Happy New Year VVCP Families:
I hope that your holiday break was filled with laughter and cheer.
First, I wanted to kick off the new year by sharing pictures from our Valley View holiday festivities. In 2022, the Valley View staff incorporated bowling into our celebration and the staff had a wonderful time. We lived by the motto: You cannot take yourself too seriously… and gave it our best effort.
In keeping with the spirit of “new traditions,” each member of the Valley View team signed a vintage bowling pin that the overall winner is presented with, to keep in their possession for one full year. Of course, there are bragging rights, too! Congratulations to John Mittan, Valley View’s 2022 Bowling Champion.
For schools and districts, January is the time when we keep our attention and focus on the current year while carefully planning for the upcoming academic year. As we look at accommodating families that are on our extensive waiting list, reconcile our current enrollment and evaluate our need to hire additional staff members, I would ask that when you receive your “intention to return letter,” in February from Pacific Charter Institute for the 23-24 academic year, that you fill it out and return it as soon as possible so that we are able to accommodate as many families that want to be a part of the Valley View learning community as possible.
Once again, I would like to thank our Valley View community for participating in our final NWEA winter assessments for the 22-23 academic year. We still have fifty-one students who need to take the NWEA assessment. If your learner has not taken their NWEA winter assessment, please connect with your homeroom teacher to schedule a time to take the assessment by January 20, 2023.
Speaking of assessments, in March, grades third through eighth, and grade eleven will be participating in California’s statewide assessment, CAASPP. Your learner’s participation in CAASPP is crucial to our school community and non-participation affects our school negatively in the following ways:
- WASC accreditation,
- Reauthorization of the school
- Funding allocations schools receive, from the state, per pupil
Moreover, beginning in 2023, not only will schools be penalized for lack of participation for students who opt out of state testing, but those opt-outs will now be issued an overall CAASPP score which will be the lowest score given for this particular assessment. What makes this incredibly difficult for local education agencies, both charter and traditional, is the effect it has on funding; however, charter schools will experience crippling effects on our ability to be reauthorized if we cannot show sustained proficiency levels, year over year.
Although we continue to agree that summative assessments like NWEA and CAASPP are only one way to assess your child’s present levels, it is more important to our school community than ever before that your child participates in these assessments in order to preserve our charter’s individualized learning model. Thank you in advance for partnering with us and participating in state testing.
The Valley View Staff continues to feel blessed to be able to partner with you to provide your child a unique and individualized learning opportunity. As always, if there is anything the VVCP staff can do to support you in your role as parent educator or your children in their role as learners, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Warmly,
Catherine Ward-Mikes, Director
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High School News
I hope you all had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed as we head into a new semester.
Middle and High School Orientation Save The Date: February 10 @ 1 PM. Zoom link to follow.
– College Applications Seniors are wrapping up their application season and no doubt will be celebrating a host of admissions options in early second semester! Some schools are still accepting applications. If you have decided to apply, feel free to reach out, and let’s see what we can find!
If you are a community college-bound senior, remember you have to re-apply to the college as a matriculated (graduated student)- even if you are currently attending for dual enrollment.
Office Hours:
This year, advising sessions are available weekly. Parents, students, and teachers are highly encouraged to schedule time to discuss planning and advising needs.
Sessions are held in 30-minute blocks. This is an efficient way to bundle questions and get direct answers. After signing up, you’ll receive an email confirmation with the meeting link.
I look forward to connecting with our community on a regular basis throughout the school year!
ASK your teacher for the APPOINTMENT link or check my signature line in my email.
– College Financial Aid
If you have not already done so, be sure to complete your FAFSA forms!! The deadline sneaks up faster than you think!
– Concurrent College Enrollment and Transcripts If you are enrolled in a college course, please send confirmation of courses to me at: john.mittan@pacificcharters.org . Courses must be recorded on the transcripts as In Progress in order to receive credit and process reimbursements. New enrollment requests can be sent directly to me at the email above.
John Mittan, HS Dean
High School Advising Meeting Grades 9 to 12
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VIRTUAL CLASSES, TECHNOLOGY and BOOKS
Pacific Charter Institute offers virtual opportunities for our students through two programs:
• V.O.L.T.s (Virtual Opportunities to Learn Together) geared toward our elementary homeschooling families.
• The Virtual Advantage classes for middle school and high school students.
In both programs, our credentialed teachers interact with students and families in real-time through secure online environments. A complete listing of class offerings can be found in the PCI Virtual Class Catalog. Contact your teacher for sign-up procedures.
The Virtual Advantage
Flexibility – attend live classes online from any location.
Support – Taught by highly-qualified credentialed teacher AND free in-person tutoring available in multiple locations
Collaboration – students have the opportunity to work together and to get to know their peers
Current and accredited – activities and problems meet current standards and pacing to ensure that students are adequately prepared for future courses and for standardized tests.
Transparent – Parents are included in all student communications and in some courses, given the opportunity to evaluate students’ daily work while weening students off dependence on parent instruction. Classes are recorded so that students and parents may refer to any lesson on their own time. Timelines, assignments, and worksheets are given in advance so that families can plan their homework schedules.
Looking for a bit more structure and accountability in your Math, Science, or high school English class?
Middle School and High School virtual classes are taught by highly-qualified teachers from our own school using our school’s adopted curriculum. Math & Science Classes meet for instruction 2 days per week plus a scheduled lab. There are a few spaces available for 2nd semester; talk to your homeroom teacher to get on the list ASAP. Elementary VOLTs classes meet one day per week with a portion of the session set aside to guide parent-educators in work for the other 4 days. Space is extremely limited, so talk to your homeroom teacher to get on the list ASAP.
We are already planning for the 2023-24 school year. If you have an idea for school-led classes at any level that you would like to see offered, please present your ideas to one of our teachers and ask them to write up a proposal for consideration. Please understand that offerings must meet minimum participant commitments (class size) and are dependent on teacher qualifications and availability. We look forward to serving families and maximizing the achievement of all students.
Cheryl Gomes, Math Teacher and Intervention Specialist
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Science Corner
Dear Scientists,
I hope you had an awesome holiday break!
Much was happening in the science field. What about the 6.4 earthquake near Ferndale, California? It is only the site of three tectonic plates! No wonder there are lots of quakes here! This just bears out the information that the 4th graders are learning in Earth science this semester.
Some of the classes will start back the first week we are back, and others will start the week of the 16th. Do check the emails from your teachers.
Please give your teacher your last kits and do make an inventory of the items in your kit. This will help Ruby and Joyce!
Until next month, keep exploring the world around you!
Laurie Bradshaw “AKA” Mrs. B
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For more information on Valley View and our sister schools, go to the PCI website.
Valley View Charter Prep 