Valley Creek Cougargram
August 31st, 2023

A Note from Dr. King and Mrs. Ross
Wow! I can’t believe we are already at the end of August. It has been such a great start to the year. We had a great time recognizing our Cougar Dads for supporting our staff, students, and VC Community. We thank them so much for helping with crossing guard duty, our amazing garden, and all of the other duties they take on. Don’t forget to RSVP for our Coffee with the Principal to learn about the many volunteer opportunities here at VC.
Be sure to check out this week’s Cougargram!
Have a great LONG weekend 😊
Sincerely,
Dr. Ebonee King and Mrs. Ross
#VCEstrongertogether
#weareMcKinney
#wearevalleycreek
#everystudenteveryday

VOLUNTEER AND VISITOR INFORMATION
A valid state or government issued photo ID must be presented each time you visit, volunteer, or pick up a student. Please be prepared to present your physical ID upon arrival. Copies of ID's and phone images of an ID will not be accepted.
A background check is required each school year for people wanting to volunteer in McKinney ISD. This includes making copies, lunch duty coverage, mystery readers, classroom parties, field trips, and other volunteering that takes place inside and outside our building. We encourage you to complete your volunteer application as soon as possible to avoid any delay in the processing.
2023 - 2024 VOLUNTEER APPLICATION LINK
ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO FILL THIS OUT NOW SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday September 1st - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Teachers will be in professional development and planning.
Monday September 4th - Holiday - NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
Wednesday September 6th - RSVP for Grandparent Lunch due!
Volunteers Welcome - Volunteers, with a completed background check, may start supporting campus needs. More information to come!
Friday September 8th - Grandparents Day Lunch - Save the Date! Grandparents and Special Friends are invited to have lunch during their student's lunch time. For this busy event we encourage visitors to RSVP in advance to make the check in process go quicker. Please follow directions listed in this signup and RSVP HERE.
Lunch Schedule:
Kindergarten: 12:30pm -1:00pm
1st: 1:00pm -1:30pm
2nd: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
3rd: 11:00am - 11:30am
4th: 10:30am - 11:00am
5th: 11:30am - 12:00pm - This was accidentally listed incorrectly in the rsvp, it has been updated here and there. Please help spread the word!
Monday September 11th - RSVP for Coffee with the Principal due
Thursday September 14th - 9:00am - 10:00am - Coffee with the Principal - in the Library - Please see info below! Coffee with the Principal RSVP
Monday September 18th - Friday September 22 - College Week - more info to come!
Monday September 18th - Friday September 29th - APEX! - more info to come!
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL 9/14/23
RSVP HERE: Coffee with the Principal RSVP

NEWS FROM THE COUNSELOR
Hello VC Families!
Each month our students will be learning about a new character trait through the Character Strong curriculum. For each grade level there is a newsletter that will tell you a little bit about what your child will be learning about the character trait for that month. Check out the Cougargram for your child’s newsletter.
April Jones
M.Ed., C.S.C
School Counselor
Valley Creek Elementary
Character Strong Grade Level Newsletters
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Beth Lowry
Library Media Specialist
NEWS FROM CHOIR
4th & 5th Grade Parents,
Choir results will be posted outside the music room on Tuesday, September 5th. Students who said they’d like to be in choir should look for their name on the Cougar Choir list or the Honor Choir list and then get the correct registration packet, which will be located directly below the list.
T-shirt forms & money are due to the music basket in the front office no later than Friday, September 15th. Google form sign-ups (this is how you officially sign your child up for choir) are due online no later than Friday, September 15th at 6:00pm. The registration packet will explain how to sign up and gives you all the information you need for the year!
I’m so excited to get choir started for the 2023-2024 school year!
Kara Nelson
Valley Creek Music Teacher
NEWS FROM ART
Students have been working hard since day 1 in art and it is about time for our artists to share their creations with families and friends.
Please check out our new Valley Creek Art Instagram page to find out what we do in art. Any VC art related news and information about upcoming events will be posted on the page throughout the school year.
Karis Oh
Art Teacher
ABSENCES
When a student is absent a parent must provide to our campus registrar written documentation for the reason for the student's absence. Per the MISD Student Handbook pg. 33 of 104:
Documentation after an Absence: (All Grade Levels) within three (3) school days of the student’s arrival or return to school, a note signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence must be delivered to the appropriate campus office for attendance documentation.
Please include in the note:
Student’s Legal Name
Date(s) of Absence
Reason for Absence
Attach Doctor’s Note, if applicable
Please communicate any absence information to our Campus Registrar, Mrs. Dharamraj at: hdharamraj@mckinneyisd.net
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL CHANGES (FOR EXAMPLE: WALKER CHANGED TO CARPOOL ON A RAINY DAY)
The form will open at 8:00AM each morning for dismissal changes and will close at 2:30PM each day. Please let us know before 2:30PM if you need to change the way your child will go home for that day.
- Teachers are actively teaching during the day and will be notified by the front office of changes in dismissals for their students.
- Change requests after this time cannot reliably be met and can cause a delay in your student's dismissal or require you to visit the front office to receive them.

YEARBOOK ORDERING & PICTURE SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS
BOX TOPS

STUDENT BREAKFAST/LUNCH ACCOUNTS
Families may fund their child's breakfast/lunch account online, or using the new app, with My School Bucks. More info on their site here: MY SCHOOL BUCKS.
Our cafeteria can only accept cash or checks for in person payments.
MISD meal costs and nutritional information may be found HERE.
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS
Follow this link for information about MISD Meal Programs.
BREAKFAST MENU

LUNCH MENU

MISD EVENTS



CLUB 360 AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE PROGRAM
This link has been updated with information about the 23- 24 school year Club 360 program.
Here is the link for enrollment information for our campus Valley Creek Club 360.
Club 360 is managed by MISD childcare services with our campus as a site.