Vassar Middle & High School

Attention Parents and Guardians of Grades 8–12 : Mental Health Awareness

On Friday, January 23, students in grades 8 through 12 will attend a special assembly as part of our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Mental Health Program. We will be welcoming guest speaker Will Heininger, who will present on mental health awareness and reducing stigma, with a particular focus on depression and anxiety.

💬 Why these sessions matter:
Adolescence is a critical time for learning how to understand emotions, recognize signs of mental health challenges, and seek help when needed. Informational sessions like this help students:

Normalize conversations about mental health

Build empathy and understanding for themselves and others

Learn that depression and anxiety are real, treatable conditions

Know when and how to reach out to a trusted adult for support

Will Heininger is a former University of Michigan defensive lineman who experienced depression as a student-athlete. He now serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Eisenberg Family Depression Center, where he works to raise awareness and reduce stigma, especially among youth and young adults. His message emphasizes that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

❤️ Important note for families:
Because mental health topics can be sensitive, some students may need additional emotional support following the presentation. Our staff, who are all trained members of our P2P team through the University of Michigan, will be available throughout the day to support students and connect them with appropriate resources if needed.

📄 Opt-Out Information:
If you do not wish for your student to attend this assembly, please return the attached opt-out form by January 22, 2026 to Mrs. Whitney. (Form was mailed to all parents)

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us foster a safe, supportive, and informed school community. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Attention parents and students in grades 6-12!

Please note that Wednesday, January 14, and Thursday, January 15, will be half days, and there will be no school on Friday, January 16.

The exam schedule is as follows:
**Wednesday, January 14: 1st-3rd hours
**Thursday, January 15: 4th-6th hours

Students will be released at 11:45 AM.

Please be aware that Tech Center students are not required to attend unless they choose to drive and use these days for make-up days, no busing will be provided.

🧡🖤 Making Community Connections! Thank You, Mr. McCloud’s 5th Hour Algebra 2 Class! 🖤🧡

A huge thank you and shout-out to Mr. McCloud’s 5th hour Algebra 2 class for their kindness and service! This class was chosen and was accompanied by Mr. McCloud, Mrs. Castle, Ms. Parker, and Mrs. Legue to visit Vassar Comfort Care and the Senior Center at Ivan Middleton Hall, for some holiday fun and making meaningful connections with our community members.

At the Ivan Middleton Hall, students played games with senior citizens and delivered Christmas placemats and cards, made by our MS and HS students. The director shared how much the seniors and staff enjoyed the visit and are already asking when students can return.

At Vassar Comfort Care, students shared Christmas placemats and cards, made by our MS and HS students and spent time with residents, bringing smiles and joy during the holiday season. Staff shared how meaningful the visit was for the residents.

We are incredibly proud of our students for representing our district with compassion and heart and look forward to taking more classes for these visits in the future.🧡🖤

We are incredibly grateful for the amazing community support! Thank you to everyone who bought a wreath to support the Vassar Robotics Team. Your contribution helps our students grow and reach new goals. 💙🤖🎄 Thank you also to Knickerbocker Farms for the beautiful wreaths!

December Newsletter from Nurse Greer!

We are committed to keeping our school community informed about emerging health concerns that may affect our young people. In this month’s School Nurse Newsletter, we are sharing important information about Kratom, a substance that has become increasingly accessible to teenagers and young adults.

Kratom is often marketed as a natural or “safe” product, but it carries significant health risks, particularly for adolescents. The newsletter includes:

An overview of what Kratom is

Potential health effects and safety concerns

Signs of use that families should be aware of

Resources and guidance for parents/guardians

We encourage you to review the newsletter carefully and reach out to our school nurse or administrative team if you have any questions or concerns.

Click here for newsletter:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAG1OTWnqHI/ZwIq9PC8T_oNvYjiyxPNdQ/view?utm_content=DAG1OTWnqHI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h1bdc69e9da

🎄 A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community Partners 🎄

This Christmas season, Vassar Schools were blessed by the generosity of the members of Charis New Testament Church in Vassar, which donated food to support 23 of our families. Their kindness is truly appreciated, and we are truly grateful for their partnership and compassion.

A special thank you goes to Nurse Greer for coordinating this effort and ensuring our families were cared for. Your dedication to our students and community shines every day.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to a wonderful community member, Pam Stillwell-Binder, who frequently volunteers her time at our school food pantry—preparing boxes, organizing donations, and helping when needed. Your quiet acts of service make a big impact, and we are so thankful for you.

❤️ To everyone involved—thank you for making this season brighter for our families. Our community is stronger because of you.

Our Advanced Art students created ceramic tribute pieces inspired by famous artists, studying each artist’s unique style and approach before bringing it to life in clay.

Can you match the artist to the artwork?
Comment your guesses below using the letters!

A. Henri Matisse
B. M.C. Escher
C. Wayne Thiebaud
D. Wayne Thiebaud
E. Louise Nevelson

Christmas break is almost here — and we’re celebrating with Christmas Spirit Week this week, Dec. 15-19. Join us by dressing up, spreading cheer, and showing off your holiday spirit. 🎁 Spirit Week themes: Monday: Twas the Night Before Christmas (Christmas pajamas) Tuesday: Santa vs. Grinch (Red vs.Green) Wednesday: Winter Whiteout (Wear all white) Thursday: Christmas Vacation (Hawaiian day) Friday: Deck the Halls/Ugly Sweater (Go all out with your Christmas clothes and accessories) Let’s have some fun, fill the halls with holiday cheer, and finish the week out strong. We can’t wait to see everyone’s festive spirit! Happy Holidays! 🎄

Check out this week's student-run Vulcan View from our middle school students!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3xuRNedSl8

A big THANK YOU to the five awesome students who helped out at the Vassar Historical Museum yesterday! 🙌📦 Gary DeKalita, Kris Cerda, Blake Karr, Gavin Martin and Carmelo Poe along with Mr. Fish and his student teacher Hayden, spent the afternoon moving items from storage into the museum’s new addition, and they did it with so much positive energy! The Historical Society members were so appreciative, and it felt like one big team effort. ❤️ Member Janet Ahrens stated, "Vassar School’s have much to be proud of, they were nice young men who are a credit to their school." Connecting to our community is important to us! We’re excited to keep building these connections between our school and the community. Days like this remind us how special our community really is. Great job, everyone! 🌟

🩺 Important Health Update for Parents Our school nurse has shared an important newsletter about the growing concern over flavored nicotine and caffeine pouches that are being marketed toward kids. Please take a few minutes to read — it’s full of helpful information on what to look for and how to talk with your child about these risks. 📄 Read the newsletter here ➡️ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fN-EloXs6swKNgVz695LF7fMFGbeCRoP/view?usp=drivesdk

🎓 Celebrating Academic Excellence!
Last Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, we had the pleasure of recognizing our outstanding Academic Letter Recipients during a special Academic Breakfast. These students have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to their studies—earning academic letters for their hard work and achievement.

It was a great opportunity to celebrate the students’ accomplishments with their parents and staff, recognizing the effort needed to maintain high academic standards. Their success reflects their determination and the support of teachers, families, and the school community.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing kitchen staff for preparing and serving a delicious breakfast for this celebration—it made the morning even more special!

Congratulations to all of our Academic Letter Recipients—you make us proud to be Vulcans! 🧡🖤

📣 Welcome to Vassar Schools, Mrs. Diana Castle-Meszaros!

We’re excited to welcome Mrs. Castle to our team as our new 6-12 Behavior Interventionist!

She brings over 30 years of experience in education, beginning her career in private schools before spending more than two decades with Beecher Schools as a teacher, principal, and central office administrator.

Mrs. Castle is passionate about helping students grow, supporting positive behavior, and building strong school connections. She shared that what she loves most about education is being on the front lines—helping students navigate challenges and celebrate their successes.

We’re thrilled to have Mrs. Castle join the Vulcan family! Read her introduction for further information about her!🧡🖤

Dear Families,

We just wanted to inform you of possible upcoming adjustments to student schedules. This week, we will be making a few adjustments in the middle school to balance a few large classes and ensure all students are receiving the support they need for academic success.

As we look ahead to the semester change, we may need to make additional schedule adjustments to continue addressing student academic needs and ensure we are meeting the needs of all learners. We will be meeting with students to discuss any changes that affect their schedules and to answer any questions they may have. Please reach out if you have any questions about schedule changes that may impact your student.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to provide the best possible learning environment for all students.

Sincerely,

Erin Raymond
6–12 Principal
Vassar Public Schools

Jenna Fish
6–12 Academic Counselor
Vassar Public Schools

Family fun at Bullard Sanford Memorial Library on Monday!

🎉 Join us in giving a big shoutout to three awesome Vassar High School students who scored exceptionally well on the SAT! 🙌 Your hard work and focus really paid off, and you’re setting an amazing example for everyone at VHS! We’re so proud of you — and grateful for the teachers and families who helped along the way. Way to go! ✨

Our 9th grade students in Mr. Schulers class, have been diving into The Gilded Age — a term coined by Mark Twain to describe a time of great wealth and progress for some, built on the hard work of many others. While America appeared golden on the surface, Twain reminded us that beneath the shine was solid steel — the struggles of underpaid workers and the reality of inequality. Students did an amazing job bringing this complex era to life through creative projects that explored both the brilliance and the challenges of this important period in U.S. history! 💛🇺🇸

🌟 A Huge Thank You to the Women’s Life Group! 🌟 We are beyond grateful for this amazing group of ladies who go above and beyond for our students and school community! 💜 Through their bake sale at the Pumpkin Roll and a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, they raised funds to purchase brand new clothes and supplies for our school nurse — helping ensure every student has what they need. But they didn’t stop there! These ladies also volunteered their time to organize the clothing closet, do laundry, and clean our room. Their kindness, hard work, and dedication truly make a difference. Thank you, Women’s Life, for always supporting our school and our community! 💕