STC Newsletter

During the summer months when you see the "care bus" out or about, please stop in to say hello, help spread the word to others, make a referral, donation or find out what our needs are.

Meet the Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson by appointment during the summer. She is available to help students and families succeed with resources, referrals and donated items to help during a family trauma, crisis or setback.

The best way to reach the family advocate is via cell, 612-202-7366.

Plan to fill the summer days with fun activities to make family memories that everyone will enjoy! It is a great time to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer: hiking, gardening, long or short walks, biking, swimming and water sports, fishing and camping, traveling and more! No need to go far from home if that's not your style (or within your budget), pitching a tent in the yard can be fun for kids of all ages! Your summer calendar can fill up fast with Vacation Bible School, baseball/softball games, (and other sports), County Fair, swim lessons and family commitments; and then before you know it school will start again! It's likely that the days of summer could slip by without a back yard campfire, sleeping under the stars, and an overnight with friends or at grandma's. Don't let that happen! Start a bucket list of things to do this summer with your family. Giving them some input when making the list will give everyone something to look forward to! Then start filling up the calendar with all things summer! Need some ideas to get started? Click here.

Download the Sunflower Summer app from Kansas Tourism to enjoy some FREE admissions to attractions across the state this summer with your family! Specific dates apply this summer.
Plan to "Make it a Safe Summer"-Schools That Care offers Summer safety tips and reminders online each Tuesday on Facebook. Follow Schools That Care @schoolsthatcare.

Congratulations Class of 2025! Best Wishes as you leave high school and continue on to your journey.

As the US Senate prepares to vote on a bill that will cut more than $1 Trillion form SNAP and Medicaid, you can join Schools That Care and Harvesters in advocating for these services that many in our community and across Kansas rely on for food and healthcare. The next few weeks are CRITICAL to ensuring these cuts do not become law and increase hunger and hardship across our great country. Contact our representatives. Make your voice heard! You can make a difference! Sign here to protect SNAP.

Waterville K-2nd graders wrapped up Character Ed lessons with a review of all the things we learned this year! They are all Heroes! It was a SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS kind of year. When I taught them that word at the beginning of the year, it was a new word for some of them, but I think they all got down by the end of the year! As promised, it was the BIGGEST word we learned all year. Catch the video below to see what they learned this year.

Summer fun and safety requires a little bit of planning ahead. Everyone loves to get out in the summer sun and feel the warm rays, soak up some warmth on our skin. As the temperatures rise the importance of staying hydrated by drinking water is pertinent to staying healthy if you work or play in the outdoors. Drinking water can help to avoid heat related injuries and illnesses. Learn and recognize the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and heed heat safety warnings by planning to take breaks and avoid over exposure to the heat during the hours of 10 am-2pm when the sun is at it's peak. Use damp cloths to cool down or seek some shade. Use and reapply sunscreen to avoid sunburn and risks of skin cancer; including lip balm. Wear your shades and/or hats to help protect your eyes. Are you heading to the great outdoors for hiking, biking, camping or fishing? Apply insect repellant! Ticks and mosquitoes can spread disease and bites are simply annoying. If you or those with you are allergic to bee stings or bug bites, be prepare with the necessary emergency supplies. It's smart to keep a first aid kit in the car or camper too. If you'll be in or on the water, ensure there is a lifejacket for everyone. And don't forget to download a weather app to check often. The weather in Kansas changes often and sometimes very quickly. Also stay tuned to a local radio station to receive updates to the local forecast. Plan and prepare for emergencies whether you'll be staying home or away for the day. Summer fun is just beginning!

Plan to "Make it a Safe Summer"-Schools That Care offers Summer safety tips and reminders online each Tuesday on Facebook. Follow Schools That Care @schoolsthatcare.

If you want to learn more about engaging with your child about their safe activities in the virtual world they are participating in, here's your chance to learn more for FREE! This training will provide you with resources and information from The National Center for Missing and Endangered Children. You will receive tip sheets and discussion guides as well as info on how to research the apps and platforms your kids may be using. This FREE webinar is presented by trainers from Project Harmony and is brought to you FREE with the generous support of the John K. and Lynn D Boyer Family Foundation.

Register online here. Select from these dates: June 10, September 11 and Dec. 11.

If you have questions, please email, training@projectharmony.com or call, 513-301-5079.

Project Harmony is based in Omaha, NE, and serves with community professionals and advocates to protect and support children and families who have experienced trauma. Check out their website to learn more.

Schools That Care helps provide back to school supplies for students at Valley Heights grades 7-12 with donated items. Last year, Schools That Care provided supplies for 75 Jr/Sr high students before school started and continued to provide miscellaneous supplies throughout the year. Thank you to Yungeberg Drug for providing supplies for our grade school students!

Now that School is out, Schools That Care begins accepting donations for school supplies for the 2025-26 school year. There are lots of ways to help!

1. If your student purchases new supplies each year, but has items left from last year that are still in good condition i.e. back packs, pencil bags, scissors, 3 ring binders; please consider reusing or donating them for others to use.
2. Purchase school supplies on sale this summer to donate. Some items are specific to class needs, but these items are highly needed: large study backpacks, 3 ring binders (size 1", 1.5" or 3"), filler paper, 1-subject spiral notebooks, comp notebooks and boxes of tissues.
3. Ezzy-Peezy! Follow this link to our AMAZON WISH LIST and ship items directly to Schools That Care at Valley Heights by July 20, please.
4. Schools That Care accepts cash donations to purchase school supplies. Click here to donate on-line.

Thank you for your support!

Open enrollment begins on line July 9. Families will be receiving more info from the district prior to that date. If you wish to enroll and pay fees on site, please mark your calendar for Aug. 6. Enrollment will be held at the VH Jr./Sr. High 11am-7pm. School supplies for elementary students will be available from Yungeberg Drug in Blue Rapids. Details will be posted on FB.

If you need supplies for your Jr/Sr High student(s) please click here to request supplies from Schools That Care or use the qr code above. Schools That Care provides school supplies to students based on need, not income. Requests submitted by August 1 will be available for pickup at enrollment on August 6.

If you are interested in making a difference on the life of a child, Big Brothers and Big Sisters offers volunteers an opportunity to match with a student at Waterville Elementary. It is an opportunity for a student to be matched with and meet with a safe adult mentor in a familiar place each week.

What are you waiting for? Right now there are 4 fantastic matches in our local program and there is an opportunity to grow this program and provide more primary grade school students with a one to one mentor to make an impact on not only a child's life, but in our community. Contributing the success of all citizens is our responsibility. It could have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. The application process is thorough and the matching process can take up to a month or longer as you will complete online training, a background check and phone interviews are completed with you, with parents, and the student to make it a perfect match! If you'd like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity please talk to our Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson, she will connect you with Valley Heights' Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Specialist. Now is the best time to apply so that you can begin meeting with your match at the beginning of next school year! Click here to become a BIG.

If your child could benefit from a mentor in this program, click here to sign them up to become a "little" and get matched with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister!

Click here to become a BIG.

Click here to enroll your youth.

Plans are already underway for another Mustang Spirit Night! Save the date to meet the Mustangs and welcome our student body back to school for the 2025-26 school year on Friday evening, August 22 at this INDOOR and OUTDOOR event at VHHS.(Due to summer construction, no one will be allowed on the football field. Please stay in the designated event areas)

Please bring a food pantry item to donate to our local food pantry. From 5-7pm you and your family may enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, food and loads of fun! There will be a dunk tank, yard games, tattoos, and more! Pick out some NEW Mustang wear from Storm Design & Apparel Co, Waterville, printing shirts and caps in the commons. Pep Rally begins at 7pm in the Gym; come on in side to meet the Mustangs! It's going to be a night to make memories for students of all ages, preschool-12th grade!

If you are interested in hosting a game or activity while promoting your business, church or community organization, we'd love for you to join us! Please contact the Family Advocate for details.

FREE SUMMER MEALS for KIDS is BACK! Lunches will be served to kids up to age 18 at the Waterville Grade School this summer! Lunch will be served M-TH 11:30am-12:30 pm beginning June 2-July 24.

If your family qualifies for Free/Reduced meals at school, you may also qualify for SNAP Benefits to supplement your groceries. Use the Button Below to apply for

Kansas Food Assistance SNAP for your Family.

ALSO--- If your family qualified for the FREE and REDUCED Lunch Program at school, you can receive SUN BUCKS to help with groceries this summer! $120 per student. Click the button below for more info.