Dear VCS Community,
It is hard to believe that we have just about two and half months of school left in the 2024-2025 school year! Time really does fly when you are having fun (and are really busy!).
The last month was packed with so many student learning experiences that exemplify the VCS mission and vision! To name just a few, our 2nd graders took VCES visitors through a simulation of the Ellis Island experience, our 6th graders researched social issues, wrote a persuasive essay about how to positively impact that social issue, and developed protest signs for a picket line, our 7th graders went on a field trip to 826LA Writing Lab, and our 3rd graders took a field trip to the TLC Chinese Theater in Hollywood to learn about how the film industry shaped Los Angeles.
Please read below for some important information, even more recent school highlights, and previews of what is coming up in each school community.
School Year 2025-2026 School Calendar
At our February board meeting, the VCS Board of Directors approved the SY 2025-2026 calendar. Below are a few notes:
- The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 13th, 2025. This will be a minimum day.
- A few dates to emphasize as you review the 25-26 calendar:
- October 27th-31st is fall conference week (minimum days + 1 pupil free day on the 31st)
- Friday, December 19th will be a minimum day
- Friday, January 30th will be a minimum day
- March 23rd-27th is spring conference week (minimum days + 1 pupil free day on the 27th)
- Winter break: VCS winter break will run from Monday, December 22nd through Sunday, January 4th. VCS students will return on Monday, January 5th, 2026. Please arrange your vacations accordingly so that your child does not miss school that week.
Family Engagement Survey- please complete by close of business on Friday, April 4th, 2025
VCS values family input, which we use in our continuous improvement process as an organization. Previous family feedback has led to revisions in communication structures, family volunteer structures, academic support structures, specific recurring events such as the stay and play and summer playdates/hangouts, and more! Please provide your feedback regarding sense of belonging, safety, student engagement, and communication by completing the appropriate survey below:
Please complete each survey if you have a child at both VCES and VCMS.
Surveys close at 5pm on Friday, April 4th, 2025.
March Attendance Push or “90% of success in life is showing up”
Daily attendance deeply affects student success: Your child’s success is linked to daily attendance. Every day that a student is absent, they miss out on key assignments, content, and skills. Regular attendance is essential for growth and success. When we review mid-year data, there is a strong correlation between student absences and lack of growth.
Daily attendance deeply affects our budgets: California public schools, such as VCES and VCMS, are funded based on the number of students that show up each day (average daily attendance). If your child stays home, the school loses revenue that we need to pay our staff and run our programs. We budget for a certain amount each year and if we fall below that amount, we lose money that we need to support our students.
At this point in the school year, VCES’ average daily attendance rate as of March was 93.6% with the original goal of 93% and VCMS’ average daily attendance rate was 91.8% with the original goal of 93%. We need your help to reach and ideally exceed our goals for the year to ensure student success and an appropriately funded program. This is especially important with the uncertainty of federal and state funding at this time.
So, please help your child experience success and our schools retain the revenue we need to help your child succeed by making sure that your child SHOWS UP each and every day (unless they are sick!).
March Fundraising Update
With the end of the school year in sight, we are in the final stages of annual fundraising at both VCES and VCMS. Thanks to the generosity of our families and local community, we have made meaningful progress toward our goals, helping to fund classroom support, field trips, enrichment programs, sports, and facility updates—resources that set Valley Charter Schools apart. Many families have already contributed, and we are grateful for your generosity. With fundraising efforts still underway, including the Viper Dash campaign at the middle school and Laps 4 Learning coming up at the elementary school, there are still opportunities to give. Every donation, no matter the size, helps make these programs possible and strengthens our school community. We appreciate your partnership and shared commitment to our students.
Highlights and Upcoming Events
VCS upcoming dates/events:
- Spring Conferences: Conferences at both schools will be held the week of March 17th, with minimum days each day Monday through Thursday, and a pupil-free day on Friday, March 21st. Make your appointment with your child’s teacher if you have not yet done so!
- Spring Break: The VCS break begins Monday, April 14th and ends Sunday, April 27th. We will see everyone back in school on Monday, April 28th.
Recent VCES Highlights
- Mario Math Quest: To support math fact fluency across grade levels, VCES teachers kicked off our whole-school Mario Math Quest on February 27th, where students compete with themselves in quests designed to help them learn and practice their math facts. A huge thank you to all the family volunteers and to our teachers, who helped transform the campus into a magical Mario world!
- VCES Family Jam: VCES had over 400 community members join us on February 22nd to play games, listen to great music from the VCES “dad band” and VCES mom singers, and enjoy food from In-N-Out. A huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible!
- Catalina Institute Marine Institute: As a capstone experience for their time at VCES, our 5th graders had an amazing three days in CIMI where they rode in buses and boats, slept in cabins, dissected squid, snorkeled, hiked, bonded, ate great food, and slept away from home for two nights in a row!
VCES Upcoming Events
- Spring Sing on March 28th; please review the weekly newsletter to know the time for your child’s class.
- Our next whole school focus will be all about appreciating and writing poetry. Students will learn about different styles of poetry and we’ll culminate with an assembly called “David Prather’s Poetry Jam” on April 10th.
- On May 1st, our whole school will celebrate Earth Day. Each grade level will participate in hands-on modules that teach students to appreciate our earth. We will also have an assembly from Environmental Defenders through the LA Public Works Department.
- Our Laps For Learning event was previously scheduled for April 10th, but it will now be on May 22nd.
Recent VCMS Highlights
- Student Honoree Award Ceremony: At the end of our second quarter, Valley Charter Middle School hosted a special Community Meeting to celebrate and recognize outstanding student achievements.
- Candle Making at VCMS: Ms. Clarke has introduced an exciting new hands-on experience to VCMS—candle making! Students are learning the art and science behind creating their own candles, exploring different scents, colors, and techniques.
- SexEd Unit: Our 7th and 8th grade students recently completed their SexEd unit, covering important topics on health, relationships, and personal responsibility. This curriculum provided students with valuable knowledge to make informed decisions while promoting respectful and open discussions in a safe learning environment.
- Singing at VCMS: Aspiring entertainers at VCMS found their voice through our after school singing classes! In partnership with Vibe Taylor Music, students had the opportunity to develop their vocal skills, build confidence, and explore their passion for music.
- Dance at VCMS: Through our partnership with Brooklyn DanceSport Club LA Edition, students benefit from professional dance instruction, inspiring creativity and passion for the arts! Dance classes continue at lunch for the next three weeks on each campus.
VCMS Upcoming Events
- Viper Dash Pep Rally: Get ready to cheer! On March 24th the Viper Dash Pep Rally will kick off the excitement as we prepare for our big event.
- Viper Dash: Formerly known as the Color FUNdracer, on March 27th the Viper Dash will culminate our fundraising efforts with a special run filled with excitement, powder color, running and memories that will last a lifetime! Students, staff and parents will come together to hit our fundraising goal!
- iReady Session 3 Begins: Our next round of iReady testing begins on April 1st! This session will give students another chance to demonstrate their academic growth and strengthen their math and reading skills. Encourage your child to stay focused and do their best!
- Science Fair: On April 10th, our young scientists will showcase their hard work and discoveries at this year’s VCMS Science Fair. All students 6-8th will showcase their projects at our Van Nuys site from 5pm – 7pm, you won’t want to miss this event!
Best,
Carolyn
Valley Charter Schools 