Summer 2024 Newsletter

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Kim Bellchamber, President

Phyllis Geary, Vice President

Rebecca Menley, Secretary

Richard Schmitt, Treasurer

Yasmin Chittakhone, Director

Pete Coates, Director

Lisa Finder, Director

Dr Tim Dilg Superintendent of Schools

Jaime Gast, Editor Director of Communications

St. Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete

KATELYN MANN

CUMULATIVEGPA (unweighted): 3.814

Sports: Softball, Basketball andSoccer

College: Jefferson College

Fifty-nine graduates and more than ten million in scholarship dollars awarded!

Goal: “My future plansare toattend Jefferson Community Collegetoplay softball and becomea Physical TherapyAssistant, withan end goal ofgoingto a4 year universitytostudy Exercise Science.”

Favoritesubject: Anatomy andMath

Elizabeth Papalotzi Valedictorian

Angelina Dern Salutatorian

Marissa Miller Salutatorian

Miguel Sauceda Principal‘s Leadership Award

Katelyn Mann Hawk Award

Seal of Biliteracy Honors

The Missouri Seal of Biliteracy and Distinguished Missouri Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating high school students in districts with a DESEapproved program, who have demonstrated achievement in English, a Language Other Than English and sociocultural competence. All Missouri students studying any of the world’s languages are potential Seal candidates Congratulations to our awardees!

A+ Scholarship Honors

This year, the Class of 2024 had 37% earn A plus honors. The A+ Scholarship Program is a meritbased scholarship that provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend participating public community colleges or vocational/technical schools, or certain private twoyear vocational/technical schools. Congratulations to our A+ program honorees!

At our monthly Board of Education meetings, our Valley Park leaders celebrated students for their exemplary academic efforts, character, community service, citizenship, and volunteerism in and out of the classroom to make the world a better place. These are the second half of the school year awardees!

January - Elementary

February - Middle School

March - High School

Spring Sports Recap

CONGRATULATIONS TO TARRON WALKER-TOWNSEND '24!

CLASS 2, 6TH PLACE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 100M DASH FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, FINISHING AT 11:09!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VALLEY PARK GOLF TEAM FOR SENDING THREE GOLFERS TO THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIRLS' SOCCER TEAM FOR ADVANCING TO THE DISTRICT SEMIFINAL GAME!

- 3RD STRAIGHT CONFERENCE & DISTRICT

Katie M na roe

Peyton Walker Isaiah Hawthorne

ce

Tim Cole

i L

Myles St. Clair Jayden Boulding

Aubrey Dibble

Gavin Hubbard Nao Baum

Jada Lanasa

Madison Schumacker

Tarron WalkerTownsend Peyton Walker

VALLEY PARK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT STATE FESTIVAL!

Congratulations to these musicians!

Three students from the music program proudly represented Valley Park High School at the State Music Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Mizzou. Lana Feldman '25 received a Gold rating for her clarinet solo, Jermisha Lewis '26 received a Gold rating for her vocal solo, and Elizabeth Papalotzi '24 received a Silver rating for her flute solo. Congratulations to these young ladies for their hard work and dedication. Their exceptional talent and dedication to excellence have brought tremendous honors to our school. We look forward to seeing their continued success in the future

VALLEY

PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL 8TH GRADE PROMOTION!

Congratulations to our Valley Park Middle School 8th graders on their promotion to Valley Park High School on May 15, 2024. Student speakers James Doherty, Saliyah Harris, William Clark, Abigail Lofton, Marie Bishop, Haylie Pratt and Sarriah Wilson added special touches to the ceremony with their remarks A special thank you to our VPMS Choir directed by Allison Hungate Wood for their amazing performance of "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield and to the Valley Park Band directed by Laura Porter. We are so proud of you all! Good luck on the next chapter of your adventure here at Valley Park School District!

Katie Alexander Secondary P.E. Teacher

Aaron Burd Valley Park Elementary School Principal

Lauren Fahy Instructional Coach

Caitlyn Gillman Valley Park Elementary School Reading Specialist

Faith Jeffries Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education

Patrick Kreitler Valley Park Middle School ELA Teacher

Elizabeth Lopez Valley Park Elementary School Kindergarten

Rachel Schlotzhauer Valley Park Middle School Math Teacher

Ashley Serage Valley Park Elementary School Second Grade

Kasey Sindel Valley Park Middle School Science Teacher

Michelle Wirick Valley Park Elementary School STEM Teacher

www.vpschools.org/careers

CONGRATULATIONS TO DANA EVANS, DANIELLE FOX AND A FOND FAREWELL TO JERRY DURRWACHTER!

Lasting Impression Awardee: Dana Evans

The Lasting Impression Award honors SSD staff who positively impact students through support outside the classroom. This year's honorees reflect the vastness of this talented group and demonstrate that every job at SSD offers us the opportunity to be a part of something special Congratulations, Dana!

Keys to the Classroom Awardee: Danielle Fox

The Keys to the Classroom Award celebrates the profound effect this teacher has had on the lives of her students and colleagues, as noted in the nominations submitted by SSD families, colleagues, and community members. A judging panel of SSD administrators carefully considered each nomination. Congratulations to Danielle for winning this award!

HAPPY RETIREMENT TO THESE VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT FACULTY AND STAFF!

Congratulations on reaching this wonderful milestone! As you step into retirement, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your years of dedication, hard work, and commitment to education. Your contributions have profoundly impacted countless students' lives, shaping their futures and inspiring them to achieve their dreams

SERVICE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS!

Thank you for your continuous contributions and for being such valued members of our Valley Park School District team Here’s to many more successful years together!

5 years

10 years 15 years

25 years

20 years

Megan Basler

Sara Magalli Laura Porter Debra Wolfe Stacy Castro

27 years

Karen Clark 20 years

Trish Cwiklowski 6 years

Jerry Durrwachter 3 years

Kelly Lowe 16 years

Jan Monroe 31 years

Mary Patton 25 years

Angie Whitener

Caitlyn Gillman

Tim Dilg Jaime Gast

Ryan Luhning Christian Werner

Carly Warhurst

Rick Neal

Tricia Cwiklowski

Lorraine Edwards Stephen Schwartz

Marianne Wecker

Angie Whitener

We are excited to join other school districts in partnering with Right at School to provide before-school and after-school services to our Valley Park families We encourage you to visit Right At School's website, www vpschools org/ras, for more information about their organization and dynamic curriculum Registration is now open! We look forward to enhancing the educational experience of our students and families through this exciting partnership.

Preschool Summer Events

FAMILY PLAY DATE: JULY 10TH 10-11AM

TWIN OAKS PARK

SAFETY FAIR: JULY 13TH

9:30-1:30PM

VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

VALLEY PARK PARENTS AS TEACHERS

Thousands of Parents as Teachers sites can be found nationwide...local programs working with parents to provide them with parenting support and information on their developing child. Parents as Teachers is designed to foster strong, loving relationships between parents and their children. You and your child deserve the support Parents as Teachers offers Give your child the best possible start in life because your baby was born to learn! Call (636) 923-3531 to speak with someone about the Valley Park School District Parents as Teachers program, visit www.vpschools.org/pat or follow us on facebook at www.vpschools.org/patfacebook Personal Visits

Parent Meetings/Group Connections

Developmental and Health Screenings Referral Networking

Valley Park School District

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Preschool Program

Children who are three to five years of age by November 15, 2024.

Children may attend full-day sessions or half-day sessions in the morning or afternoon, Monday-Friday. Parents may choose 2-5 days to attend a week. Before and after care is also available.

For more information, please visit the district website https://www vpschools org/ecc or contact VPES at (636) 923-3632

Valley Park School District KINDERGARTEN

All-day Kindergarten

Children who are five years of age before August 1, 2024.

Valley Park kindergarten is a FREE program. Bus transportation is provided for all kindergarten students who reside in the attendance area. For more information visit www vpschools org/kindergarten

VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

ONE MAIN STREET

VALLEY PARK, MO 63088

Thank you to the volunteers for providing lunches for our Valley Park students all summer!

The TWIGS program volunteers have been serving lunches for all Valley Park students throughout the summer months

Meals are served Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM at three different locations for all students 18 and under.

Locations: Cheryl Lane Apartments

Valley Park School Campus

Meramec Valley Baptist Church

Thank you to our community partners for helping serve our Valley Park students Questions? Contact (618) 580-0770

Valley Park School District www.vpschools.org

Facebook com/Valley Park School District

Twitter @ ValleyParkSD

Instagram @valleyparkschools

Valley Park High School

Facebook.com/valleyparkhs

Valley Park Middle School

Facebook com/Valley-Park-Middle-School

Valley Park Elementary School

Facebook.com/valleyparkelem

Valley Park Early Childhood Center

www vpschools org/ecc