News & Notes

A historic year for the Blue Valley Educational Foundation

The 2022-23 school year was momentous for the Blue Valley Educational Foundation. During the annual Surprise Squad, BVEF gave away $683,000, a historic amount for teacher grants and district-wide initiatives. The foundation hosted Battle of the Bands and raised over $74,000 — the highest record for that event.

BVEF’s spring Women’s Giving Circle was a night to remember. Attendees voted to use the $15,000 raised to fund Blue Valley Academy’s new auto tech program. An anonymous donor fully funded a second grant proposal, Blue Valley North’s art gallery. Before the night ended, guests ensured the third grant, Blue Valley Southwest’s sculpture garden, received funding too. The foundation rounded out the school year by hosting its annual Night of Lights and raising over $30,000.

Blue Valley names its 2023 Friends of Education

For more than 20 years, Blue Valley Schools has recognized individuals and organizations in the community who have made outstanding contributions to public education. The program recognizes individuals and groups in the following categories: school district volunteers, community leaders, private or public institutions and community/civic organizations.

The Father’s Club, Jinkies! Coffee and Hangout, John Constant of EPIC Landscape Productions and Village Shalom were celebrated as Blue Valley’s 2023 Friends of Education for their contributions to Blue Valley students, staff and families.

To learn more, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/friendsofed

New York state of mind: Blue Valley Northwest choir performs at Carnegie Hall

The Blue Valley Northwest choir in March traveled to the Big Apple to perform at Carnegie Hall as participants in the National Youth Chorus. The choir was also asked to perform a 20-minute solo set at the music hall.

In attendance were 69 Blue Valley students who performed “Ad Astra,” “Chorus Storm,” “Holding Our Breath” and “Ta Na Solbici.” The choir was met with an immediate standing ovation.

Blue Valley Food Pantry opens, supporting families, staff

The Blue Valley School District in March celebrated the opening of the Blue Valley Food Pantry. The special education program is focused on increasing employability skills through an authentic work environment before transitioning into a community work placement while also fulfilling a need among district families and staff.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in attendance, along with district board members, staff, students and local elected officials who helped celebrate.

Two Blue Valley North seniors named U.S. Presidential Scholars

Two Blue Valley North seniors, Elizabeth Rushing Place and Luke Wen-Tsu Chen, were selected as 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars. They are among only 161 students nationwide named as U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Place and Chen plan to attend Harvard University.

The program recognizes the nation’s most distinguished high school seniors for their academic success, artistic excellence, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. The Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to honor the nation’s top high school seniors.

Since its opening, the food pantry has had 370 visits, which include Blue Valley families coming in for appointments and staff members picking up food boxes. The pantry is possible thanks to generous donations from the community. The pantry will receive regular food donations from local organizations Harvesters and Cosentino’s Markets, with the Blue Valley Educational Foundation providing critical fundraising support. To learn more, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvpantry.