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Parent University at VCS

Valley Christian Schools is dedicated to supporting students, parents, guardians, and VCS team members. One way we do this is through Parent University. Parent University is the pool of resources VCS provides to our families as we partner together to equip culture changers for Christ. This includes both VCS-related and non-VCS related resources. A majority of Parent University resources are optional and can be consumed by parents at any time; each year, returning VCS parents and VCS team members are required to participate in one two-hour, in-person course as part of re-enrollment.

We have done all we can to build this as a gift to our families. We are investing time and resources into this, and to encourage our parents to participate, our re-enrollment fee is now $395 per student. How it works: parents pay $200 at re-enrollment, and then, for participating in Parent University before August 1, we will waive the remaining $195. This means that re-enrollment now costs $200 per student and approximately 2 hours of your time each year. This partnership between home, church, and school is at least that important.

Please watch the introductory video for more.

WHO

We recommend that both parents/guardians (or all parents/guardians, if shared custody) attend at least one session. Some parents may even want to attend multiple sessions.

It is only required that one parent/guardian attends at least one session in order to waive the $195 portion of the re-enrollment fee.

WHEN

There are four in-person Parent University: 2025 sessions being offered this year.

  • Friday, April 25, 6:00pm: The Blessings of Biblical Parenting
  • Monday, May 5, 6:00pm: Teen Sanctification
  • Saturday, June 14, 9:00am: Kids and Culture
  • Tuesday, July 22, 6:30pm: Session Topic TBD

WHEN

All Parent University: 2025 sessions will take place on one of Valley Christian’s campuses (Tempe, Chandler).

  • Friday, April 25, 6:00pm: Tempe Campus Chapel Building
  • Monday, May 5, 6:00pm: Chandler Campus Bradley Gym
  • Saturday, June 14, 9:00am: Tempe Campus Chapel Building
  • Tuesday, July 22, 6:30pm: Chandler Campus Bradley Gym
April 25, 2025 RSVP
May 5, 2025 RSVP
June 14, 2025 RSVP
July 22, 2025 RSVP

FAQs

What is Parent University?

Parent University is the pool of resources VCS provides to our families as we partner together to equip culture changers for Christ. This includes VCS-related and non-VCS related resources. A majority of Parent University resources are optional and can be consumed by parents at any time; each year, returning VCS parents are required to participate in one two-hour, in-person course as part of re-enrollment.

Who needs to participate in Parent University: 2025?

Parent University: 2025 is the required two-hour, in-person course that each parent at VCS is required to take. It is highly recommended that both parents (or all three or four parents for families with multiple households) take the Parent University course each year, but it is only required for one parent of each student. The entire VCS staff also participates in this annual Parent University course. All other Parent University resources and events are optional and can be completed at your convenience.

When is Parent University: 2025?

There are four Parent University: 2025 sessions. While each family is only required to attend one session, we recommend attending two, three, or all four. Specific dates and session titles are provided above. 

Please note: Childcare is not provided, and children are not permitted to attend Parent University: 2025 sessions unless specified.

What if I miss the event I'm registered for?

No worries! There are four sessions, including two during the school year and two during the summer, as well as one on a Saturday, in order to accommodate all schedules. If you miss one of the first three, just be sure to attend the final session in July.

What if I end up missing all of the sessions?

Our sincere desire is that every VCS family participates in one of our four Parent University: 2025 sessions. We want 100% of our families to pay $200 to re-enroll instead of the full $395, because this means that every VCS family invested time into our partnership. In fact, if any of our parents are considering missing these courses intentionally, we’d earnestly ask that you reconsider. We have built this as a gift to our parents and to our students and to our staff, and we are anxious to share that gift with you. If a family is unable to attend any of the four sessions, they will be billed on August 1st for the additional $195/student to complete their re-enrollment.
Quick Reads

Additional ways in which VCS partners with its parents

Regular Parent Pulse Surveys

At VCS, we seek to constantly evaluate our school from multiple perspectives, all in an effort to better equip students to be culture changers for Christ. Because the parent perspective is so important to us, we partner with Parent Pulse.

Each parent receives a short survey via email and text three times per year (every three months). These surveys are staggered – each parent will receive the survey invitations at a different point during the three-month cycle. Many schools only send one longer survey at the end of the year, but we capture your thoughts and feelings in shorter surveys – and at multiple points over the year – so we can understand how things are evolving and how we can best adapt. We respond to our Parent Pulse surveys via a video response each quarter; each response can be found on our Transparency page.

Increased Transparency

It is a true honor to serve your family and partner with parents, knowing you have choices about whom you entrust your children to. Part of this mutual trust and partnership includes regular reporting from VCS to our families about the financial health and direction of VCS. This includes our annual budget ratios and the budgeting process, average teacher salaries, information on discounts and scholarships, quarterly video responses to our parent surveys, historical enrollment trends, accreditation information, FAQs, and more. Please click here to view our Transparency page for more information.

Trojan Talk Podcast

Trojan Talk is an innovative podcast that offers listeners a deep dive into the intersection of faith, education, and wisdom, designed to inspire our community to be culture changers for Christ. Hosted by Eric Kluth (VCS Development Manager), each episode of Trojan Talk is crafted to provide insights and practical guidance for students, parents, educators, and anyone passionate about Christian values.

Visit valleychristianaz.org/Podcast to read more, or visit the show’s Spotify page directly.

VCS Board of Directors

Perhaps the most significant opportunity to serve VCS as a parent is on our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors at Valley Christian Schools establishes the School’s mission, hires the Head of School, holds the HOS accountable for full classrooms, plans exercising foresight through strategic planning and strategic financial management, and provides the resources (people, money and facilities) needed for that plan to succeed. The Board is comprised of Christian leaders and believers who are committed to Christian school education. Although not required, all current VCS Board members are either current or former VCS parents.

Interested in joining the Board of Directors? Read more on our Leadership page.

VCVC (Valley Christian Volunteer Community)

The Valley Christian Volunteer Community (VCVC) adds lifelong value to our children’s education. Through their presence and volunteerism, VCVC members have a meaningful impact on our students’ overall school experience. We could not do what we do at Valley Christian Schools without the incredible support of our volunteer community. Visit valleychristianaz.org/VCVC to read more.

Dress Code Task Force

In the spring of 2024, a group of our faculty, staff, parents, and students formally met for a semester as the “Dress Code Task Force” in order to evaluate our current dress code, review how it impacts our students, and determine if any changes were needed. As part of this process, we invited both parents and students to participate in this evaluation. As a result, a new dress code was assigned to our students that best met the mutual needs of VCS and our families.

VCS endeavors to promote excellence in all areas of education, including dress. To this end, careful consideration was given to the formation of the dress code. The purpose of our dress code is to promote an atmosphere of modesty and neatness without excessive restriction on self-expression. This dress code is designed to be clear and consider the needs of our school community, our students, and our families. Our dress codes are defined in our Parent & Student Handbooks.

Device Policy Task Force

A group of faculty and staff members make up the “Student Personal Device Task Force” and are regularly meeting with parents this school year to re-evaluate VCS’ device policy. Parents and students have been able to provide valuable feedback to our administration in regards to the needs of students and the use of their personal devices while at school. The task force is working towards an updated policy for student device restrictions that will be incorporated at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

Parent Advisory Committee

VCS is currently working to form a Parent Advisory Committee to even better capture parent feedback and the pulse of our valued families. More information will be shared in the summer of 2025.

Additional Non-VCS Resources

Please note that Non-VCS Resources have been vetted at one time by VCS leadership. However, it is possible that specific links, verbiage, or resources have been adjusted since the time of publishing, and VCS is not responsible for content being delivered by other organizations. If you have any questions or concerns about any content presented here, please contact [email protected].

Common Sense Media

Most technology wasn’t built with kids in mind. Common Sense is on a mission to change that.

“We believe in media that inspires and entertains families of all kinds. In technology that protects privacy and supports communities. In learning tools that prepare students and teachers for success in a connected world. Discover how we’re working to make the digital world better for kids and families.”

      • Discover our media ratings and reviews at Common Sense Media
      • Find our curriculum and classroom resources at Common Sense Education
      • See our most recent research on the impact of media on kids
      • Explore our advocacy efforts around digital equity and tech accountability
Colson Center

The Colson Center exists to equip Christians with the clarity, confidence, and courage they need to live like Christians in this cultural moment. Because following Christ is not really about inviting Him into our lives, but embracing His invitation into His life.

Every Christian can live like one. The Christian faith is personal, but not private. Explore Colson Center courses, podcasts, and other programs—and encounter a Story that is true and gives purpose to all reality.

Shepherding a Child's Heart in the Classroom Video Sessions (Tedd and Margy Tripp)

When we miss the heart, we miss the Gospel. Shepherding the Heart Ministries’ mission is connecting the hearts of God’s people to the power and grace of the gospel. We are committed to the truth that the heart is the wellspring of life. For both our children and us, the heart, with its passions and desires, sets the course of life. Every drive for meaning and significance originates in the heart. You and your kids are heart driven.  The things you give your heart to set the course of life for you.

The goal of our virtual seminars and teaching materials is to connect the hearts of God’s people to the power and grace of the gospel. The temptation when things have gone wrong is to correct behavior. We instinctively see behavior as the problem. That’s because we see behavior. We hear behavior. Behavior requires a response. Once we have made behavior the focus in correction and discipline, we open ourselves up to all the tricks and tools parents use to manage behavior.

But when we head down the behavior management road, two things happen. We miss the heart and we miss the gospel. We forget that the heart is the wellspring of behavior. We miss the gospel because behaviorism by-passes the heart. Behaviorism focuses on behavior rather than the desires, fears, idols or passions of the heart. If we remember that behavior mirrors the heart, then the route to lasting change for both our children and ourselves is the grace and power of the gospel.

Meliora the Podcast (Dr. Greg Tonkinson)

Our Spiritual Life Director, Dr. Greg Tonkinson, recently started a podcast called “Meliora the Podcast,” intended for Christian educators to discuss the spiritual aspect of Christian education. Meliora is Latin for “even better.” New episodes are available each week on Spotify, or follow the podcast on Instagram.

Axis Culture Translator

Axis equips parents for gospel-centered conversations with their teen about faith and culture. Each week, their team researches culture to help you stay up to date on the music, movies, TV shows, and social media trends impacting your kid’s world. Explore past editions on their website, or sign up at the same page to receive the weekly Culture Translator email for free.

Training Hearts for Jesus (Mario and Sharon Cannavo)

Training Hearts for Jesus is a biblical parenting course by Mario and Sharon Cannavo that will teach you “how to end the battles by establishing unity and cooperation through biblical truth and principles.” Our Head of School, as well as countless other VCS families, have participated in this course, which led to the 2023 Blueprint Conference: God’s Design for Family & Parenting.

UpSavvy Digital Citizenship

Help your student to navigate the digital world through interactive lessons for grades K-12 from UpSavvy.