Supt. Dr. Keith Wood’s End of School Year Message to the VVSD Community
One of the great feelings in life is to have crossed a finish line and accomplished a task successfully. Throughout VVSD, our students, families, and staff are celebrating varying levels of accomplishments that come with the end of the school year.
Some of those accomplishments are major milestones that mark a passing from one stage of life to another. With that in mind, we congratulate our 12th grade Class of 2024 as they now move to the college, career, and life opportunities that await beyond VVSD. We also recognize and thank the 41 members of our VVSD staff who are retiring as this school year closes.
Others are celebrating mileposts on a continuing journey. Our 5th graders’ full attention now turns to angst over how they’ll figure out opening the combination lock on their locker at middle school. (Don’t worry, all of our middle schools will give you instructions and time to practice!) Our 8th graders now prepare for the jump to high school, and some of our staff begin to make the transition to new roles within the district.
In eleven short weeks, we’ll gather together again to start the 2024-25 school year and once again share in the excitement, challenges, and triumphs brought on by every school year.
So, as we say goodbye to 2023-24, I want to thank all our stakeholders for a job well done. Rest up, recharge. We’ll see our teachers when they return on Monday, August 12, and three days later, our learners return on Thursday, August 15.
Have a relaxing summer.
Click Here to View the VVSD Video Celebrating the End of the School Year.
VVSD Class of 2024 Spotlight- Emily Kubes, Secondary Transition Experience Program
We begin our end of the school year series profiling some members of the Class of 2024 by visiting the Secondary Transition Experience Program to visit with Emily Kubes, who is one of 26 students exiting the program this spring.
Emily began attending VVSD schools in the Early Childhood Program, at what is now the Dr. James A. Mitchem, Jr. Early Childhood Center. It was there that Emily met a teacher who made a positive impression that has lasted through grade school and through STEP. Emily already has a job, as she works at the Goddard School in Plainfield, helping to supervise students in after-school programs.
VVSD Job Fair, Fri. June 7 9:30 am- 2:30 pm at White Oak Public Library Romeoville Branch
Valley View School Community Unit School District 365U will be hosting a Job Fair on Friday, June 7 from 9:30 am- 2:30 pm at the White Oak Public Library District: Romeoville Branch, 201 Normantown Rd. in Romeoville. Immediate interviews will be offered at the Job Fair and some hiring decisions will be made on-the-spot for those who qualify. Those attending the Job Fair should dress professionally and make certain to bring their valid driver’s license and Social Security card.
VVSD is currently making immediate hiring decisions for a variety of part-time and full-time positions for the 2024-25 school year. Current available job categories include: Lunchroom Aides, Lunch Room & Playground Aides, Nutrition Services staff, Paraprofessionals, Security personnel, Substitute Teachers and Transportation Services.
VVSD offers a competitive pay scale for all jobs, and a range of benefits depending on the position. The hours for most of the positions being presented at this job fair are within the regular school day, which makes the work hours conducive for applicants who have school age dependents.
To apply now, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
Returning Students Can Register Now for the 2024-25 School Year
Registration for our VVSD returning students for the new school year that begins in August is available at www.vvsd.org Please note that registration fees are not due until July, so you can register beginning on May 3 and pay any fees later. For complete registration information, visit www.vvsd.org/BTS
VVSD Kindergarten Enrollment for the Class of 2037 Continues
VVSD Kindergarten registration for the Class of 2037 continues through the online enrollment process. To be eligible to register, a student must be five years old on or before Sept 1, 2024, and the family must live with VVSD boundaries. Families of current VVSD students will be able to register via their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, while families new to the District will be able to register online.
VVSD Now Hiring for 2024-25 School Year
VVSD is hiring for a wide range of positions for the 2024-25 school year.We are seeking new team members including teachers, guest teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, operations & maintenance, nutrition services, lunchroom & playground aides, and special education staff.
VVSD’s employment opportunities offer schedules for staff members that are in synchronization with school schedules, making VVSD a great choice for parents who need to have their work schedule match up with the school hours, and Winter and Spring Break for their children. To see all VVSD job opportunities and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
VVSD Nutrition Services Shares Information Regarding USDA SUN Bucks Summer Program
SUN Bucks is a new permanent nutrition program authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. SUN Bucks 2024 will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children, via an Electronic Benefit Transfer issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services later this summer. More basic information on the new federal program is available on the USDA website at www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/household Illinois is one of 36 states that have announced their intent to launch Summer EBT in summer 2024.
Households should visit the DHS website www.dhs.state.il.us/ for information about Illinois Summer EBT. IDHS will be setting up a SUMMER EBT May 2024 customer help line at (833) 621-0737 to assist families. The agency will be able to assist with such things as the card distribution timeline, usage, allowable expenses, and lost or misplaced cards.
VVEEF Announces Funding of 59 Grant Requests to VVSD for 2024-25 School Year
The Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation has completed its annual Grant application and approval process for the 2024-2025 School year and has approved funding for 48 Grant applications requesting approximately $55,000. The Foundation also worked with District 365-U Valley View School District Administration, to secure funding for an additional 11 Grant applications requesting approximately $17,400. The School District serves Bolingbrook and Romeoville.
In total, the Foundation received 72 Grant applications requesting approximately $90,400 from 16 of 22 of the District’s Educational Facilities (Schools and Administration Center). All 16 Facilities who requested a grant were funded for at least one of their grant requests.
Acceptance of the funds from the Foundation for the Grant programs was unanimously approved at the May 13 School Board meeting. “We are truly honored to have been able to support the inspirational educators of the Valley View School District who designed and deliver these programs that go above and beyond the excellent curriculum offered by the District”, noted President of the Foundation, Mike Lawler.
“This funding would not have been possible without generous financial support from businesses, organizations, and individuals in our communities who have supported the Foundation since its inception in November 1994”, Lawler added.
Grant applications are submitted each year by January 31 for the upcoming school year.
Applications can request a Full Grant funding up to $2,000 or a Mini-Grant funding up to $750. The applications are then reviewed and scored against criteria approved by the Foundation Board by a panel of judges, known only to the Foundation Grant Coordinator, ensuring no influence from Board members in approving individual grants. Foundation Board members approve funding levels for each year based on funds raised from two major events, the Annual Dinner and Auctions in March of each year and the Annual Golf Outing held in June of each year.
With this year’s approval, the Foundation has been able to fund approximately 1,191 grant programs for approximately $2 million since 1994.
The Foundation was established to engage in fundraising activities to support a Grant program to receive applications and provide for funding of educational programs, designed and delivered by educators and others, which go above and beyond the curriculum delivered by Valley View School District 365-U in Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois.
The Independence Elementary community displayed examples of diverse cultural experiences at Multicultural Night. As one might expect, the culinary samples from different cultures are always among the most popular events of the evening.
The Dr. James A. Mitchem, Jr. Early Childhood Center added a very interesting activity at their annual EC-Palooza events for families. Take spray bottles, fill them with water colors, and let the students spray away! The resulting artwork is rather impressive.
