August 14, 2025

Greetings! Please enjoy our Saints News!

HEAD OF SCHOOL MUSING

It’s GO time! This is hardly a ‘Musing’ and more brass tacks drawing your attention to some start of school year highlights.

All fall VCHS sports are now officially underway. Boys golf is already competing and hats off to Sid Towle ’27 who was the individual champion at Tuesday’s Basalt Invitational shooting an impressive 74!

The faculty and staff have been working hard (and having fun) this past week preparing to welcome their Saints. The first few days’ schedule looks like this:

Monday – 10^th – 12^th Grades - ½ Day

Tuesday – 9^th Grade Only – ½ Day

Wednesday – All Grades – Regular Day and Opening Convocation

Welcome to all the new VCHS families representing both 9^th grade and transfers. If you’re one of them, remember to join us for New Parent Orientation this Monday night at 5:30 in Grace Auditorium.

Parents, you should have already received a Paperless Post invitation to the VCHS Parent Mixer on Friday, August 22^nd that will be held outside on campus from 5:00-7:00. This is a great way to enjoy a meal, catch up with friends and make new ones. Mark your calendar!

Praying for an amazing 25/26 school year! Let’s go Saints!

Steve O'Neil

Head of School

BRAVOS

The Student Union, a newly remodeled space on the upper level of the West Building is set to open for the start of the 2025-26 school year. It was designed as a multi-purpose space that can function as one large room or two separate rooms (conference room and another student study/social hub). It will be ideal for college admission representative visits and seniors will continue to use the space for senior lunch.

Finishing touches will be completed in the next few weeks including, a rotating student art exhibit, sealing the 25^th anniversary time capsule, solar energy monitor, wall messaging reminding us of our school’s history and values, and much more. Our vision is that the space will foster student learning and friendship-building while exuding the aesthetic excellence and beauty that characterizes VCHS.

This would not have been possible without the generosity of so many members of the VCHS community who made generous gifts to our ReMix, the VCHS 25^th anniversary celebration, and last spring’s Carnival fundraiser. Thank you. Special thanks also go to Campus Manager, Hector Soto for his oversight and handiwork, Susan Carlson from Panache Interiors, and Casey Wyse.

SPORTS

Golf

Congratulations to our Saints for top placements in the Golf Tournament in Aspen on Monday.

Sid Towle took first place overall and in the 2A division with a fine score of 74
Luke Tyler finished second in the 2A division with a 79
The team finished second overall and first in 2A

In late July, VCHS Athletics ran a coaching clinic for all fall, winter, and spring coaches. The topics included: 1) Behaviors Matter: Driving Mission, Values, and Vision to Behaviors and 2) Defining Success. The presentations, discussion, and follow up action steps fit perfectly with part of the VCHS Vision – “to further distinguish ourselves in Athletics, known for excellence and equipping our Saints to become the VCHS Portrait of a Graduate.

Special thanks go to Athletic Director Tim Pierson who had the vision to bring our coaches together to grow their leadership and to focus on topics so well aligned with our mission to “equip mind, body, and spirit for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.”

ALL SCHOOL CLEAN-UP DAY

Saturday | August 16th | 9am - 12pm

WE NEED YOU!

Please join us for the All School Clean-Up Day!

This is a long time tradition at VCHS for parents, students and faculty to gather for a morning of service getting the campus ready for the start of school.

No need to RSVP
Jobs will vary from inside cleaning to grounds work
Bring work gloves
Check in at the West Building when you arrive
You'll choose assignments and supplies will be provided

Thank you for your service!

Come for a half hour, an hour or the entire time! Whatever time you can give is a blessing to our campus!

Seniors painting parking spots - paint your spot black at 8am and come help at clean-up while it dries!

If you have rakes, weed whackers, trimmers, leaf blowers or window washing tools please bring them! Thank you!

ALL SCHOOL RETREAT

WE NEED 10 MORE

Parent Work Crew Volunteers for

ALL SCHOOL RETREAT

Monday - Wednesday

August 25th - August 27th

Parents are invited to volunteer for

Parent Volunteer Work Crew & to drive student gear

Please register here to be a Parent Volunteer

Contact Shannon O'Brien with any questions

or click here for more information about

Parent Work Crew

Parents who have served on the

All School Retreat Work Crew say it was a blast and

return year after year!

There is wifi available and a little downtime

to catch up on work, etc.

LIFEGUARD NEEDED: CERTIFIED STUDENT OR ADULT

If you are lifeguard certified and can help with Retreat, please contact Shannon O'Brien or

Dan Mysnyk today for details!

We can't have this amazing tradition without enough parent volunteers so please sign up today!

REQUIRED FORMS TO ATTEND ALL SCHOOL RETREAT

Please complete the required forms by August 12th in order to participate in the All School Retreat. All forms are found in your Family Portal in FACTS. District Code is Vail-CO.

All School Retreat Required Forms
All School Retreat Form
Crooked Creek Release see link on above form
Health & Medical Forms
Required for all students:
Over The Counter Medication Form
If it pertains to your student:
Medical Form
Student Prescribed Medication Form
Allergies & Dietary Restrictions Form

Please review ALL SCHOOL RETREAT DETAILS to see What to Bring. Crooked Creek Ranch does not provide bedding or towels so please pack accordingly.

DEPART

MONDAY | 8.25.25

Parent Work Crew & Volunteers

Meet at VCHS 10:15am | Load cars with Student Gear

Depart at 10:30am

Students & Faculty

Athletes may have practice Monday prior to departure

Pizza Lunch Provided at 11:45am

Load buses & vans in west parking lot (student entrance)

Depart by 12:15pm

RETURN

WEDNESDAY | 8.27.25 | By 12:00pm

Athletes may have practice Wednesday afternoon

All other students should be picked up by 12:00pm

PARENT WORK CREW

Please register here to be a Parent Volunteer

Contact Shannon O'Brien with any questions

REMINDERS

Saturday | August 16th | 8am - 5pm

Designs were due July 1st and must be approved in advance
Parking spots MUST be painted
Bring everything you need to paint your spot: brushes paint, paint trays, tape, etc.
Your spot will have to be painted black before the design can be painted on the spot - bring BLACK PAINT and paint your spot black at 8am and come help at the All School Clean-Up while it dries!
Spots may only be used by the student who purchased it
The make, model and license plate of the student's vehicle must be registered with school via Student Vehicle Registration on FACTS before painting begins
Painting day will be from 8am - 5pm on Saturday, August 16th. If you cannot be present on this day, please contact the Parent Association
If you do not fulfill these obligations or decide that you no longer want to participate, you will forfeit your spot and it will be offered to another senior

BACK TO SCHOOL DETAILS

Required Back to School Forms & Retreat Forms

All forms are located in your FACTS Family Portal

Retreat Forms
Don't forget to click on the Retreat Release Form link to complete the Younglife Release required form
Sign Permission Form and complete all required and pertinent Health & Medical Forms for each of your students
Health & Medical Forms
Over The Counter Medication form is required for Retreat, all others are only if they pertain to your student
Campus Policy Forms
Google Workspace for Education Consent Form
Cell Phone Policy Acknowledgement
Parent Student Handbook Acknowledgement
Click here to view the Parent Student Handbook
Door Access Credentials Agreement
Vail Valley Field Trip Permission
If it pertains to your student:
Campus Parking Policy & Vehicle Registration
Junior | Senior Lunch Permission

Schedules

Schedules were emailed to students directly
Please reach out to Mr. Mysnyk for any schedule changes
While schedules can be changed for the first two weeks of school, it gets more difficult during the school year

School Supply List

School Supply List

School Building Access

If you have not done so already, return your key card to the front desk
We will use phones for building access this school year - more information to come in August 14th Saints News

Back to School Forms & Retreat Forms

All forms will be located in your FACTS Family Portal
Forms are due August 15th

First Days of School

-Monday | August 18th

No School for Freshmen
10th - 12th Grade Only | 8:00am - 12:00pm
Transfer Students Boot Camp Immediately following 1/2 day

Lunch Provided
Bring Your Computer
Ends by 12:45pm

New Parent/Student Orientation | 5:30pm | Grace Auditorium

-Tuesday | August 19th

No School 10th - 12th Grade
9th Grade Only | 8am - 2:15pm
Freshmen Boot Camp

Lunch Provided
Bring Your Computer

-Wednesday | August 20th

First Full Day | All Students | 8:00am - 3:15pm

Campus Parking

If you wish to park on campus this school year, you must:
Register your vehicle(s) on FACTS by August 15th
Complete Parking Policy Acknowledgement on FACTS
Obtain a Parking Decal from Mrs. O'Brien
Display Parking Decal on vehicle
Parking in West Lot | Paint Your Parking Spot Only
Parking for Seniors (without a Paint Your Parking Spot) and Juniors is in the east lot or in the designated overflow parking at St. Clare
Parking for Sophomores is in the designated parking at St. Clare
Failure to park in the designated areas on either campus will result in revocation of parking privileges

SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS

Click here to view the English Department Summer Assignments

Click here to view the 2025-2026 School Supply List which includes links to all other summer assignments

CDL Drivers Needed

VCHS is always looking for licensed CDL Drivers to help transport students and athletes throughout the year.

If you are a licensed CDL driver please contact Shannon O'Brien at shannonobrien@vchsweb.org or Tim Pierson at tpierson@vchsweb.org for more information on paid transportation assignments today!

CALENDAR

DATES AT A GLANCE:

August 15th | All School Retreat Forms & Back to School Forms Due

August 15th | Freshmen Orientation Zipline | 4 Eagle Ranch | 4-7pm

August 16th | All School Clean-up Day & Paint Your Parking Spot Paint Day

August 18th | First 1/2 Day of School: 10th - 12th Grade | Transfer Boot Camp

August 18th | New Parent/Student Orientation | 5:30pm | Grace Auditorium

August 19th | First Day of School: 9th Grade | Freshmen Boot Camp | 8 am - 2:pm

August 20th | First Full School Day: All Grades

August 25th - 27th | All School Retreat | Crooked Creek Ranch | Fraser, CO