Mrs. Jamey Hickman’s third grade class read historical fiction stories this week about people immigrating to the United States many years ago. While focusing on finding textual evidence, using reading strategies, and learning about the story genre, students learned reasons why people came to America, how they arrived here, and where their journeys took them.
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!
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!
More Positive Behavior Referrals!
#BeABlackKnight
Congrats to our Positive Behavior Referrals!
#BeABlackKnight
📬 Want to stay connected to Van Buren Schools?
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.
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! 🖤💛
Congrats to Cassidy for her Positive Behavior Referral!
#BeABlackKnight
"When people think about psychology, a K-12 school probably doesn’t immediately come to mind, but every school in Ohio is required to have a school psychologist. Many schools, including Van Buren in the past, contract with educational service centers to meet this requirement; however, we determined, because there is no additional cost to our district, it is beneficial to employ our own psychologist and hired Mr. Ryan Borger at the March 20, 2025, Board of Education meeting."
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.
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.
Our 8th graders recently wrapped up Mr. Yunker Day of Service, helping community members through leaf cleanup across the village. Their work was supported by the Van Buren Lions Club, whose generous donation of four tarps reflects their ongoing dedication to serving others. We are grateful for community partners who model the values we hope to instill in our students.
This past week reminded us once again what it means to be a Black Knight! 🖤💛
Our Student Council members kicked things off by filling almost 3,000 bags of food for Feed-A-Child, lending their hands and hearts to support families in our community.
Students also had the opportunity to stretch their creativity at the Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career Expo, where they connected with industry professionals and explored future pathways in creative fields.
To close out the week, students in Mrs. Obenour and Mr. Woodard’s classes helped respectfully take down the American flags displayed for Veterans Day this past Tuesday.
We are proud of our students for showing leadership, curiosity, and appreciation in all they do!
Our Student Council members kicked things off by filling almost 3,000 bags of food for Feed-A-Child, lending their hands and hearts to support families in our community.
Students also had the opportunity to stretch their creativity at the Arts, Entertainment, & Design Career Expo, where they connected with industry professionals and explored future pathways in creative fields.
To close out the week, students in Mrs. Obenour and Mr. Woodard’s classes helped respectfully take down the American flags displayed for Veterans Day this past Tuesday.
We are proud of our students for showing leadership, curiosity, and appreciation in all they do!
Happy 50's Day!
#BeABlackKnight
Congrats to Theo for his Positive Behavior Referral!
#BeABlackKnight
Happy World 🌎 Kindness Day/Mr. Roger's Cardigan Day! ❤️
#BeABlackKnight
💛🖤 The Knights in the Know signs have landed among the golfers and stones!
If you live on Palmer, Woods, Hogan, or Nicklaus Drive or Bluestone, Milestone, Heatherstone, Cobblestone, Greystone, Stonecliff, or Stonehedge Drive, look for the signs so you can scan the QR code and stay in the know regarding everything happening in Van Buren Local School District.
Want to just sign up here?
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/vbschools/sign-up-for-knights-in-the-know.
🎖️Honoring Our Veterans at Van Buren Middle School
On Tuesday, November 11, middle school students and community members gathered for a Veterans Day assembly.
Ms. Christina Csernyik and the sixth grade choir started the event when they led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Middle school students then introduced videos highlighting the history behind Veterans Day and the dedication of the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They also read the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae before showing a video highlighting veterans who are Van Buren graduates and relatives of current students and teachers.
The assembly concluded with a powerful moment of reflection as senior trumpeter Andrew Puperi played “Taps.”
We are proud of our students for their thoughtful participation and grateful to all who have served and sacrificed for our country.
On Tuesday, November 11, middle school students and community members gathered for a Veterans Day assembly.
Ms. Christina Csernyik and the sixth grade choir started the event when they led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Middle school students then introduced videos highlighting the history behind Veterans Day and the dedication of the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They also read the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae before showing a video highlighting veterans who are Van Buren graduates and relatives of current students and teachers.
The assembly concluded with a powerful moment of reflection as senior trumpeter Andrew Puperi played “Taps.”
We are proud of our students for their thoughtful participation and grateful to all who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Facilities Update #5: Remodeled High School Greenhouse 🌱
Today’s facilities update (5 of 5) highlights the updates made to the greenhouse over the last five months.
Because the greenhouse had been leaking and inoperable for over a decade, Altimate Outdoors from Glandorf removed the existing greenhouse structure and replaced it with tempered glass and powder-coated aluminum beams meant to extend the lifespan of the structure. They also gave us a discount of over 15% on their work, which we greatly appreciate.
After the replacement of the exterior made the greenhouse water-tight, Mr. Casey Morman and the maintenance staff undertook the interior renovation. The walls were repainted, baseboard heat and a humidifier were installed to ensure the greenhouse's functionality, and the door into the greenhouse from Room 236 was replaced.
In addition to creating learning opportunities in agriculture education and science classes, students are also helping plan how the items in the greenhouse will be arranged. Sophomores Rachel Betts and Paightyn Craft, members of the Greenhouse and Floriculture Management class, shared how they and their classmates are exploring how the food they grow could be used in the cafeteria. They are also considering how plants they start in the greenhouse could be used in the village community garden in the spring. Betts said, “We are excited to be growing plants at school so everyone can benefit from them, not just the FFA students.”
In order to fund the students’ plans, Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs. Cassie Schaffer is applying for grants to purchase furniture and other educational tools. They will also be able to incorporate tools agriculture education teacher Mrs. Hailey Cunningham purchased last year with funds she received from the AgCredit Mission Fund grant.
It has been a while since our greenhouse was up and running, but we’re thrilled to see it come back to life! The possibilities it provides for hands-on learning and new educational experiences for our students are endless.
Today’s facilities update (5 of 5) highlights the updates made to the greenhouse over the last five months.
Because the greenhouse had been leaking and inoperable for over a decade, Altimate Outdoors from Glandorf removed the existing greenhouse structure and replaced it with tempered glass and powder-coated aluminum beams meant to extend the lifespan of the structure. They also gave us a discount of over 15% on their work, which we greatly appreciate.
After the replacement of the exterior made the greenhouse water-tight, Mr. Casey Morman and the maintenance staff undertook the interior renovation. The walls were repainted, baseboard heat and a humidifier were installed to ensure the greenhouse's functionality, and the door into the greenhouse from Room 236 was replaced.
In addition to creating learning opportunities in agriculture education and science classes, students are also helping plan how the items in the greenhouse will be arranged. Sophomores Rachel Betts and Paightyn Craft, members of the Greenhouse and Floriculture Management class, shared how they and their classmates are exploring how the food they grow could be used in the cafeteria. They are also considering how plants they start in the greenhouse could be used in the village community garden in the spring. Betts said, “We are excited to be growing plants at school so everyone can benefit from them, not just the FFA students.”
In order to fund the students’ plans, Director of Teaching and Learning Mrs. Cassie Schaffer is applying for grants to purchase furniture and other educational tools. They will also be able to incorporate tools agriculture education teacher Mrs. Hailey Cunningham purchased last year with funds she received from the AgCredit Mission Fund grant.
It has been a while since our greenhouse was up and running, but we’re thrilled to see it come back to life! The possibilities it provides for hands-on learning and new educational experiences for our students are endless.
What does an archivist do? If you don't know, you'll find out from 2018 VB graduate Maria Trusty in the latest Joust About Careers episode.
In episode 104, Maria shares how a campus job at Ohio State led her to her career, the many places archivists can work, how her career goals have changed, 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!
In episode 104, Maria shares how a campus job at Ohio State led her to her career, the many places archivists can work, how her career goals have changed, 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!
More Positive Behavior Referrals!
#BeABlackKnight
🎓 Honoring Excellence in Our Schools!
On Thursday, November 6, Van Buren High School and Middle School held their National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony.
✨ Congratulations to the 20 middle school students inducted into NJHS and the 18 high school students inducted into NHS!
NHS members Emily Bishop, Ben Heitkamp, Ashlyn Rickle, Jake Schroeder, and Sadie Thorla-Lopez spoke during the ceremony, and the guest speaker was VB graduate Kaylee (Arbaugh) Schleucher.
These students have all demonstrated the core values of outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and character that make our Black Knight community proud. 💛🖤
On Thursday, November 6, Van Buren High School and Middle School held their National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony.
✨ Congratulations to the 20 middle school students inducted into NJHS and the 18 high school students inducted into NHS!
NHS members Emily Bishop, Ben Heitkamp, Ashlyn Rickle, Jake Schroeder, and Sadie Thorla-Lopez spoke during the ceremony, and the guest speaker was VB graduate Kaylee (Arbaugh) Schleucher.
These students have all demonstrated the core values of outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and character that make our Black Knight community proud. 💛🖤
🍂Our eighth graders honored the memory of former school employee Mr. Brent Yunker yesterday by raking leaves for village residents on the Mr. Yunker Day of Service. 🍂
Students raked over 20 yards throughout the village as a way to give back and celebrate the legacy of Mr. Yunker.
The eighth grade teachers spent the day working alongside their students, and English teacher Mr. Adam Greer said, “This day isn’t just about raking leaves. It’s a great way for our students to get to know the people in our community and for the community to see what great kids we have in our school.”
We’re proud of our students for rolling up their sleeves to make a meaningful impact!
Students raked over 20 yards throughout the village as a way to give back and celebrate the legacy of Mr. Yunker.
The eighth grade teachers spent the day working alongside their students, and English teacher Mr. Adam Greer said, “This day isn’t just about raking leaves. It’s a great way for our students to get to know the people in our community and for the community to see what great kids we have in our school.”
We’re proud of our students for rolling up their sleeves to make a meaningful impact!
🏡 Our Knights in the Know signs are visiting Thornwood Drive, Township Road 212, and Township Road 243 this week!
📲 Know someone who lives in those areas? Encourage them to scan the QR code to stay in the loop with Van Buren Local School District.
Want to just sign up here?
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/vbschools/sign-up-for-knights-in-the-know.
📲 Know someone who lives in those areas? Encourage them to scan the QR code to stay in the loop with Van Buren Local School District.
Want to just sign up here?
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/vbschools/sign-up-for-knights-in-the-know.
