The season for our Lady Mustangs came to end after their first-round game with Pittsburgh-Colgan. They earned the right to be one of the final eight teams in Kansas to be a part of the 2A Tournament with a win over Kansas City Christian in the Substate finals. Congratulations are in order for the entire team and our coaches, Jordan Broxterman and Susan Steinfort for a great season! What made it even more exciting is that we were able to accomplish the Substate Championship on our home floor and had the opportunity to play our state game at Bramlage Coliseum! Shout out to our fans, our student section, our cheerleaders and our pep band for supporting our team! You guys were great!

We also need to give a shout out to the First Commerce Bank of Blue Rapids who paid for dinner for our cheer squad and pep band and their sponsors after the game in Manhattan! We certainly appreciate your support for the Mustangs! Thank you!

Student Council members and their sponsor, Mrs. Sammie Parker, organized a Pep Assembly for our basketball team and we had a fantastic time celebrating their accomplishment. Player introductions, a hype video, games and activities, cheers and pep band music combined to bring a top-level energy to our gym. Our guests – the staff and students from Waterville and Blue Rapids Elementary Schools – added to the hype! Congratulations to Blue Rapids Elementary for winning the “Spirit Stick” for 2025! A big thanks to Tony Yungeberg who organized the busses to get all of our guests to the event!

Valley Heights will be hosting the TVL Music contest on March 26th! We will not have classes at the Junior/Senior High School but all staff will be on duty. We will be using this time to assist with the contest and for Professional Development. Classes will be held, as usual, at both of our elementary schools that day!

Spring Break is scheduled for the week of March 17-21! With the warmer temperatures the staff and students are looking forward to a little time off. Of course, we will still be practicing for the spring sports and gearing up for the busiest part of the school calendar upon our return. Sports activities – track meets, golf meets and softball and baseball games fill the calendar. However, we also start getting into organization banquets, awards and recognition nights, prom and other end-of-year activities. So, hang on, we still have a lot to accomplish at Valley Heights this year!!

Have a great week and Let’s go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

Last Thursday, March 6, the Journalism staff announced the 2024-2025 yearbook theme to the student body. The Journalism staff quizzed the student body with some Valley Heights trivia then shared a QR code to scan with a phone that led the students to a puzzle to reveal the theme. After that, senior Journalism staff member, Anne Toerber presented a video with highlights from that year to the students. This year's yearbook theme has brought so much creativity and imagination to our Jounalism classes. Time has flown by this school year, capturing memories through the camera lens, and the staff has spent their time working hard creating the yearbook spreads.

Congratulations to our Girls Basketball team and Coaches Broxterman and Steinfort for an exciting run in the postseason! A huge shout out to our fan base, student body, cheer squad and pep band for bringing the energy to Bramlage Coliseum last night and all season long! You guys were awesome! Also-Great job Student Council and Mrs. Parker for the assembly and send off for our Lady Mustangs! Cheer and Pep Band

Thanks for the memories! Mustang Proud!

My very last pep band! The students got to play at Bramlage Colliseum for state basketball. It was a great experience. I have enjoyed every moment with these awesome students. I’m so proud of who they are and can’t wait to see who they become. This is going to be a very difficult next couple of months as my time as a music teacher comes to a close. These students have all changed my life. Treasuring every single moment I have left with them.

SRING BREAK.

SPRING BREAK. It’s official, spring break is next week! While some students are taking the week to stay home and relax, some are going to beaches and getting their tan on, while others are going to be bundling up and skiing down slopes. Senior, Anne Toerber says, “I'm so excited for spring break this year! I get to go skiing for the first time ever. Hopefully I can get good at it and maybe even learn some cool tricks.” Skiing is a very popular activity for a lot of people, in 2022 there were about 15 million people who shredded the snow.

Another senior, Faye Jones says she's going to a Broadway show! She added, “I'm really hyped to go see the show. Going to plays and concerts is one of me and my sister's favorite things to do together. ” The show that they are going to see is Hadestown, a musical retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Students aren't the only ones having fun on spring break. Mrs. Yungeberg, the junior and senior English teacher, is traveling all the way to Tampa Bay, Florida. Her and her husband are going to watch their youngest daughters’ first college track meet of the season! “We are both very excited to see Florida and take advantage of the warm weather! We are also anxious to see how Emma does, but we are sure she will do great.”

Article by Haily Stoudt

GOD MADE A FARMER. John Cayden Dummermuth, son of Rusty and Courtney Dummermuth, was born on June 21, 2007. Cayden is the eldest of five siblings with two brothers and three sisters. Throughout high school Cayden has been involved in KAYS, Baseball, Band, Basketball for one year: Golf two years; FFA and Football four years.

Cayden’s favorite high school memory is when the football team beat Sedgewick in Sectionals his junior year. High school football has been the most important thing to Cayden in his high school career and is his favorite sport. He enjoys winning and being able to play with his friends. Outside of school Cayden spends his time working on the farm. Cayden says his favorite quote is "And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker" so God made a Farmer." This quote was said by Paul Harevey. Farming is very important in Caydens life; it's what he enjoys to do and plans to do in his future, along with having a family of his own. The biggest influence in Caydens life is his parents and grandparents because they have taught him everything he knows about farming.

When Cayden isn't at school or working on the farm, he is hanging out with his friends. His ideal Saturday night is being with his friends and driving around listening to music or whatever plans they have. His favorite song to listen to is “Boys of Faith” by Zach Bryan. Caydens plans after high school are to continue to work on the farm. His advice he has to give to underclassmen is “If I can do it you can do it. Keep pushing through even when it's hard because it's worth making memories.”

Article by Maddy Hanke

Valley Heights NHS 3-on-3 tournament is April 5th. Sign up now to save your spot! Contact bturner@valleyheights.org for more information and to get your team registered or you can register your team using the Google Form below: https://forms.gle/g8jRS3xwwbUfZS6T7

VH girls looking for a formal dress for an upcoming event such as prom or Jr High dance can try on dresses after school on March 12 and April 10. Bring your bestie to get her vibe on the dresses you like! Some shoes and jewelry also available. First come first served.

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