Cougar News
Valle Crucis School Update - April 5, 2024
🐾 Cougar Captains 🐾
Congratulations to last week’s Cougar Captains
Cougar Captains: Isabel, Helenna, KC, Knox, Elizabeth, Rayne, Lizzie, Paisleigh, Emmalyn, Lachlan, Isla, Caroline, Adeline, Austyn, Waymon, Ada, Anna Brooks, Callie, Rayleigh, Hope and Lily.
Super Cougar: Hope
Super Duper Cougar: Mrs. Lovejoy
From Dr. Smith
I hope everyone had a great spring break. I am excited to welcome all of our students back to school Monday. We have lots going on this week. Be sure to read the memo from the WCS District Office regarding the eclipse on Monday. We have spring pictures this week, kindergarten orientation and the school store is open again for a few days.
Kindergarten Orientation April 11 & 12. Please share if you know someone who has a child ready to start school in the fall so they can call the school to register. Current kindergarten students will not attend school these days.
Please check your child's lunch account
We work very hard from 7:55-2:30 with your students. When avoidable, limit late arrivals and early dismissals so that students get all of their daily instruction.
Click on the link to see the calendar for the remaining dates for this school year and to access the 2024-2025 calendar for planning purposes. https://www.wataugaschools.org/calendar
As always, if there is anything I can help you with or if you need to speak with me, please call the school or email me. Please do not Dojo message me, it's best to call the school or email to ensure I get your message.
Have a wonderful week!
-Dr. Smith
Eclipse Information from WCS District Office
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians:
On April 8, there will be a rare and exciting phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. While we understand this celestial event is certainly exciting and educational, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. The timing of the eclipse is when students are nearing the end of the school day and transitioning to their homes, after-school activities, or after-school care. Below are some safety tips to keep in mind during the eclipse.
At no time will it be safe to look at the sun without the protection of authentic and certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standards. The eclipse should not be viewed through regular sunglasses, a camera viewfinder, or binoculars.
Reminders for all drivers:
Expect heavy traffic and sudden stops by drivers.
Be on alert for distracted pedestrians looking to the sky.
Keep your headlights on while driving, even in the daylight.
Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving.
Only view the eclipse once safely parked away from the flow of traffic.
Thanks for your partnership as we help our students safely enjoy this exciting event.
Meal Balances
Parents please go in and check your child’s lunch account even if you have alerts set for low balances. We currently have a significant amount of negative lunch balances at this time. If your financial circumstances have changed since the beginning of the school year please fill out the free and reduced meal application at this link https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=7UHW5P
School Store - Last Chance to Purchase VC Gear Until the Fall.
The Valle Crucis School Spring 2024 online store has been launched.
The direct link for the store is: https://cookssports.chipply.com/TB233985VCS/
Your store password is: 7adf62s
Store closes April 14. Don't miss out. Get your VC gear now!
Counselor Page
Check out Mr. Ward's website and important links
https://sites.google.com/wataugaschools.org/vc-school-counselor?usp=sharing
Check out our Facebook page - Valle Crucis School
Follow us on Facebook to see pictures of the weekly events, Cougar Captains and learning that is taking place.
From Nurse Hannah
In correlation with the updated CDC guidance on COVID-19 isolation requirements, WCS will immediately begin following their recommendations that took effect on Friday March 1, 2024.
WCS will no longer require a 5-day isolation period following a positive COVID-19 test. Students may return to school following a positive COVID-19 test once they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication and/or symptoms have improved.
“ The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).”
After returning from the “stay-at-home”period, it is recommended but not required to wear a mask for an additional 5 days.
Additional information from the CDC regarding this change can be found at Respiratory Virus Guidance Updates FAQs.
For information about When to Stay Home from School, please see the attached information.
When to Stay Home (English/Spanish) 2024.
You are invited to a special reception for our 8th grade Art Students on April 11th 5:00-6:30 at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. Artwork can also be viewed during the month of April during BRAHM’s regular opening hours.
Maddrey Long did a great job representing Valle Crucis at the regional MathCounts competition at the NC School of Science and Math!
From Lauren Carter, School Social Worker
Please be sure to send a note in after your child misses school. You have 3 days to do this once they return. We recently ran attendance letters and had many students that are over 5 unexcused absences. Once your student reaches this amount you must come to the school for a meeting. Thank you!
Lunch Menu
Monday - Hot Dog
Tuesday - Chicken Tenders
Wednesday - Pancakes and Sausage
Thursday - Nachos with Chili and Cheese
Friday - Cheese Pizza
(Grilled Cheese and PB &J Sandwiches are offered daily)
Link to menus - https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/7UHW5P?buildingId=a73785dc-dcb4-eb11-a2c3-ce80b7f12dad
Free & Reduced Meal Information
School meals are no longer free for all students. See prices listed above in previous section, "Important Links".
If you feel that you would qualify for free or reduced meals or are unsure if you might qualify you should complete the free/reduced meal application.
Free and reduced meal applications must be completed each school year. Applications from previous years do not automatically roll over to the following year. You should only complete one application per family, listing all school-aged children on one application. There is not a need to complete an individual application for each child enrolled in Watauga County Schools. Additional questions concerning free and reduced meal eligibility can be found here.
To begin the application process, go to https://family.titank12.com and complete the required information. You do not need to set up an account to complete the application. Simply select your State and District, and click Next. This will take you to the Watauga County Schools Household Letter and begin the process of completing the application. Follow the prompts in the software and submit the application once it is complete. The application is sent from a secure server directly to the WCS School Nutrition office and all information is completely confidential. You do not need to worry about completing a paper application that could be lost or misplaced.
If you have problems with the meal application or need additional information please contact Titan School Solutions at 844-467-4700 ext. 2. If you do not have access to the internet, please ask the school office for a paper copy of this year’s application or call the School Nutrition office at (828)263-1718 and request a copy.
Visitors, Late Arrivals, Early Check Out & Student Transportation Changes
ALL visitors MUST sign in and sign out at the Front Office.
The front office opens at 7:30.
All visitors will be given a visitors badge or identification. This must be visible at all times while in the building. Visitors will sign in with their destination and should only be where there are signed in to be. Visitor badge or identification will be turned into the office as visitors sign out.
If you plan to walk your child in, you will need to park, and check in at the front office.
If your child is late to school or needs to leave early, parents/guardians will need to come to the office to sign your child in or out of school. Be sure to bring a drivers license for identification for early check outs.
For the safety and security of students, only those on the pick up list will be allowed to pick the student up from school. If changes need to be made, a note should be sent with a phone number for office staff to verify. Emails will not be accepted. If there is an emergency, contact the office.
Morning Arrival and Afternoon Dismissal
It is important that students are at school on time and in their rooms ready to begin at 7:55 each day.
For morning arrival, car riders should be dropped off at the front of the school following the traffic pattern. Students will enter in the cafeteria door, like we have done in previous years. All students will have the opportunity to eat breakfast.
Please help us with keeping traffic flowing with drop off by having your students ready with their backpacks, lunches, water bottles, etc ready to unload out of the car. Staff will be on duty to help do this safely and staff will be inside as well to help students get to where they need to be.
For dismissal, the dismissal bell will ring at 2:30 and students will be dismissed at that time. Car riders names will be called and they will go out the front of the school and staff will be there to help them safely load. Don't forget to have your car tag with your child's name. We will be sure to get you a car tag if you don't have one.
Bus riders will dismiss at that time as well and load their bus at the bus lot.
School Hours
7:30-3:30 Office Hours
7:55 Instructional Day Begins
2:30 Dismissal
District Dates
April 9 - Spring Pictures
April 11 & 12 - Kindergarten Orientation
April 24 - Staff Professional Development No School for K-8 Students
May 27 - Memorial Day Holiday
June 3 - 8th Grade Promotion
June 4 - Last Day of School
RISE Expectations
RISE stands for:
Respect
Integrity
Self Disciplie
Empathy
This is a common language and expectations that students should be familiar with as we continue this year working diligenlty as a whole school to be specific in modeling, teaching, reteaching and helping students grow in these areas. This will align with the use of Class Dojo.
School wide, the VCS staff will be using Class Dojo again. Be sure you have the information from your child's homeroom teachers and are connected.
There will also be the addition of more character education added into the daily curriulum for students.
Our goal, as a school, is to utilize clear, common expectations for all in order to promote the Valle Crucis student body and its supporters with the safest, most positive learning environment.
For more information about the PTSO, the calendar of events, the ways to get involved, our overall mission, ways you can support the school, info about the board, and all of the things that we do, visit our BRAND NEW WEBSITE! We will update it throughout the year based on all of the amazing things going on and that get planned.
Our website address is: http://vallecrucisptso.com
Follow us on facebook here and on instagram @vallecrucisptso. Finally, if you have any questions, comments or concerns at all, you may always reach out to us at vallecrucisptso@gmail.com.
Contact Us
Email: smithb@watuagaschools.org
Website: https://www.wataugaschools.org/Domain/15
Location: 2998 Broadstone Road, Sugar Grove, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 963-4712
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleCrucisSchoolNC
Twitter: @ValleCrucisSch