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Originally delivered on 2/2/2026 9:03 am

SUBJECT: The Vibe Newsletter - Feb. 2nd

Dates to Remember:

February 13th: 8th Grade Dance

February 16th: Presidents Day - No School

February 17th: Professional Development Day - No School

VVMS in Focus
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Hornet Cares Fund

The Hornet Cares Fund can accept tax‑deductible financial contributions that support a wide range of needs for Edina Public Schools' families and staff experiencing temporary hardship — helping ensure stability, dignity, and continued access to school and community resources.

Give here. In addition, the site includes opportunities to volunteer and get involved in support efforts throughout Edina and the greater Twin Cities area.

If you need help, please reach out to a school social worker, cultural liaison, school administrator, or any school teacher. They are ready to support you and provide you with information. Visit Immigration Resources on the EPS website for more information.

Staff & Teacher Appreciation

We are accepting donations for individually wrapped snacks and canned beverages for our lovely VVMS teachers and staff! These goodies for the staff lounge can be dropped off anytime at the main office.  

If you have any questions to please email the PTO at vvmspto@gmail.com or Erika Drake at ekdrake@gmail.com

Interested in joining the Teacher & Staff Appreciate Committee?

You will help support our teachers and staff throughout the school year. Please reach out to Erica via email: ekdrake@gmail.com if you are interested in this important position!

Save the Date: An Evening of Insight for Middle School Parents and Guardians

If you have a student who's currently in middle school or will be moving on to middle school soon, we invite you for an illuminating evening with Chris Balme, a globally recognized leader in adolescent education and author of "Finding the Magic in Middle School." Chris Balme’s presentation will provide you with practical, research-informed strategies that will immediately enhance your perspective, reduce conflict, and strengthen your relationship with your child.

Valley View, alongside several partner schools, is proud to offer monetary support and co-sponsor guest speaker Chris Balme. We invite families and staff to attend his presentation on February 4th, at South View Middle School as part of this collaborative, districtwide effort to support our students.  

Join us February 4 from 6-8 p.m. at South View Middle School Theater. Please RSVP, as space is limited.

8th Graders: High School Registration

Please see the following graphic for important dates surrounding Fall 2026 High School registration for your rising 9th grader!

8th Grade Dance Feb. 13th

The 8th Grade Dance is just around the corner and we are looking for volunteers to join us! 

Sign Up to Volunteer

Fastbridge Testing Results

Our district uses a diagnostic known as Fastbridge to do pulse checks on numeracy and literacy performance. 

Winter results are now available and if families want to scan their child’s scores, they can use this document to access their student's results.

Season of Giving Recap

Thank you to everyone who supported the Season of Giving gift drive for our wonderful Valley View faculty and staff! 

With all of the generous contributions, we were able to gift each staff member with a $50 Visa gift card, provide a taco bar, staff snacks, and there was even a visit from our favorite local coffee shop, Edina Coffee Roasters!

Sign Up for the 2026 Vibe 5K

We’re excited to share that the VIBE K Community Race is returning on May 2, 2026! This fun and inclusive community event brings everyone together to move, cheer, and support a great cause!


Registration is now open, with a “VIBE for All” option available to support families who may need reduced or free entry. We kindly ask that this option be used when necessary so we can continue to sustain and grow the event. We hope to see many of our school families participate!


VIBE K Community Race – Sponsorship Opportunities
Local businesses and community partners are invited to support the VIBE K Community Race on May 2, 2026. Sponsorships and in-kind donations directly benefit Valley View Middle School and Edina Public Schools while providing meaningful visibility at a fun, well-attended family event. To learn more or become a sponsor, view the VIBE K Sponsorship Packet.

Host a French Intern

We are currently recruiting families to host a French intern for the 2026–2027 school year!

We are incredibly fortunate to be in a program with French-speaking interns teaching in our classrooms. In order to have these interns with us, our program depends on families in our community who generously provide room and board for one semester. With your support, we can continue to have three interns in the Valley View Middle School French program.

Any family with a child taking French can be a host family. While most host families have students in the French immersion program, this opportunity is open to the entire French community. 

Watch the video by Pierre Schmitt. 

For more information, visit our webpage or contact our intern director, Charlotte Taubel, at interndirector@normandalepto.org.

Volunteer at Valley View!
Lunch and Hall Monitors

Come experience the Valley View VIBE and make a difference in students' lives!

We love having our VVMS parents volunteer during passing times and at lunch! It is a great way to experience the school and make a positive difference in the lives of Valley View students!

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! 


For reference, here is the VV Daily Schedule.

Thank you!!

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,
PTO News
PTO Meeting Calendar

PTO Meetings are open to everyone!

Meetings are generally held the first Monday of the month at 7pm via Zoom. You can use THIS ZOOM LINK to join.

The first 10 minutes are reserved for public shares with 2 minutes awarded per person. If you wish to share something during the PTO meeting please fill out THIS FORM. The rest of the meeting time will follow the Meeting Agenda and is intended for board member discussions only.


VVMS PTO Meeting Schedule:

February 2nd, 2026

March 2nd, 2026

April 6th, 2026

May 4th, 2026

June 1st, 2026


You can find previous Meeting Minutes HERE.

Community Shares
Firearm Safety

Keeping our school community safe includes promoting secure firearm storage at home. Firearms are currently the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, and improper storage increases the risk of accidental injury, suicide, and gun theft. Taking simple steps at home can make a meaningful difference.

We encourage all families to follow the Be SMART principles, which highlight the importance of locking and safely storing firearms:

  • – Secure all guns in your home and vehicles.
  • M – Model responsible behavior around guns.
  • A – Ask about unsecured guns in homes where your children play.
  • R – Recognize the role of firearms in suicide.
  • T – Tell others to Be SMART.

Storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition helps protect your children, their friends, and our broader community. Preventing access to unsecured firearms is one of the most effective ways to reduce tragedies.

Families can learn more by visiting besmartforkids.org, watching the Be SMART educational video, and sharing these resources with others. Together, we can help keep all children safe.


If you have a community event that you would like to share in the Vibe, reach out to vvmspto@gmail.com

 

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