VMS ELKS Roundup

Dear VMS Families,

As we enter this festive season, I want to share a few important updates and reminders for the month of December.

🎉 Dress-Up Days

To celebrate the season and bring some extra joy to our hallways, we will be hosting several theme days throughout December. A schedule of Dress-Up Days will be shared with students and posted on our website. We encourage everyone to participate and have fun while still keeping outfits school-appropriate.

🎶 Music Concerts

Our winter music concerts are right around the corner! We invite families to join us in celebrating the hard work and talent of our band, choir, and orchestra students. Concert dates and times are listed below:

• Band Concerts

• Monday, 12/8/25 VMS Band Concerts: 6th Grade at 6:00pm, 7th Grade at 6:45pm, Jazz Band & 8th Grade Bands at 7:30pm. Students arrive 30 minutes prior to the concert in the Zabee Theater at Elk River High School. Concert Attire - Concert Black.

• Choir Concerts

• Tuesday, 12/16/25 VMS Choir Concerts, 6th grade @6:30 pm students need to be there by 5:45pm, 7th & 8th grade @7:30pm students need to be there by 6:45pm at the ERHS Zabee Auditorium.

We are proud of our students and look forward to a wonderful season of performances.

📅 No School Reminder

A quick reminder that there is no school on:

• December 5th - Staff Development Day

• December 22nd - January 2nd: Winter Break

We hope families enjoy this time to rest, recharge, and spend time together.

As always, thank you for your partnership and support. December is a busy yet exciting month, and we are grateful for the strong community we have at VMS.

Warm regards,
Amanda Ohlgren
Principal, VMS

Students of the Week for November

From the Attendance Office

We’ve noticed an increase in last minute student pick ups. Last minute pick ups should ONLY be for emergencies. Vacations, sports and scheduled appointments should be put in Campus Parent Portal ahead of time. If an emergency appointment comes up during the day, please try and give us courteously 1-hour notice. Please see our website for directions on how to enter absences, late arrivals and early releases. We are asking everyone to input all absences as soon as possible to ensure passes are made and delivered to the student. Several days in advance is preferable.

Parents should not be entering pickups for students not feeling well. If a student is not feeling well, please instruct them to visit the Health Office and together your student and health office staff will call you to make a plan for staying at school or getting picked up. Students are aware of this process and should not be texting or calling parents directly from their cell phone to be picked up. Please ensure that students go through the correct process of using the health office.

Winter may bring shorter days and chilly weather, but it doesn’t have to dim your mood. With a few simple habits and a little extra self-care, you can keep your spirits bright and beat the winter blues. Let’s dive into easy ways to stay warm, energized, and uplifted all season long.

Our counselors are here to support our community through the winter blues and any other dilemma that create barriers for them in life. We are here to help your student shine!

Your Counselors~ Kaitlan Svihel and Caitlin Ferguson

Our toy drive was a great success, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our students, staff, and community for their incredible support and generosity.

Don’t wait! Order your yearbook before it’s too late. Ordering is as easy as going to jostens.com/yborder and searching “Vandenberge Middle School”

We’re currently in need of sweatpants and leggings in very good or gently used condition for our student clothing closet. While we truly appreciate all the donations we’ve received, we want to ensure that the items available for students are in good shape and ready to wear — similar to what you might pass along to a friend or family member.

Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity in helping us take care of our students!

Click the link to stay informed about this month’s upcoming due dates and key events for your student(s).

AI Website Update. The following content has been added to the ISD728 website. Digital Learning

As parents, understanding the appropriate use of cell phones and social media is more crucial than ever. Please click here to read the December edition which focuses on a Digital Media Diet.

Enjoy the December CTE Newsletter

• Email: vms.office@isd728.org