| UPCOMING EVENTS |
November 24th – 28th: Thanksgiving Break
December 1: Quarter 2 Progress Reports
| UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENTS |
December 12: Parents Night Out
| CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Follow up from Lockdown – Note from CEO
Dear Valor Families,
Our leadership team had a stepback on the lockdown last week to continue to analyze the event in order to ensure that we are continuing to learn and improve upon our safety procedures. Thank you so much for the many of you who submitted really thoughtful and helpful feedback. We read every word from both parents and staff and it was invaluable in helping us see both our bright spots and areas to continue to refine.
Lockdowns are very frightening for all of us. As a Valor parent, my heart sank along with everyone else’s when the lockdown procedure was initiated. It is a terrible feeling to be far from your children when something like this happens. We know the impact that it has on everyone involved and therefore do not take initiating a lockdown lightly. This reflection is somewhat lengthy, but we felt it would be beneficial in this case to be really transparent in our processing of the event so that we can all continue the conversation about the best ways to keep our community safe.
Details of Event
On Wednesday, Valor leadership was alerted to a potential shooting incident near Plaza Mariachi, located a few blocks from our campuses. The initial information came from one of our school leaders, followed shortly by a notification from our Head of Security indicating that there was an active shooter at Plaza Mariachi who had not yet been apprehended.
Before taking action, we contacted our point of contact at MNPS Security to determine the appropriate response level—whether to implement a Secure or a Lockdown. In our adopted safety training program, I Love You Guys, Secure means ‘secure the exterior of building / no entry or exit’ while Lockdown means ‘secure the exterior building AND classrooms within the building’. Generally, the major difference between the two is whether an intruder is known to be in or very near the building. MNPS Security confirmed that the assailant’s location was unknown at that time and advised that a lockdown would be the safest course of action, as the individual could be anywhere in the vicinity. Similarly, MNPD (Metro Nashville Police Department) advised us to do a lockdown.
Although there was no direct evidence that the threat was inside or very near a Valor building, we decided to go with the advice of MNPS and the MNPD to initiate a lockdown at 10:15am.
As our Head Safety Officer monitored MNPD radio traffic and received ongoing updates, we learned that the suspect was in a vehicle and had moved farther away from our location. Based on this information, we shifted from Lockdown to Secure at 10:29am.
Throughout the event, communication was ongoing with MNPD, MNPS Security, our internal safety team, and school leadership. Once MNPD and our Safety Officers confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended, we lifted the Secure status and returned campuses to normal operations.
Given the uncertainty at the onset of the incident, particularly around the location of the suspect, the decision to move quickly to a lockdown was made. While the situation ultimately posed no direct threat to our campuses, our actions reflected a cautious, safety-first approach based on guidance from authorities. We also recognize that the cost of lockdowns is also the trauma impact on families, staff, and students – it is a difficult calculus to weigh in the moment.
Feedback and Next Steps
We analyzed every piece of feedback from staff and families. Thank you for both the support and goodwill from so many of you, and thank you for the very helpful feedback as well. We compiled the following bullet points for the high-level trends, but please know that we also heard and are thinking about each piece of feedback that was given.
Here’s what we heard most clearly from our families:
- Appreciation for leadership and communication in general and during the event
- The delay between the alarm and the first communication (staff, students, and families) was the most stressful part of the experience.
- Desire to better understand the difference between a Lockdown and a Secure (Lockout).
- Following procedures in unstructured areas (gym, lunch, bathrooms) was challenging.
- We should continue to support student and staff emotional recovery after high-stress events.
- Appreciation for our continuous learning approach / gathering feedback.
Here’s what we’re doing next:
- Improve speed and clarity of initial communications. We will work to improve a faster initial communication with more details/context to both families, students, and staff. Note: we will not be able to communicate to families faster than students who are texting their parents – we should expect that is normal in a crisis event. Sometimes communication can take much longer depending on the incident.
- Clarify Lockdown and Secure terminology with families.
- Continue training staff and students on what to do in unstructured spaces during Lockdowns.
- Build structured post-lockdown debrief practices .
We have a safety training day scheduled for early January and plan to use these learnings to ensure that we improve our safety plan, especially around re-training staff and leaders, re-nomring on language, and updating communication protocols. While going through events like this are stressful for all involved, they also provide the types of learning that you just cannot get in a drill. We plan to use the experience to make us safer. Thank you again for sharing your communicated support and very helpful feedback. As always, feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss further.
With much love,
Todd
Arrival Reminders
Student drop-off begins at 7:30 AM. For safety, we recommend that students remain in their cars with their families until that time, as staff are not available to supervise before arrival begins.
Additionally, please ensure students do not play on or enter the Tractor Supply property at any time.
Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!
Valor Givings Week 2 Update
After 2 weeks of Valor Givings, our first ever family fund drive, we have raised an incredible $9,750 to support our existing Valor programming that makes our community so special – thank you to our amazing families and supporters! There is still time to participate in Valor Givings – you can click here to make a donation and here for more information and updates about our fund drive.
Last Call for Japan 2026 & More
Our all-aboard deadline is quickly approaching for our Japan 2026 tour. We have a couple spots left for students and families to join!
Maybe Japan has always been a bucket list destination for you and/or your student, or you’re interested in your student seeing the world in a fun and educational way, or maybe both!
If the cost is a barrier, I know and have seen many of our travelers in the past and the present who have worked hard to earn money from jobs and tasks, as well as save money from birthdays and holidays to contribute to the cost. This makes the trip even more meaningful and memorable because of their personal investment in the trip.
A team of trusted staff/teachers and myself will be helping to lead this once in a lifetime opportunity. Please reach out to me, Winston Ly, at winstonnly@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
We also have 2 remaining spots for our 2027 tour to France and Italy. 2028 is yet to be determined but will likely be to one of the following locations: Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, Iceland, or South Africa. Stay tuned!
Japan: www.eftours.com/2811920KE
France/Italy: www.eftours.com/2965187HJ
This is a non-Valor sponsored trip.
Adventure is out there!
Winston Ly
| VALOR FAMILY GROUP: FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Thank You for Making Our 1st Multicultural Festival a Success!
Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, performers, and families who joined us in celebrating our first Multicultural Festival! Because of you, we had over 22 countries represented, filling the day with incredible food, rich history, meaningful activities, and beautiful performances.
Your energy, pride, and willingness to share your culture made this event truly special. We are so grateful for your support and can’t wait to continue building this tradition together.
Thank you for making our community shine!
Looking for Support? We’re Here to Help.
At Valor, we are committed to ensuring every member of our community feels supported—especially during challenging times. This resource guide features organizations and community partners that offer food assistance, financial support, housing services, and more. If you or someone you know is in need, please use and share these resources. Together, we can make sure no family is left behind.
| ATHLETIC ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Upcoming Middle School tryouts (Grades 6th-8th)
Back to Back State Champions VCP Volleyball team hosting “PARENTS NIGHT OUT”
MS Girls Flag Football (Spring)
We are gauging interest in adding Middle School girls’ flag football in the spring. Please complete this interest form if interested in learning more information
Sports Physicals
Updated sports physical paperwork will be needed if a student makes any athletics team. Paperwork is NOT NEEDED before tryouts. If your scholar makes a team, they will need to have proper paperwork uploaded to Final Forms before being allowed to practice.
Sports Physical Paperwork & Upload Instructions
Download the VCA Athletics App to stay up to date on all things athletics:
Apple Device Link and Google Device Link
Athletics Staff Directory of Coaches
| FACE: FINE ARTS, CLUBS, & ENRICHMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS |
2nd Semester Club Registration is Open!
Spots are filling up quickly and registration is first come, first served. Check out the MS Club Listings & Schedule. Don’t miss your chance to join—secure your spot today!
After School & Partner Contacts
Have questions, contact the After School Team at 615-200-7647, email us at face@valorcollegiate.org, or the FACE website.
Have questions, contact the Boys & Girls Club Team at 615-753-8451 or email boysandgirlsclub@valorcollegiate.org. Please review the BGC Member & Parent Handbook
Have questions, contact the YMCA Fun Company Team at 615-473-5514 or ymcafuncompany@valorcollegiate.org