ThE MuStAnG MeSsEnGeR

2274 6th Road

Blue Rapids, KS 66411

785-363-2508

Principal-Mike Savage

Athletic Director-Jordan Broxterman

School is officially underway! The staff has spent the past week preparing for the start of the 2023-2024 school year with several days of Professional Development and preparing their rooms for students. The students started arriving early this morning and Student Council was ready to greet them, hand out class schedules, assist with lockers and find classrooms. We want to thank this organization, and their sponsor Mrs. Parker, for making the start of the year a positive experience.

Fall sports has also put in their first few days of practice and our athletes and coaches are working hard to prepare for the upcoming season. We had great participation in our summer workout program and our athletes are looking forward to competing at a high level. We have solid numbers in all our Junior High and High School programs and we are expecting a very successful year for the Mustangs!

One major obstacle we will face this year is the bridge construction going on between our building and Blue Rapids. The amount of student and staff traffic we have at the start and end of the day creates an issue with vehicles entering and leaving the facility, entering the construction area and then waiting for traffic move through the stop lights. This will also be an issue when we host contest and activities here at Valley Heights. We have visited with our students about exercising patience and being aware of the situation in order to factor in safety.

On the first day of school we were able to host the Rotary organization for their monthly meeting. We are excited about getting that group back in our building. Student Council was in charge of the meal as well as presenting to the group the many activities they have planned for this school year.

One of our community activities is assisting with the Harvester’s food distribution program. Jayne Whitson, our Communities That Care program, is in charge of lining up the organizations that help with this monthly activity. We are always looking for ways to be active participants in the growth of our

communities.

In the very near future we will be sharing the “reserved” parking stalls for our Seniors. This activity was stated last year and we carried it over to this school term. As a perk for the Class of 2024 they can reserve a stall and then paint it with their own design! I must say that I have been impressed with their talent and vision with this project. We will be providing pictures of each stall and some words from the Seniors themselves as they describe their parking space.

Auditions for the speaking parts of our fall play will be starting on August 22 nd . This is a popular activity with our student body and also our communities. The play this year is titled “Yearbook Reflections” and the story revolves around students who are looking at their yearbook and sharing their memories.

Mr. Savage

Fun was had by our VH Staff, as Mr Spoonts and his fabulous staff at the Central Office put on a Welcome Back event at the Waterville Golf Course. Golfing(by the brave few), fantastic food and LOTS of great fellowship was had by all!!

Agriculture Instructor/FFA Advisor

I am very excited for the opportunity to work for USD 498 and cannot wait to see what this year brings, to get to know students, their families, and community members.

I graduated from K-State in 2022 with a B.S. in Agricultural Education, a secondary major in Global Food Systems Leadership and a minor in International Agriculture. I am also currently working on my Masters of Agriscience at Colorado State University with a focus on Integrated Resource Management and Sustainability.

My hobbies include anything crafty, boating at the lake, taking the side by side out, and pretty much anything outside or with my dog.

Here's to a great year!

Art Instructor/Art Club Sponsor/Junior Class Sponsor/Jr High Volley Ball Coach

I am the new Art Teacher at Valley Heights High School & Jr. High head volleyball coach. I graduated from VHHS in 1999 and then from KSU in 2004 with a degree in Art Education. I taught outside of Topeka and then in Wichita. After getting married and starting a family, my husband Craig and I moved back to the area and have lived here for 13+ years. During that time, I was able to stay home and raise our children and help out with our family business (Blue Rapids Greenhouse/Riverside Market) as well. I am so excited to start this new chapter as a teacher & coach at Valley Heights.

Physical Education Director/Head Boys Basketball Coach/Asst. Track Coach

Band Director-Guitar and Vocal Teacher

My name is Brooklyn Coleman and I am the new Music instructor for Valley Heights Highschool, and the band instructor for 5th-6th grade. I am so excited to have this opportunity to teach your students! Music has been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I started my first instrument at 3 years old. I am mostly self-taught, playing many different instruments by ear. I come from a large family; I have seven siblings, most of them knowing how to play an instrument, including my parents. My family has been a worship team for years, and they now have a ministry in Hastings, Nebraska. I am currently serving on the worship team at New Hope in Marysville. I have an associates degree in Biblical Studies, and I was working on my Bachelor's in Marketing. I now have the opportunity to switch that to get my degree in music. I truly believe that God opened this door. I am so excited to get to know each and every student and can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

Jr/Sr High Cross Country Coach

My name is Adrian Pishny, I graduated from Valley Heights in 2017 where I competed in Cross Country and Track and Field. I went on to compete for Allen Community College in the same sports where I saw some success and a lot of improvement. I graduated from Allen County in 2019 then went onto K-State to pursue a degree in Agronomy which I completed in December of 2022. I am very excited to be back at Valley Heights coaching and I believe I have an excellent group of athletes for my first year. I look forward to what the season has to offer the athletes and myself.

Special Education Instructor/Golf Coach

My name is Ryan Ehrlich. I grew up outside of Rossville, Kansas. I attended Kansas State University and graduated with a Construction Science & Management degree in 2021. Shortly afterwards I began a transition-to-teach program and graduated with a Master of Arts of Teaching from K-State last spring. I am continuing my education to acquire full licensure in special education. I will also be the new head golf coach this spring. My wife, Emily, and I have been lifelong K-State fans. You may catch us cheering on the cats in Manhattan this football season! This year we are excited to bring along our four month old son, Henry, to all of the home games.

I look forward to beginning my teaching career at Valley Heights.

K-12 Social/Emotional Counselor/KAY Sponsor

I was raised in Randolph KS, where I attended Blue Valley-Randolph from kindergarten to 12th grade graduating in 2007. I then attended Emporia State University in Elementary Education, prior to switching to sociology major and eventually transferring to Washburn University. I graduated in December of 2012 with my Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. I worked in the preschool setting as a teacher and assistant director for four years. I switched career paths into mental health and worked at a community based mental health agency in Topeka for six years as a case manager. In August of 2019 I attended Washburn University again completing my Bachelors of Social Work in May 2021 and Masters of Social Work in May 2023. I currently live in Randolph with my fiance, Jacob, and our two cats, Eugene and Hazel and dog, Doris. Jacob and I will be married in September of this year, so you will only know me as Ms.Brenner for a short period before changing to Mrs.Gallimore. I am excited to be a Mustang and look forward to serving the students, teachers, and the community.

Asst. HS Volleyball Coach

I grew up in Beattie where I attended PreK-6th grade and then attended junior high and high school in Marysville. After graduating, I attended Bethany College where I got a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I played tennis while attending Bethany and that's where I met my husband, Sean.

We have 3 kids: Garrison is a sophomore at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth where he also plays baseball, Carson is a senior and enjoys being involved in football, basketball, and track along with lots of other school activities, and Teagan is an 8th grader and is excited to participate in volleyball, basketball, and track as well as other activities. We have 2 dogs, 1 cat, and a guinea pig (she’s a classroom pet).

I just completed 24 years of teaching and have spent most of that time in the regular education classroom (17 years at the 4th/5th grade level and 7 years in PreK). We've taught in a variety of places including Marion, Onaga, Russell, and Eureka. In each of those places our family has enjoyed being very involved with school activities as well as activities in the community. Our schedule is typically very busy, but that's our "normal!" As if having 3 kids at different levels, new jobs, and a new community wasn't enough, I'm also going to help coach high school volleyball this coming year. I'm excited for all of these opportunities!

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outside with my family, cooking/baking, experimenting with new designs on my Cricut machine, walking, going to thrift stores and garage sales, playing games, and enjoying nature. I'm also a Seint Beauty artist. Lastly, I love all things with polka dots and cows!

Asst. HS Football Coach/Asst. HS Basketball Coach

My name is Braeden Cox. I grew up in Sabetha, KS. I have 5 siblings, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I grew up

playing sports, specifically basketball and soccer, until I added football, track and field, and cross country

in middle school through high school. I was lucky enough to be a part of the Sabetha Bluejays football

team that won the State Championship back-to-back in 2017 & 2018! Some of my hobbies are playing

basketball, football, and riding motorcycles with my three older brothers. I pursued a degree in Physical

Education and Health at the University of Kansas State, where I received a bachelor’s degree in the

Science of Physical Education and Health Education.

1. Come to the HS office between 8am and 4pm

2. Email 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