Mission: Positively impact and advance each student every day.
Vision: Foster one's greatest potential.
January is School Board Appreciation Month
The Week-At-A-Glance
Monday, January 12
Wear a college shirt/sweatshirt with jeans!
Cheer Practice @ 7 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. (Café)
Athletic Coordinator Meeting @ 7:15 a.m.
Teaming (1,3,5,8)
7th Grade MTSS (2,7)
Rising 7th Grade Course Card Selections via Science (All Day)
Rising 9th Grade Course Card Selections via Science w/ LHS Counselors (All Day)
Tribe Meeting @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m.
Winning S1 House Celebration (Gym)
House of Honor - All Students & Staff Encouraged to Wear Black
Theatre Art One Act Play @ 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Café)
Tuesday, January 13 (8 Period Day)
Wear black dry-fit Viking shirt w/ jeans!
Cheer Practice @ 7 am. - 7:45 a.m. (Café)
N2 Learning Teacher Leader Institute @ 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (ILA Priority)
Fire Drill 2/ Frisco FD @ 3 p.m.
Q2 UIL Eligibility @ 4 p.m.
PTA Board Meeting @ 5 p.m. (Library)
PTA General Membership Meeting @ 5:45 p.m. (Café)
Rising 6th Grade Viking Night @ 6 p.m. (Café)
Wednesday, January 14 (Block Day 1,3,5,7)
Jingle Jeans - Free dress for staff with sticker (Spring Semester)!
Leaders Meeting @ 8 a.m. - TBD (HOH)
Secondary Science IC Meeting @ 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. (TW)
Content Lead ELAR/SS Meeting @ 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (HOH)
Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Science Priority)
Whole Child Coordinator Meeting @ 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Administration)
Art Club Meeting @ 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Café)
7 BBB VMS vs. Griffin MS @ GMS
5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
8 GBB Griffin MS vs. VMS @ VMS
5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 15 (Block Day 2,4,6,8)
PTA Inclusion Shirt w/ Jeans
Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Math Priority)
Band Instrument Drive @ 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Café)
District Spelling Bee @ 5 p.m. (PCHS)
7 GBB Griffin MS vs. VMS @ VMS
5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
8 BBB VMS vs. Griffin MS @ GMS
5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.
Friday, January 16 (8 Period Day)
Wear Liberty HS or VMS spirit wear w/ jeans!
IC Meeting @ 8:25 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. (E112)
Administrative Meeting @ 9:15 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Conference Room)
Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Social Studies Priority)
Thespian Club Meeting @ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Café)
Please complete the Staffing Survey by Friday, Jan. 30th.
January
19 MLK Day Student/Staff Holiday
20 Cheer Practice
20 Secure Drill
20 TA One Act Play Rehearsal
20 Master Schedule Kickoff Meeting
21 Social Studies Cadre Cohort I Celebration
21 Virtual Leaders' Meeting
21 8GBB VMS vs. Cobb MS
21 7GBB Cobb MS vs. VMS
22 SpEd IC Meeting
22 Secondary AP Meeting
22 7GBB VMS vs. Cobb MS
22 8GBB Cobb MS vs. VMS
23 IC Meeting
23 Administrative Meeting
23 Athletic Coordinator Luncheon
23 Orchestra Instrument Selection
23 Band Winter Social Movie Night
24 All City Choir Clinic & Concert
STAAR Field Test Administration
Who: 6th & 8th Grade Students
What: STAAR Stand-Alone Reading Field Test
Where: Vandeventer Middle School
When: February 3, 2026
Why: As required by House Bill 3906, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, STAAR underwent a redesign to better align the assessments with classroom instruction. The redesign was implemented in the 2022–2023 school year and included the addition of writing to reading assessments and more non-multiple-choice questions such as open-ended or constructed-response items. Although the TEA has made a concerted effort to minimize the amount of instructional time used for state testing purposes, particularly stand-alone field testing, a Stand-Alone Field Test is necessary to properly integrate these new components into future state assessments. TEA has selected Vandeventer Middle School to participate.
Boys Athletics (Cross Country/Track)
Cross Country - Coach Sims
Track - Coach Howe | Coach Henderson | Coach Swanberg |Coach Williams
Boys Athletics (Basketball)
7th Grade A Team - Coach Henderson
7th Grade B/C Teams - Coach Henderson | Coach Howe
8th Grade A Team - Coach Williams
8th Grade B/C Team - Coach Williams | Coach Swanberg
Boys Athletics (Soccer)
7th Grade - Coach Swanberg | Coach Henderson
8th Grade - Coach Swanberg | Coach Henderson
Girls Athletics (Cross Country/Track)
Cross Country - Coach Gribble
Track - Coach Park | Coach Near | Coach Oberst | Coach Garcia
Girls Athletics (Basketball)
7th Grade A Team - Coach Near
7th Grade B/C Teams - Coach Gribble
8th Grade A Team - Coach Park
8th Grade B/C Team - Coach Oberst
Girls Athletics (Soccer)
7th Grade - Coach Garcia
8th Grade - Coach Near
THE FRISCO WAY
A character-building lesson designed to grow our athletes into leaders.
Motto: CHAMPS LEAD THE WAY
With respect for others, control of self, and the spirit of competition
Building character. Growing leaders. That’s the goal.
Our Focus:
Set clear expectations rooted in The Texas Way
Create consistency across all FISD campuses
Use a standardized form to simplify documentation
This week's focus for our athletes is This week's focus for our athletes is teamwork: the combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient.
Our inspirational quote for the week: "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success."
As part of our Campus Improvement Team and Professional Learning Committee efforts, each week we will shine a spotlight on the amazing instructional work happening across our campus. We will highlight the engaging learning experiences our teachers create and celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff.
To ensure every content area has an opportunity to be showcased, each month will focus on a different department:
January – Math
February – ILA
March – Social Studies
April – Electives & Fine Arts
We look forward to sharing the incredible teaching and learning taking place at Vandeventer each and every day!
Our 6th grade students recently dove into financial literacy through the Frosty Falls Project, an engaging, winter-themed unit focused on balancing a checking account. In this real-world simulation, students “opened” a checking account at Frosty Falls Bank and managed a starting balance of $150.50 while earning money from seasonal jobs and spending on winter activities, gifts, and essentials.
As they made deposits and withdrawals, students practiced calculating new balances, recording transactions, and organizing financial information in a checkbook register—just like in real life! This hands-on project helped students strengthen math skills, budgeting habits, and responsible money management, even during the busiest (and most festive!) time of the year. 🎄💰
Congratulations to the House of Honor!
4th Place - House of Strength 2040 pts.
5th Place - House of Bravery 2005 Pts.
6th Place - House of Imagination 1995 Pts.
7th Place - House of Adventure 1875 Pts.
8th Place - House of Generosity 1700 Pts.
January
1-4 Barb Gardner
1-13 Holly Cotten
1-27 Ping Trinh
Diana Park
December Teacher of the Month
December Staff Member of the Month
Emily Shelton
Staff Shout Outs (Administration)
This shout-out goes to Coach Swanberg: "Help me celebrate and recognize Coach Swanberg for his outstanding participation and engagement in the FISD Social Studies Teacher Leadership Cadre Cohort I. Throughout the program, he strengthened his professional capacity while exemplifying our core values and beliefs. His work demonstrated a deep commitment to active listening and questioning, Understanding by Design (UbD), assessment for learning, strategic thinking, and the implementation of effective classroom practices in literacy, inquiry, and differentiation. Congratulations on your achievement and for modeling excellence in leadership and instruction!” Stephanie Taylor
This shout-out goes to Sarah Santibanez: " Thank you for working with our VMS Design Club! Even when the student organization/organizer proved challenging, Ms. Santibanez was incredibly supportive and helped ensure things stayed on track!" Brad Helenberger
This shout-out goes to Lorri Lillegard and Katie Lee: " Thank y’all for letting me observe and interact with your classes while they complete their Xello lessons. I loved getting to see them learn about different colleges and careers!" Lauren Wagner
This shout-out goes to Matt Lotz: "Thank you for sharing all things AI last week. Can’t wait to try out a few things!" Marla Smith
This shout-out goes to all the science teachers: "Thank you for letting the counselors visit your classes to complete the course card registration process. We truly appreciate your collaboration." Dennis Thorpe
Staff Shout Outs (Staff)
This shout-out goes to Coach Williams: "Thank you for helping me put our new volleyball poles into the gym. My "muscles" appreciated your muscles! I appreciate YOU!" Coach Park
This shout-out goes to Coach Sims: "Thank you for getting your athletes to take care of all my recycling boxes! I appreciate the teamwork and the bond we have formed!" Coach Park
This shout-out goes to Barb Gardner: "You have been such an incredible support during this year’s eighth-grade transition scheduling! I’ve been in your room almost daily for the last few weeks with big and small questions, and you always takes the time to help, no matter how busy you are. I’m slowly learning HS scheduling because of your patience and willingness to share what you know. I'm so grateful you're at VMS, and our students are better off because of it!" Amber Sharp
This shout-out goes to Matt Lotz: "Thank you for once again for helping me figure out what was happening in my Canvas course when things didn't look right. You really do know all the answers!" Jamie Buzan
This shout-out goes to Emily Shelton: "Thank you for covering for Cynthia in stepping back into your old Data Clerk role when it was time for RCs. I appreciate you answering questions and helping solve problems." Jamie Buzan
This meeting is for currently enrolled 5th grade families zoned for Vandeventer Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year.
Ms. Taylor began her career in education in 1997 with Irving ISD after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. After several years as a teacher and coach, she obtained her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas and continued in Irving as a middle school assistant principal. In 2006, she transitioned to Dallas ISD where she worked in various leadership roles until moving to the Frisco area. The 2024-2025 school-year marks Ms. Taylor's sixth year as the Vandeventer Middle School principal.
taylorste@friscoisd.org
469-633-4350
Marla Smith, Assistant Principal
smithmarl@friscoisd.org
469-633-4354
6th Grade | 8th Grade (Alpha M-Z)
Dennis Thorpe, Counselor
thorped@friscoisd.org
469-633-4350
6th Grade | 8th Grade (Alpha M-Z)
Brad Helenberger, Assistant Principal
helenbeB@friscoisd.org
469-633-4354
7th Grade | 8th Grade (Alpha A-L)
Lauren Wagner, Counselor
wagnerl@friscoisd.org
469-633-4350
7th Grade | 8th Grade (Alpha A-L)
Emily Shelton, School Secretary
sheltone@friscoisd.org
469-633-4356
Kristi Garcia, AP Secretary garciak@friscoisd.org
469-633-4354
Cynthia Hildinger, Data Clerk hildingerc@friscoisd.org
469-633-4357
Nancy Ponius, Receptionist pontiusn@friscoisd.org
469-633-4350