Phoenix Family News
February 23, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
February: I Love to Read Month
February-March 15: ACCESS for ELs Testing
February 27: PTA Night at Cafe Zupas 4-9pm
February 29: Conferences
March 1: End of Trimester 2
March 4-8: No School - Spring Break
March 11: No School - Teacher Work Day
March 14: Trimester 2 Progress Reports sent home in Thursday Folders
Calendar and Schedule Updates
The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.
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.
Reading and Math Corps Tutors Needed for 2024-25
Valley Crossing is looking for Reading and Math Corps tutors for the 2024-25 school year. You can take action in our community by giving your time and talent to help students build their skills and confidence!
Tutors work one-on-one or in small groups with students during school hours throughout the school year. Whether you are a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent or retiree, you can make a great tutor! No experience? No problem. With training and on-site coaching, our tutors are prepared to help kids succeed.
Part-time and full-time positions are available beginning in August, October and January. Tutors receive a paycheck every two weeks plus up to an additional $5,100 for college tuition or loans (tutors 55+ may gift the education award to their child, grandchild, stepchild or foster child).
Ready to put your passion in action to help to help more children succeed? Learn more or apply at Join.ReadingandMath.org. Questions? Email join@ampact.us or call 866.859.2825.
SoWashCo Community Education Youth Activities
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.
Spring and Summer Registration Opens on Monday, Feb. 19 View the catalog online at commed.sowashco.org/catalogs. Print catalogs will be arriving in mailboxes in early March.
Spring Break Classes and Camps
Staying local from Spring Break? Sign up for classes and camps from Community Education at bit.ly/3I1Veh2
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
VCES Art Show
We are excited to announce that we will have an Art Show during conferences coming up at the end of February. All students participating in art class will have a piece on display. The art will be hung in the hallways and locker bays around the school. Three-dimensional artwork will be displayed in the Media Center. Student names and teacher names will be on each piece. We hope you will be able to enjoy all our students’ hard work. Questions, please contact your student’s art speciatlist: Alissa Nutting anutting@sowashco.org or Tess Soucheray tsoucher@sowashco.org.
PTA News: Scholastic Book Fair!
Save-the-date! Our fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held February 22-March 1. We will hold two family shopping events during conferences: Thursday, February 22 and Thursday, February 29 from 4-8 p.m. The family shopping events are the only opportunity to use cash or checks. Credit cards (or tap-to-pay) or eWallet are ALWAYS accepted. Students will not be able to use cash when shopping during the school day. Please create an eWallet for your student if they wish to shop during school.
To create an eWallet, visit our book fair website Book Fair Homepage (scholastic.com) Note: any unused funds from a previous eWallet were converted into an eGift card on your Scholastic account. You need to create a NEW eWallet for each fair and can use the eGift card balance to fund the eWallet.
We will need volunteers to make this book fair a success! Working the book fair is fun—most positions require no previous experience. Kids are allowed to work with you or stay in the parent room during your shift. Sign up here!
Spring Conferences - Feb 22 & 29
The conference sign-up link for your child's teacher was sent via email. If you did not receive your conference link or if you need help signing up for a conference, please call the main office at 651-425-7501.
I Love to Read Month
Thank you for all your support of I Love to Read Month! We know many of you are encouraging your child in working on their personal reading goal. If your student completes enough reading activities to reach their Star Goal, they can bring their paper to the Media Center and have their photo taken in our Magical Photo Corner! We will take photos until March 1, before Spring Break.
Your family also has the opportunity to “adopt” books for the Media Center. Many families have adopted books in honor of teachers or special loved ones, to celebrate a child’s birthday, or simply to celebrate reading! You and your child can select a genre of book that will help Valley Crossing readers for years to come. If interested, please complete and return this form to the Media Center by February 20. Thank you for considering, and thanks to those of you who have already adopted a book!
Water Damaged Library Books
The Media Center continues to see a large number of library books that have been water damaged. It is imperative that water bottles and any other wet items are in bags separate from important school materials. Many families keep jumbo or gallon plastic bags in student backpacks to put library books and devices into, to protect them from water, food, or any dirt that may get into backpacks. Please help your child take excellent care of their library books and device, as we do not have an unlimited supply! Thank you!
Roller Skating Reminders
Roller skating for all 2-5th grade classes begins the week of Tuesday, February 20th through Friday, March 1st during regularly scheduled Phy Ed classes.
- If you have not done so already, please return the permission slip to your students homebase teacher as soon as possible.
- Students should bring their helmets for skating Tuesday February 20th and leave them on top of their locker for the duration of the unit.
Snacks Needed
Please work with your student(s) to remember to pack a nut-free snack and water bottle for school every day.
We are also running low on emergency snacks to give out to students who forget their snack. If you are able to donate, we would really appreciate donations of individually wrapped packages of Goldfish or Saltine crackers to replenish our supply. Snacks can be brought to the main office or sent to our School Social Worker, Faith Schulze.
2023-24 Yearbooks
Order your yearbook today from Josten's! Prices right now begin at $21.00.
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!
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