Dear VCS Community,
It goes without saying that there have been some challenging elements to the beginning of 2025. We are grateful that the situation in Los Angeles County has begun to stabilize and we are looking forward to the semester ahead.
Please read below for reflections, important information, highlighted events, and previews of what’s coming up at each school.
Reflections on the January fires
The first weeks in January brought devastating losses to the greater Los Angeles community and closed down schools for several days. While Valley Charter and most other schools in LA were able to reopen doors on January 13th, there are many communities who did not have schools or homes to return to and recovery will be a long, difficult process. I am grateful for what we have and thankful for the generosity of the VCS community, who has worked in different ways to raise donations for those in need.
If you are looking for resources because you or loved ones were impacted by the fires or to donate to those in need, the Los Angeles Homeless Services authority has collated lists on their website.
Below are some mental health resources:
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): NCTSN provides various resources on how to help children cope with the impact of wildfires.
- NASP: Helping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Caregivers and Teachers
- Child Mind Institute: Resources and Guides for Helping Children Cope with Trauma
- Sesame Street: Resources (guides, videos, and activities) for families.
Please visit here if you are seeking information on the decision-making process for when VCS implements an indoor activity schedule.
Important information for families regarding Immigration and Customs (ICE) enforcement activity
Because new federal immigration laws remove schools as “sensitive locations” and this has implications for school guidelines and operations, we are sharing the below legal context and resources.
Legal context:
- It is a constitutional right for every child to have access to a free and equitable education, regardless of their immigration status or any other protected characteristic. VCS is committed to ensuring that our students feel safe attending school.
- The California Values Act (Senate Bill 54 2018) ensures that no state and local resources are used to assist federal immigration enforcement.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are not permitted to enter schools without a judicial warrant, nor are schools required to provide information regarding immigration status. In addition, VCS does not collect or store information regarding citizenship status for our students or their families.
Information & Resources:
- VCS has collated a set of resources and posted them on our website: VCS Immigration Resources – Know Your Rights!
- In addition to the electronic resources shared on the website, each school office has wallet-size cards available that contain information about rights.
- Though we have no reason to think that our individual schools will be visited, our leadership team and office staff are putting protocols in place in the event that there is ICE activity near or at one of our schools.
Recognizing Martin Luther King Day and the Lunar Year
On January 20th, our schools were closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King to recognize and celebrate his life’s work of advancing civil rights in America. Through our diverse-by-design model, VCS aims to continue to build on this important work. Let us recognize and remember someone who spent his life, and gave his life, trying to make our nation better.
On January 29th, the Lunar Year Started, ushering in the year of the snake! Happy New Year to all of our community members who celebrate!
Highlights and Upcoming Events at Each School
Recent VCES Highlights
- Our whole school focus this week has been around artists. Ms. Aronchick has taught us about Henri Matisse, Mondrian, and Yayoi Kusama. Families can see some of their artwork at The Broad Museum in LA. Our kindergarteners culminated their identity unit all about who they are on the inside and out with a MEseum where they taught others all about themselves in a living museum format.
- Field trip fun! Our 4th graders panned for gold at VT ranch as part of their Gold Rush PBL and learned about missions at the San Fernando Mission. Our 1st graders went to Leonis Adobe to learn about life long ago.
VCES Upcoming events
- February 7th at 8:10: Principal’s Coffee about the Zones of Emotional Regulation
- February 8th: VCES Community Fair, 1-4pm
- February 22nd: VCES Family Jam, 4-8pm
Recent VCMS Highlights
- VCMS Movie Night on January 24th was a fantastic evening filled with laughter, creativity, and community spirit! Students, staff, and parents came together to enjoy a cozy night watching The Grinch while indulging in delicious food and holiday-themed crafts.
- Field Trip Fun! Last week, our 8th graders had an unforgettable experience as they set sail—figuratively—on a science-focused field trip to the USS Battleship Iowa in San Pedro! This historic battleship provided the perfect hands-on learning environment, where students explored the intersection of science, technology, and history with veteran guides.
- Student Awards: As we wrapped up the second quarter, we had the wonderful opportunity to recognize and celebrate our students’ hard work, dedication, and academic and social-emotional growth during our Quarter 2 Awards Ceremony.
VCMS Upcoming events
- February 13th: Valentine’s Day Dance, 4:00-5:30 pm
- February 10th-13th: Spirit Week: this is VCMS’ students’ chance to show school spirit, have fun, and participate in exciting themed dress-up days.
- February 10th: Viper Dash Color Run fundraising kick off pep rally
- February 19th: 7th grade field trip to 826 LA Writing Lab, where they will engage in a unique creative writing workshop designed to spark imagination, strengthen storytelling skills, and build confidence as writers.
VCS “Pre-Lottery” Application Window Closing!
The school year 2025-26 VCS “pre-lottery” application window will close on February 13th, 2025, and our lottery will be held on February 20th. If you have an incoming sibling at any grade level (Tk-8) that you wish to apply for, you must submit an application on or before February 13th for our sibling priority.
We want more families like yours at Valley Charter! Remind interested friends and family about the pre-lottery application deadline! There are several more group tours this school year, and our annual Community Fair for elementary school-aged prospective students and families is on February 8th on the VCES campus. We need lots of parent and middle school volunteers to make this afternoon a success. Email Rebecca Avery (ravery@valleycharterschool.org) or click here to learn more about volunteering at the 2025 Community Fair.
Best,
Carolyn
Valley Charter Schools 