Each year, students look forward to exchanging Valentines at school. It is such a fun day! This year, we will celebrate for those who choose to participate by sending in Valentines on Tuesday, February 14. We ask that if you do send in Valentines, send one for each student in the class. Please remember that we do not give out food items here at school. All Valentines must be non-food items. Thank you!

We are thrilled to announce our 2023 Heavilin Reads book: Almost Super by Marion Jensen. Each child has been given their very own copy of the book to keep, thanks to Valpo Schools Foundation. Students are already enjoying the adventures of two cousins from a super hero family that have been given useless super powers. The author sent us a special, recorded message for Monday, and also read Chapter 2 to our whole school! Each day, special local heroes read the next chapter to us. We have lots of fun planned, as well as our Souper service project (see flier.)

Today at school, the staff surprised the students by dressing up in our very own silly super hero costumes. Students were also assigned their very own silly super powers today, just like Rafter and Benny. Next Friday, February 10, all students are invited to dress up as their assigned silly super hero if they would like to do so.

Please ask your kids each night what they have read about. We hope you enjoy learning about the adventures of Rafter and Benny along with us!

The LIbrary is pleased to announce that we are hosting a book fair! Monday, February 13 through Tuesday, February 21. All proceeds will go directly toward new books for our library. Back when we opened our doors in 2017, we moved over a library from Hayes Leonard with about 7,500 books. A school our size aims to have between 12,000-15,000 books. We have been working together ever since to buy more books, and we are getting there a little at a time thanks to our parent support.

Your students will shop during their regular weekly library time. On Tuesday, February 14, parents will be able to stop in and shop for books with or without your student from 3:30-5:30pm in the library. The time will coordinate with the PTO pizza pick up. We hope to see you there!

We will accept blank checks with a memo note of the maximum amount your student can spend, Literati gift cards, and prepaid credit cards. Cash and checks with an amount already filled in will not be accepted. More detailed payment information to come.

Email Mrs. Gring at pgring@valpo.k12.in.us with any payment questions.

Kindergarten Round Up is right around the corner. We will have details out soon. The first step to registering your incoming kindergarten student is to sign them up at the link below. Stay tuned!

Kindergarten Sign Up

Congratulations to the Heavilin Elementary Science Bowl team for placing Runner-Up in the state competition!

Team Members: Helena Trevino, Nina Calland, Olivia Seastrand Ibanez, Luke Beach, Brady Eaton, Evan Miskus, Colston Seydel, Brady Gagnon, and Ca My Do.

We are proud of our team and Coach Pollitt and Coach Jordan!

It's that time of year again. Recently you may have been notified concerning your intent to return for the upcoming school year. Please login to your Skyward account to fill out the 22-23 Intent to Return form. You should see links at the top of your newsfeed for each of your students. All families need to complete this by February 20. Thank you for all of your help!

Mrs. Funk and Mrs. Szmagaj love helping our families have smooth days by taking in forgotten items and updating dismissals. The unintended consequence lately is an increase in the number of times we interrupt classroom instruction to communicate that a student should come to the office to pick up something they forgot, or that there is a change in dismissal without a note. We know our parents don't mean to cause those interruptions.

In an effort to minimize disruptions to classroom instruction, we have devised a plan to limit the times of day when we communicate with the teacher about updates or deliveries during the school day. What this means is that if your child forgets something and you bring it to school, they may not get the item immediately after you bring it. Please consider this update when you make a decision about if it is important to bring the item to school. Sometimes when kids end up going a day without something they have forgotten, it is the best way to learn to remember it in the future. It builds responsibility and independence.

To the same end, we need you to communicate all dismissal changes first thing in the morning before school starts. A written note to the teacher allows for everyone to know the change in plan with the least disruption. All Dojo messages to Mrs. Funk should also be at the start of the day. As a practice, we will not take changes in dismissal through Dojo after noon.

Thank you for keeping these things in mind as you send your kids off to school each day.

It is time to purchase your 2022-23 yearbook. Yearbooks are delivered in May. We do not get extras for purchase when they are delivered, so if you would like one, you have to order online in advance.

We are using a new company this year with some fun, new features. In addition to the regular school yearbook, you are able to customize your yearbook by uploading your own photos to memorialize the school with special memories outside of school.

Click on the link below to create your account and order your yearbook.

Yearbook

School Code: 1016661947341311

Your student's 2022-2023 book rental is now due and can be viewed through Skyward Family Access. Please review your student's fees on Skyward.

PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE:

* Debit/Credit Card payments through Skyward Family Access.
* Mail checks payable to:

Heavilin Elementary
Attn: Mary Ellen Szmagaj
4250 Heavilin Rd.
Valparaiso, IN 46385

Include student's name or ID to ensure funds are allocated to the correct account.

* Students/parents/guardians can bring checks, money orders, or EXACT cash ONLY payments, to Heavilin Elementary from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Credit card payments cannot be accepted at the school.

Students receiving textbook assistance will see a balance due for the portion of book rental fees that are not covered by state textbook assistance. Valparaiso Community Schools asks that every effort be made to pay the balance due.

Parents/guardians not able to make full payment of book rental fees by the due date please contact Mrs. Szmagaj to work out a payment plan. The standard VCS Payment plan is the original balance due
divided into three equal payments.

If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Szmagaj via email at mszmagaj@valpo.k12.in.us or call 219-476-8820.

Thank you for your prompt attention to the book rental fees!

**Please check your child's fees periodically as the balance due can fluctuate throughout the school year due to dropped and/or added classes, lost books, device or instrument repair charges. These updates, if any, will be visible on your Skyward Family Access account in the Fees Management section.

Congratulations to this year's Math Bowl team! Miss Molnar and Mr. Steiner are excited to work with this year's team as they prepare for the competition. The members are:

Luke Beach

Emily Czupryn

Evie Evans

Bennett Funk

Jacob Harnew

Audrey Holt

Kayla Kolba

Isabelle Madrigal

Evan Miskus

Elena Rodriguez

Jerry Schenandoah

Olivia Seastrand Ibanez

Kavya Trivedi

Jacob Wieser

Nick Worthley

Addy Young

5th grade: Band/Choir concert at VHS during the school day on Wednesday, February 8th. Mr. Rosario has come to Heavilin this week to talk to each 5th grade class during music. A pamphlet has been sent home. If you need another pamphlet, please dojo Mrs. Ausema or email her: rausema@valpo.k12.in.us INSTRUMENT SELECTION at VHS: Saturday, 2/11 from 9AM-Noon OR Monday, 2/13 from 4-8PM

Summer Beginning Band Camp 5/31-6/16. Please contact Mr. Rosario-Vega at mrosario@valpo.k12.in.us if you have and questions or concerns. All 5th grade students need to fill out a form that will be coming soon regarding their CHOICE OF ORCHESTRA, BAND, CHOIR, or GENERAL MUSIC for their 6th grade music slot. We live in a district with a great program, please consider joining a performance group--our 5th graders rock in music class!

4th grade: Orchestra concert at VHS during the school day on Thursday, February 9th. Mr. Marolf will be coming to visit soon in each 4th grade class during their music time. Stay tuned!!

CIRCLE THE STATE WITH SONG: The CSWS choir has been practicing and are doing an excellent job learning some challenging choral music. The concert will be held at Hebron High School on Saturday, February 25th at 3:00PM. CSWS students will be bringing home important information at their next rehearsal with details about that day.

The PTO has several fun activities lined up for the month of February! Please join us where you can!

Tuesday, February 7th – PTO Meeting – 6:00 p.m. – Viking Suite

Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, February 7th, 6:00 p.m. in the Viking Suite. We’ll have a hot cocoa bar to enjoy during the meeting and will be giving away some free Mulligans in preparation for our upcoming Adult-Only Trivia Night with our very our version of “VCS Trivia!” National Junior Honor Society students will be present to watch kiddos and their siblings in the gym! Hope to see you there!

No Screen Week, February 13th – February 17th

Monday, February 13 - No Screen Super Week Kick Off. Students will be sent home with a no screen packet which will include:

• Scavenger Hunt of Valpo Heroes - once completed, it will end with a sweet treat from Twisted Sugar.

• Family Tree activity with topics to discuss and learn what makes you super. Students who return their Family Tree will receive a PRIDE Ticket.

• Superhero craft to use with your book.

• Bingo Board – The PTO will send home a Heavilin Read’s themed bingo game board on Monday that is due back Tuesday the 21st. Returned bingo boards will be put in a drawing to win some cool prizes.

Tuesday, February 14 – “Fuel your Powers” with pizza and reading. Gelsosomo’s Heart Shaped Pizza Kits can be purchased by families to make dinner on Valentine’s Day! Orders will be taken from January 31-February 7 and can be picked up on 2.14.2023 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Order your kits at:

https://super-hero-valentines-pizza-kits-from-gelsosamo-s.cheddarup.com/

Also, the Follett book fair will be open for families to purchase books to read for the evening after picking up your pizza kit from 3:30-5:30, so stop on by!

Wednesday, February 15 – “Fly through the Night Heavilin Night Out.” Head downtown for a Heavilin Family Night downtown Valpo style! Ice skating is at Urschel Pavilion between 6:30-8:00 p.m. You can arrive by 6:00 p.m. to purchase your gear. Starting at 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., grab a bite at Radius or Peddler’s Pizza and a portion of your purchase will be donated to Heavilin PTO! If you stop by Ben’s Pretzels before 6:00 p.m. (they close at 6), a portion of your purchase will be donated to Heavilin PTO too. Please be sure to show these businesses the paper flyer or the flyer on your phone to ensure a percentage of all sales donated to the PTO that night.

Thursday, February 16 – “Fight the Forces.” Continue working on the bingo board throughout the weekend. Bring back a completed board on 2.21.2023 for a PRIDE ticket! Also, a completed board will be entered for a drawing for $100.00 family night out at Inman’s for each grade level. Also, they will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 gift card to Twisted Sugar for grade levels K-1, 2-3 and 4-5.

Friday, February 17 – Saturday, February 18 “Train like a Local Superhero!” Visit MAAC Foundation, a tactical training facility here in Valpo that trains police, fire, EMT and so much more! It's a very cool place. MAAC is opening up the facility to Heavilin on Friday February 17th and Saturday February 18th. Families and kiddos will watch a slideshow and then get a tour around the facility. The time slots are: Friday 10am-12pm, 12:30pm-2:30pm, 3pm-5pm and Saturday 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm. Stay tuned for more information and a sign-up genius to register for this special event!

Heavilin Trivia Night – February 24th.

Our Adult-Only Trivia Night will take place at Aberdeen Manor at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are selling fast! Thank you for your support! There will be NO ticket sales at the door this year at this time, so please get your tickets now before its too late! Guests can form teams of 8-10 players. If you don’t have enough players for a team, we will make sure you're connected with a group. Please use this link to purchase a sponsorship or tickets asap:

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/heavilintrivianight

We are still seeking sponsors for the event and giveaways for door prizes! Thank you to those who have helped us so far! We will be announcing our sponsors soon! If you can help us with donated items or a sponsorship, please let us know at heavilinpto@gmail.com.

SAVE THESE MARCH DATES:

March 5th – VIP Donut Day at Parlor Doughnuts! – See attached flyer! Thank you to our group of Heavilin Dads who are organizing this event. Let’s show them some support!

March 8th– Heavilin Night Out at Shoes Pizzeria

March 10th – Grade Level 4/5 Event – “Swim & Gym” at VHS Natatorium. Stay tuned for details!

March 14th – PTO Meeting - 6p.m. – Viking Suite

March 15th – Heavilin Hospitality

APPLES FOR STUDENTS AND BOX TOPS: Please continue to send in receipts from Strack & VanTil to the school office. We are able to turn receipts in and earn free school supplies, deadline is coming up in March! For Box Tops, you can either download the Box Top App on your phone or scan in your receipts to benefit Heavilin, or send them into the school and a member of the PTO will scan your receipts for you. We only have 14 days from date of purchase to scan for Box Tops, so please send them in right away.

We hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day, a great Winter break and lots of fun at one of the PTO’s sponsored activities! As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Tara Worthley, PTO President

heavilinPTO@gmail.com