The Mustang Messenger

We still have some basketball to play before we ring in the new year. As I write this article we have home games with Riley County tonight. The junior high teams will wrap up their first semester slate with a road game to Clifton-Clyde on Monday, December 15th. The high school teams will play two home games during the final week of first semester. On Tuesday night we host Nemaha Central and Centralia on Friday night. We also have games scheduled on December 30th with the Winter Showcase. This would be a home game for us! We will also travel to Washington County on December 31st for the second day of the Winter Showcase.

Congratulations go out to our Winter King and Queen of Courts candidates. They are Kaitlin Hemry, Stella Martin and Josie Parker. Male candidates are Chad Bargdill, Caden Weaver and Gabe Padilla. Our Winter Formal is scheduled for January 10th so we have a quick turn-a-round when we come back from holiday break! We will crown our Winter King and Queen on January 9th during the game against D. West.

Congratulations are also in order for Mrs. Miller and some of our 9-12 Art students. The following students had art pieces selected to showcase at the Missouri State University Art Show. Inclusion in the Exhibit awards went to freshmen Amber Grubbs and Eleanor Toerber! Honorable Mention awards were given to seniors, Ashton Crook, Ava Smith Kebeb Zimmerman and Kinsley Gillig and to juniors Cassie Cooney and Tylehn Martin! Great job everyone!

As I write this last letter for 2025 we are in the last two full days of classes with some of our students taking finals. We did give students the opportunity to opt out of finals if they met certain requirements and a number of them were able to do just that!! We will be doing this at the end of second semester as well so it is important that our students understand and follow closely what those requirements are!

Technically, it is a short, but busy, week here at Valley Heights! Our junior high teams played at Clifton-Clyde on Monday night and we hosted Nemaha Central on Tuesday night. On Friday, even though it is a 12:30 pm dismissal day, we will host Centralia! With that, I will wrap up this last letter of the year!

On behalf of the staff and students at Valley Heights Jr./Sr. High School, we would like to wish everyone a wonderful, safe and relaxing Christmas and Happy New Year! Let’s make the second semester at VHHS even better than first semester!

Go Mustangs!

Mr. Savage

Wednesday morning at 7am (by appointment) and after school Wednesday at 3:30pm

Contact Mrs. Stevenson (lstevenson@valleyheights.org) with any questions

Beginning Sunday, December 7, the Blue Rapids Gym will be open for Valley Heights community to shoot, work on their ball handling, or play basketball to hone their skills.

Elementary students grades 3 - 6 will have the gym from 1--2:00, & 7th grade - adult will have gym access from 2:00 - 3:00.

Students in grades 3 - 6 must have a parent/guardian accompany them. Clean Basketball or tennis shoes must be worn when on the court. All participants must abide by school behavior standards or you will be asked to leave and not return.

The following dates will be open gym:

December: 7, 14

January: 4, 11, 18, 25

February: 1, 8, 15, 22

Caden Blaine Weaver was born on November 29, 2007 to Sheree and Kenny Weaver. He grew up in Barnes, Kansas with his two brothers Chase and Hunter Weaver. He has been involved in Art for one year; Golf and Baseball two years; FACS and KAYS three years; and FFA four years. “You’ll never get what you wish for, you will only get what you work for,” is Caden’s favorite quote.

Weaver’s favorite song is “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift. His favorite food is BBQ, especially brisket. Caden’s ideal Saturday night is hanging out with his friends, driving around listening to music, fishing, coon hunting, and swimming in the summer.

After high school, Caden intends to continue working for BHI, and dreams of having cattle while living in the middle of nowhere. In ten years, Weaver sees himself with a wife and kids. Caden’s grandpa had the biggest impact on him because he taught him hard work and how he won’t go anywhere without a good work ethic.

Weaver’s favorite memory from high school is going to the National FFA Convention and dressing up as Ballerina Spiderman to attend a haunted house. An accomplishment Caden is most proud of is being an FFA officer for two years and knowing he is about to graduate high school. Advice he would like to give underclassmen is, “High school goes fast so enjoy it.” Caden wants to be remembered as someone who worked hard and was dependable.

Article by Teagan Spoonts

Our final Staff Spotlight for 2025 belongs to Mrs. Brandy Turner! Brandy and her husband, Casey, live in Blue Rapids, KS. Brandy and Casey have three sons, Dayton, Haden and Easton.

This is Mrs. Turner’s ninth year at Valley Heights where she teaches our upper level math classes. She also serves as our National Honor Society sponsor and our Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor. Mrs. Turner also serves on our Building Leadership and District Leadership Teams.

Mrs. Turner is originally from Iola, Texas, which is just outside of College Station, Texas. Brandy is an avid Texas A & M fan (Gig’em Aggies)! However, she does say that she loves living in Blue Rapids, and by now, it has become her home!

Mrs. Turner’s diploma is from Wichita State University with an emphasis on Science and Math and she is highly qualified for math!

‘Mrs. Turner says that her favorite thing about working at Valley Heights is getting to see so many familiar faces and making lifelong connections. She loves seeing her students outside of school and getting to watch them grow into successful young adults and that Valley Heights truly feels like family.

Her hobbies include watching her boys play ball, especially in the warm weather months and watching Texas A & M sports.

When asked to tell us something about herself that very few people know she states, “I was originally on a short summer visit to Manhattan, KS in 2007 to see a friend. The visit turned into a few months and then I met my husband and I have been a Kansas resident ever since!

An additional comment from Mrs. Turner! “I could not have found a better place to call home. I love this community, I love the staff at Valley Heights, and I love my students. I am so thankful the Lord placed me here and so thankful for the people in the Valley Heights community for making me feel so welcomed all these years."

Mrs. Steinfort's Earth Science class created ornaments for a Chemis-Tree. The project was to choose an element and make an ornament that represented the properties and subatomic particles within the element. Chemistry class made the "Moles" of a specific element or compound that adorn the bottom of the tree.

Junior High students competed in a gingerbread house contest for Art class. Staff voted for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Mrs. Parker's Forensic Science class final project was to make a mock Christmas Crime Scene. Miniature houses were accompanied by a story writeup.

We had a special guest visit our Beginning Art class this week! Former student Saige Wilcox, who is currently attending Highland Community College and majoring in Art Education, stopped by to share her college artwork and talk with students about her experiences as a college art student. Our students loved learning from her journey. Thank you so much for coming to visit, Saige!

Raegan Berger delivered 80 pounds of hog meat to Mr. Savage after he was named the winner of the Outlaws Softball Association Kearn 16U raffle. Thank you to everyone who supported Outlaws Softball and helped make this fundraiser a success!

Max the cat spent an afternoon in Mr. Savage's office. Student Kadence brought Max in for a presentation in one of her classes and needed a place to keep him before she took him back home for the day. Thanks Mr. Savage for being a cat-sitter!

Community Memorial Healthcare donated boxes of facial tissue to the Junior High/High School. Just in time for winter colds. Thank you!

Thank you to Regena Smith, Julie Heywood and Mary Medina for all their hard work serving wonderful meals to the staff and students at the Junior High/High School! They look great in their new purple Mustangs Food Service attire.

There is food available for your family this holiday season. The Reach Out Food Pantry serves VH families at the Methodist Church in BR, 105 W 5th.

Open This Saturday due to the holidays.

Dec. 20, 9am-10am.

Blue Rapids, KS 66411

785-363-2508

Principal-Mike Savage

Athletic Director-Jordan Broxterman

1. Come to the HS office between 8am and 4pm **closed over Christmas break**

2. E-mail Mr. Savage msavage@valleyheights.org

3. Call the office (785)363-2508

Email: vhhs@valleyheights.org
Website: valleyheights.org
Phone: (785)363-2508
Facebook: facebook.com/vhusd498
Twitter: @usd498