Congratulations to VCES teacher Miss Pam Leestma who this summer was awarded the 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award established by the NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer. Miss Leestma and New York teacher Mrs. Neme Alperstein were presented with the award at the NASA IT Summit 2010 in Washington DC. The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes K-12 educators for the innovative use of technology within their curriculum. The unique team teaching approach Miss Leestma and Mrs. Alperstein have which utilizes technology to connect students has been recognized as outstanding by NASA, and will be featured on the NASA education website.
We thank God for His blessings upon Valley Christian Schools as we look
forward to the start of school on September 7. For your preparation,
the Back to School Shopping lists are available online for
Preschool Supplies, Elementary School Supplies and Middle School Supplies. (High School students
should be prepared on the first day of school with pens, pencils, and
paper; any additional supplies will be listed in the syllabus given to
students on the first day of class.) Elementary Class Rosters available here, the password information was communicated to families through the mail. Thanks for your patience as we continue to process new students. We look forward to welcoming both returning and new school families soon.
Congratulations to Dean Pollema who was selected Press Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year and coach Rob Samuelson who was selected Coach of the Year. Kyle Pollema and Brett Anema were selected 1st team Dream Team. Read their full stories... Dean PollemaRob SamuelsonKyle Pollema and Brett Anema
Beau Bennett was the 20th player selected in the
recent 2010 NHL draft, going in the 1st round to the Pittsburgh
Penguins. Follow this link to
his interview, which includes a mention of Valley Christian High
School near the end.
Congratulations to the following athletes for being selected All CIF for the 2010 spring season. Division 2 boys volleyball setter Dean Pollema (1st team) and middle blocker Brett Anema (2nd team). Division 5 softball pitcher Lina Avila (1st team) and catcher Emily Craig (2nd team). The athletes led their respective teams to Olympic League championships and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs.
Congratulations to the following athletes for being selected all league for the 2010 spring season. MVP - Dean Pollema (volleyball), Austin Batiste (track), Conner Tien & Binh Pham (tennis). 1st Team - Brett Anema & Kyle Pollema (volleyball) - Scott Correia (golf) - Chris Hunt, Tyler Zak, Chris Aalberg & Jim Herrema (tennis) - Laurel Burkhardt (gymnastics) - Sam Raffaelli (baseball) - Emily Craig, Tatum Schultz, Alexis Snyder & Lina Avila (softball) - Anthony Binford, Jesse Boom, Adam Lynch, Jeriah Dunk, Chris Binford, Marques Mitchell, Sam Phillips & Jordan Montgomery (track). 2nd Team - Chris Albers, Mike Klein & Tanner Miller (volleyball) - Zach Santa Cruz (golf) - Madison Garcia, Leanne Garrels & McKenzie Goff (softball) - Sarah Kubinski (track). 3rd Team - Alyssa Ivins, Lexi Batiste, Myriah Darden, Breauna Westbrook, Jahdai Dunk, Alyx Henry, Amy Sybesma & David Russell (track).
Congratulations to the softball team for winning the 2010 Olympic League Championship. It is the first championship since 2006. The softball team is ranked #3 in CIF Division 5 and will open the playoffs on Thursday May 20th. Congratulations Coach Avila and softball.
Congratulations to the following athletes for winning a league championship in their respective sport or event. Connor Tien and Binh Pham (doubles tennis), Jesse Boom (girls high jump), Marques Mitchell (long jump), Sam Phillips (shot put), Jordan Montgomery (discus), Austin Batiste (200m), Adam Lynch (400m), Anthony Binford (300m hurdles), Jeriah Dunk, Adam Lynch, Chris Binford, Austin Batiste (4 x 100m relay), Jeriah Dunk, Adam Lynch, Marques Mitchell, Austin Batiste (4 x 400m relay).
Congratulations to the boys volleyball team for winning the Olympic League Championship. They finished the year 23-3 overall, 8-0 in league, and ranked #6 in Division 2. This is the 6th consecutive league championship for the volleyball team. Congratulations Coach Samuelson and boys volleyball.
Most VCHS classes hold reunions every ten years, but a group of twelve women
from the class of '64 have been meeting for dinner every six to eight
weeks for the past four
years! In April, six of them attended a retreat in Palm
Springs sponsored by First Bellflower, Artesia,
and Trinity Christian Reformed Churches. Because several of the group
attend those churches, they decided to
hold their meeting at the retreat. Pat Van Dyke shares, "It was a time
of fun,
fellowship, and much Spiritual growth." Pictured left to right are: Arlene Nydam Haagsma, Joann Douma VanderBroek, Barb VandenBerg Mitchell, Pat Westra VanDyke, Maxine Christoffels De Leeuw and Alene Mulder.
This
year, we congratulate 5 students from the Junior class who are National
Merit Scholarship Qualifiers: Audrey, David, Timothy, John, and Kelsey.
Our elementary school, middle school, and high school faculty are all
sharing in the excitement as three of these students were educated at
Valley Christian Elementary and Middle School prior to our high school.
The five students are part of the 50,000 nationwide honored out of 1.5
million entrants! Students with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index
scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify
for recognition in the National Merit®Scholarship Program.
Congratulations to the following athletes for being selected ALL-CIF. Division 6 Boys Soccer - Daniel Hernandez (1st team), John McTigue (3rd team), and Josh Sutherlin (3rd team). Division 5 Girls Soccer - Hayley Haagsma (1st team), Jacqueline Lara (3rd team), and Caryann Parrish (3rd team). Division 5AA Girls Basketball - Kari Korver (1st team) and Taylor Cotton (1st team). Coach Katie Hardeman was selected Girls Basketball Division 5AA Coach of the Year.
Lexi Snyder has accepted a scholarship offer to play softball for Savannah College of Art and Design, currently ranked #15 in the NAIA Softball Top 25 Poll. Lexi is a four year varsity player and member of the All Olympic League Team. Coming off a junior season plagued with injuries, Lexi has had a solid senior season as the starting center fielder. Emily Craig has accepted a scholarship offer to play softball for Concordia University, currently ranked #9 in the NAIA Softball Top 25 Poll. Emily has received All League Honors three times, All CIF Honors once, Team MVP, Team Defensive Player of the Year, and is a Scholar Athlete. Congratulations Lexi and Em!
The Annual Fine Arts Festival is an opportunity for 5th – 8th grade singers, piano players, band students, and orchestra students to perform in a small group or solo. In order to participate, students have to qualify in the "Preliminary Festival" held on February 11 at VCES. At the "Preliminary Festival," students will be assigned specific times to perform in various rooms on campus. Parents are invited to come and listen in support of your students. Students who qualify will be notified by Friday, Feb. 12 if they will be performing at the festival on March 2 at the Crystal Cathedral. A letter with more details will be sent to parents of students selected to go on to the Festival on March 2.
Important Dates: Fine Arts Festival forms due on January 8. Preliminary Festival will be held after school on Thursday, 2/11 (specific times TBA) The Fine Arts Festival itself will be on Tuesday, 3/2 at the Crystal Cathedral.
If you have any questions, please contact Miss Grebow lgrebow@vcschools.org (for 5-6 singing/piano), Mrs. Rietveld and frietveld@vcschools.org (for 7-8 singing/piano), Mrs. Connell sconnell@vcschools.org (orchestra), or Mr. Kooi (band) ekooi@vcschools.org.
Congratulations to Kevin Running for being selected to the California Division III All State Football Team. Kevin's recognition this year include Olympic League Most Valuable Player, Olympic League 1st Team All League, and Mid Valley 1st Team All CIF. Kevin passed for 2,446 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 66% completion ratio for a quarterback rating of 108. Kevin also rushed 90 times for 348 yards including 7 touchdowns and had a punting average of 39 yards.
Valley Christian School System Business Office: 10818 Artesia Blvd. Cerritos, CA 90703 / Phone 562.860.0556 / Fax 562.860.4323 - Map Preschool : 10012 Ramona Street, Bellflower, CA 90706 / 562.263.3030 - Map Elementary School: 17408 Grand Ave. Bellflower, CA 90706 / Phone 562.920.9902 / Fax 562.920.9778 - Map Middle School: 18100 Dumont Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703 / Phone 562.865.6519 / Fax 562.403.3159 - Map High School: 17700 Dumont Avenue, Cerritos, CA. 90703 / Phone 562.865.0281 / Fax 562.865.0082 - Map
Congratulations to the softball team for winning the 2010 Olympic League Championship. It is the first championship since 2006. The softball team is ranked #3 in CIF Division 5 and will open the playoffs on Thursday May 20th. Congratulations Coach Avila and softball.
Congratulations to the boys volleyball team for winning the Olympic League Championship. They finished the year 23-3 overall, 8-0 in league, and ranked #6 in Division 2. This is the 6th consecutive league championship for the volleyball team. Congratulations Coach Samuelson and boys volleyball.
Most VCHS classes hold reunions every ten years, but a group of twelve women
from the class of '64 have been meeting for dinner every six to eight
weeks for the past four
years! In April, six of them attended a retreat in Palm
Springs sponsored by First Bellflower, Artesia,
and Trinity Christian Reformed Churches. Because several of the group
attend those churches, they decided to
hold their meeting at the retreat. Pat Van Dyke shares, "It was a time
of fun,
fellowship, and much Spiritual growth." Pictured left to right are: Arlene Nydam Haagsma, Joann Douma VanderBroek, Barb VandenBerg Mitchell, Pat Westra VanDyke, Maxine Christoffels De Leeuw and Alene Mulder.
