Our last day of school is Wednesday, June 17th and students will be released by 11:55am. There will be last day activities for students. This is our opportunity to celebrate another successful year at VMMS. Here is more information! ---------- Our Speech and Debate Team competed in the Del Mar Fair Oratorical competition against other middle schools. JP won 3rd place! ---------- Our school Yearbook won 1st place in the Del Mar Fair Yearbook Competition. Way to go! There was some tough competition. Way to go! ---------- Our 2nd Annual Kick ball Game was won by our Teachers. Our Teachers rallied in the last inning to kick in the winning run. Our students did a great job in preparing for the game and being good sports. ---------- Summer Reading information will be provided to students who are currently with VMMS through their Language Arts/Social Studies classes. Incoming 6th grade students will have their information mailed to them. READ & REFLECT! ---------- Did you know that our 6th grade students are beginning their swim unit today. Here is an information letter for parents. ---------- Our Black and White Ninjas board game won their category in Games for Families at the Sally Ride ToyChallenge National competition in Alexandria, Virginia. Our team of students made up of three girls and three boys were very excited to win their category out of 15 teams. The competition was fierce and in the end our students prevailed. ---------- Ready for a Swim a Thon? This is another opportunity to help our Physical Education program to expand and improve their tools for success. We are excited about having our students participate in such an event. Here is more information. ---------- Did you know that your student needs to complete 3 community service events each year? Check out a VMMS community service sponsored event for next Saturday, April 25th. Also, check this week (April 20-24) for an event opportunity at lunch with Mrs. Wright (Girls PE substitute). ---------- Our Sally Ride ToyChallenge Team needs your help with fundraising as the countdown to their trip to compete in D.C. nears (May 14, 2009). Check out how you can help! ---------- We are excited to announce that our very own team of 7th grade students made the National competition for the Sally Ride Toychallenge. We are in need of your support. We need to fundraise a total of $5,000 in order to make the trip on Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17. ----------
While we are on spring break, we anticipate that our students and parents recharge their batteries as we get ready to return and finish the year focused and strong. We are very excited about our students progress but we have much work to do. Our planning for the 2009-2010 school year has begun and are excited about completing our school with all three grade levels.
See you back on Monday, April 13, 2009! ---------- Our 2nd Social was a big success! It was deemed "March Maddness" and our students had the opportunity to have a DJ, food, games and overall fun. We are looking forward to another one at the end of the year that would include some swimming and field games. Pictures to come! ---------- We still have seats available for students coming from Madison, Roosevelt and out of district areas. Contact us for more information! ---------- We are getting closer to becoming an IBMYP certified school. Our consultant will be on our campus Tuesday, April 28 & Wednesday, April 29. This is a big event for us and could be the last stepping stone on a program that we have been building since our inception. We will be calling parents, students and community members to help us explore the program with our consultant. ---------- We had a very successful Parent Conference session with parents and students. As with any student, if you do the following daily you will at least provide your student with some successful tools:
*Check your child's student planner and reinforce that they should have written and specific classroom tasks on a daily basis. *The subject composition books are critical to ensure that your child has all the notes provided during class in order to review for either homework or assessments. *Make sure that they stay ORGANIZED! If their backpack, binder and any folders are organized they will be able to find any resources or assignments.
---------- Our first application period (ended March 6, 2009) for incoming students has been a great success. Our pool of applicants turned in as of the first application period was over 230 incoming 6th grade students for 200 seats. We are very excited about the turn out. We do still have seats for any student coming from the Roosevelt, Madison or out of the district area. Our lotto was conducted and all students. ---------- Our "March Madness Social" is coming in a couple of weeks. Our students and staff are excited about this great social event. ---------- Our very own Mrs. Jennifer Eckle earns the VUSD Middle School Golden Apple Winner for 2009. She is now off to the San Diego County competition. Way to GO!
---------- Please remember the bell schedule for this week is shorten for Tuesday, March 10th and Thursday, March 12th. We will have Parent Conferences this week and teachers have decided to meet with families who are in need of additional help to make sure their child is successful. Teachers will contact families personally. ---------- Attention 7th grade parents: Mrs. Franklin has returned from her personal leave and will have updated Digital Arts grades in the coming weeks. If you have any questions please contact her. ---------- Did you move your clocks ahead? Don't forget that the time has changed by one hour ahead. ---------- Attention 7th grade families. Please make sure to return your Family Life forms and if you have any questions to contact Mrs. Kenney for more information. ---------- Our Application Period 1 has ended and we are excited about our applicants. We will call all applicants on Thursday, March 12th and Friday, March 13th. We did receive over 240 applications for 200 seats. We do still have seats available for students who's home middle school will be Madison and Roosevelt. ---------- On Tuesday, March 3, 2009 our 7th grade students will be taking the CST writing test and our teachers are calling the day the "BIG GAME" in rooting for all of their efforts. Our make up for any student will be only on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. --------- We had some great turnouts at the following Elementary Schools this month of February: Casita Hannalei Monte Vista Maryland Grapevine Breeze Hill Foothill Oak Olive Alamosa Beaumont Lake Temple Heights Crestview --------- Our current students were great in providing first hand accounts on their experiences at VMMS and our great teachers rotated through each presentation to provide parents and students the same thoughts.
We are still accepting applications in this last week of the first application cycle.
--------- We also had our first discussion to begin a VMMS Foundation. This meeting was well attended by parents, staff and will include students. -------- Last weeks Math Club Souplantation Night was a success. Our teachers and complete VMMS staff is very grateful for the communities support. ---------- We will be off on Friday, January 16, 2008 while teachers work on SMART Goals and Data Analysis. Also, next week will be a short week for students. We will be off on Monday, January 19th and Friday, 23rd. Our school will have the regular schedule for Tuesday, Wednesday (Early Release 2:00pm), and Thursday. ---------- PTA RUMMAGE SALE - Sunday, 1/25 7:00 ? 11:00 in school parking lot (corner of the parking lot nearest the intersection of Vista Way and Escondido). Volunteers will begin setting up at 5:30 AM. Donations can be dropped off on the following days in the Donations dropped off on the following days in the corner of the parking lot nearest the intersection of Vista Way and Escondido
--Tuesday, 1/20 8:00 - 9:30 AM --Friday, 1/23 8:00 - 10:00 AM
We will be sorting and will need plenty of help. Students welcome with their parents. Mrs. Eckle will offer community service credit for students. ---------- Have you seen the recent article about our Middle-schoolers learning the art of debate in the North County Times?
---------- Our ASB is providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their Entrepreneurship through 1st annual Expo and our registration is important for all students to read carefully to be able to participate in this event. ---------- This Friday, December 5th is the final day for collecting canned goods. Please encourage your students to bring in what they can. As I've mentioned before, the organization we are donating currently serves of 200 homeless kids, including some students at our site. Thank you to the teachers that have encouraged their students by having them record it in their planners or motivating them with table points. Your efforts are appreciated.
---------- ASB has been fundraising with Spas for Cause. If you haven't heard about it from a student yet, ASB students are selling spa packages to local spas at a hugely discounted price. For $65, you will receive four visits to a designated spa (valued at $300). Up through this Friday, ASB will receive $20 for each purchase, and $15 after that. All the details can be found at the following link: http://spasforacause.com/catalog/
---------- Vista Magnet Middle School will be participating in the Vista Winter Parade this Saturday, December 6, 2008 in downtown Vista at 1 p.m. The VMMS Drama Club will have a float and performers to celebrate this year's "green" environmental theme. Come to support VMMS and our Drama Club. ----------
VIPER Families have a great break and recharge those batteries! See you Monday, December 1st. ---------- This was a busy week with many things going on for students and staff. On the right side of the site you will find pictures of our amazing Speech and Debate Club at the Barnes and Noble Oceanside store. Our student led conferences were an amazing experience for all of our students and parents.
The VMMS teachers attended the Vista High Honors Summit and was amazed with the experience. We are preparing our teachers and students for the future!
We wish you a great holiday break. ---------- Tuesday and Thursday will be releasing students at 1:00pm. These two days will be our parent conference scheduled times. All middle schools are meeting these two days with their parents in order to make that home to school connection. At VMMS, we hold student led conferences. Our purpose is to have the student lead the discussions. Our teachers will facilitate the students conversation with their parents. This Wednesday we will release at the regular time of 2:00pm. ---------- The VMMS Speech and Debate Club is putting on a presentation from Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA. This Barnes and Noble Fundraiser is from 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Please stop by to stop in and shop. A percent of all sales from 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. will be donated to VMMS. ---------- On Monday we will kick off our canned food drive. Students (and teachers) have all week to bring in canned food items. We've set the goal for this year at 1000 cans. Students can be encouraged to drop off their canned food with Anna in the nurse's office before school or at the beginning of first period. All food items will be donated to North County Solutions for Change, a group that works with homeless families and helps them transition into housing and finding work. They currently service approximately 200 children, including some students that attend our school. If you could please promote this drive by discussing it in class and asking students to write it in their planner it would be greatly appreciated.If you have any questions, ideas, of feedback feel free to email me, Mrs. Eckle. ---------- We want to thank all of our parents for supporting us with our Turkey Trot. It was a warm day and our great leader Mrs. Kenney was great with providing students with music through the help from our nurse Mrs. Weirather, our PE Teacher Mr. Wagner and our wonderful parent volunteers. Great job! We are still counting our donations and hope that this will keep us from continuing to support our sports and PE program. Our first round of benchmarks have taken place in both 6th and 7th grade Language Arts, Social Science and Math. Please speak with your child on their results and encourage them to work on improving their knowledge of the state standards as we work toward the May 2008 statewide CST exam. ---------- Have you heard about the Great Southern California Shake Out? This statewide drill will be taking place on November 13, 2008 at 10:00am. Two weeks ago our teachers practiced and will direct students on that day. ---------- We had an amazing experience with our first Harvest Social! Our students had a great experience and we are looking forward to the next social which will take place in February, 2009. ---------- The Harvest Social will take place October 30 from 3:45 - 5:30pm. ASB and drama club are sponsoring this exciting event, which will include a spooky stake, a dj/dancing, photos with friends, a food court, a prize wheel, Halloween crowns, temporary tattoos, and great memories with friends. Students may pre-order entry bracelets and tickets up until October 28 by turning in their money and order forms to their 1st period teachers. If your child needs another order form, they can stop by the office or download the flyer at the ASB website. In order to support student activities, ASB is currently hosting a fundraiser called Spas for a Cause. Find out more by visiting the ASB website.
---------- Our Shoes of Hope was a fantastic success! We were able to have all of our students partner with each other and paint a pair of shoes to be later sent to another country in need. ---------- We will be participating in Shoes of Hope next week. On Monday, 20th ? 6th grade students will paint their shoes during 8th period. On Tuesday, 21st ? 7th grade students will paint their shoes during 8th period.
Students will each be in charge of painting 1 shoe and will need to work with a partner to create a matching pair. This was a great event last year, and we?re looking forward to another successful community service opportunity for our students. Additional questions can be directed to Mrs. Eckle. Thanks so much for your support!
---------- Please join all of VUSD at the 5th annual Festival of the Arts on Saturday, October 25th at the Vista Village Center. VMMS will be represented with the Shoes of Hope. ---------- Today (Wednesday, October 15, 2008), we celebrated our 7th graders accomplishments from last year. Our PTA worked hard to buy and organize our Hamburger Celebration today! We are excited about the year to come! ---------- We are extending our Shoes of Hope donation request. Please continue to donate shoes in order to assist our students in participating in this community service program. ---------- Mr. V's 1 mile challenge...it is time to announce that I am challenging all the 7th graders. I bet that I can have a higher percentage of a decrease in my mile run than the entire 7th grade class. I cut my hair short again in order to send the message to the 7th graders that it is time to step up to the challenge! ---------- We are preparing to represent VMMS at this years Arts Festival. In preparation for this event, we are requesting that you donate canvass shoes to our school in order to provide our students with an opportunity to participate in the Shoes of Hope during the 2nd week of October. ---------- Tomorrow, Saturday, VMMS will be participating in VISTONS ROC and we will have our own house. Pictures will soon be posted!
---------- We had two very good meetings yesterday. Our School Site Council met with success and our ELAC meeting provided with great discussions regarding grades and work habits. ---------- Do you think it is too early to think about College options for your middle school student? It is far from the TRUTH! The U.S. Department of Education has designed a wonderful site that can provide you with information on the various post secondary options. Check it out! ---------- Our Volleyball and Football teams have been selected. Please make sure to support our campus by encouraging our teams to play with Character. ---------- Learning Labs have begun and if you receive a letter from the school then you must send your child either before or after school. Students were recommended by their Language Arts and Math teachers. Labs meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Labs do not meet on Wednesday's. ---------- Have you joined our PTA yet? Don't miss out on this opportunity to support our students! ---------- Our very own Mrs. Jacobsen is being "saluted" by the San Diego Office of Education along with other San Diego County Teachers. This yearly event will be televised. Please join me in congratulating her! She even was in the Union Tribune this past Sunday. ---------- Please read a great article by Stacy Brandt from North County Times. He really did a great job telling the story of our campus. --------- We will be releasing students this Wednesday, September 17th at 12:00pm. It is an early release day for K-8 Schools in VUSD. Please plan to be here by on time in order to have our teachers work on instructional strategies. ---------- Each year the City of Vista takes over a deserving neighborhood to help revitalize 20-30 homes. This event is called Vistans R.O.C. Last year VMMS teachers and families partnered with Rancho Buena Vista for this rewarding experience. This year Vista Magnet will sponsor our own home. The event takes places on October 4 from 8am to 4pm. This is a family community service opportunity, which means in order for a student to participate, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Also, we are limited to 25 volunteers, so we will accept permission slips until all the spaces are full. Mrs. Eckle will hold a short informational meeting about for those interested in attending this Tuesday, September 16 at 3:45 in room 400. Permission slips and waivers will be passed out at this time. If your child is unable to attend the meeting, they can pick up the forms from Mrs. Eckle on Wednesday. We look forward to sharing this wonderful and rewarding experience with you! ---------- Beginning this Wednesday our 7th grade students will not have Spanish, instead they will spend 60 minutes in PE. This will be a weekly occurrence. Ms. Markana will then teach small groups of students through our Academic Reading Program. We attribute our success last year to the literacy focus on our campus.
It is important that you check your child's planner daily and also make sure that weekly they write the Words of the Week (WOW). ---------- Yes, it is true. We have earned an API of 871 and do in fact have the highest in VUSD. Though there was a small error by the state in categorizing us as an Elementary, we are in fact a middle school with current 6th and 7th graders. We will grow into 8th grade next year. I will pay my debt to our 7th grade students at Back to School Night next Thursday. ---------- Our lunch time sports intramural have begun with the great coordination by Coach Wagner. If you are interested make sure to stop by the large board on the blacktop for more information. Do not forget that tomorrow will be our Early Release Wednesday. We will be releasing students at 2:00pm. --------- We are happy to announce that we do have some limited spots for 6th and 7th grade students, if interested. Please contact us for more information. ---------- We will be looking for one additional position per category for our School Site Council. We are also currently organizing our competitive VIPER Sports. ---------- The final day of our first week ended with much momentum. Below you will find the Word of the Week list. This helps you understand that we expect our students to use the words weekly in their classrooms and outside. You may find me quizzing students as they enter the campus. Also, do not forget that Tuesday we will begin to dress out for PE. Have a great weekend! ----------
Our fourth day went very well. Our students have been involved with practicing our Essential Questions. Please ask your child about these Essential Questions. This concept is truly what drives our instruction. You may have noticed that our students have a planner and it is in Spanish and English. These planners were chosen for the purpose of our IBMYP program. Please use it as a reference. ---------- Our third day was great! It did go very fast! I am very impressed with our students confidence and energy in their classes. We do have some updates to the student planner. Our Back to School Nights will be as follows:
Wednesday, September 10th--6th Grade 5:00pm to 6:00pm Food will be sold by PTA 6:00-8:00 program begins
Thursday, September 11th--7th Grade (Mr. V rewards students for their CST scores) 5:00pm to 6:00pm Food will be sold by PTA 6:00-8:00 program begins
Monday, September 15th--Make Up Pictures during lunch in the gym ---------- Our second day was fantastic. Our lunch lines were minimal with some computer problems but we are working get out the bugs from the system. Our students look fantastic in their collar shirts, using their school planner and composition books. Our afternoon pick up has improved with families making alternative plans to pick up their students. Thank you parents for your support! Let us see what tomorrow brings. ---------- Our first day went very well. It was a smooth start to an exciting second year at our VMMS campus. We open the gate in the morning at 8:00am and pick up of students occurs after school at 3:33pm, except on Wednesday's. Our cafeteria had a computer snafu and we were delayed slightly today but all students had the opportunity to eat. Make sure to get your combination lock by next Monday. We will dress out each day this year and for the 7th graders, prepare them for the upcoming California fitness test. I absolutely enjoyed seeing students wearing their collar shirts, using their student planners and composition books. Many of you have been anxious about our CST test scores. We are very excited about the preliminary results. Much cannot be shared but you may see newspapers cover the state wide data beginning August 15, 2008. The API score will be disclosed on August 29, 2008, according to the CDE. ----------
TOP 10 things to remember for the first day of school (Monday, 8/25):
1st day of school is Monday, August 25th.
School begins at 8:55 and ends at 3:33 p.m.
The gate to enter campus will open at 8:00am.
Bring your student planner. (provided at registration)
Bring your student id card. (provided at registration)
School meals are: breakfast $1.25 lunch $2.50
Dressing out for PE will not occur until the 2nd week of school.
Your student will need to bring a combination lock for their PE locker on the 2nd week of school.
HAVE FUN!
If you or your child was unable to attend orientation please send information with your child:
2 verification of residence information
Completed Emergency Card
Internet Permission Form
Media Release Form
Insurance (yes or no)
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I know many of you have heard about the bell schedule change for middle schools to an earlier time. VMMS is committed to beginning at the same time as the other middle schools, only if, they begin in the 8:00am hour. If not, we will offer a schedule in the 8:00am hour. In short, we will not have our students begin school in the 7:00am hour. A final decision will take place at the July board meeting. ---------- We have completed our lottery selection of our incoming 6th grade participants for this summers Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering camp! Congratulations to all. We cannot wait to see you later in July. ---------- ATTENTION-ATTENTION! VMMS students have been invited to CSU San Marcos Writing Summer Project, July 21 through August 1. The deadline is this Friday, June 27th! Here is the application, CSUSM Writing Project Application. ---------- We still are accepting applications for incoming 6th and 7th graders. Our office will be open through June.