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Phoenix Family News
January 19, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
January 22: PTA Meeting 4:30-5:30 pm
January 25: Choir Concert 6:00 pm
January 29: No School - Teacher Workshop
Calendar and Schedule Updates
The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.
Principal's Post: Half-Way Celebration!
Believe it or not, the week of January 22nd marks the half-way point in our school year! And to celebrate the hard work we've accomplished so far this year, we are having a "Half-Way Celebration!"
Our amazing Student Council has created a fun Spirit Week to help with the celebration. Please do not feel you need to go out and shop for this upcoming week! Participate as you are able! Here are the different dress-up days for next week:
- Monday: PJ Day - Wear your favorite pajamas or comfy clothes. Please leave your stuffies and slippers at home.
Tuesday: Twin/Twins Day - Dress the same as a friend or wear your favorite Twins or sports gear.
Wednesday: Dress for the Future Day/Dress like a Teacher - You can dress up for the job or career you hope to have in the future. If you aren’t sure what you want to be, you could also dress like your favorite teacher!
Thursday: Dress to Impress Day - You can wear your fanciest outfit to school. Some ideas would be your professional clothes from BizTown or something you might have worn to a wedding or special event. If you have PE this day (Day4), you may want to pack a change of shoes.
Friday: Rainbow Day - grade level colors are as follows:
K - Red
1st - Orange
2nd - Yellow
3rd - Green
4th - Blue
5th - Purple
It should be a fun-filled, half-way week!
Connha Classon, Principal
Valley Crossing Elementary
Lost something? We've found it!
Our lost & found is overflowing and we'd like to reconnect items with students! Please watch the lost & found video parade below to see if you can identify any of your child's belongings! If you're here in the coming week (especially if you're coming to the choir concert next Thursday night!), please feel free to look through our lost & found. For any new items you send in, PLEASE LABEL your child's belongings as it helps lost items get back to their owner! All unclaimed items will be donated on Monday, January 29th. Thank you for your help!
VCES PTA News
Our next PTA meeting will take place on Monday, January 22 at 4:30 pm in the Valley Crossing Conference Room. Hope to see you there!
2023-24 Yearbooks
Order your yearbook today from Josten's! Prices right now begin at $21.00.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cold Weather Dressing is a MUST
With the colder weather arriving, we wanted to remind everyone about the district policy for recess.
Students will play outdoors for recess when the weather permits. It is best to assume that students will participate in outdoor recess every day and to dress them accordingly. Students MUST wear appropriate clothing for the weather. During the winter months, this includes jackets, snow pants, boots, hats, and mittens. Indoor recess will only be held when the actual temperature is at zero degrees or below, or the wind chill is -10 degrees or below.
With the colder weather, chapped, dry lips become very common and chapstick/lip balm might be useful for your student to keep at school. Thank you for keeping these things in mind as you send your child off to school.
VCES MCA Testing Window: Grades 3-5
- April 15-19 – Reading
- April 22-26 -Math
- April 29-May 3 – Science (5th only)
ACCESS for EL Testing
All students identified as English Learners (EL) will be taking the ACCESS assessment between January 30th and March 22nd, 2024. This assessment is a federal requirement to assess English proficiency for students learning English. There are four domains tested Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The testing will occur on the following dates:
Jan 30-Feb 2: Kindergarten
Feb. 2-Feb 9: Listening Gr. 1-5
- Feb 9-15: Reading Gr. 1.-5
- Feb. 15-Feb 26: Writing Gr. 1-5
- Feb 26-March 1: Speaking Gr. 1-5
- Makeups: March 12-15
To learn more about the ACCESS test, please visit our District Website. If you have questions, please contact Katie Behrend (651) 425-7648. Thank you!
Water Bottles Encouraged
All students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school each day. The water bottles should be clearly labeled with your child’s name and brought home frequently to be washed.
Please note that WATER is the only liquid that should be provided in the water bottles:
- Water gives students a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Water helps to increase students' overall waterconsumption.
- Water helps maintain hydration.
- Water is not sticky if the bottle spills.
- Water is not a caffeinated beverage.
Thank you for helping your child follow the water bottle expectations.
SoWashCo Community Education Classes
Lunchroom Visitors
Valley Crossing welcomes lunch time visitors between October 2nd – May 24th this school year. Based on space and safety requirements, a family member listed in Parent Portal may sign up using our monthly Reservation Link to accompany their child at our guest lunch table. Here is the Dec/Jan/Feb VCES Lunch Link for lunch visitors. PLEASE only sign up for one spot a month to allow for other families to sign up as well.
We ask families to review the process below for visiting your child at lunch:
- Sign up for the visit no later than the day prior to your visit.
- Upon arrival for the visit, present identification and complete the Raptor screening.
- Wear the visitor badge so that it is visible during the entirety of the visit.
- Go directly to the lunchroom and eat in the guest space with your student.
- No friends or additional students will be permitted to join the guest space.
- Visitors may not visit recess time.
- The visit is limited to guest space during the student’s identified lunch period.
- Any outside food brought in can only be shared with your student.
- Do not take pictures, record, or film while at school. Use of cell phones is strongly discouraged for safety and privacy.
- PLEASE only sign up for one spot a month to allow for other families to sign up as well.
VCES Celebrations
Valley Crossing Elementary is committed to celebrating the following this coming school year:
Fun Run Week - October 9-13
Unity Day - October 17 - wear orange
Veteran’s Day - November 10
10 Days of Giving - December 1-14
Winter Sing-a-long - Dec 21
Half-Way Celebration and Student Council Spirit Week - January 22-26
Friendship Day - February 15 (note: no Valentines please. Students will be making cards at school. More information to come in classroom newsletters)
100th Day - February 21
I Love to Read Month - Book Character Day on February 28 (Please notice date change due to conferences)
Earth Day - April 22
School Hours
8:00 am - School office opens
9:00 am - School opens to students
9:15 am - School day begins
3:45 pm - School day ends
4:00 pm - School office closes
NOTE: The earliest students can arrive at school in the morning is 9:00 am. All students must be picked up at 3:45 pm if not riding the bus home.
VCES Contact Information
Connha Classon, Principal: cclasson@sowashco.org / 651.425.7503
Joy Peterson, Assistant Principal: jpeters4@sowashco.org / 651.425.7523
Merita LaPlante, Office Coordinator: mlaplant@sowashco.org / 651.425.7501
Jen Gackstetter, Office Assistant: jgackste@sowashco.org / 651.425.7507
Faith Schulze, School Social Worker: fschulze@sowashco.org / 651.425.7699
Ashley Boatman, School Psychologist: aboatman1@sowashco.org / 651.425.7661
School Website: https://vces.sowashco.org/
District Website: www.sowashco.org
VCES Office: 651-425-7500
VCES Attendance Line: 651-425-7506
VCES Health Office: 651-425-7502
VCES Fax Number: 651-425-7515
District 833 Student Information: 651-425-6218
District 833 Transportation: 651-425-5303
Valley Crossing Elementary
Website: vces.sowashco.org
Location: 9900 Park Crossing, Woodbury, MN, USA
Phone: 651.425.7500