginning at 5:30 PM
7A, 8A - Gym 1
8B, 7B - Gym 2
Coach Voris, Middle School Girls Athletic Coordinator - jvoris@vanalstyneisd.org
Coach Sedlacek, Middle School Boys Athletic Coordinator - dsedlacek@vanalstyneisd.org
Feed My Sheep Pantry Community Food Assistance Program
The following COVID safety protocols will be in place at the beginning of school:
- Water fountains — All water fountains will be turned on this year. We still encourage students to bring a water bottle from home if they are able to. There are three water bottle refill stations that are accessible to students. Please make sure your child's water bottle has their name on it.
- Masks are optional
- Sanitizing stations — Students will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer throughout the day. Desks will be sanitized between classes.
- Visitors will be allowed — We love our parent volunteers and visitors! Parents and guardians are welcome to come and eat lunch with their child. All visitors will need to check in with Mrs. Twila in our front office where their temperature will be taken.
- Restrooms — We have signs posted on all restrooms asking students to limit 4 people at a time. We will also encourage students to wash their hands for 20 seconds before they leave the restroom.
- Symptom and Temperature Monitoring — All students will be required to enter through our south entrance (8th grade hallway). This entrance has a camera that checks the temperature of each individual that enters the building. A staff member will be at this entrance monitoring the camera. If someone has a fever, they will be asked to go to the nurse for further evaluation. All faculty and students are required to monitor symptoms and no one is permitted to come to class if they are displaying symptoms.
- Building sanitized nightly
- Buses will be sanitized after each route
Parent Volunteer Group
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. Hours are documented digitally. Click the link below to access the digital hour log.
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.
A Note From Our Nurse....
Our clinics must have a Medication Parent Consent Form on file for students requiring medication administered during school hours. This form must be signed by parent/legal guardian. Medication must be kept in the ORIGINAL bottle. (see links below)
Children who have the following symptoms should stay home and not come to school until these symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours without the help of medication.
- Fever (100 degrees or higher)
- Sore Throat (with fever or swollen neck)
- Persistent Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Rash (with fever and itching)
- Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye (your child can attend school 24 hours after starting medical treatment)
A child with a typical cold, but no fever or green drainage, may come to school.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, he or she must receive permission from the teacher before reporting to the school nurse. If the nurse determines that the child should go home, the nurse will contact the parent.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19
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