New Grain Valley Preschool Program

The Grain Valley School District is offering a preschool program for the first time beginning in August 2015.  The purpose of the preschool program is to provide a partial day school learning experience to children prior to entering Kindergarten. Children who turn four prior to August 1, 2015 will be admitted to the program based on results from a standard screening process. Classes will be taught by a certified early childhood teacher with assistance from a classroom paraprofessional. The curriculum will be geared towards the developmental needs of children this age intended to strengthen the school readiness of each child.

Preschool Screenings - April 20 3:30-7:30 PM

Screening will take place at the Early Childhood Center located at 31604 NE Pink Hill Rd on April 20 from 3:30-7:30PM.

Please call (816) 994-4901 to schedule an appointment.

What are the days and times for the preschool?

This is a half-day program that runs Monday through Thursday. The morning session runs 8:00-11:00 AM and the afternoon session runs 12:15-3:15 PM. The preschool program will follow the school district calendar for holidays.

What is the cost to families?

The cost for the program is $60 per child, per week. Discounted rates are available for families who qualify.  

Is transportation provided?

Transportation will be the responsibility of the parents/guardians.

Location of the Preschool?

The program will be located at Prairie Branch Elementary, in a classroom specifically equipped for 4-year-olds.

Who can attend?

Children showing the greatest need based on a standard screening process will be given first consideration for the program.

Please share this information with anyone who you think might be interested in this program in the Grain Valley area.

GVHS The Scene of Mock Car Crash April 15

This Wednesday, April 15th students at Grain Valley High School in conjunction with the Grain Valley Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and the Central Jackson County Fire Department will take part in a program aimed at educating young drivers about the consequences and impact of risky driving behaviors.

The Missouri Highway Patrol will show the video, "Gone Too Soon," showing video testimonials of the effects of inattentive and distracted drivers.  Students will then take part in a mock accident and rescue to visualize the dangers that can befall distracted drivers.

Area residents may notice emergency first-responder vehicles, equipment, and personnel on the high school campus the day of the event supporting the learning experience. This is a staged mock catastrophe for the benefit of students.

Former School Board Member Phil Hutchinson Honored

Phil Hutchinson was recently honored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) for his service to public education. Hutchinson was one of eight individuals to receive the association's Friend of Education Award. This special recognition was made during the awards banquet at the MASA Spring Conference on March 25 at The Lodge of the Four Seasons at Lake Ozark, Missouri.

This award is presented annually to recognize non-educators, one from each of the eight MASA Districts, for their contribution to education locally or statewide.

Hutchinson was nominated for the award by school administrators in the Greater Kansas City MASA District. He served on the Grain Valley School District Board of Education from 2001-2014.

District Earns Fleet Excellence Award for Inspection of School Buses

The Grain Valley School District Transportation department has earned the 2015 Fleet Excellence Award from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Grain Valley received a 95.7% percent first pass rate by the highway patrol during the February 2015 school bus inspection.  The Fleet of Excellence Award means that the Grain Valley School District bus fleet had a 90 percent or better rate with no “out of service” vehicles. Grain Valley has a fleet of 47 school buses owned and serviced by the District’s Transportation department.

“We are pleased to have the endorsement of the Missouri Highway Patrol that our buses are safe and well-maintained,” said Dr. Roy Moss, superintendent. “The Fleet Excellence Award brings attention to our transportation department for their hard work and attention to detail.”

The district’s bus fleet will soon have a new place to be serviced and stored. Construction continues on a new facility for the transportation department on the northeast corner of Eagles Parkway and Sni-A-Bar Boulevard, three-quarters of a mile west of Grain Valley High School. The district expects to occupy the facility in June 2015. The overall design allows for future expansion as the student population within the district grows.

Prairie Branch Principal Heather Gross Named "New Exemplary Principal" in KC Area

A few students shared something special about Mrs. Gross.

Heather Gross, principal at Prairie Branch Elementary School, has been named the New Exemplary Principal by the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principals Association (KCSEPA). The organization selected Mrs. Gross from among area administrators who are in their second or third year as principal.  In selecting an honoree, KCSEPA looks for an administrator who meets their rigorous criteria, including exemplary performance as a new principal.

Prairie Branch students waiting for Mrs. Gross to enter the gym.

Mrs. Gross pictured with husband Kirk and oldest child Gavin.

Mrs. Gross was presented with flowers and balloons at a surprise all-school assembly Monday morning including the school's 536 students, plus faculty and other school and district administrators.  Mrs. Gross' husband, Kirk, and the oldest of their four children, Gavin, were also in the audience.

A few students spoke about what having Mrs. Gross as their principal means to them.  A video highlighting Mrs. Gross' qualities as a servant leader, wife, and mother was also shared.

Mrs. Gross had the last word.  "I feel so incredibly blessed to work with such amazing teachers who care so much about you (students).  That makes my job easy.  I love to come to work every day.  This is a group honor because I have such a great staff, leaders, colleagues I get to learn with, and I have really great students who make this school rock!  I also appreciate my supportive family."

Mrs. Gross and 11 other new principals will be recognized at the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) Spring Leadership Conference in March.

District Pilots 1:1 Technology Initiative

November 21, 2014

Students in three Grain Valley High School classes will be selected to carry a second generation Chromebook with them to all classes this spring as a pilot project.  The district is exploring the possibility of issuing devices to more students in the future.

The School Board approved the purchase of 150 Chromebook devices at their meeting on November 20.  Seventy five of the new laptops will be issued directly to students to use at school and home.  The remaining 75 devices will be divided evenly between three teachers for use in all courses taught by these teachers.  These teachers will receive ongoing training on integrating technology within their teaching practices. The teacher selection process is underway now and students will be identified before Christmas break.

"Technology can be used to improve learning by encouraging collaboration beyond the classroom as well as providing access to online resources," reports Dr. Brad Welle, Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Student Services.  "Technology is becoming so central to all aspects of life; it is taking a greater role in teaching and learning."  In order to gather data on the learning benefit of laptops in class, students and teachers involved in the pilot program will provide input regularly on their experiences with the devices, from the level of collaboration and research being done, to the functionality of the machine itself.  District officials will monitor how students respond and they expect to gain innovative ideas from the students.

Director of Technology Dr. Nick Gooch says the selection of the Samsung Chromebook came down to value.  "For under $300 per device, this laptop is expected to have the functionality and durability needed for day-long use by high school students."  Student safety is also a priority.  "We have filters in place to prevent misuse and ensure the device is used for the intended purpose."

The goal is to be able to make an informed decision around additional devices for the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

UPDATE: June 15, 2015
After a successful pilot with 75 students being issued Chromebook devices this spring, an additional 375 students will be issued devices beginning in the fall of 2015, bringing the total to 450 students. 

Structures for teacher training have been put in place to support teachers as they work to integrate the new technology in their instruction.

The impact of the new practice of issuing devices to high school students will continue to be closely monitored as the district works towards the goal of issuing Chromebooks to all Grain Valley High School students by the fall of 2016.

PRESS RELEASE - School Board Passes Resolution Opposing Amendment 3

The Grain Valley School Board has passed a resolution opposing Amendment 3.  Superintendent of Schools Dr. Roy Moss made this statement about the Board's action, "The Board opposes Amendment 3 because it imposes a one-size-fits-all approach that, if passed, would take away local control and place greater emphasis on standardized tests instead of on instruction and learning."

Amendment 3 is on the ballot for Missouri voters on Tuesday, November 4.

The language of the resolution passed by the Grain Valley Board of Education is listed below.

WHEREAS, Amendment 3 on the November ballot is a state mandate that shifts local control for educational decisions away from parents, teachers, administrators and school boards; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 3 is a poorly drafted and deeply flawed proposal that has many unintended consequences for teachers, administrators and school boards; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 3 would prevent school boards from hiring, promoting, compensating or dismissing teachers in accordance with board policy; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 3 would force taxpayers to pay for additional standardized tests at a time when our public schools remain significantly underfunded by the state; and

WHEREAS, Amendment 3 significantly changes teacher evaluations away from a tool to improve teacher performance;

Therefore be it RESOLVED, the Grain Valley R-5 Board of Education on this 21st day of August 2014, hereby opposes Amendment 3 on the November ballot.