Our 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students will get to experience "Reality U" on Thursday, September 7. 8th and 10th grade will be from 8:30 to 9:50. 11th and 12th grade will be from 9:55 to 11:15. We will need 24 volunteers from the community to help with this experience. Volunteers would be needed from 8:00 to 11:30. Volunteers will be trained, so if you are an adult you qualify! Please contact john.hamon@vfalls338.com if you can help us.
HOW REALITY U WORKS
Reality U brings a bit of “reality” to students through a 75-minute interactive and engaging personal finance simulation. Students imagine their life as a 26-year-old and complete an online lifestyle survey. This information is entered into our trademarked software, along with their current GPA, to create a unique and individualized future scenario.
Each scenario includes the student’s monthly income, credit card debt, student loan information, as well as marital and family status. Students are given a checkbook register to track their monthly purchases from the 12 booths representing services and/or products that adults typically must purchase or consider each month. Sometimes they must return a “purchase” and make a different decision. The checkbook register can’t fall below zero!
This event actively engages students to help them understand the importance of how their performance in school today impacts their future. It also provides the community an opportunity to share in local students’ learning and developing an understanding of the world of work.
Due to excessive heat the week, the Cross Country Parent/Runner event has been postponed to a later date. Coach Spade will work on a date and the information out to runners and parents this week.
Thank you!
Due to the excessive heat this week, the Mother/Son football camp has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 30th @ 6:30pm.
Thank you!
Because of the heat that we are experiencing this week, water bottles will be available for any of our students riding the bus afterschool.
Our new MS Language Arts teacher is Lori Peterson. Lori grew up and still lives in the Effingham area. She has two children, aged 16 and 19. She has worked with Special Education for about 8 years. Lori is finishing her Secondary Education degree through Ottawa University. She loves to cross stitch in her free time and enjoys watching documentaries about history. Welcome to USD 338!
HSFB Parents: With the upcoming heat this week, practices will look pretty different. Please be flexible and adaptable as we try to get practices in while prioritizing player safety.
Monday - film and plays in the classroom after school. Then we will go in the gym for about an hour once volleyball is done.
Hello all MSFB parents! Tomorrows practice will run from 3:30 to 5:15. We will spend most of our time inside due to the heat. Please help by making sure your child has a water for practice that day. We will have water available for your student if needed. I will be sending out updates on practices throughout the week. If you have any questions please email me at Dallas.brown@vfalls338.com
Weekly Parent Update that is emailed to parents
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DAFpIhexpTxp7udvtJhlLmWHeYDB7j1o/view?usp=sharing
Attention HS Football Parents and Fans:
The sports drink scrimmage scheduled for Thursday, August 24th, has been cancelled due to the upcoming forecast and heat advisory. The HS Football team will be participating in a Jamboree on Friday, August 25th at 7pm at Jeff West.
Thank you!
Asphalt on the track this week!
Attention all MSFB parents! Due to the expected heat next week, the sports drink scrimmage scheduled for Thursday August 24th has been cancelled. MSFB will have a normal practice scheduled for that day from 3:30-5:15. That Friday august 25th the MSFB team will have a normal practice from 3:30-5:15. From 4:30-5:15 we will have an inner squad scrimmage. Parents are invited to come watch and bring any sports drink they are wanting. If you have any questions please email coach Brown at Dallas.brown@vfalls338.com
Ally Pickerell is our new 5th grade teacher. Ally grew up in Horton and graduated from Horton High School in 2020. This is her first year teaching and she is completing her Elementary Education degree from Fort Hays State University. Ally spends her time outside of the classroom with her husband Drew and their dog Paxton. Ally loves to go on family walks as well as hang out with her family and friends. Welcome to USD 338!
Jennifer Lotspeich is the new 4th grade teacher. She is thrilled to be a new member of the Valley Falls family. Her students are going to learn so many new and exciting things this year. This is her eleventh year of teaching. The first five years were spent teaching elementary and for the past 6 years she taught 6th grade Language Arts at French Middle School for 501. Her husband David and her are parents to four amazing kids that range in years from 21 to 16. They are also pet parents to 3 cats, Garfield, Enzo and Jasmine. Welcome to USD 338!
Quincie McCowan is one of our Alumni. She Graduated from VFHS in 2020 and decided to come back to teach our Art classes. Quincie enjoys spending time with her husband Zach, family, friends, and her animals. She can't wait for the upcoming years ahead of her! Welcome Quincie!
Braylan Heineken is our new High School Math/Science Teacher. Braylon grew up in Valley Falls, graduating from VFHS in 2021. She has completed her associates degree, graduating from Highland Community College in 2022. This is her first year teaching while she continues her degree through Fort Hays State University. Braylan spends her time outside of the classroom with her boyfriend and their dog, Ace. She enjoys going on walks around town with Ace and doing various projects around the house.
Kayla Thayer is our new K-8 PE Teacher. Kayla grew up in Silver Lake, KS and graduated from Silver Lake Junior Senior High. She was the PE teacher at Wetmore for the past six years. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Washburn University. She spends her free time away from school watching sports or spending time with her family. Welcome to USD 338!
John Oakleaf is our new HS Math teacher. Mr. Oakleaf grew up on a farm near Lindsborg, Kansas. Before graduating from Bethany College, he served three years in the United States Army. During that time, he enjoyed playing football with the Army Rangers team while stationed in Okinawa. Later he received his Masters’ Degree from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He acquired numerous hours of credit through summer Math Institutes at the University of Kansas.
His teaching experience has included math and physical education in the 377 and 409 school districts. His summers provided opportunities to keep busy: building his house in Effingham, working on the farm to help his father, or driving for a silage-cutting crew to help his nephew. Several winter weekends were spent teaching skiing at Snow Creek, near Weston, Missouri.
John and his wife, Elaine, enjoy visiting their children in Overland Park, Kansas, cheering on the Chiefs, Jayhawks and Wildcats, and attending area school events. They look forward to becoming acquainted with the Valley Falls Dragons and supporting their school activities. Welcome to USD 338!
Paul Courter is our new Middle School Science Teacher. Mr. Courter worked at Atchison County for the past 6 years as the Middle School Science teacher. Paul and his wife Mauri have two children- Kieran is in his sophomore year at Kansas Wesleyan University and Lauren is a senior in high school. Paul grew up in Nortonville and graduated from Jefferson County North High School, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Fort Hays State University. All spare time is spent mowing, cutting wood, and working outside on various projects. Paul enjoys coaching football. Welcome Mr. Courter!
Our new High School Social Studies Teacher is Derek Bissitt. Mr. Bissitt joins the district with 31 years of teaching experience. He is a graduate of Holton High School & Ottawa University. He received his master's degree in history from Fort Hays State University. He is married to Kathy & they have 3 kids & 6 grandkids. They operate a bison ranch south of Holton where they sell meat & give tours. Welcome to USD 338!
Reminder for PK and Kindergarten parents/guardians: For those students being transported home via bus, the school district requires that a parent be present and visible to the bus driver in order for your child to be let off the bus for safety purposes. Thank you for ensuring parents and guardians are present at drop off.
Thank You!