The Roarin' Lion Band Banquet was held Saturday evening and several members of the band were honored. Receiving awards were: Elide Corona & Julian Rodriguez, Outstanding Color Guard Members; Georgia Balderas & Luis Perez, Outstanding Marching Band Members; Flora Ortega, Outstanding 8th Grade Band Member; Edgar Morales, Outstanding 9th Grade Band Member; Marianna Ortega, Outstanding 10th Grade Band Member; Savannah (Sam) Thomas, Outstanding 11th Grade Band Member; and Alex Rivera, Outstanding 12th Grade Band Member. The John Phillip Souza Band Award went to Elida Corona.
Nine band seniors each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Band Boosters. Those seniors were Addison Ballard, Electra Boatman, Elide Corona, Matthew Goodrum, Emily Martinez, Vanessa Morales, Alexandria Orton, Fernanda Perez and Alex Rivera.
The community is invited to a Meet and Greet for incoming head band director Jeremiah Hastings. Stop by the VISD Administration Building on Wednesday, grab some cookies and punch, and meet the new leader of the Vernon Roarin' Lion Band!
Our district continues to be amazing!! With just a one-day notice, our students, teachers and staff donated a total of $906 for Paxton Barclay, a first grade student in Valley ISD who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Multiple school districts to the west and south of us participated in the Wednesday "Hats On For Paxton" event. Thank you Vernon ISD!!
During the National Honor Society induction ceremony last night, while the new inductees received their certificates, the senior members of the 2023-24 NHS received their NHS Stole to wear during commencement exercises. Those seniors included: Marli Limon, Christopher Martinez, Rufaro Mubvumba, Freddy Alex Rivera and Kale Sherrill.
The VHS National Honor Society inducted new members Thursday evening during an induction ceremony held in the cafeteria. Six sophomores and one senior were inducted. During the ceremony, the NHS qualities of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character were presented, and the inductees recited the NHS pledge before receiving their certificates. NHS inductees included senior Freddy Alex Rivera, and sophomores Keigan Ballard, Mason Ballard, Zayley Horn, Carleigh Ivy, Jeana Martinez and Klancy Sherrill.
Our VHS Drill Team is having a bake sale on Saturday!!! A perfect opportunity to buy a sweet treat for your mom for Mother's Day! Be sure and stop by and check out all the goodies!!
Vernon High had 4 entries in the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tennis Tournament and 3 of those entries will move on to the Class 3A State Tournament. Kell Castleberry was the Boys Single Region 1 champion, while Jonathan Medina and Nevan Schur were the Region 1 champs in Boys Doubles. Christopher Martinez and Matthew Goodrum finished second in Boys Doubles to also qualify for the state tourney. Rufaro Mubvumba picked up the bronze medal in Girls Singles. She had a playback to qualify for state, but lost that match, 6-2, 6-2.
Vernon ISD is pleased to announce Jeremiah Hastings has accepted the position as head band director of our district band program. Mr. Hastings comes to us after serving as the director of bands at Cooper ISD for 13 years. Please join us in welcoming him to the community. A public come-and-go meet and greet for Mr. Hastings will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, in the boardroom of the Administrative Center.
Our Lions dominated the boys division of the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tournament by capturing two event championships, one second place and qualifying five for the State Tournament. Kell Castleberry won the Boys Singles title by picking up a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the championship match. It was an all-Vernon Boys Doubles final, with Jonathan Medina-Nevan Schur defeating Christopher Martinez-Matthew Goodrum, 6-3, 6-4. In Girls Singles, Rufaro Rubvumba won her third-place match 6-2, 6-3, and will be in a playback for a shot at advancing to the State Tournament. Her playback begins at Noon.
Yesterday our VISD Grounds and Transportation Department held its annual hamburger cookout and presented their end of the year awards. Kenneth Reynolds was named the Custodian of the Year, while Kenneth Newton received the Maintenance Worker of the Year award. The Bus Driver of the Year award went to Steve Azbell. We greatly appreciate all of our custodians, maintenance workers and bus drivers. Your behind-the-scenes work is invaluable to Vernon ISD. It would be hard for the district to function without all of you!! Thank you for another great year!!
All of our boys competing in the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tournament have advanced to tomorrow's finals. In Boys Singles, Kell Castleberry won his semifinal match 6-1, 6-0, while in Boys Doubles Christopher Martinez-Matthew Goodrum rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory in their semifinal match and the duo of Jonathan Medina-Nevan Schur went to a tiebreaker before pulling out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) win. The Vernon boys doubles teams will square off against other tomorrow in the finals. Rufaro Mubvumba lost her semifinal match in Girls Singles 6-1, 6-2, and will play for third place tomorrow. Great job everyone and good luck!!
All of our VHS tennis players are moving on to the semifinals at the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tournament being played in Abilene. Kell Castleberry won his second round Boys Singles match 6-0, 6-0; Christopher Martinez-Matthew Goodrum won their second round Boys Doubles match 6-1, 6-0; and Jonathan Medina-Nevan Schur went 3 sets but pulled out a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 victory to move on. And, in Girls Singles, Rufaro Mubvumba won her first round match 6-0, 6-4 and advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the second round. Semifinal matches will be played later today.
Here are more pictures of our Roarin' Lion Band performing during the Annual Spring Concert. The band was joined onstage by the 7th Grade Band for one song. Toward the end of the concert, senior members of the Roarin' Lion Band thanked co-directors Aaron Burr and Dianne Koch for being both director and friend during their 7 years in the band program. Also during the concert, Mr. Burr and Ms. Koch said their goodbyes, as Ms. Koch is retiring and Mr. Burr is changing careers. We thank them for all they have done for the Roarin' Lion Band and band program. They will be missed and we wish them well.
The Vernon Middle School and High School Band Department presented its Annual Spring Concert last night. Here are some photos of our Roarin' Lion Band as it performed.
In the first round of the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tennis Tournament, Kell Castleberry won his first round Boys Singles match 6-1, 6-0; Christopher Martinez-Matthew Goodrum won their first round Boys Doubles match 6-0, 6-0; Jonathan Medina/ Nevan Schur wono their first round Boys Doubles match 6-1, 6-0. Rufaro Mubvumba has not played her Girls Singles match yet.
Tuesday, the names of VHS students with perfect attendance for the last two weeks were entered into a drawing for a free Kona Ice. Those lucky enough to have their names drawn were Hunter Boatman, Tristan Arellanos, Christian Martinez, Bu Meh, Israel Espinoza and Mari Johnson. Not pictured are Jairy Vazquez and Jadee Cordero. The Kona Ice wa provided by the VMS & VHS PTO.
GOOD LUCK!!! To our tennis regional qualifiers who are playing in the Class 3A Region 1 Singles & Doubles Tournament today and tomorrow in Abilene!!
Today is School Nurse's Day and we have 3 of the best there is. Amanda Thomas, Jennifer Walker and Rhonda Garrett -- for all of the runny noses you've wiped; the scraped knees you've bandaged; the upset stomachs you've helped settle and everything in between -- we THANK YOU!! VISD is lucky to have the 3 of you providing health care, and at times health education, at our campuses!
Valley ISD reached out to area school districts concerning a first grade student who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Valley ISD is holding a fundraiser "Hats On For Paxton" tomorrow to help the young man and his family, and Vernon ISD is joining in. For a $1 donation, students, teachers and staff will be allowed to wear their cap/hat in class. Teachers will collect donations in their classrooms.
Vernon ISD Supt. Dr. Kermit Ward and Asst. Supt. Blaise Boswell are busy cooking hamburgers this morning, the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. Today they are cooking burgers for teachers at McCord Elementary, DAEP, Opportunity Center, AFP and WSSA. On Tuesday, they will be cooking for the teachers and staff at Vernon Elementary, and Wednesday it will be the teachers and staff at Middle School who will get to enjoy the burgers. Vernon High School teachers and staff will receive their hamburger lunch on Thursday. On Friday, custodial, maintenance and bus barn staff will be treated to a hamburger lunch.
