VCS Families and Students,

We thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented and challenging times. We continue to place our hope and trust in the Lord as we make decisions that seek to balance our desire to welcome our students back to campus as “normal” as possible with our charge to ensure the health and safety of all our students and faculty.

Out of our desire to ensure a safe return to campus and in light of Governor Ducey’s executive order for Arizona public and charter schools, the Valley Christian Board of Directors has approved our administration’s decision to welcome students back to our campuses on Monday, August 17. This date is not only in alignment with the targeted in-person start date for public and charter schools, but also for nearly every Christian school in the state.

The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty is our number one priority. While the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic remains fluid, VCS remains committed to taking the health and safety seriously. This includes following any city, county, or state mandates in place that apply to our school’s operations. Our community is a hallmark of the Valley Christian experience and is the reason we are doing everything we can to bring our community back together in a safe and considered manner.

Leading up to our August 17 start date, we will be engaging in additional training for our faculty and staff to prepare for the safe return of our students to our campuses and provide an enhanced virtual learning platform across all of our campuses should the need arise during the school year.

We are excited to host an all-new Trojan Welcome Week the week of August 10-14 for our students and families. This week will consist of orientation days and activities to prepare for our return to in-person instruction on August 17. To facilitate social distancing, the events will be designed to limit the number of individuals on campus at one time. Your campus principal will communicate specific dates and times for Trojan Welcome Week and other related information specific to your campus. An updated school calendar for 2020-21 will be released shortly, as well.

Again, we appreciate your ongoing support and patience as we address these challenges. We ask that you keep in mind the need for continued prayer and flexibility leading up to the start of our 2020-21 school year. We also want to reiterate our commitment to hold classes on campus for the upcoming school year. As we come together as a community once again, we will love our neighbors by putting needs for safety first. We cannot wait to welcome our students back on campus this fall and provide our distinctly Christian education that has made VCS the No. 1-rated Christian school in Arizona by Niche.com.

In light of Governor Ducey’s Executive Order pushing back the start of in-person learning in Arizona K-12 public and charter schools to at least August 17, our leadership team is currently re-evaluating our in-person start date and calendar for 2020-21. We will communicate any changes and additional information by Friday, July 10, as decisions are finalized.

Additionally, all VCS Athletics and activities (including camps/clinics, practices, trainings, etc.) will be shut down until July 19. We plan to re-open athletics and activities on Monday, July 20.

We are excited to partner with you in the education of your children again this fall and cannot wait to safely welcome them back to campus. We ask that you keep in mind the need for continued prayer and flexibility leading up to the start of our 2020-21 school year.

Congratulations to all of our students who earned honor roll recognition for the second semester of the 2020-21 school year!

Students on the Principal’s Honor Roll had an unweighted GPA of 3.75-4.0. Students earning Blue and Silver Honor Roll recognition maintained a 3.5-3.749 unweighted GPA.

Class of 2020 Graduates and Parents,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the June 24 graduation ceremony. We had a limited number of RSVPs for the additional ceremony. Based upon the RSVPs and results from our graduation survey at the end of May, we will no longer be hosting that event.

Graduates are encouraged to come by the Valley Christian High School Office next week anytime on Monday to Thursday from 8:30am – 2:00pm to pick up a Gift Packet, including your yearbook, from Administration and drop off their rented gown. Gowns must be returned no later than 2:00pm on Thursday, June 25. We will also be working on producing a video of the May ceremony that includes our valedictory and salutatory speeches and senior awards.

We understand this may come as a disappointment to some, but given the number of graduates committed to attend, we believe this is in the best interest of all involved. While we wish the circumstances were different surrounding graduation this year, we are very thankful for the opportunity we had in May to gather together and celebrate our incredible Class of 2020!

As part of our phased re-opening plan, the following “Phase I” procedures will go into effect beginning on Tuesday, May 26 for all our campuses.

As part of Phase I, all employees, students, and guests on our campuses will be required to check and record their temperature. Employees can check-in at the front office to be temperature checked during normal business hours. If employees will have a group of students on campus, they can sign-out a no-contact temperature scanner to check and record the students’ temperatures – those students do not have to go through the front office.

While on campus, strict social distancing is in effect (6+ feet of separation). Face masks are currently optional for employees and guests. If you cannot guarantee proper social distancing, you must wear a proper face mask.

In Phase I, groups on our campuses are limited to no more than 10 people. Again, if you cannot guarantee proper social distancing (> 6 ft), the group must wear proper face masks.

While at VCS, frequently wash your hands, cover your cough or sneeze, and avoid shaking hands. If you are sick or feeling ill, please stay home.

Also beginning on Tuesday, May 26, our athletic facilities will be opening for limited, individual training of groups no larger than 10 people. You can see the current “Return to Play” phasing and requirements for coaches and student-athletes on our Athletics website. Students and coaches will check and record their temperatures at their athletic facility prior to training.