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Phoenix Family News
March 1, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
February-March 15: ACCESS for ELs Testing
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
March 15: Yearbook Ordering Deadline
March 19: PTA Meeting 4:00-5:00 pm
April 5: 2/3 Music Program – Go Fish!
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.
FINAL CALL for 2023-24 Yearbooks! Orders due March 15th!
It's the final chance to order your yearbook today from Josten's! Prices right now begin at $21.00. ALL ORDERS ARE DUE BY MARCH 15th.
Attention 4th and 5th Grade Families
We will be playing recorders in music soon and the students are very excited to get started! All 4th graders should order a recorder to use here at school. They will use this recorder next year in music class as well. Most 5th graders already purchased a recorder last year so if your child still has it at home, please send it to school for students to leave in their lockers. Please click the links below for more information and to order your recorder online. The deadline to order your recorder online is March 15th!
6th Grade Band Instrument Selection Nights
Families who registered for band as their 6th grade music elective should plan to attend an instrument selection night in March. Students will have the opportunity to try their top three instrument choices. Sign up to select an instrument by March 15th. This e-mail with more information was sent to all band families on Thursday, February 15th.
CGMS - Susan Berg-Williams sbergwil@sowashco.org
LMS - Joel Good jgood0@sowashco.org
OMS - Sara Comeau scomeau@sowashco.org
WMS - Sara O’Connor soconnor@sowashco.org
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.
Now Hiring!
Valley Crossing has a 2 hour/day Lunch/Recess Paraprofessional position open. The hours are 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Below are additional details:
- Paraprofessional starting pay is $21.13/hour
- Highly Qualified pay is an additional $0.50/hour
- When students have are not in school, paraprofessionals have most of those days off as well.
If you are interested, please APPLY TODAY or contact Joy Peterson at jpeters4@sowashco.org or 651-425-7523.
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.
Featured Program
Learn about STEAM concepts and be challenged to build motorized engineering models using patented building kits.
- Transportation Machines, Grades 1-5
After school starting March 12 at Grey Cloud, Liberty Ridge, Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion, Red Rock and Valley Crossing elementary schools - Spring Sports Machines, Grades 1-6
6:30-8:30 p.m., starting March 12 at East Ridge High School or March 13 Cottage Grove Middle School
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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.
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 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