ThE MuStAnG MeSsEnGeR

Mustang Update

We had a really good turnout for our Open House and 7th Grade Orientation meeting this past Tuesday! We had a majority of our 7th grade students and their parents at the meeting where they learned about some of the things the students would experience for the first time. Class periods, bells, pass time, athletics and activities and the most important one – responsibility! I know we're in the first few days of classes but it appears that our 7th grade class has blended in nicely! We wish them a very successful year at Valley Heights!

Friday night is the NIGHT! August 22nd is the date on which we will host our Mustang Spirit Night! Activities, both indoors and outdoors, and food are scheduled from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. At 7:00 pm we will host a pep rally in the gym where we will introduce fall sports team members, new staff and host a variety of games, dance and cheer routines and a performance by our young dancers are just a small part of our agenda! Our Lady Mustangs, fresh off a State Runner-Up finish in 2024, will have a soap scrimmage in the gym starting at 5:00 pm! We invite all of you to attend and kick of our year in style!

Parents – as we start the school year we would like to encourage every family to take advantage of the parent portal provided through PowerSchool! This is a great way to monitor you child’s progress in their classes, absences and tardies, missing assignments, etc. Often times, by staying informed, we can help our students greatly!

Parents & Students – We will be watching student attendance and tardies very close this year. You should have received a letter in your welcome back mailing! Make sure you look this over and plan on following these guidelines closely. A student can only miss 5 days in the first semester and 7 days total for the year. If you miss three consecutive days due to illness then you must have a note from a medical office that you have been seen by a doctor. Partial absences can and will add up to the totals of five and seven days. The only excused absences are School Activities, Court Appearances (with a note), Grievance and Medical Issues (with a note excusing a student from school by the professionals providing service). Medical offices are aware of this and will provide a note but you may have to ask for one. Classes start at 8:05 am and end at 3:25 pm. Make sure your student is arriving to school in plenty of time to be in their classroom before the start of school. Tardies will also be registered if a student is late to any of their classes during the day. If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate in contacting my office for more information.

We are quickly entering the start of the fall sports season. The Lady Mustangs will be in action on Saturday, August 30th at the Marysville Volleyball Tournament! Pool play will begin at 9:00 am. Valley Heights is in the Black Pool and will square off with Nemaha Central, Concordia, Riley County and Marysville. Come on out and cheer on our Mustangs! Football starts with a Jamboree at Silver Lake on August 29th and the first regular season game on September 5th. Cross Country and our junior high programs will start their seasons on September 4th. Check out our USD 498 Google Calendar for locations and updated start times!

We started off the school year with two assemblies! The first one was with the Class of 2026 where we talked about their final year of high school, setting goals and providing leadership within our building. The seniors were then joined by the 7th through 11th grade students and we went over some new things happening here at Valley Heights. Four very bright students earned some spending money by answering some tough questions in regards to policies at Valley Heights. Let’s just say Mr. Savage’s pockets are bit lighter as I write this article.

With that I will close my article by stating, "Let's have a great year at Valley Heights"!!

Go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

The Class of 2025 wanted to add their mark on VHHS one more time. This time, their class made a donation of 4 "Welcome" flags for our high school building. The first use of these flags was on district-wide enrollment day. All four were proudly placed at the front of the high school.

At the bottom of one of my old IEPs from elementary school, a teacher wrote these words…

“He talks too much in class.”

Back then, it felt like a weakness. Something that set me apart in the wrong way.

But today, that same voice, the one I was once told was too much, is the very thing that lets me stand in front of schools and audiences all across Kansas to share messages of hope and encouragement.

This morning I spoke to the Valley Heights USD498 staff as they get ready for a new year. I told them how educators saved me, challenged me, and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

It is not about where you are right now. It is about how far you can go and grow. And often, it is because someone reaches out a hand and lifts you up.

I have been blessed to give graduation speeches and countless talks. Each one reminds me there is more growth in all of us.

Keep moving forward.

#NoShame

#HelpMore

Our Staff enjoyed this presentation

Never Label-Look for the positive

Thank you again Trooper Ben

Learning to manage our lockers

Helping each other out

KAY serves up the ice cream

Again, we want to apologize for the time difference in our 7th grade orientation meeting Tuesday night. We will strive to do better with communication in the future~The Office

Our Student Body listen to

Mr Savage speaking

Mrs Parker and her Stuco Group

Pictured above: Ryan with his wife, Emily and son, Henry.

Our first staff spotlight is going to be Mr. Ryan Ehrlich. Mr. Ehrlich is our technology teacher, head golf coach, FBLA sponsor, and our Live Streaming/Broadcasting coach. Ryan comes to us from Rossville Kansas. Ryan has a bachelor's in Construction Science and Management and a Master of Arts of Teaching, both through KSU. He joined us in 2023, as the lead teacher for our Special Education department. In 2024, he changed positions to our technology classroom. Ryan says one of his favorite things about VHHS is the strong staff relationships that we all share and the active awareness of our culture. When Ryan is not teaching, coaching, or sponsoring, he loves to work on computers and new technology, golf, go fishing, or study history.

Thanks for all you do Mr. Ehrlich!!!