VPMS Weekly Newsletter

Phoenix Weekly cover photo

Week of Monday, March 9th- Friday, March 13th

MONDAY 3/9:

• Duo Day

TUESDAY 3/10:

• Wrestling Meet @VPMS 4pm

WEDNESDAY 3/11:

THURSDAY 3/12:

• Group Day

FRIDAY 3/13:

• Pajama Day
• 6th Grade Band FT @PAC

Saturday 3/14:

• All City Wrestling Meet @VPMS (Weigh Ins 8am-8:30am, Wrestling Starts at 9:15am)

• 2025-2026 OASD School Year calendar
• Field Trip How-To's
• Athletic Paperwork How To
• Phoenix Gear Store
• Family Engagement Survey 25/26
• Student Handbook
• Setting up Canvas
• March Breakfast Menu
• March Lunch Menu
• VPMS 25/26 School Supply List
• IC Parent Portal Absence Request Directions
• VelCro Interest Form
• How to check student grades (mobile)
• How to Check if Field Trip Forms Have Been Completed
• Summer School Registration Directions
• School Choice OOA

• Bridging Brighter Smiles Flyer
• Testing Communication

Welcome to Vel Phillips Middle School

Vel Phillips is a diverse middle school located in the heart of Oshkosh. Tradition runs rich at Vel Phillips with community connections that trace back generation after generation. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the principal of this amazing school.

Show your Phoenix PRIDE - RISE with us!

R - Respect & Responsibility
I - Integrity
S - Safety
E - Engagement

Staff and students are some of the best in the Oshkosh Area School District. We work at building positive relationships and making connections to help students be college, career, and community ready!

Best Regards,

Amanda Patza
VPMS Principal

PEOPLE! PURPOSE! PASSION!

• Wednesday, March 11th In person Summer School Registration at Tipler 3pm-6pm
• No School March 23th-27th (Spring Break)
• Tuesday, March 31st VelCro Fundraiser at Westowne Culvers 5pm-7pm
• Thursday, April 16th Family Night 6pm-8pm
• Bridging Brighter Smiles @VPMS April 20th & 21st
• Wednesday, May 13th McDonalds Fundraiser 4pm-7pm

• 6th Grade March Newsletter
• 7th Grade March Newsletter
• 8th Grade March Newsletter

• Monday, March 2nd
• Monday, April 6th
• Monday, May 4th

Help support our school through Raise Right! More information can be found here!

Interested in Joining the Vel Phillips Community Resource Organization (VelCRO)? Fill out our google interest form to join our contact directory! Not your average parent organization, VelCRO is dedicated to supporting all families at Vel Phillips! Parents, relatives, staff, and community members are welcome to join us!

Dear Vel Phillips Families,

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Family Night on Wednesday, April 16 from 6:00–8:00 PM!

This special evening will showcase the academic excellence of our students across all subject areas. Students will be proudly presenting academic projects in each pod, giving families the opportunity to see the hard work, creativity, and growth happening every day in our classrooms.

In addition, there will be a larger showcase in the atrium featuring students sharing musical performances, cultural projects, and large group activities. This will be a wonderful celebration of both academic achievement and the many talents that make our school community so special.

Throughout the evening, families can also enjoy:
• Prize giveaways
• Food trucks with food available for purchase
• Opportunities to connect with staff and other families

We are incredibly proud of our students and the effort they have put into their learning. We hope you will join us in celebrating their accomplishments and supporting their continued growth.

We look forward to seeing you on April 16!

• Oshkosh North Youth Baseball
• Aurora Walk In
• Hygiene Drive

Please be sure to check the lost and found if you are missing anything. It is cleaned out every Friday.

Yearbooks are available to purchase online for $15 plus tax on yearbooksforever.com use this link to purchase! Deadline to order is March 31st!

WAYFINDER

WAYFINDER

In homebase this month we are focusing on different Social Emotional Learning

6th Grade:

Chapter 4: Conflict + Action

We don’t always recognize the impact we have on others, both positively and negatively, and we often don’t realize that how we interact with others can greatly impact belonging. In this chapter, we’ll investigate how we impact others while exploring conflict, forgiveness, intent, and boundaries.

7th Grade:

Chapter 4: Goals + Habits

When you belong with yourself, you can utilize self-awareness to understand your behaviors and how they can help you reach your goals. In this chapter, we’ll explore how to sit with discomfort, set goals for ourselves, build healthy habits, and care for our needs.

8th Grade:

Chapter 4: Communication + Needs

Advocating for your own needs in a community means feeling confident enough to ask for what you need to reach your goals while also supporting others to do the same. In this chapter, we’ll explore various ways to communicate our needs and support others to communicate theirs.

As we are approaching sick season, we would like to remind you that parents/guardians are able to submit absence requests in Infinite Campus. You are able to submit absences as soon as you know them. Please see directions linked here!

Students should not be storing any liquids in their Chromebook pocket. This includes: cologne, body spray, perfume, and small water bottles. Also Phones or Wireless Airpods should also be left in your locker. You will be asked to put these items in your locker if they are seen in your Chromebook pocket.

Interest Form: Linked Here!

First night of game club was a success, we are always taking game donations, we can always have more students participate. Contact Mr. Sims with questions at gabriel.sims@oshkosh.k12.wi.us

Hello Vel Phillips Community,

Mission 4POINT0 is excited to announce that we will be having more after school events during the 25-26 school year. For those unfamiliar with this program Mission 4POINT0 has been operating at Vel Phillips middle school on a monthly basis for the past two years. We utilize Vel Phillips indoor areas to create spaces where students have the opportunity to freely express themselves with confidence and respect. If you attend one of our events you can find students participating in pick up sports, dancing, playing computer games, visiting with friends, and doing school work. Select events have also provided students with warm meals and guest speakers. Our mission is dedicated towards promoting students' growth in all areas including social skills, academics, and interpersonal skills. Examples of attributes we promote are respect, problem solving, leadership, adaptability, self advocacy, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, confidence, and communication.

The dates for upcoming events are 11/26, 12/17, 1/28, 2/25, 3/25, 4/29, and 5/27 all from 6:00pm - 7:30pm. If your student wishes to attend our after school events please download, sign this document LINK, and return it to mission4point0@gmail.com. Students that do not have the document turned in will not be able to participate in any Mission 4POINT0 events. We highly recommend students to wear athletic shoes that both cover your heel and ties tightly. This is a community event, parents, guardians and siblings are all invited to participate in a 1 v 1 on the basketball court or go create a drawing in the events lobby. Please send emails to mission4point0@gmail.com if you plan to attend an event or have any questions.

• Friday, March 13th-6th Grade Band PAC
• Thursday, April 16th- 7th/8th Grade Choir Mariachi Milwaukee PAC
• Thursday, April 30th/Friday, May 1st -8th Grade 2nd Semester Junior Achievement
• Thursday, May 21st -8th Grade Band Mt Olympus
• Thursday, May 28th- 7th Grade Band T-Rats

All these field trip forms are live in Infinite Campus to be completed. Click here for step by step directions!

Practice: 3:37pm-6pm

Thursday, February 19th (Menasha & Traeger @VPMS) 4pm

Tuesday, February 24th (Einstein & Wilson @VPMS) 4pm

Tuesday, March 3rd (South Park & VPMS @Tipler) 4pm

Saturday, March 14th (Oshkosh City Wrestling Meet @VPMS)

-Weigh Ins (8am-8:30am Sharp)

-Wrestling Begins at 9:15am Sharp

COACHES:

Kelly Schweiner

Kollen Kellner

Noah Kilgas

Attendance Reminder

Attention parents just a reminder to please call in your student or email our attendance secretary kourtney.riess@oshkosh.k12.wi.us if you are getting any type of attendance type phone calls. It is important to call in your student even if they are a few minutes late, as it does count towards their total day count of absences. Your communication is greatly appreciated.

If your child is ill and rides the bus - please be sure to call Kobussen to let them know or child will not be taking the bus that day and any day they are absent from school. #920.424.7575

Contact Updates/ Reminders; Parents/guardians please contact the office with any phone number & email updates so we can contact you with emergencies or when your child may be ill. Remember, students may not use their cells during school hours or they will have them taken away for the day. School Day Schedule bell rings to enter the building at 8:11am. Students must be in their seats by 8:19am.

• If a student arrives at school 10 or more minutes late, a parent or guardian MUST call to excuse their child or it will be marked as an unexcused absence. The school day ends at 3:37pm. No student should be on school grounds any earlier than 8:00am as there is NO SUPERVISION until 8:00am outside. All students must be off school grounds by 3:50pm each day unless they are participating in after school sports or clubs or are enrolled with the MELT program. If your student is going to be late, absent or needs to leave early, please call #920.718.4268 ext 3402

Students may NOT wear:

● Violent language or images.

● Hate speech, profanity, or sexual references.

● Images, language, or brands depicting drugs, alcohol, tobacco (or any illegal item or activity).

● Clothing identified with a gang or gang-related activities.

● Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.

● Visible underwear.

● Bathing suits.

● Sunglasses

● Blankets or similar coverings.

per the VPMS Handbook Linked Above

Student Arrival and Drop Off Zones

Morning drop-off routines will look different in a new building. Please see the following information below for morning drop-off information:

● Arrival Time - Student drop-off/arrival may begin at 8:00am. Prior to 8:00am, there will be no student supervision and arrival prior to that time is strongly discouraged for student safety purposes

● Bus Drop Off - Bus drop off will be located at the North end of the building on E. Nevada Ave. and car drop off will not be accessible in this area

● Car Drop Off - Car drop off will be located on Kentucky St. A designated drop off zone will be indicated by a curb cut-out. Please note, families should NOT pull into the visitor parking lot in the front of the school. Also note, the One-Way traffic pattern will be reversed and traffic on Kentucky will run from North to South.

● Student Gathering Zones - Students will gather with their grade level before school.

○ 6th Grade students will gather near the North courtyard on Nevada Ave.

○ 7th Grade students will gather near the Events Lobby entrance on the south side of the building

○ 8th Grade students will gather at the Main Entrance on Kentucky St.

● Inclement Weather - In the event of inclement weather, students will enter the building immediately upon arrival at 8:00am

○ 6th & 8th grade students will enter the south doors of the building at the Events Lobby and report to the Fieldhouse

○ 7th grade students will enter the building through the Main Entrance and report to the Atrium

● No Visitor Entry - Visitors will not be allowed to enter the building in the mornings before school, including the first day of school. All visitors are required to check-in at the Main Office and must have an appointment with a staff member in order to enter the building.