Watch your Valley Heights Mustangs football team tonight at 6:00 pm live! Go Mustangs!

No School this Wednesday-Friday, November 27th-29th! Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Waterville Grade School Families,

We hope this message finds you well! As we approach the Thanksgiving Break, we have been thinking about and are so thankful for the opportunities we have to work with your children. Additionally, we are so proud of the growth and successes of all of our students during this school year. They are fun, focused, dedicated, and persevere during their learning!

In this season of reflection and gratitude, we also wanted to take a moment to simply and sincerely say “Thank You!” for everything you have done, are doing, and will continue to do to help and support our students, our staff, and our wonderful school community.

We hope that you and your family have a safe, fun, fulfilling, and restful break.

Monday:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday:

• Colts Round Up

Wednesday:

• No School!

Thursday:

• No School!
• Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday:

• No School!

Katie Larson shared her expertise with our kindergarten students as part of the Shakespeare Club's Picture Lady program!

Students enjoy walking taco day at lunch!

It has been an exciting week at Blue Rapids Elementary. On Wednesday, the students welcomed their families into the building for the annual Thanksgiving feast. Thank you to everyone who went above and beyond to make the Thanksgiving meal a blessed time for the students and their families. I have received many positive comments that it was a blessed time of food and fellowship.

This week was a very special week as we were able to attend the high school pep assembly for our FINAL FOUR playoff football team. We also had an awesome send off as the football team came and we gave them high fives and cheers on the sidewalk in front of the school. We are so proud of our football boys and wish them the best in their game tonight in Conway Springs.

Next week is Thanksgiving, which means we will only have two days of school and be off school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving break. Words cannot express how thankful I am for the amazing families, students, staff and community support that we receive at Blue Rapids Elementary School. Thank you all, and I pray you have a restful and relaxing Thanksgiving break full of love and memories with friends and family.

As always, I thank you all for the privilege of working with your children! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call the office at 785-363-7693 or email me at tstaples@valleyheights.org.

-Titus Staples

The entire Valley Heights School District student body met at the Jr/Sr High Thursday morning celebrating our football team's success! Students had a blast! The video below features a special performance from the Valley Heights Drumline!

The football team stopped at each elementary school on their way out of town so the students could cheer them on to victory!

Monday, November 18th Valley Heights staff partnered with The Blue Rapids Museum, Sharp Manufacturing, and Georgia Pacific, to have a day of learning and collaborating!

The Blue Rapids Museum provided a delicious meal for staff, and gave a presentation to staff on all of the educational opportunities the museum offers to our students. Staff were given time to tour the museum and discover how wonderful it is for themselves, many recognizing familiar faces throughout!

Staff then spent time touring Sharp Manufacturing and Georgia Pacific. Conversations were had about how we can better prepare our students for the work force, and what qualities/traits they are looking for in employees. We thank the Blue Rapids Museum, Sharp Manufacturing, and Georgia Pacific for their time and hospitality!

Congrats to this week's Waterville VHS ticket winners! Heinrich and Abigail won lunch with Mrs. deBoer and Jason and Octavia!

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.

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