Phoenix Family News
September 1, 2023
Important Dates Ahead...
September 4: No School (Labor Day)
September 5: Assessment day - Please bring school supplies to your scheduled assessment time.
September 6: First day of school for K-5
September 7: First day of school for PreK
September 18: Opening Ceremony 10:00 am (for kindergarteners and new VCES students)
September 18: 4:30-7:30 pm - PTA Fall Fiesta - Join us for some fun and food, and meet teachers and other families in your child's class!
SPRING CONFERENCES: Thurs., Feb. 22- 4:00-8:15 pm or Thurs., Feb. 29 - 4:00-8:00 pm
Calendar and Schedule Updates
The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.
Safety for Back to School
It was great to meet and greet so many Valley Crossing students and families at our first assessment day, and the building was filled with a buzz of excitement! We're looking forward to seeing many more on Tuesday!
As we enter a new school year, safety and security is a top priority. Earlier this month, SoWashCo school leaders were part of a training with our local public safety departments. It was powerful to see the partnership that has been built between the school district and our cities. We also ask families to talk with their children about safety and encourage them to report any concerns they have to a trusted adult. This past week we also spent time as a staff reviewing our safety procedures and we will continue to practice safety drills together throughout the year.
The first day of school is always such a fun day for students and families. We know many parents will be dropping off their children this first day and many will ride the bus as well. No matter how your child gets here, we will have MANY staff members inside and outside helping them navigate their way to their classrooms. While many parents may want to walk their child inside the building please be aware that parents WILL NOT be allowed to walk their child to their classroom for safety and security reasons. Even if your child is a little nervous, please know we've got this and can help them transition. Our K-1 staff will be lined up in the hallways to line up students to take them to class for at least the first week of school, and our 2-5 students will head right to their classrooms. We are all in this together.
Looking forward to a great year at Valley Crossing!
In partnership,
Connha Classon, Principal
Assessment Days: Aug. 31st and Sept. 5th
When you receive your class placement email, you will also receive a link to sign up online for these assessments. All school supplies should be brought in on the assessment day/time you choose.
If you have any difficulty signing up for an assessment time, please contact the main office at 651-425-7500. If you are unable to attend the assessment dates and times, please notify your child’s teacher. Make up assessments will be done the first week of school during the school day.
Smore Translation
FREE PTA Fun Run Shirt Order
Valley Crossing Spirit Wear
Volunteers Needed During Kindergarten-1st Grade Lunches
Here are the K-1 lunch times:
- Neighborhood A - 12:00-12:20 pm
- Neighborhood B - 12:50-1:10 pm
- Neighborhood C - 11:10-11:30 am
Thanks in advance for your consideration!
VCES Lunchroom Visitors
Student Medications
If your student will be needing daily medication please bring it in during your assessment time to avoid long lines on the first day of school. You can also bring in Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or seasonal allergy medication if your child may need it during the year. Please make sure it is in the original packaging and it is not expired. We do not have these medications in the health office for student use.
Also, please have an extra set of clothes in your child’s locker for spills or accidents- shorts, pants, underwear, and a shirt. The health office does not have a large supply of extra clothes or a variety of sizes. We also ask that when your child comes home wearing clothes from the health office they be cleaned and returned to the health office.
SoWashCo Peanut-Aware Information
We welcome several students to our school with food allergies. We ask for your cooperation to help keep our students safe. We have students who are allergic to different foods or food groups. Allergies can be severe, and the reaction can be life-threatening.
To prevent an allergic reaction and provide a safe learning environment, your child’s school has taken steps to ensure each student’s health.
Students will be encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival, before lunch and after lunch
All building spaces are designated as an ALLERGY/PEANUT/NUT AWARE ZONE. There will be no classroom projects with peanut butter or peanut shells
Please help us keep students safe by following the guidance below:
- Snacks in the classroom must be nut-free
We ask families who pack a lunch or snack to be aware of the ingredients in any meals you send from home
Please instruct your child to not share food with other classmates
Thank you in advance for making the school environment a safe and healthy place for the students. We look forward to a great school year!
PTA News
Join the VCES PTA!
The PTA would like to welcome all new families to Valley Crossing and give a welcome back to our returning families! There are several ways to stay informed about upcoming events and activities sponsored by the PTA. The PTA has a section in the weekly Phoenix News that you are reading right now. You can also follow us on Facebook, check out our website , and of course, join the PTA! Membership is $10 for individuals and $15 for families. Questions about the PTA or would like to find out how to get involved? Email us at valleycrossingpta@gmail.com
Spirit Wear
We have partnered with Advanced Sportswear in Newport to provide the opportunity to purchase VCES gear. All purchases will be made online through this link. The online shop will be open until Sunday, September 10th at midnight.
Fall Fiesta
Join us on Monday, September 18 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.! The PTA will be providing free entertainment and there will be food for purchase from Floyd's Mini Donuts, Unbakeable (edible cookie dough and ice cream), Pizza Karma, Taco Libre, Yummy Tummy, and Sumo and Smoh Egg Rolls. All food trucks are donating a percentage of sales back to our PTA! This night replaces the traditional "open house" and will provide a great opportunity to meet teachers, classmates, and Valley families!
SoWashCo Community Education
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) offers activities and classes for youth through SoWashCo Community Education. Activities and classes are conveniently offered at your child's school, partner locations within our community and online. The latest activities and classes can be found on our website under Get Involved > Youth Activities.
Featured Class
TGA Tennis and Golf Enrichment, Grades K-5
Develop skills in tennis or golf. Includes rules and etiquette lessons, physical activity and a STEAM component! Conveniently offered after school at locations in Cottage Grove and Woodbury.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Information from Previous Newsletters
Educational Benefits: Everyone should apply!
Educational Benefits is formerly the free and reduced lunch application, but the benefits go much farther and could easily benefit families who qualify. Though regular breakfast and lunch are free this school year for all, families should submit a new educational benefits application each year to once again qualify for additional benefits beyond school meals. All benefits will become effective after the application is processed and approved.
How to Apply
- Online applications through School Cafe: Completed online applications will normally be processed within 24-48 hours. From July - September applications can take as long as 10 days to process, including mailing time.
- Paper copy: All schools will have a small supply of applications on hand throughout the school year.
- Printable applications from our website: Applications can be printed at your convenience. Paper applications can be returned to:
BENEFITS INCLUDE (see flyer below):
- Kids Club
- Discounted Kids Club childcare before and after school and during non-school days
- Field Trips
- Schools can offer discounted or free field trips
- Community Education Programs
- Discounted or free classes and activities in the arts, athletics, academics and more
- Athletics
- Students can participate in discounted or free school athletics. Direct Certification student's will need a Waiver of Confidentiality completed.
- Student Fees
- Receive free or discounted graduation fees, student parking permits and more
- Instrument Rentals
- Discounted or free instrument rentals for school band or orchestra
- Device Protection Plans
- Receive free or discounted protection plans for school provided devices
Transportation - Bussing
Fall bussing information will be posted to Parent Portal in late August.
To request or change a student's bus status, complete the Opt In form.
Students may only ride their assigned bus to and from school. Transportation eligibility can be reviewed below under Transportation Guidelines-Transportation Eligibility.
We ask that you assist the Valley Crossing Elementary staff in making sure your child knows their bus assignment. If you have any other questions regarding transportation, please visit the transportation website or call the transportation department at 651-425-5303.
Bussing Changes for 2023-24
As you may be aware, we are still facing a shortage of bus drivers for the upcoming school year. In an ongoing effort to create efficiencies and do our best to eliminate bus route cancellations, our district is going to be busing Valley Crossing Elementary students and St. Ambrose students together for the 2023-2024 school year. Our buses will drop-off AM and pick-up PM at VCES first, then continue directly to SAM for AM drop-off/PM pick-up.
Please be assured that we will do everything in our power to help get students on/off buses in a timely manner. We anticipate another challenging year with busing, so we ask for your patience and grace in advance if we end up running a few minutes late. Thank you in advance for understanding our need to create district-wide efficiencies for bussing this year. If you have any questions, please contact our district transportation office at 651-425-5303.
Transportation - Car Rider Drop off/Pick up
All families will receive two "car rider signs" that MUST be displayed in the passenger side window if you are dropping your child off for school or picking them up from school. Just keep the card handy in your glove box in the event you need it for drop off/pick up.
If you are dropping off or picking up your child, please follow Valley Crossing Elementary’s “Airport Style” curb-side pickup procedures. When entering the parking lot, please remember to stay to the far right and circle around our parking lot.
NOTE: ALL STUDENTS must enter the car on the PASSENGER SIDE if you are moving through the airport style pickup. This means that students must be able to buckle/unbuckle themselves from car seats. Drivers ARE NOT ALLOWED to get out of their cars to assist. If your child needs assistance getting in and out of the car, please park and meet your child at the main crosswalk. Thanks to everyone for helping keep our students safe!
Arrival/drop off:
- Please pull as far forward as possible
- Students must exit the car on the curbside - parents should not exit the car at any point in the car line
Please wait to let your children get out of the car until you are past the crosswalk
If your child needs help unbuckling, please park and walk them across the crosswalk
Dismissal/Pick up:
Like the drop-off routine, your child will be picked up curbside.
Students will wait in their designated area with their teacher until you arrive to pick them up.
As you pull up, proceed all the way to the stop sign directly in front of the school (please be kind and follow the directions of the staff members directing traffic).
Display your child’s name and grade level on the Car Rider card in your window or on your visor (we provide Car Rider Cards during assessment days, so please contact your homebase teacher if you didn’t get one or need another one).
For safety reasons, students may only enter your car on the curb side of your vehicle.
Please exit the car line as soon as your child has loaded to keep our traffic flow moving.
If your child needs help buckling, please park and meet your child at the crosswalk as parents are not allowed to exit the car at any point in the car line
Thanks to everyone for helping keep our students safe!
Device Protection Plan
SoWashCo Schools is offering families the option of purchasing a Device Protection Plan to protect district-issued devices from accidental damage to the device; damage from fire, flood, natural disasters, or power surges; and theft (with a filed police report). Sign up for the Device Protection Plan HERE.
The participation cost for those choosing to enroll in the Device Protection Plan is $25 annually per device. Families who qualify for federal educational benefits, such as free and reduced-price meals, will also be eligible for reduced pricing ($12.50 annually per device) or free coverage. If families are eligible, the pricing will automatically be calculated at checkout. In addition, families with multiple children will not pay more than $75 per year for Device Protection Plans. Payment on Device Protection Plans is due upon issuing of the student’s device. The protection fee is nonrefundable. Coverage begins upon receipt of the payment and ends at the conclusion of the scheduled school year.
Note:
- Families who waive the Device Protection Plan will be responsible for the full cost of repair or replacement of the device.
- The district issued device accessories, charging cable, power adapter “brick” and case (for iPad) are not covered by the plan.
All electronic technologies must be used in accordance with the educational program and mission of South Washington County Schools. Although issued to the student, the iPad or Chromebook is and remains the property of South Washington County Schools. It may be reviewed and revoked at any time. The student should have NO expectation of privacy regarding content on the iPad or Chromebook.
If a student fails to return the device and accessories (iPad case and charging cords) at the end of the school year or upon termination of enrollment from the issuing school, that student or his/her parent/guardian will be billed for the cost to replace the items not returned. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a theft report being filed with the police department.
Nutrition Services
Free School Meal Program
The Free School Meals Program begins July 1, 2023. South Washington County Schools will participate in the state funded program, which provides free meals to all students. Free School Meals entitles each student to one free breakfast and one free lunch on all in-person academic days. All items outside of the complete meal (including doubles) are considered ala carte purchases. These purchases require funds available in the student’s lunch account. Qualifying families should continue to complete the Educational Benefits Application, which provides a variety of discounted or free benefits to students for field trips, athletics, instrument rentals, Kids club and more. We are anticipating an increase in student meal participation and are working to fully staff and prepare our kitchens to meet this demand. If you are interested in joining our Nutrition Services Team, you can apply now.
Students will be required to use their PIN numbers. See section under Meal Accounts on how to access your student's PIN.
Celebrating Birthdays
It has been a common practice to provide treats for the class in honor of a child’s birthday; however we are asking that NO EDIBLE TREATS be sent in to celebrate birthdays. We will make your child’s birthday special in the classroom without edible treats.
If you would like to send a little something to honor their day please consider an alternative birthday treat such as pencils or a book donated to the classroom. We ask that no edible treats be sent in due to varying allergy conditions and other issues related to edible treats in the classroom. Thank you for your help with following this new practice of celebrating birthdays in the classroom.
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
Julie Funk, Office Coordinator LTS: jfunk01@sowashco.org / 651.425.7501
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
Email: cclasson@sowashco.org
Website: vces.sowashco.org
Location: 9900 Park Crossing, Woodbury, MN, USA
Phone: 651.425.7500