Valley Middle School
October Newsletter
*PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK THIS NEWSLETTER AS IT MAY BE UPDATED DAILY*
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL:
Hello Valley Families:
THANK YOU to those of you that attended a parent/teacher conference recently either face to face or virtually. We see high value in these opportunities. Connecting with our families to forge a partnership in supporting your child's education is significant. Together, and along with your child, we attempt to make the school experience as positive as possible.
Bussing continues to be a challenge for us here at Valley as well as across the district. Crowded busses and long rides contribute to some poor choices by our students. Bus monitors are now on all, or almost all, busses and unruly behavior and disrespect toward these monitors are being dealt with by school staff. Your support in this regard is highly important and appreciated.
Our fall sports season is soon ending and Block II sports will be starting shortly. As well, fall concerts are being prepared for by our music groups. Lastly, a number of new clubs and groups are now meeting. Being connected with a peer group is, most times, a positive experience for children. Encourage your child to get involved in something. It's a great way to meet new friends as well.
We are already in the 7th week of the school year. Hard to believe. I believe we are finding our groove and rhythm for all things school. Many positives are happening each and every day with a huge, huge, majority of our kids. Yea!
Regards,
Todd Selk
The deadline for the 9th grade in-district transfer request for the incoming 9th graders is January 7, 2022.
MORE PICTURE DAY INFO:
Parents may preorder their photos online at ospgo.com/1BRU and enter the password: Prepay
You may preorder and pay online until Picture Day.
The office will also have forms for the Family Plan Credit Program. Caulfield Studios is offering a credit on school portraits to families that have 3 or more children being photographed.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Oct/Nov
- Oct. 11 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day (School is in session) / PTO Meeting 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Oct. 12 – Caulfield’s Fall Picture Day
- Oct. 13 – Early Release Day 1:00 p.m.
- Oct. 19 – WelCore Vaccination Day 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Oct. 20 – No School – Professional Development Day
- Oct. 21 & 22 – No School – (Admin Convention)
- Oct. 27 – Early Release Day 1:00 p.m.
- Oct. 29 – End of Quarter 1
- Oct. 31– Turkey Basket Drive Request Deadline (more info below)
- Nov. 10 – Early Release Day 1:00 p.m.
- Nov. 11 – No School – Veterans Day
- Nov. 25 & 26 – No School – Thanksgiving Break
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Full & Part-Time Custodians Position Openings
Building Access During Mask Mandate
Attendance Line / School Hours / Office Hours
Student Transportation / myschoolbucks.com / Water Bottles & Water Fountain
Free Meals For All Students
Yearbook Pre-Orders
ENCORE
Grand Forks Japan Exchange Update
Hearing Screenings 2021-2022 School Year
SAFE KIDS
School Cancellation & Postponement Procedures
Parents Lead
Communication Tips
Purposity
Kids Connection
Safety Information
Mental Health Hub
Help us Welcome our new School Resource Officer!
Counselors Corner
School Social Worker Corner / Turkey Basket Drive
- Choir
- Athletics
- 6th Grade Intramurals
Eagles News
Mustang News
Wolves News
Bears News
Dragons News
Attachments
Full & Part-Time Custodians Position Openings:
Help keep our schools clean!
Grand Forks Public School is looking for full and part-time custodians. If you have an interest in applying, please visit https://www.gfschools.org or reach out to Sean Schuler (GFPS Custodial Supervisor) at: sschuler@mygfschools.org.
Thank you for your consideration!
BUILDING ACCESS DURING MASK MANDATE:
Just a friendly reminder that only students and GFPS employees are allowed in the school building. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment please call the office to inform them of the time. We will then have your student down at Door 7 waiting for you. If you are needing to drop something off for your student you must come to Door 7, buzz the office for a staff member to come and grab the item.
Please be patient when you buzz the office as we may be busy assisting students and staff.
Attendance Line: (701) 746-2326
8:40 - 3:30
- School begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. (Band and Orchestra start at 7:50 a.m.).
- Breakfast starts at 7:45 a.m.
- Students should exit the building by 3:45 p.m. unless they prearrange a meeting with a teacher or are involved with music, sports practice, or remain in assigned areas.
7:45 - 4:00
Once school begins, our front doorbell (door #7) should be rung for visitor access. All doors are locked for security.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
myschoolbucks.com
Water Bottles & Water Fountain
Middle School ENCORE Program Information:
The ENCORE program is excited to offer programming at South and Valley middle schools during the 2021-2022 school year!
Programming will consist of homework help, a snack, and organized activities.
We have three programming options:
Morning Program
- $15 per month
- Monday-Friday on days that school is in session
- 7:30-8:30 a.m. (students will be dismissed at 8:30 a.m. to their classroom)
- Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFc9VRkvSPHAmlKnGECIRSH_1qbBR604Oit0tZVmMjgWzp4w/viewform
- $30 per month
- Monday-Friday on days that school is in session
- 3:30-5:30 p.m. (students must be picked up by 5:30 p.m.)
- Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfJGYnm-487fIQ_nvaWb5Wd4YRADfTN5mdz1ngmKFQHHo2lQ/viewform
- No charge
- On early release Wednesdays. We will offer programming from dismissal until 3:30 p.m. Students would either then need to be picked up, or if enrolled in the after-school ENCORE program, will stay until picked up later.
Registration can be completed by filling out the online form, completing the online application on your MySchoolBucks account, or completing the attached paper form and mailing it to Kayla Erickson, 500 Stanford Road, Grand Forks, ND 58203, or emailing kerickson250@mygfschools.org the form.
Grand Forks Japan Exchange Update:
Greetings Students and Parents,
Did you know that for the last 28 years we have had an ongoing exchange with a Japanese city? Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we have suspended travel. But to maintain the relationship, this year starting in October, we are exchanging a series of “video letters.” If you would like to send a short message, or a video showing Grand Forks life, perhaps your favorite place in Grand Forks, or you making your favorite recipe, please visit our website or contact the program coordinator - https://sites.google.com/a/mygfschools.org/sister-city-exchange/ or Jason Hawley jhawley130@mygfschools.org
Hearing Screenings 2021-2022 School Year
SAFE KIDS:
Fall is in the air and that means it is time for our 2021 Safe Kids Grand Forks Fall Newsletter.
This edition is packed full of tips to keep your family and kids in your life safe from preventable injuries as we work to keep kids safe at HOME, at SCHOOL, at PLAY and ON the WAY. Enjoy and pass this along to others you think may be interested in reading some of what we have going on.
Carma and the Safe Kids Team
School Cancellation & Postponement Procedures:
School postponement and cancellation alternatives will be as follows:
- a. Hold school as normal
- b. Open school but delay sending buses
- c. Delay the start time in all schools by two (2) hours based on each school’s start time
- Elementary School: Start time is 8:25, so school would start at 10:25. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.
- Middle School: Start time is 8:40, so school would start at 10:40. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m.
- High School: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- Head Start: Start time is 8:00, so school would start at 10:00. Doors will open at 9:50 a.m.
- When school starts late, there will be no morning Early Childhood Special Education classes. Afternoon Early Childhood Special Education classes will be held.
- Breakfast will not be served at any sites.
- d. No school in Grand Forks Public Schools all day
- e. No school for the Grand Forks Air Force Base School District students all day
- Decisions related to the weather-related delayed opening or closing of air base schools may not always be consistent with those made for in-town schools. On those days when severe weather makes travel conditions so hazardous as to threaten the safety of staff members, opening delays or the closing of base schools will be given special consideration.
- f. Once school is in session, it will not be terminated until the regular closing time except in very severe situations. However, school buses may leave early. Radio and TV stations will be used to notify parents.
The decision to close or delay school will be made as early as possible. Announcements will be made on the District webpage (www.gfschools.org), and District social media (www.facebook.com/GrandForksPublicSchools; www.twitter.com/GFSchools). Announcements will also be made on local radio and TV stations.
Grand Forks Public Schools will be using our Automated Calling system to call staff and parents if school will be delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions. Typically, this automated call will occur to staff between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and to parents between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Parents or guardians may always exercise their right to keep students home or pick them up early during stormy conditions.
If an emergency situation should develop during the time school is in session, children will be cared for in school until the storm has subsided.
If buses are sent home early, all buses will be sent.
- a. Radio and TV stations will make the announcement of the departure time.
- b. The lead-time needed for the procedure is approximately one (1) hour.
- c. If conditions are dangerous, bus drivers must use common sense in discharging students that must walk a considerable distance. If possible, use the radio and contact the base station. Have parents meet the bus or be on the lookout for their children. If the driver is unable to contact parents and conditions are dangerous, do not let students off the bus but return to school and notify the principal. Schools that have bus students must have a written procedure for caring for students in the event they must be kept overnight at school.
Parents Lead:
Substance Use Prevention Tips
Make sure your child knows your rules — and that you’ll enforce the consequences if rules are broken. Kids are less likely to use nicotine, alcohol, and other substances if their parents have established a pattern of setting clear rules and consequences.
Source: https://drugfree.org/
HELP US WELCOME OUR NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER!
COUNSELORS CORNER:
As the school year started off, the counseling office wanted to make sure that all 6th graders received adequate attention as they begin a new phase of their lives in middle school.
To make sure that the 6th graders at least had some connection with an adult in the first few weeks, the counseling office conducted “Minute Meetings” with each 6th graders. That’s approximately 195 meetings in a two day period between the two counselors, Mr. Kulas and Mr. Glaser.
The meetings mostly consisted of students sharing some things that they are excited about and some hesitations that they may have about starting a new school year. Along with that, students were able to share some personal information if they so desired. This provided a great opportunity for the counselors to establish early connections with the 6th graders with the hopes that will continue throughout their middle school years.
~Valley Middle School Counseling Office
ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED:
Turkey Basket Drive
The University of North Dakota Mortar Board will be providing turkey baskets to families in need. Each turkey basket contains all of the items needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The Turkey Basket Drive will be a drive-thru process allowing individuals and families to stay in their vehicles when they pick up their baskets. If a family arrives by city bus, there will be an area for foot traffic to safely pick up their baskets.
The scheduled time for pick up is:
Saturday, November 20th, 2021 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: UND Transportation Building-3925 Campus Road,
Grand Forks, ND 58202
*If you are interested in receiving a basket please contact Dawn Kriewald (school Social Worker) at #701-215-2596 or email: dkriewald280@mygfschools.org with your Name, Address, Phone#, & Number of members in family (Very limited delivery is available, please indicate this need at the time of your call).
**Deadline for sign-up is 10/31/21
The Salvation Army Christmas Food & Toy Baskets
ATHLETICS:
A MESSAGE FROM JODI DODSON, ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL/ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR:
The focus of our middle school program is to teach participants fundamental skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork in a developmentally appropriate and enjoyable way. Game schedules for each team should be available approximately one week after practice begins. Schedules will be posted on Valley’s website: www.gfschools.org; click on Our Schools – Middle Schools – Valley Middle School – Athletics
Sports offered:
Block II
- Girls Volleyball October 18 - December 14
- Wrestling November 8 - January 15
Block III
- Girls and Boys Basketball December 15 - February 26
Block IV
- Boys and Girls Track & Field March 28 - May 21
- Girls Soccer April 4 - May 21
Physical Form:
All athletes must have a physical form submitted to the Valley MS office before they will be allowed to participate in practices or contests. Every athlete must get a yearly physical. Since Block I practices start before school, parents and athletes must complete this task in the summer. Physical forms are available in the Valley MS office and online at www.gfschools.org; click on Departments - Athletics - Documents & Forms - Physical form. The physical form must be turned in before your child is allowed to participate.
Sport Physicals
* Watch clinic web sites for walk-in times.
Altru (Grand Forks)
- Family Medicine – 795-2000
- Family Medicine Residency - 780-6800
Aurora (Grand Forks) 701-732-2700
Riverview Clinic (EGF) 218-773-1390
Participation Fees:
Athletes must pay participation fees (or pay online at myschoolbucks.com) or have a waiver form for participation fees submitted to the Valley MS office before they will be allowed to participate in a contest. Fee waiver forms are available in the Valley MS office and are confidential. The participation fee for each block is $50.00
Concussion Form:
Every year all athletes and parents need to read and sign off on the concussion information form for the district. Concussion forms are available in the Valley MS office and online at www.gfschools.org; click on Departments - Athletics - Documents & Forms - Concussion Form.
All athletes in grade 7 and/or any new athletes to Grand Forks Public Schools will take the IMPACT concussion test. This test is required only once in their middle years. This information is very important in helping to assist local physicians and parents in making a decision on when an athlete may return to practices or games in a particular sport.
BLOCK II SPORTS IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION:
Block II Sports:
Girls Volleyball
October 18 - December 14
7th Grade Teams & 8th Grade Teams
Wrestling
November 8 - January 15
7th & 8th Grade Combined
Block II Coaching Information:
Wrestling:
7th & 8th Combined
Andrew St. Vincent
Jacob Gilmore
Volleyball:
8th Grade - Ashley Stavnes, Kat Puhl & Britney Christinson
7th Grade - Hannah Vonasek, Becca Lord & Christine Rokke
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 746-2360
6th GRADE INTRAMURALS:
Valley offers flag football; soccer; floor hockey; strength training; training; volleyball; basketball; outdoor games; and other activities at the discretion of the activities director and intramural supervisor(s). Intramural activities meet 7-10 times per block. There is a $12.50 fee (reduced pricing or free are available based on family income). No students will be denied the opportunity to participate in intramurals.
Block II: November 1 - December 9
- Co-ed Volleyball
Block III: January 10 - February 7
- Strength Training
- Basketball & Floor Hockey
- Outdoor Games
*Dates and activities may change based on weather and space available.
Volleyball Intramural Schedule 3:30-4:20
Coach: Admir Ekic
- Monday, November 1
- Wednesday, November 3
- Monday, November 8
- Monday, November 15
- Monday, November 22
- Wednesday, November 24
- Monday, November 29
- Monday, December 6
- Wednesday, December 8
Please be on the lookout for the permission slip form.
EAGLES NEWS:
To start the year in US History, we have learned about groups that explored the America's before Columbus did, like the Vikings. Next we will learn about the Spanish and the Aztec 'interactions' and how that sets up for later patterns of colonization for the English. After the Spanish we will be looking at the formation of the thirteen colonies and how the American colonies turn against the English and form our country!
In English, we have been working on building our writing stamina after the summer break. Students completed a 6-Word Story to describe themselves and an I am from Poem to describe what makes them unique. Up next, we'll be interviewing others in the school for a project called Humans of Valley as well as starting to write a short memoir at the end of the quarter. As for reading stamina, students have begun reading independently for 10 minutes each class period and we'll be transitioning into reading and analyzing a short story.
In Earth Science we have completed the steps of the scientific method, branches of Earth, the differences between atoms and elements, and now are learning about the Metric System. Students have been busy learning the prefixes, base units, and multipliers of the Metric System. The United States is one of very few countries in the world that has not adopted the Metric System into our everyday lives, but that doesn't make it less important to know! With the ever changing work force and new requirements for technology based jobs the Metric System has become even more important to learn, understand, and use. Labs will be conducted to help students gain insight on how to use it correctly and see first hand the importance of it moving forward into the 21st century. Other concepts covered will be learning about area, volume, and density - as you can see the students are getting first hand experience of how science affects people around the world.
For Eagle's Pre-Algebra we learned about rational and irrational numbers, students were able to play a real numbers game in order to identify integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers. We would work on placing the irrational numbers on the number line and exponent in the coming weeks.
As for Eagle Algebra, we are learning about functions. Students were able to generate X-Y Table and plot the graph that related to the function. We also did a graphing pattern investigation project.
MUSTANG NEWS:
It was great to meet many of you during open house - your enthusiasm for the new year is absolutely invaluable! We are so excited to get to know your children this year. Thank you for sharing them with us.
EXCITING NEWS!
We are in the midst of our first fundraiser of the year selling MVP coupon cards. This would be a great way to earn money towards our end-of-the-year team trip to Character Challenge Course in Park Rapids this May. The cost will be $80. Please return ALL unsold MVP cards that remain in good, salable condition by the week of September 27th to avoid having to pay for them. If cards have been sold, send the $20 to school with your child to account for the sale.
Computer Applications
In class we are learning how to create emails, create notes with bullet points, create columns, and will soon be transitioning into tables, PowerPoint, Excel, and AppCreators. If time allows, we will also cover careers, mock interviews, personal finance, and entrepreneurship.
English
We’re starting to build up our classroom reading stamina as students explore choice books and research-based reasons to read! Additionally, we’re exploring our identity and what makes us who we are in combination with some parts of speech review. Please ask your child about what they are reading and encourage them to read at home; this can be a great way to wind down and minimize screen time, especially before bed - so many benefits!
US History
Students have spent the beginning of the year learning what it means to think like a historian. Students participated in a variety of activities around historical thinking skills and determining the difference between primary and secondary sources. We begin our first unit on Native Americans and Exploration comparing different theories on how the First Peoples arrived in North America. Other topics we will talk about in this unit include: the Columbian Exchange, Native American cultural regions, and explorers of the New World.
Math
To start this new year lots of our math class has been focused around reviewing things from last year. This allows us to be at the same place when we move forward. Our Pre-Algebra classes have been focusing on Rational and Irrational numbers along with getting introduced to perfect and non perfect squares. The Algebra class has squeezed a lot into the first few weeks. Linear functions and systems of equations have been our main focus. It is great to have the kids back in school and moving forward with their math knowledge.
Science
For science we started the year with classroom activities that focused on building communication skills. This was followed by a review of the scientific method to help students get back into the mindset of scientific thinking. We have begun transitioning into our introduction sections, starting with the Branches of Earth Science, and following that with Elements and Compounds. The goal of this unit is to scratch the surface of various topics we will be covering this year in Earth Science.
Team Reminders:
Please continually check-in with your child if they miss school for any reason, and encourage them to communicate with teachers, as needed. Assignments are never intended to cause hours and hours of work and/or frustration. We have several supports in place that students can take advantage of throughout the school year. Students can:
email teachers
leave private comments in Google Classroom
come in for help before school starts
stay for help after school ends
request a Google Meet for help at home
and, perhaps most importantly, use given class work time intentionally
Students who have a 0 for a grade in PowerSchool have been informed that their grade can be updated upon completion of that work. Zeroes are not permanent unless no work is done. Additionally, students can talk with teachers about opportunities to re-do assignments, projects, tests, etc.
Parents, please partner with us in helping to remind students to charge their chromebooks at home before bringing them to school. Without a charged chromebook or a charger with them in their backpacks, they have limited access to spare computers and material needed in classes.
We are excited to have your child as a Mustang! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with further questions/concerns.
WOLVES NEWS:
Welcome to another great year at Valley! We have absolutely loved getting to know all of the new Wolves so far. We have such a good crew!
We wanted to give a little tidbit of what each class is doing to start the year. In science, students have been first and foremost learning about and getting in touch with their wolf identity! They are starting out with the scientific method and getting a start on their yearlong project of a personal website!
In literature, students started with a unit on grit and perseverance and will be moving into short stories and read alouds. The read aloud this year is by Alan Gratz, a personal favorite of the students, and will tell the story of 9/11 from the perspective of a boy in the towers and a girl in Afghanistan.
In English, students are starting with narratives and short stories. They will also be reading The Barren Grounds, the global read aloud for this year, which focuses on identity and creating your own narrative.
In math, guided math stations are up and running! Students rotate throughout different stations to practice skills, both current and review. They are currently jumping into rational numbers, which most students find extremely exciting :)
In geography, the mapping unit is well under way. Students have been practicing making maps and are moving into latitude and longitude. They are also starting to create their very own “atlas”, filled with their own maps and important information.
In other exciting news, Wolf Ridge is a go for this year! We currently already have dates set, April 4th-8th. The MVP card fundraiser is just finishing up and students did a great job fundraising! We will continue to have opportunities throughout the year for students to raise money for their trip so be on the lookout for those!
Looking forward to a great year!
BEARS NEWS:
The Bears are looking forward to a great year of learning and growing together.
In World Languages with Christensen, students are answering the question "What is culture?" by exploring the cultures of the countries that participated in the Summer Olympics. They'll also be taking an introductory look at the regions we will be focusing on this year.
In science, students will be converting metric units, interpreting/creating graphs, and will be exploring diversity of life through a new science curriculum the schools may adopt. During the graphing unit, students will also learn about spreading false information and reading the fine print.
In Shroyer's math class students are working in small groups on rational numbers, as well as practicing the basic facts and reviewing material from last year!
Finally, in Pederson's English class students are busy building reading and writing routines and we're looking forward to beginning our class read aloud. This year we'll be participating in the Global Read Aloud, Barren Grounds.
DRAGONS NEWS:
This is a response from student, Virgil Buckta from Team Dragon.
I come to school and go to Royal Time with Ms. Novatak.
I go to read with Ms. Plesha, in reading we are working on reading a book called “Ghost.” We are reading a chapter and then documenting it down on a piece of paper like a journal about the book.
Then I will go back across the hall to Ms. Novotak’s language arts class which is basically writing and English mixed in one class. We do a lot of fun activities and write in language arts.
Then I would run to the lower A hallway where I would find Mr. David Vonesh, in room 2 is where he does my science and social studies class. We have been talking a lot about dinosaurs and the atom. In Social studies we are learning about hominids or very old cave people.
I really do like the fact that the classes are in the same room so we don't have to walk all over the place all day.
For lunch there was an exquisite meal taco in a bag with spicy beans.
I have math with Mr. Magner. We have been working on the traditional way to do multiplication.
All my teachers are really cool and nice. This is going to be a good year at Valley.
Wizards News:
The Wizards really enjoyed meeting and getting to know all of the families that were able to attend parent teacher conferences. We are nearing the end of our first quarter and have appreciated all of the parent support and involvement in helping this be a successful transition for your child to middle school. Please continue to help make the school year as successful as possible for your child by making sure they are getting plenty of sleep technology free.
Science classes are starting our chemical interactions unit. Students are working on identifying physical properties of substances and determining if reactions are the result of a physical or chemical change.
Math classes are reviewing skills from fifth grade and starting to solve multi-step problems that include decimals. We encourage you to spend 15 minutes a night practicing with your student.
Social Studies classes are studying early humans, the development of agriculture and the first civilizations on Earth.
Language arts classes are continuing to work with writing prompts, Greek and Latin root words, prepositions, and other parts of speech. They are beginning to work with narrative writing.
Reading classes are working on building their independent reading skills and strengthening their vocabulary skills.
ATTACHMENTS:
- School Immunization Requirements
- Medication At School Form
- Medication Authorization Form
- District Calendar
- Dispute Resolution Policy 2021-2022