ThE MuStAnG MeSsEnGeR

We are moving very quickly towards the end of the second nine weeks and first semester! This my annual message that it is important for each and everyone of our students to pay special attention to their classwork! This is the time of year that we start to have family gatherings, school and church programs, school activities and other events that will pull our students away from the time they give to their school work. Each and every one of us needs to finish the semester in a strong manner by hitting coursework guidelines and due dates!

Parents – please also be reminded that we are having finals in all 9-12 classes starting with the first semester. Students can earn the right to “opt out” if they have a 90% or better in the class, no office referrals, no more than two tardies, and no more than two unexcused absences for the semester. It is also important to know that if a student fails to take a final, and cannot opt out, then they will fail the course. Parents will be notified if their child has an opportunity to “opt out” of a final as we get closer to the end of first semester. Finals are scheduled for December 17th and 18th with any make-up tests taken on the half day of December 19th. It is important that students who must take their finals be here on time. We will not be letting them interrupt a classroom after the tests have started! All testing information has been shared with the students during their seminar time so they are well informed of what is expected. All 7th and 8th grade students will be in classes as scheduled. If you have any questions please call our office! Make sure you check out the criteria for our finals located in this week’s newsletter!

Our high school basketball schedule gets underway this week with our first games against Marysville. We have a very crowded home schedule for the month of December so plan on visiting us and cheer on the Mustangs! Our junior high teams have already completed half of their regular season and have shown steady improvement throughout the year. They, also, have some home games left so watch our calendar and join us for some basketball. Looking ahead, the TVL Tournament will be hosted by Washington County. Once again, there are a number of teams in the TVL ranked in the top 10 of their classes so the tournament should prove to be very competitive.

We would like to thank the Valley Heights Booster Club for hosting our fall sports banquet. The event was held on the Monday night before we left on our Thanksgiving break. Booster Club put together an ESPY Awards theme complete with concession stand food, music and a walk on the red carpet for our athletes. The audience heard comments from the head coaches and sponsors for the sports of volleyball, football, cross country, dance and cheer. Letters were handed out to our athletes as well as any post-season honors. The final event for the evening was an auction of fall sports memorabilia that raised money for scholarships for our graduating class. Thanks to all who assisted with this event and made the evening a fun one for our student athletes!

Our high school Scholars’ Bowl team has kicked off their season and are already showing the results of their early morning practice sessions. This past week, the group travelled to Frankfort and came away with a third-place finish. Congratulations!

And last, but certainly no least, members of our FFA program have been busy at area competitions. Our welding tea placed third at the Kaw River Arc Battle this week. Team members were Caden Weaver, Creighton Smith, Brady DeWalt, Dawson Vermetten and Grant Pralle. Our Horse Judging team placed fifth at the FFA District level! Team members included Kynadee Bishop, Avery Bishop, Krista Porter, Leah Steinfort and Eleanor Parker. Avery also came home with the 10th high individual honor! Great job everyone!

Go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

Valley Heights High School will be giving 9th-12th grade students final examinations at the end of each semester. Dates and guidelines for 1st semester will be as follows.

1st Semester Finals Schedule: note we will be running block schedule these days

Wednesday, December 17th

Block1: 1st hour- 8:05-9:45am

Block 2: 2nd hour- 9:49-11:19am

Seminar/Lunch 11:23-11:28am; 11:54-12:17pm

Block 3: 3rd hour- 12:21-1:51pm

Block 4: 4th hour- 1:55-3:25pm

* Students who have qualified for exemptions may only enter and leave the building before and after school and during Lunch. For example, if a student only has a 2nd block final they must attend 1st block (but not take the final). If then they have no 3rd or 4th block final they may leave during lunch. Arriving at school or leaving at any nondesignated time will result in taking finals on Friday. All students, you must not be late to a final- doing so may result in you attending Friday and completing the final then.

Exemption Guidelines: Students who do not meet ALL of the following guidelines will be required to take finals:

• No “behavior” office referrals including detentions in the semester

• Less than 3 tardies overall in the semester

• No more than 2 days unexcused absences on the semester (7 class periods = 1 day)

• 90% or above semester grade in the class; however, teachers have the right to require their final to be taken

**** Finals are a requirement for passing classes. Failure to take the final results in failure to pass the course for the semester.

Valley Heights Varsity Scholars Bowl finished 4th place at Onaga in their first meet of the season. Congratulations!

Wednesday morning at 7am and after school at 3:30pm

Beginning Sunday, December 7, the Blue Rapids Gym will be open for Valley Heights community to shoot, work on their ball handling, or play basketball to hone their skills.

Elementary students grades 3 - 6 will have the gym from 1--2:00, & 7th grade - adult will have gym access from 2:00 - 3:00.

Students in grades 3 - 6 must have a parent/guardian accompany them. Clean Basketball or tennis shoes must be worn when on the court. All participants must abide by school behavior standards or you will be asked to leave and not return.

The following dates will be open gym:

December: 7, 14

January: 4, 11, 18, 25

February: 1, 8, 15, 22

Valley Heights Journalism

November 17, 2025

THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE, SHE ROSE. Ava Jaylee Smith was born on September 5, 2007 to Kelly and Eddie Smith. She has two older siblings, Elijah and Kayla, that grew up alongside her in Blue Rapids. “Treat people how you want to be treated” is senior Ava’s favorite quote because her dad constantly reminds her of this. She claims this has given her a strong personality, as well as boosting her confidence. Ava considers her dad her biggest supporter because he’s always consistent and pushes her to do her best, whether in sports, academics, or just life in general.

Something Ava is known for is definitely her competitiveness and talent in sports. She was even named the 2A State Player of the Year in Volleyball her junior year! She is only the second person in Valley Heights history to have earned this title. “Volleyball is something that I truly value and put a lot of time and effort into. I work on my skills during the season and the off season. I just love to be on the court; so to know that it had paid off meant everything to me,” says the senior.

Ava plans to continue playing volleyball in college along with majoring in sports broadcasting or journalism. Ava stated, “I eventually want to get paid to play at a high level, and I would like to play for as long as my body will let me.”

Other activities Ava has participated in are Basketball, KAY, FACS for four years; Art Club, Journalism, All School Play for three years; and NHS, StuCo, and Forensics for one year. Some of Ava’s leadership roles include Art Club StuCo Representative and Class Secretary her junior and senior year. A talent that Ava’s always wanted to learn is the ability to make a delicious latte. Ava says, “I am still practicing getting the flavor right so I hope one day I can make any type of coffee.”

Ava’s dream job is to have a stable career as either a reporter or to work somewhere behind the scenes of a news casting channel. Looking ahead, in 10 years, Ava plans to be married, living in a decent-sized home, and pursuing a successful career. When asked how she wants to be remembered at Valley Heights, Ava shared that she wants people to remember her as a good student, but more importantly she wants them to remember the mark she has made on Valley Heights athletics before she plays at the next level.

Article by Chad Bargdill

Blue Rapids, KS 66411

785-363-2508

Principal-Mike Savage

Athletic Director-Jordan Broxterman

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
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