February's word of the month is courage. In the middle school setting, students are given the opportunity to practice each and every day! Do we have the courage to reach out to a classmate who needs a friend? Do we have the courage to say something if a classmate is being picked on? Do we have the courage to do the right thing, even when the pressure is on to make other choices? This week, start a conversation with your student about courage! Here are some questions to ask:

• Do you think you are a courageous person? Why or why not?
• Can you tell me about a time when it was hard to be courageous?
• Have you seen any TikToks that demonstrate courage?

When my girls were in middle school, time in the car were the best time to have these conversations! It's amazing what kids will tell us if we just ask!

Have a great week!

PTO is hosting a trivia night for our students on Thursday, Feb. 15. Kids can sign up in the office!

If you can volunteer your time or raffle prizes, please check out the pink button below! All information can be found on the flyer below! It's a FUN night!

Some of our students are working with Mrs. Louder to bring back a student-created newspaper, called the Valley Park Breeze. Their first assignment was interviewing students and taking pictures at the Homecoming Assembly last Friday! Stay tuned for the first edition! Thanks for you hard work, girls!

Elena M.

Makayla L.

Peyton B.

Ellie W.

Olivia M.

Our very own Mrs. Fox was chosen for the Key to the Classroom Award! Mrs. Fox is an amazing advocate for our students and works to make inclusion the norm at VPSD! We are so proud!

The VPMS Yearbook is now on sale! Copies are limited, so make sure to purchase yours now!

All sales are done online - please use the link below to purchase.

We have noticed some of our students bringing items to school to sell (snacks, items from home, etc). Please remind your students that this activity is not a good idea for the school setting.

If you would like your student to see Mrs. Steinkamp, please use the link below to let her know!

We have been seeing an increase of cell phones and earbud use during the school day. Our cell phone policy states that phones are to be turned off and put away during the school day. If phones are not being used, there is no need to have headphones or earbuds in. If these items are out, they will be sent to the office where they can be picked up by the student at the end of the day. If they are taken a second time, they will need to be picked up from the office by a parent or guardian.

With the new year, we are encouraging students (and parents) to arrive on time to school. Missed minutes accumulate quickly and that equals academic instruction that is missed. We will be monitoring the number of late to school events for each student. The following process will be followed:

• late to school 3 times = phone call with a parent and parent will need to walk their student into the office for all following late to schools
• late to school 5 times = parent meeting
• late to school 6+ times = lunch time work to make up missed class time
• late to school 10 times = possible hotline call

Thank you for arriving on time each and every day!

As a reminder: Stay home if your child has any of the symptoms listed below, please call your health care provider. Do not send your child to school to be seen by the school nurse.

• Fever of 100°F or more
• Persistent coughing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Abnormal nasal drainage
• Any unidentified and/or widespread rash or weeping lesions
• Persistent pain (ear, stomach, etc.)
• Any untreated or suspected cases of conjunctivitis
• Communicable diseases (ex: Influenza, chickenpox, untreated impetigo, scabies)
• Tinea Capitis (ringworm of the scalp)

If your child will be missing school for any reason, please contact your child's school as soon as possible to make them aware.

Medications at school: For the safety of all students, all medications must be brought to the nurse's office by a parent or adult parent designee, not the student. During drop off, the parent or guardian must sign a Medication Administration Card. Medication refills must be brought to the nurse's office by a parent or adult parent designee.

As always, we are here to help and wish all of our families a safe and healthy remainder of the school year. Thank you, and stay well.

Our school library media center is a wonderful resource for our students! Check out the activities Mrs. Louder offers and encourage your child to participate!