Upcoming Events

May 9           Anti-Bullying Presentation
May 13         Budget Hearing & Reg. Board of Ed Mtg.,
                         7:30pm, LGI
May 14         PTA Mtg., 7pm, ES Library
May 15         4th Quarter Interim Period ends
May 17         7th Grade trip to Boston
May 21         Budget Vote & Board of Ed Election,
                          2-9pm, MS Foyer
                    4th Quarter Progress Reports go home
May 23        7th Grade Civil War Day (rain date: 5/28)
May 24        Contingency Day
May 27        No School - Memorial Day
May 29&30  NYS Science Performance Exam (Gr. 8)
May 31        6th Grade Trip to Liberty Science Center
June 3         NYS Science Written Exam (Gr. 8)

Get your Purple Newsletter

Download this week's Purple Newsletter here [pdf].

NYS Math League Results

The official results of this year's New York State Math League are in and our middle school students once again did very well in this contest.

The 6th grade team placed 27th out of 82 schools across the state and 3rd in our capital region. Claire Reilly, our 6th grade winner, came in third in our region.

The 7th grade team placed 28th out of 76 schools who participated and also placed third in our region. Justin Cunningham, our 7th grade winner, placed second in our region.

Finally, the 8th grade team placed 26th out of 67 schools around the state and came in second in our region. Ryan Burczak, our 8th grade winner, finished second in our region.

Congratulations to all students who participated in this contest for their outstanding accomplishments.

Anti-Bullying Presentation Comes to VMS

(May 9, 2013) On Thursday, May 9th international speaker Jim Jordan entertained and engaged the VMS students. His message and strategies for creating a school culture in which bystanders to bullying speak up and support victims was well-received by the staff and students. Special thanks to the PTA for helping to bring Mr. Jordan to our school!  LEARN MORE

Middle School Students Receive New York State Physical Education Awards

(May 13, 2013) Congratulations to the following 8th grade students for being selected for the New York State Physical Education Award: Olivia Biggé, Mia Crisafulli, Allison Farney, Veda Hensel, Tommy Kelafant, and Sean Nolan. Each year a group of 8th grade students are selected for this award based on leadership, sportsmanship, good citizenship, and leading an active life style.

Rube Goldberg Projects in Grade 8

(May 8, 2013) In 8th grade, science students have been working on Rube Goldberg projects. This is similar to the game mousetrap where a ball rolls down a ramp and knocks into a lever which sends another object into motion. Students must explain the different energy transfers and simple machines in their section of the project. LEARN MORE

Anti-Bullying Presentation Coming To VMS

(May 1, 2013) On May 9th, international speaker Jim Jordan will be presenting his positive message to VMS students. For more information on Jim, please visit: http://www.jimjordan.ca

Third quarter honor rolls

(April 30, 2013) Congratulations to Voorheesville Middle School students who made honor roll for the third quarter of 2012-13.  LEARN MORE

National Junior Honor Society

(April 26, 2013) The Voorheesville Middle School is proud to announce the chartering of a local chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Over the next couple of weeks, eligible seventh grade students will be notified and considered for membership selection. Please read the attached letter for more information.  LEARN MORE

Medieval Day in Grade Six

(April 25, 2013) On Wednesday March 27th, the sixth grade class participated in a day of medieval culture. The students were taught by medieval performers, Bells & Motley, who treated us to the art, music, and history of the Middle Ages. LEARN MORE

8th Grade Class T-Shirts

(April 25, 2013) Eighth grade students can order a moving up t-shirt for $10. Order forms & payment are due by Monday,
May 6. LEARN MORE

MS Odyssey of the Mind Team is requesting your support!

Our 7th grade team is planning a free community performance on May 4 in the Commons at 1pm, and a number of fundraising events to support its trip to the World Finals in Michigan at the end of May. To find out more about the team’s bottle drive, bowling night, and raffle, please visit http://vootm.szesnat.com.

Middle School Principal's Art Collection

(April 16, 2013) It's time for the Middle School Principal's Art Collection Contest.  Middle School students can submit up to 3 pieces of art work to the contest. The art work must be work that was completed in your art class (homework assignments will also be accepted). If your art is selected, it will be framed and put on permanent display! Please see Ms. Wells or Ms. Triller for more information. The deadline to submit your work is May 10th.

PTA's Letter Writing Campaign

(April 16, 2013) At last week's BOE meeting, Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk spoke to our community with regard to state funding for Voorheesville Central School District and the state of our budget this upcoming fiscal year. The Senator was not only concerned for our district, but she urged members of the community and BOE to write letters to the NYS Legislature asking for more state aid. In response to this, the PTA will begin a letter writing campaign this week coupled with a Community Letter Writing Night on Monday, April 22 from 5-7 pm in the Elementary School Library. We are sending home this informational flyer and a sample letter for you to consider signing and returning or to use as a guide for your own personal statement. Please return letters to PTA (attn. Colleen Zeliph) no later than April 19th. The PTA, in conjunction with the BOE, will ensure your letter is received at the NYS Legislature! LEARN MORE

Leprechaun Food Drive Challenge

(March 27, 2013) The Builders club would like to thank all who participated in the Leprechaun food drive to benefit the Kiwanis Food Pantry. As the holidays pass, pantry supplies diminish so it was the perfect time to collect food items for people in our community who need a little extra help.

Thank You to Mrs. Bradshaw, who had the most food and willingly dressed up. Top o' the mornin' to her!

MS Odyssey of the Mind Team Advances to the World Competition

(March 25, 2013) The Voorheesville "Odyssey of the Mind" Middle School team will advance to the world competition in Michigan in May!  Congratulations to all the participants and thanks to their volunteer coaches.

New Banner in the Middle School!

Last June, VMS held a soffit design contest. Olivia Suozzo’s design was chosen out of 30 submissions. Her creative design has been transformed into a banner and is now displayed over the entryway soffit that runs from the main foyer of the middle school toward the middle school wing. LEARN MORE

Altamont Fair - Eco-Friendly Science Fair

The Altamont Fair is excited to announce their very own Eco-Friendly Science Fair from August 13-18. The title will be: Recycling in your world, saving our planet one piece at a time. LEARN MORE

Wellness Day

The Voorheesville Central School District Wellness Committee is excited to bring Wellness Day to the middle school and high school again this year. On March 21st, we will have several presenters from the school, community, and surrounding areas sharing their expertise in various areas of wellness. Topics range from bicycle and skateboard safety to weight training; from healthy relationships to zumba. Many workshops involve active participation so students should be dressed so they are ready to move. Sixth grade students will have one workshop in the swimming pool so they need to bring swimwear and towels. Special thanks to the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation and the Voorheesville PTA for sponsoring our keynote speakers!

Builders Club Food Drive - Leprechaun Challenge

Builders Club will be holding a food drive from March 11-26 for the Kiwanis Food Pantry. Teachers will have boxes in front of their classrooms during this time. Students can choose in which teacher's box to deposit their food items. The staff member who collects the most cans will dress up like a leprechaun on Wednesday, March 27.  LEARN MORE/ITEMS NEEDED

Regional Odyssey of the Mind Winners

(March 5, 2013) Winning smiles closed out a successful day for Voorheesville Middle and Elementary School students who competed in the Odyssey of the Mind regional tournament at Shenendahowa on March 2.  Three teams from Voorheesville won first place and will advance to the State Tournament at the University of Binghamton later this month.  Another Elementary School team won second place.

Hair for a Cure

The VMS Student Council sponsored "Hair for a Cure." Students were able to get hair extensions and make a donation to a worthy cause. The event raised $190.00, which was donated to the American Heart Association in honor of VMS Student Council. LEARN MORE

Information for Parents and Families on the Common Core

New York State is one of the states that has adopted the Common Core Learning Standards. To that end, the State Education Department has posted information on EngageNY.org. The goal of this information is to help parents and families better understand the New York State Common Core implementation. To view what is posted, go to http://engageny.org/parent-and-family-resources.

Grade Eight Learns About Nanotechnology

Eighth graders at Voorheesville Middle School recently learned a lot more about nanotechnology. Dr. Nathaniel Cady, a research professor from the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at SUNY Albany, once again spoke about some of the cutting edge research happening in the field.  LEARN MORE

Doodle 4 Google Contest

According to Google's web site, Doodle 4 Google is "a contest where we invite students in the United States to use their artistic talent to think big and redesign Google's Doodle for millions to see. This year, we ask students to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, "My best day ever..." One talented student artist will see their artwork appear on the Google homepage and receive a $30,000 college scholarship. And their school will be awarded a $50,000 technology grant." LEARN MORE

Pennies for Patients

The Builders Club exceeded it's goal of raising $275 for the Leukemia foundation. With the Pennies for Patients initiative we raised $333.55. Thank you so much to all students who participated and the community businesses that allowed us to place boxes in their establishments. LEARN MORE

UAlbany Day at Empire State Plaza

Students in Voorheesville Middle School's Builders Club and Student Council participated in UAlbany Day on February 4 at the Empire State Plaza.
During the day-long event, the students learned what the university has to offer, including its clubs and degree programs. Some of the highlights of the day included live student performances, faculty and researcher demonstrations, hands-on experience with robotics, a tour of the State Capitol and an opportunity to meet players from the basketball team. LEARN MORE

1st Ever Middle School Yearbook!

Order forms for the 2012-13 VMS Yearbook will be sent home with students this week. Soft cover books cost $22.00 and hard cover books cost $27.00. Order online at YBPay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID Code: 11605613), or send in payment with your order form to the VMS office. Checks should be made out to Voorheesville Middle School. The deadline to order a yearbook is Friday, February 15, 2013. Extra order forms will be available in the VMS office.

"Beatlemania Again" Update

"Beatlemania Again", a live performance of the Beatles best music through the ages, will be performed at the Lydia C. Tobler Performing Arts Center on February 2, 2013 at 7:00 p.m., here at Voorheeesville. The live show is a Don Bowers Production. If you are planning on attending, please do not delay in ordering your tickets. Call Christy Rivenburg at 765-3313 ext. 109 or on line at:  http://vcsd.neric.org/newsarchives/2012-13/011307Beatlemania.htm.

Proceeds will support school programs.

Spelling Bee Winner

Seventh-grader Emma Bidell was the winner of this year's spelling bee. She will represent Voorheesville at the Capital Region Spelling Bee at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady on March 5th. The winner of this regional competition will compete at the National Spelling Bee held in Washington, DC.   LEARN MORE

Winter Intramurals for Grade 6

After a successful fall intramural season, VMS will be offering intramurals to sixth graders on Tuesdays in January and February. The intramurals will take place in the Middle School Gym from 2:30 to 3:30pm and will be supervised by Mr. Glisson.

Book Fair a Success!

Thank you for making the VMS Book Fair such a successful event. With your support, we were able to raise enough money to donate books to Toys for Tots and to the wish lists compiled by our very own teachers. Our Toys for Tots donation included traditional books found on the best sellers list, as well as hands on selections such as sticker books and drawing books. In addition to the books, we were able to earn a monetary profit that we will use to fund a variety of VMS events. The Online Book Fair is available until January 1. If you would like to take advantage of the wide selection of books and free shipping to the school, you can go to scholastic.com/fair to make further purchases.  Once again, the VMS Student Council thanks you for your support!

"Theodore Roosevelt" Visits Grade 8

On Monday, December 17,  the 8th grade was treated to a visit from President Theodore Roosevelt! The President enthralled the students with colorful stories from his life. TR (don't call me Teddie!) was a conservationist, a trust buster, builder of the Panama Canal, and a progressive reformer. One of our most accomplished Presidents, Roosevelt was brought to life by Mr. Paul Stillman. Thank you to the Schenectady Theatre for Children and the Voorheesville Humanities Committee. LEARN MORE

Grade Six Visits Albany Institute of History and Art

On December 4th and 5th, the 6th grade class participated in the Albany Institute of History and Art's Ancient Egypt Art and Culture program. Students viewed artifacts in the museum's Egypt room that date back 4,000 years!   LEARN MORE

Chris Shaw Visits Seventh Grade

Adirondack singer, songwriter, and storyteller Chris Shaw visited the seventh grade students at Voorheesville Middle School on December 4, 2012. The morning started off with a presentation on the French & Indian War where Shaw, dressed in period clothes, educated and entertained the students with the equipment and weaponry of the war.  LEARN MORE

Turkey Challenge Food Drive a Success - Again

The Builders Club would like to thank our VMS community for all the donations to our second annual Turkey Challenge Food Drive. Once again, our food drive was a success as we collected nearly 300 items for the Kiwanis food pantry! We would also like to thank all of the teachers who participated. As a result of collecting the most items, Ms. Bryda had the opportunity to wear the turkey costume with pride. In fact, she received one quarter of the donations!       Click here to view photo

Builders Club members are busy preparing for our next project, which is selling the Bells of Life to benefit the Albany Medical Center Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Parent Portal Coming to VMS

On November 20th, we will be mailing out report cards for the first quarter. Additionally, in that mailing we will be including a letter with details about the implementation of the parent portal for middle school parents/guardians. The parent portal will allow parents/guardians to view their child's grades and assignments when teachers "publish" their grades to the portal. This web-based tool, which is already in use at our high school, has the potential to greatly improve our home-school communication. The letter will include directions for accessing the portal, as well as login IDs and passwords (parents/guardians with children in the high school will be able to use their high school ID and password to view information for their high school and middle school children).

Builders Club Food Drive - Turkey Challenge

Builders Club will be holding a food drive from November 5-16 for the Kiwanis Food Pantry.  Teachers will have boxes in front of their classrooms during these weeks.  Students can choose which teacher's box to deposit their food items in.  The staff member who collects the most cans will dress up like a turkey on Monday, November 19.  Who will be the turkey?  The students decide!  Click here for items needed.

8th Grade Students Present to Board of Education

On Monday, November 5, 8th grade students presented a New York City research project to the Voorheesville Board of Education. Students did an outstanding job in sharing their learning experience with the NYC research project, NYC gallery walk, and NYC field trip.   LEARN MORE.

Character Day Tradition Continues at VMS

Once again, students at VMS spent October 31st in "character." During the month of October, studentsselected and researched a historical figure. The students had to select a person from the time period they will be studying this year. Specifically, students in grade eight had to select a figure from American history since the Civil War, while seventh graders had to select a historical figure from before the Civil War. The sixth graders had to pick someone from global history. As part of the culminating activity, students dressed as their character and gave a speech to their classmates. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS

American Education Week

American Education Week is the week of November 11, 2012.  Parents/Guardians are welcome to visit the classes of their child.  Please come to the office and sign in.  You may pick up your child's schedule at that time.   

8th Grade Field Trip to New York City

A soggy day did not dampen the spirit of the 8th graders as they made their annual field trip to New York on October 19.  The students participated in a walking tour of the immigrant neighborhoods of the lower east side of Manhattan.  The tour, led by guides from Bid Onion Walking Tours, included sampling ethnic foods such as fried plantains, Kosher pickles, fresh mozzarella, and ice cream from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (flavors:  Green Tea and Red Bean!).  The trip ended with a ferry ride to the immigration museum on Ellis Island where students were able to walk in the footsteps of the immigrants.  CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS

Intramural Football

The 6th graders are enjoying the new intramural program at VMS. Click here to view the pictures!

VMS Morning Announcements start the week of October 8

The Blackbird TV Club will start producing and broadcasting the morning announcements the week of October 8.  This club, which is comprised of middle school students and supervised by Mr. Chaize and Mrs. Maxwell, does a daily broadcast.  A link to the broadcasts is available every morning on the VMS homepage.  You can access them by clicking on the "Daily Announcements" button under "Quick Links."

Homework HotLink now on Website

Due to a new phone system, we have been unable to post our Homework Hotline on the traditional phone extensions.  The homework is now accessible on our website by clicking the Homework HotLink on the right side of the middle school home page.  Many teachers also have blackboard accounts that allow access to their homework and handouts.  That information is available in the Open House booklets by individual teacher.

Lunch Calendar on Website

In an effort to save paper, the lunch calendar will be posted on our website and can be accessed by clicking the Food Menus link on the right side of the middle school home page.  Hard copies will be available in the office.

VMS Receives Grants from the VCSF

(September 20, 2012) The Voorheesville Community and School Foundation awarded two grants for $1000 each to the Voorheesville Middle School.  LEARN MORE

Voorheesville Open House Booklets

Download Open House booklets for Grade 6, Grade 7 and/or Grade 8 that were distributed at Open House on September 18, 2012.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

(August 22, 2012) Voorheesville Central School District complies with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), passed into law effective July 1, 2012.  LEARN MORE

Olivia Suozzo creates winning soffit design

(June 21, 2012) Voorheesville Middle School is proud to announce that Olivia Suozzo is the winner of the soffit contest. » LEARN MORE