VAMS Panther Paws Newsletter

• Friday, April 5 - Honor Course Applications Go Home (for students interested in taking a 6th, 7th or 8th grade honor course, more information below)
• Friday, April 5 - VAMS Boys Night Out at the Middle School Gym from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (more information below)
  
• Monday, April 8 - 8th Grade Algebra Benchmark
• Tuesday, April 9 - STAAR Tests - 5 & 8 Math & 7 ELA - Closed Campus (more information below)
• Wednesday, April 10 - 7th Grade College Visits - Grayson College & Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Wednesday, April 10 - STAAR Tests - 5 & 8 Reading - Closed Campus (more information below)
• Thursday, April 11 - Honors Course Applications Due
• Thursday, April 11 - 7th & 8th Grade GT Field Trip - Dallas History Scavenger Hunt
• Thursday, April 11 - Pep Rally Schedule - We will be on a pep rally schedule this day because we will have ice cream and popsicles for STAR Card students from 3:00 - 3:30.
• Thursday, April 11 - Progress Reports Go Home
• Thursday, April 11 - 7th & 8th Grade Band Lock-In from 5:00 - 8:00
• Thursday, Aprill 11 - 8th Grade Dance Planning Meeting at 7:00 p.m. (more information below)
• Friday, April 12 - NO SCHOOL
• April 15 - 18 - Break the Dress Code Week to Support Mrs. Smith (more information below)
• Monday, April 15 - 5th & 6th Grade Spring Night Movie Night (more information below)
• Tuesday, April 16 - Student Council Delivers Shoes to Buckner Shoes
• Tuesday, April 16 - 7th & 8th Grade Spring Night Movie Night (more information below)
• Wednesday, April 17 - Spring Picture Day (more information below)
• Thursday, April 18 - 6th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
• Thursday, April 18 - VAMS Cheer Tryouts from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 19 - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, April 23 - Spring Choir Concert at VAHS at 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 23 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Collin Country Adventure Camp
• Thursday, April 25 - Spring Band Concert at VAHS at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, April 26 - Student Council Field Trip to Six Flags
• Friday, April 26 - Star Card Treat After School
• Please see information below about dates for STAAR testing.

**IMPORTANT END OF YEAR DATES/EVENTS LISTED BELOW**

Parents/Guardians,

Please take the time to give us your feedback. You provide a valuable perspective for helping us improve. In addition to each rating, please leave a suggestion or a positive comment so we know what is working well, or a possible solution. The parent survey will be open until Sunday, April 21.

Honors Course Applications for 6th, 7th & 8th grade classes went home today and will be due Thursday, April 11th.

One of our favorite things is seeing parents on our campus and we know that you enjoy seeing your child. However, please know on each day of STAAR tests, we will have a closed campus. Parents will not be able to come on campus to volunteer or eat with their child, and we will also not be able to deliver anything to the students (lunches, items left at home, clothes, etc.). We hope you understand and we appreciate your support to give our students the best possible testing environment. Thank you!

ALL 5th grade students will eat in their classrooms on Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10 due to STAAR testing. For both days, ALL 5th graders will need to either bring a lunch from home or our cafeteria will provide a lunch. Please do not send anything that needs to be microwaved.

The 8th Grade Dance is scheduled for Friday, May 10th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. in the VAMS cafeteria. Please know that this event is completely funded by 8th grade parents so that ALL VAMS 8th graders are welcome to attend the dance for FREE. There will also be free refreshments provided.

If you would like to volunteer in any way or provide a cash donation for food and decorations, please contact Veronica Westmoreland at 903-819-8403.

We will have a spring picture day on Wednesday, April 17 at 8:00 a.m. All students do not have to get their picture taken this day. This is just an opportunity for parents to have pictures taken if you would like. Order forms are in the front office.

Please know that beginning May 1st, money must be in your's child's cafeteria account for a meal to be purchased. Meals cannot be sold on accounts with insufficient funds. You can check the balance of your child's account and make deposits through the My School Bucks system. Please click HERE to access My School Bucks.

Promoting community service is a goal of VAMS this year! Make sure your child is completing their community service hour log. 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.

VAMS Community Service Hour Logs are due on Wednesday, May 1st.

Click on the link below "VAMS Community Service Flyer" for more information.

• April 29 - May 3 - Break the Dress Code Week to Support Donte Kehler
• Tuesday, April 30 - Special Olympics Track in Gunter
• Wednesday, May 1 - VAMS Community Service Hour Logs Due (more information above)
• Thursday, May 2 - Progress Reports Go Home
• Thursday, May 2 - Kona Ice Day for 5th & 6th Grade
• Thursday, May 2 - VAISD Fine Arts Night from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at VAHS
• Friday, May 3 - Star Card Hat Day
• Friday, May 3 - Kona Ice Day for 7th & 8th Grade
• Friday, May 3 - Girls Night Out for VAMS Girls 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at VAMS Gym (more information to come)
• Saturday, May 4 - Little Big Town Fun Run (more information above)
• Monday, May 6 - National Nurse Day - Show Nurse Wilson some love!
• May 6 - 10 - Buy One Get One Free Book Fair in VAMS Library
• May 6 -10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
• Tuesday, May 7 - Algebra End of Course Exam (STAAR Test)
• Thursday, May 9 - VAMS Student Basketball Tournament - 5th & 6th grade 5:30 - 7:00 and 7th & 8th grade 7:30 - 9:00
• Friday, May 10 - Special Olympics Soccer at VAHS
• Friday, May 10 - 8th Grade Dance 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. in VAMS Cafeteria
• Saturday, May 11 - 7th & 8th Grade Band Six Flags Trip
• Monday, May 13 - 6th & 7th Math STAAR Test and 5th & 8th STAAR Math Retest - Closed Campus
• Tuesday, May 14 - 6th & 7th Reading STAAR Test and 5th & 8th Reading STAAR Retest - Closed Campus
• Wednesday, May 15 - 5th & 8th Grade Science STAAR Test - Closed Campus
• Wednesday, May 15 - 7th Grade Field Trip to Collin County Adventure Camp
• Thursday, May 16 - 8th Grade Social Studies STAAR Test - Closed Campus
• Friday, May 17 - 6th Grade Band Field Trip to Pinstack
• Friday, May 17 - Star Card Treat After School
• Friday, May 17 - End of Year Student Dance - 5/6 dance 5:30-7:00 & 7/8 dance 7:30 - 9:30 - Admission $5.00
• Monday, May 20 - 5th Grade Awards Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. in the VAMS Cafeteria
• Monday, May 20 - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. in the VAMS Cafeteria
• Tuesday, May 21 - 7th Grade Awards Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. in the VAMS Cafeteria
• Tuesday, May 21 - Star Card Fun Day for students who earned 3 out of 4 Star Cards this year. 5th & 6th grade in the morning and 7th & 8th grade in the afternoon
• Tuesday, May 21 - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the VAMS Cafeteria - ALL 8th grade students will be recognized during this ceremony
  
• Wednesday, May 22 - Teach Like A Pirate Day
• Thursday, May 23 - Kids vs. Coaches Basketball Game 12:00 - 1:00 in VAMS Gym
• Thursday, May 23 - Last Day of School - Report Cards Go Home and Early Release at 1:35 p.m. (Buses will run 2 hours early.)
• Friday, May 24 - VAISD Graduation at 7:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium

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.

http://bit.ly/vaisdconnect

Parents,

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.

All volunteers, including parents, have to fill out a Volunteer Approval Form to have a background check before volunteering (ex: attend field trips, volunteer on campus, help with testing, etc.). This form must be filled out EVERY school year. The entire process, from submitting the form to receiving approval, can take as long as two weeks. This process must be completed before being approved to volunteer. If you have students at multiple schools, only one application is required.

Click the button below to access the Volunteer Approval Form. We appreciate our volunteers!

Website: www.ms.vanalstyneisd.org
Location: 1314 N. Waco Van Alstyne, TX
Phone: 903-482-8804
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/VanAlstyneMiddleSchool
Twitter: @vamiddleschool