Back to School 2025 Newsletter

FALL 2025

EDUCATION MATTERS BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION

VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT One Community. One Campus. Limitless Learning.

AUG 11 6th Grade Orientation - 8:30-11:30AM 9th Grade and New Student Parent Meeting (only Parents/Guardians) 6-6:30PM

AUG 13 Early Childhood Center Parent Orientation - 5-6PM

AUG 14 Early Childhood Center Meet the Teacher - 2:30-3:30PM K-5th Meet the Teacher - 3:30-5:30PM Middle School Open House - 4-6PM High School Open House - 4:306:30PM

AUG 15 Kindergarten Jump Start - 8:30-11AM 9th Grade and New Student Orientation - 9AM-12PM

AUG 18 First Day of School High School 7:40AM - 2:40PM Middle School 7:40AM - 2:40PM Elementary 8:15AM - 3:15PM Preschool 8:15 - 11:15AM & 12:00 3:00PM

BOARD OF EDUCATION Kim Bellchamber, President Phyllis Geary, Vice President Rebecca Menley, Secretary Richard Schmitt, Treasurer Yasmin Chittakhone, Director Pete Coates, Director Lisa Finder, Director Dr. Tim Dilg Superintendent of Schools Jaime Gast, Editor Director of Communications In case of emergency. . .

Occasionally, severe weather conditions or other emergencies make it necessary to close school.

The Superintendent tries to make the decision to close school by 5:30 a.m., or earlier if possible. When classes are postponed or canceled, a phone call, a text message and an email will be sent out to all students, parents and legal guardians through our messaging system.

School closings are also broadcast on KMOX (AM 1120) and TV stations KSDK Channel 5, KMOV Channel 4 and FOX Channel 2 & Channel 11; and are posted on the District’s website, Facebook and Twitter.

ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTICES CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE. WWW.VPSCHOOLS.ORG/BACKTOSCHOOL

LEGAL NOTICE: STUDENTS' RECORDS ESSA COMPLAINT PROCEDURES HEALTH SERVICES: ALL SCHOOLAGE CHILDREN MUST BE IMMUNIZED FERPA NOTICE: YOUR RIGHTS PUBLIC NOTICE: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES COMPLIANCE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AT VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS AND MORE...

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?

FREE AND REDUCED MEALS

Dyslexia is characterized by Valley Park participates in difficulties with accurate the free and reduced-price and/or fluent word meal program for families recognition, spelling, and decoding abilities. Dyslexia unable to pay full price for SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT is a neurological condition meals served in schools.

COMPLIANCE PLAN caused by a different wiring Eligibility is determined based on income and the of the brain, and its The Valley Park School number of people living in inherent characteristics District (VPSD), along with a household. You can exist on a spectrum - with the Department of determine eligibility and all students having unique Elementary and Secondary apply by visiting abilities. Research states Education provides free www.vpschools.org/foods that one in ten people may appropriate educational ervices or by visiting your have dyslexia. programs for various At Valley Park, our goal is to child’s school office. disabling conditions Contact our Business Office identify any and all through special education at (636) 923-3618 with any students with reading programs. questions. difficulties and provide The VPSD, through the research-based strategies Special School District, is The U.S. Department of Agriculture to help them grow and responsible for providing (USDA) prohibits discrimination in learn.

Our identification appropriate services to all its programs and activities on children birth to 21 years of meets and exceeds state the basis of race, color, national mandates as we do our origin, age, disability, and where age who have a diagnosed best for students. applicable, sex, marital status, disability.

The VPSD Local Compliance Plan is available for public inspection in the Assistant Superintendent's office from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., by appointment only.

If you know of any student in the VPSD who falls into the areas listed and is not receiving assistance, please contact SSD Director of Special Education , Julie Schroeder, (636) 923-3621.

REPORTING ABSENCES If a student is absent from school, parents or guardians are required to call the District’s main phone number, (636) 9233500. If no report is made, as a safety measure, the school may telephone the parents at home or at their place of employment to verify the absence.

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 7206382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider.

VOLUNTARY INTERDISTRICT CHOICE CORPORATION (VICC) Valley Park School District has determined that the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) and its officers, employees and agents are school officials with legitimate educational interests because they act for and on the behalf of the district with respect to transfer students and the transfer program, and because they seek to advance the interests of both. A transfer student’s attendance records and other educational records relevant to the student’s participation in the program or to the program itself may accordingly be disclosed to VICC without obtaining written consent from the parent/guardian or eligible student.

SERVICE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS! Thank you for your continuous contributions and for being such valued members of our Valley Park School District team.

Here’s to many more successful years together!

WESTON MILNE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH MAY 2025

20 years 20 years

James Bielicke

Mary McKelvey

Michael Menley

Susan Sears

Tim Siebe

Weston Milne

2025-2026 MISSOURI SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS All students must present documentation of up-to-date immunization status, including month, day, and year of each immunization before attending school.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) allows a 4-day grace period. Students in all grade levels may receive immunizations up to four days before the due date.

Missouri-required immunizations should be administered according to the current ACIP schedule, including all spacing, (CDC.Gov/vaccines/schedules).

To remain in school, students “in progress” must have an Immunizations In Progress form (Imm.P.14) on file. In progress means that a child has begun the vaccine series and has an appointment for the next dose. This appointment must be kept and an updated record provided to the school. If the appointment is not kept, the child is no longer in progress and is noncompliant. (i.e., Hep B vaccine series was started but the child is not yet eligible to receive the next dose in the series.)

Religious (Imm.P.11A) and Medical (Imm.P.12) exemptions are allowed. The appropriate exemption form must be on file. Unimmunized children are subject to exclusion from school when outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases occur.

1. Last dose on or after the fourth birthday and the last dose of pediatric pertussis before the seventh birthday. Maximum needed: six doses.

2. 8-12 Grades: Tdap, which contains pertussis vaccine, is required.

3. Grade 8-11: One dose of MCV is required. Dose must be given after 10 years of age.

Grade 12: Two doses of MCV are required unless the first dose was administered to a student who was 16b years of age or older, in which case onlyone dose is required. At least one dose must be given after 16 years of age.

4. Kindergarten-12 Grade: Last dose must be administered on or after the fourth birthday. The interval between the next-to-last and last dose shouldbeat least six months.

5. First dose must be given on or after twelve months of age. If MMR and Varicella are not administered on the same day, they must be at least 28 days apart. The 4-day grace period does not apply to live vaccines.

6. There must be at least four weeks between dose one and two; at least 8 weeks between dose two and three; at least 16 weeks between doses one and three and final dose must be given no earlier than 24 weeks of age.

7. First dose must be given on or after twelve months of age. If Varicella and MMR are not administered on the same day, they must be at least 28 days apart. The 4-day grace period does not apply to live vaccines.

Kindergarten-12 Grade: As satisfactory evidence of disease, a licensed health care provider may sign and place on file with the school a written statement documenting the month and year of previous varicella (chickenpox) disease.

2025 MISSOURI CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

All children must present documentation of up-to-date immunization status, including month, day, and year of each immunization before attending child care/preschool.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) allows a 4-day grace period. Children may receive immunizations up to four days before the due date.

Missouri-required immunizations should be administered according to the current ACIP schedule, including all spacing, (CDC.Gov/vaccines/schedules).

Parent/Guardian (Imm.P.11) and Medical (Imm.P.12) exemptions are allowed. The appropriate exemption form must be on file. Unimmunized children are subject to exclusion from child care/preschool when outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases occur.

To remain in child care/preschool, children “in progress” must have an Immunizations In Progress form (Imm.P.14) on file. In progress means that a child has begun the vaccine series and has an appointment for the next dose. This appointment must be kept and an updated record provided to the facility. If the appointment is not kept, the child is no longer in progress and is noncompliant. (i.e., Hep B vaccine series was started but the child is not yet eligible to receive the next dose in the series.)

VP Educators Selected for Prestigious Statewide Teacher Cadre

Valley Park School District is proud to celebrate two outstanding educators for their leadership in studentcentered learning. Mr. Patrick Kreitler of Valley Park Middle School and Dr. Paige Overman of Valley Park Elementary were selected, last year, as two of just 91 educators across Missouri to join the inaugural Personalized Competency-Based Master Teacher Cadre.

This elite program, hosted by the Missouri Department of Education in partnership with the Success-Ready Students Network, recognizes educators who are at the forefront of personalized, competency-based learning. The goal? To create classroom environments where students have more voice, choice, and ownership in their learning journey.

Over the last several months, Mr. Kreitler and Dr. Overman participated in over 40 hours of intensive professional development focused on refining instructional practices and expanding their leadership in personalized learning strategies.

Because they successfully completed the program’s first year, both educators are now eligible to continue their journey in Year 2. This next phase, known as the PCBL Master Teacher Cadre Action Research, dives even deeper. Participants will focus on building learner agency and peer coaching, all while engaging in action research designed to strengthen personalized, competency-based practices within their classrooms and across the district.

We’re incredibly proud of Mr. Kreitler and Dr. Overman for their commitment to innovative, student-first teaching. Their work is helping pave the way for a more personalized and meaningful educational experience for every Valley Park student.

2025 STATE AND NATIONAL ASSESSMENT HIGHLIGHTS 5 out of 7 areas tested in middle school performed above the state average.

4th grade students outperformed the state average in both reading and math.

4 out of 5 EOC tested areas outperformed the state average.

99% of students who took an AP exam in the spring scored a 3 or higher compared to 60% nationwide

2024 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT CELEBRATIONS FOR VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) is the statewide system that outlines expectations for school practices and student outcomes. MSIP supports the statewide goal that each student graduates ready for success in college, career and life. MSIP measures are combined to create an Annual Performance Report (APR) for each local education agency (LEA) and building. APR is the primary factor in classification of school districts. APR 2024: Achieved 98.3% of the possible points in Continuous Improvement which is a gain of more than 2 percentage points compared to 2023.

S t a y t u n e d f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e V a l l e y P a r k S c ho o l D i str i ct s tud e nt achievement celebrations for the 2025-2026 school year!

Kindergarten Parents! Kindergarten Jump Start is on August 15th! This program will allow our youngest students to transition to school prior to our first-fifth grade students arriving in the building. We can't wait to welcome you to Valley Park Elementary School, class of 2038!

Tax Free Weekend is August 1-3 Superintendent Earns National Leadership Nomination

Important Dates and Details: August 13 Early Childhood Center Parent Orientation, from 5-6PM August 14 Early Childhood Center Meet the Teacher from 2:30-3:30PM Kindergarten Meet the Teacher from 3:305PM 1st-5th Meet the Teacher from 3:30-5:30PM August 15 Kindergarten Jump Start from 8:30-11AM Questions? Please contact our elementary office at (636) 923-3600.

We’ re excited to announce that Superintendent Dr. Tim Dilg has been nominated for the NASS Excellence in School Leadership Award in the Small School District category by the National Association of School Superintendents. This national award honors superintendents who demonstrate exceptional leadership in public education. Dr. Dilg will be recognized at the Honoring and Pursuing Leadership Excellence Conference this fall. We’ re proud to see Valley Park represented at the national level!

Congratulations, Dr. Dilg—and thank you for your continued vision, service, and commitment to our students, staff, and limitless learning community!

Prop B Construction Update: A Summer of Transformation This summer has marked one of the most productive chapters yet in our Prop B journey, with significant progress made across every Valley Park school building. As students and staff return this August, they’ll be welcomed by learning environments that are safer, more functional and better equipped for the future—all thanks to our community’s continued investment in limitless learning.

Elementary School Classroom renovations are complete, with fresh paint, new flooring, and upgraded finishes throughout both floors. The main office, nurse’s suite, and second-floor learning areas are fully finished, while the special education, reading, and counseling spaces are ready for students. Pod bathrooms have been updated with new cabinets, sinks, and resin flooring. New furniture has been installed to enhance functionality and showcase the refreshed learning spaces.

Middle School & Early Childhood Center A new roof now covers the middle school, paired with new and fully installed and operational rooftop HVAC units. At the ECC, the HVAC replacement is complete, ensuring a more comfortable and energy-efficient environment for our youngest learners.

High School New flooring has been installed in the majority of hallways and in the Commons. Restroom upgrades are underway with epoxy finishes. Exterior plaster and window replacements are complete, and new safety film has been applied. The industrial tech and art rooms are receiving soundproofing enhancements, and exterior work continues with updated lighting bases, drainage, and irrigation improvements. The high school renovations will continue through the 2025-2026 school year.

Softball Field & Restroom Facility The upgraded restroom is complete, and the DuraEdge playing surface has been spread to improve our playing surface. The infield will also be laser-graded, creating a safer, higher-performing field for our athletes.

Parking Lots Resealing and fresh striping have been completed in the student lot, middle school lot, and areas along Highway 141—improving both safety and accessibility for our entire school community.

We’re grateful for your continued support as we bring our shared vision to life: One Community. One Campus. Limitless Learning.

Visit our Prop B website at www.vpschools.org/propb for ongoing updates on our progress.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community for passing Prop B, enabling us to continue our limitless learning journey for years to come.

FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES 9/25/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. LADUE HIGH SCHOOL 8/28/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL 8/28/25 4:30PM V SOCCER VS. GATEWAY SCIENCE ACADEMY HS 9/25/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP 9/25/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP 9/02-04/25 V VOLLEYBALL @ HANCOCK TOURNAMENT 9/26/25 4PM V SOCCER VS. BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 9/02/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ HERCULANEUM HIGH SCHOOL 9/26/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER VS. BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 9/03/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ LUTHERAN ST. CHARLES 9/27/25 V VOLLEYBALL @ PRINCIPIA TOURNAMENT 9/04/25 5PM V SOCCER @ VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 9/29/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. FOX HIGH SCHOOL 9/04/25 6:30PM JV SOCCER @ VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 9/30/25 4PM V SOFTBALL VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 9/05/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL @ WRIGHT CITY HIGH SCHOOL 9/30/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 9/08/25 4:00PM V SOFTBALL @ URSULINE ACADEMY 9/30/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 9/09/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP. 9/30/25 5PM V SOCCER @ BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 9/09/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP. 9/30/25 6:30PM JV SOCCER @ BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 9/09/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL 10/01/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL 9/09/25 4PM V SOCCER @ BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 10/02/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 9/09/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER @ BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 10/02/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 9/10/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. ST. PIUS X 10/03/25 4:30PM JV SOCCER @ MRH 9/10/25 4:30PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ JENNINGS HIGH SCHOOL 10/03/25 6PM V SOCCER @MRH 9/10/25 5:30PM V VOLLEYBALL @ JENNINGS HIGH SCHOOL 10/06/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL @ LUTHERAN SOUTH HS 9/12/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 10/06/25 4:30PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 9/12/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 10/06/25 5:30PM V VOLLEYBALL @ VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 9/12/25 4PM V SOCCER VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 10/07/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 9/12/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 10/07/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 9/13/25 V SOFTBALL @ ELSBERRY TOURNAMENT 10/07/25 5PM V SOCCER @ HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 9/15/25 4:30PM V SOCCER VS. MRH 10/08/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ HAZELWOOD WEST HS 9/15/25 6PM JV SOCCER VS. MRH 10/09/25 4:30PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL 9/16/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ MRH 10/09/25 5:30PM V VOLLEYBALL @ ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL 9/16/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 10/09/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL VS. PACIFIC HIGH SCHOOL 9/16/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 10/09/25 4:30PM V SOCCER VS. GATEWAY SCIENCE CHARTER 9/17/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 10/10/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL VS. MRH 9/17/25 4PM V SOCCER @ BISHOP DUBOURG HIGH SCHOOL 9/17/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER @ BISHOP DUBOURG HIGH SCHOOL 10/10/25 4:30PM V SOCCER @ CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP 10/13/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL @ INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY 9/18/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL @ WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL 9/18/25 4:15PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. HERCULANEUM HIGH SCHOOL 10/14/25 4:15PM V SOFTBALL VS. ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL 9/18/25 5:15PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. HERCULANEUM HIGH SCHOOL 10/14/25 4:30PM V SOCCER @ METRO ACADEMIC & CLASSICAL HS 10/14/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ MRH 9/19/25 4PM V SOFTBALL VS. BAYLESS HIGH SCHOOL 10/14/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ MRH 9/19/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 10/15/25 4:30PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. MCKINLEY CLASSICAL 9/19/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 10/16/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL @ GATEWAY SCIENCE CHARTER 9/19/25 4PM V SOCCER VS. HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 10/16/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL @ GATEWAY SCIENCE CHARTER 9/19/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER VS. HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 9/22/25 4:30PM V SOFTBALL VS. PARKWAY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL 10/17/25 4:15PM V SOCCER VS. COLLEGIATE SCHOOL OF MED BIO 10/23/25 5PM V SOCCER @ SULLIVAN HIGH SCHOOL 9/22/25 4:15PM V SOCCER VS. WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL 10/23/25 6:30PM JV SOCCER @ SULLIVAN HIGH SCHOOL 9/22/25 5:45PM JV SOCCER VS. WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL 10/27/25 4PM V SOCCER @ ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL 9/23/25 4PM V SOFTBALL VS. HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 10/27/25 5:30PM JV SOCCER @ ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL 9/23/25 4PM JV VOLLEYBALL VS. MRH 9/23/25 5PM V VOLLEYBALL VS. MRH 10/28/25 4:30PM V SOCCER @ WRIGHT CITY HIGH SCHOOL 9/23/25 4:30PM V SOCCER VS. CROSSROADS COLLEGE PREP 10/28/25 6PM JV SOCCER @ WRIGHT CITY HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE COMING SOON! ACTIVITY BUS: Resident middle and high school students staying after school for school-sponsored activities can be transported home on the activity bus Monday through Thursday. Daily route is determined by student drop off. The bus leaves at 4PM from the bus circle. To ride the bus, students must sign up with the supervising teacher. There is NO activity bus on Fridays or the day before a holiday.

ATHLETICS

Fall practice begins Monday, August 12th Who: Boys Soccer - Volleyball - Cross Country - Softball When/Where: Individual coaches will be in contact.

Please complete your Physical Form and Preparticipation Form through Final Forms at www.vpschools.org/finalforms.

Athletes must have these items prior to practicing.

Questions? Call the Athletic Office: (636) 923-3544 Visit www.vpschools.org/athletics for forms and the most up to date information.

DO YOU NEED A PHYSICAL? Yes, all student-athletes must have a current physical on file.

Physicals are valid for two years from the date of the exam and must remain valid through the entire sports season. To get started, create a Final Forms account at www.vpschools.org/finalforms and download the physical form to take to your physician.

CHECK OUT THE ATHLETICS CA L END A R! Dates and times will be updated and can change, please visit www.vpschools.org/athleticscalendar for the most up to date information.

VALLEY PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE MAIN STREET VALLEY PARK, MO 63088

Join our Golden Club!

Valley Park residents age 60+ can get a free Golden Club Card for entry to school plays, concerts, and regular season home sporting events. Members are also invited to two special breakfasts, our Heroes Day in November and our Golden Club Breakfast in March. For more information, contact Jaime Gast at 636-923-3690 or jgast@vpschools.org.

NOTE: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE: Please check the district web site, www.vpschools.org, for the latest information on school activities or follow us on social media.

Facebook.com/Valley.Park.School.District

Twitter @ValleyParkSD

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