Today is the end of first quarter. I can't believe we are already 25% through the school year! Cross country and volleyball are wrapping up their seasons and our sixth graders will be switching elective classes on Monday.

We are so excited for conferences Tuesday evening. If you have not signed up for a time to meet with your child's teachers, please use the links below.

Have a great weekend!

Parents, we need your help! We're noticing more and more students forgetting items at home and not charging their laptops at night. Please work with your child to create a nighttime routine that includes charging their laptop and gathering everything they will need for school the next day and putting it in one spot, ready to go. While we appreciate you delivering items to school for your child, we would love for our students to take responsibility for their things and save you a trip!

Red Ribbon Week has been celebrated since 1985 in honor of a DEA agent and his belief that one person can make a difference in the war on drugs. Next week, our students will be celebrating through dress-up days and a door decorating contest. Please encourage your student to participate in the dress-up days. There will be prizes given for participating in this wonderful event!

Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating our Hawk Vibes of responsibility, respect, dedication and cooperation!

Faith R.

Cornell L.

Larry C.

Connor L.

If you have not already chosen a time to come in for conferences on Tuesday, October 24, please pick a time to come in and hear about the wonderful things your child is learning about.

PTO is graciously providing dinner for our teachers the night of conferences. The meat will be provided and PTO is looking for help to supply the rest of the meal. If you are willing and able, please sign up to bring something! All donations can be dropped off in the middle school office before Tuesday, October 24 at 2:00pm. Thank you for taking such good care of the teachers!

Any student with prescription medication or over-the-counter medication needs to come to the nurse's office to drop it off. Students are not allowed to have any sort of medication on them unless it is rescue medication, inhaler or epi pen. All medications require a form.

We are excited to announce that two of our office-based therapists are hosting a FREE psychoeducational parent support group starting next week, Monday! There will be a Virtual option starting in January as well.

The purpose of having a psychoeducational support group for parents is to provide additional support, supplementing ongoing services for children, youth, and families and provide an alternative to individual therapy for the parents. YIN believes the benefits of having peer support groups, in this case, a parent-to-parent group, will create a sense of community and validate experiences and challenges of parenting children and youth. Further, this will create opportunities for stronger relationships between parents and their child(ren), as well as to learn concepts from YIN therapists around the following topics: setting healthy boundaries, positive discipline and consequences, emotion regulation, and improved communication. A parent support group will allow parents to leave sessions with concepts to apply directly to their family systems more holistically and directly impact the family unit.

Registration for the Valley Park Future Hawks Basketball League is currently open for K-8th grade boys and girls through October 25, 2023. The online registration form can be found by clicking on this link. Cost of the league is $80 if you plan to reuse your jersey from last year, or $100 if you need a new jersey. Practices will begin in early November with games scheduled to begin in early December. The Future Hawks Basketball League is also looking for coaches at many levels. If you are interested in coaching a team, please reach out to Dean of Students Thomas Rauls, at trauls@vpschools.org