| |
|
Welcome Home VVS!
2018-2019 School Year Information
|
|
Away We Go ...
Paul Amadio, Head of School
When I was a child, my father was a big Jackie Gleason fan. For those who may not know, Gleason was a New York comedian with a long-running TV show during the mid-50s to the mid-60s. His style was unabashedly brash and visual. He was a funny man and his bawdy, physical comedy had my family in hysterics from the get-go. While there are many "favorite parts," the best part of each show for me (at four years old) was when he would conclude his opening remarks with the words, "And away we go!" as he danced off stage to the delight of people all over America.
Each August as faculty and staff return to campus, those words become a mantra, looping in my head, "And away we go!", "And away we go!", "And away we go!" Thank goodness the students are coming back!
READ MORE
|
Welcome to VVS ...
Introducing our new staff & faculty
|
John Kelly
Assistant Head of School and Dean of Students
Having worked and traveled throughout the US and abroad, John is proud to live and work at Verde Valley School. He believes strongly that the founding vision of VVS is even more relevant today. It is a powerful act to bring people from all over the world to live and work together in a small intentional community. In so doing, students get to experience the inarguable truth that we are all connected and grounded in our common humanity. READ MORE
|
|
Lauren Kelly
Director, Experiential Education Program, TOK and English Faculty
Lauren directs the Experiential Education Program at VVS, a group of programs that challenges students to grow as people, not just thinkers. Work Jobs, Field Trips, Project Period, Outdoor Education and other programs demand that VVS students try out their theories, roll up their sleeves, and push themselves to personal frontiers.
READ MORE
|
|
Kaylyn Oates
Big History & Physical Science Faculty
From snorkeling in crystal clear Caribbean waters while monitoring sea-grass health with middle schoolers in tow, to releasing classroom-raised trout back into a Californian watershed with elementary schoolers, and hiking a 25-mile Grand Canyon rim-to-rim with high school students, Kaylyn brings a wealth of experience in educational adventures with students.
READ MORE
|
|
Matthew Postle
Music Faculty
Mattew was raised in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by a musical family including his mother who taught elementary music for over three decades. Encouraged to pursue music from a young age, his
primary instrument is the trumpet and as well plays piano, guitar, didgeridoo, and several other instruments.
READ MORE
|
 |
John Sheedy
Spanish Faculty
John has spent much of his adult life straddling both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. He spent two years researching immigration and border issues for his Masters' thesis in Tucson, Arizona which inspired him to create two award-winning documentaries, El Inmigrante and The Tijuana Project, both of which paint a human face on the important topics of borders and immigration.
|
 |
Anna Solovyev
Mathematics Faculty
Anna was born in Russia and grew up in Moscow before her family immigrated to New York.
Anna loves problem-solving and investigating how things work, and is passionate about helping students unlock challenges and develop skills both in the math classroom and in the wilderness.
READ MORE
|
 |
Natalie Rockwell
Behavioral Health & Equestrian Program
Natalie Rockwell, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a licensed advanced practice nurse, who holds a Master's degree from Case Western Reserve University, and who currently practices as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner.
|
|
From the Director of Academics
Meg Haesloop
As you may recall from the school calendar released last spring, VVS has changed from a trimester schedule to a semester schedule. This schedule better aligns our grade reporting timeline with college entrance requirements and allows for a smoother transfer of credit in the admissions process. Students and families will notice a few minor differences as a result:
1. Students will still sit for exams prior to Field Trips, however these will be midterm exams rather than finals.
2. Decembermester and Field Trips will fall within the first semester grading period.
3. Mid-semester progress reports will be sent in October, and first semester grades will be available in early January.
As with last year, please use the ALMA parent portal to check your student's academic progress throughout the year. New families will receive login information via email at the email address provided during the admissions process. For returning families, if you need to reset your login or need technical assistance with set-up, please contact Jeremy Broomfield, Database Manager,
jeremyb@vvsaz.org
.
Teachers will distribute course syllabi and a list of any required texts and class supplies in class on Thursday August 23rd. Students typically order required texts and purchase school supplies during the first weekend of school. Teachers account for this in their planning for the first week.
|
From the Assistant Head/Dean of Students
John Kelley
Getting your children prepared and provisioned for heading back to school is no small feat! We aim to make that process as easy as possible by providing you with a brief synopsis of events taking place during the opening days at VVS.
Boarding Student Arrival Day - Monday, August 20
Dorm parents and RA's eagerly await the arrival of families and students beginning at 11:00 am. Families of boarding students are invited to meet with Paul Amadio, Head of School, in the Library at 4:00 pm for a Welcome Reception. Dinner will be available for boarding students and their families in the Dining Hall from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Families are asked to depart campus by 6:00 pm to allow students to settle in, greet the airport bus which will arrive between 6:00 - 7:00 pm, and prepare for the first dorm meeting of the year.
Registration Day - Tuesday, August 21
Boarding student registration begins with our Shixi students at 7:45 am, followed by 9th & 10th grade boarding students at 9:00 am, and 11th and 12th grade boarders at 10:00 am.
Day student registration begins with 9th and 10th graders at 1:00 pm followed by 11th and 12th grade day students at 2:00 pm. Day students are required to meet with Assistant Head of School, John Kelley at 3:00 pm to ask questions and discuss policies and procedures in Classroom 7. All parents are invited to meet with Head of School, Paul Amadio and Director of Academics, Meg Haesloop at 3:00 pm in the library.
Awesomeness Day - Wednesday August 22nd
In true VVS spirit, we will kick off the school year with "Awesomeness Day", a day of community-building and campus-wide fun. Following the festivities will be class and school photos at 4:15 pm, our first Community Dinner of the year at 5:45 pm, and History Night at 6:30 pm. Dress is "VVS formal". Appropriate choices would include dress slacks, collared shirt and sport jacket, dresses, skirts or dress slacks with blouses. Athletic shoes are not appropriate at dress-up events.
Day students are strongly encouraged to arrive at 11:00 am to join in the fun, though required attendance for day students begins at 4:15 for class photos. Day students should check in at the Main Office upon arrival. Day students will check out with the Administrator on Duty in person, or via phone call or text to 928-301-2267, immediately following History Night which should end around 7:30 pm. Dress for Awesomeness day in cool casual clothing that can be wet. Bring a towel and a change of (VVS formal) clothing for school photos.
First Days of Classes
On Thursday August 23rd, classes begin. We will follow a "Monday" class sequence on Thursday and a "Friday" class sequence on Friday to ensure that all students meet with all of their teachers each day (see Weekly Schedule below to see the class sequence for each day of the week). Day students may check out each afternoon at 5:30 pm.
The Weekly Schedule functions as our default schedule throughout the year. Day students may check out after Sports & Activities each afternoon, and must depart from campus before dorm check-in each evening.
As a priority, please send travel plans (if you've not done so already) or questions around travel to Jeremy Broomfield at jeremyb@vvsaz.org so we can coordinate transportation for your child to VVS.
On a final note, day students are required to register their vehicles with VVS prior to school starting. Click here for the
A reminder to boarding families that boarding students are not allowed to have cars on campus.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
