Vernon Middle School

Google is hosting an informal come-and-go community event next Tuesday at the Wilbarger Auditorium. This is a great opportunity for the community to visit with Google officials, pick up some information and ask questions.

Today is Instructional Coaches Day and Vernon ISD has a wonderful instructional team to celebrate!! Led by Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Sarah Swatzell, our instructional coaches -- Randilyn Mayo, McCord; Amanda Brown, Vernon Elementary; Dody Lehman, VMS/VHS; and Jammie Hamm, VMS/VHS -- provide our teachers with tips and support to help them be the best they can be in the classroom. Thank you for all you do for our teachers and for our students!

Today is World Teachers' Day and Vernon ISD has amazing teachers at every campus and every grade level who care about YOUR children's -- THEIR students' -- education.

We'll be having a blast at the VMS Gym on Tuesday, Oct. 20 when we will be hosting our annual VMS Fall Festival!! To make the festival the best one yet, we need volunteers to help and donations of candy!! If you would like to help out, please scan the volunteer or donation QR code below, or contact the school office.

Receiving our VMS Student of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 2 were: 6th Grade -- Charley Booth & Nelson Cruz; 7th Grade -- Keely Lehman & Landon Bavousset; and 8th Grade -- Luke Parmer. Congratulations!! Great job!

Our Lions open District 4-3A, D1 action this Friday night in Paradise where they'll battle the Panthers! Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/pisd/L2VtYmVkL2FsbA%3D%3D
and also at the gate. However, if purchasing with cash no bill higher than a $20 will be accepted.

We're few days into the month of October and Monday marks the first full week of the month. Here is the VISD October Cafeteria Menu. All students at VISD have the opportunity to receive a free breakfast and lunch every day.

🦁 Your monthly Dudes on Duty reminder!
Help welcome our students with high fives, smiles, and a positive start to their school day!
Please remember: You MUST be an approved VISD volunteer before signing up for Dudes on Duty. https://bit.ly/VISDVolunteerApplication

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Complete the Dudes on Duty Google Form:
https://bit.ly/DudesOnDutyVISD
Choose the VISD campus and date you would like to volunteer.

Choose your morning.
The primary Dudes on Duty role is simple: stand at a campus entrance during morning arrival and greet students as they come to school. A smile, high five, fist bump, or encouraging word is a great way to start their day!

Wait for confirmation.
Once you submit the form, your requested date will be sent to the appropriate campus for approval. Submitting the form does NOT automatically confirm your date. You will receive an email once your Dudes on Duty date has been approved by the campus.

Be a Dude on Duty!
Once your date is confirmed, show up on your scheduled morning and help us give our students a great start to their day!

Today is School Custodian Appreciation Day and custodians at all of our campuses were treated to cupcakes today in celebration. We have an amazing custodial crew who work tirelessly to make sure our teachers and other staff members have a clean place to work and our students have a clean place to learn. We couldn't make it without each and every one of them. The district, along with their campuses, appreciate all they do each and every day!!

REMEMBER -- Thursday is an Early Release Day for Vernon ISD due to the football game being on the road. We will operate on our regular school-day schedule on Friday.

There was fun and good food to be had last Friday at our Lions Roar Homecoming Tailgate, that was held in front of the Vernon Elementary School prior to the kickoff of the homecoming football game. Kiddos tried their hand at calf roping, throwing a football, catching a water balloon, and face painting.

Vernon ISD currently has openings for two custodians. Both positions are full time and include benefits. To apply, please go to www.vernonisd.org and click on the employment button.

Due to the varsity football game being played on Thursday, our JV game and Middle School games are being played on Wednesday. The JV game will begin at 5 p.m., Wednesday at Leo Brittain Field at Lion Stadium. Tickets for the JV game must be purchased online at https://www.vernonisd.org/page/ticket-purchases
The Middle School games are being played in Idalou, with the 7th grade game starting at 4:30 p.m. and the 8th grade game to follow. Tickets in Idalou are purchased at the gate; however, it is CASH ONLY.

Earning our Student of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 21-25 were: 6th Grade -- Sophie Adams & Winston Whittington; 7th Grade -- Nillianna Hines & Xavier Gomez; and 8th Grade -- Bryleigh Owens & Logan Ware (not pictured). Outstanding work!! Congratulations!!

Our Vernon Lions are 3-2 following their 17-0 homecoming victory over Iowa Park and this week we will be on the road in Idalou taking on the Wildcats. Idalou is 5-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state's Class 3A, DII poll. Remember the game is being played on Thursday. VISD will operate on it's early release schedule Thursday and will have a regular school day Friday. Game tickets are sold at the gate, however it is CASH ONLY.

VISD students will get a day out of school Tuesday, as it is Parent-Teacher Conference Day. Parents should have received information from their child's campus about conference day. We ask that parents please schedule an appointment to visit with their child's teacher/teachers. Scheduling a visit makes it easier on both the parents and the teachers. While we will not turn a parent away, if a visit is not scheduled, the parent may have to wait until their teacher/teachers have an opening and can visit with them. Vernon ISD encourages parents to take advantage of these opportunities to become involved in, and ask questions about, their child's education.

It's Homecoming Friday!! Our Lions will be hosting the Iowa Park Hawks in tonight's 2026 Homecoming Game at Leo Brittain Field at Lion Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. General admission tickets must be purchased online at:
https://www.vernonisd.org/page/ticket-purchases
Single game, reserve seat tickets may be purchased until NOON today at the Vernon ISD Administration Building. The Homecoming Pep Rally will begin at 3:15 p.m., in D.O. Fulton Gym. The Homecoming King will be crowned at the pep rally, while the Homecoming Queen will be crowned during halftime ceremonies at the football game. Good Luck Lions!! Pluck The Hawks!!

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!!
Our Lions Roar Homecoming Tailgate Party will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in front of the Vernon Elementary School!! Come on and join in the community fun!! There will be plenty of games to play and delicious food to try from the different food trucks! When the party closes down, head across the street and cheer on the Lions as they battle the Iowa Park Hawks in the Homecoming Game!! And, witness the crowning of the 2026 Homecoming Queen during halftime ceremonies!!

Vernon ISD is conducting a Stakeholders Survey and we need your help. If you are a parent of a VISD student, an employee of VISD, a student, or a community resident, we ask you to please take a moment to complete our survey. The survey is anonymous. However, every survey is important to us and all comments will be read. Your comments help us determine our areas of strength, and the areas where there is room for improvement. Please follow this link https://bit.ly/visdsurvey2026 or scan the QR code below to complete the quick 5 to 10 minute survey.

The Vernon Wrestling Club is having a parent meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, at the Vernon Elementary School. The club is open to all area youngsters age 4 to 8th grade. To register for the club scan the QR code below or go to www.wrestlingig.com/vernonwrestlingclub/register/vernon-wrestling-club-2026-2027
Everyone will be able to finish paperwork during the meeting. For more information, email vernonwrestlingclub@gmail.com