Congrats and thanks to Principal Gunder for helping Mr. Newcomer today! #BeABlackKnight
5 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Congrats to our May Knights of the Round Table! #BeABlackKnight
5 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Congrats to Sammy for her Positive Behavior Referral! #BeABlackKnight
5 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Students can check out this week's Volunteer Opportunities of the Week to get involved and work toward the Community Service seal!
5 months ago, Brian Bratt
Volunteer Opportunities of the Week 5.20.25
During their May meeting, the Van Buren Local School District Board of Education recognized two local businesses, Bowman Electric and Aqua Lawn Irrigation, for their strong support of Van Buren Local Schools. The companies were honored as part of the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) 2025 Business Honor Roll program. The program gives school districts a way to thank local businesses and recognize them for their valuable contributions to schools. OSBA provides personalized certificates and other resources to help school districts with their recognition activities. Board member Michael Leifheit presented the awards to Chris Bowman of Bowman Electric and Ken Willey of Aqua Lawn Irrigation. Van Buren Local School District and its board members, administrators, staff, and students would like to express their sincere appreciation for all these businesses do for our district.
5 months ago, Brian Bratt
Bowman Electric OSBA Award
Aqua Lawn Irrigation OSBA Award
This week's Joust About Careers episode features the 10-minute highlights of the interview with 2011 Van Buren graduate Hannah Shank, a Transport Operations Supervisor at Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The highlights focus on a typical day for Hannah, how women are breaking barriers in the transportation field, how valuable career skills can be developed in high school, and much more. The highlights and full interviews are available on YouTube at bit.ly/JoustAboutCareers, or full interviews can be found on various podcast platforms by searching Joust About Careers. This is also the last episode of the 2024-2025 school year, so look for new episodes in September. Have a great week!
5 months ago, Brian Bratt
Hannah Shank Highlights Thumbnail
Congratulations to senior Lacey Bowman for representing Van Buren as this year's recipient of the Franklin B. Walter Award. In addition to receiving a scholarship, Bowman had the opportunity to give a speech about her most influential teacher, Mr. Eric Heitkamp, who teaches Business and Financial Literacy.
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
2025 Franklin B. Walter Award Winner Lacey Bowman and teacher Mr. Eric Heitkamp
Congrats to Ava & Hunter for their Positive Behavior Referrals! Also a big thanks to our 5th grade reps for their participation with Chick-fil-A for a day! #BeABlackKnight
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Congratulations to Transportation Supervisor Arian Keeran for being part of the first-place Northwest region team at the Ohio School Bus Safety Road-E-O state contest on May 10! Individually, he also placed 14th out of 42 participants.
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
State School Bus Safety Road-E-O
Thanks for coming out to tonight's performance of The Little Engine That Could Sing featuring Mrs. O'Toole's & Slone's classes! Mrs Barger's & Tabler's classes are on Thursday! #BeABlackKnight
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Chick-fil-A for a day was another success! Thanks for coming out to support Elle, Everly, and Charlotte & VB! #BeABlackKnight
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Congrats to Remi on her Positive Behavior Referral! #BeABlackKnight
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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Kona Ice will be at the elementary on May 22nd for K/2/4 and May 23rd for 1/3/5. As before, pre-orders are preferred and must be placed by May 21st  by 6 PM. https://customer.kona-ice.com/#/user/search Event Code: K1046662567
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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The latest episode of the Joust About Careers podcast features 2011 Van Buren graduate Hannah Shank, a Transport Operations Supervisor at Marathon Petroleum Corporation. In this episode, Hannah shares how a typical day looks for her, how studying abroad led her to teaching in Austria, what playing college softball taught her, and much more. To watch on YouTube, visit bit.ly/JoustAboutCareers. To listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms, search Joust About Careers. Have a great week!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
Hannah Shank Full Interview Thumbnail
After students worked hard to serve the community yesterday morning, Student Council hosted the annual field day in the afternoon. Whether it was jumping on the inflatables, dunking staff, or playing pickleball, the students still had plenty of energy to make it through the afternoon. Thank you to Mrs. Leonard, Student Council advisor, for organizing this event!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
Field Day 1
Field Day 2
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Field Day 8
What would it be like to go back to middle school as an adult? If you want to know, ask some of the middle school parents who participated in today's A Day in the Life event. Whether it was looking through microscopes, studying maps, or just walking the halls, it was great to have some new "students" in the building today!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
A Day in the Life 2
A Day in the Life 1
A Day in the Life 3
A Day in the Life 4
A Day in the Life 5
A Day in the Life 6
A Day in the Life 7
A Day in the Life 8
A Day in the Life 9
A Day in the Life 10
If you were driving this morning and noticed high school students in green shirts scurrying everywhere, they were all participating in the annual VB Service Day. Whether it was inside the school, outside on campus, in the village, at the state park, or at the Van Buren Sportsplex, the students worked hard and had a positive impact on our community. Thank you to everyone who participated!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
Service Day 1
Service Day 2
Service Day 3
Service Day 4
Service Day 5
Service Day 6
Service Day 7
Service Day 8
Service Day 9
Congrats on Eva for her Positive Behavior Referral! #BeABlackKnight
6 months ago, Michael Newcomer/Van Buren Elementary
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What do you get when you combine music, art, and a gym full of elementary students and families? A Wild Kingdom Extravaganza, of course! It all took place last night as elementary teachers Darci Van Vlerah (music) and Jordan May (art) gave students a chance to share their artistic talents with their families in the high school gym and elementary school. From first graders singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to penguins waddling, groundhogs galloping, bunnies boogieing, chihuahuas cha-cha-ing, and basketballs bouncing to "Eye of the Tiger," it is clear that our students are roaring with rhythm and wild with talent!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
Arts Extravaganza 1
Arts Extravaganza 2
Arts Extravaganza 3
Arts Extravaganza 4
Arts Extravaganza 5
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Arts Extravaganza 7
Arts Extravaganza 8
The juniors had the opportunity to participate in the Hancock County Mock Interview Day today. In addition to interviewing with two local professionals to gain feedback meant to improve their interviewing skills, students attended two sessions titled "Utilizing YouScience for Your Future," hosted by YouScience, and "The Hiring Game," hosted by apprentices from GROB Systems, Inc., in Bluffton. We appreciate Raise the Bar-Hancock County for organizing this event for the benefit of our students and VB alumni Ryan Conroy and Kaylee Schleucher for participating as interviewers!
6 months ago, Brian Bratt
Mock Interview 1
Mock Interview 2
Mock Interview 3
Mock Interview 4
Mock Interview 5
Mock Interview 6