Valley Heights USD #498

USD 498 COVID-19 Update: In the table below is the most current and specific information for COVID19 within the Valley Heights district. Thank you all for doing your part in supporting our students and staff as we navigate through these challenging times. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Melissa Kennedy Superintendent of Schools

We regret to inform you that we will not be having Colt's Round-Up next week, November 16 - November 19. This decision was not arrived at easily however with recent events we have been limited with staffing and to assure the health and best interests of both our students and staff we will be cancelling Colt's Round-Up and resuming on Monday, November 30 with our normal schedule. 

USD 498 COVID-19 Update: This morning, Thursday, November 12, we received word that two Waterville Elementary students have tested positive for COVID-19. Our district health nurse, with assistance from the Marshall County Health Department, did the appropriate contact tracing. All families have been notified and those with direct contact have been placed in quarantine. At this time our district has now had 27 positive cases. We ask that you continue to practice health department protocols of mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand washing. Our goals remain the same, to keep our elementary schools open and return our middle school and high school students back to on-site learning. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the district office. Melissa Kennedy Superintendent of Schools

USD 498 Students, Parents and Patrons, At their monthly board meeting last night, the USD 498 Board of Education voted to alter the 2020-2021 school calendar as follows: Thanksgiving break has been extended to include Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November, 24th. There will be no school the week of November 22, and all district students will return to on-site learning on Monday, November 30th. Effective January 1, 2021, all PLC early release Wednesday's will be cancelled, and we will instead release every Friday of second semester at 12:30 p.m. We want to give you a heads up on these changes so you have ample time to alter your calendars and make necessary changes in your schedules. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to adjust and adapt through these unprecedented times.

USD 498 COVID-19 Update: As of this evening, Monday, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. our district has a total of 25 positive COVID cases. These continue to be VHHS students and staff members. Please avoid social gatherings, wear masks, wash your hands thoroughly and often, and practice social distancing whenever possible. It is also important that quarantined individuals stay at home and adhere to the recommendations of the Marshall County Health Department. We really want our VHHS kids back in school with us, and to keep our elementary students in their classrooms each day. Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and our students learning! Melissa Kennedy Superintendent

USD 498 COVID19 Update: As of this morning, Friday, November 5 at 11:00 a.m., our district has a total of 21 positive COVID cases. These remain to be among students and staff of the VHHS building. Please continue to practice the protocols of mask wearing, social distancing and frequent handwashing. Contact the Marshall County Health Department if you or a family member begin to exhibit COVID symptoms. Have a great weekend, and thank you for putting the safety and continued learning of our students first! Melissa Kenney Superintendent

USD 498 COVID19 Update: As of this morning, Wednesday, November 4 at 9:00 a.m., our district has a total of 20 positive COVID cases. Currently all of these are among the students and staff of the VHHS building. Our elementary buildings, although affected by quarantine due to positive contacts, remain COVID free. Our primary goal at this time is to continue on-site learning for our elementary buildings, as we know remote learning is even more challenging for elementary students and their families. Please help us! We ask that you diligently wear your masks and practice social distancing. If you or a household member exhibits symptoms of COVID19, please contact the Marshall County Health Department and communicate transparently with our school health nurse. Contact tracing is essential at this time in containing the spread in our district and community, and we want to extend a huge thank you to those that are abiding by the isolation and quarantine guidelines. Let's continue to do our part in keeping our students and staff safe! I will continue to update bi-weekly to ensure transparency and that our parents and patrons stay informed.

The USD 498 Special Board meeting to address COVID19 within our district will held in the VHHS Commons tonight, November 2, at 6:00 p.m. Social Distancing will be practiced, and a mask will be mandatory upon entry. We have made this meeting available via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/98661962951?pwd=ZkN6aVgvQUxNZENNa0dOSXYwZjhYQT09 Meeting ID: 986 6196 2951 Passcode: 5V7sMH

Reminder - lunches will be served curbside for 7th - 12th grade students from 11:30 - 12:30 at the Waterville Elementary bus stop and Blue Rapids Gym. This will continue throughout their remote learning dates. If delivery arrangements are needed, please contact the High School 785-363-2508.

Due to the increase of our numbers of COVID 19 cases in the community we would like to remind you of some current CDC guidelines. If you or your child are going to, or have been tested please contact the school to let us know. You will need to keep your child or children at home until you receive a negative test result. The only exception would be if you are tested regularly due to you being a health care/essential worker. If your child is sick or showing symptoms you need to keep them home. For more information please click on the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html

Happy Halloween from the Kindergarten students!

There will be a Special Board Meeting, Monday, November 2nd at 6PM at the High School in the commons area. Masks will be mandatory.

Class of 2023-Your class ring orders are now due NOVEMBER 6th. The high school office will have a ring sizer here at the beginning of next week. If you need to get your finger sized before ordering, please come out to the high school for this. Mrs D. will be collecting your orders at the office or you may go ahead and order online if you wish. Must have $75 for a down payment to order your ring. Again class ring orders are due NOVEMBER 6th!!!

Class of 2021--We have gotten the order date for Jostens changed. Orders are now due November 6th!!!! You can just bring your orders to the high school. I will collect them and get them all sent off for you. You may order online as well. Your choice!! Again Josten's Senior orders are DUE NOVEMBER 6th!

There has been a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in our junior and senior high school over the course of the past few days, which results in even more students being placed in quarantine. The district administration, along with the Marshall County Health Department, has made the difficult decision to enter into a remote learning environment for our middle school and high school students effective immediately. These students will return to school on-site on Monday, November 30th. It is important to note that this is strictly the VHHS building, and DOES NOT affect the elementary schools, as both the Waterville and Blue Rapids grade schools will continue to operate as usual. Lunches/breakfasts will be available for pick-up between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Blue Rapids gym or the south door of the Waterville Grade School. Please go to the location in the town in which you reside. Delivery is possible if you are quarantined or lack the means for in-person pick-up by calling the high school or district office. All extra curricular activities, including athletics are postponed until further notice. We will continue to keep you informed and appreciate your understanding as we navigate through these challenging decisions.

National FFA Convention looks slightly different this year being all virtual. Today the greenhands watch the opening ceremony in their Agriscience class. Congratulations to Brady Trimble who received his American FFA Degree (only about 1% of FFA members acheive this degree).

Lady Mustangs Beat Sacred Heart In three sets And beat Marion in two sets And we're in the Sub-state Championship Go Mustangs

Here is the link to watch the livestream of Sub-State Volleyball tomorrow. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCry0OWR1pyQF_17jHdO4Pew #MustangProud #LadyMustangs

Here is the link to watch the football game at Northern Heights Friday. https://fb.me/e/4hdppgooi

There are 40 tickets available for the FB game at Northern Heights on Friday. If you would like one please call the high school 785-363-2508 to get your name on the list. Once your name is on the list you will be able to purchase a ticket when you get to the game.