Deckside Dispatch

Deckside Dispatch – What It’s All About

Deckside Dispatch is your go-to hub for all things Pirate Nation! It’s designed as a central place to keep students, families, staff, and community members in the loop—especially those who may not be on Facebook or social media.

Through Deckside Dispatch, you’ll find:

School News & Announcements – important updates straight from the source.
Event Highlights – from sports to concerts, field trips to fundraisers, all the big moments are covered.
Celebrations & Spotlights – shining a light on student achievements, classroom projects, and Pirate pride.
Community Connections – information on partnerships, local events, and ways to get involved.

Think of it as a school news page with a pirate twist—fun, friendly, and full of the latest happenings at Verndale Public School. Whether you’re a parent, student, alumni, or neighbor, Deckside Dispatch makes sure you never miss a beat on what’s happening around the deck.

Our “Through the Eyes of…” series is a weekly spotlight designed to showcase the incredible learning, creativity, and school spirit happening across Verndale Public School.

Each week, a different classroom or department is featured. Teachers share a glimpse into what their students have been learning and experiencing, along with photos that bring those moments to life. From hands-on projects to everyday achievements, this series highlights the unique experiences that make VPS special.

The series will run for 30 weeks throughout the school year, giving our community a chance to celebrate the wide variety of learning and activities happening at every level of our school.

Follow along each week as we see Verndale Public School “Through the Eyes of…” our classrooms and departments!

Click on the Image to the Right to open our Series!

Pirate Pride Runs Deep!

Our Pirate football players left everything on the field yesterday in a hard-fought battle against the Ogilvie Tigers, marking the end of our 2025 Pirate football season. While the loss was a tough one, we couldn’t be prouder of this group of athletes and the heart they showed all season long.

Now it’s time to cheer on our #3 Lady Pirates as they hit the court tonight against #6 LPGE! Every serve, every dig, every swing matters — it’s time to fight for every point!

Please note: Season passes will not be accepted at tonight’s game.
Tickets can be purchased at the door — $5 for students and $10 for adults — or online here:
https://tickets.gobound.com/tickets/events/h20251019065842655b023a0388f9348/checkout

Verndale Homecoming Coronation
What an incredible night celebrating Pirate Pride at our 2025 Homecoming Coronation!
The night was filled with excitement, school spirit, and pride as we honored this year’s representatives.

Homecoming Queen: Emily Elfstrum
Homecoming King: Zain Waldahl

Senior Royalty:
Elli Baker & Hollister Heinz
Keeley Dick & Hunter Knudson
Robyn Mayer & Bryce Schmitz

Junior Class Representatives:
Brooke Goddard & Kyler Vertina

Sophomore Class Representatives:
Grace Kveton & Carrson Dick

Freshmen Class Representatives:
Lexi Captain & Brock Madsen

Crown Bearers:
Eliza Greer & Emmett Seals

Coronation Emcees:
Delaynee Stropko & Gracelyn Greeno

Special Entertainment:
A heartfelt thank-you to Angelica Arroyo for her beautiful performance, accompanied by Mr. Brian Sterriker.

A huge thank-you to everyone who helped make Coronation Night so special — from our Student Council and staff to all the families and fans who came out to support our Pirates!

SCAM ALERT on High School Students:

This post originated on the Morrison County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, but we at Verndale School, want to warn parents/guardians/families.

Please read below:

Law Enforcement Warns of Scams Targeting High School Students

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is warning parents, students, and educators about a rise in online scams targeting high school-aged youth. These scams often take place through social media, text messages, and email, and can have serious financial and emotional consequences for victims.

Two of the most common scams currently affecting local teens are “sextortion” and financial fraud schemes.

Sextortion Scams:

Scammers contact teens online, often posing as someone their age, and convince them to share explicit photos or videos. Once shared, the scammer threatens to post or send the content to friends and family unless the teen pays money or provides more images. These crimes can cause significant emotional distress and should be reported immediately to law enforcement.

Financial and Gift Card Scams:

In other cases, scammers pose as friends, romantic interests, or online sellers. They may ask victims to send money, buy gift cards, or share personal information to “claim a prize” or “help with an emergency.” These scams typically result in financial loss and may expose victims to further identity theft.

Parents and guardians are urged to talk with their teens about online safety. Encourage youth to:

• Never share personal or intimate images online.

• Avoid sending money or gift cards to anyone they haven’t met in person.

• Report suspicious or threatening messages to a trusted adult and local law enforcement.

• Block and report suspicious accounts on social media platforms.

If you or someone you know is being targeted by a scam, contact the County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement immediately. Do not pay or respond to the scammer.

Homecoming Week Kickoff! Day 1

Monday was PJ Day, and what a wonderful way to start Homecoming Week! We loved seeing all our Pirates cozy and creative in their pajamas.

Student Council also hosted a flag football game during high school lunch today — so much fun and school spirit out on the field.

Don’t forget, Homecoming Coronation is tonight at 7 PM in the Ted Masog Auditorium — come cheer on your royalty.
And tomorrow’s dress-up day is Jersey Day. Let’s see those team colors, Pirates!

Day 2 of Homecoming Week – Jersey Day!

Pirate pride was strong today as students and staff sported their favorite team jerseys!
We loved seeing all the team spirit throughout the school—what a fun day to be a Pirate!

Tomorrow’s Dress-Up Day: Class Colors!
Show your Pirate Pride by wearing your class color:
Seniors: Black
Juniors: White
Sophomores: Blue
Freshmen: Pink
8th Grade: Red
7th Grade: Camo
5th & 6th Grade: Orange
3rd & 4th Grade: Purple
PreK–2nd Grade: Green

Let’s fill the halls with color tomorrow, Pirates! 💚🏴‍☠️

Homecoming Week Here!

Verndale Public Schools will be celebrating Homecoming Week from Monday, October 6th through Friday, October 10th!

Our Student Council is excited to bring lots of Pirate pride and school spirit throughout the week. We can’t wait to see both our school and community join in the fun and celebrations!

Stay tuned for more details on dress-up days, activities, and events!

Meet Our Senior Homecoming Royalty!
Front Row (L to R): Robyn Mayer, Emily Eflstrum, Keeley Dick, Elli Baker
Back Row: Hollister Heinz, Zain Waldahl, Bryce Schmitz
(Not pictured: Hunter Knudson)

Mrs. Jones’ 1st Grade class had a sweet surprise!

Ice Cream Sundaes!

Each month, students set a goal to earn tickets by being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. September’s goal was 125 tickets for an ice cream treat… and they went way above it, earning 203 tickets!

Mrs. Jones counts the tickets at the end of each month so it’s always a surprise to the kids when they reach their reward.

Next month’s goal? Movie & Popcorn! We can’t wait to see if they reach it!

Check out the Pictures Below!

Welcome to the Deckside Dispatch!

Deckside Dispatch – What It’s All About