Falcon Forum Parent Newsletter
“AVID helped me figure out who I am and what I want for my future.”
Meet Keilani Notkin, a standout freshman at Vilseck High School whose AVID journey is already shaping her high school experience in powerful ways. From mastering her academic workload to uncovering her personal values and career interests, Keilani is proof that it's never too early to start building a strong future.
“Although I’m only a freshman, AVID has already had a big influence on my high school journey,” she says. “Academically, it’s helped me stay on top of my grades—I’ve been able to maintain all A’s and B’s. Personally, AVID has helped me grow, discover my beliefs and core values, and see myself not just as a student, but as a person.”
That growth didn’t come without challenges. Keilani recalls how overwhelming it felt when schoolwork piled up after missing just one day. “It gets extremely overwhelming,” she shares. “But thanks to AVID and my AVID tutor, I was able to get everything under control. Now I know how to handle it—and I’ve learned the importance of advocating for myself.”
One AVID strategy that has really stuck with her? “Note-taking. It keeps me up to date and helps me understand my classes better. It’s made a big difference.”
Keilani has been part of AVID since 7th grade, but she says high school AVID has taken it to the next level. “In middle school, I sometimes felt like the work wasn’t necessary,” she admits. “But now I see that everything we do in AVID is helping me in some way—whether it’s building a resume, researching colleges, or learning how to volunteer.”
That shift in mindset has inspired her to think more intentionally about the future. “Before, I was getting good grades without a real reason. Now, school is one of my main priorities. I’ve learned so much about myself and what I want to do after high school. Right now, I’m interested in going to college for either public services or zoology.”
Her advice for students thinking about joining AVID? “Don’t let your work pile up, and use your time wisely. AVID teaches you how to manage your responsibilities—not just in AVID, but in all your classes.”
Wise words from a rising star. We’re excited to watch Keilani’s journey continue—and we know she’ll be leading the way with purpose and pride.
We are grateful to the amazing community we serve, which nominated several of our teachers for Teacher of the Year. We truly appreciate your support!
We are so proud to announce that our very own Ms. Dana Panczenko has been recognized as the DoDEA Europe East District 2026 Teacher of the Year! Today we surprised Ms. Panczenko in her classroom to share the good news! Thank you, Ms. Panczenko, for your dedication to inspiring excellence and fostering a love of learning for our Vilseck Falcons!!!
Hey everyone! It's time to show off your creativity and school spirit as we gear up for an unforgettable week!
Each day brings a fun new theme, so start planning those outfits now!
🌸 Floral Day – Dress in your favorite floral prints and bring spring vibes to the halls!
🍵 Tea Party Day – Whether it’s elegant, vintage, or quirky, channel your inner tea party royalty!
✨ Disney Duos – Find a friend and dress up as an iconic Disney pair!
🏰 Dress by Class – Represent your class with these epic themes:
- Freshmen: Mystical Creatures
- Sophomores: Knights
- Juniors: Fairies
- Seniors: Royalty
😴 Sleeping Beauty Day – Rock your cozy pajamas because it’s time to relax before the big night!
Please do not bring real animals or weapons (including replicas).
Let’s make this the most spirited and stylish week ever! Who’s excited?! 💃 #PromSpiritWeek
Juniors and Seniors: Don't forget to purchase prom tickets! :)
Scroll down past the flyers sections of this newsletter to view our Upcoming School events. Also, you can click on the button below to view our full School Calendar.
All families must indicate if your student(s) are re-enrolling or will be moving out of the area. You can access re-registration at https://dodeasis.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do. Attached below is a tip sheet to further assist you in this process.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| DSIS OLRR Parent Tip Sheet 2025 (370.41 KB) | 370.41 KB |
Deadline to complete re-registration was March 28th, 2025.
The last SAC meeting was held on 3/24/25 in the VHS Library. The next SAC meeting will be held on 5/19/25 in the VHS Library.
📩 For more info, contact Melissa at dolenaoffice@jostens.com
Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway Information
DoDEA’s CTE Pathway Program offers career-related courses to students. Vilseck High School offers various career clusters designed to prepare our students for careers and continued education. Please check out this video on what we have available, and reach out to Ms. Sprague to be sure you're on the CTE pathway that is right for you!
See more information about these courses on DoDEA’s CTE website at: https://www.dodea.edu/curriculum/career-technical-education
If you are a current VHS student and any of these courses or CTE pathways interest you, see Ms. Sprague or email her at: janet.sprague@dodea.edu
📚 New Course Offerings for the 2025-2026 academic year 📚
See more information about these courses on DoDEA’s website at: https://www.dodea.edu/education/dodea-courses
If you are a current VHS student and any of these courses or CTE pathways interest you, see Ms. Sprague or email her at: janet.sprague@dodea.edu
- Sociology-Social Studies Elective
- Street Law-Social Studies Elective
- AP Environmental Science-General Elective
- AP Research-General Elective BUT part of the Capstone Diploma Program–more on that later!
- Education II to continue the sequence for the Teaching as a Profession-Education Pathway, Education III coming 2026-2027 Academic year.
- Business Law-CTE
- Sculpture -Fine Arts
- Strength & Conditioning: Athletics-Based
- Strength & Conditioning: Functional Fitness-Based
- Foundations of Fitness
- PE-Lifetime Activities
We are excited to announce our partnership with Columbia Southern University to offer The Military Child Education Coalition Heroic Hearts Scholarship.
This scholarship is designed to support a member of the military caregiving population — specifically, caregiving youth who are children and young adults actively involved in or impacted by the care needs of a wounded, ill, or injured service member. Caregiving youth can have the weight of the world on their shoulders, balancing the demands of caregiving, school, and adolescence. This scholarship will remove an obstacle, open doors, and bring career goals within reach. The Heroic Hearts Scholarship covers tuition and technology fees. Share this opportunity with 12th grade students and help make dreams a reality. Applications for the scholarship will be accepted now through April 30. Additionally, recipients may have the opportunity to receive their scholarship in person at the Military Child Education Coalition Global Training Summit in Washington D.C. in July 2025.
STEM / Engineering & Construction Camps
Click below for more information about STEM / Engineering & Construction Camps
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| Regular Hours | Office Hours | Summer Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 8:20 a.m. - 3 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Mon.-Weds., Fri. | Monday - Friday | Monday - Friday |
Thursdays are Early Release days (8:20 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to notify the school each time a student is absent. If you expect your student to be absent on a school day, please send an e-mail to the Attendance mailbox located on the right hand side of this page or call CIV: 06111-43-545-2122.
