Our Local Schools: Briefs from Vandalia-Butler

Food, toy drives net more than 11,000 items

December was a busy month for food and toy drives at Vandalia-Butler City Schools. Butler High School’s National Honor Society collected nearly 11,000 items to benefit the Vandalia-Butler Food Pantry. During Butler’s Fourth Annual Adopt-a-Box program, 88 boxes were “adopted” and filled with small gifts for local children in need. Morton Middle School’s sixth grade conducted its Second Annual Stocking Drive to benefit Montgomery County Children’s Services and FLOC (For the Love of Children), filling 87 stockings and donating a bag of additional toys.

Butler High hosts Senior Center members

Butler High School hosted a Dinner and a Game night Jan. 10 for members of the Vandalia Senior Center. Attendees enjoyed a dinner of soup, salad and bread, prepared and served by high school students, followed by that night’s basketball game against Lebanon. This is the second of three events this year that are scheduled with the Vandalia Senior Center. In the fall, Senior Center members were invited to a tailgate and a football game. In March, the school will host Dinner and a Show. Events like these are part of the high school’s ongoing partnership with the Vandalia Senior Center.

Planetarium announces free public shows

The Vandalia-Butler City Schools Planetarium has announced its lineup for the second half of the school year. The Planetarium will present "Astronaut Dangers: In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream" Feb. 21; "Ceres: Exploring the 10th Planet" March 14; "Cosmic Jams: A Little Night Music" April 18; and "Pluto: A First Look" May 9. All programs begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. The VBCS Planetarium is located in Smith Middle School, 3625 Little York Road, Dayton, 45414. For more information, call 415-6400 or visit www.vbcsd.com.

Board members to be recognized

January is School Board Recognition Month and Vandalia-Butler City Schools is joining school districts across the state in recognizing those who serve on behalf of the community and protect local control. As leaders elected by the community, Vandalia-Butler’s Board of Education manages the district’s direction and ensures taxpayer dollars are wisely spent. The district will present plaques and certificates to its five board members during its regular January meeting, which is proposed for Jan. 27. Those board members include Bud Zupp, Bob Cupp, Bruce Sucher, Mary Kilsheimer and George Moorman.

Vandalia-Butler staff to receive special training

Vandalia-Butler City Schools staff will be trained in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) techniques during the district’s Jan. 20 professional development day. ALICE is a response protocol to an active shooter situation that uses technology and information to help staff and students make informed decisions, remove as many people as possible from the danger zone, and give students and staff a better chance of surviving. The training is one of many safety initiatives that are being undertaken by the district’s director of safety and attendance.

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