Panther Press
March 24, 2024
Panther Press Table of Contents
- VPE Auction
- Order Yearbook
- End of Quarter
- Solar Eclipse
- Fund a Need
- Spin Pizza Night
- Need Volunteers
- Summer Explorations
- Screen Sanity Parent Night
- Rumble Strips
- Blue Valley North Fundraiser
- PJ Skate Party
- Spring Book Fair
- Class Setting Input for 2024-25
- Incoming Kindergarten 2024
- District Calendar
- VPE Homepage
- VPE Family Handbook
- Dismissal Changes & Pick Up Patrol
We’re Rolling out the Red Carpet for Lights, Camera, Auction! on April 20
Roll out the red carpet and strike a pose at our Hollywood-inspired auction extravaganza! Prepare for an evening of bidding, mingling, and cinematic enchantment. Get your tickets today!
Order your yearbook today!
Capture the magic of your student’s journey at Valley Park Elementary! Order their yearbook today to treasure the memories of their childhood adventures. Hurry, sales end on March 31st – reserve your copy now!
End of Quarter Information: Viewing Canvas Courses and Third Quarter Grades
At the end of each quarter, courses in Canvas will conclude and will no longer be visible on the Canvas app and website. Courses for this year’s third quarter will conclude on March 7th at 11:59pm. Report cards will be generated and families will be able to view third quarter grades on ParentVUE at the end of the day on March 29th.
How do I view my child’s report card?
Log in on ParentVue.
Select your elementary student’s name.
In the left navigation bar, choose Report Card.
If you have questions about Standards Based Grading as you view your child’s report card, please review the information found on the Elementary Report Card resource page.
Each new quarter, classroom teachers will publish their next quarter Canvas course. As courses are published, students and families will again be able to see current courses on the Canvas app and Canvas website. For Canvas parent resources, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/canvas.
Solar Eclipse
On April 8, a solar eclipse will cross a portion of the United States. What a great opportunity for our school community to experience a rare scientific phenomenon! We plan to incorporate this unique learning experience into our afternoon on April 8th. We have ordered safe viewing glasses for our staff and students to utilize. If you prefer your child NOT to participate in the solar eclipse viewing, please let your child's classroom teacher know and there will be an option for your child to have an excused absence on this afternoon or a supervised, alternative activity that will be provided at school during the viewing.
Unveiling Opportunities with Fund-a-Need Project Donations
Our backstage fund goes directly towards providing discounted tickets for our hard-working staff to attend this exciting event.
By sponsoring our Backstage Fund, you're not only supporting our incredible educators and staff, but you're also ensuring they have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from this special occasion.
Unable to Attend? You Can Still Make a Difference! Our flat donation goes directly to our to support our Fund-a-Need project for 2024.
Our Fund-a-Need project, which aims to revitalize our school Media Center (aka the Library). To learn more about this year's Fund-a-Need project and how your donation can make a difference, click the link below.
Spin Pizza Restaurant Night on March 26
Join us for Spin Pizza at the Olathe location at 14230 W 119th St, Olathe, Kansas. Dine with your kids on Tuesday, March 26 anytime between 4 to 8 p.m. Valley Park PTO will receive 20% of sales at the time of this event and would greatly appreciate your support in continuing to reach goals for our school.
Calling All Volunteers! 🌟
We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make upcoming events at Valley Park Elementary a huge success! Here's your chance to get involved and make a difference in the lives of our students.
Sign up now for these exciting opportunities:
📸 Picture Day - April 2nd: Assist our amazing photography team and ensure every student shines bright on picture day!
📚 Book Fair - April 16th through 18th: Dive into the world of literature and help create a magical experience for our young readers during our Book Fair!
To sign up or learn more about these volunteer opportunities, click the link below. Let's come together and make a difference for Valley Park students!
Blue Valley Summer Explorations enrollment opens March 18
Is your child looking to do a little exploration this summer? What about breaking out of summer boredom? Is your child a poet and they don’t know it yet? Don’t miss out on Blue Valley’s Summer Explorations program, which features a variety of one-week, hands-on experiences that put fun at the forefront of learning. From Cardboard Constructions and Football Talk to Junior Chef Adventures, there is something for everyone. Enrollment opens 8 a.m. March 18 and closes 4 p.m. April 3. All summer programs will be held in person unless otherwise noted. Additional information about the Summer Explorations program, including a course catalog, can be found online at www.bluevalleyk12.org/summerprograms.
Screen Sanity Parent Night – Monday, March 25
Get ready for an evening of valuable insights and practical tips on navigating our kids' digital world! Valley Park Elementary together with OTMS and OTES PTOs are excited to invite you to Screen Sanity Parent Night on Monday, March 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.
🔍 Explore strategies for promoting healthy screen habits
📚 Learn how to support your child's digital well-being
🤝 Connect with fellow parents and talk about real world solutions for teaching kids healthy screen habits.
Date: Monday, March 25
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Overland Trail Middle School Commons
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please use the QR code to register.
Call for yearbook pictures!
📸 Don’t miss out on the opportunity to showcase your child’s adventures at Valley Park Elementary! We’re compiling memories for the yearbook and need your help. Share photos of your child participating in school activities with their friends, and let’s make this yearbook truly special. The deadline is approaching quickly, so seize the moment and submit your pictures to yearbook@vpepto.org today.
PJ Skate Party on April 10
Come join us for our last PTO Family Fun Night of the year at Skate City on Wednesday, April 10th! A portion of the proceeds comes directly back to the Valley Park PTO, so it’s a great way to have fun with your VPE community and support our school. We hope to see you there!
Spring Book Fair from April 16 to 18
Mark your calendars….the Scholastic Book Fair is returning for our Spring Book Fair held Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18. It will be a Buy One Get One Free sale so it’s the perfect time to stock up for summer reading! Volunteers will be needed to help make this event a success so keep an eye out for sign up opportunities coming soon. Happy reading!
Input on Classroom Setting for 2024-2025
Dear Families,
At Valley Park Elementary, we are fully committed to students' academic success, personal growth, and general well-being. As such, we spend a great deal of time and energy ensuring that every child is placed in a classroom where they can thrive.
We begin focusing on classroom placement for the upcoming school year at this time of year. This process is extensive and multi-layered, including the perspectives of various staff members familiar with your child's personal and academic needs.
Though we do not allow requests for specific teachers, we offer families the chance to provide some optional input, if desired, regarding their student(s) as we make class lists.
- Current Students: Please click here to provide input for current VPE students by March 29, 2024. After that date, input will not be accepted. Please note we will consider all input submitted by March 29, but fulfilling each family request is not always possible.
- Incoming KG Students: For incoming 2024-2025 Kindergarten students use this form.
Rest assured that our team of educators considers each student's needs individually and as a member of the class group when making class lists, regardless of whether families provide their input.
Our common goal is to make the school experience the best for every child. We pledge to you that we will do all we can to make your child's education enjoyable, exciting, and productive.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hansen
Principal
Dr. Emily Gill
Assistant Principal
Kindergarten 2024
Incoming Kindergarten Information
We are so excited to start the process to welcome our Kindergarten families for the Fall of 2024. Children who reside in Blue Valley Schools and turn 5 years of age by August 31 are eligible to attend kindergarten that school year. If you live in the VPE Elementary boundaries and will have an incoming Kindergarten student next fall, please click here to pre-register.
More information will be shared with you at the end of February including welcome videos, online registration instructions, and information about Kindergarten Round Up in April.
Please pass this message/link on to neighbors that might not have a student in our system and might not yet receive our weekly emails!
Our VPE community will be impacted by some neighborhood boundary changes. At the June 2023 Board of Education meeting, the board adopted boundary adjustments that address elementary school enrollment and building capacity issues. These will begin for the 2024-25 school year. The following neighborhoods are impacted:
Autumn Park (Arcadia), Villages of Overland View and Executive Hills boundaries will be adjusted to attend Indian Valley Elementary. This adjustment will also include a change in feeder pattern to Oxford Middle and Blue Valley Northwest.
Deer Creek boundaries will be adjusted to attend Overland Trail Elementary.
Dismissal Changes & Pick Up Patrol
Anytime your student is absent, or will get home a different way than normal, please change their status in Pick Up Patrol for dismissal.
Examples include they will start riding the bus, or will walk home instead of being picked up in the car line. Please change the dismissal plan in Pick Up Patrol instead of messaging the office or the teacher (but still always let office know about absences). We all share Pick Up Patrol as the most efficient way to communicate and get kids where they need to go at dismissal!
- Sign Up: If you have never signed up for Pick Up Patrol, click here to enter your student's information.
- Dismissal Changes: If you need the Pick Up Patrol site to make changes to your child's dismissal plan for any given day, click here.
- To report an absence to the school: You may call the absence line at 913-239-7605 or e-mail: attendancevpe@bluevalleyk12.org
Mrs. Hansen - Principal
Email: mhansen01@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/VPE
Location: 12301 Lamar Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 239-7600
Dr. Gill - Assistant Principal
Email: EAGill@bluevalleyk12.org
Phone: 913-239-7624
Twitter: @EmilyGill_VPE
Office Staff
- Julie Bachert: Administration Assistant/Bookkeeper
- Samantha Bashara: Administration Assistant/Registrar/Attendance
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/VPE
Location: 12301 Lamar Ave. Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 239-7600