Happy last week of school!!! It is so hard to believe we have made it to the very end of the school year! The staff at Waterville Elementary thank you for sharing your child(ren) with us this school year! We have loved building relationships with them and learning right alongside them.

Don't forget to sign your child up for our Camp Exploration Summer Camp program! This is completely free for Valley Heights students and breakfast and lunch are free as well. Click here for more information and how to sign up! Your child's teacher will reach out to you if they are requesting your child attends summer school, and a sign up form will be shared separately for that.

Grades will be sent home in backpacks next week so keep an eye out for them!

Have a safe and wonderful summer! Back to school information will be mailed out at the end of July! Yungeberg Drug will provide FREE school supplies for all PreK-6th grade students again this summer. More details will be shared in the coming months!

Monday, May 19th:

• Board of Education Meeting @ 6:00 pm

Tuesday, May 20th:

• Preschool/Kinder Prep last day of classes

Wednesday, May 21st:

• Preschool/Kinder Prep Program at 8:30 am
• Students will go home with parents after the program, no Preschool/ Kinder Prep classes after the program
• K-2 program and 2nd grade promotion at 9:00 am

Thursday, May 22nd:

• Last Day of School! Dismiss @ 12:30. Lunch will be provided.

Looking Ahead:

June 2nd Camp Exploration and Summer School begin!

Mrs. Young's class has spent a couple days camping this week!

It was a great week at Blue Rapids Elementary! The 4th grade students had their wax museum this week and it was a smashing success. (see pictures below) The 3rd grade also went to Nebraska to tour the Homestead National Park, 5th grade went to Fort Riley to tour the army base and the 6th grade went to the Konza prairie and the Discovery center. With that said, we are down to the last three and a half days of school, please take note of the important dates listed below.

Here are some upcoming dates to remember:

• May 19th - Board of Education meeting @ 6:00 pm
• May 21st - 3rd - 6th grades Program with 6th grade promotion @ 2:00 pm
• May 22nd - Last Day of School/12:30 pm Dismissal
• June 2nd - Camp Exploration begins

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

Every year after the 6th graders' field trip, they have their "Running of the Halls". Enjoy!

Another tradition is the Seniors Walk the Halls at the Grade Schools.

The 4th graders did a wonderful job presenting their Wax Museum characters.

Colts out did themselves beating the Mustangs 22 - 13! The ref might have been partial to the Colts. Way to go Colts!

This week's Waterville VHS ticket winners are Hadley and Kaydon winning lunch with Mrs. deBoer and George and Karlee 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