Bulldog Beat 02/03/25 to 02/07/25

Fourth Grade students will begin recorder instruction in music class in February. All students are required to have a Peripole Halo soprano recorder and student folder. The combined cost for the recorder and folder is $7.00. If your student is using an older sibling’s Peripole recorder they will just need to bring $1.00 for the folder. Please put the money in an envelope with your child’s name on it. Watch your child’s folder for more information regarding recorders.

Please give a huge thank you to Valley's amazing Guidance Counselor, Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason has been with us for 4 years after making a career change from Day Treatment Counselor to school Guidance Counselor. He said the reason he made the shift after 13 years was for the "opportunity to work with every student." He explained that some students come to school with stress and anxiety and he wanted to help them carry what they were going through. "I wanted to be someone to talk to and be there for them. Someone who they can stop and be with, with no judging." He said the most rewarding aspect of his role as not only the Guidance Counselor, but as the John S. Battle High School Soccer Coach is "the little things." He said that not every student may recognize the lesson he teaches, but when the time or moment comes he loves seeing them put what they have been taught to use. He said he loves visiting Wallace Middle School and Battle, because the students will come up and talk to him about they things they have been doing and experiencing. "Kids grow and see the impact you have. Counseling can help them make the best choices," said Mr. Mason.

At WCPSParentGuidance.org you can explore 73 on-demand courses that will offer you limitless learning opportunities as a parent, caregiver, and educator. Bullying, anxiety, ADHD, School Avoidance, Substance Abuse, and Vaping are just a few key topics all families face today. You’ll also find answers to your most urgent questions in the Ask a Therapist tab where top clinicians answer over 100 tough parenting questions with a video response and transcript. Social media has made it very challenging to guide children healthfully today. These resources cover a wide range of topics to educate us and make us more impactful in guiding our families.

Valley's Preschool class has been learning about Community Helpers and all they do. On Monday the class got to explore a fire truck and listen to local fire fighters explain what they do and why it is so important. Mrs. Wolfe taught the students about Police Officers, Mail Carriers, and other roles that work to take care of our community. On Friday they wrote thank you cards to faculty and staff at VIES and placed their thank you cards in the faculty mailboxes.

3rd, 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in auditioning for the spring talent show should begin to practice now. Students will need to audition with a karaoke track and all lyrics should be wholesome (kid friendly). Students will audition during music class on February 10.

We would like to thank all of our families that have donated to the PBIS store. Students are excited to be able to spend their Bulldog Bucks they are earning during the second nine weeks. The second nine weeks PBIS store will be December 20, 2024. If you would still like to donate, please review the attached letter below.

Congratulations to all of the students who worked so hard last month to attend January's PBIS Incentive. We are so proud of all of the hard work you have been putting into learning and growing. We have seen so many students who started the year not attending these events due to poor attendance and behavior who have worked with their teachers, guidance counselor, and counselors to find ways they can grow and improve and now they get to participate in our monthly incentive.

Students from PK all the way to 5th grade got to attend Snow Olympics which had snow ball fights, snow cones, and hockey scooter races for students to enjoy. The event was worked by Valley staff AND amazing athletes from John S. Battle High School who volunteered to make our event special for the students.

Also, big congratulations to Braelynn D. for winning Top Dog Hero for the second nine weeks. Braelynn won this honor by having perfect attendance for the second nine weeks. As Top Dog Hero Braelynn was Assistant Principal for the day. She got to make snow cones and run the bubble machine for the Snow Olympics. As acting Assistant Principal Braelynn also got to eat lunch in the principal's office just like Principal Scott. Braelynn said her favorite thing about today was "the snow cones."

VIES is looking for parent volunteers to assist with various events and activities throughout the school year. If you are interested, please contact the school to learn more about the background check process and possible opportunities.

This week's winners of the Perfect Attendance Blizzard drawing is:

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We love having all our Bulldogs in attendance and we can't to see who will win next week's Blizzard Drawing!

Please give a big CONGRATULATIONS to January's Perfect Attendance Winners from Community in Schools January Incentive "Jump Into January" Event:

• Ilya R.
• Foxx M.
• David B.
• Piper H.
• Paisley C.

These students had the best attendance for January and won a gift card to Just Jump Gift! Thank you to all of our students who worked hard last month to get to school and participate in this wonderful event hosted by our Community in Schools partners.

Check out Valley's Bulldog Bedtime. Check out new editions of Bulldog Bedtime every Tuesday. Bulldog Bedtime is an evening opportunity for families and students to listen to a surprise staff member read a bedtime story. A new story will be posted on our YouTube channel every Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Can you guess who next week's reader will be?

Click on the image to take you to dreamland...we hope you enjoy!

We have several ways to stay connected to your child's education and teachers. Every parent has access to ParentPortal which allows you to see grades and attendance. You can register on the county website if you have not already signed up or you can call the school and request your student's login information.

Every grade uses an app to maintain communication between parents/guardians and teachers. Please see the list below on which app you should download to stay connected to your student's teacher:

PreSchool- Call the school at (276)642-5500

Kindergarten- Remind

First- Remind

Second- Email

Third- ParentPortal

Fourth- ClassDojo

Fifth- Remind

Elementary Menus:

Breakfast Menu: Link

Lunch Menu: Link

The new site is linqconnect which can be accessed from the school nutrition home webpage. There is also a link on the School Nutrition webpage FAQ's/Direction on how to access linqconnect for student account prepayments. Here is the Link to WCS nutritional page.

• Please call the office if your child is absent from school. 276-642-5500 or email rhockman@wcs.k12.va.us
  

• Send or fax any doctor appointment notes to cover for excused absences. 276-645-2394
  

• Any transportation changes must be made by 2:20 PM to ensure safety of dismissal time.
  

• Due to Safety, NO check outs from office after 2:20 PM students will need to go to car rider line.

Instagram: /vies_bulldogs

Website: https://vies.wcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 4350 Gate City Highway, Bristol, VA, USA
Phone: 276-642-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viesbulldogs
Twitter: @VIESBulldogs