VPS News
From student shout-outs to the exciting things that happened at our last school event or a great parenting article, we’ll post it all here for you. Please be sure to visit this page often so you’re always well informed about what’s happening at VPS.
For the next few years, we will be focusing our fundraising efforts on improving the salaries and benefits of our teachers. Our salary scale is now more than 30% below the public schools' scale, and we don't offer any matching retirement benefits. Additionally, there is a significant out-of-pocket cost for our healthcare plans. These factors make it extremely difficult for the school to retain and recruit "the best of the best." Accordingly, for the next few years, all fundraising (Annual Fund, Fall Fest, parking spots, and GALA) will focus on improving this situation. Our first fundraiser of the year is the annual fund, which runs year-long. If you wish to make a donation, please go to the Valley Preparatory 2022–2023 Annual Fund page to do so.
The establishment of Valley Prep 65 years ago was to provide a holistic, student-centered, interdisciplinary program that emphasized the Arts (music, art, languages). The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program was introduced at Valley Prep in 2016 as a means of reinforcing this founding vision. It has also served to highlight one of the school's greatest strengths: its cultural diversity.
Our STEAM program was also introduced in 2016 within the framework of the IB program. Like the IB program, STEAM learning creates connections across the curriculum through hands-on, project-based instruction. These connections build important 21st-century skills, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, in a collaborative learning environment.
This school year, we will be focusing on an aspect of the IB program called Approaches to Learning. This skills-based approach to teaching and learning highlights the importance of self-management, communication, and socialization. Such an approach is best integrated across the curriculum. But in order to highlight its importance, Miss Jo (our new Resource Specialist) will be visiting classrooms to present socio-emotional lessons (SEL) designed to help students develop these critical skills.
The 8th grade class will have the following fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for their graduation activities.
- Mondays and Wednesdays: Snacks at morning recess
- Tuesdays: Donuts and coffee at the morning carpool.
Thank you for your support!
Please complete the annual emergency form below. This information is critically important in ensuring the children's safety. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
We began using Panera Bread's new lunch program for schools last year. Overall, the feedback was very positive, and the program has returned this year. Please see our Panera ordering instructions for more information, and contact Mrs. Hindy via email with questions.