ThE MuStAnG MeSsEnGeR

Valley Heights Journalism

December 4, 2024

HOOPS ARE BACK. The Valley Heights girls Basketball team is back in the gym practicing for the 24-25 season. The Lady Mustangs first basketball game is Thursday, December 5 at home against Marysville.

When asked what head coach, Jordan Broxterman, is most excited about for this upcoming season he said, “I'm excited to see what a new group of girls can do because every year is different. There is always a lot of excitement to see the early potential and what the team can do.” His favorite part about being a coach is building relationships with the athletes, motivating them, and just seeing their progress throughout the season and through the years ahead.

Senior, Tessa Miller, said that she is most excited about the upcoming season because she gets to play basketball one last time with her friends and teammates. “I am excited to see what this team is made of and how we will do being a small team.”

Article by Tayra L’Ecuyer

This week our high school scholars bowl team had 2 competitions. On Monday 12/2 we traveled to Centralia for a JV meet. We placed 4th of the 12 teams present. On Tuesday 12/3 it was time for a Varsity meet at Frankfort. 18 teams were scheduled in 2 pools. We placed 3rd in our pool narrowly missing advancing to the finals rounds. Overall it has been a good season so far and I look forward to seeing what the team can do. The team is looking forward to hosting a Varsity meet at Valley Heights on Monday 12/9. Thank you to all staff and community members who have already volunteered their time and resources to help this meet happen. Valley heights has not hosted a meet since prior to 2020 and I am excited to see it all come together. If anyone is still interested in how they can make the meet a success please reach out to me, Shannon Conti, and I am sure I can find the perfect place for you to help.

Our team loves to come up with fun ways to represent ourselves at our meets, usually choosing some type of matching themed clothing. During December we often go with Christmas themed clothing and I provide fun head pieces. We are always complimented on our teams attire as well as how fun and friendly our students are. If you see them around town, congratulate them for being all around good students and representing Valley Heights in a positive way.

I am pleased to announce that all 14 band students who were nominated to go to Concert Band Clinic at KSU were accepted! There were only 8 last year, so this is a huge accomplishment! I am going to list their names so you can congratulate them when you see them! They will be practicing for hours and hours, and performing under the direction of amazing clinicians. Let's show them all how proud we are of them!

Henry Bachura, Percussion

Juliet Busey, Alto Saxophone

Lilly Busey, Bass Clarinet

Harmony Conti, Flute

Dino Conti, Trumpet

Carter Germann, Trombone

Julia Heinen, Alto Saxophone

Kloee Martin, Flute

Tessa Miller, Trumpet

Alex Pack, Percussion

Abby Thorn, Percussion

Morgan Vinduska, Clarinet

Macie Vinduska, Clarinet

Saige Wilcox, Percussion

“As we look back on the past year and reflect on what we are thankful for, I would like to mention how thankful I am for this community!! My husband and I went through the most challenging time this year, and we felt so much love from the VH community! Many may know, after we lost our home to the fire in January, the following May we made Waterville our new home and started our journey as a family of 3 with our baby girl, Ensley! She turns 6 months today and we cannot wait to see her grow up in this community. So, from the bottom of our hearts we want to say thank you to every person who supported us this past year!”

We are back for the stretch run to the end of first semester!

KSHSAA announced this week that they are sponsoring a league sportsmanship award for boys’ and girls’ basketball in all 38 leagues in Kansas. This is an inclusive award that recognizes not only the athletes but our coaches, fans, cheerleaders, pep band and student body. The award will be voted on by league members. KSHSAA has always sponsored Sportsmanship Awards for state qualifiers - an award we were proud to earn at last year’s state basketball tournament - but now they want to emphasize good sportsmanship for all schools! Our goal is to be the recipient of these awards on a regular basis.

Congratulations go out to Coach Cody Trimble who is a finalist for the Sports in Kansas Football Coach of the year in Class 1A!! Great job! TVL All-League honors were handed out this week as well and Valley Heights was well represented! First team offense went to Creighton Smith and Lawson Stryker - Off. Line, Jayden DeWalt and Logan Gray - Back and Royce Ekstrum - End. Second team honors went to Mack Shanks - Back. First team defense went to Creighton Smith - Def. Line, Logan Gray - Linebacker and Royce Ekstrum - Def. Back. Second team honors went to Lawson Stryker - Def. Line and Cayden Dummermuth - Def. Back. Great job Mustangs!

Ms. Coleman was notified this week that 14 of our students were selected for the Kansas State Concert Band!! This event, hosted by Kansas State University, is scheduled for January, 2025 and includes over 600 students. All of the participants experience educational and musical learning from nationally acclaimed guest clinicians! The Mustangs who will be attending include Henry Bachura, Alex Pack, Abby Thorn and Saige Wilcox – Percussion; Juliet Busey and Julia Heinen – Alto Saxophone; Lilly Busey – Bass Clarinet; Harmony Conti and Kloee Martin – Flute; Dino Conti and Tessa Miller – Trumpet; Carter Germann – Trombone; and Morgan Vinduska and Macie Vinduska – Clarinet. Outstanding!

Speaking of music – our vocal and instrumental group will be performing their Christmas program in the gymnasium on December 19th. The performance will start at 7:00 pm! Everyone is invited to join us for the evening!

One of the busiest groups in school right now is our high school Scholars’ Bowl team. In the month of December alone the will compete in 5 events – either JV or Varsity. In fact, we will be hosting a Scholars’ Bowl on December 9th starting at 4:00 pm. Just like other contests, anyone can attend and watch students perform! Several things do come into play for our visitors such as you must be in the room before the door closes, you must sit in the back of the room and you must remain quiet during the competition. A scholars’ bowl round will last about 15-20 minutes as students buzz in and answer question from a variety of academic areas! Our Scholars’ Bowl coach is Shannon Conti.

FFA Fruit and Meat sales items arrived this week and students should be delivering them ASAP. If you placed an order and it has not been delivered be sure and contact the school so we call look into the issue for you!

Just a reminder that our last day of classes is December 20th with a 12:30 dismissal! Classes will resume on January 6th, 2025!

Have a great week and GO MUSTANGS!!

Mr. Savage

ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER. Madison Marie Hanke, daughter of John and Kim Hanke was born on July 25th, 2007. Maddy has been involved in Track for four years, FFA four years, KAY four years, Basketball for three years, All School Play for two years, and Forensics one year. Her ideal Friday night is driving around with her friends, listening to music, and going to do whatever last minute idea they come up with. Maddy said her favorite parts of high school are the memories she has made with her friends, and that those friends are the people and times she's going to miss most once leaving high school.

Something people might not know about Maddy is that she and her family really love hunting and the outdoors. Maddy and her dad are especially involved with these activities and have many memories together involving them, like when they went bear hunting in Wyoming. She has grown up around hunting and farming and it has become an important part of her life and the things she loves doing most. Another activity she and her family do a lot is go on vacations. Maddy’s favorite place they have traveled to is Jamaica.

After graduating, Maddy will be attending K-State for an Ag major in communications, and is considering photography as a minor. Maddy was asked where she sees herself in 10 years and she said “hopefully with a stable job, a loving family, and a home in the country.” The biggest influence in Maddy’s life is her mom because she is somebody Maddy can always talk to, and always depend on.

Maddy’s advice to the underclassmen and younger kids would be to enjoy your time with your friends and make the most memories possible. When she leaves the Valley Heights community she wants to be remembered as someone who was honest, respectful and mature.

Article by Lili Slifer

Romans 8:18. Janelle Rayan Medina was born to Steve and Mary Medina on January 31, 2007. Janelle lives in Waterville and has three older siblings; Jesse, Isacc, and Inez. “For I consider that the suffering of this present time is not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us,” Romans 8:18 is Janelle's favorite quote. Her favorite songs are “Constellations” by Jade LeMac and "Thuggish Ruggish Bone by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony” because it reminds her of her dad.

Janelle has been involved in Journalism, Band, and Cheer 1 year; Mustang Tough 2 years; and Forensics 4 years. An outside of school activity Janelle is involved in is helping her mom work a new family business called Smiley's Tacos. Janelle’s ideal weekend nights are driving around with friends blasting music, or just hanging out eating junk food and talking about life. An accomplishment that Janelle is most proud of is not letting herself down, she has had some tough times and she has made it this far so she wants to do the best she can and make even more milestones. A fun fact about Janelle is that she was born on the same day as her mom.

Her mom and sister have had the biggest influence on her life. Her mom has done everything in her power to give Janelle the best life she could possibly have, even after losing her best friend, her husband, and the father to her kids. She had been able to push through every brick wall in her way. Her sister as well, because they have shared a few similar experiences and even though life was hard on them she managed to succeed and push herself through everything .

One thing people don't know about Janelle is that although people see her as a loud person she is really nonchalant and observant. She loves when people go to her and talk to her about their feelings and are comfortable enough to just let everything go. Some advice she would give to underclassmen is that not everyone is your cup of tea, and that some people grow apart and that is okay. Don't try and force yourself to fit in or be someone you're not, just be your own person and be unique. When she leaves the Valley Heights Community she wants to be remembered as someone who anyone can come to if they need anything, to talk to or just tell someone how they are feeling. She tries to be understandable and be a friend to anyone.

After high school Janelle plans to go to K-State and get her Bachelor's degree in social work and minor in Psychology. She plans to live in Manhattan and get a job. In 10 years Janelle hopes to see herself working, owning a house, and just settling down. Her future goal is to become a social worker so she can help as many kids as she can.

Janelle’s Senior mentor, Lori Dobrovolny, describes her as someone that has a goal and when she wants to accomplish it she puts her mind to it and she gets it done. Lori has known Janelle since she was a baby. She watched her go from this crazy little girl at football games to helping her through major life problems, and now she seems to have her feet set, and have goals that she wants to accomplish.

Article by Tayra L’Ecuyer

For students interested in a college course through Highland for next semester! Classes are open to enroll, get in before the January rush!

Highland Western Center is looking to add a new program to what is offered to our students. They are needing feedback if the interest is there for a Graphic Design program. Please fill out the survey and provide that feedback so we can continue offer more opportunities for our students. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=QC5CxXO8j02EU1CLgmrOkd-mgU3LlbtNtD88jBv40PdUNlE5TjAxSUdPWlhLRVJSMVkxOEhBR0JaRC4u&route=shorturl

Rudd Scholarship is now open! All seniors should be aware of this scholarship.

Blue Rapids, KS 66411

785-363-2508

Principal-Mike Savage

Athletic Director-Jordan Broxterman

1. Come to the HS office between 8am and 4pm

2. Email msavage@valleyheights.org

3. Call the office (785)363-2508

Email: vhhs@valleyheights.org
Website: valleyheights.org
Phone: (785)363-2508
Facebook: facebook.com/vhusd498
Twitter: @usd498