Dear VCES Families,
This past week Valley Catholic Elementary School opened its doors to in-person learning for the first time in ten months. That first day of seeing students in person was one of the best feelings I have had in my career as an educator. The joy on the children’s faces, the warmth of the welcoming staff, and the sound of all their laughter was absolutely incredible!
It took a lot of planning and preparation to get to the point where we could open school, with many safety procedures and protocols. I cannot thank our team enough for their hard work to orchestrate the elaborate plan that has allowed for our opening. We have just completed Phase I of our reopening, where students were in school for two half days per week, and the rest of their learning was digital. Beginning next week, in Phase II, students will spend two full days on campus and the other days learning digitally. Beginning on February 26, Phase III will be implemented where students will be on campus for all of their learning, five days per week.
Although we are thrilled to have students back on our campus, we also know that not all families are in a situation where it is safe for their student to be in person yet. At each grade level, we also have a cohort of digital students who are continuing their learning online. These students and families have shown resilience in adapting to changes and have welcomed new faces to their online class.
At the conclusion of our third quarter, March 19, we will again reevaluate our plan and hopefully bring even more students back to campus for in-person learning. School may look a little different this year, but one thing that has remained the same is the strong sense of community among all who are a part of this beautiful campus.
Blessings,
Melissa Doxtator