Come support your J-Hawks and celebrate our Urbandale community spirit during Urbandale High School Homecoming 2023! We’ll be celebrating with a variety of activities the week of September 18th. We look forward to welcoming you!

Check out the PTO corner further down the newsletter for information on walking in the Homecoming Parade on Thursday and Friday's Classroom Spirit Parties!

Click HERE for full UCSD article and a listing of events.

We are planning to start our JHawk Jogger (aka Running Club) running program on September 19 - October 27 (6 weeks). We will need four parent volunteers daily with two parents from 11:20-12:20 and two parents from 12:20-1:20 (unless you would like to cover both shifts). We will be using an electronic system, similar to what was done last year at Valerius. The students will be wearing a badge with a QR code and will scan their badge into an iPad after completing each lap. Parents would monitor the iPad, making sure that the students’ QR code is registered. Joel Goetsch is the lead with the technology and will be your “go to” for issues if they should arise.

If you are available and willing to volunteer, please email Sara Cullinan (cullinans@urbandaleschools.com ) your preference for day and time and I will respond back to you. Below are lunch recess times for each grade level.

• 11:20-11:40 ~ 1st Grade
• 11:45-12:05 ~ 2nd Grade
• 12:00-12:20 ~ Kindergarten
• 12:20-12:40 ~ 5th Grade
• 12:40-1:00 ~ 3rd Grade
• 1:00-1:20 ~ 4th Grade

Urbandale Community School District (UCSD) has partnered with Panorama Education to survey you to better understand your experiences with our school. You will receive an email from Panorama Education containing your survey link beginning the week of September 25. Your survey responses are confidential, meaning no one at your school will see your individual responses. It is very important for Urbandale Schools to hear from as many families as possible to better understand their experiences. There will a dropdown menu at the top of the survey to choose a language. Families needing translation for Bosnian, Burmese, and Hakha Chin will receive a separate message with those translations in a pdf. Thank you for providing your feedback to help UCSD improve the school experience for your family!

Dear Valerius 4th and 5th grade families,

Valerius Elementary will soon be starting its 4th and 5th grade chorus! The purpose of this ensemble is to provide upper elementary students an opportunity to perform choral music outside the general music classroom and help prepare them for middle school ensembles. The Valerius Chorus is a fun extracurricular activity that is free for any student who chooses to join.

Rehearsals will be held from 8:00-8:40 AM in the music room beginning on Thursday, October 5. Rehearsals will continue to take place before school every Thursday morning until our final Valerius 5th Grade Band and 4/5 Chorus Concert on Tuesday, April 30th.

Please note, if we have a large number of students who are wanting to join chorus this year, I will need to split the chorus rehearsals by grade level with some combined rehearsals. IF this happens, rehearsals will be Wednesday or Thursday mornings and I will provide you with an updated rehearsal schedule before the first chorus rehearsal on October 5.

Save the Dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024–Valerius Band/Chorus Concert–7:00 PM Valerius Commons

Tuesday, April 30, 2024–Valerius Band/Chorus Concert–7:00 PM Valerius Commons

Because the chorus only meets once a week, regular attendance is expected. If your child is ill or will be absent, please notify me in advance by email (irvinj@urbandaleschools.com) or calling me at school (515) 457-6578.

Please complete THIS permission google form by Friday, September 22. If you are in need of a paper copy of the permission form please email Mrs. Irvin. I am looking forward to starting the chorus season!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Irvin, Valerius Music Teacher

The Polk County Health Department will offer Flu Vaccine Clinics for Urbandale students, staff, parents, siblings, and community members.

Dates: September 27 and October 25, 2023
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Urbandale High School Commons (cafeteria) (Note: Please enter the high school through the main entrance and turn right to walk toward the Commons.)

Reserve Your Flu Vaccine Appointment Online
It is highly recommended that you visit the website and pre-register to make your visit quicker – thank you!

• September 27 Flu Vaccine Appointments
• October 25 Flu Vaccine Appointments

Please make note:

• Most major insurance plans accepted.
• Please bring your insurance card.
• Flu vaccine for uninsured is $25 or what you can pay.
• Parent/guardian of students under 18 must be present and sign consent.

The parade is Thursday, Sept. 20th, 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. All families, students and staff are encouraged to walk in the parade to represent Valerius! Meet in the Urbandale Middle School parking lot at 5:45 p.m. The PTO will have a decorated JEEP and is seeking candy donations to throw in the parade. Drop off donations in the school office by 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. (No chocolate please!)

The Valerius Classroom Homecoming Spirit Party is on Friday 9/22. There are a couple ways to join in the fun or help the party to be a success.

1. Join us!! Any parent/guardian help would be appreciated for tattoo application and walking everyone to and from events. Kindergarten will party from 1:45-2:30 and 1st through 5th, 2:15-3:15. Parents/Guardians should register on the signup genius through the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA9AA2BA5FCC25-spirit1 . Jamie Goetsch will touch base with all those who signed up the day prior, letting them know party plans and reminding them to stop by the front office first. All volunteers will need a photo ID to be entered into the school Raptor ID system. **There is no parking available onsite. Please park at Walker Johnston Park and walk over.

2. Classroom parties are coordinated and funded through the Valerius PTO 3 times each year. The PTO provides games, activities, snacks, and supplies. A suggested donation of $10 per student per year is welcomed. Donations are not required, and any amount is welcome! Donate here: https://valeriuspto.square.site/

Curious what events the PTO is involved in, you can always find out HERE

Thank you for your support! Questions- contact your Classroom Parent Coordinator, Jaime

On Saturday, September 23 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Olmsted Elementary we will be hosting open interviews for candidates interested in applying for a Special Education Associate position. Applicants will have the opportunity to complete an application and background check on site and have an interview with a small team.

If you would enjoy making a positive difference in the lives of UCSD students, working within a school-day schedule, and being a member of IPERS (the state’s largest public retirement system), then we’d love to meet with you! No appointment needed; stop by Olmsted Elementary (7110 Prairie Avenue) between 9-11 a.m. on September 23 to visit with us. If you have questions, please reach out to HR Specialist Kate Johnson at johnsonk@urbandaleschools.com. We look forward to meeting you!

Students are not be dropped off or arrive before 8:35am (9:40am on Mondays). This time is when doors open for students to enter and staff supervision begins. Before this time there is no staff supervision for students.

Starting on Monday - A staff member will be reaching out to the parent/guardian if the student arrives unsupervised before 9:40am (8:35am T-F). Thank you for partnering with us to keep all students safe!

PIkmykid Parent App Registration Information

Pikmykid App Registration

Principal: Lara Justmann; justmannl@urbandaleschools.com

Dean: Derek Wilkins; wilkinsd@urbandaleschools.com

Principal Secretary: Angie Jones; jonesa1@urbandaleschools.com

Office Secretary: Caley Jo Schroeder; schroederc@urbandaleachools.com

Nurse: Katie Scandrett; scandrettk@urbandaleschools.com

Guidance Counselor: Liz Donner; donnere@urbandaleschools.com

FFO: Maddy Punsalan; punsalanm@urbandaleschools.com

Website: https://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/valerius-elementary/
Location: 3305 92nd St, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriuselementary