It is DragonPRIDE day! Looking forward to starting school on Monday. If you do not currently have internet access, you can access internet in the north parking lot at school and at Kendall State Bank. Please remain in the car while accessing to stay safe. See you on Monday!
Just a reminder that the district property is closed to everyone unless they are considered essential staff. This includes the playground and the football field grounds. Thank you for respecting this request.
“Back to School”parade
Friday night at 6:30pm, Valley Falls teachers and staff will be parading around town in our vehicles. We have been looking at our computer screens all week, and we miss seeing our kids! So come wave at us as we drive by. Rural families can park at the 4H grounds or football field parking lot, if you stay in your cars. Please practice social distancing!
Middle School students, when cleaning out your locker please take both math books home and keep them. We will be using them in the next few weeks. Also, please take and keep your planner. It should have log in information in it that you might need. Thank you!
High School students, please bring your iPad with you tomorrow when you collect your belongings. During your visit, you will need to connect with the district network to upload any new apps, such as Zoom, that have been pushed out for your online learning on Monday. Thank you
Thursday March 26th, by appointment only, buildings will be open to retrieve personal things and return district owned items. For details and to sign up for an appointment, visit our Facebook page or district website. Appointments also can be made by calling the district office.
Today's Lunch is Chef Salad
Starting Tuesday morning, there will not be any meal pick-up on school premises. Children who have signed up for a meal that live within the district boundaries will have their meal delivered to their residence. Any child that has signed up for a meal that lives outside of the district boundaries will be contacted for meal pick-up at a designated location.
Please be cautious in believing everything you hear related to schools and COVID-19. Things in the past two weeks in some cases have been communicated incorrectly through media outlets.If you have a question about specific communication from media sources pertaining to schools or school closure, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school or Jefferson County Health Department.
COVID Update March 20, 2020
Today teachers and instructional staff began the process of planning for instructional lessons and discussing professional learning needs. Online learning is still scheduled to start on March 30th! Plans are being made to get devices and tools to students and secure opportunities for internet access. Teachers will begin meeting virtually in small groups and as a whole staff on Monday, March 23 on a daily basis and will be communicating to families later next week as things are rolled out.
Some parents and students have asked about getting personal items from school. At this time, USD #338 is only allowing essential staff to enter the building. We will continue to assess the risks of letting others into the building and will determine when it is safe to allow students to retrieve personal items. If your child is needing medication left at school or an item that will be utilized during online learning to be successful, please contact one of the district offices and we will get the item and hand it off at a meeting point outside the building. These measures help to keep our essential staff safe and healthy.
Have a good weekend! Dr. Hanzlicek #DragonPRIDE
Hello dragon family from Ms. Grey. First of all, I want to say how much I miss all of you. I hope everyone is well and adapting to a new normal for now. The staff is working hard to prepare some guidance for parents and to develop a learning plan for all of our students. Parents, rest assured, we will be here for you every step of the way. Information will be coming out later next week detailing this work. I know many questions have been asked about getting student items from the building. We are working on a plan for that as well. Right now everything is still locked down and safe. As we move forward please, please be safe following all KDHE guidance, find ways to reconnect with family in a whole new light, be patient, and rest assured we are thinking about all of you. These are stressful, uncertain times for all of us, but I truly believe we will all work together coming out on the other side better from the experience. Tell your children we miss them and hope to see them, at least virtually, soon!
Ms Grey
Dr. Hanzlicek's COVID-19 Update March 19, 2020.
Districts received guidance from the KSDE task force on the new deliverance of instruction today. Our lead teachers, high school counselor, special education teachers, Ms. Grey, and Dr. Hanzlicek met virtually to begin planning for instruction that will begin on March 30th. This group will meet virtually again tomorrow morning to discuss a calendar of events that will structure our planning process. Tomorrow, Dr. Hanzlicek and Ms. Grey will conduct the first virtual faculty meeting. This will be our first step to test connections as we begin to figure out how to connect virtually as a collaborative group. This meeting will allow lead teachers the opportunity to share planning thus far and questions to be answered as we move forward in the planning process.
More communication was made today to companies that can help us support online learning as a district along with ways to filter content on devices that are district owned. Plans are moving forward to put an access point for an internet connection in the north parking lot. Students and parents/guardians will be able to connect when sitting in the parking lot. KDHE guidelines of social distancing will have to be followed during the access but this will be an option for those who do not have an internet connection or internet access that is unstable. We will continue to work so that every student has access to a internet connection.
Also today, local fire, ambulance, and police met to discuss protocols in the case of emergency uses of the district building. Included in our discussion was the new playground ban enforcement.
It is my hope that our Dragon Family is practicing the 6 ft. social distancing and staying safe. Thank you to all those who continue to work hard to support our school family. Talk to you tomorrow! #DragonPRIDE
Thank you Keith Jeffers, Jefferson County Emergency Management for sharing this resource for families.
http://bit.ly/COVID19FamilyResource
Today's Meal: Lunch & Breakfast for tomorrow.
Due to COVID-19 and guidance provided to the district, we are restricting all children from being on school property at this time unless they are picking up a meal bag. This includes the playground areas. Adults considered essential staff or those approved by Dr. Hanzlicek and/or Tom Brown are allowed on school property with permission. We appreciate your willingness to respect this guidance. Dr. Hanzlicek
Congratulations!!
All-League Basketball 2019-2020
Lilly D. - Honorable Mention
Avery G. - 1st Team
Tyler L. - 2nd Team
Nathan H. - 2nd Team
Diego C. - Honorable Mention
Full List Available at: https://5il.co/dxwp
Dr. Hanzlicek and Ms. Grey had ten minutes between meetings this morning. Catching some time in the relaxation room.
Our Food & Nutrition Program fed 123 children today!
It's not too late to sign up. Fill out the online form to let us know you want to participate. https://forms.gle/JYUb8N7eFRoQKaeC9
#DragonPRIDE
Feeding our Dragons Free!!
Free Meal Program solely for the pick-up of lunch and next day breakfast for children- March 18-20, and March 23 - 27!
On Wednesday, March 18, USD 338 Food & Nutrition Program will begin free meal service for children ages 1-18.
There will be a curbside pick each day at the grade school entrance at 700 Oak from 11:30 to 12:30. The district will also be providing drop-off delivery within the USD 338 boundaries to those signed up for route drop off with a listed address. All children must be present in the vehicle or seen to pick up a meal.
Anyone ages 1- 18 can receive the free meal package, no questions asked. This is not an income based program.
In an effort to get a count and provide drop-off for delivery, please complete the following survey:
https://forms.gle/bYPpYGFaTqtYkXqs5
Middle School Science Teacher, Cheryl Brosa, challenges students to make a Rube Goldberg machine. If you are in middle school, video it so we can watch it in class. Look around your house, you have things to make it. You can make it as long or short as you want. Be creative! Keep trying until it works! Have fun with it! Here is an example if you can’t remember what a Rube Goldberg Machine.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xHrYypDKXTc&feature=youtu.be