Our elementary students had a special visitor this week! Clara Brochhausen, a teacher from Germany, spent two days at Van Meter sharing about German culture, her life abroad, and what school is like in Germany. 🇩🇪

She’s lived in Germany her whole life—except for a memorable year in Iowa as an exchange student in 2014, when she stayed with Mrs. Bachman's family.

Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade gathered in the PAC to hear her speak, and while there, she even sang to them in German. What a memorable experience for our students! 🎶

GAMEDAY: Good luck to our girls’ and boys’ cross country teams as they compete in the WCAC Meet! Go dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:00pm
📍 AC/GC HS (Guthrie Center, IA)
🎟️ Cash Only ($5/single person vehicle, $10/multiple person vehicle)
#VanMeter

The next meeting of the Van Meter Board of Education will take place Wednesday, October 15, beginning at 5:00pm in the new board room at the district office. The meeting is open to the public.

GAMEDAY: It’s day two of the WCAC Volleyball Tournament! We’ll take on the Des Moines Christian Lions. With a win, we’ll advance to the championship match. With a loss, we’ll move to the consolation match. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 4:30pm vs. Des Moines Christian
🕖 7:00pm vs. TBD (championship or consolation match)
📍 Des Moines Christian School
🎥 https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/des-moines-christian-school-urbandale-ia
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/dmchristian/tickets
#VanMeter

National School Lunch Week is a time to appreciate the nutritious meals and smiling faces that make our cafeterias special places to gather and refuel. 🍏

We’re grateful for our food service team and their dedication to providing balanced meals each day! 😊

Today, we observe Indigenous Peoples Day and honor the traditions, languages, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples. Their legacies continue to influence the world we live in today. 🤝 #VanMeter

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our varsity volleyball team today as they compete in the WCAC Volleyball Tournament! 🏐
🕖 7:00pm vs. TBD
📍 Des Moines Christian School
🎥 https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/des-moines-christian-school-urbandale-ia
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/dmchristian/tickets
#VanMeter

Mrs. Sents’ classes joined the Great Apple Crunch on October 8 to celebrate healthy eating and local food traditions! Students sampled different kinds of apples, created apple-based recipes, and prepared healthy snacks. They also learned about local orchards and the region’s connection to the Red Delicious apple. 🍎

Thank you to Jamie Champion of Dallas County AITC, the Wills Family Orchard and Deal's Orchard for donating and supplying apples for all our activities!

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our football team tonight, who are traveling to take on the Grand View Christian Thunder! Go dawgs! 🏈
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Saydel Community Schools
#VanMeter

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the unique talents and contributions of individuals with Down syndrome.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every student feels welcomed, valued, and supported. 💙💛

Thank you to the Van Meter Fire Department for spending time with our students during Fire Prevention Week! Our students learned important safety tips, explored the fire truck, and had the chance to ask great questions. 🔥🚒

We’re grateful for your partnership and continued support in keeping our community safe.

GAMEDAY: Let’s go, dawgs! Our boys and girls cross country teams are competing at the Saydel Community Meet tonight! 🏃
🕖 5:00pm
📍 Saydel HS
#VanMeter

GAMEDAY: Good luck to our volleyball team tonight as they host a triangular at home for our Pink Out Night! Go dawgs! 🏐
🕖 5:00pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
#VanMeter

During Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to building a positive school environment. Each of us—students, staff, and families—has a role in ensuring our schools are safe and welcoming. Thank you for doing your part! 🫶

GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our volleyball team as they travel to take on the Woodward-Granger Hawks! Let’s go, dawgs! 🏐
🕖 6:30pm
📍 Woodward-Granger HS
#VanMeter

Happy National Instructional Coaches Appreciation Day! Instructional coaches play a vital role in supporting teachers with strategies, tools, and guidance that strengthen classroom instruction.

⭐ Kate Lamoureux
⭐ Abby Teigland
⭐ Shawn Hyer
⭐ Renee Martin

We are so thankful for all our instructional coaches and everything they do to support teaching and learning. 🎉

During Fire Prevention Week, we encourage families to talk about their plans in case of a fire in the home. Here are some quick tips:

✅ Practice your escape plan twice a year
✅ Make sure kids know how to dial 911
✅ Teach everyone to stay low and go if there’s smoke
✅ Agree on a meetup place after evacuating the home

Find more tips: http://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/escape-planning

Schedule update 🚨

Due to today’s weather conditions, our cross country teams will now compete at the North Polk Invitational at North Polk Community Schools, 311 NE 141st Street, Alleman, IA.

➡️ 4:15pm: Middle School Girls
➡️ 4:35pm: Middle School Boys
➡️ 5:00pm: High School Girls (Varsity and JV)
➡️ 5:30pm: High School Boys (Varsity and JV)

Admission is $8 per person at https://tickets.gobound.com/tickets/events/h20241014062959352bf92cc78ac3f48/checkout. Credit or debit card only—no cash accepted.

Fan parking is available in the High School and Middle School lots. Spectators are not allowed on the west side of the creek near the bridge area.

Just a reminder for families: There will be an early dismissal on Thursday, October 9 at 1:30pm. Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place from 3:00 to 7:00pm. 🍎

There is no school on Friday, October 10.

On Friday morning, all Van Meter Bulldogs came together for various activities. It was a short, but sweet time! We love being a K-12 building! 🌟