STC Newsletter

During the school year, our Family Advocate travels with the Mobile Family Resource Center, aka, "care bus" to each school weekly to help meet student and family needs. The Family Advocate is available by appointment when school is not in session and at scheduled community events.
To make an appointment or invite the care bus to your event, contact Jayne Whitson on her cell, 612.202.7366.

SAFETY begins with you! While industrial businesses and manufacturers team together with employees during June to make their workplaces safe, families and neighbors also join together to make their homes and communities safe and free from danger. Keeping your family members free from accidental injury and harm takes some precautionary steps that are easy to follow. June is National Safety Month and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about risks and safety hazards at home and in the workplaces to prevent accidental injuries and deaths. Use the calendar below this month as a guide to help make your home a safe place for your family. Click to download a printable calendar file.

Sunflower Summer is a Kansas Tourism program offering FREE ADMISSION for Kansas families to 220 attractions across Kansas this summer! May 25- August 11, your family is eligible to receive FREE admission to museums, state parks, art galleries, amusement and water parks, plus nature and wildlife centers and more! Make it a day-cation and stay close to home or travel across Kansas and enjoy free events and activities that are entertaining and educational for the whole family. Create some super summer memories with your family that will last a lifetime!

For more info to get your FREE tickets, click here.

Schools That Care has been approved by the USD #498 school board to continue serving students and families at Valley Heights next school year and will have a new look beginning in August! Look for changes coming this school year when the Family Advocate will serve Valley Heights Schools full time and no longer travel to schools in USD #380. Schools That Care will continue to operate the Mobile Family Resource Center, aka the care bus in USD #498, Valley Heights, and provide school supplies and other needs to students and families in the district based on need, not income. The program provides products and supplies from donations received from students, families, friends, businesses and community churches and organizations, including the Blue Rapids Community Foundation. Other resources and services are also provided with partnership of existing agencies. The Family Advocate will be available by appointment through the summer months. When school begins the Family Advocate's schedule will include time in grade school classrooms providing character education lessons, serving at risk students, stimulating community development and communications while continuing donation drives, meeting with the VH Community Coalition, and advancing the STC programs. Many thanks to all who embrace and support the programs that Schools That Care offers.

6th graders from Blue Rapids Elementary took a glance of what Jr High looks like at Valley Heights on Friday, May 3rd at 6th grade orientation. During orientation they met with Mrs. Manley, school counselor, coaches, teachers, staff and met their Mustang Mentor. After a game of "black-out" Bingo to get to know each other, they received a scratch off that identified their mentor. Once mentors and matches met, they had the opportunity to visit, ask and answer questions, exchange phone numbers, take a building tour together and eat lunch before Play Day began. Pizza was provided for the Mentors and Matches. Mustang Mentors make a difference t-shirts were provided by Titan Trailers. The goal of the mentor program is to welcome new students to the VH secondary building and to encourage and support students through building a new relationship as they embark on a new journey. Thank you for making a difference!

Schools that Care Family Advocate drove the care bus in the parade and threw popsicles to students on a nice Spring Day in celebration of Nickel Days! The Ring Toss and Horseshoe Throw were fun games teaching students skills in tossing/coordination as well as building determination and resilience too! Every one kept trying until they made a "ringer" to WIN a popsicle of their favorite color. Fun times in the sunshine for all ages!

The Valley Heights Community Coalition is planning the annual back to school event for all students, families, friends and fans at Valley Heights! Mustang Spirit Night invites our community to welcome students and staff back to school this fall on Friday, August 23, 6-7:30pm. Plans include indoor and outdoor activities: food, fun, games, and a pep rally at 7pm in the gymnasium to meet the Mustangs! It will be fun for the whole family with activities provided by high school clubs and organizations and some community businesses. If your business or organization would like to join us, please contact, the Schools That Care Family Advocate, Jayne Whitson. There will be a mini cheer clinic for mini Mustang fans, yard games, a jump house, photo booth, temporary tattoos, pep rock painting, hot dogs, sno cones and more! KNDY radio has been invited to broadcast live on location and join in our celebration of the new school year! Plan now to attend and wear purple! #MustangProud

Give on-line anytime! If you want to make a difference with a tax deductible donation or contribution, please consider giving to Schools That Care. Schools That Care uses cash donations to provide for needs when donated items run low or don't fit the size necessary.

Talk to your tax preparer for specific information. It's easy to give via PayPal or with your credit/debit card. Use this link and view other ways to give. https://www.valleyheights.org/page/donations