Valley Christian Weekly News

May 19, 2025 - Issue 36

May 19, 2025: Issue 36

2024-25 Theme Verse: "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19

Preschool - Elementary School - Middle School - High School - Athletics - Friends of VCS

The VCHS Commencement Ceremony will be held this Thursday, 5/23, 6:30 PM at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos. Entrance is by ticket only. The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://www.vcschools.org/hsgraduation

Defender Days Camps are back! Please visit go.vcschools.org/camps to check out the available camps and to register your student(s). Please email cchamberlin@vcschools.org with any questions.

Private Voice Lessons: Mr. Goedhart is again offering voice lessons on the VCHS campus during the summer months to any student wanting to prepare for college music scholarships, learn how to develop their musical skills, and improve their confidence in singing. Contact Mr. Goedhart at pgoedhart@vcschools.org for information.

Summer office hours for the Business Office: Monday-Thursday - 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Parent Service Hours Opportunity: Bookstore 2025-26 - Check-In-Days: Complete your hours before school even starts. Please reach out to Onnie Bomgaars via email if interested at obomgaars@vcschools.org

Monday, August 4, 2025 - 3:30 - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

The Harvest Festival Committee would like to thank you for a very successful festival this year that raised over $19,000 for teachers' requests! We have started planning Harvest Festival for the next school year and are currently in need of volunteers for open and NEW positions:

Co-Chair
Prize Booth Chair
Sponsors Chair

For more information on any position or how to be part of the Harvest Festival Committee, please email harvest@vcschools.org

Are you interested in providing a home to one of our amazing international students? Our HomeStay Host application for the 25/26 school year is now available online. Not only do you get to bless one of these students making the brave choice to leave their home and study across the world, but you and your family get to experience their culture through them and be their safe space here in the US. Click here to apply!

VCS Employment Opportunities:

Middle School Robotics Exploratory Teacher Fall Semester
Daycare Aide
To see the full job descriptions and apply, please visit https://www.vcschools.org/employment

Preschool

The VCPS staff would like to say a special thank you to all of our preschool parents for another wonderful school year! Thank you for entrusting us with your beautiful children each day as they grow in knowledge and the love of God. We pray that you have a wonderful summer!

Chapel offerings: Thanks to your generous chapel offerings, preschool will be donating $262.04 to the high school missions team that is traveling to Alaska to spread the good news of Jesus Christ! Praise God.

Last Day of School: Preschool will be half day (11:45 AM) for all children on Thursday, 5/22. This day will be our end-of-the-year celebration (See your child's teachers for party details)

Summer Preschool: Begins on Monday, 6/2. We look forward to a fun 8 weeks of summer! Information packets went home last week.

Elementary School

The VCES teachers and staff would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our families for your incredible support throughout the year. We wish you a joyful, relaxing, and safe summer!

Parent Service Hours Opportunity: Volunteers are needed for Sports Day on Tuesday, 5/20 at the high school football field. Grades 1-6 will be competing in various track and field activities and could use your help running the events. Lunch is provided, and service hours will be given to all volunteers. The day runs from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. If you would like to volunteer, please email Jon Slager at jslager@vcschools.org.

Students ages 9-14 interested in participating in Robotics in the fall can register at http://go.vcschools.org/vcsrobotics For more information, contact Sharon Lee sharon@vcsrobotics.com

Interested in becoming part of the Parent Association by becoming a ROOM PARENT or GRADE CHAIR for the 2025/2026 school year? CLICK HERE to fill out a survey and learn more about what each position entails. It's a great way to get involved on campus and fulfill your service hours!

VCES Yearbooks were sent home with students last Friday. Every student receives a yearbook.

6th Grade Promotion will be held on Wednesday, May 21 - 1:00 - 1:40 PM: The Sixth Grade Blessing ceremony to celebrate the students that will be moving on to middle school will take place in the high school gym located at 10818 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, CA 90703. 6th Grade students will not have school on 5/22.

Spirit Day, Thursday, May 22 - Schools Out For Summer! It's time to celebrate summer! Wear your favorite Summer Attire to celebrate. Spirit Day is optional. If you choose not to participate, please be in uniform.

Registration for Summer Camp for students in K-8th grade is now open! Here is the link to sign up.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

We hope you enjoyed the changes we made to the Christmas Boutique this school year! The Parent Association has decided to remain in-house for the 2025 Boutique (vs buying from a company that picks the inventory) so if you have any suggestions for items to purchase, make, or curate, OR would like to be part of the inventory team, please email Carly Ploeger at Carlypdesignstudio@gmail.com. Our goal remains to keep the price point low, but would also love to get our VC Community more involved and get moving on sourcing sooner than later to spread the workload out. Look forward to hearing your ideas!

6th-Grade Families - The VCMS Orientation & Study Skills Class will be held July 28-31. In this class, incoming middle school students will learn organizational tips, iPad ins & outs, study strategies and time management. This class will also give students an opportunity to master their lockers, learn the VCMS campus, meet new friends and more! There are two sessions to choose from and classes will fill up quickly. You can register your student now by clicking HERE.

Fast food lunch drop offs should only be used for birthdays and emergencies. This should NOT be a weekly or daily occurrence for your child.

LOST AND FOUND - Lost and Found items will be donated to Affordable Treasures at the end of the week. Please have your child check for any missing items before they leave for summer.

Pop Tabs: We are partnering with The Ronald McDonald House to help families in their time of need by collecting Pop Tabs. Students may bring in their pop tabs at any time.

Important dates for May:

5/19 - Multiage Class - Orange County Zoo
5/19 - 6th Grade - Knott’s Berry Farm
5/20 - Sports Day - TK/K (elementary campus), 1st-6th (high school campus)
5/21 - 5th Grade - California Science Center
5/21 - TK - Kidz Town
5/21 - 6th Grade - Sixth Grade Blessing Ceremony, 1:00-1:45 PM at the high school gym.
5/22 - 5th Grade - Sky Zone (9:00-11:00 AM)

Middle School

8th-Grade Families: Please note the following graduation day (5/21) reminders for -

Students arrive to school at 8:15 AM and go to his/her advisement class.
Rehearsal will be from 8:30 - 10:25 AM at the VCHS gymnasium.
Students will be dismissed from the middle school at 10:30 AM. Parents must pick students up or arrange for his/her transportation.
Students must check in with his/her advisement teacher at the VCHS gymnasium at 6:30 PM.
Only ticket holders will be admitted to the graduation ceremony. Please give your family/friends their tickets ahead of time. We will not have a will call.
Balloons and noise makers will not be allowed in the gymnasium.
We look forward to celebrating your graduate with you!

Thank you to Shavon Walker who helped all year with traffic duty. Thank you for keeping our students, cars and buses safe!

All campus fines must be paid before students may receive a yearbook. There is no additional cost for a yearbook. It was included in your student's tuition.

Students ages 9-14 interested in participating in Robotics in the fall can register at http://go.vcschools.org/vcsrobotics For more information, contact Sharon Lee sharon@vcsrobotics.com

Is your student missing some of his/her belongings? Please come in and check our Lost and Found. All unclaimed items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on Wednesday, 5/28.

Drop-off and Pick-up - Please avoid making U-turns on Dumont Ave during drop-off and pick-up times. Doing this is a safety issue for our students and traffic staff with the amount of traffic during these times.

Broadway Showcase Video - Coming Soon! -Thank you for your patience in waiting for the release of this year's Broadway Showcase video. It is in the final stages of editing and approval. If you have already ordered a copy, it will be released to you as soon as it is complete. If you still want to get a copy, be sure to order yours now! https://www.vcschools.org/orderbroadwayvideo2025

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes. Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

All classes will run 4:00-7:00 PM in Room B18.
Cost $125 per class (Class fees will be credited towards Robotics fall fee for students in or joining robotics).
Classes must meet minimum participation to run.

VCMS - April & May At A Glance:

May 20 - 8th-Grade Picnic
May 21- 7th-Grade Talent Show
May 21 - 8th-Grade Graduation Day. Eighth-grade students will be dismissed at 10:30 AM after graduation rehearsal. Parents are required to arrange their own transportation for their students on this day.
May 22 - 7th-Grade - Last day of school. ½ day, students are dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their normal routes.

Summer Office Hours for the Middle School Office:

May 23 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
May 27 - May 29 - Open 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
June 2 - July 25 - Open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM - 1:00PM
July 28 - Aug 1 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 4 - Aug 8 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 11 - Regular office hours resume (Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)

VCHS Reminders for 8th-Grade Parents

The high school office will be open all summer. Office hours will be Monday- Thursday, 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM. The office will be closed on Fridays. You can contact the office at hsinfo@vcschools.org or 562-865-0281, ext. 226.
Monday, August 4 or Tuesday, August 5 - VCHS Check-In Days - You pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
Monday, August 11, 8:15-11:30 - New Student Orientation Day - Orientation Day for all new high school students
Tuesday, August 12 - A full day of school for all students

High School

The VCHS Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, 5/23, 6:30 PM at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos. Entrance is by ticket only. The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://www.vcschools.org/hsgraduation

Defender Days "Financial Literacy Bootcamp" - Students entering grades 10-12 can register now for this summer camp class with Mrs. Graham where they will learn the basics of banking, credit, investing, insurance, and taxes. This class runs June 16-19, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM. The cost is $100 and you can register/pay online by clicking HERE.

Defender Days "Investing Bootcamp" - Students entering grades 10-12 can register now for this summer camp class with Mrs. Graham where they will learn some of the ins and outs of stocks, bonds, crypto, options, and real estate investments. This class runs July 14-17, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM. The cost is $100 and you can register/pay online by clicking HERE.

Defender Days "College Essay App Writing Workshop" - Students entering grades 11-12 can register now for this summer camp class with Mrs. Ploeger. In this workshop, students will be introduced to what the common app prompts are, read samples of successful college essays to model, and will be taken through a detailed process of brainstorming, outlining, two potential essays, and writing one full essay with a revision process, while gaining timely teacher feedback. Students will leave with an essay they can be ready to submit during their college application process and gain the necessary skills to apply to other application essays. While the focus is on the common app, students may bring in an essay prompt for a specific college if the school they are applying to does not use the common app. This class runs June 16-20, 10:00 - 11:30 AM. The cost is $125 and you can register/pay online by clicking HERE.

Defender Days "Spanish Bootcamp" - Students entering grades 9-10 can register now for this summer camp class with Mrs. Rodriguez. Are you an incoming 9th grader who wants to get a jump start on Spanish 1 for high school? Are you an incoming 10th grader who has questions or needs a review of Spanish 1 before you begin Spanish 2 this fall? This class will run July 14-18, 9:30 - 11:30 AM. The cost is $100 and you can register/pay online by clicking HERE.

LOST AND FOUND - Check out the lost and found in the high school office! Your missing items are waiting to be reunited with you! Anything left during exam week will be packed up and brought to Affordable Treasures.

Summer Hours - The high school office will be open all summer. With the exception of Memorial Day, open office hours will be Mondays-Thursdays, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM. The office will be closed on Fridays.

Important Dates:

Monday, August 4 or Tuesday, August 5 - VCHS Check-In Days - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
Monday, August 11, 8:15-11:30 AM - New Student Orientation Day - Orientation Day for all new high school students
Tuesday, August 12 - A full day of school for all students

Summer 2026 Trip to Japan! Are you ready to explore one of the most exciting, vibrant, and culturally rich countries in the world? Summer of 2026, May 23 to June 1. Valley Christian students will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Japan for an unforgettable adventure. Trip Highlights include:

Bullet Train excursion to Hiroshima
Guided tour to Kyoto- Japan cultural capital
Guided tour of Tokyo
Japanese Calligraphy Class
Excursion to Hakone/Mt Fuji
Japanese cooking class
Spots are limited - You can enroll for $99 deposit online. Contact Mr. Rhodes at MRhodes@vcschools.org or go to www.educationaltravel.com/Rhodes-5931 to learn more or enroll now!

Senior Families- Save the date! Senior Blessing will take place next Monday, May 19, 7:00 PM at Bell One Christian Reformed Church in Bellflower. You won’t want to miss this special evening of worship and celebration. More details to follow.

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes! Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

Exam Week is here - Monday, 5/19- Wednesday, 5/21. Some reminders about Exam Week:

The exam schedule is posted on the High School Student page in Canvas and in the Parent Portal on the school website.
Per school policy, individual exams may not be taken prior to "Exam Week".
Students who are unable to take their exam during the scheduled week (due to travel, illness, etc) will be given an "incomplete" grade in the course until the exam is completed.
Make-up exams for the spring semester will be administered on the mornings of Thursday, May 22 or Friday, May 23. A proctoring fee of $30 (per exam) will be assessed, except in the case of illness (please provide a doctor’s note). Arrangements must be made with the Assistant Principal.
Attendance during Exam Week: Please DO NOT schedule appointments between 8:00 AM and Noon during Exam Week. If your child is too sick to take exams, contact the Attendance Desk at 562-865-0281, ext. 227, or by emailing hsattendance@vcschools.org.
Students may not enter or leave campus during the exam blocks (8:30-10:00 AM and 10:30 AM-12:00 PM).
Students should arrive on campus before 8:30 AM or between 10:00-10:30 AM (depending on their exam schedule). While on campus, students who are not taking exams will be required to be in a testing room or remain in the library for the duration of the testing period. If a student does not have an exam, he or she is not required to be on campus.
There is no school for VCHS students in the afternoon on exam days.
VCHS students are not allowed to visit other campuses until 2:45 PM.
Buses will run at regular times (8:00 AM drop off, 2:45 PM departure) on Monday-Wednesday.
The canteen and coffee shop will be open from 8:00-8:30 AM and 10:00-10:30 AM - Monday-Wednesday.
The library will be open until 2:30 PM, Monday-Wednesday.
Uniforms must be worn during finals, or students will not be allowed to take final exams.
There is no school for high school students on Thursday, 5/22, unless a make-up exam has been scheduled.

Counselor Corner:

Summer School Plans? Planning to do summer school to remediate a grade or get ahead? Please fill out this form to let your counselor know of your intent and get approved!

Athletics

For a schedule of upcoming athletic events at each campus, please refer to the campus-specific athletic calendars online at the athletics website: www.vcathletics.net

Friends of VCS

Affordable Treasures Thrift Store - Call our store 562-866-0060 or schedule a pick-up on our website affordabletreasuresthrift.org.

Requested Announcements

Opt-In to our mailing list here.

May 12, 2025 - Issue 35

May 12, 2025: Issue 35

Preschool - Elementary School - Middle School - High School - Athletics - Friends of VCS

Defender Days Camps are back! Please visit go.vcschools.org/camps to check out the available camps and to register your student(s). Please email cchamberlin@vcschools.org with any questions.

Summer office hours for the Business office: Monday-Thursday - 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Parent Service Hours Opportunity: Bookstore 2025-2026 - Check-In-Days: Complete your hours before school even starts. Please reach out to Onnie Bomgaars via email if interested at obomgaars@vcschools.org

Monday, August 4, 2025. - 3:30 - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Year-End Concert Schedule! Mark your calendars and come out to support our musicians as they present their final concerts for the 24-25 school year!

Monday, 5/12, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Band and Handbells Concert in the HS Gymnasium
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Orchestra Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/15, 7:30 PM - Evening with the Madrigals in the HS Legacy Chapel

Harvest Festival Committee would like to thank you for a very successful festival this year that raised over $19,000 for teachers' requests! We have started planning Harvest Festival for the next school year and are currently in need of volunteers for open and NEW positions:

Co-Chair
Prize Booth Chair
Sponsors Chair

For more information on any position or how to be part of Harvest Committee please email harvest@vcschools.org

VCS Employment Opportunities:

Middle School Robotics Exploratory Teacher Fall Semester
Daycare Aide
To see the full job descriptions and apply, please visit https://www.vcschools.org/employment

Preschool

Graduation: Children who are in Mrs. Tricia's, Mrs. Ericka's, and Ms. Jamie's classes will participate in our graduation celebration. Graduation will be held Thursday 5/15 at 6:30 PM in the Bethany Church Sanctuary. You can drop your child off in his/her class at 6:15 PM and head over to the Sanctuary.

Last Day of School: Preschool will be half day for all students on Thursday, 5/22. This day will be our end of the year celebration (more info to come from teachers)

Summer Preschool: Begins on Monday, 6/2! Information packets will go home today to those who signed up.

Dates to remember:

Thursday, 5/15: Preschool Graduation (6:30 PM Bethany Church Sanctuary)
Thursday, 5/22: Last Day of School (Half day for ALL children, pick up at 11:45am)
Friday, 5/23-Friday, 5/30 PRESCHOOL CLOSED FOR SUMMER PREP
Monday, 6/2: First Day of Summer Preschool

Elementary School

VCES Yearbooks will be sent home with students this Friday. Every student receives a yearbook.

Registration for Summer Camp for students in K-8th grade is now open! Here is the link to sign up.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

We hope you enjoyed the changes we made to the Christmas Boutique this school year! The Parent Association has decided to remain in-house for the 2025 Boutique (vs buying from a company that picks the inventory) so if you have any suggestions for items to purchase, make, or curate, OR would like to be part of the inventory team, please email Carly Ploeger at Carlypdesignstudio@gmail.com. Our goal remains to keep the price point low, but would also love to get our VC community more involved and get moving on sourcing sooner than later to spread the workload out. Look forward to hearing your ideas!

6th Grade Families - The VCMS Orientation & Study Skills Class will be held July 28-31. In this class, incoming middle school students will learn organizational tips, iPad ins & outs, study strategies and time management. This class will also give students an opportunity to master their lockers, learn the VCMS campus, meet new friends and more! There are two sessions to choose from and classes will fill up quickly. You can register your student now by clicking HERE.

Fast food lunch drop offs should only be used for birthdays and emergencies. This should NOT be a weekly or daily occurrence for your child.

LOST AND FOUND - Lost and Found items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on the last day of each month. Please have your child check for any missing items.

Pop Tabs: We are partnering with The Ronald McDonald House to help families in their time of need by collecting Pop Tabs. Students may bring in their pop tabs at any time.

Important dates for May:

5/14 - 2nd Grade - Columbia Memorial Space Center
5/15 - 4th Grade - 12:30 -1:30 PM - Inventor Wax Museum. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/16 - 2nd Grade - Poem Party 1:45-2:45 PM. Parents are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/19 - Multiage Class - Orange County Zoo
5/19 - 6th Grade - Knott’s Berry Farm
5/20 - Sports Day - TK/K (elementary campus), 1st-6th (high school campus)
5/21 - 5th Grade - California Science Center
5/21 - TK - Kidz Town
5/21 - 6th Grade - Sixth Grade Blessing ceremony, 1:00-1:45 PM at the high school gym.
5/22 - 5th Grade - Sky Zone (9:00-11:00 AM)

Middle School

8th-Grade Families: All graduation tickets have been sent home with students. If you have not received them, please check with your child!

The VC Bands (grades 5-12) & Handbells (grades 7-12) will be performing TONIGHT, Monday, May 12 in the VCHS Gymnasium at 7:00 PM. Come and hear a variety of instrumental music presented by our amazing students.

All campus fines must be paid before students may receive a yearbook. There is no additional cost for a yearbook. It was included in your student's tuition.

7th Grade students "Creation Appreciation" Friday Field Trips conclude this week on Friday, May 16. Students will be going to Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange for a nature hike, the Huntington Library & Gardens, and to Seal Beach for a clean-up. The order of the trips will vary depending on each student's schedule. If you would like to chaperone on any of these trips, please wait until the student schedules come out.

Is your student missing some of his/her belongings? Please come in and check our Lost and Found. All unclaimed items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on Wednesday, 5/28.

Drop-off and Pick-up - Please avoid making U-turns on Dumont Ave during drop-off and pick-up times. Doing this is a safety issue for our students and traffic staff with the amount of traffic during these times.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes! Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

All classes will run 4:00-7:00 PM in Room B18.
Cost $125 per class (Class fees will be credited towards robotics fall fee for students in or joining robotics).
Classes must meet minimum participation to run.

VCMS - April & May At A Glance:

May 12 - VCMS Spring Band/Handbells Concert
May 13 - All Orchestra Night
May 15 - VCMS Disneyland CA Adventure Field Trip - There is no school on this day for students who are not participating.
May 16 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 20 - 8th Grade picnic
May 21- 7th Grade Talent Show
May 21 - 8th Grade Graduation Day. 8th grade students will be dismissed at 10:30 AM after graduation rehearsal. Parents are required to arrange their own transportation for their students on this day.
May 22 - 7th Grade - last day of school. ½ day, students are dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their normal routes.

Summer office hours for the Middle School office:

May 23 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
May 27 - May 29 - Open 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
June 2 - July 25 - Open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM - 1:00PM
July 28 - Aug 1 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 4 - Aug 8 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 11 - Regular office hours resume (Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)

8th-Grade Parents - please mark your calendars:

VCHS Check-In Days - Monday OR Tuesday, 8/4 or 8/5 - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
New Student Orientation Day - Monday, 8/11, 8:15-11:30 AM - Orientation Day for all new high school students
First Day of School - Tuesday, 8/12 will be the first full day of school for all students

High School

Seniors! Please make sure your waiver is signed for Sky Zone May 23rd 2:30-6:00 AM! If under 18, parents sign: https://waiver.haveablast.roller.app/skyzonecerritos/home?ubid=sLlBKs51uk29jZZ_QBVM-w

Grad Bags Donations Requested - Help the Grad Night Committee by contributing items towards our senior's grad bags. Just click on the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BA8AB2BA3FD0-56318960-senior#/ Thank you all for your support in making this night extra special!

Senior Parents - On Thursday, 5/8 an email was sent out with the subject “VCHS - Graduation is 2 weeks away”. Please contact the high school office if you did not receive that email. A reminder that the picture collage for Senior Blessing is due in the high school office at the Attendance Desk this Friday, May 16 at 2:45 PM

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes! Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

Exam Week is coming - Monday, 5/19-Wednesday, 5/21. Some reminders about Exam Week:

The exam schedule is posted on the High School Student page in Canvas and in the Parent Portal on the school website.
Per school policy, individual exams may not be taken prior to "Exam Week".
Students who are unable to take their exam during the scheduled week (due to travel, illness, etc) will be given an "incomplete" grade in the course until the exam is completed.
Make-up exams for the spring semester will be administered on the mornings of Thursday, May 22 or Friday, May 23. A proctoring fee of $30 (per exam) will be assessed, except in the case of illness (please provide a doctor’s note). Arrangements must be made with the Assistant Principal.
Attendance during Exam Week: Please DO NOT schedule appointments between 8:00 AM and Noon during Exam Week. If your child is too sick to take exams, contact the Attendance Desk at 562-865-0281, ext. 227, or by emailing hsattendance@vcschools.org.
Students may not enter or leave campus during the exam blocks (8:30-10:00 AM and 10:30 AM-12:00 PM).
Students should arrive on campus before 8:30 AM or between 10:00-10:30 AM (depending on their exam schedule). While on campus, students who are not taking exams will be required to be in a testing room or remain in the library for the duration of the testing period. If a student does not have an exam, he or she is not required to be on campus.
There is no school for VCHS students in the afternoon on exam days.
VCHS students are not allowed to visit other campuses until 2:45 PM.
Buses will run at regular times (8:00 AM drop off, 2:45 PM departure) on Monday-Wednesday.
The canteen and coffee shop will be open from 8:00-8:30 AM and 10:00-10:30 AM - Monday-Wednesday.
The library will be open until 2:30 PM, Monday-Wednesday.
Uniforms must be worn during finals, or students will not be allowed to take final exams.
There is no school for high school students on Thursday, 5/22, unless a make-up exam has been scheduled.

Counselor Corner:

Summer School Plans? Planning to do summer school to remediate a grade or get ahead? Please fill out this form to let your counselor know of your intent and get approved!

Athletics

For a schedule of upcoming athletic events at each campus, please refer to the campus-specific athletic calendars online at the athletics website: www.vcathletics.net

Friends of VCS

Affordable Treasures Thrift Store - Call our store 562-866-0060 or schedule a pick-up on our website affordabletreasuresthrift.org.

Requested Announcements

Opt-In to our mailing list here.

May 5, 2025 - Issue 34

May 5, 2025: Issue 34

Preschool - Elementary School - Middle School - High School - Athletics - Friends of VCS

Preview Days this week! Please invite your friends and family to these events to find out more about all that Valley Christian has to offer -

Elementary Preview - Wednesday, May 7th - 9:00 AM
Middle School Preview - Thursday, May 8th - 9:00 AM
High School Preview - Thursday, May 8th - 10:00 AM

Uniform Sale - Tuesday, 5/6, 3:00-7:00 PM - Legacy Chapel on the high school campus. Norman’s Uniforms will be on-site, Spirit Store will also be open.

Defender Days Camps are back! Please visit go.vcschools.org/camps to check out the available camps and to register your student(s). Please email cchamberlin@vcschools.org with any questions.

Year End Concert Schedule! Mark your calendars and come out to support our musicians as they present their final concerts for the 24-25 school year!

Tuesday, 5/6, 7:00 PM - High School Spring Vocal Music Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/8, 7:00 PM - 6th-8th Grade Choir Concert in the HS Legacy Chapel
Monday, 5/12, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Band and Handbells Concert in the HS Gymnasium
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Orchestra Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/15, 7:30 PM - Evening with the Madrigals in the HS Legacy Chapel

Co-Chair
Prize Booth Chair
Sponsors Chair

For more information on any position or how to be part of Harvest Committee please email harvest@vcschools.org

Are you interested in providing a home to one of our amazing international students? Our HomeStay host application for the 25/26 school year is now available online. Not only do you get to bless one of these students making the brave choice to leave their home and study across the world, but you and your family get to experience their culture through them and be their safe space here in the US. Click here to apply!

VCS Employment Opportunities:

Middle School Robotics Exploratory Teacher Fall Semester
Daycare Aide
To see the full job descriptions and apply, please visit https://www.vcschools.org/employment

Preschool

Last Day of School: Preschool will be half day for all students on Thursday, 5/22. This day will be our end of the year celebration (more info to come from teachers)

Summer Preschool: Begins on Monday, 6/2! Information packets will go home to those who signed up early next week.

Dates to remember:

Thursday, 5/15: Preschool Graduation (6:30 PM Bethany Church Sanctuary)
Thursday, 5/22: Last Day of School (Half day for ALL children, pick up at 11:45am)
Friday, 5/23-Friday, 5/30 PRESCHOOL CLOSED FOR SUMMER PREP
Monday, 6/2: First Day of Summer Preschool

Elementary School

Thank you for your incredible support in helping our students raise over $50,000 for the Trot for Technology Fundraiser—what an amazing achievement!

It was a joy seeing so many of you at the VCES Art Show. We truly appreciate you being there to celebrate the creativity and talents of our students!

Do you have a 9-14 year old interested in joining Robotics? If you were unable to attend the parent meeting, please contact Sharon Lee sharon@vcsrobotics.com for information. Anyone interested in joining a competitive team, must attend tryouts on Saturday, May 10th - 9:00-11:00 am at Valley Christian Middle School.

Sports Day - Hot Dog Lunch - A hot dog lunch will be available for grades TK – 6 on Sports Day, Tuesday, May 20. The cost is $5.00 per lunch. Lunch includes one hot dog, chips, juice, and fruit. If you would like to order any extra hot dogs, please include an additional $2.00 per hot dog. Payment can be made either by cash or a check made payable to VCES. Please note: Choice Lunch is NOT available on Sports Day. Lunch will be served at the high school for grades 1 – 6, TK and Kindergarten students will have at the elementary campus. For your convenience, you may use this Order Form if you would like to order a hot dog lunch for your child. Please return the form with your payment by Friday, May 2.

Registration for Summer Camp for students in K-8th grade is now open! Here is the link to sign up.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

We hope you enjoyed the changes we made to the Christmas Boutique this school year! The Parent Association has decided to remain in-house for the 2025 Boutique (vs buying from a company that picks the inventory) so if you have any suggestions for items to purchase, make, or curate, OR would like to be part of the inventory team, please email Carly Ploeger at Carlypdesignstudio@gmail.com. Our goal remains to keep the price point low, but would also love to get our VC community more involved and get moving on sourcing sooner than later to spread the workload out. Look forward to hearing your ideas!

6th Grade Families - The VCMS Orientation & Study Skills Class will be held July 28-31. In this class, incoming middle school students will learn organizational tips, iPad ins & outs, study strategies and time management. This class will also give students an opportunity to master their lockers, learn the VCMS campus, meet new friends and more! There are two sessions to choose from and classes will fill up fast. You can register your student now by clicking HERE.

Fast food lunch drop offs should only be used for birthdays and emergencies. This should NOT be a weekly or daily occurrence for your child.

LOST AND FOUND - Lost and Found items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on the last day of each month. Please have your child check for any missing items.

Pop Tabs: We are partnering with The Ronald McDonald House to help families in their time of need by collecting Pop Tabs. Students may bring in their pop tabs at any time.

Important dates for May:

5/7 - 5th Grade Market Day 8:30-11:30 AM. Parents and friends are welcome to attend and shop. (on campus)
5/14 - 2nd Grade - Columbia Memorial Space Center
5/15 - 4th Grade - 12:30 -1:30 PM - Inventor Wax Museum. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/16 - 2nd Grade - Poem Party 1:45-2:45 PM. Parents are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/19 - Multiage Class - Orange County Zoo
5/19 - 6th Grade - Knott’s Berry Farm
5/20 - Sports Day - TK/K elementary campus, 1st-6th (high school campus)
5/21 - 5th Grade - California Science Center
5/21 - 6th Grade - Sixth Grade Blessing ceremony, 1:00-1:45 PM at the high school gym.
5/22 - 5th Grade - Sky Zone (9:00-11:00 AM)

Middle School

Do you have a 9-14 year old interested in joining Robotics? If you were unable to attend the parent meeting, please contact Sharon Lee sharon@vcsrobotics.com for information. Anyone interested in joining a competitive team, must attend tryouts on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 9:00-11:00 am at Valley Christian Middle School.

Service Hour Opportunity! The middle school is looking for some volunteers to work lunch duty on Thursday, May 8th - 12-1 PM. Please sign up using the link below. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4DACAE28A0FD0-56609304-lunch

VCHS Handbell Auditions for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Students currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to audition. Auditions require a video submission and a completed audition form. The last day to submit your audition form is Monday, May 5. Please email Mrs. Struiksma if you have any questions at lstruiksma@vcschools.org. Handbell audition link: VCHS Handbell Auditions 2025-2026

Interested in High School Sailing? Join us Wednesday May 7th at 6:00 PM at the Long Beach Yacht Club and learn about the VCHS Sailing team. No sailing experience necessary, grades 8th-12th. RSVP to Christie Vogt at christie.vogt@outlook.com or 310-408-7819.

Our next VCMS Preview Event is Thursday, 5/8 at 9:00 AM. This is a great opportunity for your friends and family to tour our campus and learn more about what VCMS has to offer. Spread the word!

Save the date! Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM - Choir Concert featuring the 6th Grade choir and middle school gospel choir, VCHS Legacy Chapel.

7th Grade students "Creation Appreciation" Friday Field Trips continue this week on Friday, May 9. Students will be going to Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange for a nature hike, the Huntington Library & Gardens, and to Seal Beach for a clean-up. The order of the trips will vary depending on each student's schedule. If you would like to chaperone on any of these trips, please wait until the student schedules come out.

8th Grade Students will be taking a field trip to Crystal Cove on Friday, May 9. Instructions for this field trip were communicated in an email from your students’ advisement teacher.

Donations are Needed for the 8th Grade Grad Dance - If anyone would like to help sponsor the 8th Grade Graduation Dance with a monetary donation, you can make checks payable to VCMS and put ‘Graduation’ in the memo. You can also donate using Venmo (@Jenna-Struiksma). Please specify ‘8th Grade Grad Donation’ in the comments. If you have something else you would like to donate please email Jenna at jrstruiksma@gmail.com. All donations are needed by Friday, May 9. Thanks so much for your support of this fun event for our graduates!

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes! Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

VCMS - April & May At A Glance:

May 5 - 8th grade students receiving graduation robes
May 5-6 - 8th grade Graduation tickets can be picked up at the VCMS Office
May 8 - VCMS Preview Event at 9 AM
May 8 - Choir Concert featuring MS gospel choir and 6th grade choir 7 PM in VCHS Legacy Chapel
May 9 - 7th grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 9 - 8th grade field trip to Crystal Cove
May 12 - VCMS Spring Band/Handbells Concert
May 13 - All Orchestra Night
May 15 - VCMS Disneyland CA Adventure Field Trip - There is no school on this day for students who are not participating.
May 16 - 7th grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 20 - 8th grade picnic
May 21- 7th grade Talent Show
May 21 - 8th grade Graduation Day. 8th grade students will be dismissed at 10:30 AM after graduation rehearsal. Parents are required to arrange their own transportation for their students on this day.
May 22 - 7th grade - last day of school. ½ day, students are dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their normal routes.

Summer office hours for the Middle School office:

May 23 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
May 27 - May 29 - Open 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
June 2 - July 25 - Open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM - 1:00PM
July 28 - Aug 1 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 4 - Aug 8 - Open 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Aug 11 - Regular office hours resume (Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)

8th-Grade Parents - please mark your calendars:

VCHS Check-In Days - Monday OR Tuesday, 8/4 or 8/5 - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
New Student Orientation Day - Monday, 8/11, 8:15-11:30 AM - Orientation Day for all new high school students
First Day of School - Tuesday, 8/12 will be the first full day of school for all students

High School

The Scholastic Arts Society Awards Ceremony will be held tonight (Monday, May 5) at 7:00 PM at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, 17603 Ardmore Ave, Bellflower. This evening honors the VCHS National Honor Society Members and recognizes the Class of 2025 with scholarships awarded by VC supporters and alumni. All are invited to the ceremony and a reception afterwards, or to watch via livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/lq-2jzd2yHE?feature=share.

The VCHS Spring Vocal Music Concert will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, 5/6, 7:00 PM at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, 17603 Ardmore Ave. Invite friends and family to enjoy this concert featuring all the VCHS vocal ensembles!

Interested in High School Sailing? Join us this Wednesday May 7^th at 6:00 PM at the Long Beach Yacht Club and learn about the VCHS Sailing team. No sailing experience necessary, grades 8^th-12th. RSVP to Christie Vogt at christie.vogt@outlook.com or 310-408-7819.

Friday, 5/9, 5:30 PM - The annual Powder Puff Game!

Grad Bags Donations Requested - Help the Grad Night committee by contributing items towards our senior's grad bags. Just click on the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BA8AB2BA3FD0-56318960-senior#/ Thank you all for your support in making this night extra special!

Senior Families- Save the date! Senior Blessing will take place on Monday, May 19, 7:00 PM at Bell One Christian Reformed Church in Bellflower. You won’t want to miss this special evening of worship and celebration. More details to follow.

Summer Classes Brought to you by Epic Robotz: EPIC Robotz will be hosting classes this summer in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Programming and CNC manufacturing! You do not need to sign up for robotics to take the classes! Classes are open to students entering 8th-12th grade. Please contact Valerie Jasper at vjasper@vcschools.org for any questions regarding the classes. Sign up at http://go.vcschools.org/techcamps Space is limited to 7 students per session so sign up soon!

Intro to CAD July 14-17
Intro to JAVA Programming July 14-17
Intro to CNC Manufacturing July 14-17
CAD 2 July 21-24
JAVA 2 July 21-24
CNC Manufacturing 2 July 21-24
Advanced CAD July 28-31
Python Programming July 28-31

Exam Week is coming - Monday, 5/19-Wednesday, 5/21. Some reminders about Exam Week:

The exam schedule is posted on the High School Student page in Canvas and in the Parent Portal on the school website.
Per school policy, individual exams may not be taken prior to "Exam Week".
Students who are unable to take their exam during the scheduled week (due to travel, illness, etc) will be given an "incomplete" grade in the course until the exam is completed.
Make-up exams for the spring semester will be administered on the mornings of Thursday, May 22 or Friday, May 23. A proctoring fee of $30 (per exam) will be assessed, except in the case of illness (please provide a doctor’s note). Arrangements must be made with the Assistant Principal.
Attendance during Exam Week: Please DO NOT schedule appointments between 8:00 AM and Noon during Exam Week. If your child is too sick to take exams, contact the Attendance Desk at 562-865-0281, ext. 227, or by emailing sdoornbos@vcschools.org.
Students may not enter or leave campus during the exam blocks (8:30-10:00 AM and 10:30 AM-12:00 PM).
Students should arrive on campus before 8:30 AM or between 10:00-10:30 AM (depending on their exam schedule). While on campus, students who are not taking exams will be required to be in a testing room or remain in the library for the duration of the testing period. If a student does not have an exam, he or she is not required to be on campus.
There is no school for VCHS students in the afternoon on exam days.
VCHS students are not allowed to visit other campuses until 2:45 PM.
Buses will run at regular times (8:00 AM drop off, 2:45 PM departure) on Monday-Wednesday.
The canteen and coffee shop will be open from 8:00-8:30 AM and 10:00-10:30 AM - Monday-Wednesday.
The library will be open until 2:30 PM, Monday-Wednesday.
Uniforms must be worn during finals, or students will not be allowed to take final exams.
There is no school for high school students on Thursday, 5/22, unless a make-up exam has been scheduled.

Counselor Corner:

Summer School Plans? Planning to do summer school to remediate a grade or get ahead? Please fill out this form to let your counselor know of your intent and get approved!

Athletics

For a schedule of upcoming athletic events at each campus, please refer to the campus-specific athletic calendars online at the athletics website: www.vcathletics.net

Friends of VCS

Affordable Treasures Thrift Store - Call our store 562-866-0060 or schedule a pick-up on our website affordabletreasuresthrift.org.

Requested Announcements

Opt-In to our mailing list here.

April 28, 2025 - Issue 33

April 28, 2025: Issue 33

Preschool - Elementary School - Middle School - High School - Athletics - Friends of VCS

Support Grad Night 2025 AND enjoy a night off of cooking! The TACO NAZO Fundraiser today, Monday, 4/28 from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM! - Support the class of 2025 by eating at Taco Nazo, a school favorite! Just click on the digital link Taco Nazo and show it to the cashier upon ordering. (Please note, no paper flyers will be accepted)

Preview Days will be next week! Please invite your friends and family to these events to find out more about all that Valley Christian has to offer -

Elementary Preview - Wednesday, May 7th - 9:00 AM
Middle School Preview - Thursday, May 8th - 9:00 AM
High School Preview - Thursday, May 8th - 10:00 AM

Defender Days Camps are back! Please visit go.vcschools.org/camps to check out the available camps and to register your student(s). Please email cchamberlin@vcschools.org with any questions.

Year End Concert Schedule! Mark your calendars and come out to support our musicians as they present their final concerts for the 24-25 school year!

Friday, 5/2, 7:00 PM - Swingin’ the Night Away - 7-12 Jazz Concert in the HS Legacy Chapel
Tuesday, 5/6, 7:00 PM - High School Spring Vocal Music Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/8, 7:00 PM - 6th-8th Grade Choir Concert in the HS Legacy Chapel
Monday, 5/12, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Band and Handbells Concert in the HS Gymnasium
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Orchestra Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/15, 7:30 PM - Evening with the Madrigals in the HS Legacy Chapel

Only two more MOMS IN PRAYER meetings this year! It's not too late to join us - May 5 & 12. Anyone is welcome to leave prayer requests in the boxes in the school offices. Service hours can be earned. Contact Julie at julieflute@gmail.com with questions or prayer requests. Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

VCES Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in the conference room off the elementary school office
VCMS Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in Room 3
VCHS Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in the VCHS Van Dyk Conference Room off the HS admissions office
we only meet on Mondays when school is in session

VCS Employment Opportunities:

Middle School Robotics Exploratory Teacher Fall Semester
Daycare Aide
To see the full job descriptions and apply, please visit https://www.vcschools.org/employment

Preschool

Magnificent Mom will be held on Friday, 5/2 - 7:30-9:00 AM in the church friendship center. Enjoy a light breakfast with your preschooler as we celebrate Mom's. We hope to see you all there!

Dates to remember:

Thursday, 5/15: Preschool Graduation (6:30 PM Bethany Church Sanctuary)
Thursday, 5/22: Last Day of School (Half day for ALL children, pick up at 11:45am)
Friday, 5/23-Friday, 5/30 PRESCHOOL CLOSED FOR SUMMER PREP
Monday, 6/2: First Day of Summer Preschool

Elementary School

Robotics Parent Meeting will now be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am at the Valley Christian Middle School Chapel. We have rescheduled it to accommodate elementary parents who are planning on attending the Art Show at the elementary school on Thursday, May 1st. If you are unable to attend the parent meeting, please email Sharon Lee sharon@vcsrobotics.com for more information about the programs offered and online registration information. If your child wants to join a competitive team, he/she will need to attend tryouts on Saturday, May 10 at 9:00-11:00 (in the VCMS chapel).

6th Grade Students will be going to Science Camp April 28-30.

1st Grade will be going to the Los Angeles Zoo on April 30.

Superhero Spirit Day! Wednesday, April 30, students can show their school spirit by dressing up as their favorite superhero. Spirit Day is optional, if you choose not to participate, please be in uniform.

Save the Date for The Art Show & Ice Cream Social on Thursday, May 1, 6:00‐8:00 PM. This is a fun night for friends and family to come and see our children's artwork displayed at the elementary school campus, enjoy Kona Ice, and meet our great staff. We look forward to seeing you! All donations support our Art program.

No School for Kindergarten Students on 5/2 for both half-day and full-day kindergarten students, while we test next year’s kindergartners.

Registration for Summer Camp for students in K-8th grade is now open! Here is the link to sign up.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

We hope you enjoyed the changes we made to the Christmas Boutique this school year! The Parent Association has decided to remain in-house for the 2025 Boutique (vs buying from a company that picks the inventory) so if you have any suggestions for items to purchase, make, or curate, OR would like to be part of the inventory team, please email Carly Ploeger at Carlypdesignstudio@gmail.com. Our goal remains to keep the price point low, but would also love to get our VC community more involved and get moving on sourcing sooner than later to spread the workload out. Look forward to hearing your ideas!

6th Grade Families - The VCMS Orientation & Study Skills Class will be held July 28-31. In this class, incoming middle school students will learn organizational tips, iPad ins & outs, study strategies and time management. This class will also give students an opportunity to master their lockers, learn the VCMS campus, meet new friends and more! There are two sessions to choose from and classes will fill up fast. You can register your student now by clicking HERE.

Fast food lunch drop offs should only be used for birthdays and emergencies. This should NOT be a weekly or daily occurrence for your child.

LOST AND FOUND - Lost and Found items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on the last day of each month. Please have your child check for any missing items.

Pop Tabs: We are partnering with The Ronald McDonald House to help families in their time of need by collecting Pop Tabs. Students may bring in their pop tabs at any time.

Important dates for May:

5/1 - VCES Art Show 6:00-8:00 PM (on campus)
5/7 - 5th Grade Market Day 8:30-11:30 AM. Parents and friends are welcome to attend and shop. (on campus)
5/14 - 2nd grade - Columbia Memorial Space Center
5/15 - 4th grade - Inventor Wax Museum. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/16 - 2nd grade - Poem Party 1:45-2:45 PM. Parents are welcome to attend. (on campus)
5/19 - Multiage Class - Orange County Zoo
5/19 - 6th grade - Knott’s Berry Farm
5/20 - Sports Day - TK/K elementary campus, 1st-6th (high school campus)
5/21 - 5th grade - California Science Center
5/21 - 6th grade - Sixth Grade Blessing ceremony, 1:00-1:45 PM at the high school gym.
5/22 - 5th grade - Sky Zone (9:00-11:00 AM)

Middle School

8th Grade Graduation ticket request forms are due at the VCMS office TODAY. The forms were sent to 8th grade families on 4/7 as an attachment to the 4th quarter email from the 8th grade team. A reminder was sent on 4/25. Please contact the MS office if you have any questions.

8th Grade Graduation Dance RSVP/Behavior Promises and payment are due to the middle school office by Wednesday, April 30th. We do not want any graduates to miss out on the fun, so if this poses a financial burden please let us know. Contact Jenna Struiksma with any questions at jrstruiksma@gmail.com.

Donations are Needed for the 8th Grade Grad Dance - If anyone would like to help sponsor the 8th Grade Graduation Dance with a monetary donation, you can make checks payable to VCMS and put ‘Graduation’ in the memo. You can also donate using Venmo (@Jenna-Struiksma). Please specify ‘8th Grade Grad Donation’ in the comments. If you have something else you would like to donate please email Jenna at jrstruiksma@gmail.com. Thanks so much for your support of this fun event for our graduates!

7th Grade students "Creation Appreciation" Friday Field Trips begin this week on May 2. Students will be going to Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange for a nature hike, the Huntington Library & Gardens, and to Seal Beach for a clean-up. The order of the trips will vary depending on each student's schedule. If you would like to chaperone on any of these trips, please wait until the student schedules come out.

Swingin’ the Night Away is Friday, 5/2, 7:00 PM - enjoy a great evening of baseball themed games, trivia, snacks/drinks, prizes - including Angels Baseball tickets! - and great Jazz music featuring our very own Middle School Jazz Band!

VCHS Handbell Auditions for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Students currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to audition. Auditions require a video submission and a completed audition form. The last day to submit your audition form is Monday, May 5. Please email Mrs. Struiksma if you have any questions at lstruiksma@vcschools.org. Handbell audition link: VCHS Handbell Auditions 2025-2026

Interested in High School Sailing? Join us Wednesday May 7^th at 6:00 PM at the Long Beach Yacht Club and learn about the VCHS Sailing team. No sailing experience necessary, grades 8^th-12th. RSVP to Christie Vogt at christie.vogt@outlook.com or 310-408-7819.

Save the date! Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM - Choir Concert featuring the 6th grade choir and middle school gospel choir, VCHS Legacy Chapel.

Our next VCMS Preview Event is Thursday, May 8 at 9:00 AM. This is a great opportunity for your friends and family to tour our campus and learn more about what VCMS has to offer. Spread the word!

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

VCMS - April & May At A Glance:

April 28 - 8th grade Graduation ticket orders are due
April 30 - 8th Graduation dance payment/Behavior Promises are due
May 2 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 2 - Jazz Band Concert - Swinging the Night Away
May 5 - 8th grade students receiving graduation gowns
May 5-6 - 8th Grade Graduation tickets can be picked up at the VCMS Office
May 8 - VCMS Preview Event at 9 AM
May 8 - Choir Concert featuring MS gospel choir and 6th grade choir 7 PM in VCHS Legacy Chapel
May 9 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 9 - 8th Grade field trip to Crystal Cove
May 12 - VCMS Spring Band/Handbells Concert
May 13 - All Orchestra Night
May 15 - VCMS Disneyland CA Adventure Field Trip - There is no school on this day for students who are not participating.
May 16 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 20 - 8th Grade picnic
May 21- 7th Grade Talent Show
May 21 - 8th Grade Graduation Day. 8th Grade students will be dismissed at 10:30 AM after graduation rehearsal. Parents are required to arrange their own transportation for their students on this day.
May 22 - 7th Grade - last day of school. ½ day, students are dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their normal routes.

8th-Grade Parents - please mark your calendars:

VCHS Check-In Days - Monday OR Tuesday, 8/4 or 8/5 - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
New Student Orientation Day - Monday, 8/11, 8:15-11:30 AM - Orientation Day for all new high school students
First Day of School - Tuesday, 8/12 will be the first full day of school for all students

High School

Support Grad Night 2025 AND enjoy a night off of cooking! The TACO NAZO Fundraiser will be TODAY (Monday, 4/28) from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM! - Support the class of 2025 by eating at Taco Nazo, a school favorite! Just click on the digital link Taco Nazo and show it to the cashier upon ordering. (Please note, no paper flyers will be accepted)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 4/29, is Senior Ditch Day - no seniors are expected to be on any VC campuses.

TASTE OF VC! Want to share your heritage with your peers? Bring a dish from your culture to feed 15-20 people on Wednesday, April 30, and receive up to 3 student service hours! To get your hours, fill out the Google form below by Monday, April 28, and bring your dish on the 30th. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLCTKSPH1Vg3fJrpGT85UNL2U7qktnwaREUxczSnKjNlFEyA/viewform?usp=sharing

The VCHS CHOIRS will be performing in the Music in the Parks Festival at Placentia Presbyterian Church on Friday, May 2! The Concert Choir will perform at 10:40 AM, the Women’s Ensemble will perform at 12:20 PM, and the Madrigals will perform at 12:40 PM. Performances are open to the public!

Senior Parents - please keep an eye on your email for important information as we count down the weeks until graduation. If you did not receive the email on Thursday, April 24 with the subject “Graduation is 4 Weeks Away” please reach out to the high school office at 562-865-0281, ext. 226 or at hsinfo@vcschools.org.

VCHS Handbell Auditions for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Students currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to audition. Auditions require a video submission and a completed audition form. The last day to submit your audition form is Monday, May 5. Please email Mrs. Struiksma if you have any questions at lstruiksma@vcschools.org. Handbell audition link: VCHS Handbell Auditions 2025-2026

The Scholastic Arts Society Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 5, 7:00 PM at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, 17603 Ardmore Ave, Bellflower. This evening is a celebration of the VCHS National Honor Society members and is also a night where scholarships provided by VC supporters and alums are awarded to seniors.

Important Dates - please mark your calendars:

Monday, August 4 or Tuesday, August 5 - VCHS Check-In Days - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
Monday, August 11, 8:15-11:30 - New Student Orientation Day - Orientation Day for all new high school students
Tuesday, August 12 - A full day of school for all students

Athletics

For a schedule of upcoming athletic events at each campus, please refer to the campus-specific athletic calendars online at the athletics website: www.vcathletics.net

Friends of VCS

Affordable Treasures Thrift Store - Call our store 562-866-0060 or schedule a pick-up on our website affordabletreasuresthrift.org.

Requested Announcements

Artesia Christian Home is seeking vendors for the May 3rd Family Market! If you're interested in participating, please email EEscobedo@achome.org or visit https://www.achome.org/family-market for more details. Spots are filling up quickly—secure yours today!

Opt-In to our mailing list here.

April 22, 2025 - Issue 32

April 22, 2025: Issue 32

Preschool - Elementary School - Middle School - High School - Athletics - Friends of VCS

All VCS Parents are invited to the Annual Society Meeting, which will be held on Thursday, April 24, at 7:00 PM in the high school Legacy Chapel. This annual meeting includes voting for the election of board members, updates on the school year, and celebrations of important events. All school parents, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend and vote. VCS parents are automatically VCS Society members. If you have questions about VCS Society membership, please get in touch with Marlaina Goldine at MGoldine@vcschools.org.

Congratulations to Valley Christian’s EPIC Robotz! After an amazing season EPIC Robotz went undefeated in their division qualification matches at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston. EPIC was eventually eliminated in divisional playoffs but ended the year with an overall record of 55-7 ranked in the top 2% of teams worldwide! Congratulations to all the students who worked so hard to achieve this outstanding result. Thank you to all the mentors and families that made this journey possible and to the Valley Christian Community for cheering them on!

IMPORTANT VCS BUS INFO - This Friday, 4/25 is a half day, 11:30 AM dismissal. All buses will run their afternoon routes at 11:30 AM, NOT 2:45 PM. Buses will run their normal AM routes.

Friends of the Dumont Slope: Our next garden tending will be Saturday, April 26th, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. We would love to have as many volunteers join us! It is helpful to bring your own garden tools. If you have any questions, please call Rob Kamstra, at 562-484-8546.

Support Grad Night 2025 AND enjoy a night off of cooking! The TACO NAZO Fundraiser will be on Monday, 4/28 from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM! - Support the class of 2025 by eating at Taco Nazo, a school favorite! Just click on the digital link Taco Nazo and show it to the cashier upon ordering.

Defender Days Camps are back! Please visit go.vcschools.org/camps to check out the available camps and to register your student(s). Please email cchamberlin@vcschools.org with any questions.

Year End Concert Schedule! Mark your calendars and come out to support our musicians as they present their final concerts for the 25-26 school year!

Friday, 5/2, 7:00 PM - Swingin’ the Night Away - 7-12 Jazz Concert in the HS Legacy Chapel
Tuesday, 5/6, 7:00 PM - High School Spring Vocal Music Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/8, 7:00 PM - 6th-8th Grade Choir Concert in the HS Legacy Chapel
Monday, 5/12, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Band and Handbells Concert in the HS Gymnasium
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:00 PM - 5-12 Orchestra Concert at BellOne Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower
Thursday, 5/15, 7:00 PM - Evening with the Madrigals in the HS Legacy Chapel

Only three more MOMS IN PRAYER meetings this year! It's not too late to join us - April 28, May 5 & 12. Anyone is welcome to leave prayer requests in the boxes in the school offices. Service hours can be earned. Contact Julie at julieflute@gmail.com with questions or prayer requests. Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

VCES Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in the conference room off the elementary school office
VCMS Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in Room 3
VCHS Moms in Prayer meets Mondays 8:30-9:30am in the VCHS Van Dyk Conference Room off the HS admissions office
we only meet on Mondays when school is in session

BROADWAY SHOWCASE 2025 VIDEO! The Broadway Showcase 2025 Video Recording is now on presale at https://www.vcschools.org/orderbroadwayvideo2025. Reserve your copy today!

VCS Employment Opportunities:

Elementary School Teacher
Middle School Teacher -7th Grade Science- Fall Semester
Middle School Robotics Exploratory Teacher Fall Semester
Elementary Counselor
Substitute Teacher
To see the full job descriptions and apply, please visit https://www.vcschools.org/employment

Preschool

Magnificent Mom will be held on Friday, 5/2 - 7:30-9:00 AM in the church friendship center. Enjoy a light breakfast with your preschooler as we celebrate Mom's. A sign-up genius will go out for donations and give Dad the opportunity to serve (parent service hours provided). We hope to see you all there!

Dates to remember:

Thursday 4/24: Kindergarten Testing at Preschool Campus
Thursday, 5/15: Preschool Graduation (6:30 PM Bethany Church Sanctuary)
Thursday, 5/22: Last Day of School (Half day for ALL children, pick up at 11:45am)
Friday, 5/23-Friday, 5/30 PRESCHOOL CLOSED FOR SUMMER PREP
Monday, 6/2: First Day of Summer Preschool

Elementary School

The Kindergarten students will be going to The Aquarium of the Pacific on 4/23.

The Parent Association would love to give a heartfelt THANK YOU for your extreme generosity during Staff Appreciation Week! It simply would not have been possible to shower our amazing staff without your financial support and helping hands. This year we compiled a video so you can see how your contributions were utilized! CLICK HERE to watch. Thanks again!!

The Trot for Technology Obstacle Course and Raffle Drawing will be held on Thursday, April 24, during the school day for those who won that prize. Volunteers are needed for this event, service hours apply. Feel free to sign up for more than one spot. If you would like to volunteer, please use this SignUpGenius link. We appreciate and thank our students and families for making this fundraiser such a success!

MAPS Testing for students in grades K-6th will take place until 4/25. Testing will be at various times throughout the day depending on the classroom schedule. Please make sure your student gets a good night's rest, eats breakfast, and arrives at school on time.

The ACSI Speech Meet is Friday, 4/25. Students will be dismissed at 11:30.

6th Grade Students will be going to Science Camp April 28-30.

No School for Kindergarten Students on 5/2 for both half-day and full-day kindergarten students, while we test next year’s kindergartners.

Registration for Summer Camp for students in K-8th grade is now open! Here is the link to sign up.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

We hope you enjoyed the changes we made to the Christmas Boutique this school year! The Parent Association has decided to remain in-house for the 2025 Boutique (vs buying from a company that picks the inventory) so if you have any suggestions for items to purchase, make, or curate, OR would like to be part of the inventory team, please email Carly Ploeger at Carlypdesignstudio@gmail.com. Our goal remains to keep the price point low, but would also love to get our VC community more involved and get moving on sourcing sooner than later to spread the workload out. Look forward to hearing your ideas!

6th Grade Families - The VCMS Orientation & Study Skills Class will be held July 28-31. In this class, incoming middle school students will learn organizational tips, iPad ins & outs, study strategies and time management. This class will also give students an opportunity to master their lockers, learn the VCMS campus, meet new friends and more! There are two sessions to choose from and classes will fill up fast. You can register your student now by clicking HERE.

Fast food lunch drop offs should only be used for birthdays and emergencies. This should NOT be a weekly or daily occurrence for your child.

LOST AND FOUND - Lost and Found items will be donated to Affordable Treasures on the last day of each month. Please have your child check for any missing items.

Pop Tabs: We are partnering with The Ronald McDonald House to help families in their time of need by collecting Pop Tabs. Students may bring in their pop tabs at any time.

Middle School

VCHS Choir Auditions & Praise Team Auditions for the 2025-26 school year will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 5:00-9:00 PM & Wednesday, April 23, 3:00-4:30 PM. Choir auditions are for Women’s Ensemble and Madrigals (advanced ensembles). The Concert Choir (beginner/intermediate ensemble) can be joined without an audition. A signup sheet is posted in the HS Music Room (C32) along with audition forms. Audition forms are also available at the MS and HS offices. You must sign up for a time slot and bring a completed audition form with you to the audition in order to be considered. Please contact Mr. Davis (ddavis@vcschools.org) for Choir Audition questions and Mr. Caleb Taylor (ctaylor@vcschools.org) for Praise Team Audition questions. We hope to see you there!

Reminder! Friday, April 25th, is a half day. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their regular schedules at 11:30 AM.

8th Grade Graduation ticket request forms are due at the VCMS office by Monday, April 28th. The forms were sent to 8th grade families on 4/7 as an attachment to the 4th quarter email from the 8th grade team. Please contact the MS office if you have any questions.

VCHS Handbell Auditions for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Students currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to audition. Auditions require a video submission and a completed audition form. The last day to submit your audition form is Monday, May 5. Please email Mrs. Struiksma if you have any questions at lstruiksma@vcschools.org. Handbell audition link: VCHS Handbell Auditions 2025-2026

Donations are Needed for the 8th Grade Grad Dance - If anyone would like to help sponsor the 8th Grade Graduation Dance with a monetary donation, you can make checks payable to VCMS and put ‘Graduation’ in the memo. You can also donate using Venmo (@Jenna-Struiksma). Please specify ‘8th Grade Grad Donation’ in the comments. If you have something else you would like to donate please email Jenna at jrstruiksma@gmail.com. Thanks so much for your support of this fun event for our graduates!

Save the date! Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM - Choir Concert featuring the 6th grade choir and middle school gospel choir, VCHS Legacy Chapel.

7th Grade students will be taking their "Creation Appreciation" Field Trips on three different Fridays: May 2, May 9, and May 16. The three trips will be to Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange for a nature hike, the Huntington Library & Gardens, and to Seal Beach for a clean-up. The order of the trips will vary depending on each student's schedule. If you would like to chaperone on any of these trips, please wait until the student schedules come out.

Youth Athletic Summer Camps for 2nd - 8th Grade are now available to register online. https://vcathletics.net/registrations/#!/camps/

VCMS - April & May At A Glance:

April 25 - ½ Day. Students dismissed at 11:30 AM
April 28 - 8th Grade Graduation ticket orders are due
April 29 - Spring Choir Concert
May 2 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 2 - Jazz Band Concert - Swinging the Night Away
May 5-6 - 8th Grade Graduation tickets can be picked up at the VCMS Office
May 8 - VCMS Preview Event at 9 AM
May 9 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 9 - 8th Grade field trip to Crystal Cove
May 12 - VCMS Spring Band/Handbells Concert
May 13 - All Orchestra Night
May 15 - VCMS Disneyland CA Adventure Field Trip - There is no school on this day for students who are not participating.
May 16 - 7th Grade ‘Creation Appreciation’ field trip
May 20 - 8th Grade picnic
May 21- 7th Grade Talent Show
May 21 - 8th Grade Graduation Day. 8th Grade students will be dismissed at 10:30 AM after graduation rehearsal. Parents are required to arrange their own transportation for their students on this day.
May 22 - 7th Grade - last day of school. ½ day, students are dismissed at 11:30 AM. Buses will run their normal routes.

8th-Grade Parents - please mark your calendars:

VCHS Check-In Days - Monday OR Tuesday, 8/4 or 8/5 - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
New Student Orientation Day - Monday, 8/11, 8:15-11:30 AM - Orientation Day for all new high school students
First Day of School - Tuesday, 8/12 will be the first full day of school for all students

High School

Signing Day! Wednesday, 4/23, 12:45 in the HS Gymnasium. There will be a short ceremony where we are celebrating 8 of our seniors who have committed to compete at the college level in their respective sports.

TASTE OF VC! Want to share your heritage with your peers? Bring a dish from your culture to feed 15-20 people on Wednesday, April 30, and receive up to 3 student service hours! To get your hours, fill out the Google form below by Monday, April 28, and bring your dish on the 30th. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLCTKSPH1Vg3fJrpGT85UNL2U7qktnwaREUxczSnKjNlFEyA/viewform?usp=sharing

Defenders in Action! On Friday, 4/25 there will be a half day of school with a variety of options for high school students! General information was emailed previously on Wednesday, 4/2, for your reference. An additional email will follow with particular details depending on which option your student chose. Please communicate clearly with your students about plans for that day. If your student rides the bus to and from school, please note that the buses will run normal time on their AM routes, and then will run at 11:30 AM because of the half day. The buses will not run at 2:45 PM.

Support Grad Night 2025 AND enjoy a night off of cooking! The TACO NAZO Fundraiser will be on Monday, 4/28 from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM! - Support the class of 2025 by eating at Taco Nazo, a school favorite! Just click on the digital link Taco Nazo and show it to the cashier upon ordering.

VCHS Handbell Auditions for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Students currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to audition. Auditions require a video submission and a completed audition form. The last day to submit your audition form is Monday, May 5. Please email Mrs. Struiksma if you have any questions at lstruiksma@vcschools.org. Handbell audition link: VCHS Handbell Auditions 2025-2026

Senior Parents - please keep an eye on your email for important information as we count down the weeks until graduation. If you did not receive the email on Thursday, April 10 with the subject “Graduation is 6 Weeks Away” please reach out to the high school office at 562-865-0281, ext. 226 or at hsinfo@vcschools.org.

TUX RENTAL DISCOUNT AND SCHOOL FUNDRAISER: VCHS has a partnership with Friar Tux Lakewood. VCHS students can save 25% on Suit/Tux rentals or purchases. Using code G10586 gets you the discount and raises funds for our school!

Important Dates - please mark your calendars:

Friday, April 25 - Half Day, HS Opportunity Day, Junior-Senior Banquet
Monday, August 4 or Tuesday, August 5 - VCHS Check-In Days - you pick a day to come in for school photos, book order pick up, buying VC Swag at the Spirit Store, iPad pick up, and more!
Monday, August 11, 8:15-11:30 - New Student Orientation Day - Orientation Day for all new high school students
Tuesday, August 12 - A full day of school for all students

Athletics

For a schedule of upcoming athletic events at each campus, please refer to the campus-specific athletic calendars online at the athletics website: www.vcathletics.net