Van Devender Middle

Hello Vandy Families! This year, we are proud to announce that we will once again be offering CLUB VANDY after school activities to all students at Vandevender Middle School. This opportunity is offered through a grant in partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg. Each 9 weeks, we will offer a variety of afterschool activities to allow your student the opportunity for enrichment, socialization, and learning in a safe and fun environment. This nine weeks’ club choices include: · Soccer · Homework Help · Gardening / Herbalism Club · Make-up / Beauty Club · Art Club · History through the musical Hamilton · Flow Art (Hooping, etc.) · Computer Coding Club · Brain Games / Puzzles Club · Meditation / Mindfulness / Relaxation Club Students will go down after school, be provided a snack, then be dismissed with their teacher to their individual club. Following our club time, a bus will arrive to transport students to the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg for a huge variety of available activities and they will be fed dinner. You may choose to pick up your student from the Boys & Girls Club, you can pick up your student at 4:15 from Vandevender, or they may walk home from Vandevender at 4:15 with permission from you in written form. Applications will be available for your student beginning Monday, November 2. If you have any questions you may call the school and ask to speak to Mr. Craig or e-mail him at dennis.craig@k12.wv.us.

We are currently having sign-ups for the following Sports: • 6th Grade Girls Basketball • 6th Grade Boys Basketball • 7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball • 7th/8th Grade Boys Basketball • Wrestling Sports sign ups will be in the following locations. • Main Cafeteria Entrance • Whiteboard in the Gym • Table outside of the Art Room • Table by 6th grade Boy’s bathroom • Table by 7th Graded Boy’s bathroom • Table by Mr. Craig’s room (8th Grade Hallway) WVSSAC Physicals are required before a student athlete can participate. The WVSSAC Physical form can be picked up at the school or you can download it on the WVSSAC website. https://www.wvssac.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Student-Athlete-Physical-Exam-Form-2020.pdf Remember that the title is STUDENT athlete. Academics are the number 1 priority. Students must maintain a passing grade point average in order to play sports. Tryout times and Dates will be posted at a later date.

Wood County Schools—4 days in person will start according to the dates below. Friday’s will be remote. If you do not want to send your child 4 days, you can do Schoology full time. (5 days) There is also a Virtual School option for elementary—it’s a different program. Elementary 11/9 Middle 11/16 High 11/30

Girls basketball tryouts will start the week of November 2nd. Boys basketball and Wrestling tryouts will start the week of November 9th. WVSSAC physicals are required before any student athlete can tryout. Please contact the school with any questions.

Yearbooks for last years 8th graders were sent to PHS today to make it easier for students to pick up. Please check with PHS if you were an 8th grader last year and you purchased a yearbook. Spread the word to these students so they can pick them up as we do not have a way to contact them.

Water bottles: This is a reminder for students to bring their own water bottles with them to school. We have several water bottle refill stations throughout the school for students to refill during the day. The donated water from 7-Eleven is almost gone so it is extremely important for students to remember their own water bottles.

Official WVSSAC announcement: Due to the current state-wide Metrics Map, the Middle School Cross Country Meet scheduled for tomorrow (October 20) in Doddridge County, has been cancelled. The Middle School Cross Country season is now officially over..

Yearbooks have been delivered to the school and will be sent home this week if the student is attending school. Everyone else who ordered a yearbook will need to call the school to arrange pickup. Please spread the word to last years 8th graders as we do not have a way to get in contact with them.

Van Devender would like to thank 7-Eleven on Emerson avenue for kindly donating school supplies and bottled water to our students. This is greatly appreciated and will be put to good use. Please thank the wonderful staff at this 7-Eleven location if you happen to be in the store.

Hello Vandy Families!! Student Council applications are available outside of Mr. Tupitza’s room on the round table for all 6, 7, and 8th graders to pick up, fill out and return to teachers!! There is a section for parent and student signatures! Due Thursday Oct. 15th. 💙

If you didn't receive your Schoology parent code feel free to call the school tomorrow and we can give it to you over the phone.

Schoology Parent Codes were sent out this week. Please check with your student if you have not received it. If your student did not provide you the log in information you can contact the school and we can help you get set up. We also have a Schoology help desk available every day. Our Schoology contact person is Mrs. Katy Sprouse. You can email her at kathleen.sprouse@k12.wv.us or you can call her at 304-893-1922. Her help desk hours run between 3:30pm-5:30pm.

Tentative Picture Days: Monday November 16th A-K Brick and Mortar students. Thursday November 19th L-Z Brick and Mortar students. Tuesday January 5th Virtual School student pictures and retakes. Dates are subject to change.

We were able to get a replacement game for our Football team Thursday evening. We will be traveling to Roane County to play against Spencer Middle School at Roane County High School. Kick-off is at 6:30pm. Direct household members and Grandparents can attend. Tickets need to be purchased through coach Dennis Craig.

The Football game against Tyler on Thursday September 24th has been cancelled due to COVID restrictions on their end. We are looking for a potential make up game.

The last day to drop virtual school and return to brick and mortar school will be October 2nd. After this date, virtual students will be locked into virtual school until the end of the semester. Please contact the school if you have any questions.

Our first home volleyball game is tomorrow September 16th. We have a maximum seating allowance of 60 total. This includes seating for the visiting team. Only direct family members living with the player are allowed to attend due to WVSSAC rules. If we go over 60 we will need to turn people away at the door. Everyone in attendance must wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Limited concessions will be available during the event. Please contact the school with questions.

Update on food bags: Starting tomorrow (September 10) at Vandy our cooks will be preparing food bags for all of our students. These food bags can be picked up by any student at the end of the day as they walk out of the building. They are available for all students and are free.

This is a reminder that the 2020-2021 school year will begin on Tuesday, September 8th for students with last names beginning with L-Z. On Wednesday, September 9th, students with last names A-K will report to school. Due to Monday being Labor Day, students with last names A-K will report Friday, September 11th as well. Please visit the Wood County Schools website, and then click “2020-2021 Re-entry Summarization” for more details. Our re-entry schedule has not changed since being published. Students will attend school on a Blended-Model of instruction for 3 weeks, which is our Yellow Schedule, or until proper procedures, protocols, and new standards have been taught and implemented. Also, please do not confuse yourself with the WVDE color-coded map. The map is used as one of many tools to drive local decisions for our school system. As mentioned in previous communications, we will closely monitor the data each day to make well-informed and deliberate decisions, while keeping safety as the top priority for our students and employees. Over the last six months, we have worked diligently and methodically to create a well-rounded plan for re-entry. I’m sure we have not thought about every issue that may arise - please be patient as we work through making adjustments, changing protocols or procedures, and seeking feedback from our stakeholders to make this school year a great success. Although not a requirement, I am asking each student to bring their own mask and bottle of water on the first day of school. This will help expedite first day procedures and practices for our schools as they begin teaching expected behaviors for the year. Students will receive a Wood County mask on the first day and will be expected to possess and use it on a continual basis as we navigate through a new normal for our school system. We are so excited to see your children in our schools once again. We have greatly missed their presence the last six months. As always, make sure to Wear a mask, Watch your distance, and Wash your hands. To view our first WCS Newsletter, please click https://tinyurl.com/yxbaddej Have a safe and wonderful Holiday weekend.

Important Notes about the opening of school: All Students will enter door 21 which is located by the main parking lot at the side of the building. Students will receive their schedules on their first day of school. A staff member will direct each grade level where to go when they enter the building. Social Distancing will be maintained. Designated areas are marked in our gym and cafeteria which will help keep students stay 6 feet apart. Masks will be required by all students and staff in the school building. Students can wear their own masks. A mask will be provided to each student as the enter the school building on their first day of school. No outside food or drink will be allowed into the building. Students are allowed to bring a cold lunch and a water bottle. Students cannot eat food from their cold lunch until their assigned lunch period. No sharing of items from their cold lunch with others. Water bottles can be kept with students during the day and will be allowed to be refilled at designated times. Water is the only thing permitted to be in the water bottle. Deliveries to students will not be permitted. This includes food deliveries and gift deliveries. We do understand that student forget items from time to time. Essential items can be dropped off but must be done through the main office. iPads are to be brought to school every day the student is assigned to attend. Please make sure that the iPad is charged so it can be immediately used when coming to school. Students should not be using their iPads in the hallways when they are transitioning from class to class. They are a distraction in the hallways and may cause students to bump into each other which is an issue when we are trying to maintain social distancing. Backpacks are allowed but will need to be placed in lockers prior to going to the students first class. Zip up binders are permitted to be carried with students throughout the day. Students should not keep their iPads in their zip up binders as it has been known to damage the iPads. We want to prevent damage to iPads as this will be the main tool students use in their education. Cell phones, Smart Watches and other devices will not be allowed during the school day. These devices should be left in lockers. The only device a student should have is their county assigned iPad. Breakfast will be served to all students during their first class. Remember no outside food or drink are allowed in the building other than their cold lunch and water bottle. Each grade level will have a different lunch period. Only essential visitors will be allowed into the school building. Visitors will be screened and sent to a designated area. Visitors must wear a face covering and they will not be allowed in the school’s common areas such as the lunch room, gym or classrooms. Our 6th Grade teachers will be having an orientation for the new 6th graders to help them know where they need to go and what they need to do on their first day.