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Letter from Administration

Dear Viking Students & Families,

Welcome back! I am excited to see students return to campus on Monday, August 5. I hope you have had a relaxing summer and are ready for an exciting school year. As we begin this year, I am filled with enthusiasm for the opportunities and growth that lie ahead.

Over the summer, we have had a few changes to our staff, and I am excited to introduce the new members who will be joining our school:

  • Renee Hofmann will be your new principal.

  • Joshua Dluzak is your new vice principal.

  • Gweneth Upah is Valley View’s new TK teacher.

  • Amanda Marshall is the new 4th-6th grade RSP teacher.

  • April Valentine will be the new 3rd-4th grade SDC teacher.

  • John Belcher is the new addition to 5th grade.

  • Crystal Castellanos is the new school psychologist.

Please welcome the newest additions to the Valley View Viking Village. They come with extensive experience and a passion for teaching. They will be instrumental in continuing to build strong academic foundations with a focus on growth and achievement while recognizing the importance of building strong relationships with students and families.

This year, our theme is “Building a Viking Village.” We hope to build stronger relationships with families through more on-campus events, student recognition assemblies, programs, and incentives. A big part of this focus will be creating systems with an emphasis on safety, communication, positive behavior, and academic achievement. One of the first and newest changes will be to the dismissal procedures. Starting tomorrow, students must remain behind the gates and will only be released when they can identify their parent or guardian, unless you give your 3rd-6th grader permission to walk home. Each grade level has a specific gate they will exit from:

  • TK will exit from the white gate at the TK playground.

  • Kindergarten will continue to be released from the North gate on 35th St.

  • 1st, 2nd, and SDC students will exit the front gate by the office.

  • 3rd grade will exit the North gate on 35th St.

  • 4th and 5th grades will exit the South gate on 35th St.

  • 6th grade will exit the turnstile on L-8.

All grades can be picked up in the valet line on 35 th St with parent permission. The parking lot on L-8 is ONLY for buses, daycare, and handicapped access. Please be patient during the first couple of weeks as parents and students become more familiar with the new procedures, and the back to school “craziness” subsides. Remember that our first priority is the safety of our students. I have attached a copy of the new dismissal map to your email, and you can also find it on our website, along with the bell and PE schedule.  

https://vikings.westsideunion.com/parent-info/pick-updrop-off-information 

 

Our Back to School program will take place on Thursday, August 8, from 4:00-6:00 pm. Food trucks, treats, and school spirit will be available for purchase on the basketball courts.

I hope you all received an email and voice message about who your child’s teacher is. If not, don’t worry, we will have staff members wearing brightly colored safety vests available to answer questions and help point you in the right direction. Parents will be able to walk their children to class. Gates will be locked at 8:00 am so our students and teachers can begin the new year.

You should have received an email asking you to activate your ParentSquare account. I highly encourage you to activate your account as this is the new platform we will be using, which offers a more comprehensive and streamlined interface. We will no longer be using ClassDojo.

Please be patient as we transition to a new administration who will be implementing some changes, while also  learning the new parent communication system. Please reach out to me or Mr. Dluzak if you have any questions or concerns.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Kind regards,

Mrs. Renee Hofmann
Principal

Mr. Joshua Dluzak
Vice Principal

661-943-2451