ThE MuStAnG MeSsEnGeR

October 8th is the date scheduled for Student Success Meetings. We will have a much different look to the meetings this year and we are aiming for 100% attendance. One of the biggest changes is that we will host these meetings from 12:30 pm to 8:30 pm on the 8th. We posted a Sign-Up Genius so that you can reserve a time to visit with your child’s Seminar teacher. Your child, under the direction of their Seminar teacher, will guide you through their current grades, missing assignments, state assessment scores from last year, any Fastbridge Data and their possible career options based on Xello! These sessions are scheduled for 20 minutes and whatever time is remaining can be used to visit with their classroom teachers or, at the very least, set up a time to meet with that teacher one-on-one. We will continue to send out messages about this very important date via Thrillshare and our weekly Mustang Messenger!

Homecoming 2025 is next week and congratulations are in order for our candidates! Queen candidates are Krista Porter, Ella Swearingen and Mia Vermetten. Our King candidates are Brady DeWalt, Creighton Smith and Lawson Stryker. Homecoming Bonfire is scheduled for Wednesday night in conjunction with our Spikefest and Powderpuff Football game. The homecoming parade is in Blue Rapids this year which puts us back on the rotation to host the parade in alternating towns. If you remember, Waterville hosted back-to-back events because of the bridge project! The parade will start at 2:00 pm. Classes will dismiss at 1:00 pm which will give our students plenty of time to get ready for their presentations and floats. We will be taking the band and those students who do not have a ride on busses to the event. We only ask that they return to the high school after the conclusion of the pep rally! The game will start at 7:00 pm on Friday night and we host the Bennington Bulldogs! Homecoming ceremonies will be conducted at halftime of the game as we crown the 2025 King and Queen. The homecoming dance will be right after the game has concluded.

Our FCA Chapter hosted their “See You at the Pole” event and it was well attended by staff and students. The event is prayer based and allows any of those in attendance to offer a prayer for those things they feel are important.

Our Lady Mustangs are doing very well and at this point in the season they are undefeated in the TVL. We have a tough one coming up this Tuesday when we travel to Hanover to take on the Wildcats and the Centralia Panthers. We will also travel to Axtell this Saturday for an all-day tournament with schools from Kansas and Nebraska! The football team is now 2-1 with a win this past Friday night against D. West. Our next opponent will be Salina – Sacred Heart which is will be a road game. Our cross-country teams – both junior high and high school continue to lower their times and improve their placings at each and every meet. Our junior high programs are all showing improvement as the season progresses!

Classifications were released on Thursday by the KSHSAA and we are still 2A. However, we are one of the smaller 2A schools in this division. We have 108 students in grades 9-12 and the largest schools in 1A came in at 106 so we made 2A by the narrowest of margins. Coach Trimble, Mr. Broxterman and myself will be going to Salina on October 15th to secure our football schedule for 2026 and 2027!

Please plan on joining us for Homecoming!!

Go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

Back Row: L to R-Lawson Stryker, Creighton Smith, Brady DeWalt

Front Row: L to R-Mia Vermetten, Ella Swearingen, Krista Porter

Pictured above: Brycen Claeys

3D Animation class has been learning the basics of Blender, a 3D modeling & animation software.

Students have been busy the past few weeks with a lighthouse lesson followed by a project to make a castle tower.

Great work Mustangs!

Pictured below: Ashton Crook

Pictured above: Riley Cook

Pictured Below: Ruger Ryan

Parent's Night was held Tuesday, September 23 where the senior volleyball players were recognized with their parents. Senior Violet Slifer said, “I was a little nervous to walk in front of everyone, but seeing my parents made me feel a lot better.”

The Varsity team went 2-0, beating D-West (25-14, 25-14) and Clifton-Clyde (25-12, 25-13). “It was bittersweet for me because we will never play another game in our high school gym, unless we get lucky enough to host Regionals or Sub-State,” says senior Krista Porter.

The senior Lady Mustangs are hoping to play at home later in the post season, but no matter where they play they hope to see all of their fans cheering them on!

Article by Kaitlin Hemry

Valley Heights had an excellent day at Nemaha Central! The junior high ran first and both set new personal bests. Sam Staples ran a 13:36 and Ember Taylor ran an 18:50! In the HS girls race Klara McIntyre ran a quick 29:19! Riley Skalla ran a 24:57 earning her 18th place and a medal!! Last but not least Emma Warders broke her own SCHOOL RECORD AGAIN running a very quick 22:22! On the boys side Langston Gray ran a blazing 18:39 to bring home 7th place and a medal! Kebeb Zimmerman ran a very strong personal best of 17:43 to round out our day in Seneca.

On Saturday the Junior High Lady Mustangs played in a home quad against Frankfort, Blue Valley, and Marysville. They claimed victory over Frankfort and Blue Valley, but fell short against Marysville. When asked what she thought about coming into the tournament, Head Coach Anna Berger said, “We were really hoping to improve our record.” Ellarie Claycamp quoted, “The best moment of the season is getting to learn about all the players on the team.” When asked how the team has grown throughout the season, Assistant Coach Sammy Parker said, “We have definitely worked out some kinks and have gotten to know our positions. We also have the team part down.”

Coach Berger stated, “A goal for our team was decided by the girls is to medal at our league tournament.” The BVL tournament is on October 20th at Blue Valley. You can catch the girls at the games each Thursday before then!

Article by Violet Slifer

The Valley Heights football boys started off the year with a tough match against their rivals, the Centralia Panthers. The boys traveled to Centralia September 5th to kick off the season. Our Mustangs fell short 28-14 to the Panthers. Senior James Bohlken commented, “This game was a lot different from the last time we played them, we had a lot of spots to fill and a lot of new players on the field. Coach told us we needed to stay focused and be the harder hitting team.” With the Mustangs losing seven senior starters, this is the same game with a lot of new faces. Junior Charlie Warders remarks, “Our line grew a lot from last season and our back field has really stepped up, because we have completely new personnel. They have filled last year's starter shoes really well.” Despite the loss the Mustangs showed resilience and growth through this game, and will continue to do so. This is clear as they took on Onaga and D-west and defeated both teams in the following weeks.

Article by Ava Smith

Monday afternoons, starting at 3:30pm

Tuesday mornings, starting at 7:00am

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

Kansas Apply Free Days are approaching. This year they will be October 6, 7, and 8th. This is a chance for students to apply to schools in Kansas with $0 application fee. Attached is the link to see which schools offer no application fee all year long, along where how to apply to schools.

The staff spotlight shines on one of our new faculty members this week - Ms. Emma Toerber!. Emma is a member of our ELA staff here at Valley Heights and is in charge of our 7th and 8th grade classes. She also teaches our 8th grade Connections class. MS. Toerber has also taken on the challenges of Junior High Assistant Coach for Track and Boys Basketball and she guides the Junior High Leadership program.

Emma is a native of Blue Rapids and states that she has been a Mustang now for 14 years! Thirteen years as a student and one year as a teacher! Emma was a member of the Class of 2021 here at Valley Heights and then earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Benedictine College.

When asked what her favorite thing was about working at Valley Heights she states, “ The community and culture, that’s why I came back. This place leaves an impression on anyone and it left one on me! And now, I get to come back and get to be a part of this staff and leave more impressions”.

Emma’s hobbies include running , watching and playing sports, reading, traveling, and baking. Emma has visited 26 states and has travelled out of the country once. She hopes to visit other countries outside the United States in the near future.

Emma - Welcome back to the Mustang Family

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
Facebook: facebook.com/vhusd498
Twitter: @usd498