Parent Newsletter

June 1, 2021

Parent Newsletter

Memorial Garden Dedication

On Thursday, May 27, the relocated memorial garden was dedicated in a brief ceremony after school. The cross at the head of the garden reminds us of the hope we have in Christ that we will see those classmates and teacher who completed their earthly journey while at their time here at Valley.

Scripture

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Upcoming Dates

June 1: Freshmen Placement Testing, 6pm

June 3: Senior Banquet, 6pm

June 5: Shakespearean Monologue Premiere, 7pm

June 7: Freshmen Placement Testing, 6pm

June 8-10: Final Exams

June 9: Freshmen Placement Testing, 6pm

June 13: Graduation, 2pm (ticketed event)

Need to Know

Final Exams

The time schedule for final exams is shown below. As we are targeting our final exams this time towards the most critical content and skills, we have reduced the testing period to a 10 minute time for preparation followed by approximately an hour of testing (normally 80 minutes). Since students have not had normal final exams in over a year, this is one way of helping students gradually transition back into their normal final exam routine. It does mean that students will be done each day around 11 am which is earlier than our traditional final exam schedule. Please check the following link for a detailed list of which classes are giving a final exam: Final Exams Spring 2021.

Here are some helpful things to know:

1. Students who do not have a final during the 1st period may skip the 1st period and come in at 9:15 am for chapel.

2. Students who do not have a final during the 2nd period may leave after chapel.

3. Students without any finals on one day, do not need to report to school on that day.

4. If a student does not have a final exam during a specific time period but wishes to come to school, they will be assigned to a specific room for study hall where they can study for upcoming exams.

Shakespearean Monologue Premiere

We welcome all to join us at the world premiere of the Drama Department’s Shakespearean Monologue production on Saturday, June 5th at 7:00pm. There is no fee to attend, but guests should sign up in the office (or with a cast member) by Thursday, June 3rd so that we can arrange seating.

Summer Read

All returning students are asked to read a book from the Summer Read list before school starts in August. Students have a choice between a fiction and a non-fiction book for each grade level. An exception is that any student who has taken Transitional Reading may choose between the books for their grade level or the grade level just below. See the reading list here: Summer Read Program

Students may borrow, share, or purchase their book in any way they choose. If they would like to order one through the school, they should fill out the order form on their Google Classroom page for their class and bring a check (made out to VLHS) for the correct amount into the office by June 10 to get their book.

I would encourage you to ask your student about their book. We have developed a set of really good choices that will make for some great discussions. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Meyers (lmeyers@vlhs.com). Thank you!

Get Involved

VL Summer Camps Happening Soon!

There is still space for middle school students to join us in June for a wide range of camp offerings in a safe and fun setting. Sports, liturgical dance, art, STEM activities - you'll likely find something for everyone! Head to www.vlhs.com/camps to view the full camp schedule and to register. Please contact Summer Camp Coordinator Amy Cooper at acooper@vlhs.com or 989-790-1676, ext. 40 with any questions.

Guidance Corner

PE CREDIT WAIVERS (CLASS OF 2022, 2023, & 2024)

All PE Waivers received to date this school year will appear on a student’s report card at the end of the semester. If you did not see one at the end of the year, it means I do not have one on file for you from this year. If you’ve completed one in past years, it will not appear on your report card. You can email Mrs. Mueller to verify if you are not sure. Students should check Google Classroom for a digital copy they can download and complete.

SENIORS - FINAL TRANSCRIPTS (IMPORTANT!)

All seniors headed off to college need to request their Final Transcript to be sent to the institution where they will study next year. All final transcripts will be sent via PARCHMENT. You can use the Final Transcript Ordering Guide to walk you through the process. Be sure to mark them as “HOLD FOR GRADES”. Also, you should change the email on your account to a personal email, as you will lose access to your school email account over the summer.

COURSES AND SCHEDULING

Students should make it a habit to check their email regularly over the summer. This is how Mrs. Mueller will be communicating if there are any concerns or issues with course requests or schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. Schedules will be released in August. If you are intending on changing a request, please email Mrs. Mueller ASAP.

BIG FUTURE COLLEGE & CAREER SEARCH

The CollegeBoard provides a great, free resource for students and their families to navigate the world of careers and colleges. Students can log into their CollegeBoard account, fill out surveys to link them to potential careers and colleges, and save favorite schools to compare and contrast. Check it out as a family at http://bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

SUMMER PLANS?

As we approach the summer months, I encourage you and your student to look at possibly attending a local summer camp or other experience in a specialized field. Summer is a great time to have new experiences and to expand your knowledge in a hands-on way. These opportunities also look great on college applications!

SVSU Summer Opportunities - https://www.svsu.edu/summercamps/

Delta College Medical Careers Camp - https://www.delta.edu/community/youth-programs/camp-health.html

Midland Educational Service Agency - https://www.midlandesa.org/page/midland-county-career-technical-education

IMPORTANT LINKS

Mrs. Mueller’s Virtual Office - https://bit.ly/MrsMuellersVirtualOffice

SAT Information & Registration - www.sat.org -

ACT Information & Registration - www.actstudent.org -

Khan Academy (free test prep) - www.khanacademy.org/sat

VL Scholarship Page - http://bit.ly/VLScholarships