Spring 2013 Development Update

1 to 1 iLearning with Apple iPads

Valley Christian Middle School, both grades 7 and 8, was the starting point this past September for implementing an iVCS iPad Learning Program. The iPad program will expand to the high school in September 2013.

At the March 2013 auction, $34,200 was raised for infrastructure upgrades to prepare the high school classrooms and campus for this cutting-edge learning technology in 2013. Incorporating digital learning at elementary grades will follow in future years. 

Students will be equipped to use the latest digital tools, increasing learning and raising our already high test scores. VCS will be on the cutting edge of e-Learning.

Tuition Assistance Needs

We are grateful for donations to the Tuition Assistance fund. These donations enable students of families struggling with temporary job loss, divorce, or a parent's death to remain at VCS.

Recent Examples of Success

Several Christian children in a foster care families have been at VCS for the past 5 years. The oldest graduated this past June and earned scholarships to college!

Hundreds of students have participated in mission trips and all preschool - 12th grade students are involved in serving our community.

Campus Upgrades

We have made nearly $10 million in capital improvements in the last decade.

• Two new high school buildings in 2007
• One new middle school building in 2004
• Upgraded Building C at the high school in 2002

Donations paid for $7.5 million of the $10 million construction costs. We need generous contributions to pay off these debts.

More than 1,100 donors have contributed so far to the new buildings.

Annual Fund 2012-2013

Donations to the Annual Fund enhance our ability to promote exceptional achievement in academics, athletics, fine arts, and extensive service-learning. Tuition only covers 95% of the cost of education to try to make Christian education as affordable as possible to as many as possible. Annual Fund donations close this gap.

Recent Examples of Success

• 5 students in 5 years earned appointments to prestigious military academies.
• 2012 graduates were accepted to Princeton, Yale, Duke, Stanford, NYU, USC, UCLA, and more.
• Over $4,000,000 in college scholarship offers in Academics, Athletics, and Fine Arts to each of the past four graduating classes! Over $5,000,000 in college scholarships were offered to the Class of 2012.

Introducing our Heritage Society

This new group includes those who make planned gifts to Valley Christian Schools, which include:

• Bequest (via will or living trust)
• Life insurance beneficiary designation
• IRA/401K beneficiary designation
• CRT/CRUT/CRAT beneficiary designation

By informing VCS in writing that you have designated the school as a beneficiary in your estate plan, you will automatically be qualified for membership in the Heritage Society and entitled to its privileges. Dollar amounts are not required to be disclosed.

Benefits of membership include:

- Invitation to an annual appreciation luncheon

- Semi-annual communication updates on the endowment fund progress, including inspirational testimonials from members.

Endowment

In the 1960s an endowment fund was created to help secure the future for the school. The fund total is currently at $3,000,000. Annual interest helps the school meet critical budget needs.

Demographics have changed since the school was founded, with students now coming from more than 250 churches, but our 78-year mission has not changed.

We pray that alumni, parents, and grandparents who have been positively impacted by Bellflower/Valley Christian Schools will include it in their estate plans.