Valley Heights Elementary Schools

Preschool/KinderPrep Music Program: The Preschool/KinderPrep music program will be Tuesday, December 19th at 8:30 am at the Waterville Elementary School. Preschool/KinderPrep students should be brought to the library by 8:15 am. Preschool/KinderPrep students will be dismissed to their parents after their performance. There is no preschool/kinderprep classes this week.

8 Days of Christmas Spirit Days: Elementary students are invited to participate in the 8 Days of Christmas Spirit Days that the Jr/Sr High students will be doing!

Monday Dec. 18th-Christmas Sock Day

Tuesday Dec 19th- Christmas in Hawaii

Wednesday Dec 20th- Christmas PJ Day

Gift Exchange/Christmas Parties: Make sure to check Bloomz for updates on party sign-ups and gift exchange guidelines.

Colts Round Up: Yes, there IS Colts Round Up Monday and Tuesday of this week!

This Week:

Monday: Board of Education meeting at 6:00 pm, Christmas Sock Day!

Tuesday: Preschool/KinderPrep Christmas Program at 8:30 am, K-2 Class Parties, Christmas in Hawaii Dress Up Day

Wednesday: Dismiss @ 12:30. Lunch will be provided. Pajama and movie day! Snacks will be provided. Students may bring a pillow/blanket!

Thursday: No School! Christmas Break!

Friday: No School! Christmas Break!

Upcoming Dates:

December 21-January 3: Christmas Break

January 4: Classes Resume

Mr. Spoonts enjoyed reading a Christmas story to kindergarten students!

Mrs. Young's 1st graders are enjoying lots of activities counting down to Christmas break! This activity was an indoor snowball fight!

Mrs. Young's 1st graders also wrote holiday and thank you cards for staff and delivered them around the building!

Kindergarten students split into groups and went on a Gingerbread Man Hunt around the school! We even had four 2nd grade volunteers show leadership skills by leading their groups through the halls!

When it's rainy all day...we still play! Students enjoyed staying dry with indoor recess!

It has been an exciting week at Blue Rapids Elementary. The 4th graders (see pictures below) had their business fair today in the multipurpose room. All grades were able to participate in shopping for items that the 4th graders produced. Blue Raids elementary students completed interim or practice state assessments this week. The teachers have shared that the students have done a great job!

Child Supervision Policy at Games Just a friendly reminder for the safety of all students, players, officials and patrons, please supervise your child and do not let them run around unattended at sporting events and school activities. Thank you for your support!

All of this said, we have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. We have two and a half days left till Christmas break and our focus as a staff and students is finishing the semester strong. Christmas is right around the corner! 🎄😊

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• Wax Museum December 18th
• Winter Break/End of Semester December 20th; dismissal @ 12:30 pm
• Happy New Year January 1st
• Classes Resume for 3rd Quarter January 4th

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

Each day in the elementary schools, we teach our students how to have purposeful interactions and goals. We believe that having a common purpose will promote the academic and social emotional well-being of each student. We teach students the VHS model.

To celebrate students accomplishing these things, we have created positive office referrals, with VHS tickets. Teachers and staff hand out VHS tickets when they see a student doing the right thing. Here are some pictures of students receiving their VHS tickets!

Congratulations to this week's winners, all from Mrs. Young's class: Lathem, Myla, Izzley, and Avery!

Jayne Whitson (Schools that Care) has many opportunities for giving this Christmas season. Feel free to contact Jayne at (612)303-7366 with any questions.

Days there will not be CRU:

September: 25

October: 3, 4, 16 & 31

November: 13, 22 & 23

December: 6 & 7
LAST DAY OF FIRST SEMESTER: December 19

SECOND SEMESTER FIRST DAY: January 8

Days there will not be CRU:

January: 15

February: 13, 15, 19

March: 11-15(spring break)

April: 15

LAST DAY: May 9

Are you 55 years or older and love working with children? Do you know someone who would do a great job helping in our schools? The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program may be the program for you! This is a volunteer program that does offer a small stipend and is organized by AmeriCorps. Here are the benefits of volunteering with the Foster Grandparent Program:

• Health and wellness. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers experience decreased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. 84% of volunteer report stable or improving health after one year of service.

• Self-improvement. See the daily impact of your service as you build on the skills you already have and develop new ones.

• Stipend. Some programs offer a modest stipend to qualified, low-income volunteers.

• Community. Connect with others and be part of something bigger. 88% of volunteers who felt a lack of companionship reported fewer feelings of isolation after becoming an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer.

• New skills. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers often tap their wealth of experience and wisdom and channel it in new directions.

• Insurance. Most programs offer accident, personal liability, and excess automobile liability insurance.

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