September 2026 Newsletter

Dear Valley View Families,

Welcome to the start of a wonderful new school year! I am thrilled to welcome our returning families and extend a warm greeting to those joining our community for the first time.

Orientations and Picture Day are taking place on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 and I want to remind everyone to please attend during the specific time slot you signed up for. If you have not signed up for a time yet, please contact the main office and we can help find an available time. These visits are an important opportunity to start building strong relationships for the upcoming year. During your scheduled time, you will get to meet your child’s teacher, visit their classroom, complete initial benchmark assessments, take school photos, fill out required forms, and order uniforms.

We are looking forward to our official first day of school on Monday, August 31! If you plan to walk your child to the front door on the first morning, please remember to park in the parking lot rather than using the drop-off lanes, which need to stay clear for continuous traffic. Our staff will be available to help students find their classrooms from the front doors. Parents are not allowed past our front doors because of safety protocols. As a reminder, do not park or drop off students between Valley View and Columbia Academy, as this is a school bus only area.

Thank you for your partnership and support. This is going to be a great year, and I can't wait to see all of our students back in the building on Monday, August 31!

Sincerely,

Danielle Ketchum

When entering the west parking lot, please form two lines. This will help reduce the congestion on 49th Ave NE. Once you approach the playground area, please merge into one line to pick up your student. Do not form two lines in the student pick-up/drop-off area. This is a safety concern, as students are crossing a lane of traffic to enter into vehicles. When you are in the student pick-up lane, stay in your vehicle. This will help speed up the process.

Parents are also welcome to park next to the sidewalk on Monroe Street NE and meet their students in the playground area for dismissal. Students can also be dropped off on the sidewalk in the morning and walk up to the playground or school.

Please ensure you are following the designated drop-off and pick-up procedures to keep our students safe. Students should not be dropped-off or picked-up from the east side of the building. That area is for busses only. Parents may not go down to the bus hub to pick up their child. Parents can only pick up their child from the front office, or parent pick-up area. All changes coming into the office on how students get home must be made by 12:30. Once students are on the bus, they will not be pulled off for last minute changes.

Lastly, parents picking up their child on the west side of the school need to avoid parking in front of the access ramps directly in front of the sidewalks. Students and parents use these crossings when parking and walking to get their child, or for students who are walking home.

Dear PreK through 5th Grade Valley View Families,

We will be starting our bicycle unit in our Physical Education class Friday, September 4 through Friday, September 18 (weather permitting). It will take place on our Valley View playground.

We received 50 bicycles and helmets through a SHIP Grant and Free Bikes 4 Kids organization a few years ago and recently we also received 22 Strider bikes donated from MedExpress. We have bicycles of all sizes, some with training wheels, and handful of scooters that the students can experience.

Our curriculum will cover pre-ride bike inspection, proper wearing of helmets, and stopping and starting safely.

I am encouraging students to bring in their own helmets to use at school. Students can leave their helmet at school in their school locker or backpack for the two weeks, or bring it every day they have PE. Please label your child’s helmet if they choose to bring one. If your child does not bring a helmet from home, they will wear a school helmet that we will provide.

Students will be allowed to bring their own bicycles and scooters from home for the Bike Unit. If your child chooses to bring their bike or scooter to school, an adult will inspect the bike or scooter for safety of the rider and others on school property. We recommend students bring a bike lock to attach to their bike or scooter at school. The bike racks are by the recess doors for personal bikes and scooters.

Students will not be able to participate in the Bike Unit if they wear sandals, Crocs or flip flops due to safety. Please help remind your child they need tennis shoes every PE class.

Valley View is not responsible for any damage or loss of bikes or helmets while on school property.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

Mrs. Ostrander

Valley View PE Teacher

763-528-4224

Welcome to another great school year!

As the president of the Valley View Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), I am excited to invite you to PTO, our vibrant group of teachers and families dedicated to supporting our students’ success through fundraising, advocacy, and events. Please join us in building a strong school community by attending our meetings and events, sharing feedback, or volunteering. We hold regular monthly meetings, starting with our first meeting on Wednesday, September 2 at 5:00 pm. We are also continuing our morning Family Engagement meetings following each Parent Academy. All family members and guardians, including children, are welcome. I look forward to your involvement and the diverse perspectives you bring! Spanish translation services will be available at all meetings. For other languages, please email us at valleyviewmnpto@gmail.com so we can arrange for an interpreter. Please feel welcome to email me any time with questions, concerns, suggestions, or just to connect.

All my best,

Isaac Ledford

Valley View PTO President 2026-2027

Important Information on Educational Benefits Applications

Educational Benefits Applications for School Year 2026-27 can be filled out online any time! Families who were directly certified should have received an approval letter.

If you received the approval letter, PLEASE look at the letter carefully and make sure ALL STUDENTS who are members of your household are listed on the letter. If anyone is missing from the household, please call Skylar Hatch at 763-528-4520 or email her at hatchs@colheights.k12.mn.us . It is very important that all students are listed and the school is correct for each of them. Any questions, can be directed to Skylar Hatch or Pam Haupt, Food Service Coordinator at 763-528-4527.

All households that were not directly certified will be receiving a postcard with Educational Benefits information and a guide on how to complete the application.

This is a very important annual process as the educational benefits applications need to be completed every school year. Thank you for your sense of urgency to get this done before the start of the new school year on August 31, 2026.

Link to fill out the Educational Benefits form

There are two brand new apps for StudentVUE and ParentVUE available now in the App Store both for Apple and Android devices. These apps have been developed and modernized to optimize the end user experience.

1. Delete the old app: Remove the previous ParentVUE/StudentVUE app from your mobile device first.
2. Download the new app: Search for ParentVUE (New) or StudentVUE (New) by Edupoint Educational Systems on the Apple App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android.

3. Find our district: Open the app, allow location permissions OR type in 55421 as our school zip code.

• Select Columbia Heights Public Schools

4. Log in: Select “Already Activated” and sign in using your exact username and password from the old app or web portal.

• If you have forgotten your password, choose Forgot Password to reset.
• If you are new to ParentVUE/StudentVUE, contact your school office for an activation key!

Update Your ParentVUE. Make sure your information on file is up to date so you receive all school and district communication throughout the year!

• Log in to ParentVUE to verify your address, emergency contacts, phone number, email & more.
• Click Online Registration in the upper right-hand corner to begin this process.
• Don’t have a ParentVUE account yet? Contact the school office for an activation key to get started.

Registration opened in June for the 2026-2027 school year. Adventure Club programming facilitates a variety of activities to promote learning beyond the classroom including arts & crafts, guided group time, themed activities, dramatic play, cooking, games, outdoor play, science and more for Kindergarten-5th graders at Highland Elementary, North Park School for Innovation and Valley View Elementary!

Hours:

• 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Regular School Days
• 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Non-School Days (weekdays)

Dates:

• Adventure Club during the school year will begin August 31st

Fees (per child):

• Registration Fee - $25
• After School - $25
• Non-School Day - $56
• Drop-In - $28

Link to Adventure Club Registration

Mini Adventures is a four-star Parent Aware child care program for children ages 36 months to 5 years old. In Mini Adventures, your child will participate in a variety of activities, including mathematics, guided group time, literacy, dramatic play, music, games, outdoor play, arts & crafts, movement and more! Early Childhood Screening is required for all participants. Independent toileting is required for children before participating.

Learn More:

• For more information, visit the Mini Adventures Webpage or call 763-528-4512

Link to register for Mini Adventures

100 Years of Hylanders; A Century of Hylander Pride!

Columbia Heights High School is celebrating 100 Years of Hylanders, and we want YOU to be part of this historic celebration!

🎉 CHHS Centennial Celebration
📅 Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
⏰ 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
📍 Columbia Heights High School

Whether you attended decades ago, are a current or a future Hylander, all are welcome!

Come celebrate 100 years of Hylander Pride with:
⭐ Community breakfast (free while supplies last)
⭐ Self-guided tours of CHHS
⭐ Walkable museum of school memorabilia
⭐ Class decade meet-ups
⭐ Hylander merchandise for sale
⭐ Photo opportunities
⭐ Art activities and more!

💙💛

🙋 Want to help make the Centennial Celebration a success? All who are interested in getting involved with the event can contact news@colheights.k12.mn.us.

Once a Hylander, Always a Hylander!

Strong Schools, Supportive Communities

There will be two school-related questions on the November 3 ballot.

• The Columbia Heights Public Schools (CHPS) Operating Levy. Operating Levies support student learning by funding teachers and staff, classroom materials, student transportation and school operations. The CHPS Board of Education approved this referendum at their June 30th meeting.
• The Permanent School Fund, which has supported Minnesota public schools since 1858, would increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is an existing fund that supports school districts without raising taxes. Leaving this ballot question blank has the same effect as voting "No." Complete the ballot so your vote counts. Because the formula is in the Minnesota Constitution, voters must approve changes.

Tax Impact

• If the CHPS Operating Levy passes, the tax increase for property owners would be $170 per year (approximately $14.17 per month) for an average-priced home, with an inflationary adjustment (an average-priced home in CHPS District boundaries is $275,000).
• The 2026 Operating Levy is a 10-year levy. The school district would first receive these funds in fiscal year 2028 and would continue to receive these funds through fiscal year 2038.
• The Permanent School Fund amendment would not increase property, income, sales, or other taxes. This fund would provide a total of approximately $150,000/year for CHPS.

Every year our school practice drills to ensure that our students and staff know how to respond during an emergency situation. There are different kinds of safety drills. The safety drills are: Evacuation Drills (formerly called Fire Drills), Secure Drills, Lockdown Drills and Shelter Drills (formerly called Tornado Drills). Holds are times when students stay in classrooms and are used if there is a medical emergency to keep the hallways and building entrance clear.

We encourage you to identify people in your community who are first responders and discuss with your child how these people will be of help in an emergency. In addition, we encourage you to have your student practice their name, phone number and address, as is age appropriate.

The dates for the Lockdown drills at Valley View are listed below. You have a right to opt your child out of the drill practice. If you choose to have your child opt out of the drills, please notify the office by the end of the day on September 4.

• October 14
• November 2
• April 16
• May 7

To help ensure every student has the supplies they need for a successful school year, we ask each family to contribute $25 per student for student supplies. By purchasing supplies in bulk, Valley View can provide all required materials while helping keep costs down for families.

Each student should also bring a backpack, headphones, and tennis shoes for PE.

Payments may be made during Orientations or in advance using the link below.

As a reminder, our uniform expectations are:

• Navy blue or gold polo, fleece, or performance jacket with the Valley View logo
• Khaki or navy blue pants, skirts, or shorts
• All skirts or shorts must touch the knee
• No jeans, sweatpants, or leggings
• All Hijabs and abayas must be solid navy blue, gold, or khaki. A Valley View top must be worn over the abaya.
• Bandanas and hats may not be worn in the classroom.
• Any solid navy or gold sweater, vest, or cardigan may be worn over the polo (no hoods).
• Solid navy blue, gold, black, or white long sleeve shirts may be worn under the polo.
• Solid navy blue, gold, black, or white tights or leggings may be worn under shorts or skirts.

We appreciate families helping us maintain a consistent uniform expectation across the school as this is a CHPS School Board Policy. Our uniform policy helps create a focused, respectful learning environment and ensures that students come to school dressed and ready to learn each day.

Please click on the link below to order.

Principal: Danielle Ketchum..........763-528-4205

Secretary: Patricia Riera..........763-528-4201

Home-School Liaison: Rene Argueta..........763-528-4202

Full-Service Community School Coordinator: Kevin Centeno.......763-528-4256

Nurse...........763-528-4203

Social Worker: Nicole Herje..........763-528-4246