At the end of September, our kindergarten classes visited Center Grove Orchard. Students made many science and math connections throughout the day, learning about different types of apples and how apples are produced on the farm! 🍎
about 2 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Two young boys in blue shirts feed baby goats through a metal fence at a petting zoo.
Young girl in pink boots happily feeding baby goats through a wooden fence at a petting zoo.
Four smiling children stand in front of a barn enclosure with a small calf resting inside on straw bedding.
Two smiling children pose beside a shaggy brown Highland cow behind a wire fence on a cloudy day.
Three young boys smiling and posing with arms around each other in front of a rustic wooden barn on a cloudy day.
Three smiling boys sit together on a wooden floor, holding bags of freshly picked apples; one proudly displays a red apple.
Young boy feeding black baby goats through a wire fence at a petting zoo or farm area.
Two young boys smiling and posing together on a wooden deck with a farm field and cloudy sky in the background.
Congratulations to September’s Lead Dawgs in 6th-8th grades! Great job! 🐾
about 3 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of ten smiling students standing in a gym holding certificates of achievement.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our football team as they travel to Chariton tonight. GO DAWGS! 🏈
🕖 7:30pm
📍 Chariton - Reynolds Field
about 8 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Two football players in blue uniforms sprint on the field during a night game, promoting the VM vs Chariton match on October 2 at Reynolds Field.
On National Custodian Day, we’re sending a big thank you to our amazing custodians! ✨

They help create clean, comfortable, and welcoming spaces where students can learn and teachers and staff can do their best work. Their days are filled with everything from preparing classrooms and maintaining facilities to helping with special events and seasonal projects.

Thank you to:
🌟 Mekhail Baker
🌟 Gilmar Guerra
🌟 Drew Minshall
🌟 Jacob McNair
🌟 Tom Von Rentzell
🌟 Conraddo Reyes
🌟 Esteban Romero
🌟 Carlos Solorzano
🌟 Sandra Solorzano (not pictured)

We appreciate all you do!
about 10 hours ago, Van Meter Schools
Group photo of eight custodians celebrating National Custodian Day on October 2, 2026, with cleaning supplies graphics and names listed below.
We’re proud to recognize our school leaders during National Principals Month!

🌟 Adam Lamoureux, Secondary
🌟 Cody Tibbetts, Elementary

Thank you for bringing leadership, encouragement, and dedication to our schools while supporting students and staff every step of the way. 🙌
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue notebook cover celebrating National Principals Month with photos of Adam Lamoureux and Cody Tibbetts and a thank you note.
Congratulations to all of September’s TK-5 Top Dogs for trustworthiness! You make us proud! 🐾
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Four smiling children standing indoors in front of a black wall with large blue illuminated letters.
Four smiling children stand in front of a black wall with blue illuminated geometric shapes indoors.
Four smiling children stand indoors in front of a black wall with a large illuminated blue letters V and M.
Three smiling children stand side by side against a dark backdrop with blue lights, wearing casual colorful shirts.
Three smiling children stand indoors against a dark wall with blue LED lights, dressed casually in hoodies and shorts.
Four smiling children standing indoors against a black wall with blue LED lights.
We're incredibly proud to celebrate Superintendent Deron Durflinger, who has been named the 2027 SAI Superintendent of the Year! 🎉

Deron has served as superintendent of Van Meter Schools since 2012, providing leadership focused on student achievement, innovative learning, strong school culture, and meaningful community partnerships.

This statewide honor recognizes outstanding school leadership and contributions to education. We are grateful for Deron’s continued leadership and the impact he has made on our students, staff, families, community, and schools.

Congratulations, Deron, on this well-deserved achievement!
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Portrait of Deron Durflinger, 2027 SAI Superintendent of the Year, smiling in a blue blazer and light blue shirt against a gray background.
GAMEDAY: Our volleyball team is traveling to compete in the Pella tournament tonight–let’s go, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 5:00pm
📍 Pella HS - Main Gym
🎟️ Admission: $7 for adults and students
1 day ago, Van Meter Schools
Female volleyball player in mid-air preparing to spike the ball during a match at Pella Tournament.
Schedule Update for Thursday, October 1 🚨

Due to recent heavy rainfall, the football fields at both Van Meter and Winterset are unplayable for tomorrow, October 1. As a result, all Junior High football games against Winterset will now be played at Earlham High School.

The first game is expected to begin between 5:30 and 5:45pm.
2 days ago, Van Meter Schools
VM logo above bold text announcing activities update for Thursday, October 1 on a blue gradient background.
Van Meter Schools has been named one of Iowa’s Top Workplaces for 2026 by the Des Moines Register! 🌟

We are grateful for our staff who make Van Meter Schools such a special place to learn, work, and belong!

Check out the full rankings list at https://bit.ly/3VCdtDB.
3 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Teacher instructing a student on saxophone playing in a school music room with other students and instruments in the background.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our volleyball team as they travel to take on Pleasantville tonight. Go Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 6:30pm
📍 Pleasantville HS
3 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Female volleyball player in white and blue uniform preparing to serve during a game at Pleasantville High School.
MEET DAY: Best of luck to our boys and girls cross country teams at the Williamsburg XC Invitational this afternoon. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 12:00pm
📍 Williamsburg Recreation Center
🎟️ Admission: $5 single person, $10 for two or more per car
3 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Female cross country runner wearing Van Meter uniform competing in a race with spectators in the background.
Congratulations to Coach Eric Trudo on being selected for the Thank A Coach recognition by the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Committee last week! 🎉

He’s pictured with Drake White, who represents Van Meter on the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee.
4 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Coach Trudo holding a certificate with a smiling young man, recognized as IHSAA's Thank A Coach Honoree.

Check out what’s happening this week, and come cheer on our students! ✨

A few of our events have been updated due to weather conditions, so please review the details.

5 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Weekly schedule of Van Meter school sports and activities from Monday 9/28 to Sunday 10/4, including volleyball, cross country, football, and tournaments.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our volleyball team as they compete in the Nevada Tournament today. Go get ‘em, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 8:30am
📍 Nevada HS/MS
📊 http://tinyurl.com/NevadaVB2023
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/nevada/tickets
6 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Female volleyball player in blue and white uniform jumping to hit the ball during a match in a gymnasium with spectators in the background.
Good luck to our Marching Band as they take the field at the Urbandale Marching Band Contest tomorrow, September 26 at 10:00am! 🎶

They perform at Urbandale High School. Admission is $12 per person and $5 for children ages 5 and under, with both cash and card accepted at the gate.

Best of luck to our Marching Band Dawgs!
7 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Van Meter High School marching band members in blue uniforms performing on a blue track during a performance.
GAMEDAY: Our football Dawgs are taking on the Clarinda Cardinals tonight at HOME. Good luck! 🏈
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Van Meter HS - Bulldog Stadium
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/vanmeter/tickets
7 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Van Meter Bulldogs football game announcement versus Clarinda Cardinals on September 25 at 7 PM, featuring a kicker in action on the field.
As part of a storytelling unit, 8th graders experienced a unique field trip to Kuehn Conservation yesterday, September 23. 🦋

Students had the opportunity to witness, tag, and release monarch butterflies as they began their amazing migratory journey south to forests in Central America. Dallas County naturalists led the experience and challenged students to connect monarchs, an endangered species, and storytelling traditions with the “story” of Iowa’s native tallgrass prairie.

Students also received a personal invitation to help educate others about this mysterious and wonderful insect and the importance of preserving milkweed, the monarch caterpillar’s food source, as well as its habitat and migratory overwintering destination.
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
1. Large group of students pose together beneath a leafy shade tree after participating in an outdoor activity.
Smiling teen holds a monarch butterfly on his fingers while another teen smiles behind him in a sunny prairie.
Two smiling teens each hold a monarch butterfly while standing together in a sunlit grassy prairie.
Nine teens pose together in a sunny prairie, several holding monarch butterflies after collecting them in the field.
Four students stand on a wooded trail holding large butterfly nets during an outdoor field activity.
Two smiling students pose outdoors with a monarch butterfly perched on one student’s hand beside a butterfly net.
Smiling student in a pale pink hoodie holds a monarch butterfly near her face in a sunny grassy field.
Six students with butterfly nets pose among tall grasses and yellow wildflowers under a bright blue sky.
Smiling student reaches toward a monarch butterfly perched on her hand amid yellow wildflowers and tall prairie grass.
Close-up of a monarch butterfly with vivid orange-and-black wings resting on an open hand in a grassy field.
College Savings Month highlights the power of giving savings time to grow. By beginning early and contributing along the way, families can steadily prepare for a child’s future higher education journey! 🌱

Learn more about Iowa’s 529 savings plan: https://www.collegesavingsiowa.com/
9 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue graphic promoting College Savings Month with a university building outline and VM initials at the top.
Check out this awesome shot by one of our 7th grade students, Max Bickford, from last Friday’s K-12 pep rally. We have so many talented students in our district! 📸
9 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Panoramic view of a high school gym filled with students seated on bleachers during a school event, with a large blue logo on the basketball court floor.