2026-2027 Summer Mailing

VMSS School Supply List

2026-2027 For ALL Grades

*NOTE: Locker dimensions are 23" Tall, 12" Wide, and 12" Deep
Students are not permitted to put anything on the outside of their lockers.

5 Single Spiral Notebooks

1 Package of Loose Leaf Paper

5 Folders with pockets
5 Composition Notebooks (College Rule)
3 boxes of tissue (turn into Eagle Time teacher)
3 packages/boxes of #2 pencils

4 Glue Sticks
Pencil Sharpener
Erasers 

Small Scissors (6th Grade Only)
Box of Colored Pencils
Assortment of Pens (Black, Blue & Red)
Multi-Colored Highlighters
Package of 8 Washable Markers

Package of Black Expo Markers

Post-its (multi-pack)
Pencil Pouch/Bag
Scientific Calculator - Texas Instrument Tl-30XII
Earbuds or headphones with cords (cordless are not permitted)
Padlock for Gym Locker (VMSS is not responsible for lost or stolen items)
Swimsuit & Towel
Gym Shoes

Daily Planner

• 7th & 8th Grade Students will need to purchase a planner with a daily calendar or utilize one provided by VMSS to organize their assignments and prioritize their work.
• 6th Grade Students will be provided with a school-issued paper planner to establish a common practice for secondary learning.

All students need to have access to iPad charging cords and blocks at home.

 

*NOTE:  Cell phones, wireless headphones, smart watches, meta glasses and airpods are not allowed during school hours and must be kept turned off and in the students' backpack if brought to school.

 *Teachers will inform students of any additional items/supplies for a particular class and/or elective as needed during the first week of school. 

 

How to Open a Combination Lock Handout

 

Locker #_______________________  

 

Locker Location: Humanities (class #’s 200’s), STEM (class #’s 400’s), 

   Main Street (class #’s 500’s)       

 

Combination:  _________ - ____________ - ____________

 

1. Begin at the number Zero-0
2. Turn to the Right, passing Zero-0, Twice
3. Turn to the Right and stop at your 1st number ___________
4. Turn to the Left, pass your 2nd number ___________ once and then stop at it the second time.
5. Turn to the Right to your 3rd number and stop. __________
6. Open your Locker

Como abrir un candado de combinación

 

Candado #_______________________

 

Ubicación de Candado:Humanities (class #’s 200’s),

STEM (class #’s 400’s), Main Street (class #’s 500’s) 

 

Combinación:  _________ - ____________ - ____________

 

1. Comience en el numero Zero-O
2. Gire a la derecha, pasando Zero-0, dos veces.
3. Gire a la derecha y pare en su primer número ___________.

7. Gire a la izquierda, pasando su segundo número  ________ una vez y luego pare en el segundo número.
8. Gire a la derecha hasta su tercer número y pare  ________.
9. Abra su candado.

PARENT SIGN-UP FOR SCHOOLOGY DIGEST INSTRUCTIONS

 

WHY: To receive valuable class-specific academic information regarding your student.

 

Begin by opening your Schoology account.

1. Click the arrow on the top right corner of the page.
2. Select a student from the list that appears in the drop-down menu.
3. Once you’re viewing the student’s account, click on the downfacing arrow again.
4. Select “Settings”.
5. From the “Notifications” tab, you can elect to receive one or both of two email summaries:
   1. To receive the Parent Email Digest, select “ON” in your “Email Summary” menu. You can receive emails on a “Daily” or “Weekly” basis. If you select daily, you may set a time at which the notification will be sent to your inbox. If you choose weekly, you’ll have an additional options to select the day of the week you’d like to receive the email.
   2. To receive the “Overdue Submissions Email”, select “ON” in the “Email Notification” menu.
6. Click “Save Changes” to update your settings.

 

NOTE: IF THERE ARE NO UPDATES FOR THE GIVEN TIME PERIOD, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL STATING THAT THEY ARE NO NEW UPDATES.

The digest includes up to five “Summary” items and up to ten “Recent Activity” items. To view more items than appears in the list, click the “MORE” option at the bottom of each area. If you have more than one student association, scroll down to view the Summary and Recent Activity for additional children.

QUESTIONS? Contact htts://www.district196.org/techhelp 

 

PARENT SIGN-UP FOR PARENT SQUARE

 

WHY: To receive valuable district, school, and class information.

 

STEPS:

1. SIGN IN TO PARENTSQUARE

• Go to parentsquare.com/signin

2. DOWNLOAD THE PARENTSQUARE APP

• Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play

3. SET YOUR PREFERENCES

• Click you name - My Account - Notification Settings
• Set preferences for receiving Posts and Alert notifications.

 

QUESTIONS? Contact htts://www.district196.org/techhelp 

 

Parent Teacher Organization

 

Valley Middle School of STEM Parent Teacher Organization (VMSS PTO) is a nonprofit, volunteer parent/teacher organization whose membership includes parents, legal guardians, and staff at VMSS. Our purpose is to support families, students, and staff by facilitating open communication, organizing fundraisers, providing support for teachers and staff, and encouraging an overall positive learning environment. We fulfill this purpose through a variety of activities: fundraising, student/teacher support, grade level parties, and volunteer opportunities.

Communication: Open communication and transparency is key to fostering a sense of community and trust. Monthly PTO Meetings, communication via various school/social media outlets, and continuous interaction with administration/staff keep families connected and informed.

PTO Meetings: To learn more, see the meeting schedule or to sign up for volunteering visit our website sites.google.com/view/vmsspto or email us at vmsspto@gmail.com!

 

 

VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL OF STEM

Technology Protocol 

 

From the time a student arrives at school to the time a student leaves, personal technology (including cell phones, wireless airbuds, headphones, smart watches, and meta-glasses) should be turned off and put away in the students backpack at Valley Middle School of STEM.  Any exception due to family emergency/health issues must be discussed/managed between an administrator and the student's guardian.  iPads will continue to be used in the classroom as a tool to enhance learning.

 

1. WHY do we do we have this “off and away” during school hours at the Middle level?  
   • Relationships: In order to be connected to learning in the classrooms students must be connected to one another and to the instructional staff.  Significant research and experience indicates that student access to cell phones distract from the learning environment and create a significant barrier to personal interactions.
   • Focus: Students learn best when they are “present” and engaged in the learning activities but also in the interactions from moment to moment.  Research has determined that not only cell phone use but the very proximity of cell phone availability and access for students during class is a distraction from learning.
   • Safety: It is acknowledged that families may choose to have students carry cell phones for a variety of reasons related to safety, however, cell phones as vehicles for social media access and use have proven detrimental to our school community.  

 

2. HOW do students manage their personal technology?  
   • Personal Technology is turned  off and put away during the school day. Phones are never allowed in bathrooms or locker rooms.  
   • Students who have a rare and/or specific reason for accessing their phone during the day should discuss an exception with an administrator.
     • If parents feel they must reach their child during the school day, please call the main office.  We will make sure students receive the messages in a timely manner.  For all other non-emergency messages, students may check messages after school, as they leave the building.

 

3. WHEN a student does not meet this expectation, what happens?  
   • The student’s technology may be confiscated by a staff member and the student will be responsible to contact their guardian to pick up the item from school.  If there is ongoing activity that exceeds three occurrences and/or has become an established chronic behavioral concern, students may be required to leave their phones in the office each day or be required to leave the phone at home. Additional consequence decisions will be made in partnership between school and home.

 

4. WHAT resources are available? 

•  If you have questions regarding the expectations around cell phone use at your school, contact building administration.
• Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook  
• Acceptable Use of Information Technology - Students (503.7AR) 
• Permission for Student Access and Use of the Internet (503.7.1P)