Valley Heights Elementary Schools

Welcome back to a new semester! I hope you had a wonderful break and you were able to get back into the swing of things this week! We have jumped right back into learning and the students have done great!

This time of year we have a lot of sickness going around so please make sure you help reinforce healthy habits at home. A reminder that our policy is that a student cannot return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours and they cannot return until 24 hours after the last time they vomit.

Monday:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday:

• Colts Round Up

Wednesday:

• Colts Round Up

Thursday:

• Colts Round Up

Friday:

• 
  

Looking Ahead:

• January 19th- No School- staff PD day

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! The students did a good job getting back into the routines of school. We are excited as a staff to start the second semester as the teachers have a variety of unique lessons and activities planned for the new year! Parents should have received their child's grades this week, if you did not receive them please let us know.

Please take note of the important dates below.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• Professional Development Day/No School - January 19th
• Kansas Day - January 29th
• Dental Screenings - February 10th

As always, thank you for the privilege and blessing that it is to work with your children. My door is always open if you have any concerns or you need to visit.

-Mr. Staples

The 4th graders honored Officer Dan Hargrave on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Each of them made cards for Officer Hargrave and to share with all our local police officers. Thank you Officer Hargrave and ALL of the law enforcement officers in our communities!

VHS ticket winners for this week and from the monthly drawing for December are Jet, Elliot, Delilah, Tomas, Maebel, Andie, Evelyn, and Elijah! Good work!

Each week we'll give you a fun question to talk about around the dinner table with your family! Eating together as a family is an excellent time to strengthen relationships and check in with your child and their needs. Enjoy discussing the question of the week!

Did you know you can pay your child's lunch fees online? We'll even cover the processing fees for you so you have no extra fees! Click HERE to be taken directly to the link! Or you can navigate to this page from the Valley Heights website, then clicking on Parent & Student Resources, then Online Payment.

Community Education has recently sent out a program survey to gather community interests and Ideas to increase programming and participation in activities beyond the school day. We invite you to click on the link below to fill out the survey and give us your thoughts and ideas.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/KuzPRNFKjXkyEiqf8

We’d like to remind families to discuss a safe route to school with your students. Whether it is on foot, bike, or a car we want everyone to arrive to and from school safely! For students on foot and bike remember that the safest crossings are at Chestnut & Highway 77 in Blue Rapids and Minnesota & Highway 77 in Waterville.

These crossings are monitored both before and after school.

Check out the Schools That Care newsletter below for information on resources available in our community!

Early Head Start 0-3 provides services to infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. It promotes

• healthy prenatal outcomes, healthy babies
• enhances the development of infants and toddlers, and
• promotes healthy/thriving families

NEK-CAP, Inc. receives federal funds for 160 children to operate and provide Early Head Start (0-3) services for infants, toddlers, pregnant mothers, and fathers.

NEK-CAP, Inc. receives federal funds for 238 children to operate and provide Head Start services. Head Start is committed to cultivating partnerships with the community to ensure that children and families receive an array of individualized services focused upon early childhood development, family support, health and education.

Head Start/Early Head Start 0-5 services are available at no cost to children and families. Up to 10% of enrollment may be used to serve children that are over income. Transportation is available at some locations.

Click HERE for more information!

Did you know that even though packaging no longer has box tops on them to cut out, that you can still support your school? Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipt to earn money for schools. This is a simple way to give back to your community! Click here for more details!

Another avenue of supporting your school is through Casey's rewards! Check it out at caseys.com/community/donate-your-points!

Email: judeboer@valleyheights.org tstaples@valleyheights.org sspoonts@valleyheights.org
Website: www.valleyheights.org