The Labor Day weekend VMSCC Senior Trip to the Black Hills was a four-day adventure filled with hiking, camping, history, culture, and spectacular South Dakota scenery! 🥾✨

Along the way, students explored Badlands National Park, hiked Bear Butte while learning about its significance to the Lakota people, toured Wind Cave, climbed Black Elk Peak, swam at Sylvan Lake, and spent two nights camping under the South Dakota sky.

The group returned home Monday after a memorable weekend of challenging hikes, wildlife, exploration, and plenty of time outdoors.

This trip was made possible in part by the Connie Saylor Wilderness Education Grant. Thank you!
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of ten people standing beside a dark van in a parking lot with mountains and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
Group of nine hikers posing on a rocky plateau with expansive rugged canyon landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
Group of seven young people posing in front of a white teepee set in a grassy, wooded area on a sunny day.
Four people posing behind a cutout board shaped like corn stalks with their faces showing, at the World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Group of seven people posing in front of a large corn sculpture and murals depicting historical agricultural scenes on a sunny day.
Four young people wearing cowboy hats and bandanas inside a rustic souvenir shop with wooden walls and clothing racks.
A small prairie dog sitting on sandy ground near sparse green grass under sunlight.
Three people sitting on grass facing rugged rock formations under a clear blue sky near a black van with blue and white lettering.
Large American bison standing in a grassy field with a road and greenery in the background.
Two hikers stand on a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast forested mountain landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
On September 12, eleven members of VMSCC attended the 2026 Dallas County Conservation Prairie Awakening event at Kuehn Conservation. Students volunteered at craft stations and played traditional Native American children’s games. Many participated in the powwow celebration, which included cultural dancing, singing, and storytelling. ⭐️

VMSCC students also assisted children with holding and releasing monarch butterflies. Once released, the monarchs took to the skies, beginning their long journey south. What a wonderful way to celebrate Iowa's prairie heritage!

Van Meter Student Conservation Club is open to 8th through 12th graders at Van Meter CSD. Students perform service work to celebrate and protect Iowa's natural resources. 🌻

Questions? Email Mrs. Schreck at kim.schreck@vmbulldogs.com.
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Crowd gathered outdoors near a rustic wooden structure with flags under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Group of people sitting on grass and folding chairs on a sunny day, watching an outdoor event in a park-like setting.
Children and an adult gathered around the base of a tree, closely examining something on the ground in a grassy outdoor area.
Three teenage girls smiling and posing together outdoors on a sunny day with trees and people in the background.
Young woman wearing sunglasses gently holding a small tabby kitten outdoors under leafy trees.
Two teenage girls smiling and standing back-to-back under a tree in a grassy park on a sunny day.
Three young people sitting on grass near a tree, examining a round stone and a bucket labeled ACE.
Group of young people standing in front of a large outdoor wooden structure covered with dried branches on a sunny day.
Two young Native American dancers in colorful traditional regalia perform outdoors with spectators seated behind them.
Native American dancer in vibrant traditional regalia performing outdoors on grass with spectators seated in the background.
Our 1st grade classes get to meet with their 5th grade buddies multiple times each month. These special buddy experiences give students opportunities to build meaningful relationships, practice problem-solving and teamwork skills, and enjoy fun learning experiences together.

We love watching these friendships grow throughout the year! 💙
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Three smiling boys stand behind a classroom table with Chromebooks, surrounded by colorful student artwork.
Three smiling girls sit together on a school hallway floor, with the center student holding an illustrated paper.
Three boys sit together in a cozy classroom reading corner, one holding a book while the others look on.
Three smiling boys gather around a classroom table with a Chromebook and colorful markers.
Three smiling boys sit on a classroom floor with an open picture book while another student reads nearby.
GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our volleyball team as they travel to Madrid for today’s triangular. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏐
🕖 5:00pm
📍 Madrid HS
🎥 https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/madrid/organization/17316/madrid-high-school
🎟️ https://beta.gobound.com/ia/schools/madrid/tickets
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Volleyball game day announcement featuring Bulldogs vs Tigers at Madrid High on September 15 at 5 PM.
Today is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month! 🎉

Now through October 15, we recognize the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and the many ways they have shaped our communities and nation.
8 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Colorful graphic celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, 2026, with decorative floral accents and bold typography.
Our 1st grade classes have been enjoying the activities in the new Illustrative Math curriculum! 📚
9 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Four students practice math at a classroom table with colorful learning cards, worksheets, and pencils.
Students work in pairs at classroom tables, using math cards, worksheets, and pencils to solve problems.
Four students work around a classroom table using colorful math cards, worksheets, and pencils.
Two students complete math worksheets at a table surrounded by green and yellow learning cards.
Two students practice math together as one holds up number cards and the other studies a worksheet.
MEET DAY: Good luck to our cross country teams as they travel to compete in the Mike Carr Invitational this afternoon–go Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:30pm
📍 Ballard Golf & Country Club
🎟️ $5 per K-12th grade student and adult (cash only)
#VanMeter
9 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Four female cross country runners in team shirts standing on a track with trees and bleachers in the background at Ballard Golf & Country Club.
Check out what’s happening this week, and come cheer on our students! ✨
10 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Weekly schedule of Van Meter school sports and activities from Monday 9/14 to Sunday 9/20, including volleyball, football, cross country, and dance events.
Happy National Grandparents Day! 🙌

We want to take this opportunity to recognize the grandparents who fill our lives with love, encouragement, wisdom, and so many special memories. Thank you for being there for our students!
10 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Elderly hands gently holding younger hands symbolizing love on National Grandparents Day with bold blue and black text.
Members of the Student Leadership Team went to Norwalk on Wednesday for a leadership conference! They discussed communication styles and created a mission statement for SLT. 🤝
12 days ago, Van Meter Schools
A group of six teenage boys collaborating on a large poster in a gymnasium setting, focused on writing and drawing.
The 2025-26 yearbooks are here! 📚

Missed out on ordering a yearbook? You still have a chance to snag one! We have a very limited number of yearbooks remaining, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The cost is $50. Please bring cash or a check to purchase your yearbook.

If your child graduated last year, their yearbook is ready for pickup in the Secondary Office.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone, so don’t wait!
12 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Two teenage boys in a classroom proudly hold 2026 yearbooks with 'Van Meter Bulldogs' on the cover, smiling at the camera.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our football team as they travel to take on the Winterset Huskies. Let’s go, Dawgs! 🏈
🕖 7:30pm
📍 Winterset - McGaffin Field
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@WintersetHuskies/streams
🎟️ https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/winterset/tickets
12 days ago, Van Meter Schools
High school football player in blue uniform running on field during night game with 'Game Day' text above and matchup details for Winterset on September 11.
Today, we take a moment to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001. May we continue to honor their memory and the strength our nation demonstrated in the days, weeks, months, and years that followed. 🇺🇸
12 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue background with faint American flag, Twin Towers silhouette, and text remembering September 11, 2001.
Congratulations to eight of our current 4th graders who scored in the top 2% of students in the state of Iowa on last year’s State Assessment in mathematics, when they were in 3rd grade! 🎉

This is an outstanding accomplishment, and we are so proud of our students! ⭐️
13 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Eight 4th graders posing inside a gold frame, recognized for ranking in the top 2% in Iowa math on last year's State Assessment.
Congratulations to the Van Meter 2026 Homecoming Court! 🎉

Reminder: Homecoming Week kicks off this Sunday with the Grudge Match, Powderpuff, and The Goose Ice Cream Social.

A special thank you to Shannon Payne for always capturing such wonderful photos of our students! 📸
14 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Group photo of the 2026 Van Meter Homecoming Court with five girls in white Bulldogs shirts and five boys in blue football jerseys/shirts.
Schedule Update for Tuesday, September 8 🚨

Due to forecasted weather conditions, Winterset School's Junior High and High School cross country meet scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, has been canceled.
15 days ago, Van Meter Schools
VM logo above bold text announcing activities update for Tuesday, September 8 on a blue gradient background.
We’d like to welcome Haley Sunderman to our district! 🎉

Haley joins us as an associate. Originally from Le Mars, she is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Omaha. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and crafting.

We’re excited to have Haley on the team and look forward to all she’ll bring to our district. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome! 👏
16 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Portrait of Haley Sunderman, associate at Van Meter Schools, with Bulldogs logo and welcome message on blue paw print background.
Today, we join communities across the country in recognizing Labor Day. Thank you to the many hardworking individuals who help make our community a great place to live, learn, and grow! 🇺🇸
16 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue Labor Day greeting with silhouettes of workers holding tools and the date September 7, 2026.
Check out what’s happening this week, and come cheer on our students! ✨
17 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Weekly schedule of Van Meter school sports and activities from Monday 9/7 to Sunday 9/13 with detailed event times and locations.
We’re excited to introduce Nicole Darling, who will be joining us as our administrative office assistant! 💻

Nicole is from Story City and attended Central College. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing recreational sports like volleyball and pickleball, exercising, and attending live music events and concerts.

We are excited for Nicole to bring her skills and support to our team. Please join us in welcoming her! ✨
17 days ago, Van Meter Schools
Welcome to Van Meter Schools graphic featuring Nicole Darling, administrative office assistant, with Bulldogs branding.