Happy March! I think we can all agree we hope we are done with snow days for the year! Don't forget that this Sunday Day Light Savings Starts, so spring your clocks ahead. This Tuesday, March 11th is our Spring Music Program at 7:00 pm at the Blue Rapids gym. Please have you child in their assigned seat by 6:45 pm. Our very own Valley Heights Video Production Team will be livestreaming the program this year! We greatly appreciate their help showcasing our student's talents to those who cannot attend the program.

Baseball/Softball sign up forms are out! Please fill out and return by March 13th if your child would like to participate.

This Friday, March 14th we dismiss at 12:30. Lunch will be served. This will start spring break. School will resume Monday, March 24th.

Monday, March 10th:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday, March 11th:

• Colts Round Up
• Spring Music Program 7:00 pm at Blue Rapids Gym.

Wednesday, March 12th:

• Colts Round Up

Thursday, March 13th:

• Colts Round Up

Friday, March 14th:

• End of 3rd 9 Weeks! Dismiss @ 12:30
• Spring Break Begins! See you all back at school on Monday, March 24th!

Looking Ahead:

• March 17th-21st Spring Break

2nd graders are publishing a book! Students have been working hard making sure their work is ready for publishing!

Fun in 1st grade!

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! Next week is our annual spring concert. Mrs. Popejoy, Miss. Coleman and the students have been working extremely hard. On behalf of the elementary music department, I invite everyone in the community to attend. The concert is at 7:00 pm, Tuesday the 11th, at the Blue Rapids gym. If you are unable to attend the music program the Valley Heights production class at the high school will be live streaming it. We will send out more information next week on this. Next week is our last week before spring break. The students have been working hard in the classroom and I know they will finish the week strong before spring break. I am just so proud of our students and staff at Blue Rapids elementary.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• March 9th - Daylight Savings Time Begins (move clocks forward one hour)
• March 11th - Elementary Spring Concert @ 7:00 pm
• March 14th - End of 3rd 9 weeks; Early Dismissal @ 12:30 pm
• March 17th-21st - Spring Break
• March 24th - First day back from Spring Break
  

As always, I want to thank you for the blessing that it is to work with your children. My door is always open if you have any questions or concerns.

-Mr. Staples

Lots of fun for Read Across America Week. There were guest readers each morning and dress up days all week.

Mrs. Meadows awarded Harper a VHS ticket for working hard today! Good job Harper!

This week's Waterville VHS ticket winners were Karlee and Bronson winning lunch with Mrs. deBoer, and George and Nellie (not pictured) winning prizes!

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!

Community Education has recently sent out a program survey to gather community interests and Ideas to increase programming and participation in activities beyond the school day. We invite you to click on the link below to fill out the survey and give us your thoughts and ideas.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/KuzPRNFKjXkyEiqf8

We’d like to remind families to discuss a safe route to school with your students. Whether it is on foot, bike, or a car we want everyone to arrive to and from school safely! For students on foot and bike remember that the safest crossings are at Chestnut & Highway 77 in Blue Rapids and Minnesota & Highway 77 in Waterville.

These crossings are monitored both before and after school.

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!

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