Our second and third grade students brought holiday magic to the stage yesterday with their performance of How to Train Your Reindeer (to Fly). After performing for the entire elementary school during the day, they took the stage again last night for families and delivered another outstanding performance.
This year marks the 17th elementary musical directed by music teacher Ms. Darci VanVlerah. We are grateful for her dedication to creating memorable experiences for our students and families year after year.
Students have been practicing the songs for the musical since September, but the second and third grade teachers also played an important role in the performance. Special thanks go to Mrs. Barbie Corbin, Mrs. Kylie Foster, Mrs. Cassi Swaney, and Mrs. Lyn Webster (second grade) and Mrs. Tricia Basinger, Mrs. Jamey Hickman, Mrs. Wendi Morey, and Mrs. Roxanne Parsell (third grade) for managing lights, sound, and backstage responsibilities.
Thank you to the students and teachers for making the season a little brighter for all of us!
🎭 Spotlight on VBMS Theater!
Van Buren Middle School Theater recently brought big laughs to the stage with its fall play It’s a Madhouse, a comedic mystery by Todd Wallinger. More than 40 students were involved, from talented actors and actresses to the hardworking set and tech crews who helped bring the show to life.
A huge shoutout to MS/HS counselor Mrs. Allison Limes for directing the production and to our incredible high school leaders who supported the show behind the scenes: Eden Orchard (Student Director), Cara Nichols (Assistant Student Director), and Aria Tussing (Theater Assistant). Your dedication made this production shine! 🌟
Congratulations to everyone involved in another fantastic performance!
School Resource Officer Deputy Matt Crouch is currently collecting toys to support the local Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign. Parents or students can drop off new, unwrapped toys in the elementary office or in Deputy Crouch’s office in the high school until Thursday, December 18.
Thank you to all of our elementary students who participated in The Manor at Greendale’s coloring contest! The residents loved the artwork and selected three VB winners, who each received a prize basket. Thank you, The Manor at Greendale, for thinking of us to participate and congratulations to our winners!
➡️ Apply online: https://bit.ly/VBemployment
Our sophomores spent a portion of the morning at Millstream Career Center getting an up-close look at the wide range of career-technical education programs offered. Students visited their top two programs of choice, where they participated hands-on activities and had the opportunity to ask questions.
Sophomores have until January 16 to apply for the opportunity to attend Millstream during the 2026-2027 school year. If families would like to see Millstream’s program offerings for themselves to help students make decisions, they can attend the open house from 6:00-7:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 11.
We’re proud of our students for taking the time to explore their options and plan for bright futures! 💡🎓
To extend their learning, the class invited Mrs. Judith Rowland, who is a VB parent and elementary recess/lunch monitor, to come in today to share her experience journeying to the United States from Mexico when she was six years old. While being active listeners, students were able to compare and contrast her journey to what they read in the stories earlier in the week, creating a full-circle learning opportunity where students developed their thinking skills through reading and the connection they made with Mrs. Rowland.
Thank you, Mrs. Hickman and Mrs. Rowland, for creating this learning opportunity for our students!
Look for our Knights in the Know signs on Meadow Ridge Drive, Chickory Drive, and the corner of Cedar Lake and Township Road 229 and scan to sign up to receive our email newsletter!
Want to just sign up here?
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/vbschools/sign-up-for-knights-in-the-know.
✨ We’re excited to share our latest Quality Profile with you!
📬Our 2024–2025 Annual Quality Profile has been delivered to homes across the district, and we are excited to share the incredible work happening in our schools.
Inside, you’ll find highlights from the past year, including information about all three of our buildings, finances, alumni, fine arts, athletics, and more.
When you are finished reading the Quality Profile, please take a moment to scan the QR code found on both the front and back to complete our Community Communications Survey. Your feedback helps us strengthen how we share information with you and continue building meaningful connections.
If you live outside our district but have a connection with VB, use the following links to access the Quality Profile and Communications Survey.
Quality Profile - https://www.vbschools.net/page/quality-profile
Communications Survey - https://forms.gle/SQfkHtyn4vyGGt9G6
We appreciate everyone who has played a role in the success of our district! 🖤💛
Read the whole story to learn how the addition of Mr. Borger is enhancing how we serve our students: https://www.vbschools.net/article/2553244.
