Van Meter Community School District

Recently, our 2nd and 4th grade buddies teamed up for a festive activity—Roll a Jack-o'-Lantern! 🎲🎃

Our High School Knowledge Bowl team placed 5th at the state contest hosted by DMACC in Ankeny last Thursday! 🧠

Our students who attended:
⭐️ Ace Harcey
⭐️ Noah Champion
⭐️ Mason Bradley
⭐️ Adam Glade
⭐️ Austin Strong
⭐️ Liam Newell (Not pictured but part of the qualifying round)

Way to go! 👏

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our volleyball team as they travel to take on the Cherokee Washington Braves in the regional final! Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Cherokee HS
🎥 http://fan.hudl.com/cherokeebraves
📈 https://tinyurl.com/53vkbj7u
🎟️ https://tinyurl.com/yvkch8xk
#VanMeter

National First Responders Day reminds us how fortunate we are to have skilled and courageous individuals ready to help in times of need. Whether you’re a firefighter, EMT, police officer, or paramedic—your work truly saves lives.

Thank you so much for all you do! 🙏 #VanMeter

Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month is a reminder that every emotion teaches us something valuable. Encourage students to reflect, connect, and express their feelings in positive ways—it’s how we all grow together! 🌱 #VanMeter

Get your tickets for the High School Musical, Disney's “Newsies,” today! 🎭

Performances will take place on Saturday, November 8, at 1:00pm and 6:00pm. There will also be a 2:00pm show on Sunday, November 9.

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

Yesterday, Mrs. Swartz's English 2 class participated in a Speed Debate to kick off their new unit. Officer Cooper was even able to join the fun! 👏

GAMEDAY: Our football team is taking on the South Tama County Trojans in the 1st Round of the IHSAA football playoffs! Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏈
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
📈 https://tinyurl.com/yvts7b5m
🎟️ https://tinyurl.com/4vbuvzdx
#VanMeter

Congratulations to our girls and boys cross country teams on qualifying for state tonight!

The girls cross country team is headed back to state for the 7th year in a row! There were three standout individual finishes:
⭐️ Laura: 1st place
⭐️ Lizzy: 4th place
⭐️ Olivia: 6th place

The boys cross country team has made school history by qualifying for state as a team for the very first time! Hayden qualified individually with an 11th place finish.

Way to go, Dawgs! 🎉

Thank you, Shannon Miller, for joining our 4th grade classrooms this week to lead important conversations about digital citizenship! Your visit helped students explore what it means to build healthy media habits in today’s digital world. 💻

Celebrate Red Ribbon Week by committing to a lifestyle full of purpose and positivity. Drugs and alcohol can take away your energy, focus, and confidence—but a drug-free life helps you shine! ✨

Surround yourself with people who support your goals. We’re stronger together! 💪

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our volleyball team as they take on the Pella Christian Eagles at HOME tonight in the regional semifinals. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
🎟️ https://tickets-new.gobound.com/tickets/events/h2025100909260633977c5e74d6aa940/checkout?bare=False
#VanMeter

GAMEDAY: Good luck to our girls’ and boys’ cross country teams as they travel to the state qualifying meet at Eagle Grove tonight! Run fast, and Go Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:00pm & 4:40pm
📍 Eagle Grove Golf Course (1127 270th Street, Eagle Grove, IA 50533)
📈 www.AATiming.com
🎟️ $5 per Vehicle
#VanMeter

Let’s stand together for kindness on Unity Day! 🙌

When we wear orange, we send a powerful message that bullying has no place in our schools. Let’s show that unity starts with each of us! 🧡 #VanMeter

8th grade students spent the week exploring the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colonists! Using clues and evidence, they created arguments for what they believed happened to the colonists, then shared their ideas in concentric circles. 🕵️‍♂️

Our kindergarten students visited Center Grove Orchard to learn about apples, while the TK classes took a trip to Howells Pumpkin Patch to explore pumpkins! 🍎🎃 #VanMeter

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our volleyball team as they take on the Albia Lady Dees for the Regional Quarterfinals at HOME! Go Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
📈 https://tinyurl.com/2kym32j9
🎟️https://tickets.gobound.com/tickets/events/h202510090925580322ab9b79ac9b24f/checkout
#VanMeter

We are deeply grateful to the Legends’ Night Committee for their generous $105,000 donation toward our new stadium plaza! This remarkable gift, presented last Friday night, was made in loving memory of Van Meter's first-ever quarterback, Mike Sobotka. 🏈💙

The plaza will be a welcoming space for our community to gather and connect, honoring Mike's lasting legacy and love for Van Meter CSD.

Retired LTC David Verdi and SGM 734 Regional Support Group Operations Sergeant Major Debra Verdi recently visited our 7th graders to share a hands-on lesson about Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) in military history.

Students learned how soldiers heat their meals in the field using flameless heaters and chemical reactions.

Thank you, David and Debra, for bringing science and real-world experience into the classroom! 🙌

During National School Bus Safety Week, we’re reminding drivers to keep these safety practices top of mind when near school buses:

✅ Never speed in school zones
✅ Watch for flashing lights
✅ Expect sudden stops near schools
✅ Be cautious during pickup and drop-off times

Your care makes a difference every day—thank you! 🚌