Viking View

12/15 to 12/19

Mission: Positively impact and advance each student every day.

Vision: Foster one's greatest potential.

The Week-At-A-Glance

Monday, December 15 (8 Period Day)

"Cotton-headed ninny muggins!"

Wear holiday headwear.

Secret Santa Begins

Vandy the Elf: Day 1

Cheer Practice @ 7 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. (Café)

No Teaming - Happy Holidays!

Advisory @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m.

Thespian Club Meeting @ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Café)

7 BBB VMS vs. Clark MS @ Clark MS

5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 GBB Clark MS vs. VMS @ VMS

Pre-Athletics Night @ 7:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 16 (8 Period Day)

"You have such a pretty face, you should be on a Christmas card."

Wear red and green holiday colors.

Secret Santa

Vandy the Elf: Day 2

Cheer Practice @ 7 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. (Café)

6th Grade HERO Redemption Day @ 7:55 a.m. (Café)

CISF Monthly Meeting @ 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Administration)

Course Selection @ 8:45 a.m. (Anderson ES)

Counselors Out

Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (ILA Priority)

Orchestra Holiday Social @ 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (FNA)

Art Club Meeting @ 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Café)

7 GBB Clark MS vs. VMS @ VMS

5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

8 BBB VMS vs. Clark MS @ Clark MS

5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 17 (Block Day 1,3,5,7)

"First, I traveled through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, past the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel."

Wear holiday socks.

Secret Santa

Vandy the Elf: Day 3

Liberty HS Campus Visit w/ 8th Grade Band @ 7:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. (FNA)

6th Grade HERO Redemption Day @ 7:55 a.m. (Café)

Leaders' Meeting @ 8 a.m. - TBD (Taylor Out)

Course Selection @ 8:30 a.m. (Isbell ES)

Counselors Out

Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Science Priority)

Q2 PRIDE Party (Gym)

Winter Social @ 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (Café; Gym)

Hosted by PTA

Thursday, December 18 (Block Day 2,4,6,8)

"You stink. You smell like beef and cheese. You don't smell like Santa."

Wear an ugly sweater.

Secret Santa

Vandy the Elf: Day 4

Last Day for Category 1 TTESS Observations & Feedback Conferences

District Athletic Coordinator Meeting @ 7:15 a.m. (Athletic Office)

7th Grade HERO Redemption Day @ 7:55 a.m. (Gym Foyer)

Theatre Art Production Class Field Trip @ 9 a.m. - TBD (Dallas TA Center)

Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Math Priority)

Building Leadership Team Meeting & Winter Social @ 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Library)

Friday, December 19 (8 Period Day)

"First, we'll make snow angels for 2 hours. Then, we'll go ice skating. Then, we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle."

Wear holiday PJs.

Secret Santa

Vandy the Elf: Day 5

Viking Time @ 1:31 p.m. - 2:13 p.m. (Social Studies Priority)

8th Grade HERO Redemption Day @ 7:55 a.m. (Gym Foyer)

IC Meeting @ 8:25 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. (D104)

Administrative Meeting @ 9:15 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Large Conference Room)

8th Grade Deadline for 4-Year Plan @ 3:45 p.m.

Q2 Report Card Assignment Cutoff @ 4 p.m. (TAC)

Action Items:

Please complete the Staffing Survey by Friday, January 30th.

Find Vandy beginning Monday and win a prize!

Make sure to brush up on your Elf trivia! Game continues Monday!

Coming Soon

December

22-Jan. 5 Winter Break

23 Open Gym

29 Open Gym

January

2 Open Gym

5 Student Holiday

5 Open Gym

5 Staff Professional Learning Day AM | Work Day PM

6 Q3 Begins

6 Cheer Practice

6 Q2 Report Grades Due @ 8

7 Course Selection @ Taylor ES

7 MOY Campus Representative & Parent CIT Meeting

7 8 GBB VMS vs. Wester MS @ WMS

7 7 BBB Wester MS vs. VMS @ VMS

8 Q2 RC Posted HAC

8 7 GBB VMS vs. Wester MS @ WMS

8 8 BBB Wester MS vs. VMS @ VMS

9 IC Meeting

9 Administrative Meeting

9 Hold Drill

9 Theatre Art OAP Rehearsal

Administrative Information

FISD is hosting weeklong summer camps between June 1 and July 20, and they are inviting staff to design and lead innovative camp experiences. These camps will offer fun, hands-on learning opportunities for students in and around the District and will complement the athletics and fine arts camps already provided each summer.

Get involved: Teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff are encouraged to submit ideas for a camp they would like to lead.

Camps should offer engaging academic or enrichment experiences in areas such as literacy, STEM, arts, and physical activity.
Special education staff are also encouraged to share ideas for SPED-focused camps.

You should know: Staff have until January 30, 2026, to complete the interest survey.

Responses will help determine the types of camp experiences FISD can offer our community.

Multiple roles and teaching opportunities will be available throughout the summer.

Find more information and fill out the interest survey.

Athletic Information

Boys Basketball Schedule (Click Here)

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 Basketball Schedule (Click Here)

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

Cross Country Schedule (Click Here)

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 perseverance: persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

Our inspirational quote for the week: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Thomas A. Edison

Campus Committee News

This Week's Instructional Showcase

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:

December – Science
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!

This week in 7th grade science, students got hands-on with a creative activity to explore how aquifers function! Using everyday food items to model underground layers, they investigated how aquifers can become polluted and what happens when groundwater is depleted. This engaging experiment gave students a tangible look at how human activity affects our water systems.

Student & Staff Engagement: House of Loyalty & Strength Meetings

Digital Learning Updates

FISD Approved Application and Student Data Privacy Information
- Make sure you are checking the list for updates.
DLC Website
Where is Matt? Check his schedule here.

Click here for Canvas Homepage instructions. Reach out to Matt Lotz for assistance with any technology issues.

Library News

Congratulations to 6th grader Sreyasa M. for winning the campus spelling bee. Sreyasa will advance to the district spelling bee on January 12th at Panther Creek High School. Good luck! We are so proud of you!

Here is the link.

PTA News

PTA Purchases New Student Microwaves Thanks to Activity Fee Support!

We are excited to share that our PTA has purchased brand-new microwaves for student use in the cafeteria! This upgrade was made possible thanks to the proceeds from our one-time $25 student activity fee, which helps fund meaningful enhancements and experiences for all VMS students.

We are grateful for our families’ continued partnership and support as we work together to enrich the student experience at Vandeventer Middle School!

We are thrilled to announce that our Winter Social on December 17 will be free for all students! This fun and festive event is a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate the season together before winter break.

Thanks to the support of our families through the student activity fee, every student will also enjoy hot cocoa and a sweet treat during the celebration. Your contribution helps us create memorable experiences for all Wildcats, and we appreciate your continued partnership in making these moments possible!

Recognitions

December

12-8 Katie Lee

12-20 Sarah Santibanez

12-21 Misti Perry

12-21 Piyal Bhadra

12-22 Brad Helenberger

November Teacher of the Month

Wendy Tamney

November Staff Member of the Month

Emily Shelton

Staff Shout Outs (Administration)

This shout-out goes to Nancy Pontius: "Thank you for keeping us all safe. You passed the gatekeeper test with flying colors-no surprise, since the front door is your domain!" Brad Helenberger

This shout-out goes to Umama Suriya " for showing patience, perseverance, and growth during her first year as a teacher. Keep going!" Lauren Wagner

This shout-out goes to Coach Sims "for coaching, mentoring, and intervening with our students." Dennis Thorpe

This shout-out goes to Emily Shelton: "Thank you for coordinating all of the fun surprises this week!" Marla Smith

This shout-out goes to Coach Gribble: "Great job on your first bus run! Success!" Stephanie Taylor

Staff Shout Outs (Staff)

This shout-out goes to Kayla Madler: "Thank you Madler for accepting to cover my 7th period without any hesitation and allowing me to leave for the event. You are awesome!" Piyal Bhadra

This shout-out goes to Umama Suriya: "Thank you for covering my duty spot. I appreciate your help." Piyal Bhadra

This shout-out goes to Coach Swanberg and Coach Williams "for jumping in and helping our student athletes in the classroom.: Emily Seidl

This shout-out goes to Coach Gribble "for bravely taking the wheel on bus duty for the very first time! We all survived, the bus stayed upright, and only three passengers questioned their life decisions—so we’re calling it a major success. Thanks for getting us where we needed to go, same time next week… once your knuckles stop being white?" Coach Oberst

This shout-out goes to Lorri Lillegard and Celeste Hanvey: "Thank you both for thinking of me on my birthday! I really appreciated the flowers and the card.💕" Katie Lee

This shout-out goes to the administration: "Thank you for the 12 Days of Holiday Giving—your thoughtful surprises have truly brightened this season. I’ve never worked at a school that shows this level of generosity, and I really appreciate it." Katie Lee

This shout-out goes to Lindsay Muse: "Thank you for organizing all of the organization photos for yearbook! We appreciate it!" Michaela Kelley

VMS Campus Calender

Staff Calendar 22-23.docx

What's Happening?

Elementary School Fine Arts Winter Tour

Band Winter Concert and Collaboration with Orchestra

Choir Community Caroling

2025 Teen Writers Anthology

We are thrilled to celebrate our 7th grader, Meher J., whose writing/poem, Soft Rains, Hard Feelings, has been selected for the 2025 Teen Writers Anthology at the Frisco Public Library! Her work will be published in this special collection of young authors and showcased at the library. Two copies will be available for checkout in the community author’s section.

Even though this accomplishment is outside of school, it reflects the creativity, dedication, and confidence our students develop here at Vandeventer Middle School. Congratulations, Meher, on this well-deserved recognition! ✨📖

12 Days to Winter Break Countdown

10 Days to Winter Break

Santa Candy Jar

Sponsored by: Campus Administration

9 Days to Winter Break

"We MINT to wish you Happy Holidays!"

Sponsored by: Campus Administration

8 Days to Winter Break

Baked Potato Bar

7 Days to Winter Break

Holiday Cookie Box

Sponsored by: Campus Administration

6 Days to Winter Break

Holiday Socks

Sponsored by: Campus Administration

Elf Trivia Winner: Jill Leal

Question: What animal attacks Buddy when he tries to hug it in the forest:

Answer: A raccoon

Elf Trivia Winner: Chloe Mitchell

Question: What is the name of the department store where Buddy gets a job?

Answer: Gimbels

Elf Trivia Winner: Ping Trinh

Question: What does Buddy say when he answers his dad's work phone?

Answer: "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

Elf Trivia Winner: Coach Gribble

Question: What was Buddy's half brother's name?

Answer: Michael

Elf Trivia Winner: Frances O'Connor

Question: What food item does Buddy pour on his spaghetti?

Answer: Maple Syrup

This meeting is for currently enrolled 5th grade families zoned for Vandeventer Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year.

Who's Who at Vandeventer

Stephanie Taylor, Principal

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