VHS Newsletter

Viking Families and Friends,

Welcome to January! I hope you were able to spend time with your loved ones and find some time for rest and relaxation over Winter Break. If you needed some additional time with your student, I am sure the recent snow days provided plenty of opportunities for additional family time. As was recently communicated, due to the recent school cancellations, VCS will utilize the scheduled eLearning make-up day on Friday, February 16, 2024. Please be on the lookout for more information regarding our second make up day.

Despite the recent weather-related cancellations, the second semester is well underway and with that is the start of a busy season around VHS. Parents and guardians should have received an announcement via email regarding scheduling materials for the 2024-25 academic year being dispersed to students on December 21st. Counselors began holding individual scheduling meetings with juniors this week.Scheduling will continue with sophomores and then freshmen in the following weeks. Please take a few moments to discuss your student’s course selections with them and review their diploma selection (Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors, or Core 40 with Technical Honors). The VHS course catalog is housed in Naviance and can be accessed through both student and parent accounts.

Our teachers have had two professional development opportunities since my last communication. In addition to working on curriculum, teachers had the ability to choose from a variety of sessions where they explored or became reacquainted with at least three of the following: AI teacher tools, entrepreneurship, flight simulator and virtual reality, a quick literacy tool along with five quick engagement strategies, robotic coding, and zSpace.

The Indiana Association of School Principals invites schools annually to recommend 4 outstanding scholars from the junior class. I am pleased to announce that Claire Brown, Grace Hall, Katherine Norrod, and Samuel Sienkowski have been nominated as the Class of 2025 VHS Rising Stars. Congratulations to these students as well as their parents and guardians. I wish them the best of luck in the final selection phase.

Our students have been busy making wonderful memories, and I hope you have had the pleasure of being a part of them. Our drama students performed Beauty and the Beast. Our music students held multiple concerts as well, but a special one is when our community gathers for This is Our Story. It is always wonderful to listen to our students perform and to take a stroll through the lobby to see the artistic talent our students have as well.

Thank you for continuing to support our students, teachers, and staff.

Feb 8: 8th Grade Parent Night

Feb 10: Winter Formal 7pm-10pm

Feb 16: Weather Make-up(eLearning)

Feb 19: No School/President's Day

Feb 22, 23, 24 Mocha Madness

Mar 15: End 3rd Grading Period

Mar 25-29: Spring Break

Apr 1: No School/Weather Make-up(eLearning if needed)

Apr 12: 1/2 Day Students/Staff Development PM

May 7: eLearning Election Day

Please see the VHS Calendar for more events!

8th Grade Parent Night will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. Enter through Door 1 (Campbell St.), Door 4 (North End of building), or Door 31 (South End of Building). General information about VHS will be presented in the Auditorium. Parents will have an opportunity to speak individually with program and department leaders. Building tours will also be available.

Key Club will present a Fairytale Storybook Winter Formal on Saturday, February 10th from 7-10pm in the VHS Cafeteria. Tickets will be sold online from January 31st through February 9th for $15 a person. Guest passes are due to Mrs. Smedley in the assistant principal's office by 3pm on January 30th. Please see your canvas announcements for the link to purchase tickets.

Mocha Madness, the VHS Drama Club winter improv show, will take place on February 22, 23, and 24 at 7pm. This "Whose Line is it Anyway" style show features 40 of the best student improvisers in the region making up an entirely new show each night! Students rehearse and develop their skills over seven weeks, then will put those skills to the test as they create characters and scenes on the spot based on the audience's suggestions. Tickets are available online now at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CGAC or with cash at the door.

The Earth Awareness Club is off and running to make an impact here at VHS. Our members have been actively participating in hikes at local nature preserves, contributing to beach clean-ups at the dunes, and demonstrating a strong commitment to the high school's recycling program. Each club meeting is a unique opportunity to delve into important environmental topics, fostering awareness and discussion. The meetings conclude with our signature recycling efforts and snack session. Join us in our collective efforts towards a greener world!

The images below are from our hike at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve in South Bend and from our Beach Clean up at West Beach.

I have taught at VHS for 9 years. I teach English 9, English 10, and IB Film. I am also a Varsity football coach. I like being a part of VHS because of the people and the community. I get to work with great people and the community is very supportive. An interesting fact about me is I enjoy collecting sports cards and sports memorabilia.

Email: VHSadmin@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: https://valparaisohigh.valpo.k12.in.us/
Location: 2727 Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Phone: (219)531-3070
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Valpo-HS-411-627837360580660
Twitter: @ValpoHS411