Valley View High School is celebrating many traditions this year. The school not only marked its 20th anniversary this fall, but also celebrated its annual Thanksgiving feast tradition with more than 200 students and staff.
The Panthers also had a first – a Holiday Pop-up Shop spearheaded by students in the Entrepreneurship class taught by Sara Rasmussen and Gabrielle Brown.
Students created, stocked, and ran the shop. Students decided what items to sell, pricing, and made everything themselves. The shop was open to students and staff during lunch shifts, selling T-shirts, mugs, cookie decorating kits, bracelets, tumblers, blankets, and more.
“We put a lot of effort into making the things we sell, we are really proud of what we have done,” VVHS student Marcy Alvarado said.
Valley View has been a proud tradition for 20 years, serving the community since its first graduating class of 80 students in 2002-2003. Last year, VVHS graduated a record 111 students.
Former Board of Education member Paul Consiglio was instrumental in getting VVHS started before he passed away. His wife Linda and daughters Joanna Carleton and Amanda Pair visited VVHS for the anniversary celebration.
“Dad saw a need for a school like Valley View for students who could benefit from a little extra help,” said Carleton. “To see how much it has grown and what it includes now is amazing and would make him so proud.”
The Thanksgiving feast tradition has been at VVHS since the school’s inception. Staff volunteers to cook and students create centerpieces and décor. The normal spread is turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, corn, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and apple pie.