Valley Middle School 26-27

Tad Schye (Principal) - tschye030@mygfschools.org

Nick Pederson (Assistant Principal) - npederson040@mygfschools.org

Ashley Vinje (Dean of Students) - avinje170@mygfschools.org 701-317-2992

Andrew Kennedy (Dean of Students) - akennedy020@mygfschools.org 701-317-3524

Jessica Jeffrey (Social Worker Bears and 6th Grade) - jjeffrey220@mygfschools.org

Dawn Kriewald (Social Worker Wolves and 8th Grade)- dkriewald280@mygfschools.org

Shaina Hess (Counselor Wolves and 8th Grade) - shess170@mygfschools.org

Bill Chase (Counselor Bears and 6th Grade) - wchase220@mygfschools.org

Tim Gregoire (6th Grade Dragons Team) - tgregoire040@mygfschools.org

Chloe McCarthy (6th Grade Wizards Team) - cmccarthy100@mygfschools.org

Ryan Marshall (7th Grade Bears Team) - rmarshall180@mygfschools.org

Brent Newman (7th Grade Wolves Team) - bnewman040@mygfschools.org

Jess Georgeson (8th Grade Eagles Team) - jgeorgeson120@mygfschools.org

Justin Knowlton (8th Grade Mustangs Team) - jknowlton190@mygfschools.org

November 4 - Early Release

November 9 - Picture Retakes

November 11 - No School (Veterans Day)

November 18 - Early Release

November 26 & 27 - No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Greetings!

We have exciting news! You can now log into Infinite Campus and view your student's schedule, grades, attendance, teacher contact information, and messages from the school. Please view the instructions attached to this email and email ICParentSupport@mygfschools.org with any questions.

A healthy child is one that will engage in learning and have a successful school experience. Please review the following checklist and make sure that all required forms are in the office before your child attends the first day of school.

• A physical exam (including vision and hearing screenings) and a dental exam by a healthcare provider are helpful and recommended.
• North Dakota State Law, Chapter 33-06-05, requires children to be adequately immunized before entering school. A record of your child’s immunizations must be submitted to the school before they start Kindergarten/begin school. Note: Any child not adhering to the recommended schedule shall provide proof of immunization or a certificate of immunization within 30 days of enrollment or be excluded from school or early childhood facility. The school exclusion date is October 1 for those students who are not up to date.
• If your child has any special health concerns, including severe allergies, seizures, or diabetes, an individualized health care plan will need to be completed and signed by your child’s health care provider. This plan will inform all staff about how to best care for your child’s health needs. This needs to be in place prior to your child attending school.
• If your child needs to keep an Epinephrine auto-injectable device and/or Benadryl at school due to allergies, your child’s health care provider must complete a Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. This form must be signed by the health care provider and the parent/guardian. The signed form and the medication(s) must be at school before your child begins their first day.
• If your child has been diagnosed with asthma and may possibly need an inhaler or nebulizer treatment during the day, an Asthma Emergency Care Plan must also be completed and signed by you and your child’s health care provider.
• If your child needs any medication given at school, a Medication Authorization Form must be filled out and signed by the health care provider and the parent/guardian. This is for all medications, including inhalers and over-the-counter medications.
• If your child has a diagnosed food allergy and needs special meals, the Medical Statement to Request School Meal Modification form must be completed and signed by the child’s healthcare provider and returned to school.
• Seizure Action Plan
• Medical Release of Information Form
• Immunization Exemption Form

Hearing Screening will be available to 7th grade students during the month of November. If you would like to have your student screened please sign and return the attached form by the end of the day on Wednesday November 11th, 2026

With the end of the quarter brings the end of our Middle Ages unit, and on to our newest unit, World War II and how it affected individuals. We will be diving deeper into informational essay writing and style, as well as looking at similar events from various perspectives. We’ll start this unit with “Code Talker” by Joseph Bruchac. This book discusses how throughout World War II, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years. Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for students through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker.

In Geography, we are beginning the new quarter applying all that we have learned about culture, economics and government systems, landforms, human geography, mapping, climate, and other aspects of physical geography with a research project. After that, we will begin studying Geography of Middle America and dive deeper into the application of the five themes of geography in a regional study.

In math, students are exploring positive and negative numbers. They will be learning how to add and subtract positive and negative rational numbers, including integers, and solve real-world problems using these operations. Students will also learn how to multiply and divide positive and negative rational numbers, how to apply properties, strategies, and estimation to solve multistep problems with rational numbers.

Happy November! We’re excited to share our seventh graders' progress as they continue to explore the intricate and interconnected world of ecosystems. This month, our focus is on understanding the many relationships that exist in nature and how they contribute to the stability of our environment.

Right now, our students are finishing examining the concepts of limited resources and will be diving into interactions in the environment through symbiotic relationships—the fascinating ways in which different species interact and rely on each other for survival. They’re learning about the three main types of symbiosis: mutualism, where both species benefit; commensalism, where one species benefits while the other is unaffected; and parasitism, where one species benefits at the expense of the other. Through examples, interactive activities, and discussions, students are discovering how these relationships impact food webs, population dynamics, and ecosystem balance. They’re also gaining insight into how even small shifts in these relationships can affect an entire ecosystem.

As we move forward, we’ll be exploring the processes of primary and secondary succession—the stages through which ecosystems recover and change over time. Students will learn about how ecosystems rebuild after disturbances, such as natural disasters or human impact. Primary succession covers the gradual buildup of life in areas with no prior soil, like lava flows, while secondary succession examines regrowth in areas where ecosystems have been partially disrupted, like after a forest fire. By studying succession, students will gain a deeper understanding of how ecosystems adapt, recover, and change, and the role different species play in stabilizing and rebuilding their environments.

Our final topic for this month will focus on biodiversity and the crucial role it plays in the health and resilience of ecosystems. Students will explore why diverse species are essential to maintaining balance in nature and how biodiversity provides stability and resources. We’ll also discuss the importance of protecting and supporting biodiversity to prevent the loss of species and habitats. Students will investigate actions humans can take to maintain biodiversity—from protecting endangered species to conserving natural habitats and promoting sustainable practices. This will help them understand our collective responsibility in safeguarding the natural world for future generations.

Eligibility is reported every two weeks. Ineligible students may practice, but cannot be involved in a public appearance or contest. This is for middle school athletes competing at the middle school or high school level. This follows the rules as stated by NDHSAA.

A student is ineligible if any of the following apply:

• Two or more F's
• Two or more citizenship grades of a "2"
• One citizenship grade of a "1"
• An alcohol, tobacco, drug, or criminal violation (6 weeks) Follows NDSHAA Guidelines
• Misdemeanor, 6 weeks felony after being reported

Improvement Plan (Academic & Citizenship)

A student may rejoin their activity after 1 week of ineligibility if they create an improvement plan that is signed by their teacher and submitted to Mrs. Basting.

All students participating in athletics must have a physical examination before they can participate in practice or a contest. We encourage you to schedule physicals early so you do not run into problems with appointments when practice begins. Physical Forms can be printed from the link below or picked up in the Main Office.

The North Dakota High School Activities Association now requires a physical examination every year. Only the final page of the form will be turned in to the school office by the student-athlete. The physical must be taken after April 15th of the current year to be valid for the next school year.

This form must be completed and returned to the school office prior to the athlete beginning practice.

Physical Form

The Grand Forks Public Schools is providing concussion management information as required by North Dakota State Law (NDCC 15.1-18.2). The statute requires that each student and their parent/guardian shall document that they have viewed information regarding concussions that may be incurred by students participating in athletic activities.

This form must be signed and returned to the school office prior to the athlete beginning practice. A concussion form must be submitted each year that an athlete participates.

Concussion Form

Parents/Guardians and student-athlete need to sign the Code of Conduct form.

This form must be signed and returned to the school office prior to the athlete beginning practice.

Code of Conduct

In an effort to decrease distraction and increase student learning and personal connectivity, all Grand Forks Public secondary schools will restrict student cell phone use. This includes add-on devices such as ear buds, smartwatches (notifications must be turned off), and other related devices.

Middle School students who choose to bring their cell phones to school will:

• Leave their cell phones with their advisory teacher at the beginning of each school day.

• Advisory teachers will secure student phones in locked storage containers until the end of the school day when students will be dismissed in time to retrieve their devices.

• No cell phones will be allowed in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, or locker rooms.

• Each school office will communicate a procedure for students who leave school early for appointments, competitions, family related events, etc.

Each 6-12 classroom will be issued Chromebooks which will provide educational access to the district’s online resources deeming cell phone access unnecessary.

Each school’s office staff will happily get a message to your student during the day if necessary. Students will also be allowed to use the office phone to make important calls during the day.

Middle School Consequences

• First Offense: the phone is taken to the office and released to the student at the end of the day; parent / guardian notification. Expectations reinforced with the student.

• Second Offense: the phone is taken to the office; parent / guardian picks it up in the office. Student serves detention.

• Third Offense: the phone is taken to the office, parent/guardian picks it up. Student serves detention and their phone must be turned in to the office daily at the beginning of the day for the remainder of the semester.

Middle and high school students who do not comply or refuse to turn over their phone may be subject to additional consequences which may include but are not limited to detention, in-school suspension, and/or suspension.

- NO outside foods/drinks (Starbucks, pop, breakfast foods from restaurants etc…) will be allowed into the building. A water bottle is fine. Note, students may still pack a cold lunch to eat during lunch hours.

- IF your child comes to school with a beverage, snack or food item they will need to eat it prior to coming inside of the building.

- Breakfast is available in the cafeteria from 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. No food can be taken out of the cafeteria during breakfast.

- If you bring your child back from an appointment and you have purchased lunch for them, they will need to have eaten the food prior to coming back into the building. They can not bring their outside purchased food or drink into the cafeteria to eat lunch. Please plan accordingly so that they have time to eat the food you buy them prior to returning to school.

Doors Open: The main entry door opens at 7:40 am for band, orchestra, or early morning athletic/music practices.

Morning arrival: Students who arrive before 8:30am will have the following options:

• Cafeteria: The cafeteria opens at 7:45am. Your child may choose to work on homework or eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Breakfast is served every morning from 7:45-8:30am.

• Morning Hallway: Students who chose to not attend breakfast, may sit along the walls in their team hallway, quietly. Students can work on homework or find something else to work on until school starts.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

Valley Middle School respects students' right to express themselves through their attire, but we also maintain guidelines to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all. Please review the Student Dress Code to ensure your child’s attire aligns with our expectations. Key points include:

Tops and bottoms must meet while standing, and tops should connect over the shoulders.
Clothing must cover undergarments and private areas and not be see-through.
Hoods and hats are not allowed indoors, as students’ faces must remain visible.
Clothing and shoes should be appropriate for all classroom activities, including physical education and lab work.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a positive and productive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Allowable Dress & Attire

The district recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however students shall not wear apparel deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the safe and orderly operations of our schools, nor discriminatory or disrespectful in nature. Students must wear tops, bottoms, and shoes.
• Tops and bottoms must meet while standing and tops be connected over the shoulders
• Clothing must cover undergarments and private areas, and must not be see-through
• Hoods and hats are not allowed as student faces must remain visible to staff
• Clothing and shoes must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education,
science labs, wood shop, and other activities where unique hazards exist
• Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear

The Student Dress Code Policy FFH may be found on the Grand Forks Public website at

https://www.gfschools.org/school-boards/policies.

In an effort to promote organization skills and increase safety in the building, students will be required to keep their backpacks in their lockers during the school day. Students will be allowed to access their locker throughout the school day to pick up and put away materials for their classes. Teachers on each team will support students’ efforts to come to each class prepared. After arriving in the morning, students should report to the commons area, or designated hallway and not access their locker until 8:35 AM.

After 8:35 AM, they will need to leave their backpacks in their lockers until the end of the school day.