Middle School and High School students, get ready for a week full of spirit and FUN!
šļø Spirit Week Days:
šļø Monday: Bikers vs. Surfers
šÆ Tuesday: Twin Tuesday
š Wednesday: Athletes vs. Mathletes
š Thursday: Character Day (dress as your assigned theme or any character!)
š„ Friday: Vulcan Pride Day
šŗ ICEFEST Theme: Cartoons!
ā¢ Seniors ā Scooby-Doo
ā¢ Juniors ā SpongeBob
ā¢ Sophomores ā Winnie the Pooh
ā¢ Freshmen ā Looney Tunes
*Middle School, choose your favorite!
ā° Pep Assembly: 10:00ā11:30 AM (Ā½ day of school)
š JV game starts at 6:00 PM, Varsity to follow
š King and Queen will be crowned during Varsity Basketball on Friday night!
ššŗ ICEFEST DANCE
š Saturday, Feb. 14
ā° 7:00ā10:00 PM
šļø $5 | HS students only | Semi-formal
Letās show our Vulcan pride and make ICEFEST 2026 one to remember! š§”š¤š„
Join Womanās Life Chapter 857 for a delicious evening that supports a great cause!
š Friday, February 13
ā° 4:30ā7:00 PM
š First United Methodist Church
139 N. Main St., Vassar
āØ Free will donation
š„” Takeout available
Proceeds benefit the Vassar Area Emergency Fund serving Tuscola County, and donations of paper products and cleaning supplies will be accepted for the Vassar Area Food Pantry. Womanās Life will also match a portion of the proceeds.
Come hungry and help make a difference in our community! ā¤ļø
The hammers are ringing and the sparks are flying at Vassar! Weāve are carrying on our positive behavior recognition program, and the momentum is only building. Following last weekās debut, our halls are buzzing with students striving to embody the "Vulcan Way."
While the "Forge" is always hot with students doing the right thing, weāve drawn 12 names again from our growing collection of Positive Behavior Cards. These students didn't just follow the rules; they modeled the three pillars that define our school:
Be Safe: Protecting the well-being of the Vulcan community.
Be Respectful: Leading with kindness and honoring those around them.
Be Responsible: Owning their journey and setting the gold standard for their peers.
These winners represent the hundreds of small, honorable choices made every day in our classrooms and corridors. They prove that at Vassar, character is our greatest craft.
Congratulations to our Week Two winners! You aren't just names on a card; you are the architects of a brighter path for all of us.
MS Winners-L to R-Gemma McCarthy, Jace Scharff, Gabe Miron, Willow Johnson, Dean Pardue and Mrs. Castle (Harvey Broughton missing from photo)
HS Winners-L to R- Adrian Herrington, Haleigh Kobylski, Mrs. Castle, Marley Armstrong, Crystal Lagasse and John Adams (Rosale Baumgarner missing from photo)
Nine students from Mrs. Frahmās 5th hour Adv. Math 6 class, along with Mrs. Frahm, Mrs. Seney, and Mrs. Legue, visited Ivan Middleton Hall at the Fairgrounds to play Valentine Bingo with our seniors.
These moments help connect generations and remind our students of the importance of respect, gratitude, and community involvement. Thank you to everyone who made this visit so special!
The Senior Center is always looking for senior citizens to join them MondayāThursday. Please see the attached schedule, meal schedule, and flyer for more information. We would love to see more members of our community take part!
Vassar High School is incredibly grateful to our many local organizations, families, and community partners who generously support our students through scholarships each year. Your continued commitment makes a lasting impact on our graduates, and we truly appreciate your investment in our studentsā futures. š
š£ Attention Parents & Seniors:
Local scholarship deadlines are quickly approaching, with some applications due as early as February 15, 2026. We strongly encourage all eligible students to review the available scholarships and submit applications as soon as possible.
These opportunities can significantly reduce college and career-training costsādonāt miss out! If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Jenna Fish at jfish@vassar.k12.mi.us.
Thank you again to our scholarship donors, and best of luck to all of our applicants! š
A huge thank you to our Varsity Boys Basketball team and Asst. Coach Fish for volunteering today to help with the Pop-Up Pantry food giveaway at Vassar Eagles! Their support helped provide food to families in our community who needed it most.
We are so proud of the way you represented our schoolāshowing teamwork, leadership, and compassion both on and off the court. Way to lead in orange and black! š
We are proud of your hard work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence. Thank you to our families and staff for their continued support. Keep up the great work! š
Weāre excited to welcome Ms. Teressa Deering to the Vassar team!
Ms. Deering lives in Unionville and has spent her entire life in Michiganās Thumb area, graduating from Cass City High School. She brings 19 years of experience in education and will be teaching 9th-grade Biology and 10th-grade Earth Science.
Ms. Deering holds a Radiology degree from Ferris State University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baker College, a teaching certificate from Central Michigan University, and a Masterās degree in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University.
What Ms. Deering loves most about teaching in Vassar is how welcoming and kind everyone has been. She appreciates the supportive staff, including colleagues who have helped her get settled, and loves the positive message shared throughout the building with the many āBe Kindā signs. She also enjoys Vassarās small-town character, known as the āCork Pine Cityā for its history in lumberingāsomething that is especially meaningful since her father spent his career working as a lumberjack. She also looks forward to the townās popular Pumpkin Roll each October.
āØ Fun Facts:
ā¢ Enjoys crafting and gardening
ā¢ Previously worked as an X-ray technician
ā¢ Has taught every science class in grades 6ā12 at some point during her 19-year career
š§ Contact Information:
Email: tdeering@vassar.k12.mi.us
Conference Hour: 10:00ā11:00 a.m. daily
Please join us in giving Ms. Deering a warm Vassar welcome!
Mrs. Torrez's Careers classes participated in a Reality Fair yesterday, giving students a hands-on look at real-world financial decision-making. During this workshop, students were assigned a career, a monthly income, and expenses. They were responsible for paying all their bills, managing their budget, and setting aside money for savings.
This experience helped students gain valuable insight into budgeting and the financial responsibilities theyāll face beyond the classroom. A great step toward real-world readiness! š
š£ Meet Our New Teacher: Ms. Amanda Ladd! š£
Weāre excited to welcome Ms. Amanda Ladd to the Vassar team!
Originally from Yale, Ms. Ladd brings 12 years of experience in education and teaches 10th- and 12th-grade English Language Arts. She earned her degree from Baker College.
What Ms. Ladd loves most about teaching at Vassar is the students and staff. She appreciates the supportive, welcoming atmosphere and the strong sense of community that make both the school and town such a great place to work.
āØ Fun Facts:
ā¢ She is married and has a 15-year-old son
ā¢ She is looking forward to a great year with students and staff
š§ Contact Information:
Email: aladd@vassar.k12.mi.us
Conference Hour: 11:00ā12:00 a.m. daily
Please join us in giving Ms. Ladd a warm Vassar welcome!
Vulcans Forging a Brighter Path: Positive Behavior Winners Announced
At Vassar, we know that strength isn't just about what happens on the field or in the classroomāitās about the character we show when we think no one is looking. This week, we are thrilled to celebrate 12 outstanding students who proved that Vulcan pride is alive and well.
These students were the lucky winners of our Vassar Pride Positive Behavior Card drawing. While many students were "caught being great" this week, these individuals were recognized by staff for their display of our core values:
Be Safe: Making choices that protect themselves and our school community.
Be Respectful: Treating peers, staff, and our building with kindness and dignity.
Be Responsible: Taking ownership of their actions and leads by example.
Out of a multitude of students recognized, these 12 names were drawn as they help to represent the best of us. They remind us that every time you lend a helping hand, follow the rules, or show respect to a classmate, you are helping to forge a better environment for everyone.
Congratulations to our winners!
MS-Vincent Folino, Jaxson Long, Adalee Radick, Mason Slough and Trinity Walraven
HS-Rosale Baumgarner, Makalen Hollenbeck, Bryce Kribs, Connor Slough and Dannilin Vanderstelt
Your commitment to these values doesn't just earn you a card; it earns you the respect of your entire Vulcan family. Keep leading the way and showing the world what it means to possess Vassar Pride.
Way to forge on, Vulcans!
Weāre excited to welcome Ms. Emily Zimmerman to the Vassar team!
Ms. Zimmerman is from Frankenmuth and is beginning her teaching career after earning her degree this past spring from Spring Arbor University. She graduated with degrees in Elementary Education (Kā5), Spanish Education (Kā12), and TESOL. She completed the first half of her student teaching experience in Guatemala and is excited to use what she learned there with her students. This is her first teaching position, and she could not be more excited to be teaching High School Spanish!
What Ms. Zimmerman loves about teaching at Vassar is that even in her short time here, the staff has been incredibly supportive, kind, and encouraging. She is grateful to be part of such a caring community and to work alongside teachers and staff who uplift both their students and one another.
āØ Favorites & Fun Facts:
ā¢ Loves being outdoors ā especially running, hiking, hunting, kayaking, and camping
ā¢ An avid reader and often found with a book in hand
ā¢ Enjoys crafting, including crocheting, sewing, and embroidering
š§ Contact Information:
Email: ezimmerman@vassar.k12.mi.us
Conference Hour: 10:00ā11:00 a.m. daily
Please join us in giving Ms. Zimmerman a warm Vassar welcome!
š£ Meet Our New Teacher: Mr. Jacob Barger! š£
Weāre excited to welcome Mr. Jacob Barger to the Vassar team!
Originally from Troy and currently living in Lapeer, Mr. Barger and his wife are hoping to move into the Vassar area within the next year. He brings seven years of experience in education and will be teaching Government, Economics, and Global Studies this year. He is a 2015 graduate of Central Michigan University.
What Mr. Barger loves most about teaching at Vassar is how friendly, supportive, and helpful everyone has been. He has been incredibly thankful for the community's kindness and is excited to give that same kindness back to students and families.
āØ Fun Facts about Mr. Barger!
ā¢ Enjoys playing golf, slow-pitch softball, and fantasy football
ā¢ A huge Detroit sports fan
ā¢ Has visited 25 National Parks
š§ Contact Information:
Email: jbarger@vassar.k12.mi.us
Conference Hour: 8:55-9:55 a.m. daily
Please join us in giving Mr. Barger a warm Vassar welcome!
Vassar 6ā12 Yearbooks Are Now on Sale!
Capture the memories of the 2025ā2026 school year!
$52 per yearbook
Order by June 12, 2026
Order online: ybpay.lifetouch.com
Yearbook ID: 13043126
Weāre selling boneless chicken wings by the pound, tossed in your favorite sauce:
š BBQ
š Buffalo
š Garlic Parmesan
š² $12 per pound
š Pick up at the school
š Super Bowl Sunday ā February 8
ā° Pick-up times: 1:00ā5:00 PM (30-minute increments)
š£ How to order:
See a robotics student to place your order
š° Money due by January 30
Perfect for your Super Bowl party AND youāll be supporting our amazing robotics team. Thank you for your support! š¤š
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.
š¬ 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.
ā¤ļø 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.
š 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.
Please join us in congratulating Brett Cassidy and Lisa Heinlein on their retirement!
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.
A huge thank you and shout-out to Mr. McCloudās 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.š§”š¤
