Valley Heights Elementary Schools

What an exciting week it was at Waterville Elementary! We started the week with a snow day on Monday! We then bused our students to the Blue Rapids gym both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to prepare for their Christmas Program! Wednesday night our students sang their hearts out and did a wonderful job performing their Christmas songs! On Thursday, we celebrated the 67th day of school! We also had our annual Santa's Gift Shop day on Thursday. A total of 791 gifts were purchased, wrapped and sent home to spread the holiday joy this season!

This Wednesday, December 10th, our kindergarten through 6th grade students and staff will be attending a Kansas State University Women's Basketball game in Manhattan! Our elementary schools were invited to this game at no cost, as part of the education game day experience! We are looking forward to offering this fun opportunity to our students!

Next Week

Monday:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday:

• Colts Round Up

Wednesday:

• Kansas State University Women's Basketball Game Trip for all K-6 students!
• Colts Round Up

Thursday:

• Colts Round Up

Friday:

• No elementary activities

Looking Ahead:

• December 18th Preschool-2nd Grade Christmas Parties
• December 19th-
• Preschool/ Kinder Prep Christmas Program 8:30-9:00
• End of the semester! Dismiss @ 12:30

2nd graders won the stacking record with 14 cups! 1st grade was close behind with 13 cups!

It has been an exciting week at Blue Rapids Elementary. A big shout out to Mrs. Popejoy, Mrs. Schroller and all the K-6 students on an amazing Christmas program. Everyone sounded great and the program from start to finish encapsulated the true meaning of Christmas. (please see pictures below)

You will note in the special paragraph below that on Wednesday the 10th of December as a school we will be attending the K-State women's basketball game. We are excited for this opportunity and are thankful for the K-State athletic department for providing this free activity for the students.

All of this said, we have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. We have two weeks left till Christmas break and our focus as a staff and students is finishing the semester strong. Christmas will be here before we know it!! ❄🎅

Please take note of the important dates below.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• K - 6th grades going to K-State Women's Basketball Game in Manhattan - December 10th
• Board Meeting - December 15th
• End of Semester/Early Dismissal @ 12:30 pm - December 19th

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

Both Waterville Grade School and Blue Rapids Grade School have been invited to attend the Kansas State University Women's Basketball game on Wednesday, December 10th! Our Kindergarten through 6th grade students and staff will be attending! We will leave from our respective buildings around 9:15 am. The game starts at 11:00 am. We will return back to school before dismissal. The school will have sack lunches available for purchase at the same prices as a regular school lunch. However, students can bring a sack lunch from home if they would like.

We look forward to this fun day!

On Monday night the Valley Heights USD 498 Board of Education recognized Sharon Osborne for her many years of dedication to Valley Heights as an educator and a board member. Thank you, Mrs. Osborne! You have touched many lives in your years of service to our district!

This week's Waterville VHS ticket winners were Lawson, Eloise, Jet, and Evelyn!

The Waterville monthly VHS ticket winners were Elijah, Delilah, Tavin, and Karlee!

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!

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!

The QR code in the bottom right corner or this link bit.ly/referVHFAMILYforAChristmasMeal can be used to refer a family.

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