Busy week ahead as we head into the last 3 weeks of school.

• EOGs start Friday for 5th and 8th grade Science
• Refer to calendar and notes for EOY events
• Reminder there is NO school for ALL students next Monday (May 26) for Memorial Day
• NO School next Tuesday and Wednesday (May 27 and 28) for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd due to EOG testing

Thank you for making sure your child is at school and on time. Buses leave the hub at 7:55.

Three weeks left!!! We've got this!

- Dr. Smith

Congratulations to this week’s Cougar Captains!

Delilah, Sawyer, Mason, Evie, Willa, Abe, Hazel, Elizabeth, Lawson, Amelia, Brier, Keegan, Lucy, Austyn, Ariannet, Danny, Neveah and Maia.

Super Cougars:

Elementary - Willa

Middle - Maia

Super Duper Cougar - Ms. Seehorn

Due to our locations, testing requirements, and the personnel and space needed for EOG administration, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students will NOT attend school on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. Instead, they will have asynchronous instruction on these days.

Testing schedule:

Friday May 23 - 3rd Reading, 5th Science and 8th Science

Tuesday May 27 - 3rd Math, 4th Math, 5th Math

Wednesday May 28 - 3rd Retest, 4th Reading, 5th Reading and 8th Math 1 EOC

Thursday May 29 - 6th Reading, 7th Reading, and 8th Reading

Friday May 30 - 6th Math, 7th Math, and 8th Math

*More to come about make up testing and second administration.

** Days for math and reading for elementary switched

Remember that hub buses leave promptly at 7:55 AM.

It's important that students are dropped off on time so we can ensure a smooth and timely departure and arrival to our locations. Late arrivals delay shuttles to our locations and it makes it much easier at VCCC if extra traffic and drop offs are limited.

Help us keep everything on schedule.

Only 4 more weeks of shuttling!!!

Thanks

Switching 3-5 Reading and Math Testing Days

- 3rd-5th Math will now be Tuesday May 27

- 4th-5th Reading and 3rd Reading Retest will now be Wednesday May 28

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students will NOT attend school on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. Instead, they will have asynchronous instruction on these days.

Field Day -

We are working on finalizing Field Day plans and it is set to take place at the Valle Crucis Community Park.

Drop off and shuttles for the morning will be the same as normal.

Dismissal will take place at the hub/current school for ALL students.

No pick up at CCC&TI.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL -

Friday June 6 is the last day of school. It is also an early release at noon.

ALL K-8 students will be on the VCCC campus that day.

NO shuttles, drop off or pick up at CCC&TI that day.

Parents please make sure to check your child’s lunch balance. Even if you have not received a low balance notice go into your child’s account to double check. We are close to $2,000.00 of negative lunch balances. We are getting closer to the end of the school year and these balances need to be resolved as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please let me know.

- Mrs. Erin

Parents can go to this link to set up their parent portals if they haven't already done so. https://portalaccess.ncsis.gov/

They will need their child's student number and date of birth to complete the process.

Be sure to make every effort for your children to be at school and on time each day.

Attendance is very important. We have missed so much school this year due to Hurricane Helene and with the move and transportation our instructional day is much shorter.

Teachers and staff are working hard to get everything in.

Attendance Matters!

Mrs. Blalock’s Fun for Summer Picks:

• Podcasts for Teens curated by Common Sense Media for parents.

• Local Libraries (What’s Happening Elsewhere, Go Visit Ms. Jackie, our Book Mobile Librarian)

• Read Digital eBooks over the summer. Log into your Epic Reading account. End of Summer popsicle party for top JUNE, JULY, AUGUST readers in August!

Use this link to see the updated Watauga County Schools 24-25 Calendar.

https://www.wataugaschools.org/calendar

Friendly reminder to call ahead for student check-outs or visits (to drop off items, bookbags, etc) to give Traci and Erin a heads-up. This helps us ensure a smooth process for our office staff, students and teachers.

Additionally, all visitors must check in with office staff upon arrival. Please note the designated check-in locations:

• Elementary @ Conference Center: Holy Cross
• Middle School @ Caldwell Community College: Main entrance at the Instructional Building

Phone Number - 828-963-4712

Elementary Office - Mrs. Traci Hartley (Option 2)

Middle School Office - Mrs. Erin Jones (Option 3)

PreK at ASU CDC - Mrs. Erin and Mrs. Cheyenne (Option 1)

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe, organized and helping out Mrs. Traci and Mrs. Erin.

Phone Number - 828-963-4712

Elementary Office - Mrs. Traci Hartley

Middle School Office - Mrs. Erin Jones

7:50 Tardy for VCCC and for transportation shuttles

2:10 Begin Dismissal Process at VCCC and CCCTI

2:15 Middle School Car Riders Dismissed from CCCTI

2:30 Buses arrive at current school for car rider and bus dismissal

Monday - Chicken Nuggets

Tuesday - Soft Taco

Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Thursday - Chicken Alfredo

Friday - Cheese Pizza

Link to menus - https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/7UHW5P?buildingId=a73785dc-dcb4-eb11-a2c3-ce80b7f12dad

Students should be at the current school for drop off by 7:50, so that our last buses can leave for VCCC, CCCTI and ASUCDC by 7:55.

• No early check outs after 2:00 at either location.
• If you student in late, you will need to take them to their school location.

If you need to check your child out early, communicate that with your child's teacher and also with Mrs. Traci at VCCC and Mrs. Erin at CCCTI. You will need to call ahead, especially at VCCC.

The Front Office area for VCCC will be at the Holy Cross building. There will be a door bell to ring and we will help you there.

The Front Office at CCCTI is at the entrance there and Mrs. Erin will help you.

* It is very important to plan ahead and communicate with us at school. I understand things come up and we are happy to help.

** It is also important for our plans for arrival, dismissal, transportation and the functioning of school that you work with us with getting your child to school on time and limit pickup and check outs. Planning and communication are huge.

We will continue our focus on our RISE expectations this year (character education and behavior framework).

RISE stands for:

Respect

Integrity

Self Disciplie

Empathy

This is a common language and expectations that students should be familiar with as we continue this year working diligenlty as a whole school to be specific in modeling, teaching, reteaching and helping students grow in these areas. This will align with the use of Class Dojo.

School wide, the VCS staff will continue using Class Dojo again. Be sure you have the information from your child's homeroom teachers and are connected.

There will also be the addition of more character education added into the daily curriulum for students.

Our goal, as a school, is to utilize clear, common expectations for all in order to promote the Valle Crucis student body and its supporters with the safest, most positive learning environment.

For more information about the PTSO, the calendar of events, the ways to get involved, our overall mission, ways you can support the school, info about the board, and all of the things that we do, visit our BRAND NEW WEBSITE! We will update it throughout the year based on all of the amazing things going on and that get planned.

Our website address is: http://vallecrucisptso.com

Follow us on facebook here and on instagram @vallecrucisptso. Finally, if you have any questions, comments or concerns at all, you may always reach out to us at vallecrucisptso@gmail.com.

Email: smithb@wataugaschools.org
Location: 2998 Broadstone Road, Sugar Grove, NC, USA

Current Mailing Address: Watauga County Schools BOE,

175 Pioneer Trail, Boone, Boone NC 28607
Phone: (828) 963-4712
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleCrucisSchoolNC
Twitter: @ValleCrucisSch