Valley Center Middle School

28102 N. Lake Wohlford Road Valley Center, California 92082 (760) 751-4295 Fax (760) 751-4259 Email Staff

May 30th 8th Grade Dinner Dance with fun and games. 6-8PM
June 2nd All Day Health Careers Day
June 7th CJSF Induction
June 10th Evening of Excellence
June 11th Promotion 5:30 PM
June 12th Last Day of School
August 12, 2008: 8th grade only registration, ID cards, books and yearbook pictures from 8:00 to 12:00
August 13, 2008: 7th grade registration, ID cards, books and yearbook pictures from 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 3:00 (8th too)
August 14, 2008: 6th grade registration, ID cards, books and yearbook pictures from 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 3:00 (7-8th too)

The Drama Boosters presented a plaque to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in gratitude for their support of the after school drama performance. Joe Navarro, President and CEO of Valley View Casino accepted the plaque from Rich Horne, Drama Instructor at Valley Center Middle School.

From the Principal

I want to thank parents and compliment students for doing such a wonderful job on the STAR testing! I know that everyone did their very best and look forward to sharing the results in the fall.

We also just completed our 5^th and 6^th grade visits from Lilac and the Upper Elementary School. Students were able to receive an overview of our school and a tour of our campus. This included classroom visitations to give students an opportunity to see our students as they learn.

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and we have numerous activities ahead. Please look carefully for reminders about various events. Two major events are our 8^th grade dance that will be held on May 30^th and our Eighth Grade Promotion will on June 11^th!

We always invite you to visit our campus to experience all the middle school has to offer. Please don’t hesitate to visit during the school day or attend an extra curricular activity.

Chris Sommer

Please call 751-4295 at any time if you have questions or concerns.

Worm and Frog Week at VCMS: Studenst learned about the external and internal parts and functions of worms. They first made a construction paper model of each part then proceeded to do a worm dissection. They studied the internal parts and how each organ works with other organs to make each organ system. They learned that even a small worm has organ systems and those systems must work together for survival.
Frog dissecting is a very popular activity in the science lab. During the dissecting, students discovered how the organ systems interrelate with each other and how their body systems function similarly to our bodies. They also discovered that even the smallest of animals have very complex body systems.

They Did it Again: Rita Steele and her middle school orchestra were awarded First Place in their division at the Knott's Music in the Park competition. Our orchestra came in first for the entire festival and they received the Judges' Choice Award or the Overall Jr. High/Middle School Orchestra Trophy for the best orchestra of the event. We are very proud of our wonderful strings students. Thank You!! Mrs. Steele

Our 8th grade student, Juan Gonzalez, has been named a Padres Scholar! He was selected from over 3,000 eighth grade AVID students throughout the county. He is one of 15 students to be honored and he will receive a $7,000 schlarship toward college tuition and fees. He will be formally introduced as part of the Padres Scholars Class of 2008 to the Padres players and fans on Sunday, June 8th prior to the Padres vs. Mets game.

Office Art Contest Winners: Thank you TPC members for the prizes and judging; they had a very difficult time selecting the winners. In fact, instead of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, they awarded a 1st and two 2nd place prizes: 1st place went to Annelisa Ockert for her painting, "Character, Make It Count"; and 2nd place to both Lauren Owensby for her beaded entry, "Pink Purse", and Alondra Garcia Munoz for her paper mache "Elephant".

VCMS Jazz Band Wins First Place in Coronado: Congratulations to the Advanced HS and Middle School students! Outstanding Musicianship Trophy recipient's included Alex Carr on alto sax from the Middle School.

Parents: Thank you for your efforts to help us improve attendance! The Middle School has improved by 6.57% in the first six months of school. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated as good attendance will help students with achievement.

Congratulations to our Optimist Speech Regional Winner! Alex Carr. He will receive a $1500 scholarship for his efforts. We are very proud of Alex and all the students who competed this year!

Spring Slide Show

To give you an idea of what our school looks like, we have a slide show of our campus on the website @ vcms.vcpusd.net, or you may call to arrange a personal tour. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call me at 751-4295.

Thunderhawk Ranch was home to another successful Frontier Day. Everyone was dressed in theme clothing and participating in the events at "The Ranch". Our community volunteers and staff taught quiliting, animal tracking, branding, cutting and splitting logs, fire starting, apple bobbing and roping. 8th grade students attended an old one-room school house for lessons and jump rope, played marbles or cat's cradle during recess. There were table games, antique tools, a post office, and banjo and fiddle music. Our TPC provided lunch and worked tirelessly all day long alongside all of our 8th grade teachers. Slide Show

TPC Book Fair "We are here to support the school, teachers and especially the students"

Congratulations to TripleStuff on the birth of her two little boys. Mother and children are doing just great! She had them early Sunday morning without the kids at school so she could have some peace and quiet. Hercules and Thor are very strong and healthy and like visitors.

IMAGINE THIS... Mary Howard's students hve been named as Regional Student Winners in the 2007 Imagine this... story writing contest that is sponsored by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. We congratulate Laura Glennie for her story The Season of Growth and Sierra Carr for Second Chance. These stories will go up against seven others in the same grade and the state winners will be posted on www.cfaitc.org.

VCP District Wellness Policy: VCPUSD recognizes the link between student health and learning and has developed a Wellness Policy for the District that will promote student health through nutrition education, nutrition guidelines and physical education/activity. Please remember that the following are not allowed: soda, candy, gum, fried chips, (potato, Doritos, Cheetos, etc.), food at birthday or personal celebrations.

Congratulations to our Rotary Students of the Month: Ruth Barrera for 8th grade and Allison Ducknak for the 7th grade.

A big congratulations goes to Lauren Gilster and Juan Gonzalez for being selected Optimist Students of the Quarter.

Seventy AVID students from Pauma, the Middle School, and the High School enjoyed a fun educational experience accompanied by ten teacher chaperones. On November 16 and 17, students traveled to UCLA, USC and CSU Long Beach and participated in guided tours of each campus. Highlights included taking a tour of the Cinematic Arts Department at USC and getting a personalized tour of CSU Long beach by one of our AVID graduates, Moises Pena and a parent chaperone, Mr. Collins. The students also enjoyed staying on the 9^th and 12^th floors of the Holiday Inn in Long Beach. Susie Britsch, who was the key organizer of the learning experience, wants to thank the district and school board for making the trip possible. Exposing our students to university life contributes to our college going culture!

Everyone wants to say thank you to Mary Howard for all her hard work organizing a Thanksgiving lunch for the staff. Her tireless efforts all week, the donations from CJSF families and the help from staff resulted in a wonderful feast. Our local firemen and paramedics were honored and we decided they would be invited every year.