Panther Press

• Titile I
• Crossing Guards Needed
• Collaboration Day
• Reporting Religious Absences
• PTO Membership Drive
• Charity Event
• Room Parents
• Fall Pictures
• Summer Reading
• Library Volunteers
• Spiritwear
• Travel
• BV Athletics
• Proactive School Safety

Valley Park Elementary School has been identified as an official Title I school, based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits. Title I is a federal program where select schools receive targeted funds to provide additional reading support.

Federal guidelines mandate that Title I schools provide parents with a “right to know.” As a parent, you have the right to know information regarding qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers. This information can be found at https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx.

As a parent, you also have the right to view both district and building report cards, which can be found by going to www.bluevalleyk12.org, scrolling down to “District Quick Links” and selecting “Accountability Reports.” Parents also have the right to request access to students’ state assessment scores. These will also be shared via the KITE Parent Portal around the end of the school year.

All City Management Service is currently looking for dedicated local citizens that would possibly be interested in being a crossing guard on a permanent basis or even as a substitute. Please contact Jonathan Western @ (913) 415-4131

for more information.

Our staff gathered today for our first teacher collaboration day of the 2024-25 school year. While our educators love seeing your children each day, we know having adequate plan and collaboration time benefits students in the long run. These days are a significant benefit for our elementary staff that will, in turn, support our students’ academic success. Today we were able to learn more about how to utilize multi-lingual features in I-Ready, focus on tier 1 interventions for our students and analyze student data from beginning of the year assessments to guide instructional decisions.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to another great school year!

Did you know? Families can select “Religious Holiday” as an option for a child’s absence in ParentVue, when applicable. This notation could be helpful to our school staff so they can plan accordingly for your student’s absence.

Early Bird Special ending Sunday! Join our PTO today for just $30 per family. Your membership directly benefits our students, staff, and entire school community. Act now—prices go up to $35 this Sunday, September 1!

Benefits to PTO members:

• Access to the secure online directory

• Voting rights at PTO meetings (one per family)

• Early/exclusive access to PTO news and events

• Valley Park Yearbook available to purchase on our site

What We Do for Valley Park:

1. Enhance Student Experiences: We help fund exciting field trips that enrich your child's learning and create lasting memories.

2. Support After-School Clubs: Our contributions ensure that after-school clubs and activities thrive, offering students a wide range of interests and opportunities.

3. Empower Teachers: We provide reimbursements for teachers to purchase necessary classroom supplies, ensuring they have the tools they need to teach effectively.

4. Boost School Resources: From special events to educational resources, our support helps enhance the overall learning environment at Valley Park.

5. Foster a Strong Community: By backing various school programs and initiatives, we strengthen the Valley Park community and create a more vibrant school experience for everyone.

Memberships active through June 30, 2025.

Thank you for supporting VPE PTO! Look for more ways to get involved this year.

Get Involved! Becoming a room parent is straightforward and fun. We’re seeking room parents for the new school year. This is a great opportunity to engage with your child’s class, help with special events, and make a positive impact in your child’s school year. Ready to volunteer? Find out more and sign up on our website!

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 11—Fall Picture Day is just around the corner! We want every student to look their best for this special occasion, and we need your help to make it happen.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to capture memorable moments. Sign up to volunteer now and be part of making Fall Picture Day a success!

Summer Reading Submission Reminder Due on Saturday, August 30

Calling all Panthers big and small! Have you completed your summer reading logs and reports? We can't wait to hear about all your adventures from this summer!

Parents - be sure to complete and submit the online forms by Saturday, August 31 so that your Adventurer is rewarded for all their hard work this summer! Please review all the details and instructions on the Summer Reading information page!

We need volunteers to help make our library a welcoming place for all. From organizing books to assisting with events, your involvement will enrich our library experience. Reach out to join our team

Our spirit wear sale is coming to an end soon, with your final orders needed by Friday, August 30.

And guess what? Ordering is super convenient! Your purchases will be delivered straight to your classroom, so you can rock your new spirit wear with pride! Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to represent your school in the coolest gear around! Let's show everyone what our school spirit is made of!

This important message is for any family or staff that will travel out of the United States during the school year. Please click here to read the restrictions and recommendations for Out of the Country travel. Blue Valley resources such as Canvas, Classlink, and school email are not accessible out of the country unless you have a personal device with a VPN on it.

Blue Valley families,

We are excited to have your families come to support our high school activities and athletics. It is great to see the entire community at these events. It is imperative that our parent community partner with us as we work to encourage positive elementary and middle school behavior at high school games or events.

We are asking that all elementary and middle school students enter the game with an adult and sit with that adult throughout the game. Please do not drop your child off at a district event without supervision as they will not be allowed to enter. It is challenging to monitor and keep all students safe without the help of our parent community. Thanks for your help with this protocol to make district events a great experience for all who attend. We hope to see your family cheering for our Blue Valley teams this school year.

Matt Ortman

Director of School Administration, Athletics and Activities

Blue Valley School District

At Blue Valley Schools, student safety is our top priority. Our approach to safety blends proactive prevention, fostering strong adult-student relationships and maintaining robust physical security measures. Central to our strategy is understanding and addressing potential threats.

What Constitutes a Threat?

A threat includes any expression of intent to harm, whether spoken or written. Identifying and responding to these expressions is crucial to the safety of our school community.

The Role of Threat Assessments

Blue Valley’s comprehensive threat assessment process has two primary objectives:

• Preventing Violence: We work to intervene before potential threats escalate.

• Resolving Underlying Issues: By understanding the reasons behind a threat, we can resolve conflicts and provide necessary support.

Structured, Evidence-Based Approach

Blue Valley Schools follows the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), a nationally recognized, evidence-based program. This approach ensures that we not only prevent violence but also support individuals in need.

Since the fall of 2023, Blue Valley building leaders have been trained in and actively using this Threat Assessment approach. This consistent use of CSTAG has equipped leaders with a common vocabulary and protocol, enabling them to resolve situations more effectively when threats arise.

By staying committed to this structured and compassionate approach, Blue Valley Schools ensures that students and staff are supported, safe and able to focus on what truly matters–learning through extraordinary educational opportunities.

More information about Blue Valley’s threat assessment process is available on the district website.

The Blue valley Student Code of Conduct for 2024-25 has been updated and can be found under "Quick Links" on the VPE homepage.

• Email: attendancevpe@bluevalleyk12.org
• Phone: (913) 239-7605

School Office:

• Phone: (913) 239-7600

Email: mhansen01@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/VPE
Location: 12301 Lamar Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 239-7600

Email: EAGill@bluevalleyk12.org
Phone: 913-239-7624
Twitter: @EmilyGill_VPE

• Julie Bachert: Administration Assistant/Bookkeeper
• Samantha Bashara: Administration Assistant/Registrar/Attendance
• Emily Steenson: Nurse

Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/VPE
Location: 12301 Lamar Ave. Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 239-7600