Valley Heights Elementary Schools

This week we recognized Mrs. Swearingen for Administrative Professionals Day! Mr. Tony also recognized the after school staff for Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!

Colts Round Up will end of 5:00 pm on this Tuesday, April 28th. Thursday, April 30th is the last day of Colts Round Up for this year!

Please see the calendar changes below!! The last day of school will now be Wednesday, May 20th!

Our annual Preschool/Kinder Prep/ Kindergarten Open House is on Tuesday, April 28th. Join us for an evening getting to know our staff, facilities, and information regarding our Early Childhood programs! Your student may attend one of our programs if they meet the following criteria:

Preschool (Age 3 by Sept. 1st)

Kinder Prep (Age 4 by Sept. 1st)

Kindergarten (Age 5 by Sept. 1st)

We will provide information about our programs and parents will have an opportunity to request morning or afternoon sessions. We will also have a kindergarten signing for all incoming kindergarten students! Don't miss this adorable opportunity!

Monday:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday:

• Colts Round Up ends @ 5:00
• Preschool/Kinder Prep/Kindergarten Open House

Wednesday:

• Colts Round Up

Thursday:

• Colts Round Up-- Last day!

Friday:

• No elementary activities

Looking Ahead:

• May 8th- Play Day!
• May 19th
• Preschool/Kinder Prep Program at 8:30
• Kindergarten through 2nd grade program and 2nd grade promotion at 9:00
• May 20th- Last day of school! Dismiss at 12:30!

Our 2nd grade students participated in a tree planting at the Waterville Fire Station for Arbor Day. The tree they planted is in memory of Dean Anderson. Dean was the great grandfather of 2nd grader Evelyn Anderson.

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! The 2026 state assessments are officially completed and in the books. I am incredibly proud of our students, their attitudes were outstanding, and they put forth tremendous effort throughout the entire process. We will receive the results when we return in the fall. I also want to give a special shout‑out to Mrs. Joseph, our building test coordinator, for her hard work and organization in ensuring everything ran smoothly. On Wednesday, we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day! We all are truly blessed to have Bev Carter as our administrative assistant. Thank you, Bev, for all you do. We are now entering field trip and activity season, so please take note of the dates below and be sure they are added to your calendar. Along with our teachers and staff, I am excited to finish the year strong.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• Last Day for Colts Round Up - April 30th
• 4th grade field trip - May 1st
• 3rd grade field trip - May 4th
• Charles Steele Annual Elementary Play Day - May 8th
• 5th grade field trip - May 11th
• 6th grade orientation to Jr High - May 11th
• 6th grade field trip - May 14th

As always, thank you for the privilege and blessing that it is to work with your children. My door is always open if you have any concerns or you need to visit.

-Mr. Staples

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of winners this week??!!

This week's Waterville VHS ticket winners were Lux and Arlo winning lunch with Mrs. deBoer, and Freyja, Tomas, Nellie, Jesse, Kaydence, Elliot and Delilah winning prizes! Great work!

Each week we'll give you a fun question to talk about around the dinner table with your family! Eating together as a family is an excellent time to strengthen relationships and check in with your child and their needs. Enjoy discussing the question of the week!

Did you know you can pay your child's lunch fees online? We'll even cover the processing fees for you so you have no extra fees! Click HERE to be taken directly to the link! Or you can navigate to this page from the Valley Heights website, then clicking on Parent & Student Resources, then Online Payment.

Check out the Schools That Care newsletter below for information on resources available in our community!

Early Head Start 0-3 provides services to infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. It promotes

• healthy prenatal outcomes, healthy babies
• enhances the development of infants and toddlers, and
• promotes healthy/thriving families

NEK-CAP, Inc. receives federal funds for 160 children to operate and provide Early Head Start (0-3) services for infants, toddlers, pregnant mothers, and fathers.

NEK-CAP, Inc. receives federal funds for 238 children to operate and provide Head Start services. Head Start is committed to cultivating partnerships with the community to ensure that children and families receive an array of individualized services focused upon early childhood development, family support, health and education.

Head Start/Early Head Start 0-5 services are available at no cost to children and families. Up to 10% of enrollment may be used to serve children that are over income. Transportation is available at some locations.

Click HERE for more information!

Did you know that even though packaging no longer has box tops on them to cut out, that you can still support your school? Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipt to earn money for schools. This is a simple way to give back to your community! Click here for more details!

Another avenue of supporting your school is through Casey's rewards! Check it out at caseys.com/community/donate-your-points!

Email: judeboer@valleyheights.org tstaples@valleyheights.org sspoonts@valleyheights.org
Website: www.valleyheights.org