VVSD Launches ParentSquare to Encourage Stronger School-Home Connection
Valley View School District 365U has launched ParentSquare—a simple and unified school-to-home communication platform—to reach and engage every parent, helping ensure all parents have the opportunity to actively participate in their children’s education. ParentSquare is now available for staff and parents to use on their computers or mobile devices.
By unifying multiple tools into one communications app and service, ParentSquare provides a seamless experience for parents and staff. Parents will be able to keep track of news, activities, and events from all their children’s schools in one place.
VVSD hopes that ParentSquare’s intuitive, two-way platform will foster greater communication and family involvement. With ParentSquare, parents can enjoy photos posted by teachers, fill out forms and permission slips, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, check grades and attendance, and much more. School staff and parents can engage in both one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation.
“Simplified and accessible school-to-home communication has never been more important, which is why Valley View School District started a partnership with ParentSquare for the 2024-25 school year. We’ve already made huge strides in reaching our families by consistently updating and managing phone numbers and email addresses. The next step for VVSD is to unify all of our communication efforts and boost engagement with families using ParentSquare’s user-friendly interface,” said Nicole Eimer, Digital Communication Specialist.
VVSD’s partnership with ParentSquare will enable stronger engagement between school and home, and help empower everyone within the school community to stay connected and informed. For more information on ParentSquare, please visit www.parentsquare.com.
Supt. Dr. Keith Wood’s Update at the July 15 Board of Education Meeting
VVSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keith Wood provided an update to the Board of Education at the July 15 Regular Meeting. Supt. Wood’s report includes information about online registration for returning VVSD students and a brief overview of summer activities taking place in our schools.
VVSD Staff Spotlight- Laurie Dick, Transportation
During the summer months, VVSD’s buses are less visible on the streets, but our transportation team is very busy preparing for the start of the upcoming school year.
The 2024-25 school year will be the final one before retirement for VVSD Executive Secretary for Transportation Laurie Dick. Laurie began her career in VVSD as a special education secretary at R.C. Hill Elementary School. She was looking to move into an executive secretary position in one of our schools when Laurie began to be “recruited” by VVSD Transportation Director Dave Richards and Asst. Transportation Director Kelly Donovan.
Dave and Kelly wouldn’t take “no” for an answer!
VVSD 2024-25 Student Fees Available in Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Student School Fees for the 2024-25 School Year have been uploaded into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Now is the time to let us know your children are returning to VVSD by finishing registration for the 2024-25 school year.
If you have already submitted your online registration application, please log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to pay your school fees.
Registration Steps: All must be completed by Friday, August 9 to receive the Early Bird discount.
Log into your Parent Portal account and submit your Online Registration application.
Receive an APPROVED email confirming your Online Registration application is complete.
Pay school fees.
Your fee letter was mailed the week of July 17. The amount indicated on the fee letter and in your Parent Portal account reflects the Early Bird discount. The amount owed after August 9 will increase by $35 for high school, $25 for middle school, and $15 for elementary and early childhood.
The first day of school for kindergarten-12th grade students is Thu. Aug. 15 and VVSD students who are not registered for is available at www.vvsd.org For complete registration information, visit www.vvsd.org/BTS
VVSD Kindergarten Enrollment for the Class of 2037 Continues
VVSD Kindergarten registration for the Class of 2037 continues through the online enrollment process. To be eligible to register, a student must be five years old on or before Sept 1, 2024, and the family must live with VVSD boundaries. Families of current VVSD students will be able to register via their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, while families new to the District will be able to register online.
VVSD Now Hiring for 2024-25 School Year
VVSD is hiring for a wide range of positions for the 2024-25 school year.We are seeking new team members including teachers, guest teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, operations & maintenance, nutrition services, lunchroom & playground aides, and special education staff.
VVSD’s employment opportunities offer schedules for staff members that are in synchronization with school schedules, making VVSD a great choice for parents who need to have their work schedule match up with the school hours, and Winter and Spring Break for their children. To see all VVSD job opportunities and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
VVSD Nutrition Services to Provide Free Meals to Students During 2024-25 School Year
VVSD students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are offered both a free breakfast and lunch meal each school day during the 2024-25 school year. These meals are offered for free by the National School Lunch Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2024-25 school year.
For more information, visit www.vvsd.org/food
No form is needed to receive these free meals. However, families should still complete a Fee Waiver Form to apply for school fee waivers and other financial benefits. The 2024-25 Fee Waiver Form is expected to be available August 1.
VVSD conducted the second and final Job Fair of the summer on Tue. July 16 at Fountaindale Public Library. VVSD is still hiring for the upcoming school year. Visit www.vvsd.org/jobs to see all the job opportunities and apply to Belong to Something Bigger.
In less than one month, our transportation fleet will be back on the streets. The VVSD Transportation mechanics are making sure the buses will be ready to safely transport students to and from school beginning on Thu. August 15.
UChicago Medicine/AdventHealth Bolingbrook
UChicago Medicine/AdventHealth Bolingbrook is performing its triannual Community Health Needs Assessment and invites you to participate via an online survey about health needs in our community. Through this survey, UChicago Medicine/AdventHealth Bolingbrook learns more about our community’s strengths, resources, and service gaps. Most importantly, the results of this survey assist in addressing needs and gaps impact our community’s health. Please scan the QR Code below to take the survey.
Office of State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is teaming up with the Fountaindale Library and the White Oak Library District to offer a Summer Book Club in cooperation with the State of Illinois. To participate, students are asked to read eight books through the summer and send in the form which can be downloaded here from Sen. Cappel’s website.. Senator Cappel hosts an ice-cream party for all students who complete the program. The form needs to be completed and submitted by Thu. Aug. 16.
Office of State Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar
Illinois State Representative Dagmara “Dee” Avelar is hosting a Back-to-School Fair for VVSD students on Sat. Aug. 3 from 10 am- 2 pm at the Bolingbrook Park District Annerino Center. In addition to free school supplies, the Back to School Fair will also feature free food, games, and representatives from a wide range of community organizations with information about the services they provide.
Bolingbrook Park District
Bolingbrook Park District residents and Valley View School District students are now able to register for the REACH All-Day Care program. All the information and how to register is located at the following: http://www.bolingbrookparks.org/en/programs/reach-extended-school-care/
Fountaindale Public Library
Sign up, earn points and get prizes with Fountaindale Library's Summer Adventure: Reading Through the Eras, June 1–July 31. You and your family can get in on the fun by exploring the library, community and world at large through reading, creating, playing and more. Fountaindale Library cardholders of all ages can participate. To learn more and sign up, visit fountaindale.org/summer.
West Suburban Community Pantry
West Suburban Community Pantry provides emergency food services to people in DuPage and Will Counties through both our in-person and virtual food pantries. We also connect families with other vital resources so they can pursue a brighter future. We are breaking down barriers that prevent our neighbors from getting the nourishment they need to succeed by offering a variety of services. Find out more at WSCPantry.org, or shop for groceries online at VirtualFoodPantry.net
Romeoville Community Pantry
The Romeoville Community Pantry is a community service organization operated by volunteers in the Romeoville community. The Pantry serves anyone who lives in Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Lockport, Plainfield, Lemont, and Crest Hill. The pantry is open every Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Clients are asked to provide a current photo ID and proof of residence in order to participate in our services. The location is inside the United Presbyterian Church located at 2 Belmont Drive in Romeoville. Please check the Romeoville Community Pantry Facebook page for any further updates https://www.facebook.com/romeovillecommunitypantry/
Northern Illinois Food Bank
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is conducting mobile food banks and micro pantries in the vicinity in the near future. Please bring bags or boxes. Micro Pantries are designed to allow anonymous food pick-up for those in need and a drop-off point for those who wish to help. Micro pantries are accessible 24 hours a day. To find a Micro Pantry near you visit: http://arcg.is/04LijC
Will County MAPP Food Micro Pantries
Will County Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships conducts micro and mobile food pantries throughout Will County. Click here for more details and a map of locations.