Valley View Jr. High School

Volleyball tryouts will be held in the multipurpose gym on May 4th and May 6th. For more information, contact Coach Stanley or Coach Betts.

To wrap up National Library Week, we did a four-question interview with our media specialist, Elisa Kifer.


What made you decide to become a library media specialist?

I became a library media specialist because I’ve always loved helping students find books they connect with and grow as readers. As a literacy teacher, I used books to teach everything, and nothing was better than seeing a student get excited about reading. At the same time, I was naturally drawn to technology and enjoyed designing lessons that met different learning needs. When I was deciding on my master’s degree, I was torn between reading and curriculum, but my principal suggested library media and information technology as a way to combine both, and it ended up being the perfect fit.


What’s your favorite part of the job?

My favorite thing about being a library media specialist is talking about books with students. Book clubs are my favorite part of what we do in the library. I love that I get to facilitate while the students really lead the conversations. It is so much fun to watch a group of kids who may not even know each other come together and share their excitement about the same book. Being part of those moments is special, and it is amazing to see how books can bring students together.


What are some ways you attempt to boost interest in books, or select books to recommend to students?

I work to spark students’ interest in reading a wide variety of books. I try to read as many titles from our library shelves as I can, because sharing my personal take on a story helps students connect and get excited about it. For First Chapter Fridays I pick books that have a strong hook at the end of the first chapter to build anticipation. When choosing books to book talk, I often choose the first book in a series to build anticipation and curiosity. I also make a point to spotlight books and series that are not currently trending, because there are so many great books and series that get overlooked when they are not popular on social media.


Which library books are currently most popular?

There are hundreds circulated each month, but the ten books that have been read the most during the last few weeks are:
“Bluebird” – Sharon Cameron
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” – Jenny Han
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” – Jenny Han
“The Inheritance Games” – Jennifer Barnes
“Better Than Movies” – Lynn Painter
“Evil Spy School” – Stuart Gibbs
“The False Prince” – Jennifer Nielsen
“The Final Gambit” – Jennifer Barnes
“Ghost” – Jason Reynolds
“The Hunger Games” – Suzanne Collins

Big news from our FFA students! 🎉
Junior and senior high members competed at the state conference this week, with five students representing the junior high. Congratulations to all of the competitors, and a huge congratulations to eighth-graders Baylee Clayton and Landry Tyler for winning the Social Science Division 2 State Championship in the FFA Agriscience Fair! They’re headed to compete in the national conference this summer. Way to go ladies! 🌟👏

💙 #BlazerPride

Today is celebrated as National Administrative Professionals Day! Our administrative assistants are the heart of our school. They work continuously to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes and they support our students, staff, and families is countless ways every day. Thank you to Ms. Norris and Ms. Poole for all that you do! 💙

Junior High Choir ventured to Little Rock last Friday to perform at the Capitol Building, delivering an outstanding performance and enjoying a memorable trip. 🎶🏛️ Thank you to the choir members and Ms. Weaver for representing Valley View so well. 👏

🎶🥳 It's this Friday! Don't forget about the Spring Soiree. 💃 🕺

It is National Library Week 📚, and we are excited to highlight some of the many ways our library is supporting our junior high Blazers. Our library features welcoming seating for reading 📖, Maker Space activities for fun and creativity 🧩, and computers and technology to support assignments and projects 💻. Media Center Specialist, Elisa Kifer, and Media Center Tech, John Westmoreland, strive to maintain a welcoming environment, and they’re always ready and willing to help students explore, discover, and learn.

The library is much more than a big room with bookshelves. It’s a starting point for research, a place to reinforce digital literacy, a venue for spelling bees and chess tournaments, a quiet haven for completing assignments and studying, and a fun place to connect with friends. 💙📘

Yesterday’s Take a Tech-Break Thursday brought several students to the library for some fun table games during lunch. Time spent playing games with friends is always time well spent.

On this Reading Wednesday, we spotted some of Ms. Neal’s students reading “Fish in a Tree” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. This middle-grade novel about the transformative power of supportive mentors is the story of a teacher encouraging a student to embrace unique strengths while overcoming differences and challenges.

This is an automated message from Valley View Public Schools. The Jonesboro Fire Marshal and our contracted fire service company have inspected the High School and determined the water leak was caused by what appears to have been a faulty sprinkler head. Repairs are complete and systems fully operational. All students and staff will return to school tomorrow as normally scheduled. Thank you for your understanding!

This is an automated message from Valley View Public Schools. High school drivers were dismissed early today due to a water leak in a mechanical closet. Fire personnel are currently on campus as a precaution. All students are safe, and safety remains our top priority. Buses will run as normal. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

April is the Month of the Military Child, and tomorrow, April 10th, we honor the children of military personnel by celebrating Purple Up Day. We would like to invite you to wear purple tomorrow to show your support for their sacrifice, resilience, and unique challenges.

Mark your calendars! 📅 An evening of dancing and fun is almost here. 💃🕺

Freshmen Physical Science students raced into their learning lab last week. Ms. Higgins had them experimenting with Hot Wheels cars as they observed and recorded how speed and momentum changed with ramps of varying heights. This activity was a fun way to put learning in motion. 🚗💨

We are proud to announce Stacy Johns as our Junior High Teacher of the Year!

Ms. Johns has dedicated 35 years to teaching science—every one of them at Valley View, where her journey even began as a student intern. Over the years, she has impacted (literally) thousands of students, earning their respect through her passion, positivity, and constant drive to make learning engaging. She is a steady presence in the classroom and a familiar face at countless school events, always bringing energy and encouragement, and never missing an opportunity to express her school spirit.

As she prepares to retire at the end of this school year, we are thankful for how she has faithfully served our Blazer students for so many years. Her influence will be felt for years to come. Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year, Stacy Johns, and thank you for everything you’ve given to Valley View!

💙 #BlazerPride 💙

Don't forget to purchase your yearbook.

📕 📗 📘 📙 On this Reading Wednesday, we congratulate our library reading challenge winners for the month of March: Izzy Boyd, London Harris, Dayton Gifford, Ella Owens, Evie Sandlin and Allie Adams.

Spring Treats for March Book Bingo—Allie Adams closest number of gummies guess when checking in a book. 💙📚

Students in Ms. Stanley’s math classes recently took on a creative learning challenge, designing images using circle patterns. They applied their math skills by noting each circle’s radius, diameter, and area. Junior high teachers voted on the projects; those with accurate calculations and the most creative designs were announced as winners. Congratulations to these talented students, and to all the students that participated in this fun project!
🎨💡➕📐🔵=💙

🏆 Pictured: Abby Wendel (2nd place), Zoey Curtis (1st place), Malik Al Robaiei (3rd place) 🏆

This week, our EAST students had the opportunity to attend the EAST Conference in Hot Springs, AR. They spent the day showcasing our projects to people from across the state while also learning about the incredible work being done by other EAST programs. It’s such an amazing experience for them to grow as speakers and bring back fresh ideas to our school. We are also proud to share that our team was named one of five finalists for Best of Conference Single Booth Design which is an incredible accomplishment! Additionally, three of our EAST team members, Monroe White, Addyson Putt, and Lizzy Vestal, were awarded Difference Maker pins by EAST team leaders. This is a huge honor, with only 150 pins given out throughout the entire week. Congratulations to these students and the entire Valley View Jr. High EAST Program. We are so proud of your hard work and dedication! 💙💛🔥