Valley R-VI Elementary
At Valley Elementary, we are proud to have some of the best students and teachers in eastern Missouri! We love developing our students’ love of learning and watching them grow into leaders prepared for the challenges of tomorrow!
We invite you to get involved this year by learning more about our Leader in Me process, volunteering in our schools, and finding ways to reinforce at home what we do at school. You’ll find lots of resources on this page and throughout our website to do just that. Remember, when parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit!
A Message from Our Principal
Welcome to Valley R-VI Elementary School. It is an honor and privilege to be the principal at Valley R-VI Elementary. I look forward to working with you this year to help your child academically, socially, and emotionally. Throughout my employment with the Valley R-6 School District, I have been given the opportunity to build on my strengths of collaborating, being data driven, and creating a vision to help all students succeed. Prior to becoming the principal at Valley, I taught middle school special education, K–12 physical education, and health. I have also coached junior high and high school varsity basketball. These experiences coupled with my desire to build relationships with students, parents, and teachers, prepared me for this remarkable opportunity as Valley R-VI Elementary principal.
We are excited to share the great news that we are nationally recognized as a Leader in Me school! Our school was recently designated as a Lighthouse School, which signifies our commitment to the Leader in Me program! As a result of this program, many of our students are engaged in leadership positions inside and outside their classroom. Our desire is for students to begin expanding their leadership capacity in elementary school so they have the foundation to become proactive citizens. Our emphasis on leadership is facilitated through monthly student-led assemblies, leadership roles for students, students identifying and setting their own personal and academic goals using their Leadership Notebooks, and student-led community service projects.
Our partnership with the families of our students as well as other community members and organizations is a key part of our success. Students benefit when parents and guardians are involved in their education. We should have consistent communication between home and school for families to learn about what is happening at school and provide feedback to help us improve. Please consider being involved in any way you can throughout the year.
Valley R-VI Elementary has a highly qualified staff and offers a quality education to all students. Our goal is improving student achievement and making students lifelong learners and leaders. The coming school year will provide wonderful opportunities for the academic and social development of our students, and it is vital that we combine our efforts to help them succeed. Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns. I hope everyone has a great year and, as always, thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Caleb Tiefenauer
Mr. Caleb Tiefenauer
Elementary Principal
Leader in Me
Valley Elementary is proud to be a Franklin Covey Leader in Me School. Thanks to a grant from the I am a Leader Foundation, we began implementation of the 7 Habits of Happy Kids throughout our building in 2012.
The Leader in Me concept provides students with activities to help them learn practical character and life skills that lead to positive choices. Common language is used throughout our school, introducing our students to personal leadership by teaching independent skills, such as:
Be Proactive – “You’re In Charge”
Students learn responsibility, initiative, and positive attitudes as they begin taking ownership for their choices.
Begin with the End in Mind – “Have a Plan”
Students plan ahead and set goals. They do things that have meaning and make a difference. They see themselves as integral members of the school community.
Put First Things First – “Work First, Then Play”
Students spend time on things that are most important. They set priorities and organize.
During the second “phase” of our program, our students learn how to work well with others by pooling their strengths. They learn that teamwork creates better solutions.
Think Win-Win – “Everyone Can Win”
Students balance what they want with what others want.
Seek First to Understand, then to Be Understood – “Listen Before You Talk”
Students learn to listen to understand others’ perspectives, ideas, and feelings and develop confidence in voicing their own ideas.
Synergize – “Together Is Better”
Students value the strengths of others and seek out their classmates’ ideas to solve problems.
And finally, our students learn that good leaders know how to keep things in balance. By thinking long term and seeking support, the leader in us can flourish and thrive, producing lasting results.
Sharpen the Saw – “Balance Feels Best”
Students take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. They spend time with family and friends.