As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible growth and achievements of our students and community. We are so proud of your student’s success thus far this year. We have seen tremendous growth academically, as well as social emotionally. Your continued partnership is critical to your child’s success. December is a busy and exciting month, and we’re thrilled to share updates, upcoming events, and important information with you!
Cold Weather Gear: Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for winter weather. This includes a coat, hat, gloves, snow pants, and boots. Labeling items helps return lost belongings! Students will go outside for recess unless the temperature drops below 0 degrees temperature or windchill, therefore it is critical to have them dressed in cold weather gear to enjoy the outside weather.
Parent Drop Off: When dropping off students, please make sure you stay in your car when dropping off by the curb. If you would like to walk your child to the front door, we kindly ask that you park in a parking space and then walk your child to the front doors. The drop off lane is for parents who are dropping their child at the curb and then leaving immediately. There is no parking in this area. We also ask that you stay off your cellphone while in the parking lot for student safety.
Educational Benefits Forms: If you haven’t filled out your Educational Benefits form, please contact the office or Mr. Rene to do so. These forms bring money into our district to better support our learners.
Volunteer Opportunities: Mr. Kevin has shifted roles and is our new Full-Service Community School Coordinator. Please reach out to him if you are looking to volunteer at Valley View. Each of you have talents and wisdom we would welcome in our school. We are always looking for volunteers to support our classrooms or our after-school programs. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Kevin at 763-528-4256.
Winter Break: School will be closed for winter break from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Thank you for your continued support of Valley View Elementary. Let's have a great December!
Warm regards,
Jason Kuhlman
Home-School Liaison
Hello everyone, my name is Rene Argueta, and I'm thrilled to be the new Home School Liaison this year! I'm passionate about creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where every student feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive. With 12 years of experience in family /community programs, I'm excited to be part of the excellent work that is been done here at Valley View.
As a home school liaison, my primary role is to act as a bridge between your family and the school, ensuring open communication and supporting your child's academic success by providing information about school activities, helping you understand your child's progress, addressing any concerns you might have, and connecting you with resources that can further assist your child's learning journey at home.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns; I'm here to partner with you to make this a wonderful learning journey! My phone number is 763-528-4202.
PreK
PreK has finished our first round of assessments. You will see these three times this year. If you haven’t already, you will receive the first report card soon! It is amazing how fast the year is going. The children are getting the routines and rituals down pretty well. We always continue with reminders, and continuing to model the expectations for school.
We will be starting the clothing study soon! They will learn all about appropriate clothing for certain weather and jobs. They will learn to zipper, button, fasten, and lace. We will be helping to teach children how to put on winter gear. The order we teach it in is shoes off, snow pants on, boots on, jacket on, hat on, zipper coat, and gloves on. These skills are very important for pre-k to learn, to take care of themselves.
Kindergarten
In December, Valley View Kindergartners will be learning about retelling a story with a gingerbread theme. We will read multiple books with different variations of the text. Then students will write and act out the story to show their understanding. This is a fun month to watch our young scholars interact with books and share their skills. Our projects help to build our fine motor skills with cutting, coloring, and painting. It is so fun to see how unique each student’s project turns out!
This past month students have learned about shapes. We have read about shapes, painted shapes, and even created a fun shape person. Learning in Kindergarten is always fun. Our students work really hard and are proud of the work they do.
1st Grade
We've been having a wonderful time learning and growing together in first grade! In math, we've been diving into subtraction, discovering how to "take away" and solve problems using various strategies.
One recent highlight in our class was a hands-on engineering project inspired by the "Three Little Pigs"! Using candy and toothpicks, students built structures to see if they could withstand the huffing and puffing of the "Big Bad Wolf"—which was really a fan (or hair dryer!). It was so much fun to watch their excitement as they tested their creations.
In literacy, we're building important reading, writing, and discussion skills. Recently we’ve explored animal habitats, talked about various jobs in the community, and looked at how people throughout history have worked to make our world a fairer place.
Thank you for your support. We look forward to another month filled with fun and learning!
Warmly,
The First Grade Team
2nd Grade
Hello!
The second-grade students have been busy at work! We’ve learned about the elements of fiction:characters, setting, problem, solution and how characters can change throughout a story. We are now learning all about nonfiction and text features. We’ve worked hard to understand place value and the values of each digit in a three-digit number. We can’t wait to see what this quarter brings!
Dazzling Dave
The Science of Spin® is coming to Valley View Elementary!
On December 2, “Dazzling Dave”, National Yo-Yo Master, will present a program called Science of Spin®. As part of this program, he will also teach the sport of yo-yo in Physical Education.
Dave teaches science through the use of toys and sporting equipment. This helps children understand how physics play a part of their everyday life. Yo-Yoing is a part of his demonstration. It is a skill that develops hand-eye coordination, builds self-esteem, enhances motor skills, and teaches the benefits of practice. It is also a lot of fun!
Yo-Yos will be provided in Physical Education, so buying a yo-yo is not mandatory. However, if your child does not have a good working yo-yo, the high-quality type used in class will be available at school to purchase with cash from Monday, December 2 through Thursday, December 12.
Items for sale are: yo-yo’s $10 & $15, yo-yo string $2, and a yo-yo hook for $4.
Valley View Site Council Meeting
A message from our Full-Service Community School Coordinator, Kevin Centeno: I would like to invite you to join our Valley View Council. I strongly believe in equal representation of all of our students. I know that our community input and participation is a great asset in reaching our ultimate goal of creating a positive vision of the different activities available at Valley View. We are planning to have our first Valley View Council meeting on December 9th from 5-7pm, at Valley View’s Library.
Monday, Dec 9, 2024, 05:00 PM
Valley View Library
Reminders from the Nurse
Parents and families,
With winter illness on the rise, here are some reminders of the health policies/guidelines we have in place to prevent the spread of illness and keep our students healthy.
When to keep your children home from school:
●Fever over 100 degrees F or higher
●Vomiting or diarrhea
●Rash of unknown origin that has not been assessed by a provider
●Drainage from the eye(s) that is yellow/green in color
●A positive Covid, Strep throat, or Influenza test result
●Uncontrolled cough/respiratory symptoms
When your student may return to school:
●When they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
●When they have been free from vomiting/diarrhea without medication for 24 hours
Please keep your children home when they present with the symptoms listed above and call their school's attendance line each day they are absent. When calling the attendance line, please:
●Say and spell your child’s name and state what classroom/grade they are in, the reason they are staying home, and your phone number.
●If they have tested positive for an illness (for example: Influenza, Covid, Strep Throat, Chicken pox, Measles, etc.)
●Has Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI): a fever of 100.0 degrees F or greater and a sore throat or cough
●Has Measles symptoms = Rash AND Fever AND one of these: Cough OR runny nose OR discharge from eyes
If your child has not yet gotten the Influenza vaccine or Covid booster, please call their provider to discuss. These vaccines are not required by the State of Minnesota, but these immunizations help to reduce the spread and severity of illness in our schools and community. Thank you so much for your cooperation in keeping your student healthy! If you have any health or attendance related questions, please call your school’s health office or the District Nurse and we will assist you.
Thank you,
Keturah Spriggs, RN, PHN, LSN (she/her) - District Nurse for CHPS
Columbia Heights High School Theater Presents "Shrek the Musical"! Head to Far Far Away and step into the world of Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and the rest of the crew NEXT WEEK!
All shows will take place in the CHHS Performing Arts Center (PAC):
Thursday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 8th at 2:00 p.m.
The show is free for all CHPS staff and students to attend! Tickets for adults are $6 and non-CHPS student tickets are $4, which you can purchase at the door or online.
About Us
Creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learning.
We hope this newsletter finds you well as we enter the beautiful month of November! This is an exciting and busy time at our school, with many activities and events planned. Below are some important updates and reminders for the month.
Important Dates:
November 4: Flex Learning Day-Students Zoom with their teachers at 8:30
November 5: No School
November 6 and 14: Conferences by appointment from 3:00-6:30
November 6-8 and 14: Fall Book Fair
November 12: PreK-2nd Family Morning Meeting at 7:30-8:30; Parent Academy at 8:30-9:30
November 13: 3rd-5th Family Morning Meeting at 7:30-8:30; Parent Academy at 8:30-9:30; PTO at 4:30 pm
November 27-29: No School
Parent-Teacher Conferences- November 6 and 14:
We look forward to seeing you during our Parent-Teacher Conferences. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss their progress. Please make sure you have scheduled your meeting time through the online link that was emailed to you. If you need assistance, contact the school office. Schedules are very tight for the classrooms, so please arrive a little early to help us keep on schedule. If you show up at a different time you may be asked to come back at a different time to be respectful of other’s scheduled time.
Family Morning Meetings- November 12 and 13:
We invite all parents to join us for our special Morning Meeting in classrooms on November 12 (PreK-2nd) and November 13 (3rd-5th) at 7:30 AM. Our students are excited to have parents come into their classrooms to see Morning Meeting. Morning Meeting is a way to welcome students into the classroom and build relationships with their fellow classmates and teacher. It’s also a time to work on Social-Emotional Learning. Parents will meet in the media center with Principal Kuhlman and Mr. Kevin to talk about school in general and what parents can expect in the classroom. At 7:55 parents will be sent to classrooms with their children. Coffee and pastries will be served to parents.
Reminders:
Dress for the Weather: As temperatures drop, please ensure your child comes to school with warm clothing. This includes a jacket, hat, and gloves for outdoor recess. We go out to recess everyday unless the temperature is 0 degrees or below.
Lost & Found: Please remind your child to check the Lost & Found for any missing items. Lost and Found will be displayed during conferences as well. Please check these tables if your child is missing anything. Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the month.
School Supplies: If you have not paid for your school supplies yet, we will have a station set up for you to pay at conferences.
We’re excited for all the wonderful activities planned this month and are grateful for your continued support. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Warm regards,
Jason
CHPS Hosting a Well Child & Immunization Clinic
Columbia Heights is hosting a clinic on November 13, 2024 from 2:30-6:30 pm. Well child visits and immunizations will be offered - this is free of charge for our families. Appointments required. If you would like to sign your student up for an appointment, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/cuaoAn54PVSwLRgLA
LEAP students have been reading the novel, Ungifted by Gordon Korman. The novel is a heartwarming and humorous story that reminds us that we all have special gifts to share with each other. During Science, we have been exploring Earth materials: air, water, and soil. We experimented with the effects of solar energy on those materials. We also had fun exploring the VV garden with Ms. Bethany and tasting some of the yummy vegetables.
Art
We've been busy in the art room!
In September, we made leaves for our community tree. Then, each grade level started their first individual project. We are starting to wrap up some of them and you will see pictures in your student's Seesaw account. All projects will be kept at school until the end of the year for our Valley View Fine Arts Night. The artwork will be sent home in a portfolio near the end of the year.
I'm excited for another year with these imaginative artists!
-Alison Thompson
Music
Hello Valley View Families!
It’s good to be back! If I haven’t met you yet, my name is Mr. Chao and this is my 6th year teaching music at Valley View. I’m very excited to see all of the warm smiling faces return and some new faces join us to make beautiful music together. Here’s a synopsis of what each grade is focusing on right now:
Pre-K and Kindergarten are exploring different ways to make sounds using their voice and instruments, as well as different ways to make movements with their bodies.
1st Grade has been working on reading simple rhythms involving quarter notes and eighth note pairs. We are also exploring sounds that are high and low.
2nd Grade has been reading new rhythms, reviewing sounds that are high and low, and exploring different levels of volume where in music, we call them dynamics.
3rd Grade has been working on expanding their singing range and have worked on songs that include 16th note rhythms. We are also exploring how music is put together known as form.
4th Grade has been working on exploring a different rhythm known as syncopa. They’ve also been working on reviewing songs with different tempos (speed of music) and dynamics.
5th Grade has also been working on exploring syncopa through partner activities, reading rhythms where beats are grouped in 3, and exploring different tempos as well. Mr. Hanson and the 5th grade recently went on a field trip to watch the Minnesota Orchestra perform a concert themed “Orchestra in Orbit” where each piece was related to space.
Concert Dates:
From 1st to 5th grade, students have the opportunity to perform a concert for families. Here is a list of the concert dates to put down on your calendars!
1st/2nd Grade | February 27th, 2025 @6:00p | Valley View
3rd Grade (VV, HL, NP) | May 22nd, 2025 @5:00p | Silverwood Park
LEAP/4th/5th Grade | May 1st, 2025 @5:00p | Valley View
See you soon,
Mr. Chao
Book Fair
Aloha! and welcome to Valley View's Book Fair Luau. The book fair will be open November 6, 7 and 8 from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm. It will also be open during conferences on Wednesday, November 6 and Thursday, November 14 from 3:00pm - 6:30pm. All students will have an opportunity to shop the fair during one of the three school days. Families are welcome to shop during conferences. Check out our book fair homepage for more information.
Welcome to October! I can’t believe I’m saying that. The first month of school seemed to fly by. Students have been hard at work learning their classroom rituals and routines. Their hard work is definitely paying off as we get deeper into our academic work. Students are engaged and learning. I am very proud of the students and staff for all their hard work and commitment to learning.
As the leaves change color and the weather cools, we have an exciting month ahead filled with learning, community events, and festivities. Please see below for what’s happening in October at Valley View.
Important Dates:
October 2: PTO Meeting (4:30 pm)
October 9:
Culture Day-Non-Uniforms-Student wear outfits that represent their culture
Parent Academy (8:30 am) and Family Engagement Meeting (9:30 am)
Columbia Academy/Valley View Fall Festival 4:30-6:30 pm
October 10: Flex Learning Day-Students are learning from home via ZOOM
October 11: No School-Teacher In-Service Day
October 17-18: No School-MEA
Curriculum Highlights:
Grades 3-5 New Literacy Curriculum: Wit and Wisdom
Students in 3rd-5th grade have are working with a new literacy curriculum. It’s called Wit and Wisdom. This is a very rigorous and robust curriculum that engages all of our learners at very high levels. Students and staff and working hard on getting accustomed to the new format and pacing. You as parents will see specific homework coming home to help support our students.
Science Grades K-5 FOSS Science
Students in grades K-5 will be utilizing a newly updated science curriculum called FOSS. This curriculum encompasses a lot of hands-on learning that focuses on understanding the entire scientific process through discovery and experiments.
Equity:
Valley View is made up of many different cultures and races. In order to celebrate each and every culture, we are hosting activities that highlight our cultures in our community. The first activity will occur on October 9th at an All-School Assembly. Students are encouraged to wear clothes that represent their culture or “Traditional Cultural Garb.” They can be out of uniform for this day. Each month different activities will occur that highlight different cultures. The hope of these events is to educate us about the cultures in our building and to celebrate who we are.
October 31: Valley View asks parents not to send their children in costumes on Halloween. As I indicated above, we have many different cultures who do not observe this holiday. We strive to be respectful and inclusive to all.
Volunteer Opportunities:
We always appreciate our parent volunteers! If you’re interested in helping out with classroom activities, the Cultural celebration, or other events, please reach out to the front office, or your child’s teacher.
Reminders:
Drop-off and Pick-up: 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 should 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.
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.
Health and Safety: As flu season approaches, please remind your children to wash their hands regularly and stay home if they are feeling unwell. All students must have their childhood vaccines to attend school. Nurse Kelly has sent home notices for students who need their updated vaccines. We are working to schedule a vaccine clinic here at school. We will push out more information shortly. If your child is sick, please call the attendance line at 763-528-4204.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we can make this a fantastic month for our students!
Warm regards,
Mr. Kuhlman
3rd Grade
The first couple of weeks of school have been a whirlwind in 3rd grade! We have truly enjoyed welcoming students into our classrooms and are excited for the upcoming school year! We have been learning about our classroom communities, getting used to being the “big kids” upstairs, and getting to know each other, as well! Third grade parents, ask your children about the marshmallow tower challenge and the paper chain challenges we had in class! They were a lot of fun, and a great way to practice working in a team.
Since school began, we have been focused on building our reading stamina. After the first two weeks, we have successfully built up to 15 minutes of sustained, independent reading. We have adopted a new literacy curriculum this year, called Wit and Wisdom. Our first reading unit is The Sea. Our students will learn about ocean life and the many ways humans explore the sea, through literature, informational texts and art. We look forward to learning about the ocean being a complex ecosystem with mysterious and important life forms, like sharks and giant squid!
The third grade team is looking forward to a fun and academically challenging school year! Our students should be practicing their independent reading at home each day, up to 20 minutes, as well as completing other homework as assigned. Let’s make this a great year!
4th Grade
We've had a great start to the school year in fourth grade! We've spent time learning about our new classrooms, the routines, and each other...And we've had a lot of fun doing it! This year we will be diving deep into reading content as we explore new topics with the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. This new reading component is dedicated to getting texts into our hands and analyzing them in cooperative ways. Here we are working on a Chalk Talk and sharing our ideas in a group. We've also loved exploring our classroom libraries and reading new books! We are excited for a great year!
5th Grade
Fifth grade is off to a quick start! Students have been doing their best to show us their prior knowledge on their fall testing, giving us wonderful data to start our phonics groups! You will see that they have spelling practice in their homework packets each week! They have also started the new reading curriculum where we are learning about Native Americans and the U.S. westward expansion. During this unit we focus on culture and the differences between our own culture and that of the different Native American tribes. As many of you know, band has also started and Mr. Hanson has been meeting with students to get instruments out as soon as he can! Our band roster is full and we are so excited to see the growth of our students musically this year!
Immunization Information
Are your students up to date on their immunizations?
Per Minnesota Law, students either need to be up to date on their immunizations for school or have a signed and notarized exemption form. The day that Columbia Heights Public Schools will begin enforcing immunization compliance will be Monday, October 21st. If your student is still non-compliant or does not have a signed and notarized exemption form on this date, they will not be able to attend school until they receive the needed immunizations or provide an exemption form, and will be sent home from school starting this day if non-compliant. Students who are homeless/highly mobile and who are new to the country will not be excluded from school due to immunization status. If you are unsure if your student falls in this category, please contact your student's school nurse or the District Nurse.
See below for which immunizations (and how many doses total) your student needs in order to remain compliant.
Kindergarten - 6th Grade
Hepatitis B: 3 doses
Polio: 4 doses
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 2 doses
Varicella (chickenpox): 2 doses
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP): 5 doses
7th - 11th Grade
Hepatitis B: 3 doses
Polio: 4 doses
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 2 doses
Varicella (chickenpox): 2 doses
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP): 5 doses
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap): 1 dose (need for 7th grade)
Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY): 1 dose (need for 7th grade)
12th Grade
Hepatitis B: 3 doses
Polio: 4 doses
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 2 doses
Varicella (chickenpox): 2 doses
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP): 5 doses
If your student needs an appointment for their immunizations, our school district partners with Park Nicollet Brooklyn Center to provide no-cost, walk-in immunization appointments. If this is something you are interested in, please let email your School Nurse or Keturah Spriggs, District Nurse, at spriggsk@colheights.k12.mn.us and she will provide you with the necessary paperwork and information. There are also low-cost immunization clinics through Anoka County - if you are interested, please let your student's school nurse or District Nurse Keturah Spriggs know. If you have any questions or concerns or are wanting to know your student's immunization status, please contact the Health Office or District Nurse Keturah Spriggs.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students and community safe and healthy!
Tips for a successful school year from Valley View's School Social Worker, Ms. Nicole- Attendance Matters!
Attendance Matters! Ensuring your student is at school every day is important. Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever. It helps to:
●reduce stress
●make it easier to connect with friends and teachers
●support learning
Tips for a successful start to the school year:
Have a morning routine. Routines are repeated tasks we do to help our minds know what’s next, and children really benefit from them! We don’t have to complete them in the exact same way and same order every day, but they’re a powerful way to help daily tasks feel less overwhelming. Learning routines is easier if you are part of the process in making them, so consider completing a morning routine chart together with your child and having them hang it somewhere important. You can also try First/Then Boards. See which works best for your family!
Ensure your child is getting enough sleep each night. Kids who don’t get enough sleep can have trouble paying attention, struggle to regulate their emotions, and have behavior and learning challenges. How much sleep kids need varies by age. While every child is different, experts recommend:
preschool (3–5 years): 10–13 hours, including naps
school-age (6–13 years): 9–12 hours
teens (14–17 years): 8–10 hours
Stick to a regular bedtime. You can give your child a heads-up 30 minutes and then 10 minutes beforehand. Limit screen time (TVs, computers, phones, tables, video games) at least an hour before bedtime. Have a bedtime routine and read a book to get ready for bed. 10 Ways to Help Your Child Get a Better Night’s Sleep (for Parents) from KidsHealth
Attendance Reminders
It is important for students to attend school every day.
Please call the Attendance Line at 763-528-4204 within 48 hours of the school day that your student is absent. You must call EACH DAY your student is absent. Calling the attendance line does not ensure the absence is excused. Please see the list of excused & unexcused absence reasons listed in the Student Rights and Responsibilities - Columbia Heights Public School District page 47-48. Your child’s health is important to us, if you do not have insurance or need medical resources, contact the school social worker.
Please follow these guidelines for when your child should stay home due to illness: https://vv.colheights.k12.mn.us/family-resources/parent-information11 If a family member is ill, it is not an excused absence. Students should only stay home if they are ill, not if a family member is ill.
Students who are absent due to illness more than ten (10) days per year will receive a letter notifying the parent/guardian of the excessive absences and requesting a doctor/clinic verification of any further illness. If no verification is provided as a result of the absence, each absence will be recorded as “unexcused”.
Open enrolled and boundary exception students with a significant number of absences may not be allowed to return for the 2025-2026 school year.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s attendance or if you need help in getting your child to school regularly. We work hard to make our school environment a place where everyone can be safe, healthy and learning. We will do our best to listen and partner with you so that our children have a successful year.
Welcome back to another exciting school year at Valley View Elementary! We hope you and your children have enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating summer. As we gear up for the new school year, we are thrilled to reconnect with our returning families and extend a warm welcome to those who are joining us for the first time.
Our team is eager to embrace the opportunities and challenges that the upcoming year will bring. This year, we are committed to fostering a nurturing and dynamic learning environment that supports the academic, social, and emotional growth of every student. Our dedicated staff have been working hard to create amazing learning environments for your children. Classroom teachers are excited to showcase their classrooms and routines with you at Orientation Sessions. Building a strong relationship between school and home is proven to have the biggest impact on students achieving at school.
Here are a few important updates and reminders to help ensure a smooth transition back to school:
1. School Supplies: All school supplies have been purchased for students and families. We ask for a $25-dollar donation to help cover the cost. Because of the quantity of supplies we ordered we are able to purchase them at a substantial saving to families. Please bring cash or card to your child’s Orientation Session, or use the link in this newsletter to pay.
2. First Day of School: The first day of school is September 3rd. We ask that parents wanting to drop students off and walk them to the front door, park in the parking lot and not in the drop-off lanes. Our staff will be available to help student find their classrooms from the front doors. Parents are not allowed past our front doors.
3. School Hours: Our school hours are from 7:45 to 2:20. We kindly ask that students are punctual to maximize their learning time. Doors open for students at 7:20. Students must be picked up by 2:30. Students are only allowed to play on the playground after school if a parents or guardian is with them. Any student still here after 2:30 will wait outside by the main office doors until their ride arrives.
4. Important Dates: Please mark your calendars with the following important dates:
September 3: First Day of School K-5, Orientation Sessions for PreK Students
September 5: First Day of School PreK4
September 19: Fall Picnic
5. Communication: Stay informed by regularly checking your child’s Seesaw account and reading our Valley View monthly newsletter. Strong communication between home and school is essential to your child’s growth and academic achievement. We encourage open communication and partnership between home and school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support your child's educational journey and ensure a successful and enjoyable school year.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together we will make this year a memorable and successful one for all our students.
With the greatest of anticipation for an amazing year,
Jason Kuhlman
Principal
New CHPS Cellphone and Personal Electronic Devices Policy--Off and Out of Sight
Many families wish to have contact with their students before and after school via cellphone. If a student has a cell phone at school it must not become a distraction or disruption to the learning process; therefore, students’ cellphones must be powered off and kept in their backpacks during the entire school day. Phones will be confiscated by a staff member if a student has the phone (on their person, is used, or in the classroom) during the school day. Parents/guardians must come to school to receive the phone if it is confiscated. CHPS and Valley View Elementary will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.
Special Considerations:
We understand that some students may need specific devices as perscribed by their doctor for specific health reasons. In such cases, students must have medical documentation on file with the school health office, and the device should be used only for its intended purpose.
Orientation Sessions
Thank you for choosing Valley View for your child’s education. We are dedicated to giving you and your child the best possible school experience we can. In order to do that we are going to host Orientation Sessions on Thursday, August 29 from 2:30 to 6:00 and August 30 from 8:30 to 12:00. These sessions are meant to build relationships between the teacher and your family. Students can come to see the room, meet their teacher, and complete some benchmark testing. Families will also have the opportunity to order uniforms, complete any required paperwork, and return any overdue library books from last year. We look forward to seeing you!!
Educational Benefits Form
Columbia Heights Public Schools asks that all families complete an online free and reduced application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district.
Educational benefits include:
School Meals: Meals are now available at no charge for all students, but schools get additional funding if you application is approved.
High School Athletics: Eligible students qualify for fees to be reduced.
Other High School Activities: Students may qualify for discounts on Speech, Debate, Theater, Band and others.
Additional Benefits & Cost Savings: Comcast internet essentials discount, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, discounts at many museums and theaters.
Please see the link below to fill out prior to Orientation Session. You can also fill them out during this time if you need assistance.
Valley View asks that each family make a contribution of $25 per student to cover the cost of supplies. Instead of spending time going to multiple stores in search of the items on the list, we will do the work for you! Since we will be able to purchase supplies in large quantities, the final cost to you will also be lower than if you were purchasing the items yourself. As you know, the costs can really add up! By ordering supplies, teachers will also be able to ensure that all students have the correct materials they will need to be successful in the fall. Students will need a backpack, headphones and tennis shoes for PE.
Supplies can be paid for during our Orientation sessions via cash or credit cards, or ahead of time using the link below.
We will be starting our bicycle unit in our Physical Education class Friday, September 6 through Friday, September 20 (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. Under the school provided helmet, they will need to wear either a personal hat (Baseball hat, winter hat etc.) or students will wear a hair net the school provides.
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
Parent Pick-up/Drop Off Procedure
As we begin the school year, I would like to take a moment to review our dismissal procedures. When coming into the parking lot, we are asking parents to form two lines. This will help reduce the congestion on 49th. Once you approach the playground area, we are asking parents to merge into one line to pick up their child. 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.
****Update***** Over the summer a long sidewalk has been installed on the east side of Monroe St. Parents are welcome to park next to this sidewalk 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 do not park in the no parking area with the yellow lines. This blocks the flow of traffic of parents who are exiting. Under no circumstances should you park in the pick-up/drop-off lane to go into school.
To help avoid this congestion, you can park along Monroe and walk up the playground steps to get your children. Another way is to stagger when you pick up your children. We begin our dismissal process at 2:10 with our PreK and Kindergarten students, and finish our dismissal with 5th grade at 2:20. We typically stay outside until 2:30. All students need to be picked up by then. Students waiting for their rides will be sitting at the picnic tables along the fence. Together we will make this process work, but we need everyone to cooperate and be patient.
PTO Information
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 September 4th at 4:30 pm. This year we’re also introducing a new morning meeting called Family Engagement, following Parent Academy each month. 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,
Julie Granning
Valley View PTO President 2024-2025
About Us
Creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learning.
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