News and Views Online Valley View School District Newsletter Winter – January, February, 2013 Page 1 From the desk of the Superintendent: One summer between my sophomore and junior year of college I worked in a factory with my Uncle. We cut varying sizes of sheets of plastic from giant bubbles of plastic that eventually turned into trash bags and other specialty bags for companies to utilize. Uncle Mel had worked there for 20 years and he expected that he would retire from the same company in 10 more years. Times have changed since I worked in that plastics factory. Today a young person just starting out can expect to change occupations at least five times during their adult life. The manufacturing jobs that were available in the past are few and far between for today’s unemployed. A high school diploma is not enough anymore. Every student graduating from Valley View High School should be expected to pursue some type of skill or education beyond high school. Career selection can be a positive change since those days. Hundreds of career opportunities offer students specialties from Accounting and Agriculture to World Travel and Web Development. As our Valley View High School students make decisions about life beyond high school, whether or not to attend college, which college to choose, and how to pay for it all, Careers Teacher Laura Boyd, and advisors at VVHS offer options. On Tuesday, January 29 , VVHS students, grades 9-12, and parents, are encouraged to attend the Valley View College Night at 6:30 p.m. at VVHS. Representatives from a university as well as Financial Aid Officers will be there to help you through the tough decisions. Two presentations will be featured: College Ready – Start Now, Finish Strong (suggested for parents and students grades 9-11 will be held in the HS Cafeteria; and Cash for College, to be held in the HS Library, is suggested for seniors. We hope to see many parents and students attend the event on January 29 at VVHS. DATES TO REMEMBER: January 21 – No School Martin Luther King Day January 29 – College and Careers at VVHS 6:30 p.m. February 18 – No School Presidents’ Day April 1-5 – Spring Break May 4 – VVHS Prom May 27 – Memorial Day No School June 7 – Students’ last day June 10 – Class of 2013 graduates th th The Valley View Elementary Art Classes are taking part in Snowflakes for Sandy Hook. Teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut asked for snowflakes to place on their windows showing support for returning students. Valley View students sent out their handmade snowflakes shortly after Winter Break. Thank You VVIS and VVPS for your thoughtful and creative projects. Congratulations to the VVHS Christmas King and Queen Hannah Isaacs and Ethan DeVillez Page 2 Wings for Wonderful Grace When Grace Ragon, a 5th grader at Valley View Intermediate School, died this winter from a debilitating disease called Leukodystrophy, the students, staff, and friends began a project called Wings for Wonderful Grace. Led by Grace's two best friends, Jacqueline Fox and Elizabeth Barnett, pictured here with Grace, their Butterfly 'Wing' pins project became not just a popular craft, but a way to help fight the debilitating disease from which Grace suffered. Handmade Butterfly pins, only $1 each, have become a daily accessory at Valley View and as one of Grace's favorite things, the butterflies are selling throughout the school district, not just at the elementary. Leukodystrophy, is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. The Wings for Wonderful Grace project has already collected over $1,600 for the United Leukodystrophy Foundation. The daughter of Angie Abner and JP Ragon, Grace was described by all who knew her by her neverending smile. If you would like to purchase a Wings for Wonderful Grace pin, you may do so at any of the school offices, or by calling Grace's teacher, Amy Ferguson, at 8554203. Brrrrr! Who wants a snow day? Valley View School District, snow day procedures include the Bus Supervisor (and/or Superintendent) heading out on the roads as early as 2 a.m. in order to determine the road conditions. Occasionally parents who live inside the villages or who live on a main state route question the closings because their roads are clear. Valley View School District has 68 square miles of roads and streets. Many are in the country, and often drift shut. When snow and ice affects these routes, it is often impassable. We chose to select safety not only for our bus riders, but for our student drivers and teachers as well. Please watch WDTN, WHIO and Fox television networks as well as WHIO Radio to view school closings. A Community Care Call will be made by the superintendent if school is on a delay or if cancelled. If you are a parent or community member who would like to receive these calls, please call 937.855.6581, ext 1 to request you name be placed on the auto call list. If you receive Community Call and wish for those calls to be cancelled, please call the number above. Please note that a two hour delay may turn into a cancellation. The Valley View Board of Education presented 101-year old Ruth Hastings Hawk-Helinski with a diploma from 1929. Mrs. Helinski always regretted not receiving her diploma, and was honored at the December 17 BOE Meeting at VVHS with the Germantown High School honorary diploma. th Congratulations to VVIS’s Melissa Pahl, who received 2 grants this year to take students on field trips. The Dayton Philharmonic funded 2 trips to see the orchestra for 4th and 5th grade. Melissa applied online to Target for a field trip grant and 6th graders are going to the Victoria Theatre. page 3 The Valley View FFA was honored by a recent visit from State FFA Treasurer, Erin Wollett. Erin is one of 16 State FFA Officers that travels to FFA Chapters throughout the state and actively engages the members in Agriculture issues. Pictured (L-R): Mr. Tom Misenko (Ass't Principal VVHS), Kristin Judy, Charlie Monnig, Sarah Landis, Mason Thoma, Clara Sizemore, Lindsey Landis, Addy Potter, Erin Wollett (State FFA Treasurer), and Laura Harting Athletes of the Month Valley View seniors Ellie Kozarec and Drew Attaway pose with Edward Jones Financial Group’s Ed DeVault. Mr. DeVault presented the two seniors with plaques announcing them as the first standout athletes of 2013.