Dear High School Parents and Students,

First of all, thank you for your understanding as we all navigate uncharted waters caused by COVID-19.  We appreciate your patience and support as we embark on remote education. We are so thankful Valley students are equipped to handle this type of education already. Because of our present technology program, our teachers are also well trained to effectively deliver this means of education. In addition, we are supporting our teachers with more training and resources on how to effectively do this. They are aware of the need for flexibility as they navigate this new venture.

We could look at the negatives of the situation, but instead, let’s choose to embrace this as a new opportunity.  It can be an opportunity to be creative and possibly open another method to deliver an excellent Valley education.  Or, maybe this could be a time which allows you to be more involved with your student’s education.  Let’s be open to how God might use this.

Our plan for online education through March 27 at the high school is as follows:

  • Each teacher has been instructed to deliver their materials online.  This will primarily be done through Moodle, Renweb, and email.  Instructions will be outlined in one of these places.
  • Online instruction will begin on 3/18/20.
  • Each student is required to spend time each school day in online learning from 3/18 – 3/27.
  • Teachers are required to be available virtually from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. should students have any questions. The best way to contact the teacher is through email.
  • Please be advised that each teacher will still have due dates and deadlines.  Each student is expected to meet these due dates to avoid a late penalty.
  • If you are a student, and have a technical problem related to online learning, please contact our IT department  [email protected].    Please keep in mind the IT department cannot fix problems with your personal devices.
  • If you are a student and have content questions, please contact the individual teacher.
  • If you need to pick up any materials from your locker, please contact our front office and they will make arrangements for you to pick them up.

Seniors, as you continue your academics remotely, please be assured you will graduate, as long as you do what is expected by your teachers through remote education.  Your transcripts will reflect all your current courses, with grades and credits earned, just as if you were on our campus.  There will be no disruption in sending your final transcripts with proof of graduation.

Underclassmen, as you continue your academics remotely, you will be on track to graduate as long as you also do what is expected by your teachers through remote education.

VCS has cancelled our spring testing, and ACT has cancelled their March 14th national testing.  College Board (SAT) is also looking at cancellations, so please check ACT.org and Collegeboard.org for more details on national testing and cancellations.  Although they have not announced that additional testing dates will be added in the future, they are aware of the situation and are looking at all options.  Colleges are also looking at their application timelines for fall and are aware of the need to extend these, as well as allow for later testing.  Once decisions are concrete regarding applications for fall and SAT/ACT testing, it will be communicated with you.

Please stay tuned in regard to AP testing.  The College Board is working through ways these tests could be administered in the event schools are not in session.

Please direct all testing questions to the Academic Advising office.

As we look at this from a Christian perspective, use this time to practice what God calls us to do.  What better time to show Christ’s love to those who are dramatically affected by this pandemic?  It could mean coming alongside someone who may have lost a job, getting food from the supermarket for an elderly neighbor, or mourning with someone who may have lost a loved one to this virus.  We are so blessed to have a Christian community of students, parents and staff all working toward a common goal of equipping students to just do these very things.  We appreciate the unified effort as we walk through these unusual times together.   Keep trusting our sovereign God through all of this.  We will leave you with the words from Psalm 46:1 & 2 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…

Sincerely,
Dan Kuiper
Head of School