We had a great day at our Professional Development Day at Marysville this past Monday. The day started with a message for our Kansas Commissioner of Education, Dr. Randy Watson. The high school staff and elementary staffs then split up the day with breakout sessions and either a full morning or afternoon session titles “What’s So Special about Special Education” which was very informative. Congratulations to Mrs. Jenny Yungeberg and Mrs. Susan Steinfort for presenting “Classroom Management Skills” in one of our high school breakouts. These staff members did a great job with their sessions which was well attend throughout the morning!

We are right at the end of the TVL Tournament, and as usual, there has been some very good basketball games on both sides of the bracket! The Lady Mustangs picked up wins over Onaga and state ranked Clifton-Clyde in the first two games but suffered a loss to #1 ranked Hanover in the semi-finals. They will play D. West on Saturday for third place honors. Game time for the ladies will be 2:30 pm. The boys played a tough opening round game against Linn but came up just a bit short in the contest. The boys have been going through some growing pains with several players missing with injuries. The boys will play Onaga tonight (Friday) at 4:30 pm and Washington County on Saturday at 10:00 am. If you want to see some great high school basketball on Saturday then travel on over to Frankfort and watch some the best teams in the state square off against each other.

Next week is Winter Formal for the Valley Heights students! Our KAYS organization has put together some plans for the week to make the event an exciting one for everybody. Monday- Pajama Day; Tuesday – Anything but a Cup Day; Sports Jersey Day; Thursday – Rhyme Without Reason Day, and Friday – Purple Out!! Our Winter Formal candidates are Faye Jones, Maddy Hanke, Aubrey Umscheid, Dustin Denton, Jayden DeWalt and Cayden Dummermuth. Congratulations to all of you!!

Our FFA program and Ms. Carrie Husband earned some very nice honors this past week! Ms. Husband was awarded the Teacher Turn the Key Award presented by the Kansas Association of Ag. Educators at their recent conference. On Wednesday, chapter members competed in the District Job Interview and Speech contest hosted at Marysville. Dustin Denton placed first in Senior Speech and 2nd in Job Interview. Hudson Nemechek placed 3rd in Job Interview and Dawson Vermetten placed 3rd in Extemporaneous Speech. As a team the Mustangs placed 3rd overall and brought home a plaque for the classroom wall. Job well done!

The junior high basketball season is winding down with the BVL tournament starting on Monday night, December 27th. Games will be played at Blue Valley-Randolph! Our boy’s squad is the #2 seed and will play Luckey at 4:45 pm. The girls are the #4 seed and will play the #5 Blue Valley Rams at 7:15 pm! Best of Luck Mustangs!!

Valley Heights will be hosting the Linn Bulldogs this Tuesday night! We have a couple of things going on that we want to pass on to our communities! First of all, the junior high students will be hosting a baked potato bar during the game so we have supper covered for everyone. Secondly, we will be hosting a 50/50 drawing with the proceeds going to the family of Addie Voelker. Addie was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma and is currently at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee undergoing additional testing and treatment. Addie is a second-grade student at Linn Lutheran! As a fellow member of the TVL, Valley Heights would like to support her family with additional funds to cover some of the expenses they will be experiencing. Direct donations are also welcomed!! Just contact the office out here at VHHS if you would like to donate!

Have a great week and Let’s go Mustangs!

Valley Heights staff and students, along with our VH Community, would like to help Addie Voelker. Addie is a 2nd grader at Linn Lutheran School. She was recently diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma. Addie and her family will be needing to travel due to her illness and will be taking on additional medical expenses. We would like to help out her family with this journey. On January 28th, VH Boys and Girls basketball teams will be playing Linn. That evening VH will be doing a 50/50 raffle to help this family. Please come out and support both basketball teams and Addie and her family. If you would like to donate and will not be available that evening to attend, donations can be mailed or dropped off at the high school office. All proceeds will be donated to Addie to help ease the burden of this journey. Donations can be sent to Valley Heights 2274 6th Road Blue Rapids, KS 66411

Junior High A team finishes the regular season 11-2. Blue Valley League tournament begins Monday at Blue Valley.

Junior High B team finishes the season 13-2.

Junior High C team finishes the season 4-7.

She is showcasing her papier-mâché peacock sculpture, Dr. Dolittle. Currently, Tylehn is working on an acrylic painting, focusing on values.

“What I love most about art is how it can tell a story and hold significance. For me, it’s about creating something that leaves an impact,” Tylehn shared.

Congratulations go out to our FFA program for a third place finish overall at the District Job Interview and Ag. Speech competition! Dustin Denton earned 1st place in senior speech and 2nd place in job interview . Hudson Nemechek earned 3rd place in job interview and Dawson Vermetten earned 3rd place in extemporaneous speech! Great job Mustangs!!

Join Us For Junior Day, Friday, February 14 at Barton Community College This year's Junior Day will feature: Info sessions with Admissions Campus tours Explore multiple majors Multiple scholarship drawings https://www.bartonccc.edu/juniorday

IDGAC. "I usually don't give a crap but when I do, you will know and it will be from my heart." Senior, Saige Wilcox says, “this quote is extremely meaningful to me because it is how my grandpa lived his life and he was one of my biggest role models.” Saige Wilcox, daughter of Alicia Figge and BJ Wilcox, was born on May 29, 2007. Growing up in Blue Rapids, Saige has made countless memories with her three siblings Macy, Brock, and Racyn. Her family has been her rock in supporting her throughout high school and making sure that she is happy. When asked how she wants to be remembered, Saige responds that she wants people to remember her as a nice and hardworking person that always does what they are supposed to.

During Saige’s time in high school, she was involved in many activities: Art Club 4 years, All School Play 3 years, Vocal 3 years, NHS 2 years, Band 2 years, Scholar’s Bowl 2 years, FCA 2 years, Peer Mentor 2 years, and StuCo 1 year. She was also Class StuCo Representative 1 year, Art Club Vice President 1 year, and Art Club President 1 year.

In her spare time Saige likes to hang out with friends, watch movies, or play video games. After graduation, Saige plans to attend Highland Community College for two years before transferring to Emporia State University to major in Secondary Art Education. Previous art teacher, Mrs. Smith has had a really big influence towards Saige’s interests in a degree in Secondary Art Education. “She always pushed me to get better at art and a better person in general,” says the senior. In ten years she sees herself with a master’s degree and teaching art to grades 7-12. “Some advice I have for underclassmen is to not fall behind on your classwork, try to be involved in many things, and make school a good place to be!

Article by Chad Bargdill

A shout out to Carrie Husband on receiving the KAAE Teacher Turn The Key award at the Mid Winter FFA Symposium! Great job and congratulations on winning a bird feeder!

Our custodian, Monica Sump had a birthday this Thursday and her mother, Ann Walters threw her a little surprise party at the end of the school day. Staff and friends attended the come and go party for her after school that day. Mr Spoonts also presented her with a certificate that day in honor of her 25 years of service to the Valley Heights school district. Again Thank you Monica for all you do!!!! And HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

The Junior High students will be hosting a "free will donation" Baked Potato Bar Tuesday, January 28th during the basketball game against Linn! Take a night off from cooking supper and enjoy dinner with us! We hope to see you there!

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