Spring Valley Family News

Spring Valley Families,

Welcome to the 2026/2027 school year! I hope that you all had a wonderful summer. We are looking forward to an amazing year at Spring Valley.

We hope that you can join us for a Popsicle Pop In on Thursday, August 27th from 4:00-5:00. You will have the chance to find out who your child's teacher will be this school year, meet some of our staff and reconnect with/meet new friends.

The first day of school is Monday, August 31st and will be a half day (Arrival: 8:50 Dismissal: 12:00). We have a great year planned at Spring Valley and are ready to SOAR! Our Schoolwide SOAR Expectations remind us to be: Safe, Organized, Attentive and Respectful. We will be teaching and reviewing these expectations the first few weeks of school to help set students up for a successful year.

Please be sure to check out the rest of the Newsletter for important information on first day procedures, upcoming events and other opportunities for your family.

We look forward to partnering with all of you as we work to provide your child with the supports and services they need to reach their full potential and fulfill their Promise.

Take Good Care,

Heather L. Misner

Principal, Spring Valley Center for Exploration

Pop In for a Popsicle!

Class Lists

Class/Teacher Assignments

If you are not able to make it to the Meet and Greet/Popsicle Pop In, we will leave class lists posted on the windows of the school near the Main Office and Gym until the 1st day of school.

1st Day- Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

First Day Procedures

Monday August 31st, 2026

Please make sure you and your child know their morning and afternoon bus number(s).
If your child is a walker or drop off, please enter in the side parking lot and stop at the sign. Students will say goodbye to their families at that time and line up outside by grade. All teachers and support staff will be outdoors greeting students and helping them find their class on the first day.
PLEASE DO NOT PARK FOR ANY REASON IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL at arrival or dismissal. This area is for buses only.
Dismissal: Children who are pick up may be picked up at the doors by the gym at 12:00 pm. Parents will meet a staff member and sign their child out before leaving the school. Please park in the side lot during dismissal. Be prepared to show an ID if requested. Please make sure any person who can pick up your child(ren) are listed on the registration so we can assure every child is safe.

The earliest time students may be dropped off for school is at 8:30am. There is no supervision outside before 8:30am. Please drop off in the main parking lot near the gym. From 8:30 - 8:44am, students will wait outside in their designated grade level areas. During inclement weather, students will wait in designated areas inside the building.

School Supplies

Many of you have been asking about what supplies students will need for the school year. We provide students with all necessary school supplies. With that being said, we can always use the following items:

Kleenex
Disinfecting Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Expo Markers
Ticonderoga Pencils
Individually wrapped snacks (No nuts)

Updated Contact Information Needed

Have you Moved? New Phone Number?

Please be sure that your contact information is updated as many of our communications come through phone calls and emails. If your information has changed, please let the main office know so that we can update it in our system.

2026/2027 Bell Schedule

Below is our Bell Schedule for the 2025/2026 school year:

Full Day of School

Student Instruction begins at 8:50 AM

Student Instruction ends (dismissal) at 3:50 PM

Half-Day Schedule

Student Instruction begins at 8:50 AM

Student Instruction ends (dismissal) at 12:00 PM

Cell Phone Expectations

Please remember that students should not have cell phones during the school day. Many of the issues that arise are a result of cell phone use. If your child has a cell phone, the safest place for it to be during the school day is at home. If your child needs a cell phone for after school communication, they should give it to their teacher to be locked up during the day and returned at dismissal. If a student has a cell phone out during the school day, it will be sent to the main office for a parent to pick up.

Thank you for your help in keeping our learning environment free from the distraction of phones!

Important Dates

Thursday 8/27-Popsicle Pop In- 4:00-5:00 PM
Monday 8/31- First Day of School (half day) 8:50AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 9/1- First Full day 8:50AM - 3:50 PM
9/4 & 9/7- No School (Labor Day Weekend)
9/14- First day-PEEP
9/17- Open House 4:30-6:00 PM

First Day Shoe Fund

Fall Online Ordering Begins 8/24/26

First Day Shoe Fund provides new athletic shoes to students at Kalamazoo County Public

elementary schools at no cost.

Any caregiver who needs shoes for their elementary aged student can order online at www.firstdayshoefund.org/order

Ordering is open from August 24th – 6pm September 16th 2026 and shoes will be fitted between late September and mid October

Let's Stay Connected!

If you haven't already, please like/join our Spring Valley Facebook Page (linked below). We post frequent updates such as: bus cancellations, snow days, school activities, upcoming events and pictures of the amazing things happening in our classrooms/school!

Spring Valley Facebook Page

Spring Valley Contact Information

Ms. Heather Misner, Principal

misnerhl@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Ms. Sharon Vandyke, Achievement and Behavior Specialist

vandykesk@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Marlene Katz, Home Support Specialist

katzml@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Mrs. Stephanie Prevo, Lead Secretary

prevosd@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Email: misnerhl@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Website: https://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/springvalley
Location: 3530 Mount Olivet Road, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Phone: 2693370750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/springvalleycenterforexploration

Spring Valley Family News