Offering Big School Opportunities in a Small School Environment
One of America’s Top Christian Schools
Valley Christian Schools offers students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade big school opportunities in a small school environment. Established in 1982, Valley Christian provides 700+ students a distinctly Christian education with excellent academics, championship athletics, award-winning fine arts, and a supporting community that encourages spiritual growth and the success of our students in and out of our classrooms across our three East Valley campuses. Valley Christian is ranked as one of the Top 50 Christian high schools in the U.S. and as one of the Top 125 Places to Work in Arizona.
Our mission is for students to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, live like Him, and prepare academically, physically, socially and spiritually, so they are enabled to make a difference in the world.
Valley Christian Schools is accredited by both Association of Christian Schools International and AdvancED.
Safe Return to School
We are excited to announce that we will resume in-person learning across all three of our campuses on Monday, August 17!
For Grades 7-12, families will be able to choose to return to school in-person or online, based on what works best for your children and personal circumstances. For our high school, we will be offering in-person classes four days per week. This is a temporary adjustment while we continue to upgrade our infrastructure in order to support synchronous learning. For our junior high students, we will be offering in-person classes five days per week with live, online learning.
Based on current state and county guidance, we have also released new information and made updates to our Safe Return to School plan. You can find more information on our learning options, our 2020-21 School Calendar, several updates to our K-12 Safety Measures, and our COVID-19 Symptoms and Exposure Flow Chart for students on our Safe Return to School page.
Testimonials
“Valley Christian changed my life. It revealed to me the value of character in a world that does not seem to believe in it any longer. This school has turned a shy, sad girl into someone on fire for life and thriving. I made friends, found my faith, found a community, found my passion, and found my life. My life will never be the same and I have Valley Christian to thank. It showed me who I wanted to be in this world, and gave me the skills to be able to achieve it. I could not better recommend a school to anyone. Valley Christian was so good to me, and I could not have asked for a better experience.”
– VCS Senior
“The school is doing an exceptional job in educating our students, and I am inspired by the growth and progress of the school.”
– U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema
“We are so happy to have found Valley Christian School! A year ago our family relocated from Colorado to Arizona. At the time my husband and I were both working/coaching at an amazing Christian school in Colorado. So, with our expectations very high, we set out in search of a great school and community for our family. Valley Christian very quickly rose to the top of our list and has far exceeded our expectations from day one. If you are looking for a school with academic excellence, professionalism, family-like community and a thriving spiritual culture, Valley Christian is a wonderful choice!”
– VCS Family
“A parent cannot go wrong with Valley Christian. From athletic programs and social clubs to requirements for community service, VCS prepares children for life as a Christian in the working world. Whether students are college-oriented or not, there is a place for each child at VCS.”
– The Best Schools
“It is a fantastic place to really develop your faith while at the same time getting a great education. The Bible classes, chapels, and study groups at the school really allow students to grow in their faith. The opportunities at the school are incredible with so many sports, art groups, and clubs that it is so easy for anyone to get involved. The tight knit community of parents and families at the school are super supportive and involved in making Valley Christian a better place.”
– VCS Senior
“Valley Christian High School was a tremendous blessing to our family. Both of my children had very different needs, and Valley was a great fit for both of them. From great teachers, to awesome extra curriculars , to fabulous athletics, Valley Christian comes highly recommended by this family!”
– VCS Parent
“I have loved every moment at Valley Christian High School. The school has a family feel to it, and it is easy to get involved. I love that the teachers not only care about your grades, but also your personal life. I also love that the school encourages others to grow in their faith and offers endless opportunities to do so.”
– VCS Senior
Connect With Us
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Valley Christian Hopes New Facilities Help Student Athletes Level Up
via @brettinaz
https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/valley-christian-hopes-new-facilities-help-student-athletes-level-up
An open letter to the VCS community from Athletic Director Greg Haagsma regarding the return to competition this fall. https://govalleychristian.com/news/2020/9/21/general-open-letter-to-vcs-community.aspx
At VCS, we are working to create a safe and healthy environment for our student-athletes, coaches, guests, and community.
You can view our protocols and procedures for on-campus athletic events in our Gameday Guide.
https://vcs.foleon.com/gameday-guide/valley-christian-2020-gameday-guide
I had the opportunity to tour Valley Christian's new weight room a couple of weeks ago. My jaw hit the floor when I walked in. Read about the impressive upgrades here for @VarsityXtra. http://eastvalleytribune.com/sports/valley-christian-unveils-state-of-the-art-weight-room/article_86d8cc10-f92e-11ea-99dc-f756b191d0be.html
Great things happening on the campus of @vcschoolsaz @vctrojans New Weight room and more importantly new academic building! Thank you @bwwinfrey for the tour. Story coming soon on @AZHSFB
4
Excited to officially begin the 2020-21 seasons for our Trojan Volleyball and Football teams.
First practice for volleyball was yesterday and football today with the first competitions scheduled in 2-3 weeks.
@vcschoolsaz Excellent service provided by Embry. Used them prior to travel last month and again today out of respect the people we are around and their families! Convenient location at VCHS!!!
Latest News and Articles
Open Letter to VCS Community from Athletics
Dear VCS Family,
There were times over the last few months where I wondered if we were going to get to this point this fall, but here we are! Our student-athletes and coaches are prepared and ready to compete.
During these strange times, our fall athletic events will be handled much differently than in previous years. We have laid out our plans for spectators in our Gameday Guide. That can be found at: www.govalleychristian.com/gamedayguide. Check back often as we will be updating the guide and our expectations as we settle into a routine.
We get one opportunity to begin the year well. We want to be cautious to ensure our students can continue to compete. We are hopeful, if we do this well, it will generate momentum and allow us to move forward in the future to allow more spectators to watch in person as the year progresses.
For spectator events at VCS, we will have limited seating of around 40-45% for football and volleyball. Tickets will only be sold online this year. When we reach our capacity there will be no more tickets sold and no additional people will be allowed into the event. Children under 5 will still be let in free with parents. Children will need to be seated with parents.
We will have a prioritized system for purchasing the online tickets:
- Parents of participating athletes, band members, and cheerleaders will have first opportunity to purchase tickets. School and AIA pass holders will also be included in this first opportunity. Tickets are limited to 2 per participant.
- Our students will also have student sections reserved for them in each of our venues. Students will be able to claim their ticket the morning of a game day with seniors and juniors receiving priority.
- We will be sending our opponents a set amount of tickets to purchase online for their parents and fans, as well.
- Any remaining tickets will be opened to the public.
- We will have reserved online tickets if you are VCS employee, staff member, or coach’s spouse and family. You will be given a code to enter online to claim your ticket and must sit in the designated area for faculty, staff, and families.
When attending VCS sporting events, masks are required, and proper social distancing must be maintained. Please understand that while you may be okay sitting near people, others may not feel comfortable. Again, it is mandatory that you please wear a mask and agree to social distance. Should you not believe in following these policies please do not plan on attending.
For our away events, we will communicate with you via email on the host schools’ instructions. Most swim meets will be hosted with no fans in attendance and football, volleyball, and cross country will have guidelines by host schools ranging from no fans to limited fans.
After all games (home and away), parents and fans will not be allowed onto the field/court. Parents driving athletes are asked to meet them at the car. We do encourage all parents to drive their athlete home from away games instead of taking school transportation. However, that will be available if parents are not at away games. At our away games, athletes will go straight to the bus after games. We ask that parents and friends respect this and have a plan to meet up after return to school.
What we expect:
- Take your health seriously. If you are sick or have symptoms, please, stay home and watch online.
- Wear your face covering. Currently face coverings are required while on our campuses.
- Please be respectful of others’ space and keep a distance between your family and others whenever possible. We recognize the importance of community, but we must do things a little different than what we are used to right now.
We are hopeful by showing patience and restraint while still pushing forward that we will be able to continue to give our students the opportunity to compete. We hope to count on your support in following our expectations. It is important to remember that schools are allowing sports to continue only if safety procedures can be maintained both on the field and in the stands. By doing so, we are hopeful we will be able to create additional opportunities to have more spectators as the year progresses.
On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and school, thank you for your support.
We are looking forward to a great year,
Greg Haagsma
VCS Athletic Director
Keeping Christian Education Alive and Well
Sounds of children joyfully playing on the playground, junior high students singing in chapel, and high school students dialoguing about the most effective ways to live out their Christian faith are some of the things I have the privilege of observing each day. It really is a blessing to come to work knowing we are making an eternal impact at VCS for God’s Kingdom.
Last spring “At Home Learning” left an empty feeling on our campuses. There was a void without children on the playground and students in our hallways, chapels, and classrooms. It just was not the same. It drove home to me how relational Christian Education is and should continue to be. Just as God wants us to have a relationship with him, so too I believe he wants us to have relationships with others in his kingdom.
One of our pillars at Valley Christian is to build life-long community. Research shows that if children and teens build an intergenerational Christian relationship with an adult – the chances of them remaining in their faith after high school are increased dramatically.
I know I say this often, but I also believe it cannot be said often enough – Christian Education is one of the last places we can effectively educate students in the Truth. It gives them an eternal perspective of how they can live out their faith wherever God calls them to in the future. It must never go away.
In the next few weeks, we will be sharing a series of videos of how important this next state election will be to ensure Christian Education remains affordable and a viable option. I humbly ask you view those videos and engage as much as possible in the political process. Help us to keep Christian Education alive and well!
Dan Kuiper
Head of School
Drive-Thru COVID Testing Begins at VCS
We are excited to partner with Embry Women’s Health for zero cost, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at our High School Campus on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am to 3pm.
This is a non-invasive collection method designed to limit patient discomfort and minimize exposure to healthcare providers. Test results generally take 36 to 72 hours or 2 to 3 business days.
You can schedule and register everyone in your party at one time using the link below.
2020 Directors’ Award Recipient
Congratulations to Jamie and Susy Giek for receiving the Director’s Award for the 2019-20 school year. We appreciate you!
This award is given by the Valley Christian Board of Directors to a family each year in recognition of their outstanding service to our school.
Let God Be Our Guide
Words cannot express the gratitude we feel with students and staff back on our campuses. While the beginning of the school year is always an exciting time for us, with the circumstances surrounding schools in 2020, our start is even more celebrated and welcome. We are so excited to welcome you back. We know, this is a step of faith and trust for parents, students, and staff. Thank you for taking that step with us!
I was encouraged by the commitment of our students and families to our procedures and safeguards across our campuses. It made for a great first week of school. I ask that we all continue to be diligent with our Safe Return to School procedures and safeguards. Now is not the time to let our guard down. Please continue to follow our established procedures and keep your student at home if they feel sick in any way.
We trust God will help us navigate these unprecedented times. We are entering unchartered waters with no tool to guide us. There are many examples throughout the Bible of God’s people trusting him to guide and lead them. Deborah the prophetess comes to mind.
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. Judges 4:14-15
Deborah demonstrated a belief and a trust in God which admittedly is hard to emulate. I would hope we all could, but I know my flesh takes over all too often and doubt begins to take over. God was real and present in her life. She believed that victory was already hers through God.
Even though extremely difficult to practice, I hope we can continue this school year with the same trust Deborah demonstrated in God. God has the victory planned. It may not be what we envision or expect, but we must trust in his sovereignty.
Our staff and teachers have worked extremely hard to prepare our campuses for the start of this unprecedented school year. It already has taken extra work on everyone’s part and will continue to do so. Unchartered waters have no navigational guide. We realize that takes a lot of trust, and we thank you for entrusting your student to us. We are confident in our Safe Return to School plan and have worked diligently to develop procedures and safeguards to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. We will continue to monitor and adjust as things come up, and we thank you for your understanding and partnership. Even with all of our best-laid plans, the statistics tell us there will be confirmed cases of COVID within our community this fall. Our hope and prayer is that this would not be the case. I do believe our protocols and safeguards will keep students and staff as safe as possible while limiting community spread.
We also celebrate the opening of the first floor of our new academic building and our new Sports Performance Center on the high school campus. It is overwhelming seeing our students studying in this state-of-the-art building that was envisioned when we moved on to our Chandler campus in 1997. It is equally overwhelming for me to see our elementary and junior high students learning in the light of God’s truth. I would have never imagined Valley Christian educating students beginning in Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade before transitioning to high school.
We continue to be blessed with an increasingly diverse student body. It is truly inspiring to see so many students on our campuses, who represent such a wide range of ethnic, church, and school backgrounds, come together for an excellent and distinctly Christian education.
If you are new to our VCS family – welcome! We are so thankful you joined our outstanding community. We look forward to engaging with you as the year progresses and connecting at events as they transition closer to normal.
As I begin my 38th school year working at Valley Christian, I think of how far we have come from when I started and the sacrifice of so many individuals and families over the years to get us to where we are today, and I am immediately humbled. I can also confidently say that the 2020-21 school year is beginning as our most unique year. I cannot wait to see how God uses this generation of students, faculty, staff, and families to uniquely build on our foundation, impact the future of Valley Christian, and serve as a much needed light in our community and world.
The absolute blessing in working at VCS, is that everyone has the same goal in mind, and we all trust in the same sovereign God. Let us enter this school year with an attitude of trust knowing God already has the victory planned.
Dan Kuiper
VCS Head of School
Sports Performance Center Sneak Peek
We are excited to open of the finest spaces for high school student-athlete development in Arizona!
We’re thankful for the contributions and hard work the past few months to expand and re-imagine this space into our Trojan Sports Performance Center.
Stay tuned as we install some finishing touches this month – including a large display.
Events
Secure the Future Campaign
VCS is growing! Learn more about our campaign and help us Secure the Future.
