🪶 In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we were honored to welcome a special guest from the Kiowa Nation last Friday. She shared stories and insight into Native American history and culture with our secondary students. This was a rare opportunity to hear directly from an authentic voice and deepen our understanding of Native American heritage. We’re grateful to celebrate this month by learning, listening and growing together. 💙🧡 #VPPride #OneCommunity
🪦 A "Grave" Exploration of Math History: Our 8th Grade Mathematician Graveyard
This fall, our 8th graders brought history — and math — to life (or perhaps afterlife) through a creative research project on famous mathematicians. Each student chose a notable figure from the world of mathematics, from Pythagoras to Katherine Johnson, and dug deep into their lives, discoveries, and lasting impact.
But instead of presenting their findings in a typical report or slideshow, students designed tombstones to represent their chosen mathematician. Each tombstone included key details like birth and death dates, major contributions to the field, fun facts, and even clever epitaphs that captured the mathematician’s legacy.
The result? A one-of-a-kind Mathematician Graveyard that transformed Mrs. Schlotzhauer's classroom into an interactive exhibit of mathematical history.
As students walked through the graveyard, they explored centuries of mathematical thought — from geometry and algebra to probability and logic — all while appreciating how each thinker’s ideas continue to shape the math we use today.
The project combined research, creativity, and visual storytelling, giving students a chance to connect with the human side of mathematics. It also sparked some great conversations: Who really discovered zero? What challenges did women in math face in earlier centuries? And how have modern mathematicians built on the ideas of those who came before?
Whether spooky, serious, or just plain smart, each tombstone reflected not just the mathematician’s story, but the student’s own curiosity and voice.
We’re so proud of our young historians and mathematicians for making this project both educational and unforgettable. Ask your 8th graders about the “graveyard” this week — if you dare — and see for yourself how our 8th graders are keeping math alive in the most creative way possible!
This fall, our 8th graders brought history — and math — to life (or perhaps afterlife) through a creative research project on famous mathematicians. Each student chose a notable figure from the world of mathematics, from Pythagoras to Katherine Johnson, and dug deep into their lives, discoveries, and lasting impact.
But instead of presenting their findings in a typical report or slideshow, students designed tombstones to represent their chosen mathematician. Each tombstone included key details like birth and death dates, major contributions to the field, fun facts, and even clever epitaphs that captured the mathematician’s legacy.
The result? A one-of-a-kind Mathematician Graveyard that transformed Mrs. Schlotzhauer's classroom into an interactive exhibit of mathematical history.
As students walked through the graveyard, they explored centuries of mathematical thought — from geometry and algebra to probability and logic — all while appreciating how each thinker’s ideas continue to shape the math we use today.
The project combined research, creativity, and visual storytelling, giving students a chance to connect with the human side of mathematics. It also sparked some great conversations: Who really discovered zero? What challenges did women in math face in earlier centuries? And how have modern mathematicians built on the ideas of those who came before?
Whether spooky, serious, or just plain smart, each tombstone reflected not just the mathematician’s story, but the student’s own curiosity and voice.
We’re so proud of our young historians and mathematicians for making this project both educational and unforgettable. Ask your 8th graders about the “graveyard” this week — if you dare — and see for yourself how our 8th graders are keeping math alive in the most creative way possible!
Some of our 8th graders designed, developed and tested a glider within constraints as a part of the design process in the Flight & Space class. Here are the results! #LimitlessLearning
Enjoy the newest edition of the Family Hawk Talk! https://secure.smore.com/n/vfyax
Enjoy the latest edition of the Family Hawk Talk newsletter! https://secure.smore.com/n/2pdrec
Students in Mr. Kreitler's 8th Grade writing class dove into Frankenstein by reading six key passages between Victor and his Creature. They explored how word choice sets the mood and discovered how language itself fuels the conflict in the story. #LimitlessLearning #VPPride
Enjoy this edition of the Family Hawk Talk! https://secure.smore.com/n/asmrb1
Here is the August 28th edition of the Family Hawk Talk! https://secure.smore.com/n/jnvus
Middle School After School Activities are starting next week! Check out the calendar and plan on staying for some fun! Listen to daily announcements or check out the bulletin board at the bottom of the stairs for specific details. #LimitlessLearning
Only two weeks until the first day of school! Check out the Family Hawk Talk newsletter for important back to school information. See you soon!
🎒 Our Back-to-School Newsletter is packed with everything you need to kick off the year strong. Important dates, tips and more! 💙🧡📬 If you missed it in your mailbox, no worries, it’s online now! 🛍️ And don’t forget: Tax-Free Weekend is happening THIS weekend!👉 www.vpschools.org/btsnews #VPPride #LimitlessLearning
⏰ Back-to-School = Back to Good Habits! Whether you’re in elementary, middle, or high school, showing up on time and ready makes a big difference. ✅ Elementary: Confidence starts with being on time and fueling up and yes, even a banana counts! 🎒 Middle School: Less stress, more success. Attendance boosts grades and friendships. 🗓️ High School: Every class counts. Prep the night before and set yourself up to win the day. Let’s make every day count, Hawks! 💙🧡 #VPPride #LimitlessLearning
⏰ Middle school mornings come quick. Try waking up at your school-day time this week to get back in the groove. #LimitlessLearning
Please join us for a Middle School Parent Bootcamp! Choose which date works best for you and join us for conversations about middle school expectations and how to support those at home. We hope to see you there!
We can't wait to welcome back our Hawks on August 18, 2025! Check out this to do list and visit www.vpschools.org/backtoschool for all the information you need for the first day! See you next month! #VPPride
Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Valley Park School District! Today, we celebrate the values of freedom, unity and community. Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday with family and friends. 💙❤️ #VPPride #OneCommunity
☀️ Summer’s here and we want to see what you’re up to! Whether you're traveling, reading in a hammock, splashing at the pool or hitting the field for some summer sports, we’d love a peek! 🏖️📚⚽Drop a photo or comment and show us how you’re making the most of summer break! 💙🧡 #VPPride #OneCommunity
☀️ Our Education Matters Summer Newsletter is here! Whether it landed in your mailbox yet or not, you can flip through the latest stories, highlights and celebrations online too. Check it out here: www.vpschools.org/summer2025💙🧡 #VPPride #OneCommunity
