Jeremy Karel - Principal
jkarel@rockfordschools.org
Address: 405 Summit Ave, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
(616) 863-6366
a note from mr. Karel
Dear Families,
We are just a little over a week away from our Valley View Voyage Walk on Friday, October 16! We are so excited for this fun Valley View tradition and invite all of our families to come out and walk alongside their students.
Attached you will find the schedule showing when each class will be walking. We would also love your help making the Voyage extra special! We are looking for volunteers to help create and run fun stations along the walking route. If you are available to help, please sign up here: 2026 Voyage Sign Up. We truly couldn’t make this event happen without our amazing families!
We are also getting very close to reaching our fundraising goal—which means there is a very good chance our students will soon get the opportunity to paint and glitter me!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. We can't wait to Voyage together!
Warmly,
Jeremy
Walk-a-thon schedule: Carr - 9am, Bascom - 9:05, Karsies - 9:10, Kruisenga - 9:20, Farnham - 9:25, Mitton - 9:30, Bowman - 9:40, Lanham - 9:45, Young - 9:50, Johns - 10, Hanley - 10:05, O'Rourke - 10:10, Brenner - 10:15, Dunham - 10:20, McGrew - 10:30, VanValkenburg - 10:35, Dome - 10:45, Gregory - 10:50, Schueneman - 10:55
Picture Re-Takes
If your student needs to have their photo re-taken, please make sure to communicate that with their teacher. Re-takes will happen October 22rd. If your student needs a re-take, please make sure they arrive at school on time!
Also, if you have a pre-ordered package, please return that package to school on re-take day.
Student council
Congratulations to all of our newly elected Student Council members! We are so excited to see all that you will accomplish in the year ahead. Thank you for stepping up to lead, serve, and represent our school community. We know you will bring enthusiasm, responsibility, and school spirit to your new roles, and we look forward to the great things you will do together for Valley View! Well done!
Fourth grade: Stella Olinik, Finn Kelly, Quinn Wilcox, and Breslyn Burns. Fifth grade: Addison Flavin, Hannah Carmondy, Owen Froelich, Eliza Deryke, Rowan Cooper, Joscelyn Terry, Maggie Jones, Monroe Faasen, Coen Levandowski, and Ellie Seitz
Spirit days
Welcome to Wacky Wednesdays! Our student council is making school fun. We invite you to participate!
10/7: PJ day, 10/21: Lions day, 11/4: Crazy hair day, 11/18: Mismatch day, 12/2: Grinch Day, 12/16: Dress fancy day, 1/6: Denim day, 1/20: Rockford gear day, 2/3: Wacky clothes day, 2/17: monochrome day, 3/3: Favorite book character day, 3/17: Wear green day, 3/31: Tie dye day, 4/14: Crazy sock day, 4/28: Movie character day, 5/12: Purple day, 5/26: Dress from the past
Conferences
We are looking forward to conferences on Monday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 6th. To streamline scheduling, all conferences will be in-person. Follow the below steps for scheduling your conferences! You can book conferences with your child's teacher using the Fall Conference Booking link below:
After filling out your information, you will be able to identify teachers by the grade they teach in the dropdown menu as well as special teachers and ancillary staff. When you choose a grade, you will be able to choose your child’s teacher and a time that works for you. You can go through this process for each of your children. We suggest that if you have multiple children, please put a gap of time between the meetings. You will then get an email confirmation with your time.
Please note that we will not have childcare available on either date.
Thank you Ms. Kelli and Mr. Ben!
We celebrated Custodian’s Day by making cards, posters, and other special surprises to show our appreciation! We are so grateful for all that our amazing custodians, Ms. Kelli and Mr. Ben, do to keep our school clean, safe, and welcoming. We love and appreciate everything they do for our school!
RAM OUT PEDIATRIC CANCER
Anni’s Army Foundation and Rockford Football have teamed up to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Join us for the 3rd Annual Ram Out Pediatric Cancer Football Game on October 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Ram Out Pediatric Cancer shirts will be available for $10 (cash only) at Valley View the week of October 19. Wear your shirt to the game and get in free!
Come out, wear your shirt, and help us show your support for kids and families affected by pediatric cancer.
For more information about Anni’s Army, visit www.annisarmy.org.
Staff shoutout
Shout out to Mrs. Stewart for making reading fun. She's all dressed up for SUPER FRIDAY! You're a superhero in our eyes too, Mrs. Stewart.
Crochet club
Join the Rockford Crochet Club for 5th graders. Learn to crochet, build community, give back to Rockford. What to bring: 1 5mm crochet hook, about 3 skeins of yarn, size 4 (medium) yarn. The club starts in late October. Our mission is to learn to crochet and donate our completed projects to a local community partner: senior center, retirement home, homeless shelter. Make a difference in our community. Our club will be held once or twice a week during students' second recess.
Families: we need your help! If you would like your child to participate, send their materials in a bag labeled with their name, homeroom teacher and an itemized list of materials included. If you would like to donate to support others, do the same but label the bag "donation."
Stock the shelves
Stock The Shelves for Our Schools. Give Books. Support Local. The Rockford Education Foundation has partnered with epilogue books to put books and educational resources into the hands of Rockford students. From now until October 16, 2026, give $50 to REF and get a $25 epilogue books gift card. Gift cards make great gifts or purchase a new read for your family! It’s a simple way to support Rockford students and a local bookstore! The $25 gift cards may be picked up at epilogue books.
halloween festivies
We are excited to celebrate Halloween on Friday, October 30! Parents are invited to join us for our Halloween Parade at 9:45 a.m. The parade route will go up Glen Eagle, over to Highland Drive, and then back to school. We’ll be joined by the Middle School Marching Band and are working with Rockford Public Safety to help make this a safe and fun experience for everyone.
Parents are welcome to:
- Walk along with their child(ren), or
- Line the parade route, cheer, and enjoy the parade as students pass by.
More details will be shared as we get closer!
Costume Guidelines
- Students may wear all or part of their costume to school on Friday, October 30 (no changing into costumes once at school).
- Please keep comfort in mind for sitting in class, riding the bus, and participating in normal school activities.
- For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, no weapons, scary costumes, fake blood, or frightening images. Students with these items will be asked to remove them.
Party Donations
If you’d like to send in items for classroom celebrations:
- Food must be store-bought and individually wrapped.
- Please drop items off by the morning of October 30 (you may send them in earlier that week).
- Label donations with your child’s teacher’s name, and staff will deliver them to the classroom.
Thank you for helping us make this a safe and fun day for all of our students—we can’t wait to celebrate together!
Trunk or treat
Get ready Valley View's 3rd annual trunk or treat is right around the corner. Thursday, October 22nd from 5:30-6:30pm. Come and enjoy a night of trunk or treating with your Valley View friends.
The candy monster will be in the front vestibule starting Monday, October 5th! How much candy can we collect for our candy monster?
Want to be part of trunk or treat? Click the link below to join
Non-Homestead Proposal
The proposal:
- Maintains the district’s ability to levy the maximum statutory rate of 18 mills on non-homestead property.
- Replaces the district’s expiring operating millages with a single operating millage.
- Would authorize 21 mills for operating purposes, not to exceed 18 mills in any year.
- Is expected to generate approximately $9.5 million annually, representing more than 8% of the district’s operating budget.
WHAT IS A NON-HOMESTEAD MILLAGE?
A non-homestead operating millage is a property tax levied on:
- Businesses
- Rental properties
- Commercial and industrial property
- Second homes
- Vacation homes
- Non-principal residences What Is on the Ballot
Homeowners do not pay this tax on their principal residence.
Have additional questions? Please visit: Non-Homestead Proposal 2026 - Our District - Rockford Public Schools
Steam night!
In partnership with the Rockford Education foundation, RPS presents Steam night. November 17, 2026 from 5:30-8pm at the Rockford High School. This event is for DK-5th grade families. Fun includes science experiments, technology demonstrations, engineering challenges, art activities, math puzzles, prizes, food trucks, and fun for all ages! We also need volunteers to make this event a success; if you are will to lend some time, sign up here:
