Members from our Forensics team competed this past weekend at the state competition and all of them did very well. As a team, we finished in 4th place out of the 35 teams competing which is outstanding! Leading the way was junior, Carter Germann, who was the State Champion (1st place) in Prose and also earned 3rd place in Solo Acting Serious. Lawson Stryker and Julia Heinen teamed up for 3rd place in IDA and was matched by Harmony Conti and Dino Conti who placed 4th in the same event. Lawson picked up individual honors with a 5th place finish in Solo Acting Humorous and Julia placed 4th overall in Informative. Charlie Warders and Everson Parker competed in the IDA event at state. Earning Semi-Finalist Honors (Top 12) were Harmony Conti (Original Oration), Saige Wilcox (Poetry) and she competed in Informative Speaking, Abigail Thorn (Solo Serious Acting) and she competed in Poetry. Congratulations to all of our performers!

We will be starting a large project out here towards the end of May! The track will be getting a new surface and the football field will be reshaped while we have the track uncovered. This project will start on May 19th with the dirt work getting started. Our track athletes that qualify for the 2A State Track Meet will be practicing on the Marysville track. On June 2nd the surface on the track will be removed and any repairs to the base will be made and then resurfacing will begin. On June 16th the sod will be replaced on the field and watering will start. The track will be repainted about mid-July. There can be no traffic on the football field until the very first home game! Obviously, the field and track will be off-limits not only for summer weight workouts but for public traffic as well. Thanks for your cooperation!

Two big dates coming up soon for the Class of 2025 is Baccalaureate which is scheduled for May 11th. This event will start at 7:00 pm and Mr. Titus Staples will be the guest speaker. The second event is, of course, Commencement Exercises for this group! That date is Saturday, May 17th, with a 2:00 pm start time. The program will feature comments from their class sponsor, Mrs. Jen Pacha, the Senior Video, and a musical number by our band! The final act will be the presentation of diplomas to the members of the Class of 2025! Plan on joining us for this culminating event for the 2024-2025 school year.

Last week we announced that Blaze, our Mustang out front, was back and this week plants have been added to the planter! We would like to thank Derek and Justine DeBoer for planting the plants this past Monday night. This, along with the efforts of Ryan Bishop and Clayton Reed on our lawn, has got the front of our facilities looking great and just in time for graduation!! Thank you all!

Our junior high track season came to end this past Tuesday at the BVL meet that we hosted. The athletes showed a lot of improvement over the course of the season with several school records being set in various events! Our 8th Grade Boys were BVL Champions and our 7th Grade Boys were BVL Runners-Up! During the meet Langston Gray set a new BVL record in the 1600 meter run and Ben Miller set another BVL record in the 200-meter hurdles! Great job everyone!

Spring Fling was hosted on Wednesday night, May 7th. We actually had three different events bundled into one evening! Our Senior Displays were available for viewing from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm. Some of these displays were very impressive! While that was going on our 7-12 art students had their best work on display in the gym for our visitors to look at during the evening. Our final group was our instrumental and vocal groups presenting their spring program! It was a great evening as we supported the fine arts and the Class of 2025!

Have a great week and Let’s go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

8th grade boys are BVL track champions this year and 7th grade boys are runner up in their respective classes. Congratulations boys !

Ben Miller sets a new BVL record in the 200m hurdles with a time of 30.63. The old record was 32.16 from 2024.

Langston Gray set a new BVL record yesterday in the 1600m with a time of 4:50.81. The old record was set in 1994 by B Sigle from Riley County with a time of 4:55.5.

HERE ARE OUR FINAL RESULTS FROM STATE!

Lawson & Julia - 3rd IDA

Harmony & Dino - 4th IDA

Julia - 4th Informative

Lawson - 5th Solo Humorous

Carter - STATE CHAMPION 1st Prose & 3rd Solo Serious

2025 Spring Fling and Senior Night was incredible! What a great year for the arts at VHHS. Best of luck to our 2025 graduates!

Congrats to Paige Miller on reaching her 200th career strike out!!!

For the first time in recent history the Valley Heights golf team has won their home tournament!

The team battled through the rain and were all able to post some impressive scores. Individually Jayden DeWalt placed third, Brady DeWalt placed 5th, Dustin Denton placed 8th, and Royce Ekstrum placed 11th. Logan Gray and Henry Bachura also posted improved scores from previous weeks.

Congratulations to the team on a well-earned victory.

The Valley Heights Golf Team traveled to Onaga today. Jayden DeWalt finished the day in 3rd place. The team is gearing up for their last regular season tournament this Thursday and post season over the next few weeks.

Valley Heights FFA is competing at STATE HORSE EVALUATION today at Domer arena in Topeka, KS.

Klara McIntyre, Kynadee Bishop, Krista Porter, Anna Brungardt

Valley Heights is ready to represent at STATE LIVESTOCK EVALUATION today in Manhattan, KS!

Results today after 4:00pm for Horse and Livestock evaluation!

Congratulations Krista Porter for earning 5th high individual in the state of Kansas in Horse Evaluation!!

Sign up now for Valley Heights Community Ed. & Waterville Dance Summer classes!

Pre-Ballet for pre-school & kinderprep: https://forms.gle/Bg18rCT5AzooVCXR6

Jazz/Hip Hop for Kindergarten through 12th: https://forms.gle/iq1K7AykSYghf9zk6

Valley Heights Journalism

May 5, 2025

A FUTURE BUILT ON HARDWORK AND DETERMINATION. Hudson Taylor Nemechek, was born on October 31, 2006, to Melanie and Darren Nemechek. Hudson has always been surrounded by a strong support system, including his siblings Aiden, Osric, and Callahan. Hudson's ambitions extend beyond just the present, after high school he plans to continue working and expanding his landscaping business. His ultimate goal is to buy land, build both a shop and a house, and continue a thriving business that lasts.

Music plays a big role in Hudson’s life, with favorites including “Take Your Time” by Hudson Westbrook, “Boomtown” by Treaty Oak Revival, and "Cozy” by Braxton Keith. When it comes to words of wisdom, he lives by the phrase, “Scared money doesn't make money.” When he's not working toward his business goals, Hudson enjoys pastimes like hanging out with his dogs, Stetson and Nova, and driving around backroads.

In ten years, Hudson envisions himself living on his own land with his business flourishing. His work ethic and determination are heavily influenced by his grandfather, Bryon. “My Papa Bryon has shown me how to work for what you want and to work hard for it. He has always been someone I’ve looked up to and always been around,” Hudson shares.

One of Hudson’s most memorable experiences was attending the National FFA Convention in 2023, an event that only deepened his passion for agriculture and business. Among his proudest accomplishments is starting his own business. A fun fact about Hudson is that he always carries Carmex in his left pocket!

Hudson has been involved in FFA, KAYS, FCA, and Cross Country for four years; NHS, Mustang Mentor, Basketball, and Baseball for two years; Scholars Bowl, Band, and Track one year. Hudsons advice to the underclassmen is, “Always get your stuff done on time and take things seriously, but have fun.” When asked how he wants to be remembered, his response is simple but powerful, as a hard worker with good character. Hudson remains active in his community through church, serving as a Farm Bureau Ambassador, and dedicating time to his work.

Article by Mia Vermetten

Valley Heights Journalism

May 2, 2025

CREATING A SYMPHONY. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,” this quote by Martin Luther King Jr. is senior Kloee Martin’s favorite quote because “You don’t have to know what you’re doing or have it planned out all the time and that’s reassuring to me.” Kloee Jean Martin, was born on August 9th 2007 to Tifanie and Blake Martin and is the older sister to Elsee and Braxlyn.

Kloee has been involved in Band, Vocal four years, Scholars Bowl four years; Cross Country, and All School Play three years. When asked what her favorite memory at Valley Heights was, she said, “When my friends and I snuck out of our hotel rooms on a band trip at five in the morning to go swimming at the pool.” Kloee shared that the person who has had the biggest impact on her life is “My parents because they raised me in a Christian household and made me who I am today, and I am so grateful for that.”

After high school Kloee plans to major in music education at Kansas State University. Kloee was asked where she sees herself in ten years she hopes to be "working in some type of musical career.” Kloee has always been a huge fan of music and she actually knows how to play six different musical instruments! Her ideal Friday night would be finishing a good book or jamming out to music.

After graduation, Kloee wants people to remember her for being respectful and a kindhearted person.

Article by Lili Slifer

1 in 36 kids in the US are diagnosed with Autism. The spectrum is wide. If you have concerns about your child, talk to your child's doctor and their teacher. Early detection is a key to success! #autismawareness

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