Notes from Principal Zeman
August 25, 2023
Open House/ Pictures
It was a lot of fun having our 6th graders and WEB leaders in the building yesterday. We saw a lot of nerves, excitement and joy to come back to school. It was great to have so much fun energy in the building. We will welcome our teachers back on Monday and are excited to welcome families to Open House on Wednesday, August 30 from 4:00-7:00 pm. Student pictures will be taken during Open House. We are excited to get everyone into the building to get acclimated and ready for the school year.
Should you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. We value open communication and look forward to working closely with you to make this school year the best it can be.
Here's to a year filled with discovery, growth and shared achievements! I can't wait to see the smiles on our students' faces as they embark on this exciting educational journey.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to the school year!
Warm regards,
Michael Zeman, Principal
Amanda Ohlgren, Assistant Principal
Picture Day: ALL STUDENTS
School pictures are used for the yearbook and student IDs, so ALL students should get their picture taken.
A message from our new photography company:
We are Kemmetmueller Photography, your district’s school photography provider! We are a locally owned family business that has operated in the Greater Lake Minnesota area for over 50 years. We are one of the fastest-growing, independent photography companies in Minnesota and considered one of the largest, non-corporate studios in the Midwest. We look forward to working with you and photographing your upcoming picture days!
Click HERE for Picture Day Information.
Wednesday, Aug 30, 2023, 4:00 – 7:00 p
VandenBerge Middle School, Proctor Avenue Northwest, Elk River, MN, USA
Open House
We suggest the following staggered times:
4:00 - 6:00: 6th Graders and NEW 7th and 8th Graders
6:00 - 7:00: Returning 7th and 8th Graders
If the suggested time doesn’t work for your family, please come when it works best. Open House is a great opportunity for students to meet their teachers, pick up their schedule from their RALLY teacher, drop off supplies in their locker (as well as practice opening them) and get familiar with the building.
Wednesday, Aug 30, 2023, 4:00 – 7:00 p
VandenBerge Middle School, Proctor Avenue Northwest, Elk River, MN, USA
What to Expect at Open House
Check out your classrooms and walk through the building - maps will be available.
Find your locker and practice opening it. Check out our Locker Video for a quick tutorial. Phy Ed lockers will not be available during Open House.
Drop off your school supplies in your locker. Supplies for your homeroom teacher can be dropped off in your homeroom class.
Band lockers will be assigned during the first week of school. Please leave your instruments at home.
Office staff and our Health Services staff will be available for questions.
NEW!!!! Students will be getting SCHOOL PICTURES taken DURING OPEN HOUSE.
School Supply List
Parent Portal
ISD 728 provides Infinite Campus Portal to students and parents/guardians of students attending our schools. Campus Student (for students) and Campus Parent (for parents) allow you to better understand, monitor and participate in the educational process with real-time access to student information for the current school year. Parents and students can access announcements, assignments, absence reporting, attendance, bus routes, fees, lunch accounts, grades, report cards, schedules and more. Select options for receiving email communications from your school and connect with other systems like Schoology online student learning.
Address/Phone Number/Email Changes - Please log in to Campus Parent Portal to confirm your information is correct! Contact the counseling office at 763-241-3445 or email jennifer.eldredge@isd728.org if you need any changes made.
Campus Parent Portal usernames are the email address provided during registration. Passwords can be set or changed using the Forgot Password link on the Campus Portal login page. If having trouble accessing Campus Portal, please use the Parent Portal Support Request Form, call 763-241-3548 or email parentportal@isd728.org to request assistance.
Cell Phones
Staff and students alike report that cell phones are a major distraction to their learning. Students are NOT permitted to use their cell phones during class or at lunch (they should be left in their lockers).
Did you know that parents can turn off cell phone access during the school day? We encourage you to review the settings on your child’s cell phone or contact your carrier to find out how to prohibit your child from accessing content during the day and to find out about apps you can use to limit screen time and length. Eliminating this barrier to academic success may have a significant impact on your child’s learning experience and attitude.
Students may check their cell phones between classes while at their lockers. If you need to get ahold of your child during the school day, please contact the main office (763-241-3450), and we will deliver a message to your student.
Schedules
Schedules will be released on Campus Portal at noon on August 30.
A hard copy of your student’s schedule will be available during open house and can be picked up in your student’s homeroom classroom.
Click HERE if you need help accessing Campus Parent Portal. If you need help finding your student’s schedule on Campus Parent Portal, click HERE.
Please note the following:
Schedules are subject to change up until the first day of school.
8th graders: Quarter class placements are final. You may not be placed in your first choice of elective classes due to scheduling constraints and class sizes. Requests to change these classes will not be honored.
If you think an error has been made on your schedule, please stop by the counseling office during Open House.
Bell Schedule
Click HERE to view the 2023-2024 Bell Schedule.
School Supply Donations - Request from Counseling Office
Throughout the school year, we sometimes have students who need assistance with school supplies. We tend to run short on 3” binders, dividers/three hole punch folders, three hole punch pencil pouches and loose leaf paper. If you want to pick up any extra items when you’re out shopping for school supplies for your student, we would greatly appreciate any donations! There will be a box outside the Student Support Services Office during Open House to collect donations. Thank you in advance for your support!
Donation Request from the Health Office
The health office is in need of peanut free snacks, boys’ underwear and travel size toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, etc.). Donations can be dropped off in the Health Office during Open House. Thanks in advance for your support and generosity.
Student Meals
During the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session, lawmakers signed into law the Free School Meals program for students beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. All students will be able to get one free breakfast and one free lunch per day. Even with this change, districts are still required to keep track of meals served to each individual child and families that qualify for benefits.
Even though one breakfast and one lunch will be free, students will still need money in their lunch account if they want to have “seconds” or a la carte items. You can deposit money in your child's lunch account through Campus Parent Portal or with cash in the cafeteria (we do NOT accept checks).
For the 2023-2024 school year, we will again be utilizing the Student ID Number as a unique student assigned scannable BARCODE at the cafeteria registers for breakfast and lunch service. This BARCODE will also be used when making a la carte purchases. Student ID BARCODES will be given to students in their homeroom class on the first day of school.
ISD 728 will continue to collect the Application for Educational Benefits to determine if students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Students qualifying for benefits increase federal and state funding to support learning experiences for students in ISD 728 and qualify to have school fees waived if a copy of the approval letter is provided to the main office.
If you would like to apply for Educational Benefits, please use this LINK for more information and to apply.
Chromebook Resources
Every student in grades 6-12 receives their own Chromebook to use. If you are new to our district, your student will receive a chromebook from his/her homeroom teacher on the first day of school. All other students should bring their fully charged chromebook with them on the first day of school.
Student Device Plan Sign-Up & User Agreement
Optional Device Protection Plan
Transportation/ Bus Information
Bus information from Vision Transportation is available on Campus Parent Portal. Call Vision Transportation at 763-441-4420 if you feel the drop-off and/or pick-up information is incorrect. If you have not yet requested transportation, click HERE for information on how to sign up. The deadline for routing changes is August 28. Any changes/requests after this date will cause a delay in your student’s transportation being set up.
Student Accident Insurance is Available to ISD 728 Families
As a service to students and families, ISD 728 has contracted with Student Assurance Services Inc. to provide parents with the opportunity to purchase student accident insurance for their child(ren). This is a valuable option for those who desire to provide or supplement their health insurance. Please click this Student Insurance link to learn more.
VMS Apparel
VandenBerge Middle School
Email: michael.zeman@isd728.org
Website: vms.isd728.org
Phone: 763-241-3450
Twitter: @mrzeman86