Off the Leash is the 2026 Class 2A Iowa Vocal Jazz Champion after an undefeated season across all classes! 🎶

⭐️ Ashlan Small
⭐️ Josie Schlueter
⭐️ Kaylin King
⭐️ Ella King
⭐️ Carlee Small
⭐️ Dane Bernhardt
⭐️ Jack Krieger
⭐️ Ben Koster
⭐️ Mason Bradley
⭐️ Liam Newell
⭐️ Kaegan Wigant

Liam Newell was also named Outstanding Soloist. 🎤

Directed by Heather Barker, congratulations on an incredible season!
about 3 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of young vocal jazz performers posing with a state championship trophy, dressed in formal black attire against a blue backdrop.
Today is Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, a time to thank those who provide an extra layer of support for students.

Paraprofessionals help reinforce learning, assist with behavior strategies, and create positive learning environments. Their teamwork helps teachers and students thrive together.

We’re grateful for all you do! 💙🎒
about 6 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Teacher assisting a student with homework during Paraprofessional Appreciation Day on April 1, 2026.
Interested in having your child attend 4-Year-Old Preschool next year? Please complete the following survey if your child will be 4 years old by September 15, 2026. ✨

Fill out our interest form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuI22ruJNKFUTAU7tM2r0AdDP7cM0c3F_i0yR9lnROVALAOw/viewform.

Please note: This is not official registration. It helps us plan for next year. Official registrations will be sent later this spring to families who have completed this form.
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Two preschool children wearing headphones read a colorful book in a classroom at Van Meter Elementary School's Preschool Program.
Interested in our 2026-27 Kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program? Fill out the interest form below today! 📝

📌 If your child will be 5 years old by September 15, 2026, please complete the form linked below.
📌 If your child currently attends TK at Van Meter, there’s no need to fill this out.
📌 Considering TK? This is the correct form for you!

Interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCVK6y5kJX2v7cIlasAHkxIkmEHXLoZEnXbKO3NHK8ZeJeWg/viewform.

Please note: This is not official registration. It helps us plan for next year. Official registrations will be sent later this spring to families who have completed this form.
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Young children in a classroom at Van Meter Elementary engaged in play during kindergarten planning for the 2026-27 school year.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our varsity girls and boys runners, throwers, and jumpers as they travel to Earlham’s track and field meet this afternoon. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:30pm
📍 Earlham HS
🎥 Live results: http://live.athletic.net
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/earlham/tickets
#VanMeter
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Female athlete running a relay race on a blue track during a school track meet event.
On Friday, 20 members of VMSCC (Van Meter Student Conservation Club) traveled to Des Moines to assist Global Greens, a nonprofit, in constructing a shade structure to support greenhouse facilities where organic vegetable seedlings are started for sustainable farming. 🌱

Global Greens supports local families and promotes responsible, community- and Earth-friendly agricultural practices. Students also helped prepare a new four-section garden plot, where cold-weather crops will be planted over the next several weeks.

VMSCC’s next service project will take place in April in Coon Rapids. Students will work with natural resource technicians at Whiterock Conservancy and Green Iowa to remove invasive species, including honeysuckle, from public grounds.
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of people posing in front of LSI Global Greenhouse sign and greenhouses on a sunny day.
Rows of small seedlings growing in individual pots inside a greenhouse with labels marking different plant types.
Person wearing a dark jacket and gloves using a hoe to tend soil beside a large greenhouse on a grassy area.
Two people digging soil near a greenhouse on a sunny day with leafless trees and houses in the background.
Group of people spreading large black plastic sheeting over garden beds on a sunny day near red farm buildings and a greenhouse.
Group of people laying black plastic sheeting on a large garden plot in a residential backyard on a sunny day.
Group of people spreading a large black tarp on the ground near a greenhouse on a sunny day.
Person carrying several long metal pipes outdoors on a sunny day with others working near a wooden fence.
Group of people working together outdoors near a fenced yard with coiled pipes on the ground under a clear blue sky.
Person carrying metal beams in front of a red barn with others walking nearby on a sunny day.
Congratulations to our student-athletes who earned conference honors this Boys Basketball season! 🏀

⭐️ Andon Watson, WCAC 1st Team and IBCA All Sub-State Team
⭐️ Brody Notz, WCAC 1st Team and IBCA All Sub-State Team
⭐️ Garrison Thummel, WCAC 2nd Team

Great job!
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Basketball player Andon Watson in white and blue uniform shooting over a defender in black and red jersey number 22.
Basketball player Brody Notz dribbling past a defender with text highlighting WCAC 1st Team and IBCA All Sub-State Team honors.
Basketball player Garrison Thummel preparing to shoot, recognized as WCAC 2nd Team honoree.
Off the Leash is headed to the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships on Tuesday, March 31, at Greene County High School. They will perform at 6:55pm. We are proud to see these students represent Van Meter and share their talent on stage! 🎶
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of young vocalists dressed in black posing for a photo celebrating their acceptance into the 2026 Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships.
Over the weekend, Rick Roberts, our Athletic Director who retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year, was honored as a 2026 inductee into the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame! 🎉

Congratulations, Rick, on a remarkable career. Thank you for believing in our students, for lifting up our programs, and for leaving Van Meter better than you found it.

Go Dawgs!
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame 2026 inductee Rick Roberts with the phrase Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog.
Congratulations to these student-athletes on earning conference recognitions, and to Coach Guess for leading a great season of girls basketball! 🏀

⭐️ Avery Banks, WCAC 1st Team
⭐️ Ivy Vaught, WCAC Honorable Mention
⭐️ Lydia Thummel, WCAC Honorable Mention
⭐️ Chris Guess (Head Coach) earned 500th career win vs. Roland-Story, and now ranked among the Top 40 coaches in Iowa for all-time wins.
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Female basketball player Avery Banks in Bulldogs uniform dribbling a basketball on a blue graphic background.
Female basketball player Lydia Thummel in white Bulldogs uniform holding a basketball, recognized with WCAC Honorable Mention.
Female basketball player Ivy Vaught in Bulldogs uniform holding a basketball, recognized with WCAC Honorable Mention.
Coach Chris Guess celebrating his 500th career win against Roland-Story, marking a top 40 all-time coaching achievement in Iowa.
Best of luck to Wyni Kuehler and Mason Bradley as they take part in the All State Festival Individual Speech event at UNI on Monday. We know you’ll do great! 🙌
3 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Close-up of a microphone next to a blue poster for the High School All-State Festival Individual Speech Contest at University of Northern Iowa.
Preschoolers have been engaging in Project Approach investigations based on children’s interests and questions. This inquiry-based learning includes community experts, authentic hands-on experiences, observational drawing, and documentation of children’s deep thinking! 🔍🧠
5 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Man in a cap sits on a chair in a classroom, holding a small object while children sit on a blue rug listening attentively.
Young child sits on the floor drawing on a clipboard with a marker, focused, with colorful artwork displayed on the wall behind.
Teacher smiles while a child uses a blood pressure cuff on her arm, as other children watch during a classroom health activity.
Three children sit on a classroom rug; one smells a bundle of pine while the others watch, exploring natural materials.
Child looks through a microscope at a table, examining a sample with curiosity in a classroom science activity.
Two children paint a large object blue on a table covered with newspaper, concentrating on their collaborative art project.
Adult kneels with a stethoscope, guiding children seated on the floor as they listen and learn about how it works.
Man in a suit holds a potted plant while a child presents another plant to classmates seated on a classroom rug.

Get your tickets to reserve your seat for the High School play, “Puffs,” with performances happening tonight and tomorrow at 7:00pm in the PAC! 🎭

Come out and support our talented cast and crew as they share this fun production with our school community.

Tickets are available here: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/vanmeter

5 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of students onstage in colorful outfits and capes, smiling and posing with wands under purple theater lighting.
Two students on a dim stage, one in a white shirt and tie, the other in a black shirt, both thinking with hands on chins.
Cast members in dark robes huddle together in an emotional group hug onstage, lit by purple and blue theater lights.
Student actor with a red scarf and prop stands center stage while others sit and clap on benches in a school play scene.
Four students in colored robes stand in a row, pointing wands forward, while others sit behind them onstage.
Allison from the Dallas County Conservation Board visited 3rd grade students this week. Students learned about owls, met a real Barred Owl, and even dissected owl pellets to discover what owls eat! 🦉
5 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Elementary students sit in small groups, examining materials on paper plates while a teacher circulates in a colorful classroom.
Teacher shows a small specimen to a student at a table as classmates sort and observe materials on paper plates.
Students work in groups analyzing items on plates while a teacher leans in to guide discussion in a busy classroom.
Instructor holds a barred owl on a gloved hand, gesturing while speaking to students at the front of the classroom.
Students at multiple tables focus on hands-on sorting activity with worksheets and plates in a bright, organized classroom.
Groups of students collaborate at tables, examining materials on plates as teachers assist around the room.
Congratulations to our talented student artists from Intro to Art, 2D Art, and Adv. Art for being recognized in this High School Art Shout Out! 🎨

We’re proud to celebrate the creativity of:
⭐️ Lucas Mintle
⭐️ Sully Tinkey
⭐️ Mason Buck
⭐️ Trevor Butler
⭐️ T.J. Parker
⭐️ Jack Barney
⭐️ Gabe Allison
⭐️ Luke Steinfeldt
⭐️ Nate Schreck
⭐️ Isaac Andrew
5 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Two abstract paintings side by side; left features colorful geometric shapes with red, blue, green, and white, right shows textured black background with pink and blue intersecting lines.
Hand-drawn circular chart divided into colorful segments with two large black sections and a red square overlapping the right side.
Glossy green alien face with large black eyes on a white background.
Hand-drawn anime character with spiky red hair, black headband, and black cloak with red lining, featuring facial piercings and intense eyes.
Four rectangular cards each featuring a black tiger silhouette on different colored backgrounds: orange, pink, light pink, and gray.
A futuristic cityscape under a large full moon with colorful buildings and a glowing blue dome in the background.
Hand-drawn Patriots logo featuring bold red script with a blue outline and a stylized blue patriot head above the text.
Silhouette of a lone pine tree against a vibrant gradient sky transitioning from deep blue to purple and pink hues.
Colorful abstract painting featuring a white dolphin outlined in black, surrounded by irregular shapes in blue, green, brown, orange, and beige.
Abstract painting with swirling purples, reds, and blacks blending into a dark central void on textured canvas.
The next meeting of the Van Meter Board of Education will take place Wednesday, March 25, beginning at 5:00pm in the District Board Room. The meeting is open to the public.
7 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Announcement for VM Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:00 PM in the district board room.

Our High School students are bringing “Puffs” to the PAC for two performances on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28—both at 7:00pm. 🎭

Come out and support our talented cast and crew as they share this fun production with our school community!

Get your tickets here: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/vanmeter

8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Van Meter High School's play 'Puffs!' features a badger, a wizard hat, and magical theme on a yellow background.
We hope you had a great Spring Break, and we are excited to welcome our Bulldogs back tomorrow, March 23! 🐾
10 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue sign reading 'Welcome to Van Meter Schools' in front of a brick school building under a clear sky.
As we recognize Youth Art Month, we celebrate the role of arts education in building confident, creative learners. Students use art to express emotions, share stories, and explore new perspectives.

We’re proud of the supportive environment that allows creativity to flourish! 🎨💡
11 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue paint splash background with 'Youth ART Month' text and scattered paintbrush illustrations.
Four students competed at the Individual Speech Contest on Saturday, March 14, in Council Bluffs. All four students received Division 1 ratings for their performances! 👏

The performing students were Samantha Akers (Review and Original Oratory), Lukas Hetland (Musical Theater), Wyni Kuehler (Storytelling), and Mason Bradley (Review and Acting).

Of our four students, two were named All-State for their outstanding performances. This is a huge honor, and they will be celebrated at the University of Northern Iowa on Monday, March 30.

⭐️ Wyni Kuehler (Storytelling)
⭐️ Mason Bradley (Review and Acting)

Congratulations!
13 days ago, Van Meter Schools
High school student in a white polo shirt and black pants leaning casually against an open black gate in a garden setting with hanging plants and string lights.
High school student in a light pink off-shoulder dress standing on a sidewalk with a sunset and green lawn in the background.