Greetings Valley students and families,
It is so great to have students and staff back in the building! The first three days have been absolutely phenomenal starting the 2023-2024 school year!! We will do our best to provide engaging instruction in a safe learning environment as well as provide opportunties for greater connection through our Arts, Activities and Athletics.
A few changes this year to note are we have increased our passing period from five to eight minutes, expecting our sophomores and juniors to be in school the entire school day, and focusing on being a Trauma-Sensitive school. Following COVID-19, we have seen unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and stress in our students. Our kids enter our learning spaces carrying these mental health realities with them, and as a school, we are focusing on how to identify when a student is under stress and helping support them in order to help them better engage in the learning.
This is going to be another fantastic year, and I am honored and privileged to serve as your principal at the greatest high school in Iowa!
Mr. Maxwell
ARTS
The first Valley Voices booster meeting will be Monday, 9/11, in the choir room at Valley at 5:30 PM. All are welcome!
Auditions for the fall play, Falling Awake, will be Tuesday, 8/29 and Wednesday, 8/30, from 4:00-7:00 PM, with call-backs on Thursday, 8/31, from 4:00-6:00 PM. There will also be an informative Drama meeting in room 1731 on Monday, 8/28 right after school!
ATHLETICS
Click here for Valley's sports page.
It's time for our Fall sports to start competing! Please take time to support our Spring athletes on the following teams:
Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country
Girls' Swimming
Boys' Golf
Volleyball
Football
ACADEMICS
Monday, 8/28 is an ODD block day with Advisory.
Here is a copy of Valley's bell schedule with the eight minute passing periods.
There have been questions around the Closed Campus/Study Hall policy for sophomores and juniors. Here are some FAQ's.
Sophomore drivers who park at the Shepherd of the Valley or Valley United Methodist Church parking lots, please make sure you are abiding by all traffic laws and respecting our neighbors' properties.
This year, our Advisory teachers will be reaching out to you with updates on your child's academic and attendance performance.
ACTIVITIES
Do you like building things? Working with others to create impressive products? Learning new skills and having tons of fun while doing it? Join Tech Crew! Got questions? Email Tech Director Amanda Pichler at pichler@wdmcs.org; for Carpentry, email Jonathan Ruth at jr39976@wdmcs.org; for Electrics, email Jaden Ladd at jl40168@wdmcs.org; for Painting, email Kai Eilers at ke53957@wdmcs.org.
Join VHS Chess Club, Tuesdays in the Media Center after school (3:20-5:00 PM).
Principal
David Maxwell
Associate Principals
Shannon Campbell
Josh Griffith
Chris Novak
Megan Thomsen
Activities Director
Brad Rose