VE District Newsletter

We are excited to announce that Valley-Edinburg School District has been chosen as one of North Dakota's lucky recipients of the ND CLIMBS grant! CLIMBS (Comprehensive Literacy Improvement through Measured Building Systems) is a federal grant that aims to improve the literacy skills of disadvantaged school-age children. The funds from this grant will be used to deploy the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) program in both our Crystal and Hoople elementary buildings. The BARR program has over 20 years of research to support its model's success. It focuses on "two pillars of data and relationships, showing that systemic change in schools results in enhanced educator experience and student achievement. Through BARR elementary, schools receive elementary specific tools and resources to support implementation in their school. BARR provides a collaborative and systemic approach to supporting staff, students, and their families. The model embraces current family organizations within a school to support and strengthen family partnerships, recognizing families as active partners in their child's education, in addition to working in conjunction with pre-existing programs within the school." See below for a video that details the benefits of the BARR program.

• Basics of the plan: $15.2 million to consolidate into Hoople and Edinburg buildings.
• The plan aims to set the entire school community up for long-term success by:
• Providing properly sized classrooms and activities space
• Making staff hours, transportation, and maintenance more efficient
• Strengthening safety and accessibility
• Providing staff with more time and better space to lesson plan and work with students
• The plan was developed with exhaustive input from the community, financial planning experts, and professional assessments of the buildings’ educational adequacy and infrastructure.
• These efforts, combined with rising construction costs, likely make this the most comprehensive and well-researched plan our communities will ever have the opportunity to consider.

Spring is such a fun and exciting time at the high school! With sports, concerts, competitions, and all the end-of-year activities, students have a lot on their plates. While it’s great to be involved, it can also get overwhelming if students fall behind. To stay on top of everything, we encourage students to plan ahead, use their time wisely, and communicate with teachers when they have conflicts. A planner or digital calendar can be a lifesaver for keeping track of assignments and activities. Also, setting aside a little time each day for homework and studying can make a huge difference in staying caught up.

We frequently see more issues with missing and late work during the spring as students get busier so here is a reminder of the school’s late work policy. If students know they’ll be out for things like

vacations or extracurriculars, they need to turn in all assignments and take any assessments before they leave—unless they’ve worked out another plan with their teacher. Otherwise, missing work or skipped tests/quizzes will be counted as a zero. If an absence is unexpected like sickness, students will have twice the number of days they missed to complete their work. It’s also important to remember the deduction portion of the late work policy: An assignment turned in late will receive a 10% deduction from the time it was due until the start of class the next day. After class begins the following day, the deduction increases to 50% until 4 PM. If the assignment is not submitted by the end of the second day, it will receive a zero with no opportunity to re-do or earn credit.

Lastly here is a reminder of the policy on missing school and extra-curriculars, students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities must be present for at least four periods of the school day. Those who leave school due to illness or work obligations will not be eligible to attend or participate in events or practices that day. With good planning and smart habits, we know our students can wrap up the school year on a high note—staying on top of assignments, making the most of extracurricular opportunities, and feeling confident as they head into finals and end-of-year events. A strong finish means not only keeping up with schoolwork but also managing time well, staying healthy, and enjoying these last few months of the year. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students stay focused, balanced, and ready to finish strong!

The month of March we’ve been focusing on peaceful conflict resolution and problem solving bullying behaviors. When developing these important life skills we need to focus on finding mutually agreeable solutions through communication, empathy, and collaboration, rather than resorting to aggression or coercion. They are pretty good at understanding these concepts during our time together, however, the problems arise when they forget to use them at lunch, in the hallway, on the playground or even during class. Here are some interesting strategies that would be helpful if also reinforced at home as well whenever possible. It takes a lot of practice before these skills possibly become second nature.

1. Communication and Listening:

• Active listening - listen closely to the other person’s perspective, without interrupting or judging.

• Open and Honest Communication - express your thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully, using “I” statements.

• Empathy - Try to understand the other person’s feelings and motivations.

• Non - Violent Language - Avoid accusatory pr aggressive language

• Seeking Clarification - Ask questions to ensure you understand the other person’s point of view.

1. Problem - Solving and Collaboration:

• Identify the Problem - Clearly define the issue at hand.

• Brainstorm Solutions - Work together to generate multiple potential solutions.

• Evaluate Solutions - Assess the pros and cons of each option.

• Negotiate and Compromise - Find a solution that meets the needs of all parties involved.

• Collaboration - Work together to find a solution that benefits everyone.

1. Emotional Management:

• Stay Calm - Maintain composure even when emotions are high.

• Manage Your Own Emotions - Practice self-regulation techniques to avoid escalating the conflict.

• De-escalation - Use calming language and body language to diffuse the tension.

1. Other Strategies:

• Mediation - Involve a neutral third party to facilitate communication and resolution.

• Avoidance (Strategic) - Sometimes, it’s best to avoid a conflict altogether if it’s not worth the effort or if it’s likely to escalate.

• Conflict Monitoring and Early Warning - Identify potential conflicts early on and take steps to prevent them from escalating.

Registration is open for the Tuxedos and Tiaras Ball! This event is open to all youth up to 6 th

grade (including those not yet in school!) Registration fees are $20 per couple (1 child/1 adult),

and $5 for each extra child. This event will be held in the Edinburg school on Sunday afternoon

April 27 th , from 2-4 pm. Click here to register!

We had several students from junior high and high school attend the regional science fair in

Grand Forks. Boosters provided funds for their meals that day and will also provide funds for

meals for those who will be representing our school at the state competition. Congratulations

to our state science fair qualifiers!

We had several other fun expenditures this month as well:

• 6th Graders who met their reading goals will be rewarded with a trip to Subway and to the park.
• The Math Track Meet was held in Cavalier, and we had several teams from JH and HS compete. They were treated to pizza at Thompson’s following the event.
• The Academic Olympics team shared a team meal.
• A larger investment - 2 portable/adjustable basketball hoops were ordered for the Tiny Titans basketball program.
• Probably the most popular expenditure of the month – CRUMBL cookies for the entire student body and staff!

The Boosters scholarship program has been expanded and applications are currently being

accepted! The deadline to apply is April 15th . There are 2 opportunities – the Triple A

Scholarship for those who have excelled in Academics, Arts and Athletics; and the Titans

scholarship – what does it mean to be a Titan? All seniors are encouraged to apply!!