5th grade students (and parents) are invited to walk in the Urbandale Homecoming Parade with Valerius staff this school year! We'd like to start a tradition of our 5th grade students representing their school as leaders in the building.

The parade begins at Urbandale Middle School (UMS) and ends at the Urbandale High School (UHS). There is a Street Party put on by UHS at the end of the parade where kids can enjoy games, tattoos, bounce houses, meet the football team, a dance party, and food trucks.

More information can be found on the website.

This week in class students made lists of compliments with their teachers. Our kindness team challenged kindergarten to come up with 10 ideas, 1st grade with 20, 2nd grade with 30 and so on. We have a total of 210 compliment ideas added to our bulletin board in the hall.

This next week, students will be asked to focus on MANNERS. Using manners in the lunchroom, on the playground, in the classroom, and at home.

Valerius uses the Responsive Classroom approach to promote ... One of the key pieces of Responsive Classroom is doing a morning meeting.

Morning Meeting is an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically. Each morning, students and teachers gather together in a circle for twenty to thirty minutes and interact with one another during four purposeful components:

1. Greeting: Students and teachers greet one other by name.
2. Sharing: Students share information about important events in their lives. Listeners often offer empathetic comments or ask clarifying questions.
3. Group Activity: Everyone participates in a brief, lively activity that fosters group cohesion and helps students practice social and academic skills (for example, reciting a poem, dancing, singing, or playing a game).
4. Morning Message: Students read and interact with a short message written by their teacher. The message is crafted to help students focus on the work they’ll do in school that day.

Pictured below are 4th and 2nd grade buddy classrooms doing a morning meeting together.

In honor of National Box Tops Week we wanted to communicate some exciting changes to this great fundraiser that supports our student field trips which are fully funded by the PTO through programs like Box Tops. The first change is starting in the next school year 2020-2021 the Box Tops programs will receive only digital submissions using the Box Tops App linked here. During this transitional year 2019-2020 we are able to continue accepting box top clips and scanning receipts using the Box Top App. The app is easy to use, just make sure to keep your receipts. In addition, it will be easier for friends of Valerius (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and any other supporters) to choose Valerius and support our students using the Box Top App. Finally, we will be moving toward whole school rewards for meeting our three 250.00 goals on October 25th, February 21st, and May 1st on our way to raising 750.00. Our first due date for all clipped box tops is October 25th with a dress like your favorite character on November 1st as a reward. To support this fundraiser please turn in your loose or bagged clipped box tops into either the bin in your student's classroom or the bin by the PTO board near the front entrance.

Thank you for supporting Valerius!

The Urbandale J-Hawk will be displayed in local businesses around the Urbandale area from Thursday, September 12th through Thursday, September 19th. The object of the game is to go to businesses listed on the game card, locate the J-Hawk, and have the business stamp your card and proceed to the next business.

To obtain your game card, go to one of the participating businesses mentioned below or pick up a game card on Friday, September 6th at the Urbandale Hy-Vee from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. You’ll be able to spot the J-Hawk and collect your stamp at each of the businesses. Collect 12 or more stamps to complete the card.

Finished cards can be turned in at the Urbandale Alumni table by 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th during the UHS Homecoming Street Party at Urbandale High School, or at the Urbandale Chamber located at 2830 100th Suite 110, by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th. (Note: In case of inclement weather, The Homecoming Street Party will be held inside the high school).

Game cards with 12 or more stamps will be entered into a random prize drawing. The drawing will take place on September 20th and winners will be notified by phone. Prizes can be picked up at the business location of the prize. Your prize must be picked up no later than three weeks from the date of notification. Have fun finding those J-Hawks!

Participating Businesses

• Amish Haus Furniture
• BMW of DM
• Cookies by Design
• EKGolf
• Felix & Oscar’s
• Flix Brewhouse
• Friedrich’s Coffee
• Hungry Boyz
• Hy-Vee (Urbandale)
• Midland Credit Union
• Plaza Florist
• R. Jones Collision 1
• The Range Grill & Golf
• The Urban Grill
• Urban Pet Hospital
• Urbandale Chamber of Commerce
• Vision Park Family Eye Care
• Westside Appliance

Sponsored by: Urbandale Alumni Association, Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, and UHS Student Senate

UHS Commons

Thursday, October 17 and October 24

4:00-8:00 PM

*Please enter through the PAC doors

and turn left towards the Commons

Students, Staff, Parents,

Siblings, and Community

Most major insurance plans accepted

Please bring your insurance card

No insurance cost is $25/$50 for high dose

Parent/guardian must be present and sign consent

Clinic offered by Polk County Health Department

Tuesday, Sept. 17th- Hearing Screening

Thursday, Sept. 19th- Homecoming Parade at 6pm on Aurora Ave between UMS and UHS

Friday, Sept. 20th- Valerius Fall Party 2:45pm-3:30pm

Friday, Sept. 20th- Urbandale Homecoming Football game @ 7pm

Wednesday, Sept. 25th- LATE START- School begins at 10am

Friday, Sept. 27th- SOAR ASSEMBLY and PTO FUNDRAISER ANNOUNCEMENT- Time still TBD. We'll have it in next week's update.

Principal- Valerius Elementary

Email: colem@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 3305 92nd St. Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: 515-457-6501
Twitter: @MichelleACole