Our 1st graders music concert will be held at Valerius on Thursday, April 11th at 6:30pm.

Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the start of your child's performance. This concert is FREE to attend and there are no guest restrictions for the performance.

Thank you for supporting the music education program at Valerius! We are so excited to share our music with you. We look forward to seeing you the evening of April 11th!

Contact Joelle Irvin, Music Teacher, at irvinj@urbandaleschools.com with any questions.

As we approach the Iowa Statewide Assessment for Student Progress, we want to remind you this standardized test is a tool for evaluating student progress and guiding school improvement. To help your child succeed, we've compiled some tips and reminders for the upcoming assessment.

1. Arrive on Time:

Punctuality is vital on test days. Plan to arrive at school a little earlier than usual to avoid any last-minute rush. Late arrivals can cause unnecessary stress and disrupt the focus needed for the assessment. Ensure that your child has all the necessary materials, such as pencils and erasers, packed and ready to go the night before.

2. Attendance Matters:

Attendance during the assessment period is crucial. Make every effort to ensure your child attends school on test days. Missing a testing session can impact their overall performance, and we want to give every student the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

3. Stay Positive and Relaxed:

Encourage your child to approach the assessment with a positive mindset. Remind them that they have been preparing for this and that they are well-prepared. Encourage deep breaths and moments of relaxation before and during the test to help manage stress.

4. Follow Test Instructions:

During the assessment, it's essential for students to carefully read and follow all instructions. Remind them to pace themselves, allocate time wisely, and review their work if time allows. Stress the importance of answering every question to the best of their ability.

By following these tips, we believe your child will be well-prepared and ready to tackle the Iowa Statewide Assessment for Student Progress. Our dedicated teachers and staff are here to support and guide each student through this process, and we appreciate your partnership in ensuring their success.

TESTING SCHEDULE

Monday, Aug. 15th: Science

Grade 5 Only 1:00 - 2:10

Tuesday, Aug. 16th: Reading

Grade 3: 9:10 - 10:20

Grade 4: 9:10 - 10:20

Grade 5: 10:00 - 11:10

Wednesday, Aug. 17: Math

Grade 3: 9:10 - 10:20

Grade 4: 9:10 - 10:20

Grade 5: 10:00 - 11:10

Thursday, Aug. 18: Language and Writing

Grade 3: 9:10 - 9:40, then 11:10 - 12:00

Grade 5: 10:00 - 10:30, then 10:35 - 11:20

The Smile Squad Mobile Unit will be returning to Valerius on May 13th and 14th. This program provides FREE dental services to our students during the school day. This year the mobile unit will offer services to 2nd through 5th grade students. If your student(s) could benefit from free dental care, please contact our school nurse, Katie Scandrett. You can call her at Valerius (515) 457- 6503 or email her at scandrettk@urbandaleschools.com. If you are interested, please see the consent form below. If you need a consent form printed out and sent home with your student, please let Nurse Katie know. The consents need to be returned by April 29th.

English Consent Form | Spanish Consent Form

If your student has an established dentist and has regular yearly checkups, we ask you to continue care with your regular provider. If your child has not seen a dentist within the last year, they could qualify to be seen on the mobile bus.

Some of the services provided on the mobile unit include:

-Examination & X-rays

-Sealants

-Fluoride

-Fillings

-Extraction (baby teeth)

-Silver crowns (baby teeth)

-Teeth Cleaning

We are excited to have the smile squad back and to be able to provide these FREE services to our students!

We’re using the Urbandale app (powered by ParentSquare) to share news, updates, and alerts. You do not need an invitation to activate your account. You can register by going to parentsquare.com/signin and entering your email or phone number within the “Register” section. You’ll need to use the same email or phone number that is in PowerSchool. You’re welcome to review this doc that outlines how to set up your account based on various scenarios depending on roles (e.g. UCSD staff member with children in the District, UCSD parent who is a staff member in another District using ParentSquare, etc.). If you’d like the app on your phone, search 'Urbandale' in the App Store or Google Play. If you have questions or get stuck anywhere in the process, please complete this brief help form.

School registration for the 2024–2025 school year is open! Please review the following information for registering your child for school in the Urbandale Community School District for the 24-25 school year. We know this is a busy time of year for students and families. Thank you in advance for taking time to register your student(s). We’re looking forward to welcoming your child(ren) and family this fall!

Log into your Powerschool Parent Portal to get started: https://powerschool.urbandale.k12.ia.us/public/home.html

**Don't forget that you must also register for the bus every year as well. You can find the 24-25 Bus Request form in your Powerschool Parent Portal under FORMS.

Join us for the first annual Valerius Elementary Plant Sale! Choose from a variety of house plants, pots, and veggies, raised by the Valerius PTO. More specific activity details and vendors will be released soon. Mark your calendar and come get a special gift for Mother's Day!

Safety City is a week-long summer program for children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2024. Children will learn about traffic safety, fire safety, home, playground and other kinds of personal safety in an entertaining, positive environment. To make learning about safety fun, Safety City incorporates songs, story books, films, games, and artwork in addition to riding Big Wheels in a mock city setting. Safety City also provides the experience of riding on a school bus to the Urbandale Police and Fire Departments for tours. Safety City is taught by Urbandale Police Officers and staff who are assisted by a team of student helpers.

If you have any questions or need financial assistance, please contact Officer Meagan Cowden at 515-331-6804 or mcowden@urbandle.org at the Urbandale Police Department. Fee includes t-shirt, bike helmet and daily snacks. Registration Deadline: May 24

The “UCSD Essential Tools: Quick Guide For Families” is a 1-page overview of key tools in use throughout the district. You’ll find the name of each tool (and corresponding logo), grade levels using the tool, the primary purpose of the tool, where to login, and resources for help using the tool. You’re welcome to review the Guide as a Google Doc or download the Guide as a PDF. We hope the Guide is a helpful resource for you!

PIkmykid Parent App Registration Information

Pikmykid App Registration

Parents and Guardians can now report their students absence using Powerschool Parent Portal. Click on the link below for step-by-step instructions. Web Browser ONLY.

English | Español | Bosanski | Kiswahili

Dean: Derek Wilkins; wilkinsd@urbandaleschools.com

Principal Secretary: Angie Jones; jonesa1@urbandaleschools.com

Office Secretary: Caley Jo Schroeder; schroederc@urbandaleachools.com

Nurse: Katie Scandrett; scandrettk@urbandaleschools.com

Guidance Counselor: Liz Donner; donnere@urbandaleschools.com

FFO: Maddy Punsalan; punsalanm@urbandaleschools.com

Website: https://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/valerius-elementary/
Location: 3305 92nd St, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriuselementary