Valley News

Dear Valley Families,

As we move further into the school year, it’s exciting to see the progress our students are making! Their curiosity, hard work, and perseverance continue to shine each day, and we are so proud of their growth. Our goal is to support each student’s academic journey by providing engaging learning experiences, meaningful challenges, and the resources they need to succeed. One important way we track student progress and tailor instruction is through assessments. Throughout the year, students participate in a variety of assessments designed to measure their development and guide our teaching.

This month, students in grades 2 and 4 will take the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) to assess reasoning and problem-solving skills. This assessment also helps identify areas of giftedness. Additionally, students in grades 3-5 will complete Ohio State Test Benchmarks—practice tests modeled after the Ohio State Tests. These benchmarks help familiarize students with the testing platform before the official state tests in April, and provide teachers with valuable insights into skills that may need additional focus.

In addition to these assessments, we sometimes use Acadience for students in grades K-3 to monitor early literacy skills through a quick, one-on-one evaluation. Students in grades K-5 also take the NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) three times per year, providing important data on their growth in reading and math.

While assessments are just one part of the learning process, they help us ensure that every child receives the support they need to thrive. Families can help by encouraging students to get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and approach these assessments with confidence. Most importantly, we want students to know these assessments are not about perfection—they are simply tools to help us understand and support their learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students grow and succeed!

Sincerely,

Sarah Chivington

Principal

Beavercreek City Schools (BCS) will be holding kindergarten registration March 4-6 2025 only by appointment at the Board of Education’s new office located at 4029 Executive Dr. (No children please). Families must complete online enrollment forms and sign up for an appointment via sign up genius.

The dates for kindergarten registration are as follows:

March 4 – 7:30 am – 4:30 pm

March 5 – 7:30 am – 4:30 pm

March 6 – 7:30 am – 4:30 pm

Please visit www.gocreek.org/kginfo to begin the online enrollment process. This webpage will direct you to the OneView link where you will create your parent account or sign in to your existing account. Once you are logged in, select the “New Student Registration” option. Once you have submitted your online enrollment information, please review the required documentation (listed below) and bring it with you to your appointment.

Required Documentation:

 Original/Certified Birth Certificate, Passport or Birth Record (no other documents are

acceptable)

 Custody documents if applicable (appointing custody, residential parent, etc.)

 Adoption paperwork (Birth certificate listing adoptive parents or copy of adoption decree)

 Immunization Records

 Parent/Guardian must provide government issued I.D.

 Proof of Residence (AES, CenterPoint or Water bill, not more than 60 days old – No other bills

are acceptable)

• A new rental/lease agreement signed by the parent/guardian and the person or company renting the property can be used for initial registration (lease in effect for less than 45 days); however, a utility bill must be provided to the student’s school within 30 days of enrollment.

• A Residence Affidavit is required if the student meets any of the following criteria:
• Student (less than 18 years of age) and parent/guardian are living with a family member or friend who resides within the district.

• A Superintendent Agreement form is required if any of the following criteria applies:
• Parent/Guardian is in the process of building, purchasing or renting a home and

is not physically residing at the address until after the registration process; a signed purchase contract or lease is still required and must show the approximate move in date. Per ORC, the occupancy date cannot exceed 90 calendar days from the student’s first day of school.

Kindergarten eligibility: Your child must be five years old on or before August 1st of the year in which he/she applies.

This month, we will be highlighting the important character trait of "Trustworthiness." Families can practice trustworthiness at home in simple yet meaningful ways. Parents can emphasize the importance of keeping promises, whether it’s following through on commitments or being honest about mistakes. Encouraging children to be truthful in all situations, even when it’s difficult, helps build a foundation of integrity. Discussing the value of being reliable—such as showing up on time, completing tasks as promised, and being a dependable friend—reinforces the importance of trust. Modeling and praising honesty, even in small moments, helps create an environment where trust is valued and strengthened within the family.

Staff and students are encouraged to wear BLUE on Wednesday, February 5th to recognize the trait of "Trustworthiness"!

Reminder to have your student complete a Tic-Tac-Toe on their choice boards to receive a Perseverance Beaver Buck by Friday, February 21st! Completed choice boards are turned into your homeroom teacher. If you need another copy, please go to the main office.

Each month I am sharing tips for building resilience in your children. 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.

Connection - Close ties to family provide security and strong values. Kids also develop a sense of belonging through connections to civic, educational, religious, and athletic groups.

Tip: Incorporate connection into your routines at bedtime and in the morning. This could be spending 5-10 minutes reading or talking with your child at bedtime, and before school talking about what your child has ahead of them that day. Eat dinner together at least once or twice per week. Plan a family fun date at least once per month. This doesn't have to be expensive but can be a movie or game night at home. Have your kids help you plan it.

Character - Kids have a sense of right and wrong. With guidance, they can learn to make wise choices, contribute to the world, stick to their own values and become stable adults.

Tip: Parents and caregivers can help children build character by encouraging them to be caring and demonstrating for them that individuals' actions and behaviors affect those around them.

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.”

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

Please note that Valley's Lunch & Learn has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 6th!

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 6th

If you would like to order a 2024-25 yearbook, please use the QR code below, or have your student ask for a paper copy of the order form at school.

Paper order forms due by: FEBRUARY 24
Online orders due by: MARCH 10

Click HERE to order a soft cover yearbook
Click HERE to order a hard cover yearbook

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!

Beavercreek High School bands is pleased to announce the Saturday Feb.22, 2025 performance for Weekend of Jazz: One O’Clock Lab Band.

The One O’Clock Lab Band is the premier performing ensemble of the University of North Texas jazz studies program. This incredible ensemble has a long history on the Grammy stage with seven nominations since the 1970s and over 80 critically acclaimed recordings. What sets them apart from other groups is their EXCEPTIONAL individual musicianship, high energy and tight ensemble performance. For jazz lovers, this is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Under the direction of esteemed composer, musician and educator Alan Baylock, One O’Clock’s repertoire features a wealth of original big band arrangements by current and former North Texas students and noted faculty. The group has toured extensively internationally and are featured headliners at major jazz festivals and venues including Birdland in NYC and Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.

Tickets to this concert are the perfect gift for any music lover, young or old.

One O’Clock will perform at Beavercreek High School Alumni Auditorium, Saturday Feb 22th at 8pm Tickets available now. All Seats Reserved. $30 Adult, $25 Student/Senior* +fee. (*Students K-12, Seniors 65yr+) Lobby Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.weekendofjazz.org