Students and staff are continuing to work hard as we power through the last few weeks of school before summer break! Next week we will do our third and final FastBridge Universal Screening benchmark testing. With these results, along with classroom data, we will determine students who will benefit from summer school and those letters will be sent out in the next couple of weeks. Sign ups for our Camp Exploration and summer school will come out shortly.

Monday, April 28th:

• Colts Round Up

Tuesday, April 29th:

• Colts Round Up

Wednesday, April 30th:

• Colts Round Up

Thursday, May 1st:

• Colts Round Up

Friday, May 2nd:

• School Lunch Hero Day! Thank a lunch hero!

Looking Ahead:

May 7th Nurse Appreciation Day!

May 8th Last day of Colts Round Up

May 9th Play Day!

May 19th Board of Education Meeting

May 21st 8:30 Preschool/Kinder Prep Program 9:00 K-2 Program/2nd Grade Promotion

May 22nd Last day of school! Dismiss @ 12:30!

June 2nd Camp Exploration and Summer School begin!

Fun with glue and paint this week for Mrs. Young's 1st grade!

Kindergarten classes had a dance party this week as part of their countdown to the end of the school year!

Kindergarten students went on a field trip this week to Rottinghaus Holstein Farm in Seneca!

Some 2nd grade students performed a reader's theatre for 1st graders this week!

2nd grade students also enjoyed learning about Dr. Seuss during picture lady time with Sharon King!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to Ms. Nikki!

2nd grade students helped plant a tree to celebrate Arbor Day!

Students enjoyed playing ZTAG during PE. ZTAG combines technology and physical activity, fostering playful learning, critical thinking, and teamwork in students!

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! The 2025 state assessments are completed and in the books!! I am just so proud of the students, they all had an outstanding attitude and put out an outstanding effort. We will not get the results until we return in the fall. I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Joseph, our building test coordinator, for all her hard work to ensure the state testing process went smoothly! It is now field trip and activity season. Please take note of the dates below and be sure they are annotated on your calendar. Along with the teachers and staff, I am so excited to finish the year strong.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• May 5th - 6th Grade Orientation @ VHHS (change from school calendar)
• May 5th - 6th Grade Family Engagement night (see save the date below)
• May 6th - School Nurse Day
• May 7th - Health Department on location for vaccinations
• May 8th - 4th Grade Field Trip
• May 9th - Play Day
• May 12th - 3rd Grade Field Trip
• May 13th - 6th Grade Field Trip
• May 15th - 5th Grade Field Trip
• May 21st - 3rd - 6th grades Program with 6th grade promotion
• May 22nd - Last Day of School/12:30 pm Dismissal

As always, I want to thank you for the blessing that it is to work with your children. My door is always open if you have any questions or concerns.

-Mr. Staples

This week's Waterville Grade School VHS ticket winners are Charlotte and Nellie (not pictured) winning lunch with Mrs. deBoer and Tomas and Julian winning prizes!

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!

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!

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