May 8, 2025

Hello Steve, Please enjoy our Saints News!

HEAD OF SCHOOL MUSING

First, thank you to the VCHS Parent Association for blessing our teachers with breakfasts and lunches each day as they celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. Yes, it’s a good time to extend an extra measure of gratitude toward teachers, those investing in and shaping the next generation.

Take a moment and reflect on your own high school teachers. Who made a positive impact on you? Who was there when you needed someone? Who helped form who you are today?

For me, there are several who come to mind, but it might be helpful to share some background. I grew up in a small Florida town along the Gulf Coast with few decent school options. My mother had attended boarding school, so it seemed natural for me to do the same. From my sophomore year through graduation, I attended a North Carolina boarding school 800 miles from home. That experience, shaped by my teachers and coaches, changed my life and it’s the main reason why I have devoted my career to education and serving young people.

Who were those teachers and coaches for me? Ms. Harden held me to high standards. She failed me on a paper for a measly comma splice, but twenty years later she wrote me a heartfelt letter and sent it along with one of the papers I had written for her class. Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Lowrie inspired my love for history and historical research. Coach Harvey (Track) helped me unlock all my hidden running potential and personal records. Coach Blanton (Basketball) shaped my character and grit.

VCHS teachers are doing the same (and more) today!

Take a moment to thank one or many of them. Take a moment to thank a teacher who helped lay your life’s foundation, perhaps a teacher who even changed the trajectory of your life.

VCHS teachers, we love and appreciate you!

Steve O'Neil

Head of School

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPORTS

Girls Tennis

Lady Saints swept the regional tournament for the fourth-straight year! Good Luck to all seven lines as they advance to the Individual State Championships this weekend

Click here to read the Vail Daily article

Girls Soccer

Congratulations on a great season!

Boys Volleyball

Congratulations on a great season!

BRAVOS

Senior Caden McCommons Breaks VCHS Track & Field Records

Congratulations to senior Caden McCommons, who has made school history while competing with the Battle Mountain Track and Field team! Caden shattered both the VCHS shot put and discus records this season. He set a new shot put record with an impressive throw of 44 feet, 8 inches—surpassing the previous record of 42 feet, 1 inch set by Jonathan Armstead in 2005. Caden also broke the discus record with a throw of 137 feet, 5 inches, besting the prior record of 132 feet, 4 inches set by Zach McKeever in 2019. Way to go, Caden!

Congrats Mrs. O'Neil!

Vail Christian High School is very excited to send Congratulations to Mrs. Denae O’Neil, whose innovative proposal has been awarded a Faculty Innovation Grant (FIG) supported by The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation! Mrs. O’Neil’s project is to explore the development of a STEM Independent Research Program at VCHS. This program will be designed to offer motivated students the opportunity to engage in advanced, self-directed scientific inquiry. As part of her exploratory work, Mrs. O’Neil will visit a high school with an established independent STEM research program to study its structure, mentorship models, required resources, and best practices. Her goal is to gather valuable insights on how VCHS can create a program that challenges students, strengthens students' passion for STEM, and positions them competitively for college admissions. In the words of Mrs. O’Neil reflecting on her education as a young student,

“My experience with doing my own research and presentations exponentially increased my interest in science and I believe is one of the main reasons I continued to pursue a career and interest in a STEM field.”

We are excited to support Mrs. O’Neil in creating a program that may allow future VCHS students to have the same experience that she did.

PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS

"FOOD FOR FINALS"

We need your help providing breakfast for around 100 students each day as they prepare to crush their final exams! Finals start at 9:00am & 10:45am on Tuesday, May 21st and at 9:45am on Wednesday, May 22nd. ET finals start at 8:00am on Tuesday, May 21st and at 9:00am on Wednesday, May 22nd

Click here to sign up and volunteer

Contact vchsparentassociation@vchsweb.org with any questions

ARTS

Amazing job VCHS Theater Cast & Crew!

ALUMNI NEWS

The Vail Christian High School Distinguished Alumni Award is bestowed annually to an alumni who has made a difference in his or her community. The award recognizes exceptional achievement and significant contribution to the recipient’s profession, the community and/or the school.

Criteria for Distinguished Alumni Award:

Open to all VCHS alumni
Must have a clear Christian commitment
Must contribute to society in a significant way. The significance could be in a broad range of areas: career, volunteer work, church, etc.
Embody characteristics of the VCHS Portrait of a Graduate in the areas of Gratitude, Advocacy, Stewardship, Growth and Knowing themselves and others through God’s unconditional love.

After reviewing this year's nominations, we are excited to announce the recipient of this year's 2025 VCHS Distinguished Alumni Award –Elisa (Lisa) Rohlwing Marchetti '01.

To learn about Lisa’s accomplishments and contributions you can read her feature article on the VCHS Alumni Page . Lisa will be honored on May 24^th during the 2025 Vail Christian High School Commencement ceremony.

Thank you to those who submitted nominations for this special recognition. We will keep nominations on file for future consideration.

REMINDERS

VCHS AP Exam Schedule 2025

*No loaner laptops or calculators will be available on the day of

exams.

* Students must open the Blue Book App on their laptops for

updates within 48 hours of each exam.

* Please see Mrs. Verratti with any questions.

Mark Your Calendar

For Final Exams

Click here for the Final Exam Schedule

STUDENT LIFE

SAINTS SERVE ON HIGHWAY CLEANUP

14 saints, Mrs Hochtl and Mr Jager spent Saturday morning picking up trash on a one mile stretch of Highway 6 near school as part of Eagle River Watershed Council’s spring highway cleanup event

Year End Senior Dates to Remember:

May 20 Honors Assembly | 2pm | VCHS Grace Auditorium
May 22 Chicago Style Lunch | 11:30pm| Yearbook &

Articulation Unveiling | VCHS Commons | College Photo

May 23 Graduation Rehearsal | 10am | Ford Amphitheater
May 23 | Baccalaureate | 5:30 pm | Beaver Creek Chapel
May 24 Graduation | 10am | Ford Amphitheater

More details including arrival times coming soon!

Contact Shannon O'Brien or Tricia Adams with any questions

COMMUNITY NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

God created us to be creative! Faith & The Arts Academy is a 5-day experience designed to help teens, ages 12-17, explore creative arts they are interested in and learn how these interests are part of God's design, can grow their relationship with God, and be used as a testimony of their faith.

Attendees will participate in two tracks of their choosing for the week from the following: Music (songwriting and instrumental), Painting, Theater (stage and film acting), Building (with a focus on architecture). Each of these tracks will be led by a specialist in this area. On the final day of the Academy, we'll have a special lunch and expo for students to show what they've been learning.

Faith & The Arts Academy

June 9-13 • 9am-12:30pm • Trinity Edwards

(there will be an extended lunch and expo on Friday until 2pm)

Click here to register

CALENDAR

Click here to view 2024-2025 Calendar

Click here to view 2025-2026 Calendar

Click here to visit our Website Calendar

*All calendars subject to minor changes

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