Viking View

3/30 to 4/3

Mission: Positively impact and advance each student every day.

Vision: Foster one's greatest potential.

Wear blue on April 2nd in celebration of Autism Awareness Day!

The Week-At-A-Glance

Monday, March 30 (8 Period Day)

Wear your favorite college shirt/sweatshirt with jeans every Monday!

Librarian Week - Give Mrs. Bailey a shout out when you see her!

Teaming (1,2,3,5,,97)

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

Sign-Up @ 3rd Period

Theatre Art Spring Show Rehearsal @ 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Café)

Girls Soccer - Scoggins MS vs. Vandeventer MS @ Emerson HS

7th Grade @ 5:30 p.m.
8th Grade @ 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday, March 31 (8 Period Day)

Staff may wear the dry fit black shirt with jeans every Tuesday!

STAAR Logistics Training @ 7:45 a.m. (Library)

Secondary Student Services Learning Day #4 @ 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. (HoH)

Master Schedule Meeting @ 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Teams Meeting)

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

STAAR Logistics Training @ 4 p.m. (Library)

Theatre Art Spring Show Rehearsal @ 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Café)

Service Pin Banquet @ 6 p.m. (National Soccer Hall of Fame)

Celebrating Micki Friedman's 25 Years of Service

Wednesday, April 1 (Block Day 1,3,5,7)

Spring Jingle Jeans - Free dress for staff with sticker!

STAAR Logistics Training @ 7:45 a.m. (Library)

Secondary TLC Meeting w/ ICs & Principal @ 8 a.m. (HoH)

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

STAAR Logistics Training @ 4 p.m. (Library)

PTA Board and General Membership Meeting @ 5:30 p.m. (Library)

Boys Soccer - Vandeventer MS vs. Scoggins MS @ Liberty HS

7th Grade @ 5:30 p.m.
8th Grade @ 6:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 2 (Block Day 2,4,6,8)

Autism Awareness Day - Wear blue with jeans or professional dress!

Q4 IPR Assignment Cutoff

7th Grade Study Trip @ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Allen All American Ice Hockey)

Week of 4/6 to 4/10 Viking Time Sign-Up @ 8:30 a.m. (7th Grade)

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

Theatre Art Spring Show Rehearsal @ 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Café)

8th Grade Testing Location & Chromebook Dropoff @ 3:30 p.m.

Viking Time Sign-Up @ 3 p.m. (6th & 8th Grade)

Award Recipient Nomination Deadline @ 4 p.m.

Viking Valor Voting Deadline @ 4 p.m.

Friday, April 3

Good Friday

Student & Staff Holiday

Monday, April 6

Student & Staff Holiday

Action Items:

All staff are required to attend one of the four available STAAR Logistics training sessions.

Coming Soon

April

6 Bad Weather Make-Up Day (Student & Staff Holiday)

7-10 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

7 Q4 IPR Grades Due @ 8 a.m.

7 STAAR Reading (8th Grade)

7 Testing Location & Chromebook Drop-Off (6th & 7th Grade)

8 STAAR Reading (6th & 7th Grade)

8 Clark MS vs. Vandeventer MS @ LTHS

9 Secondary School Counselor Meeting

9 Q4 IPR Posted in HAC @ UIL Eligibility Date

9 STAAR Make-Up

9 Theatre Art Spring Show Rehearsal

9 Vandeventer MS vs. Clark MS @ Liberty HS

10 STAAR Make-Up

10 STAAR Alt-2 Window Closes

10 Choir Pride of Texas Festival @ Pinstack

10 IC Meeting

10 Administrative Meeting

10 Soccer Portraits

10 Priority Candidate Job Fair

10 Band Cookie Grab

10 Theatre Art Spring Show Rehearsal

10 Harp Recital

11 FISD Band Solo & Ensemble Competition

11 Choir All Region Auditions

11 Orchestra Solo & Ensemble @ LMS

11 Theatre Art Rehearsal

Administrative Information

Testing Information

The 2026 STAAR administration will begin Tuesday, April 7th and extend through Wednesday, April 22nd. All STAAR assessments will be provided to students online, utilizing their district issued Chromebook. During these three weeks of STAAR administration, we will follow the 8-period day bell schedule. Meaning, we will not implement the modified blocked days on Wednesdays or Thursdays (April 8th-9th, April 15th-16th, or April 22nd-23rd). Additionally, since students are out of school on Thursday, April 30th and Friday, May 1st, Wednesday, April 29th will also be an 8-period day. Block scheduling will resume on Wednesday, May 6th and Thursday, May 7th.

Technology Information

If a student has lost or broken their Chromebook charger, per the Chromebook Take Home Handbook they will need to replace it before STAAR testing begins April 7th and before returning their Chromebook at the end of the school year. There are two options for replacing a Chromebook charger:

Option 1 – A parent can purchase a charger through Online School Fees. Please let the Administration know before the student returns their Chromebook.
Option 2 – A parent can purchase an approved charger through Amazon and return the replacement charger with their Chromebook.
- Approved Charger

If a student has lost their Chromebook, per the Chromebook Take Home Handbook they will be responsible for paying the replacement cost for the device. For lost device replacement fees, please refer to the estimated replacement costs.

Families can learn more and register by visiting friscoisd.org/summercamp and reviewing the 2026 Summer Camp Guide.

Our very own science teacher, Mrs. Friedman, is hosting an FISD Summer Camp for rising 2nd and 3rd graders and rising 5th and 6th graders.

FEF is hosting two summer camps at the CTE Center:

Mindbender Academy: Open to rising middle school students
Entrepreneurship Track with One I/E: Open to rising fourth through sixth graders

Both camps will run June 1-4, 2026. Mindbender Academy costs $200 per session, while the Entrepreneurship Track costs $250 for the week.

Sign me up: Registration is already open the FEF website.

Visit the FEF website for the link and more information about each camp.
Email FEF with any questions.

Athletic Information

Track & Soccer Schedules (Click Here)

Boys Athletics (Track)

Track - Coach Howe | Coach Henderson | Coach Swanberg |Coach Williams

Boys Athletics (Soccer)

7th Grade - Coach Swanberg | Coach Henderson

8th Grade - Coach Swanberg | Coach Henderson

Track & Soccer Schedules (Click Here)

Girls Athletics (Track)

Track - Coach Park | Coach Near | Coach Oberst | Coach Garcia

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 talent: Talent is natural aptitude or skill.

Our inspirational quote for the week:

"Last night at the District Track Meet, our Vandeventer athletes stepped up and competed against 17 schools, and they showed exactly what we stand for.

Our 7th grade athletes led the way with pride. Damir I. dominated the long jump, bringing home a gold medal. JonWoo C. rose to the challenge and earned a silver medal in the high jump. Our 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams—Damir I. Samuel C., Anson L., Richard A., and JonWoo C. fought hard and secured bronze medals in both events.

On the 8th grade side, Brady W. set the tone with a gold medal performance in the 110 hurdles, and Alex E. showed his strength by earning gold in the shot put.

This is what it looks like to compete the right way. Discipline. Character. The right attitude.

Vandeventer showed up, competed, and made a statement. We are very proud of them.

Please congratulate these athletes!"

Coach Sims, Boys Athletic Coordinator

"Congratulations to all of our athletes who competed in the District Track Meet! We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and the way they represent our program. When you see these athletes, please congratulate them on a season well done."

Coach Park, Girls Athletic Coordinator

7th Grade Results:

· Autumn – 2400m, 6th place

· Olivia P. – Shot Put, 4th place

· Tina – 100m Hurdles, 5th place

· Aubrey – 100m, 1st place

· Aubrey – 200m, 2nd place

· Aubrey – 400m, 2nd place

· Olivia L. – 300m Hurdles, 8th place

· Autumn – 2400m, 7th place

8th Grade Results:

· Cece – 2400m, 2nd place

· Adesha – High Jump, 1st place

· Adesha – Triple Jump, 1st place

· Anna – Discus, 4th place

· Blake – Triple Jump, 5th place

· Makenna – High Jump, 5th place

· Cece – 800m, 8th place

· 4x200 Relay – 8th place

· Jamiyah – 400m, 8th place

· Jasiya – 300m Hurdles, 8th place

· Kenzie – 300m Hurdles, 7th place

· Cece – 1600m, 3rd place

· 4x400 Relay – 7th place

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:

April – Electives & Fine Arts

We look forward to sharing the incredible teaching and learning taking place at Vandeventer each and every day!

In Academy Connect, teachers designed a Career Exploration Unit using the 5E instructional model to provide students with an engaging, real-world learning experience. The 5E Instructional Model is an inquiry-based approach that promotes deeper understanding by guiding students through the phases of engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation.

Prior to this lesson, students completed interest, aptitude, and strengths assessments and explored a variety of careers and the pathways to achieve them. Many students expressed an interest in law-related careers, so to extend their learning, they generated thoughtful questions for our School Resource Officer, Officer Harris. Officer Harris visited the classes and shared his educational and professional journey, provided insight into a typical day in his role, and facilitated an open question-and-answer session. Students had the opportunity to engage in a hands-on experience by exploring some of the gear he uses in his daily work.

This interactive experience allowed students to make meaningful connections between their personal interests, their research, and real-world career pathways.

8th grade ILA students are bringing their fiction literature circle protagonists to life—one Croc charm at a time! For this project, students designed a Croc shoe and four original "Jibbitz," representing their character’s Setting, Personality, Conflict, and Symbolism.

Each design is paired with a written justification, requiring students to think creatively and apply their knowledge about their character. These "Character Crocs" offer a unique window into the books we’ve been reading!

Health & Wellness Committee Sponored Walk & Talk

PBIS Committeee: Quarterly Staff PRIDE Awards

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.

Change to YouTube Approvals

As part of our ongoing commitment to student online safety, as of 3/13/26 staff members will no longer have the ability to approve YouTube videos for student viewing. Important Note: age-appropriate, education-based YouTube videos are already approved for student viewing. Should a teacher vet an age-appropriate video aligned to curriculum expectations that is not currently approved for student viewing they should submit the IIQ block/unblock ticket. See your DLC for support.

Library News

Recognitions

March

3-3 Courtney Lillie

3-4 Joseph Guzman

3-4 Taylor Colvin

3-8 Kayla Madler

3-12 Holly Franks

3-31 Cory Sims

Amber Sharp

February Teacher of the Month

Lauren Wagner

February Staff Member of the Month

Staff Shout Outs (Administrartion)

This shout-out goes to Laura Llamas-Crouch: "Thank you for your genuine care and compassion—not only for our students, but for our staff as well. Your kindness truly makes a difference in our campus community!" Brad Helenberger

This shout-out goes to Coach Sims, Coach Park, and Coach Oberst: "Thank you for your quick coordination and immediate response to core calls. Your support makes a huge difference—we couldn’t do it without you!" Dennis Thorpe

his shout-out goes to Jackson Garcia and Asjely Gracia: "Thank you for the way you both addressed social/emotional concerns this week with care and empathy! Thanks for being a safe place for our students." Lauren Wagner

This shout-out goes to Blythe Edwards, Laci Storz, and Stephanie Crider: "STAAR time is a crazy time...thank you for taking on the monumental task of testing our SLC students. We know it can be challenging, but your dedication, patience, and commitment to supporting our students through the process does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do!" Stephanie Taylor

This shout-out goes to Coach Near: "Thanl you for always raidating positive vibes...it's contagious:)" Marla Smith

Staff Shout Outs (Staff)

This shout-out goes to Emily Seidl: "Thank you for stepping in during my 2nd Period on the Thursday before Spring Break." Arun Bose-Kar

This shout-out goes to Sarah Santibanez: "Thanks for completing a last-minute teacher inventory on a new student--it is very much appreciated!" Jamie Buzan

This shout-out goes to Magali Lopez: "Thank you for going above & beyond to help me with a student and her family this week. You are a true asset to our school and we SO lucky to have you here at Vandy! <3" Leanne Rainey

VMS Campus Calender

Staff Calendar 22-23.docx

What's Happening?

7th Grade Student, Adya A., Advances to Texas Science & Engineering Fair

An Apple a Day Keeps Skin Cancer Away: First Place in Category

Not many appreciate the amount of harm that UV does to the human skin. The UV rays released by the Sun can cause severe damage to unprotected human skin, leading to genetic mutations and eventually cancer. Artificial sunscreens are known to absorb into the skin and cause hormonal disruptions. Not only that, it can also negatively impact the symbiotic algae in coral reefs, causing bleaching. An organic alternative to chemical sunscreens would be the ideal solution to this problem. Melanin produced in the human skin is a potent natural sunscreen. However, the amount of melanin varies from person to person. In fruits, melanin is produced to protect the fruit from rotting after cell damage through a different chemical process versus human skin. This investigation will test the effectiveness of melanin produced in apples as a sunscreen. Can melanin produced by apples act as an effective sunscreen?

🎶 Viking Shoutout: Symphonic Winds Success! 🎶

We are proud to celebrate our Symphonic Winds for representing Vandeventer beautifully at their UIL assessment! The group earned superior ratings from the judges—an incredible accomplishment that reflects their growth, dedication, and hard work throughout this process.

These students took on a challenging program and rose to every expectation with focus, determination, and pride—truly embodying what it means to be a Viking. Their preparation and commitment were evident in every moment of their performance, and they represented our campus with excellence both musically and professionally.

A special thank you to Mrs. Jadvani for her continued leadership and dedication to our students. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping them grow as musicians and achieve this level of success.

We also appreciate the ongoing encouragement and support of our band program—your support truly makes a difference for our students! 🎺 Mr. Guzman, Band Director

Celebrating Our Academic UIL Participants!

Snack Cart Day is Always a Good Day

End-of-Year Award Ceremony Details

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