STC Newsletter
July 2025
During the summer months when you see the "care bus" out or about, please stop in to say hello, help spread the word to others, make a referral, donation or find out what our needs are.
Meet the Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson by appointment during the summer. She is available to help students and families succeed with resources, referrals and donated items to help during a family trauma, crisis or setback.
The best way to reach the family advocate is via cell, 612-202-7366.
it's a Sunflower Summer!
The good ol' dog daze of summer are upon us and it is time to find ways to stay cool and beat the heat! You don't have to stay inside the house all day, choose early mornings and late evenings to do outdoor chores, activities and exercise. Popsicles, the pool, watermelon, sprinklers and boating are good ways to beat the heat! If you want to get the kids out of the house and enjoy an educational, recreational and entertaining venue with out breaking the bank, Sunflower Summer has some great options to consider! There are indoor and outdoor opportunities to choose from throughout Kansas! Offered FREE for a limited time, July 12-August 3 this summer. Choose from museums and historical sites, arts, nature, outdoor theaters and parks! There is so much to do in Kansas!
If you want to learn more about engaging with your child about their safe activities in the virtual world they are participating in, here's your chance to learn more for FREE! This training will provide you with resources and information from The National Center for Missing and Endangered Children. You will receive tip sheets and discussion guides as well as info on how to research the apps and platforms your kids may be using. This FREE webinar is presented by trainers from Project Harmony and is brought to you FREE with the generous support of the John K. and Lynn D Boyer Family Foundation.
Register online here. Select from these dates: September 11 and Dec. 11.
If you have questions, please email, training@projectharmony.com or call, 513-301-5079.
Project Harmony is based in Omaha, NE, and serves with community professionals and advocates to protect and support children and families who have experienced trauma. Check out their website to learn more.
Schools That Care helps provide back to school supplies for students at Valley Heights grades 7-12 with donated items. Last year, Schools That Care provided supplies for 75 Jr/Sr high students before school started and continued to provide miscellaneous supplies throughout the year. Thank you to Yungeberg Drug for providing supplies for our grade school students!
Schools That Care is accepting donations for school supplies for the 2025-26 school year. There are lots of ways to help!
- If your student purchases new supplies each year, but has items left from last year that are still in good condition i.e. back packs, pencil bags, scissors, 3 ring binders; please consider reusing or donating them for others to use.
- Purchase school supplies on sale this summer to donate. Some items are specific to class needs, but these items are highly needed: large study backpacks, 3 ring binders (size 1", 1.5" or 3"), filler paper, 1-subject spiral notebooks, comp notebooks and boxes of tissues.
- Ezzy-Peezy! Follow this link to our AMAZON WISH LIST and ship items directly to Schools That Care at Valley Heights by July 20, please.
- Schools That Care accepts cash donations to purchase school supplies. Click here to donate on-line.
Thank you for your support!
Open enrollment begins on line July 9. Families will be receiving more info from the district prior to that date. If you wish to enroll and pay fees on site at VH, please mark your calendar for Aug. 6. Enrollment will be held at the VH Jr./Sr. High 11am-7pm. School supplies for elementary students will be available from Yungeberg Drug in Blue Rapids. Details will be posted on FB.
If you need supplies for your Jr/Sr High student(s) please click here to request supplies from Schools That Care or use the qr code above. Schools That Care provides school supplies to students based on need, not income. Requests submitted by August 1 will be available for pickup at enrollment on August 6.
If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child, Big Brothers and Big Sisters offers volunteers an opportunity to match with a student at Waterville Elementary. It is an opportunity for a student to be matched with and meet with a safe adult mentor in a familiar place each week. Have lunch at Waterville Elementary or meet with them after school at Colts Round up! There may be opportunities for community matches this year!
What are you waiting for? Right now there are 4 fantastic matches in our local program and there is an opportunity to grow this program up to 10 matches to provide more primary grade school students with a one to one mentor to make an impact on not only a child's life and yours, but in our community. Contributing to the success of all citizens is our responsibility. It could have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. The application process is thorough and the matching process can take up to a month or longer as you will complete online training, a background check and phone interviews are completed with you, with parents, and the student to make it a perfect match! If you'd like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity please talk to our Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson, she will connect you with Valley Heights' Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Specialist. Now is the best time to apply so that you can begin meeting with your match at the beginning of next school year! Click here to become a BIG.
If your child could benefit from a mentor in this program, click here to sign them up to become a "little" and get matched with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister!
Click here to become a BIG.
for supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters at the 4th annual event
On Saturday, June 28, at the Waterville Community Golf Course nearly $3K was raised to support the Waterville Elementary Big Brothers Big Sisters program! We kicked off the event in true Red, White and Blue fashion "fore" our 4th annual fundraising event. Many Thanks to our Sponsors and the Golfers who participated! And of course we couldn't do it with out the help of the volunteers who care for and set up the course, bake cookies, help clean and decorate the clubhouse, serve food and beverages and ensure a great time for all! A special Thank you to the Manley family for running this tournament seamlessly! This year's tourney winners were determined in a playoff since there was a 3 way tie!-Congratulations!! 1st place Jayden and CJ DeWalt, 2nd place Payton and Riley Manley, 3rd place Tim Manley.
