Valley News

Dear Valley Families,

Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a restful and joyful holiday season with your loved ones. As we step into January, it’s a great time to reflect on our goals and look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead for our students and school community. Our Mission Statement reminds us: "Together, we provide a safe, supportive learning environment to engage all students with innovative experiences to reach their greatest potential." If you ever feel that we are falling short of this mission, please let us know so we can work in partnership to meet the needs of every student.

The winter weather has definitely arrived, bringing plenty of snow and chilly temperatures. Please remember to send your children to school dressed appropriately for the weather, including warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots. We aim to give students fresh air during recess whenever possible, so it’s important they’re bundled up and ready for the elements. As a reminder, if your family needs assistance with winter clothing, please don’t hesitate to contact our office—we are here to help!

Our Lost and Found has become difficult to manage as it is overflowing with unclaimed items. Any items that remain unclaimed by Wednesday, January 15th, will be donated to a local organization. Please encourage your child to stop by the Lost and Found to check for any missing belongings before this deadline.

Due to the snow days earlier this week, report cards will now be sent home on Friday, January 17th. Please note that if your family has unpaid fees, your child's report card will be held. If you would like to set up a payment plan for any outstanding balances, please reach out to our Building Office Assistant, Shannon Wyatt, for assistance.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership. Together, we can ensure that every student reaches their greatest potential. Stay warm and safe this winter, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,

Sarah Chivington

Principal

Our third grade students worked collaboratively to design, create, and market their own unique product or service as part of a Project Based Learning unit. Students then presented their models to a group of "sharks", seeking support for continued success for their businesses. Each group was successfully able to convince the sharks to invest in their businesses. We are so proud of these entrepreneurs!

Jason makes a difference in his classroom community each day. He is a PAX leader and a great role model in the classroom.

Jason is caring to all of his classmates and adults in his life. He is kind to others and often thinks of others before thinking of himself. He is always willing to help teachers in the classroom. He is kind to others even when no one is watching. He helps his friends when they need help and comforts others when they are sad.

Jason is respectful. He follows all school expectations and is always being a PAX leader even when no one is watching. Jason is respectful to his teachers and also to his classmates.

Jason is a joy to be around. He is always smiling and makes others around him happy. He loves to be at school and loves to learn each and every day. Jason is an amazing person and brings light to all those around him.

Great job, Jason! We are proud of you!

This month, we will be highlighting the important character trait of "Responsibility". Families can practice responsibility at home in simple yet impactful ways. Parents can create a chore chart where each family member is responsible for specific tasks, such as setting the table, feeding pets, or taking out the trash. Encouraging children to take charge of their schoolwork by setting aside a dedicated time and space for completing homework independently is another great step. Working together to set small, achievable goals, like saving for a family outing or keeping the house tidy, can also promote responsibility. Finally, acknowledging and celebrating when family members demonstrate responsibility reinforces positive behavior and creates a supportive environment.

Resilience is a fundamental aspect of mental health and refers to a person’s ability to adapt and bounce back from negative experiences, such as stress, adversity, or trauma.

Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, posited that there are seven components to resilience–the “7 C's of resilience.” I will be sharing one or two of the 7 C's each month until the end of the school year.

Competence - Kids become competent only by experience. They learn how to trust their judgements and make responsible choices by doing (this includes succeeding and failing).

Tip: Resist the urge to intervene when your child is struggling (as long as they are safe) until they ask for help. Let them work on problem-solving on their own.

Confidence: Kids learn confidence when they learn how to cope with challenges and try out new things on their own.

Tip: Praise your child's efforts even when they don't succeed.

Full Article Link: https://www.pathfinder.health/post/helping-your-child-develop-resilience-using-the-7cs-model

This quarter we will be rolling out the next in our series of Lunch & Learn. Third quarter the focus will be legumes and we will be handing out Choc Chip Banana Lentil muffins.

These mini muffins have dairy free chocolate chips and contain no other dairy. They are not gluten-free but are free of all other major allergens and are vegetarian) These muffins are made in house and contain the following ingredients : Lentils, Banana, Canola Oil, Egg, Sugar, Vanilla, Rolled Oats, Whole Wheat Flour, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips.

Lunch & Learn at Valley Elementary will take place on February 21st

Please mark your calendars for Open Book Night at the Coy/Trebein Commons on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. This event will give you the opportunity to:

• Explore the curriculum materials used in Beavercreek classrooms (K–12).
• Meet district representatives to ask questions and provide feedback.
• Enjoy light refreshments while engaging with our district's resources.

We're excited to connect with you and share the tools that support our students' success. Hope to see you there!

Attendance at school is an important part of your child's education. Ohio House Bill 410 has strict attendance guidelines, and you can read more about those requirements here. Our Building Office Assistant, Shannon Wyatt, has created a helpful list of do's and don'ts to help your family avoid a truancy or chronic absenteeism letter. Please call her at (937) 429-7597 with any questions!

Attendance Do's and Don'ts

• DON'T forget to report an absence to the office! Call 937-429-7597, option 1 OR email valleyattendance@gocreek.org. If the absence is not reported by 10:00am, our automated calling system will call home for any absent student who we have not heard from.
• DO keep your student home until they are 24 hours symptom free, without medication.
• DON'T forget to get a doctor's note and turn it into the Valley office when your student visits the doctor during school hours. Each student has 10 absences per school year that a parent can excuse, however, if you get a doctor's note, the absence does not count against the 10 you are allotted. Doctor's notes should be turned in within 5 days of the absence.
• DO let us know in advance of any absences due to a vacation. The district is no longer using vacation request forms, therefore, an email to valleyattendance@gocreek.org is the best way to let us know about an upcoming vacation. The district excuses 5 vacation/out of town days per school year.

Thank you for making your child's attendance in school a priority!

We're excited to share that our new ONE CREEK 9x12 yard signs are still available!

You can pick one up at any of our school buildings or the central office during business hours.

Show your school spirit and support by displaying one in your yard. Don't miss out—get yours today!