THE ORIGINAL VOICE OF VALMEYER

Volume 15 – Number 33 August 13, 2007

To look in and not out, to look forward and not back, to look up and not down.

IF THE ROOSTER DIES . . . . . . . BUY AN ALARM CLOCK!

VALMEYER SCHOOL NEWS - - - August 16 – Teacher’s Workshop

August 17 – First day for student attendance from 8:17 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

August 20 – First full attendance day.

Bus routes will be similar to last year and will be changed as necessary. If you have any bus questions please contact Vince Siburt, who will be available for calls beginning Monday, August 6^th at 935-2283.

Two new programs have been added for information management in an effort to improve communication between home and school. SCHOOL REACH is a telecommunication tool that will allow administration to contact parents via mass messaging over telephone numbers that have been provided by you to the district. Please be sure that the district has accurate information. This will be used for urgent messaging to affected parties. Once the system is in place, the School will be sending a message to let you know this program is up and running. STI, the Student Management Information Program, will have an added feature this year called Parent Portal. This feature will allow you to have on-line access to your child’s detailed grading and attendance data. The system will randomly assign passwords for each child that the School will be sharing with you along with a “How-To” pamphlet. This will apply to grades 5-12.

LATCHKEY / KIDS CLUB - Latchkey will be in service for the 2007-2008 school year on regularly scheduled school days. Students in grades Pre-K through 6 may attend the latchkey program. Please deliver and pick up at the south doors closest to the playground equipment. The phone number is 935-2100, extension 510.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS – Prices will be as follows:

Grades Pre-K through 12 $1.15 per breakfast meal

Adults $1.55 per breakfast meal

Grades Pre-K through 5 $1.75 per lunch meal

Grades 6 through 12 $1.95 per lunch meal

Adults $2.25 per lunch meal

A carton of milk may be purchased with a sack lunch, and afternoon milk will also be available.

BOOK RENTAL FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Grades K through 8 $40.00

Grades 9 through 12 $50.00

Driver’s education fee will be $25.00

Foods Lab fee will be $15.00 per semester

Physical education fees – Shirts $5.00 and Shorts $12.00

PLEASE MAKE SEPARATE CHECKS FOR LUNCH, BOOK RENTAL AND INSURANCE.

AFTER SCHOOL PROCEDURES – All children are dismissed at 3:13 p.m. If you wish to pick up your elementary child, please wait in the lobby until the dismissal bell rings before going to the classroom. If you do not need to enter the building and would like your child to ride home with you, please pick up your child behind the school. You may enter the drive from the north side behind the school from East Woodland Ridge and proceed to the appropriate wing of the building. Cars may not be left unattended. The main drive in front of the school must remain clear due to busses loading in front.

If your child is to go home other than the regularly scheduled way, please send a note in the morning telling the office where your child is to go. If there is no note, your child will be sent on the usual route. CALLS TO THE OFFICE WITH THIS INFORMATION SHOULD OCCUR ONLY IN EMERGENCIES.

PICTURES – Senior pictures will be taken on August 16 from 8:30 a.m. until Noon. Seniors should wear dress shirts or sweaters and/or a suit coat. No T-shirts are permitted for senior pictures. Pictures for the yearbook and student ID cards will be taken on Monday, August 27 for Grades K-12.

SCHOOL HEALTH EXAMINATIONS – The state school law requires that a Board of Education shall require a complete physical examination and certain immunizations of all students entering school the first time as well as fifth and ninth graders. Dental examinations are required for students entering Kindergarten, second and sixth grade. Students who have not met these requirements will not be admitted to school. Evidence of compliance with the law in these matters must be on file with the school nurse.

SCHOOL ABSENCE – Excused absences will be given for sickness, accident and death in the family. Missing the bus, staying home to do work that could be done at another time, truancy or any other reason that is considered unsatisfactory will be an unexcused absence. Parents must call school the morning of any day that a student is absent. Please call 935-2100 before 8:30 a.m. when reporting a student absence.

GRADE REPORTS – Each student will receive a report card at the end of each grading period with all the student’s grades on that sheet. K-5 report cards should be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the homeroom teacher. The report card will be the official report to the parents of their child’s progress in school.

RULES INFORMATION – On the first day of school, students will receive handbooks that will provide more complete information regarding the policies and procedures of the school. By reviewing the handbook with your child and communicating with your child’s teachers, you can help your child have a successful school year.

The VALMEYER VIKINGS is a new select baseball team made up of Valmeyer boys. The team will be selling Entertainment books as a way to make money for league fees, tournament fees, uniforms and equipment. The 2008 Entertainment book is $25.00, and the GoldC book is $10.00. Anyone interested in purchasing books can contact Susan Unterseh at 935-2370 or Eric Seidler at 935-1818.

VALMEYER JUNIOR HIGH BASEBALL – Attention Junior High Boys – the first practice will be Monday, August 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Valmeyer School baseball field. Please bring your equipment and wear appropriate clothing. YOU MUST HAVE A COMPLETED SCHOOL PHYSICAL TO PRACTICE. If you have any questions, please call Coach Knobloch or Coach Heavner at School at 935-2100, or contact them at gknobloch@valmeyerk12.org or hheavner@valmeyerk12.org.

VALMEYER JUNIOR HIGH SOFTBALL – Valmeyer Junior High Softball will have their first practice on Monday, July 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. All girls interested in playing need to sign up in the main office. Players should wear rubber cleats, bring a ball glove and have appropriate practice clothing. In order to practice all players must have their physicals turned in to the main office by the first day of practice. Players cannot practice until their physicals are turned in. Any questions – contact Coach McSchooler at the School at 935-2100, ext. 129.

Tryouts for the 2007/2008 High School Basketball Cheer Season scheduled for August 2 and 3 HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. They have been rescheduled for August 20 and 22 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the High School Gym. All students must have the following to participate in the tryouts – a physical on file with the district, appropriate clothing / shoes, no jewelry / earrings are to be worn, and all hair must be up and out of faces / eyes. All students interested must attend both days to participate in tryouts. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Rowold at 935-6605, or 935-2100, ext. 122.

Valmeyer Community Blood Drive – Monday, August 13 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. John UCC in Valmeyer. While 65 percent of the population is eligible to donate, only five percent do. So please give. Patients are counting on you. All presenting donors will receive a coupon good for one free 12 oz. Blizzard at participating DQ restaurants.

The Third Annual Melvin J. Fisher Memorial Hills and Hollows Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday, September 22. The official start time will be 8:00 a.m. in front of the Emergency Services Building in Valmeyer. Proceeds will benefit the Valmeyer Active Firemen Association and The Backstoppers. New this year, all Monroe County Police, Fire and EMS Departments that register and provide volunteers will receive a donation for their department. The purpose of this annual event is to promote Fire Safety, raise additonal funds for firemen training classes, and support families of firemen or police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty via Backstoppers. Businesses, individuals and families are being asked to provide sponsorships. Sponsor forms are available from any Valmeyer Volunteer Fireman or by contacting Marvin Fisher at 402-598-9178 or 805-929-4449 or at hikingmcdosher@hotmail.com. All donations are tax deductible. Entry forms for the event are available on the website www.hillsandhollows.org. The first 300 registered participants will receive a T-shirt and medal to commemorate their participation in this year’s event. To make this event a success as in past years, many volunteers are needed, and early volunteer registration on line is encouraged. Any correspondence should be mailed to Hills and Hollows RRCA, P. O. Box 22, Valmeyer, Illinois, 62295.

During 2009, the Village of Valmeyer will celebrate its Centennial. Valmeyer was officially founded as a Village in 1909. To commemorate this celebration, I am working on the publication of a history book for the Village. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has any photographs of the Village throughout its history, from the earliest of times to current years. Photos of buildings, activities, holiday festivals, cultural events – whatever you may have – all time periods and all events are important in documenting the history of Valmeyer. Photos will be borrowed long enough to scan and then will be immediately returned to the owners. If you have any information to contribute, please contact me at 935-2142 or by email at knobloch@htc.net. Thanks, Dennis.

Visit the School’s webpage at www.valmeyerk12.org . . . find the Original Voice of Valmeyer on line by visiting the Community Links section of this site. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!