VPMS Weekly Newsletter

Phoenix Weekly cover photo

Week of Monday, November 10th-Friday, November 14th

MONDAY 11/10:

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TUESDAY 11/11:

• 8th Grade Career Fair Field Trip
• 7th Grade Boys Basketball @South Park
• 8th Grade Boys Basketball @Home
• Orchestra 6th Grade Fall Concert @7pm

WEDNESDAY 11/12:

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THURSDAY 11/13:

• 7th Grade Boys Basketball @Traeger
• 8th Grade Boys Basketball @Home

FRIDAY 11/14:

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SATURDAY 11/15:

• VPMS Craft Fair (9am-2pm) ($2 Adult Entry/Children FREE)

• 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
• October Breakfast Menu
• October Lunch Menu
• VPMS 25/26 School Supply List
• IC Parent Portal Absence Request Directions
• VelCro Interest Form
• How to check student grades (mobile)

• Stay tuned..

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!

• Tuesday, November 18th 8th Grade Girls Basketball Sign Up Meeting (during homebase in Atrium/learning stairs)
• Tuesday, November 18th VPMS Family Night (6pm-8pm)
• Wednesday, November 19th VPMS Variety Show
• Thanksgiving Break- November 26th-28th NO SCHOOL!

• 6th Grade November Newsletter
• 7th Grade November Newsletter
• 8th Grade November Newsletter

First Monday of the Month 5:15pm-6:15pm

• Monday, December 1st
• Monday, January 5th
• Monday, February 2nd
• Monday, March 2nd
• Monday, April 6th
• Monday, May 4th

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!

We are collecting donations of bread, peanut butter, jelly and other food donations to include in bags to be handed out to families on Friday, November 14th! Students are asked to bring donations to their homebase teachers. Community members are welcome to drop off items to door #1 on Kentucky.

Interested in wrestling? Go to the Oshkosh North Youth Wrestling signup at Oshkosh North High School on Dec 1 at 6:30 by Door 1. You can practice 2-3 times per week to better your skills and get ready for our middle school season which starts on Feb. 2. See Mr. Schweiner with any questions.

Flyer linked here.

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!

Battle of the Books sign up is live on our Destiny library website. Sign up to receive email updates from Mrs. Heideman and to be invited to our first meeting.

Interested in crocheting? Crochet Club will be meeting Tuesdays after school, in the atrium behind the learning stairs, from 3:45pm to 5pm. Beginners and experienced crocheters are welcome. Thanks to donations from the community and VelCRO, materials are available to be borrowed (and you may keep anything you make!). Contact Ms. Kraase at lisa.kraase@oshkosh.k12.wi.us with questions.

Interest Form: Linked Here!

• Wednesday, November 25th- 8th Grade Band North High
• Tuesday, January 6th/ Wednesday, January 7th - 8th Grade 1st Semester Junior Achievement
• Tuesday, February 10th- All School North Musical at the Grand
• 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!

Exciting News: Chromebook Care Challenge!
Starting in October, we’ll be recognizing and rewarding great Chromebook care across our Houses.
Here’s how it works:
*House of the Month for Device Care
-Each month, the House with the best Chromebook care will be featured on our school monitors and earn 5 House points!
*Student of the Month for Device Care
-Teachers will nominate students who consistently take excellent care of their Chromebooks. Selected students will earn 2 House points and be celebrated as role models for responsible device use.
*End-of-Year Award
-At the end of the school year, the House with the lowest Chromebook breakage rate will win the Laptop Trophy, proudly displayed in the cafeteria.
Let’s work together to keep our devices in top shape—and cheer on our Houses!

Attention 8th grade GIRL's basketball players! There will be an 8th grade girl's basketball sign up meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18th during Homebase. If you plan to play 8th grade girl's basketball this year for Vel, be sure to be at this meeting. Students should first go to HOMEBASE for attendance, breakfast, and hot lunch count. Students should then meet in the main Atrium on the Learning stairs at 8:25 for the meeting. Our season is coming up quickly!!! See Mr. Schweiner with any questions.

GAMES (All Games Start @3:55pm)

Tuesday, November 4th- @Home

Thursday, November 6th- @Tipler

Tuesday, November 11th- @South Park

Thursday, November 13th-@Traeger

Tuesday, November 18th- @Home

Thursday, November 20th- @Home

Tuesday, November 25th- @Home

Monday, December 1st-@Tipler

Tuesday, December 2nd-@South Park

PRACTICE Monday-Thursday (3:45pm-5pm) Fridays (7am-8am)

Practice Starts Wednesday, October 15th

No practice: Thursday, October 16th, Friday, October 17th, Friday, October 24th, Friday, November 7th, Wednesday, November 26th, Thursday, November 27th or Friday, November 28th

*DONUT PARTY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd (7:30am-8am)

COACHES

Chris Hayes

Tierney Clavette

Dakota Bartlett

GAMES (All Games Start @3:55pm)

Tuesday, November 4th- @Traeger

Thursday, November 6th- @Home

Tuesday, November 11th- @Home

Thursday, November 13th-@Home

Tuesday, November 18th- @Tipler

Thursday, November 20th- @South Park

Tuesday, November 25th- @Traeger

Monday, December 1st-@Home

Tuesday, December 2nd-@Home

PRACTICE (3:45pm-5:45pm)

Practice Starts Wednesday, October 15th

No Practice: Thursday, October 16th, Friday, October 17th, Friday, October 24th, Friday, October 31st, Wednesday, November 26th, Thursday, November 27th or Friday, November 28th

*TEAM PIZZA PARTY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd (3:30pm-4:30pm)

COACHES:

Kelly Schweiner

Tom Zellmer

Dan Wagner

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.