Don't forget tonight's Early College Information Meeting in the HS Library at 6PM!
Hope to see everyone at our first 'Listen and Learn' with Superintendent Lowder at 6pm in the high school cafeteria on Tuesday, April 4th. Light refreshments will be provided.
Hello Vandercook Lake!
We are embarking on a Listen and Learn 2023 community engagement process.
The premise of the Listen and Learn: WE ARE VANDY! process is straightforward: No one knows better the strengths and celebrations, the challenges and areas for improvement, dreams, and hopes for the future, than those individuals who live, work, and bring their children to attend the Vandercook Lake Public Schools every day. The desired outcome of Listen & Learn 2023 is to better understand our Vandercook Lake community, and to align our school district improvement work with the direction, the needs, and the aspirations of our students, parents, staff, and community.
Between now and the end of this 22-23 school year, I, along with the Board of Education (BOE), will be visiting and engaging with students, parents, staff and community members in both of our school buildings as well as speaking with our virtual program families in various other meetings with district and community groups across the Vandercook Lake Community. In addition, all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage via social media and with the Thought Exchange online conversational tool.
In these meetings, we will facilitate a conversation around four critical questions:
What do we celebrate in our schools and across the Vandercook Lake Public Schools?
Where do you see our opportunities for improvement?
As we consider our future, what do we want and dream for our students and our schools in the Vandercook Lake community?
What else do we need to know and understand?
I hope that you will join us in sharing your thoughts about our Vandercook Lake Public Schools in our first face-to-face meeting in the Vandercook Lake Andrews Campus Cafeteria on TUESDAY, APRIL 4th at 6:00PM.. We will have community group meetings, online via the Thought Exchange online conversation tool, and through various social media events via Twitter and Facebook Live. Your voice is important, and we need to hear from you.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this VLPS community dialogue. We need to better understand, as a community, the specific steps we can take to extend and enhance the quality for which Vandercook Lake was, and in some instances, still is, well known.
We can do better and this conversation will illuminate the ways we can grow together. We have important work to accomplish together – our children are counting on us.
Sincerely,
Tre Lowder
Superintendent, Vandercook Lake Public Schools
No School March 24-April 2. We'll see everyone back on April 3rd. Enjoy your Spring Break!
Varsity cheer members read to Townsend 2nd graders today for March Reading Month!
8th-11th graders are choosing their courses for next year. So many to choose from!
Algebra II students working in small groups on factoring quadratic equations.
Our Food Service Dept ROCKS! Fruit parfaits, fresh fruit and veggie bar, salads and deli sandwiches - everyday- for FREE! Not to mention all the delicious hot meals! New to the Al a cart menu- iced coffee! Vandy is the place to be!
We can't have a middle school movie night without the snacks! :)
Our MTD group (Most Teens Don't) participated in a great workshop today at the Career Center collaborating with peers from Jackson County.
Parents/Guardians- Don't miss out on your chance to hear Max Stossel talk about the effects social media has on your student! If you have a 6th-12th grader, this session is for you! Two opportunities, 3/13 at Parkside or 3/14 at Vandy HS. See flier below for details.
Due to the present road conditions and the forecast to continue to snow through 2 pm today VLPS will be closed today, 3/10/23. No school on Monday, 3/13/23. We'll see everyone back on the 14th!
Anatomy and physiology students completed a trial and error lab on the nervous system using puzzles, a timer, a data analysis sheet, and some friendly peer competition.
Dear Vandercook Lake Staff and Families,
On May 2, 2023, Jackson County Intermediate School District will have a question on the ballot regarding the Special Education Millage Renewal. In the Jackson County ISD service area, which includes our school district, voters will decide whether to renew the 1.5408-mill property tax millage that voters last approved in 2017. No new taxes are being proposed. This proposal sustains the current millage and funding through 2028.
This renewal would cost homeowners with a market value of $100,000 or a taxable value of $50,000, $77.04 per year or $6.42 per month. If approved, this renewal would generate approximately $8,800,000 for the 2023-24 school year, allowing the Jackson County ISD to reimburse public school districts and local public school academies for their unreimbursed, but mandated special education costs.
During the 2022-23 school year, this millage brought $376,207 to Vandercook Lake Public Schools. Without this reimbursement, our district would be tasked with generating that funding individually, which would have an impact on current programs and resources that are available through our general fund, impacting ALL students.
Every registered voter who lives in our school district, whether a property owner, or not, is eligible to vote.
For more information, to review frequently asked questions or view the ballot language, please visit the Jackson County ISD website at www.jcisd.org.
Thank you.
Blood Drive coming Monday, March 6th to Vandercook Lake! Schedule your appointment today! https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=VandercookLakeHS
Parents are invited to attend one of these sessions by Max Stossel regarding social media and your student. If you have a 6th-12th grader, you won't want to miss this workshop!
Hope to see you all at MS/HS Parent Teacher Conferences on March 9th, 3:30-6:00PM.
Our next evening Food Pantry and Jayhawk Exchange event for Vandercook Lake Student families is coming up. Please RSVP by 3/20 if you would like to take advantage of this evening opportunity.
As always the Food Pantry and Exchange can be visited on Wednesday's after school by appointment.
Blood Drive coming Monday, March 6th to Vandercook Lake! Schedule your appointment today!
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=VandercookLakeHS
It is with an abundance of caution that the Vandercook Lake Public Schools will be moving to a half day schedule Friday, March 3rd. With the most recent weather forecast, we feel it will be the best approach to getting students and staff home safely. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause for our families. All night activities will be canceled. Stay warm, stay dry, and most importantly, stay safe.
MS/HS dismiss at 11:00am
Townsend dismiss at 11:55am