We began school this week with a ton of positive energy and excitement. At the carline drop off, STUCO enthusiastically welcomed students – new and returning. We gathered on Wednesday for Opening Convocation kicking off our school year theme – Explore. Next week, our entire student body (158) along with faculty, staff, and parent volunteers will be away at our annual All School Retreat at Crooked Creek Ranch. The retreat has been a school tradition since our school’s founding.
Last school year, we celebrated our school’s 25th Anniversary and one of the highlights was 1998 ReMix – a fundraiser for a variety of projects and initiatives. We are now (and soon will be) experiencing the generosity of so many VCHS families and friends, including the following, to name a few.
First, we opened a counseling center in the West Building (old Teachers’ Lounge) where our school counselor (Krista McClinton) and Directors of Christian Life (Melinda Carlson and Ashley Nock Macias) have beautiful spaces to spend time with students and others seeking their support and care. The Teachers’ Lounge has also been remodeled.
Second, in September a local firm (Active Energies Solar) will install two 25kW solar panels on the roof of our two campus buildings. We look forward to ‘going more green’ and reducing utility expenses. Our Engineering and Sustainability Club students will have the opportunity to be part of the project and regularly monitor the new solar energy.
Third, delays in permitting resulted in needing to set a new timeline to repurpose the space that is currently the senior lounge into a multi-purpose student space with open seating, a conference room, and a coffee bar. At a later time, I look forward to sharing more information about when the project will begin.
We are incredibly grateful for all of these campus enhancements and improvements, especially as they will strengthen the overall student experience this school year and for years to come. Knowing the impact all of this will have on our students brings me great joy.
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
|