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A Reminder about Winter Weather Cancellation or Delay of a School Day

Now that winter is upon us, this is a reminder of how VVSD informs parents and guardians of a weather-related cancellation or delayed start of a school day.

If the school day is going to be cancelled or delayed, parents and guardians will receive a phone call by 6 a.m. In consideration of parent work schedules and the need for child care arrangements, VVSD will try to make the decision and inform the community earlier whenever possible.

If the decision is made to delay the start of the school day, the school day will start two hours later than scheduled for grades K-12 with regular transportation/car rider/walker routines in place. STEP will begin at 9 a.m. and all Early Childhood classes will be cancelled on a delayed start day. Communication regarding before/after care or other activities will be provided when necessary.

In addition to the phone call, information about school closings or delayed starts will be sent via email, posted on the District website vvsd.org, Facebook and Twitter feeds, and shared with the area newspapers, and television and radio stations. Parents and guardians are encouraged to log into their Infinite Campus parent accounts to be certain their phone contact and email information is up-to-date.

VVSD Early Childhood Online Registration for Community Based Tuition Program Opens Feb. 3

Valley View School District’s Early Childhood Program will be offering a limited number of placements for the half and full-day Community Based Tuition pre-school program for the 2020-21 school year.

The Valley View Early Childhood Center offers a diversity of experiences for students, with a focus on pre-academic skills, social and emotional development, and hands-on activities. Music and movement are also key attributes of the curriculum, which focuses on the development of the whole child and their self-esteem.

Full Day Community Based Tuition Program Pre-School students will attend 6 hours and 15 minutes per day at a cost of $600 per month, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a snack. Before and after school care is also available through the Romeoville Recreation Department. Community Based Tuition Half Day Pre-School is for 2 1/12 hours per day at a cost of $245 per month. Valley View’s Early Childhood program offers early childhood education for children three years old by the first day of school and no older than five years old on Sept. 2, 2020. This program is open to all Valley View 365U residents and outside residents, with families who reside within VVSD boundaries given first priority.

To register online for the lottery for available placements in either the Community Based Tuition Full Day or Half Day programs, visit http://www.vvsd.org/ec beginning Feb. 3. Online lottery application closes on Fri. Feb. 28. The lottery drawing will take place on Tue. March 3. Parents will be contacted via email on Wed. Mar. 11 if their child has been selected through the open lottery system. If you have any questions, please call 815-886-7827 ext. 6156.

Wood View Students Podcast about Conversation & Compliments

Wood View Elementary students in Mr. Adam Hague’s class are learning about interaction through conversation and about how compliments build bridges for conversation.

The students created a podcast to show what they have learned. We were invited to witness the recording of the podcast that included a warm-up conversation about favorite animals. Our condolences to Turbo the Turtle. Watch the video to figure out that part of the conversation.

Pioneer Elementary 1st Graders Learn to Analyze and Interpret Data

Students in the Pioneer Elementary School 1st Grade classroom of Mrs. Jill Ricketts and Mrs. Crystal Aitchison are learning the skill of viewing, analyzing, and interpreting data.

Watch the video to see Mrs. Aitchison lead the students through analysis of data on favorite foods. The students classify the data and then use their math skills to analyze and interpret the information.

Illinois 5Essentials Survey Now Open to Valley View Parents

Valley View School District 365U is joining the Illinois State Board of Education in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, the seventh statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. Now through Feb. 14, students, teachers and parents can take a 25-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. This survey will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation. Click here to take the 5Essentials Survey

Black History Month Celebration Set for Feb. 9

The Black History Month Awareness Club & Valley View School District Present the 22nd Annual Community Wide Black History Month Celebration “Soaring to New Heights” on Sat. Feb. 8 from 2-5 p.m. in the Roger and Pat Claar Family Auditorium at Bolingbrook HS. Admission is free. he VVEEF Brings the Zoo to You at WildFest

The Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation presents an amazing, fun, and educational opportunity for the whole family when WildFest visits Bolingbrook HS on Sun. Jan. 26.

Attending WildFest will give you the opportunity to experience a menagerie of exotic animals, including wolf, alligator, python, bats, lynx, skunks, owls, falcons, and more.

Specific demonstrations include: Big Run Wolf Ranch, Jim Nesci’s Cold-Blooded Creatures, Incredible Bats, and K-9 Guardian Dogs. In addition to the demonstrations, there will be concessions, vendors, and opportunities to pet and take photos with the animals.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for kids (free for kids up to 3 years old), $5 for high school and college students presenting a school ID.

Proceeds will benefit the grant programs in VVSD schools supported by the VVEEF and are animal rescue programs. If you are interested in being a vendor at WildFest, contact Mrs. Aimee Rupsis at [email protected]

A New Decade is Time for the U.S. Census- Everybody Counts

The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade there is a count— or a census—of America’s population. The census provides vital information for you and your community.

It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw congressional district boundaries.

Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs including new roads, schools, and emergency services.

Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop. Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and communities based on Census Bureau data.

The law requires the Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and use your responses only to produce statistics. The Bureau cannot publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you, nor share your information with immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or police, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. To learn more about Census 2020, visit http://www.census.gov

Quick Notes

The next regular meeting of the Valley View School District Board of Education is on Monday, January 27, at John J. Lukancic Middle School, 725 W. Normantown Rd, Romeoville IL. The meeting will be called to order at 6:30 p.m. and the Board will vote to go into Executive Session. The Public Session of the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the Agenda for the meeting will be posted no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting. Click here to view the Agenda

The Romeoville HS Baseball Team is offering a Winter Baseball Skills Camp for players in grades 3rd-8th. The cost of the Camp is $20 per session. Dates are Jan. 19 hitting; and Jan. 26 pitching and small games). For more information, contact Romeoville HS Baseball Coach Mr. Mike Skroch at [email protected]

The Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation presents Wild Fest, an up-close look at wildlife on Sun. Jan. 26 from 10 am- 4 pm at Bolingbrook HS. Wild Fest will gives kids and families a chance to encounter snakes, lizards, owls, hawks, falcons and more. Admission is $8 for parents and $5 for kids (kids under three years old admitted for no charge) and $5 for college and high school students presenting their school ID. Proceeds from the event will support the VVEEF’s educational grant program and animal rescue programs.

DuPage Township

DuPage Township Youth Committee is hosting an open forum Parent Summit to address concerns regarding youth in our community on Thu. Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at the DuPage Township Center at 251 Canterbury Lane in Bolingbrook. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the DuPage Townships Administrative Office at (630) 759-1317.

Heart Haven Outreach

Heart Haven Outreach is hosting their Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for middle and high school students at Brooks Middle School on Sun. March 1. The deadline to sign up is Thu. Jan. 30. For more details, call (630) 226-8403 or download the registration form at http://www.hearthavenoutreach.org/basketball Coaches are needed for the tournament and if you would like to volunteer, contact Ryan Lawrence at [email protected] Volunteer coaches conduct three practices during February and coach on the day of the tournament.

Northern Illinois Food Bank

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is conducting mobile food banks and micro pantries in the vicinity in the near future.

Please bring bags or boxes. Micro Pantries are designed to allow anonymous food pick-up for those in need and a drop-off point for those who wish to help. Micro pantries are accessible 24 hours a day. To find a Micro Pantry near you visit: http://arcg.is/04LijC

West Suburban Community Pantry in association with the Northern IL Food Bank will be hosting a Community Mobile Pantry in Bolingbrook every first Monday of the month. Each Community Mobile Pantry will offer fresh produce, proteins and staple items for those struggling to put food on the table. Different organizations from the community will also be present to connect community members and their families with services that can help put them back on your feet.

Will County MAPP Food Micro Pantries

Will County Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships conducts micro and mobile food pantries throughout Will County. Click here for more details and a map of locations.