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Originally delivered on 3/17/2025 8:11 am

SUBJECT: The Valley View Vibe Newsletter - March 17th

Dates to Remember:

March 17th - 21st: District Wide VEAP Fund Drive

March 20th - 22nd: Spring Musical (Descendants)

March 28th: Polar Plunge

March 31st - April 5th: Spring Break; No School!

May 3rd: Vibe K!

VVMS in Focus
VVMS Polar Plunge is Mar. 28th!

Valley View is collaborating with Special Olympics MN to host our first ever Polar Plunge event on Friday, March 28th to raise awareness and funds to support Unified Programming.

Students recently learned how to get registered if they want to participate in our Polar Plunge, and the video below about fundraising will also be shown in advisory this week.  We'd encourage you to watch the video and talk with your student about "taking the plunge" to support inclusion!

Keep an eye out for additional information on logistics, volunteer needs, etc as March 28th draws nearer.  Your support—whether through donations, volunteering, or other means—will make a huge difference towards growing Unified programming and growing the Valley View VIBE!

If interested, see the links below to learn more general information about…

Thank you for supporting our students and helping promote inclusion at Valley View!

For months, we have been planning a legacy event. Working with the City of Edina, our senior leadership within Edina Public Schools, Edina EdFund, and many other Edina partners – we are launching the first ever Valley View Middle School, VIBE K (5K). This run event will kick off our efforts to enhance our Hornets journey. We are THE district of excellence, and we want our scholars to see and undergo moments that reflect our top-notch brand. Every dollar of your registration goes directly into improving aesthetics and materials that shape the environment of every student entering Valley View Middle School.

We see this event growing each year into something the entire city rallies around. We want lawn chairs in driveways, signs, and all the rah-rah that comes with a signature community race! The Vibe K will take place on May 3rd, 2025. 8 AM will kick off the 5K - with a little lap, and toddler trot ensuing right after at 9:25 AM and 9:40 AM.

Tell ya mama, ya auntie, ya cousin, and everyone you know that our legacy event will only be new once. So be part of the people to witness it from the commencement. Hey, maybe some of you will be lifers that make this race your tradition. ALL are invited no matter where you live or what school you attend! Let’s make the Valley View VIBE sing loud at the first ever VIBE K! 

EPS VEAP Food Drive is THIS WEEK!

Our annual EPS food drive is this week. We have partnered with VEAP for the last few years to help bring relief to people facing food insecurities in our community.

Valley View is participating with a FUND drive. You can Donate on VEAP's site. Be sure to mention 'Valley View Middle School EPS' in the notes!

THANK YOU!

VVMS Mathletes Win Big!

VVMS mathletes competed at the State MATHCOUNTS competition on March 8. Ahmed Ilyasov (gr. 7) placed 1st individually and will be competing at the National MATHCOUNTS competition in Washington, D.C. in May. Jonathan Fan (gr. 8), Alvin Yang (gr. 8), Ahmed Ilyasov (gr. 7), and Alexander Yang (gr. 6) earned 1st place team. Their coach, Meg Schlukebier, will coach the MN State team at the National MATHCOUNTS competition!

Friday Belonging Clubs

Our belonging clubs have wrapped up for the year, here are some pics for you to enjoy!

A huge thank you to all our teachers & staff for the work they put into making sure each and every one of our students can discover their possibilities, thrive, and feel a sense of belonging!

Breakfast & Books Club

Cutting Board Club

Dungeons & Dragons Club

Jazz Band Club

Lego Club

Movie Club

Pottery Club

Scrapbooking Club

Unified Arts & Crafts Club

Unified Baking Club

Unified Games Club

Volleyball Club

Ramadan Prayer Volunteers

If you would like to come volunteer with us for the Dhuhr prayer during Ramadan please sign up HERE.

Sign ups available from March 3rd through March 28th.

Get Your Tickets, our Musical is this week!

Tickets for our spring musical Disney Descendants are selling fast!

Our thespians will run shows on March 20, 21 and 22. Get them before they are gone!

Non-School Day Career Exploration: Arts and Tourism

Students will learn about architecture and interior design by visiting BWBR's interior design firm in St. Paul. Students will be taken on a tour of the company to meet with professionals in a variety of roles and engage in activities related to architecture and interior design. 

Please email Jessica McLennon at Jessica.McLennon@edinaschools.org for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities
Lunch and Hall Monitors

Come see what the fuss is all about, our kids are great and you make a difference!

We loved having our VVMS parents volunteer during passing times and at lunch last year! Please, please please, keep coming in and volunteering to supervise. 

We are offering work spaces for those who want to come during our passing time. This allows our parents to supervise halls during transition time but then hop back into an office to work. We're happy to accommodate! 

SIGN UP BELOW

For reference, here is the VV Daily Schedule.

Thank you!!

Button to lunch supervisor sign ups
Button to Hallway Monitor sign up
Button to reserve work space

The Lunch & Hallway buttons now link directly to the Sign Up Geniuses

Working with middle school requires the right temperament. We mostly just need you to be smiley, and cheerful. We avoid practices that involve screaming or yelling. We prefer softer approaches that are kind but firm. Individuals volunteering are able to suspend bias and judgment and can offer support for all students. If you think this is you? Please help us in adding a greater eco-system like approach to how we guide and shepherd our young Hornets.

Parking for Parent Visitors

Parents and caregivers, if you are visiting Valley View please check in at the front desk and a clipboard will be provided for you to enter your vehicle information. This will prevent any boots or ticketing.

Thank You!
Parent volunteer in front of large horizontal banner that reads,
Student Volunteer Opportunities
Presidential Volunteer Service Award


Students entering 7-8 grades for the upcoming 2025-26 school year


Starting summer of 2025, Edina Middle School students (entering grades 7-8 in 2025-26) can earn a Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) through Edina Community Ed. Students must complete 50-74 hours (Bronze), 75-99 hours (Silver), or 100+ hours (Gold) within one calendar year. Applications open February 11th and close April 27th, 2025. 


Mandatory orientations (in-person) will be held in April 2025, with attendance required by May 2nd, 2025. While Community Ed offers limited volunteer opportunities (Community Ed Unified Peer Volunteers & Green Superheroes of Science-Teen Teachers), students are responsible for finding their own volunteer placements. For more information and resources, please take a look at the Current Volunteer Opportunities webpage. Students must track their hours using the provided logs and submit them by April 27th, 2026. Certificates will be available for pickup at school in May 2026.


*While the National Presidential Volunteer Service Award has many options for all ages, as a Certifying Organization, Edina Public Schools has created these specific guidelines to help us manage the details involved.


Questions: email Alan.Hendrickson@edinaschools.org

Applications open February 11th and close April 27th, 2025 

Summer 2025 Student Volunteers

Unified Peer Volunteers

Make a difference in our community by volunteering with summer Unified Enrichment camps through Edina Community Ed! Your support will help create a positive and meaningful camp experience for our students, ensuring they feel valued and engaged in all camp activities.

We ask that volunteers attend a 1.5 hour training session (DATE TBD the week of June 2) and commit to serving all four days (3 hours per day) for at least two weeks of Unified Camps.  

  • Step 1: Potential Unified volunteers must complete an application by April 13, 2025. Link here: 
  • Step 2: Accepted Unified volunteers will be notified of their schedules by April 25, 2025.
  • Step 3: Unified volunteers will attend a 1.5 hour training session (Date TBD) the week of June 2-5 and serve all four days for at least two weeks of camp

Location: South View Middle School

Dates & Shifts: 

  • June 9-12 |12:45 PM - 4:00 PM | Unified Theater Together
  • July 21-24 | 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Unified Fit & Active
  • July 28-31 | 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Unified Cooking 
  • July 28-31 | 12:45 PM - 4:00 PM | Unified Cooking 
  • Aug 4-7 | 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Unified Art
  • Aug 4-7 | 12:45 PM - 4:00 PM | Unified Art 
  • Aug 11-14 | 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Unified Team Building

Green Superheroes of Science Teen Teachers at excitED 
Students entering 7-8 grade

A great volunteer in this program is someone who…

is a thoughtful and enthusiastic individual, this volunteer is eager to share their interest in science with young learners. They are committed to educating the next generation about the environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution. 

Through engaging experiments, they aim to inspire young minds and foster a supportive learning environment where students can explore environmental science concepts and develop a better understanding of these critical issues.

  • Step 1: Potential Teen Teachers must complete an application by April 13, 2025: Link here 
  • Step 2: Volunteers must attend a required, day-long training with U of M extension/4H staff on Thursday, June 5, from 9:30am - 3:30pm. Lunch will be provided. 
  • Step 3: Volunteers commit to serving all eight days (2-3 hours per day) of teaching young students at Highlands Elementary July 7-17

Questions: email Alan.Hendrickson@edinaschools.org

Location: Highlands Elementary School

Dates & Shifts: July 7-10 & July 14-17, M-Th, 12:45-3:15 pm

PTO News
Get your Valley View Gear!

Don't miss the chance to get some awesome Valley View gear, our store is still open! 

NEW! United Spirit Wear Now Available!

Purchase HERE

Spirit Store Scholarships Available!

We want to make sure all of our students are able to show their school spirit! Please reach out to Jill Wait at Jill.wait@edinaschools.org if you need to request a scholarship for your student to purchase school spirit wear.

Extra Curricular Opportunities
Looking forward to High School?

Check out this Social Studies Travel-Based Learning program to Scandinavia in Summer 2026. Linked here are the various resources presented at tonight's meeting, including a recording of the meeting:

 

Recording of the Meeting |  Transcript of the Recording

 

Slides used during the Information Session on Thursday, February 27, 2025

 

EF Tours Info Brochure - Scandinavia 2026

 

Student Application Link (due date is March 9, 2025 at 9:00pm)

2025 Summer Activities in Edina

Check out all the Summer Activities in Edina on this handout provided by the Edina Resource Center! 

Girls & Boys Ultimate Frisbee

Sign-up & registration is now open for Girls & Boys Ultimate Frisbee, grades 5-8. This sport is great for students interested in making new friends, developing additional skills that translate to other sports, and leads to fun playing opportunities at the high school level and beyond. Ultimate Frisbee is a no-cut sport that is inclusive to everyone, and no prior experience is needed. 

To learn more and register, visit EdinaUltimate.org/e/Middle25.

Email info@EdinaUltimate.org with any questions.

Edina Give & Go

Financial assistance for athletic, art, and academic extracurricular activities.

If you are in need of assistance: https://edinagiveandgo.org/successes/need-help/

If you are interested in donating: 
https://edinagiveandgo.org/give-help/

Superintendent Search

The Edina School Board has begun planning to hire our new superintendent, with the official search beginning in fall 2025. To ease the transition, an interim superintendent will be hired to coincide with Dr. Stanley’s expected departure in mid-April and serve through the end of the 2025-26 school year. Stakeholder feedback will be an essential component of the hiring process. 

Please visit this page for updates.

Community Shares
MN Twins & Hornet Baseball - Saturday, April 26th

Join the EHS Varsity Baseball Hornets for an exciting day of baseball at Target Field on Saturday, April 26th!! This special event brings together two incredible games while supporting the Edina High School Baseball Program.

Enjoy a full afternoon of action, community spirit, and fun:

Two Games, One Ticket!

1:10 pm | MN Twins vs. LA Angels

4:30 pm-ish | Edina vs. Minnetonka (45 minutes after the Twins game)

Tickets: $25 per person (Each ticket grants access to both games)

Limited edition hats are also available for purchase!

All funds raised will directly support Edina High School Baseball, helping to equip the

newly upgraded Courtney Field, invest in player development, host team events, and

continue building a top-tier program that empowers our athletes on and off the field.

Buy Today!

Purchase your tickets and hats today!

This event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors!

Metropolitan Ford

Hopkins Auto Body

Wayne Transports


We look forward to seeing you at Target Field!

Best,

Alison & Chris Yeamen

Teri & Scott LaFrenz

Jenny & Eric Bjorgaard

EHS Baseball Captain Parents

Questions? Reach out to Edinabaseball.TargetField@gmail.com

Career Exploration - Volunteers!

Share your knowledge with our young Hornets!

If you are interested in participating in upcoming career exploration activities happening in Edina Public Schools, please fill out this form and Jessica McLennon will be in touch. 

Looking Ahead
Quick Links
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