The Great Valley Community Organization helps build a strong, vibrant and connected community by providing facilities, activities and programs enriching the lives of all local residents. |
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Directors Message
Programming Continues to be the Key for GVCO
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Programming for everyone in our Great Valley community continues to be at the core of GVCO's mission. As the community moves towards a "new normal" following the pandemic, much of GVCO's key programming has come back onboard. As we move towards the summer our GVBL youth basketball league has opened registration and will begin play in June. Our GV Cheer conditioning and choreography clinics will also begin in June and registration for Fall sideline cheer is open. Also in August, the GVFL youth flag and tackle football program will be back on the gridiron preparing for games beginning in September. It's great to see the kids getting the opportunity to play, learn and have fun with their friends!
This past spring our GV Crew program had an extremely successful rowing season down on the Schuylkill River. The program is graduating 4 very accomplished seniors who have been involved with the program for years. Our GVCO Challenger Gym program restarted again this spring. A dozen program participants, along with 25+ volunteers got back to a fabulous program that's been going on since 2010.
Also this past spring, our GVCO Caring Hands student led community service group continued to add to a historic number of community service hours and projects this past school year. The group has had a profound impact on so many people in our local community and around the region. And finally our GVCO high school internship program saw six interns finish up a highly productive 2021-2022 program year, having a hugely beneficial affect at many levels within the organization.
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As GVCO works its way through the process and documentation surrounding our recently received RACP state grant funding we are excited to get back on track with our new GVCO Community Center complex. Catty-corner across the street East Whiteland Township has also just broken ground on their brand new Bacton Hill Park. Between the two projects, there will be a new "hub" for activities and programming for young and old. The community continues to transform acreage into critical space for the district's residents to afford and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
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With this transformation, GVCO will continue to build programming to better support the community as a whole.
Keith Walsh
GVCO Executive Director
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A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.
Wade Boggs
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GVCO Community Programming |
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Caring Hands Food Drive - May 1-21
Caring Hands is hosting a food drive for the People's Pantry in Frazer. Food insecurity is a local issue and the People's Pantry in Frazer supports those right here in our Great Valley School District.
Everyone is welcome to fill a grocery bag with non-perishable items and bring it to the GVCO Community Center Complex during one of the soon to be determined drop off dates. GVCO will deliver the bags to the People's Pantry.
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Our GVCO Caring Hands Foundation volunteers baked and sold treats for the Brandywine SPCA Walk 4 Paws event. $500 was raised!
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Join Us
Caring Hands is a student-led volunteer group that supports the community through various activities. Students in grades 7-12 and their parents can sign up for the Constant Contact Caring Hands News distribution list. |
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Some of the 2021-2022 activities:
- Created flower pots for the residents of Green Meadows Rehab
- Collected and sorted donations for Cradles 2 Crayons, the SPCA, Chester Co. Library and Home of the Sparrow
- Planted trees for the French Creek and Pickering Conservation Trust
- Assisted at Sen. Comitta's shredding event
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Summer Basketball
Great Valley Basketball League (GVBL) strives to create a fun experience for the kids, playing and learning the game of basketball.
- Assessments begin June 2nd and games on June 13th.
- The tentative end date is August 11th and subject to the weather.
- Divisions are single-sex and based the player's grade as of Fall 2022.
- Divisions are: Grades 1 and 2; Grades 3 and 4; Grades 5 and 6; Grades 7 and 8; HS Boys
- There is no GVSD residency requirement for players in grades 1-8.
- Players in the Boys HS league must reside in Great Valley School District.
- Each team will play one or two games per week during the 10 week season. There will be no practices.
- All games are held Monday-Thursday evenings. Games last one hour and typically start between 5-8PM. If possible, we try to avoid scheduling our youngest players later in the evening.
- All players receive a team jersey.
- Grades 3 and above will participate in a single elimination playoff at the end of the season.
- Games will be refereed by current and former GVBL-ers
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Summer and Fall Cheer
Summer conditioning choreography clinics are for all athletes who are interested in training and enhancing their strength in anticipation of the fall sports season. These clinics are not inclusive of only cheerleaders, but for all boys and girls who want to work out with other athletes. Read more about this program.
The clinics will be held on Thursday evenings and Sunday early afternoons in June and July 2022. The location will be within Great Valley School District. Registration is open.
Flag football cheerleading for grades K-1 is an introduction to GVCO Cheer. The athletes will learn cheers, dance and jumps. They will cheer during the flag football games and perform at half time to all fans. Read more about this program. Registration is open.
The Junior Patriots Cheer Program for grades 2-6 combines sideline cheer for football and basketball with local, competitive cheer. Athletes will spend time on the fundamentals of stunting, learn a competition routine, condition, work on tumbling and learn cheers for football and basketball. Read more about this program. Registration is open. |
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Flag and Tackle Football
The Great Valley Junior Patriots is an instructional youth football program for kids in grades 2-6. The purpose of the program is to create a fun experience for kids, playing and learning the game of football while competing with their peers in surrounding programs.
Our K-1 Flag Football program is open to all students in and around the Great Valley School District. Students from all schools are welcome.
This league is run internally with all GVFL flag teams playing each other. The season begins in mid-September and lasts until early November. Games are one hour long and will be played on Saturday mornings at GVCO, 51 N. Bacton Hill Rd., Malvern
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Spring Crew
Great Valley Crew is winding down its season. They will be participating in the upcoming Stotesbury Cup and SRAA Championships.
Congratulations to our seniors Ava Donato, Camryn McCarthy, Veronica Brewer, and Nolan Greenways.
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GVCO Community Partnership |
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Cradles to Crayons
Giving Spot Hub
Later this Spring, a Cradles to Crayons Giving Spot Hub is coming to GVCO.
Cradles 2 Crayons Philadelphia supports people facing clothing insecurity in the Philadelphia region including Malvern and Chester County. The hub will be a convenient year round location for donations and a focal point for the annual Caring Hands collection drive this Fall. We are looking forward an even greater partnership with this wonderful organization.
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High School Interns
Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
GVCO is looking for several high school juniors or seniors to assist with programming and administrative responsibilities during the 22-23 school year. Hours would be 2 to 5 hours per week between 3pm-5pm Mondays through Fridays.
GVCO will work with you to create flexible scheduling around academic and extracurricular responsibilities. Compensation is $10 per hour. If interested, please complete the GVCO Internship Interest Form.
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GVCO Sponsorship Spotlight |
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We Provide Resources that are Vital to a Well-Functioning Society
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ARG is the parent organization to a host of niche technical companies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, and Ohio. Our subsidiaries provide engineering, technical recruiting, healthcare, industrial inspection, and construction management support services to clients in critical infrastructure sectors throughout the U.S.
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New GVCO Community Center |
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We are on our way...
to a world-class community resource that delivers a broad range of sports, educational, arts, recreational and senior programs that address key community needs.
The time is NOW.... Together we can make it happen!
We need your help to finish what we've started! We will not get the necessary financing to complete the project without raising additional funds.
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Together we can we do this!
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More Ways to Support GVCO |
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Do You Match?
It's a great way to contribute and help complete the entire new GVCO Community Center project.
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