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Phoenix Family News
April 19, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
April 25: Kindergarten Meet & Greet for 2024-25 Kindergarteners
April 26: No School
April 29: PTA Night at B-52s
May 3: K/1 Music Program – Pajama Party!
May 17: 4/5 Music Program
Calendar and Schedule Updates
The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.
VCES MCA Testing Window: Grades 3-5
- April 22-25 – Math
- April 29-May 3 – Science (5th only)
MCA Math for Grades 3-5 Next Week
- Students should get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on our MCA testing days.
- Students must bring their own charged devices and wired headphones for MCA testing.
- Students will not be allowed to have digital watches, fitness trackers, cell phones, or other technology devices, so please leave these items at home.
- Please refrain from scheduling appointments during testing times.
Thanks in advance for your help in sharing these reminders with your children!
Notes From the Nurse
We are running very low on pants for the health office, and many of the pairs we have loaned out have not been returned. Please consider donating pants or returning borrowed pants to the health office. Thanks!
PTA News
Our Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) Book Fair is coming soon! ALL items are Buy One Get One Free! The fair will be held May 6-10. We will hold two Family Shopping Events—Monday, May 6 after school until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, May 8 after school until 5:30 p.m. If you are unable to shop during the Family Shopping Events, students will have the opportunity to shop during the school day by classroom appointment. Please note that if you would like to shop using cash, you must shop at the after school events. All other times we will only accept electronic methods of payment (eWallet or credit card).
We need lots of volunteers to make our book fair a success! We need help stapling flyers, setting up and tearing down the fair, and of course working the event! Most jobs require no previous experience and you can bring your child(ren) with you. Sign up here
Save-the-Date! Plans are underway for our 3rd annual "Spring into Summer" last day of school event, Wednesday, June 5 4:30-7:30 p.m.! There will be food trucks, face painters, a DJ, and more! This is a free event for our Valley Crossing families and staff. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the trucks. The food trucks participating have graciously agreed to donate a portion of sales back to the PTA! Look for more information coming soon!
Staff Appreciation Week is coming May 6-10. We are looking forward to celebrating the amazing staff at Valley Crossing! If you are willing to help coordinate this special week please email us at valleycrossingpta@gmail.com.
Summer Learning Opportunities with 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.
GRASP Math or Reading, Grade K-8
Deadline to register is April 26 at 3 p.m.
9-week correspondence program for grades K-8 which helps students maintain skills while they are on summer vacation.
SOAR Math or Reading, Grades 1-5
9-week online summer course that allows SoWashCo students entering grades 1-5. Students will complete lessons that allow them to preview grade-level standards for the upcoming school year.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
VCES Welcome to Kindergarten Open House
All incoming Kindergarten students and families are invited to our "Welcome to Kindergarten" open house!
Valley Crossing Elementary
Thursday, April 25
5:00-6:00 pm
We can't wait to meet you!
5th Grade North End Track & Field Meet: May 15th
We are looking forward to again hosting our 5th grade track and field meet at East Ridge High School on May 15th 9:45-1:45. We are hoping families will come and watch and support their students during this fun day.
For this day to run smoothly, we need volunteers to help the Physical Education teachers at each of the events. Please consider volunteering. You can click on this link volunteer sign up to choose what event you’d like to help with, and each volunteer also has to complete a background check that can be found at this link background check.
Thank you for helping and supporting our 5th graders!!
North End Physical Education Teachers
Save the Date May 28, 2024: Valley Crossing Blood Drive
Valley Crossing Kindness Connection will be hosting a Blood Drive on May 28, 2024.
Did you know that every two seconds someone in the United States need blood and or platelets. Blood supplies in the United States are at a record 20-year low, according to the Red Cross, citing a shortage of donors (Red Cross Blood Donation). We will be looking for volunteers that are willing to donate blood and/or volunteer at the event. More details to come!
Student Council Service Learning Project
Beginning April 8th to April 19th the Valley Crossing Student Council is collecting new Dog/Cat Pet supplies for their Service learning project! The two rescues chosen are: Pet Haven of MN and Humble Hounds MN to donate to!
Collection boxes are in each neighborhood gathering space for students to put donations in. Student Council members thank you in advance for considering a donation!
MCA Information for 3rd-5th Graders
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) administers statewide accountability assessments each year, called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in grades 3-8, 10, and 11. Students who receive special education services and meet eligibility criteria may take the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test as an alternative. The test results are a source of information for us to evaluate our services, supports, programs, and classroom instruction. Participation in MCA/MTAS testing is important so that we have accurate data to assess how students are learning academic standards and determine which academic areas we need to improve instruction in.
The MCA/MTAS testing dates for Valley Crossing will be from April 15-19 for reading, April 22-26 for math and May 3-7 for science (5th grade only). We recognize that the testing window overlaps with a number of religious observances and holy days. SoWashCo Schools is committed to honoring and being responsive to the needs of all families and students. Please contact Jenna Held, 651-425-7605, jheld0@sowashco.org , if you have concerns or questions about school testing dates and times, needed accommodations, and/or your student’s participation in MCA/MTAS testing. For more information about the purpose and uses of the MCA/MTAS, please visit the Assessment and Grading website.
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 lunch link for March, April and May. 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