Upcoming events at Valentine Hills
Mon, Sep 9
6:30 PTO Meeting
Tue, Sep 10
Nothing on the Calendar
Wed, Sep 11
Nothing on the Calendar
Thu, Sep 12
5:00 Orchestra Display Night
Fri, Sep 13
10:15 Fire Drill
Future Dates:
- Sep 19: PTO Family Social
- Sep 23: Beginning of PTO's Fundraiser
- Sep 26: Picture Day
Orchestra News
Attention 4th and 5th grade families!
If you have a child in 4th or 5th grade and are planning for them to be in orchestra at Valentine Hills this year, it’s time to officially sign them up! 4th and 5th grade students at Valentine Hills can choose to play the violin, viola, or cello (or bass for 5th grade players) in orchestra this year. Please fill out this Google Form so that Rachel Rogness (orchestra teacher) can follow up with you and get you all the information you need.
Would your child like to join orchestra for the first time this fall?
For families with children who are brand new to orchestra, there will be an Orchestra Display Night at Valentine Hills on Thu, Sep 12 from 5-6:30 p.m. You can have your child measured for the correct size instrument, and you can arrange to rent an instrument from a local music shop or through the school. Please make sure you fill out the Google Form (also linked above) to add your child to the orchestra roster this year!
Did your child start playing their orchestra instrument during 2024 Summer Orchestra?
Students who began learning their instrument this past summer will continue where they left off. Please make sure you fill out the Google Form (also linked above) to add your child to the orchestra roster this year!
Is your child a 5th grader who played violin, viola, or cello in 4th grade?
Ms. Rogness can’t wait to see you again this fall! Please make sure you fill out the Google Form (also linked above) to add your child to the orchestra roster this year!
Please email Rachel Rogness at rachel.rogness@moundsviewschools.org with any questions.
Safety Drill Information-First one is 9/13
Dear Valentine Hills Families,
Minnesota law requires schools to participate in safety drills each school year. Throughout the year these fire drills, severe weather drills, and other drills provide our students and staff an opportunity to practice the necessary procedures that would be used if a real emergency would occur at Valentine Hills. Below is a list of the types of safety drills we conduct each year.
HOLD - Students and staff stay in classrooms and lessons continue. These are situations that require students and staff to remain in their classrooms or stay out of access areas. For example, an altercation in the hallway may require keeping students out of the halls until it is resolved. Another example is that a medical issue may require an area of the building to be cleared, so that hallways are open and medical personnel can support as needed.
SECURE - Get inside and lock/secure outside doors. The secure action is called when there is a threat or hazard believed to be outside of the school building. This could be violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood or a dangerous animal near the playground.
LOCKDOWN - Set locks, turn off lights and stay out of sight. Lockdowns are called when there is a threat or hazard believed to be inside the school building. This could include a parental custody dispute or a threatening intruder.
EVACUATE - Leave the school building and move to a designated place. An on-site evacuation is conducted usually because of a mechanical failure that would disrupt the school day such as a power outage. If it can’t be resolved quickly, the school may have to plan for early dismissal. An off-site evacuation may be necessary when it’s no longer safe to stay in the building such as a gas leak or bomb threat.
SHELTER - Seek safety during a hazard. Shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard such as severe weather, tornadoes, flooding or hazardous materials situations.
Please know that teachers will be discussing each procedure, in an age-appropriate manner, with students prior to each drill. Students and staff will participate in our first evacuation drills of the school year during the month of September. The exact dates/times will be on our calendar and in our weekly newsletter. When a drill begins, an emergency light will flash in classrooms, and a pre-recorded voice message will be heard throughout the building. This message gives calm and short directions to staff and students about the next steps and replaces a loud fire alarm.
We appreciate your support as we continue to provide for the safety and security of all our students and staff daily. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.
In partnership,
Melisa Rivera
Dr. Melisa Rivera, Principal
Valentine Hills
Change in Parent Drop-Off & Pick-Up
As directed by Ramsey County and Arden Hills officials, we will no longer allow parking on E2 due to the risk of students running towards and across the road. Signage will be posted soon. Contact aidan.kemp@co.ramsey.mn.us with questions or concerns.
We want to inform you that parent pick-up this school year will still occur just past Door 1 near our upper parking lot, and our main entrance. County Road E2 has “No Parking” enforced this school year from Chatham Avenue to our parking lot exit/entrance. For safety reasons, there will be no parent pick-up or walkers allowed down the hill toward County Road E2 (they can use the stairs), and no one will be able to pick up students in vehicles parked on the side of E2 from the driveway on the west side of our building to the crosswalk located on the east side of our parking lot entrance/exit. Students will only be allowed to enter the car from the pick up line as it approaches the front of the building.
All parent pick up students will utilize our new two-lane pick-up system. Staff will be present to guide cars and students. Access to the parking lot will be restricted during dismissal time, and cars will be required to drive under 10 miles per hour at all times, with all drivers remaining focused and off their phones.
Students who walk home must use the designated crosswalks. Walkers are not permitted to walk down the hill or in the grassy area between Valentine Hills and County Road E2.
We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students safe as they head home.
New Cellphone & Smartwatch District Policy
It is the school’s expectation that cell phones remain in the student’s backpack throughout the day, including while on the bus. If your student brings a device and it becomes a distraction to their learning or the learning of others, or if it impacts the security of students, a parent/guardian will be notified
and the device may be held in the main office until the
end of the day.
Devices should not be used as a method of communication during the school day. As with anything of value, the school is not liable for theft or damage.
Picture Day
Picture Day is coming on September 26.
All students will have their picture taken. More information will be coming on how to order a picture packet from Jostens. We will also be looking for some parent volunteers to help the student's comb their hair and look their best for the picture...more information to come. We will have scholarships available for ordering pictures. If you are interested in a scholarship, click here.
PTO News
Meeting
Please join us for the PTO meeting on 9/9 @ 6:30 pm at the Valentine Hills library.
CARES-A-THON
Register for the CARES-a-thon and choose your t-shirt size!
The Valentine Hills PTO is preparing for their annual CARES-a-thon fundraiser that helps fund student enrichments and social events for families. In order to ensure all students have the right sized t-shirt, we are asking families to register by 9/13 for the CARES-a-thon on FUN HUB. Click here for the link.
More information about the Sep 23 CARES-a-thon kick-off will come home later this month. Contact the PTO with any questions at ValentinePTO@gmail.com.
Fall Family Social
Save the date for the Fall Family Social onThu, Sep 19 from 5-7 p.m. at Valentine Hills!
News from the District
Before- and after-school activities available
Community Education offers a variety of before- and after-school and non-school day activities for students. Activities may include art, chess, Rubik's cube, robotics, Spanish, sports, theater, yoga and more! Check out the upcoming offerings at your school here.
Reduced fees and financial assistance:
Youth within Mounds View Public Schools boundaries who qualify for educational benefits receive a 50% discount on qualifying enrichment and activities fees. Questions? Call the Community Education Hotline at 651-621-6020.
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Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau Bao Thao: 651-272-0972. Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad-ah ama turjamaad, fadlan kala soo xidid Muna Mohamed lambaraka 651-262-4577. Para asistencia o preguntas en Español por favor contacte a Angel Toro: 651-724-2854 o Carmen Bender: 612-494-3895.