Van Buren County Schools

VBCS BACK TO SCHOOL 2021-2022 INFORMATION: Good evening! We are excited to begin a new school year and see our students again! The following are some important dates and information as we begin the new school year. Saturday, July 31st - 8am-2pm - Senior Paint Day 1pm-2:30pm - High 5’s & School Supplies giveaway at the Auxiliary Gym Tuesday, Aug. 3rd - 4pm-6pm - Spencer Elementary Open House 5pm-6pm - 6th Grade Orientation in the VBHS Auditorium 6:30pm-7:30pm - Senior & Parent Information Night in the VBHS Auditorium Wednesday, Aug. 4th - 8am-9am - New Student Registration (students enrolled at the end of last year will not attend) Bus transportation will not be provided on this day. Monday, Aug. 9th - 6:00pm - Preschool Parent Information Meeting in the VBHS Auditorium *Van Buren County Schools is closely monitoring the developing health and safety guidelines in regards to the COVID pandemic and will follow these same procedures as last year: -Mask-wearing is optional -Building visitors will be limited during the school-day We look forward to a great school year!

ESSER 3.0 FEDERAL FUNDS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER SURVEY: The Van Buren County School System is seeking feedback from all district and community stakeholders (students, parents, staff, community members, etc.) to help determine how the district should best utilize these financial resources to address instructional needs and ongoing COVID-19 recovery. We appreciate the input as we work together to support our students, staff, and community. This survey will be open for participation through August 2, 2021. SURVEY LINK: https://forms.gle/7sgic8D8hQyrZH6c9

We invite all our students, parents, teachers, and staff members to attend the Community Stakeholders Meeting on Monday, July 26, at 4 p.m. at the Van Buren Co. Fair Barn. Details about this meeting are on Van Buren County Schools Facebook Page, at vanburenschools.org, or available at this link: https://5il.co/vp5n

The Van Buren County Red Sand Project will be Monday, July 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Spencer City Park. Please join us for this event to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Our annual Back to School Supplies Giveaway will be Saturday, July 31! If you know of an organization that would like to contribute to this great event, please share this information with them. Details of the event are on the Van Buren County Schools Facebook page, at vanburenschools.org, or available at this link: https://5il.co/uekc

Our annual Back to School Supplies Giveaway will be Saturday, July 31! If you know of an organization that would like to contribute to this great event, please share this information with them. Details of the event are on the Van Buren County Schools Facebook page, at vanburenschools.org, or available at this link: https://5il.co/uekc

VBCS Summer Feeding Program 2021

The Van Buren County Health Department now has the Pfizer vaccine (for COVID-19) available for adolescents age 12-17 years. Please call 931-946-2438 for more information if you are interested in having your child vaccinated.

REMINDER FOR TOMORROW’S ABBREVIATED DAY: Our school buses will not be running routes tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25th during the abbreviated day. On this day report cards may be picked up for elementary students in the SES Gym, and for middle and high school students in the back lobby of the high school between 8-9am. If you sent a self-addressed and stamped envelope to school with your child it will be mailed to you. Report cards may also be picked up June 1-28 between the hours of 8-2. Thank you for your support during this unusual school year.

Our school buses will not be running routes next Tuesday, May 25th during the abbreviated day. On this day report cards may be picked up for elementary students in the SES Gym, and for middle and high school students in the back lobby of the high school between 8-9am. If you would like to receive your child’s report card through the mail, please send a self-addressed and stamped envelope to school with your child tomorrow. Report cards may also be picked up June 1-28 between the hours of 8-2. Thank you for your support during this unusual school year.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: This is a reminder again that high school graduation will be open tomorrow, Friday, May 21st for all guests. Doors will open at 5:00pm and the ceremony will begin at 7:00pm.

MESSAGE FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY UT EXTENSION OFFICE: This summer, there will be a "Summer Adventure Challenge" and a "4-H is Sew Much Fun" opportunity for your 4th-8th grade 4-Hers. These are some fun-filled day camps that the 4-H office is offering. For more information and for dates and adventures please follow the Van Buren County Extension Facebook page or call the office at (931) 946-2435.

The FFA has a few more tomato plants, several peppers, and several flowers in the greenhouse. Come by the school this week between 8:00 and 3:00 and help us clean out our greenhouse while making your garden or just adding some color to your property. Your local FFA wants to thank you for your continued support!

Attention Junior and Senior Students and Families: The Van Buren County High School Senior graduation ceremony scheduled for this Friday, May 21st @ 7:00pm will now be open for all guests to attend. After the ceremony please exit the building as soon as possible to take pictures outside. We are excited to celebrate our seniors and are thankful you can be in attendance too.

Middle school boys basketball tryouts for any boy that will be in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grades next year will be Tuesday the 18th 3:00-4:30 & Wednesday the 19th 3:00-4:30. Tryouts will be in the auxiliary gym. Players should meet in the high school gym & wait on Coach Baker to walk them over.

VBCYA tball, baseball, & softball registrations are open until Tuesday, May 18th. You can register anytime online at vbcya.com In-person registrations are posted on the vbcya Facebook page.

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, MAY 17th & MONDAY, MAY 24th: This message is to let you know that the next two Mondays: Monday, May 17th & Monday, May 24th will be Professional Development days for teachers and staff. Students will not report to school on these days. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we have navigated this past year. We hope your students enjoy these final days of school! Thank you!

LEAPS AFTERSCHOOL PARENT SURVEY: As part of ongoing evaluation work, UT SWORPS is conducting the Parent/Guardian Survey for 21st CCLC and LEAP funded Extended Learning Programs. Completing the survey will allow us to receive valuable feedback from parents and students who have benefited from the LEAPS After-School program. Parents and guardians of ALL students who attended the program even for only one day are invited to participate. The survey link will remain open until May 24th. Please click on the following link to take the survey: http://tiny.utk.edu/PARENT You will have to enter code 797 for SES students or code 815 for VBHS students. We need as much participation as possible. Thank you!

BEN LOMAND SERVICE AREA INTERNET DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR ALL VAN BUREN COUNTY SCHOOLS' STUDENTS: If you live in a Ben Lomand Connect service area this is important information, if not please disregard. On May 12th (tomorrow), the federal government kicks off the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP), a discount internet program offering up to a $50 monthly discount on internet service to qualifying low income households. (*ALL Van Buren County students ARE ELIGIBLE due to our school system qualifying for the CLP program for school food services.) Before you apply, it is important to understand that the EBBP will end when the funds expire or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever comes first. Participating households will need to opt-in to continue receiving broadband services from their provider after the program ends. If a household chooses to continue receiving broadband service after the EBBP funds expire, they will be billed the broadband provider’s general monthly rate. For more information about this opportunity please click the link to view the full informational letter from Ben Lomand Connect: https://5il.co/si10 OR go directly to: www.getemergencybroadband.org for more information and to apply. OR call the local Ben Lomand Connect number at (931) 946-7794.

LEAPS AFTERSCHOOL CARE - The last day for the LEAPS after-school care program for this school year will be this coming Monday, May 10th. There will be no after-school care options for your student after that date for the remainder of the school year.