Pursuing Excellence for All: For Every Student, Every Day; Construction Update; Graduation; Gratitude and Appreciation. As we come to the final month of the school year, I feel compelled to share the great things that are taking place here at Platte Valley. We have a phenomenal school district, with phenomenal people, focused on doing their best every day to provide an exceptional education experience for all of our students, PK-12. That experience begins first thing in the morning upon being picked up on the bus, entering the school, going to get breakfast in the cafeteria, and when first entering the classroom. This work and effort is shown as the culmination of results. That does not mean we will “win” in every endeavor we work towards, but we do have a significant amount to be proud of. Some examples include:

• 7 – This is the number of national event qualifiers we had this school year in our CTE programs.
• 5 middle school students qualified to compete at the upcoming National FBLA Conference in June.
• 1 high school student qualified to compete at the upcoming National FCCLA conference in June.
• 2 students competed at the National FFA Conference in October, earning the first ever place in Platte Valley School District history by placing 7^th in the AgriScience competition.
• 5th- The state place for the Platte Valley Elementary Destination Imagination Team, the first time this team placed at the state competition in our Destination Imagination Team’s history.
• 59- The number of FFA, FCCLA, and FBLA students who qualified for the state competition.
• 3- The number of Platte Valley High School FCCLA students who earned District Officer positions.

There are many achievements that can be celebrated district-wide from throughout the school year. These are just a few examples of the accomplishments that have taken place. These are the end results of the work that is put in leading up to culminating events. These are the results that are seen and only take place because of the effort and process the individuals involved go through to achieve extraordinary outcomes. It is the result of a collective effort that includes students, staff, and family to Pursue Excellence for All: For Every Student, Every Day.

Construction Update. As of May 1^st, we are approximately two months, or 60 days away from the completion of the new Platte Valley Middle School. We are excited for this work to be completed and to share the final product with our community. Our partners JHL Constructors, RBB Architects, and Agora West have been working diligently, often into the late hours of the night and over weekends to ensure that we will have the building open for the start of school. So far, the construction has been, and we believe ultimately will be, a resounding success.

While the building itself will be open for the beginning of school, there will still be a considerable amount of site work construction taking place throughout the fall. A projected timeline is provided below for the remainder of the work to take place:

• Asbestos Abatement and Demolition of the Existing Middle School: Monday, May 4^th - Friday, September 28^th. (Note this will be completed in three separate phases, beginning in the field house on May 4^th. The fieldhouse will be closed off at this time and abatement area will be contained).
• Middle School Secure Outdoor Courtyard/Learning Area: August – November.
• Promenade and Outdoor Courts: September – October.
• New Football Field and Grass Park Area: October – November.
• New Elementary South Parking Lot and Student Drop Off: October – November.

All the remaining site work is dependent on the timing and completion of the existing middle school demolition. Accordingly, it is important we are able to start that work as soon as possible and hope that the abatement goes well.

To celebrate the opening of the new middle school we will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house in conjunction with Kersey Days on Friday, August 7th beginning at 4:00 pm. This will precede the lawnmower races at 6:00.

Graduation 2026. We are a few short weeks away from celebrating the culminating achievement for all that enter and finish the public education system, high school graduation! We have 73 seniors that will be celebrating the conclusion of their public education careers by walking across the stage and receiving their high school diploma. Graduation will be Sunday, May 17^th at 10:00 am and will be taking place at Platte Valley High School. We look forward to seeing the strong community showing and supporting our Platte Valley graduating class of 2026!

Gratitude, Appreciation and Power of Public Education. Finally, I would like to share my sincere appreciation for the Platte Valley School District staff. We are incredibly fortunate to have dedicated and hard-working professionals that strive to meet students’ needs, help them grow and achieve academically, and fully recognize the tremendous responsibility that comes with the education profession. These are characteristics that are exemplified by all of our staff, ranging from building administrators and teachers to paraprofessionals, food service, bus drivers, technology, and maintenance. Public education is truly unique in that it serves over 90% of United States population. No other industry can say this, and I genuinely believe it is what has led to the strength of the United States. Regardless of an individual’s background, upbringing, beliefs, abilities, and characteristics, public education works to serve, educate, and better all. I whole-heartedly believe there is not a staff that does it better than those at Platte Valley.

Yours in Education,

Jeremy Burmeister, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

“You become unstoppable when you work on things people cannot take away from you. Things like your character, habits, mindset, and attitude.” Author Unknown.