It was a busy week at Waterville Elementary! Check out all the fun we've had this week in the pictures below!

Reminder that we do not have school this Monday, April 21st.

Monday, April 21st:

• No School- Staff Professional Development
• Board of Education Meeting at 6:00 pm

Tuesday, April 22nd:

• Colts Round Up
• School Bus Driver Day! Thank a bus driver!

Wednesday, April 23rd:

• Colts Round Up
• Secretary Day! Thank a secretary!

Thursday, April 24th:

• Colts Round Up

Friday, April 25th:

• Kindergarten Field Trip

Looking Ahead:

May 7th Nurse Appreciation Day!

May 8th Last day of Colts Round Up

May 9th Play Day!

On Monday, January 14th we had our annual preschool/kinder prep/kindergarten open house. Families were able to learn about our programs and request morning or afternoon session. We also had a kindergarten signing with future kindergarten students committing to Valley Heights kindergarten!

1st graders continue to incubate eggs and this week the baby chicks have hatched! It has been a fun week watching them explore!

Kindergarten students hatched butterflies and released them.

Preschool and Kinder Prep students had Easter egg hunts this week and the afternoon classes visited the Blue Valley Nursing home.

Students enjoy performing a reader's theatre about the three little pigs!

We're having a lot of fun at Waterville Grade School!

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! An update on state assessments, all English Language Arts tests have been completed. This coming week 3rd grade will complete their math assessment and 5th grade will complete their science assessments. Again, I am just super proud of our students for their hard work and so thankful for the hard work and dedication of our awesome teachers and staff. As you can see from the dates below, there is a lot going on down the stretch of the school year. please take not of the dates below and make sure that they get added to your calendar.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• April 18th - No School/Easter Break
• April 21st - No School/Teachers' Professional Development Day
• May 9th - 6th grade Orientation @ VHHS
• May 9th - Play Day

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

This week's Waterville Grade School VHS ticket winners are Helen and Aaliyah winning lunch with Mrs. deBoer and Canyon and Emmett 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