The Mustang Messenger
May 10th to May 16th Week 37
⌛ A Minute with Mr. Savage ⌛
Mustang Update
This week the focus has been on the Class of 2026! We started the week with a Baccalaureate program on Sunday, May 10th. We would like to thank the many people who helped organize this event for our seniors. The evening was filled with a speaker with a great message, excellent music and testimonies from staff members here at Valley Heights.
On Tuesday morning, Deby and I woke up to tents and 16 seniors camping out in our front yard! Since we had a little bird tell us they were planning on visiting us, we invited them in for cinnamon rolls and juice. During the afternoon the seniors were able to eat one last meal together as a class and then put on their caps and gowns to visit both of our elementary schools. The highlight of those visits was that the class was allowed to run the halls of Blue Rapids, a tradition they missed out on as sixth graders due to the Covid shutdown! You could tell they were excited to relive this moment from their youth! We then headed back to the high school for graduation rehearsal and then they were dismissed for the rest of the day. Graduation is scheduled for this Saturday, May 16th, with a 2:00 pm start time. Please plan on attending and sending this group off in style!
As I am typing my article this week we are preparing to host the Twin Valley League track meet this afternoon! Although this takes a lot of work to get ready for this event, we are always glad to showcase our facilities - especially, the newly resurfaced track! A big word of thanks goes out to Mr. Broxterman and our track coaches who have put in the time and energy to put on a great event!
Our last day of classes will be a half day for students on Wednesday, May 20th! Some students will be getting a head start on their summer break if they are exempted from finals which is based on current grades, absences and tardies and office referrals. The students have worked hard all year long and summer break is just the ticket to get in a long break and refocus for the 2026-2027 school year!
The school year might be coming to an end but activities will still be taking place for several more weeks! The baseball and softball teams enter post-season play this week and early next week! The golf team will be heading to regional action on Monday, May 18th. The track and field season still has regional action on the 21st and the state meet is scheduled for May 29th and 30th! We want to wish all of our Mustangs the best of luck during the post-season.
We would like to remind everyone that the gym and stage here at the high school are off-limits for pretty much the entire summer. The floor will be sanded down, repaired, stained and painted, and then the new backboards, volleyball nets, scoreboards and shot clocks will be installed! The gym will have an incredible new look when we start classes in the fall!
As the school year ends we will be saying goodbye to several staff members and student-teachers. Mrs. Malari Schroller and Ms. Grace Holle will be taking on new adventures in the fall and we want to thank them and wish them the best in the future. Student teachers that were a part of our staff this past semester include Ella Pachta in the Vocational Ag. classroom and C. J. Tate in our math classrooms. We want to thank both of these young ladies for their efforts this year and congratulate them on finishing their college degrees!
We will be posting at least one, if not two, more newsletters as we wrap up the school year! We want to make sure we give credit where credit is due to our student-athletes and staff!
Let’s go Mustangs!!
Mr. Savage
LET'S GO MUSTANGS
Graduation Will Be Broadcast Live At This Link
Congratulations to the Seniors!
The seniors did a walk through at the Blue Rapids and Waterville schools in their gowns! Congratulations Class of 2026!
Lost & Found
Please encourage your student to check out the Lost & Found. Any items not claimed by the end of the school year will be discarded or donated.
Painting by Senior Violet Slifer - Thank You!
Senior Violet Slifer painted this wall in the entry of Waterville Grade School as part of her senior project. Great work, Violet!
Frog Dissection in Biology Class
The 7th Graders dissected frogs in Biology Class earlier this week.
Worm Dissection in Biology Class
The 10th Graders dissected worms in Biology class earlier this week.
Golf Team Updates
On Monday the golf team traveled to Washington for the TVL Tournament. The team fell just short of any medals this time. Regional Golf will take place at the Western Hills Golf Club in Topeka next Monday!
Mental Health Awareness Month - Wear Green
Thank you Valley Heights students and staff who wore green today to support Mental Health Awareness. Maverick is here to help break the stigma too!
Softball & Baseball Schedules
Keeping Up With The Mustangs
Valley Heights: More Than Just a School
Created by Valley Heights Class of 2026 Seniors Lawson Stryker and Ashton Crook.
Check Out This Video About Gym Renovations
Baseball & Softball Game Livestreams
Live Scoring For Golf
Track Results
🍑🌳 Ms. Medina's Menus for 🍓🍌
May 2026
Please note the following changes to the breakfast and lunch menus:
5/18 - BREAKFAST CHANGE
Waffles
String Cheese
Fruit
Milk
5/19 - LUNCH CHANGE
Meatball Subs
Cheesy Broccoli
Fruit
Milk
5/20 - BREAKFAST CHANGE
Pancake on a stick
Potato Bucks
Fruit Juice
Milk
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
Mark Your Calendars!
Friday, August 21, 2026 5pm- 7pm will be the Annual Mustang Spirit Night at VHS. An indoor/outdoor event for the whole family! The Pep rally will begin at 7pm in the gym and it will be a great time to present the new Gymnasium Updates to our VH family and the Community!
News from Ms. Jayne with Schools That Care
Jayne Whitson, Family Advocate
Serving Valley Heights Students & Families
Mobile Family Resource Center aka-"care bus"
Check out Ms. Jayne's latest newsletter at https://app.smore.com/n/v57f0
Ms. Jayne's schedule each day will begin at the VH Jr/Sr High to meet student needs there before the bell rings. The rest of the week will primarily be:
- Monday at Blue Rapids
- Tuesday at Waterville (third Tuesday is Harvesters)
- Wednesday at VH and out and about in our community
- Thursday AM in Waterville/PM in Blue Rapids
- Friday at VH
Meet the Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson by appointment. 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.
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter.
The Home of the MUSTANGS
If you need anything from us, please reach out!
Blue Rapids, KS 66411
785-363-2508
Principal-Mike Savage
Athletic Director-Jordan Broxterman
To reach the office or Mr. Savage:
1. Come to the HS office between 8am and 4pm
2. E-mail Mr. Savage msavage@valleyheights.org
3. Call the office (785)363-2508
Email: vhhs@valleyheights.org
Website: valleyheights.org
Phone: (785)363-2508
Facebook: facebook.com/vhusd498
Twitter: @usd498
