Phoenix Family News
January 5, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
January 11: PTA Cafe Zupas Night, 4:00-9:00 pm
January 11: Multiage Information Night 5:00-6:30 pm (for incoming students and families for the 2024-25 school year)
January 15: No School - MLK Jr. Day
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
As we begin a new year together, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible journey we have shared so far. I want to express my sincere appreciation to our amazing students, families and staff for the dedication, collaboration, and unwavering support that make our community so amazing!
Looking ahead to the second half of our "Be Amazing! Be You!" year, I am genuinely excited about the many possibilities and potential for growth that lie before us. Our classrooms are once again filled with the sounds of curiosity and enthusiasm, creating a perfect environment for both academic achievement and personal development.
We wish each member of the Valley Crossing Elementary community a Happy New Year. Here's to an amazing second half of the year!
In partnership,
Connha Classon, Principal
Valley Crossing Elementary
Reporting Student Absences
Just a reminder if your student will be absent from school due to illness, appointments or vacations, PLEASE use the link below to report your students absence.
REPORTING AND ABSENCE USING PARENT PORTAL
If your student has been marked absent by their teacher, all numbers listed on their parent portal will receive a call, text and email, once in the morning and again in the evening. Please make sure all your contact information is up to date. If there is no response from a parent, your student will be marked as unexcused. This on line absence reporting is new this school year for all parents.
If you would still prefer to leave a voice mail, you can always call the Valley Crossing attendance line at 651-425-7506.
Thank you for your help!
VCES PTA News
Next Thursday, January 11th is our PTA's Cafe Zupas night! Join us from 4-9 pm, and help us earn up to 25% back for our school!
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.
SoWashCo Community Education Classes
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Emergency Closings and e-Learning Days
There may be some rare storms or situations that requires South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) to close all district buildings and cancel schools, programs and all learning activities due to wind chill, snow, ice, hazardous roads, inclement weather or other situations.
In the event that an e-learning day is called, families will receive notice of an e-learning day through an automated phone call, email and/or text message with at least two hours notice prior to the school start time. Teachers will be available online and by phone during regular school hours. During an e-learning day, students will log in to SeeSaw from home with their district-issued device (Chromebook or iPad) to access assignments. An e-Learning day helps minimize the disruption to academic progress due to an emergency school closure. It’s important to note that not all school closures will be designated as an e-learning day. If an e-learning day is called at the elementary level, on Day 1 and beyond, elementary students will choose activities through SeeSaw from a choice board. These choice boards and more information about emergency closings and e-learning days can also be accessed on the District Website under Emergency Procedures/e-Learning Days.
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!)
100th Day - February 21
I Love to Read Month - Book Character Day on February 29
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