Stay tucked in, Hornets! Due to current road conditions and the continued cold, Vinita Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27.
This is the chance to bundle up with a blanket and a good book. 📖 If you want a front-row seat to the hard work happening across our state, you can actually watch our ODOT crews live as they work to clear the paths and make roads safer for everyone: 🚜❄️ Watch the Snowplows Here: https://oksnowplows.org/
Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the snow day! 🐝 #VinitaHornets #HornetPride #SnowDay
SCHOOL CLOSED: Monday, January 26, 2026
Vinita Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, due to inclement weather and road conditions.
All Activities Canceled: All scheduled school activities are canceled for the day.
Traditional Snow Day: Please note that this is a traditional snow day. There will be no remote or virtual learning requirements for students.
The safety of our Hornet families and staff is our top priority. We encourage everyone to stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the day!
Remember, there will be no school on Monday, Jan. 19 due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. All school and district offices are closed as well. Enjoy your weekend and we will see you back in school on Tuesday.
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
January is School Board Recognition Month, and we are taking a moment to honor the dedicated local leaders who guide the ship here at Vinita Public Schools!
Our Board of Education members are more than just volunteers—they are the architects of our district’s direction. They manage a budget that supports 1,200+ students, 170 employees, and 4 school facilities. 🏢📚
Please join us in thanking:
📍 Dianna Just (Seat 1)
📍 Tim Williams (Seat 2)
📍 MaryAnne Boyd (Seat 3)
📍 Jim Shelton (Seat 4) 📍 (And currently working to fill Office 5)
With tenures ranging from 2 years to 35 years of service, these individuals bring a wealth of experience and a deep love for the Vinita community to the table.
Superintendent Gabe Schmidt shares: "They volunteer their time, bring valuable perspectives to the table, and work together to support the continued progress of our district. We appreciate their commitment to Vinita Public Schools." 🐝💛
Drop a "THANK YOU" in the comments below to show your appreciation for their selfless service! 👇
#VinitaHornets #SchoolBoardRecognitionMonth #PublicEducation #VinitaOK #SchoolBoardHeroes
On Monday, our teachers were treated to a wonderful breakfast hosted by our friends at Welch State Bank. There’s no better way to kick off in-service than with good food and even better company.
The morning got even brighter when our very own Mark Chamberlain took the stage, welcoming everyone back with his guitar and some fantastic music. It was the perfect note to start our year! 🎶
We hope all of our students and families enjoyed a great first day of school today. We know our dedicated teachers were better prepared and more inspired thanks to the incredible support of our community partners.
Together, we’re making this the best year yet! 💙🤍
#VinitaPublicSchools #HornetPride #CommunitySupport #BackToSchool #WelchStateBank #EducationMatters
Vinita Public Schools will be closed for Winter Break beginning Monday, December 22, 2025.
Administrative offices and classrooms will resume normal schedules for students on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Faculty and staff will report on Monday, January 5th, for a district-wide Professional Learning day.
We wish all of our VPS families a blessed Christmas and a productive start to the New Year!
We have exciting news for the Vinita High School community! Vinita Public Schools is proud to announce the recommendation of Mr. Joseph Bryson as our next HS Assistant Principal. Mr. Bryson will formally begin serving our students and staff in January, bringing his experience and passion for educational leadership to our team with his new role. This appointment is pending formal Board approval at the meeting on December 18th. Join us in extending a warm, early welcome!
🐝 HORNET HIGHLIGHT! 🐝
Meet the legendary Mrs. Karen Long! She has been a staple of Hall-Halsell Elementary & across Vinita Public Schools since 1989 and proves every single day that #OnceAHornetAlwaysAHornet!
From starting as a PE teacher to becoming our beloved counselor, she has guided generations of Hornets with wisdom, energy, and heart. She asks, "Am I too old to be here?" and our answer is a resounding NO! We are lucky to have her!
Check out her timeless advice on believing in yourself below! 👇
Happy Principal's Month to the leaders in our schools who make each day run smoothly, support students and staff and bring heart to everything they do. We're so grateful for you!
#VinitaHornets
Vinita Public Schools Announces 2025 Ratcliff, Hartley, Cresap Scholarship Recipients
Vinita Public Schools is thrilled to announce the 13 recipients of the 2025 Ratcliff, Hartley, Cresap Scholarship! Each of these outstanding students will receive a $1,000 scholarship to support their future academic endeavors.
This scholarship recognizes the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our alumni. The selection committee faced a difficult challenge this year, with an impressive group of applicants who demonstrated great attention to detail in meeting the scholarship requirements.
Hornet Highlight: Mrs. Shea Roper
This week, we're shining a spotlight on one of our dedicated team members, Mrs. Shea Roper!
Shea has been a valued part of our Vinita Public Schools family since she and her husband moved to Vinita in 2016. For Shea, it was important to be able to work and live in the same community, and we are so glad she chose to be a Hornet.
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Shea shared this: "Surround yourself with friends who bring out the best in you and love you through the ups and downs."
Thank you, Shea, for being a wonderful example of kindness and commitment to our students and community. #VinitaHornets
Important Notice: Internet and Phone Outage at HHE and VHS
This is an important message from Vinita Public Schools.
Please be aware that the internet and phone lines are currently down at Hall-Halsell Elementary and Vinita High School.
Phone calls to these sites will be routed through to the Administration Center.
A fiber line on Miller Street was accidentally cut today, causing the outage. Our technical team is working with a repair crew to restore service as quickly as possible.
We will provide an update as soon as we have more information. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
With Gratitude,
Gabe Schmidt
Superintendent
Vinita Public Schools
Good Evening Hornet Families!! We are excited to welcome you to Middle School tomorrow!
A few reminders before we begin our day:
*ALL cell phones must be turned off and put away when you enter the building.
Building doors open at 7:30am and students can enter the cafeteria to wait for the first class bell to ring at 7:55. Breakfast is available to all students when they arrive. If you arrive after 8am please enter through the front office doors.
If you have not picked up your schedule, we will have them in the cafeteria and help you with that.
If you have not picked up your Chromebook yet, please bring your $25 Technology fee with you and we will hand those out as well. (If you have picked them up, don't forget to plug them in and bring them with you to school tomorrow)
Get a good nights sleep! We can't wait to start this school year with you!
We are excited to see everyone tomorrow!
Things to be aware of for day 1:
The first bell to ring at VHS to enter the building will be at 7:30 a.m.
When you enter the building, cell phones must be in your backpack AND off for the day. We appreciate your compliance.
There will be a table with schedules for those who have not yet picked up their schedule.
Breakfast is 7:30-8:00 a.m. If you arrive after 8:00, you will enter through the front office.
Thank you, and we can't wait to kick off the new school year!