1/25/26 VCP Upper School (11/12) Principal’s Update

WHOLE-CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I hope you are safe and warm at home today. Thank you for taking the time to attend Report Card Pick-Up this past week and engage in meaningful conversations about your student’s progress. Your presence, questions, and partnership make a real difference in helping our students stay aligned to their goals and continue growing academically and personally.

We value the opportunity to collaborate with you as we celebrate successes, identify areas for growth, and ensure every student is supported as we move forward in the semester. When families and school work together, students are better positioned to thrive.

If you have any follow-up questions or would like additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers or our school team. We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to your student’s success.

Thank you,

Dr. Gill

#WildcatWay #AllDay #EveryDay

Schools Closed: January 26th and January 27th

Hello Valor Community,

Due to inclement weather, and in alignment with MNPS, Valor schools will be closed Monday 1/26 and Tuesday 1/27. This includes all normal school activities, and all after school activities. Stay warm and be safe. Valor will communicate out any additional information, if school is altered in any way the remainder of the week. 

Q3 Benchmarks (Mock APs and EOCs) Tests

Below are the benchmark testing days and tests for Q3 Benchmarks. Note on days that your student does not have a test, they do not attend school. Arrival and dismissal times will vary depending on each test. Students and families will receive individual test schedules in the coming days. 

Tuesday,  February 24th: English 1, English 2, US History, AP US History, and AP Government

Wednesday, February 25th: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, AP Environmental Science, AP Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus 

Thursday, February 26th: AP Human Geography, AP Seminar, AP World History, Biology, AP Biology,  and AP Stats

Friday, February 27th: AP Literature and AP Spanish (Note: Makeups start and extending time for some Thursday courses will take place on this day).

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday March 2nd-March 4: Makeup Testing 

VALOR FAMILY GROUP: FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

This session is an opportunity for families to connect with our school culture leaders and academic leaders. You will be able to ask questions and stay informed.

When: Thursday, January 29th 

Time: 7:45–8:45 AM

Location: Hybrid- In-person, we will be in the Compass Center, and virtual https://valorcollegiate.zoom.us/j/9476807451

Culture Topics May Include: culture and behavior expectations, tardiness and attendance, Paychecks, Kickboard, and Other culture-related questions

Academic Topics May Include:  Grading practices, Homework expectations, Illuminate, Academic supports

To help our leadership team prepare, we kindly ask that you submit your questions by January 26th. Submitted questions will be addressed first, followed by live questions as time allows. Q&A Question Submission

 We look forward to connecting with you and partnering together to support our students.

2026-2027 School Year Calendar

The schedule adjustments will allow for the student circle to continue to happen on Monday and time at school will remain roughly the same from the current schedule. Additionally, students will go to all classes, five days a week, meaning they will start having Content Focus and Enrichment classes on Monday. The new times will not impact any after school programming. We’re excited for these shifts! 

Our 26.27 calendar has been approved by MNPS! You can find it in the link here. MNPS made some shifts to their approach for the 26.27 school year calendar which has impacted some of ours as well. While the base calendar has been approved, there are still some internal dates we are working to finalize, some of which are dependent on MNPS. These include things like ACT testing dates, TNReady windows, etc.. We’ll update our calendar and share with families as those dates get solidified. For now, those dates say “Dates TBD”. 

We are working on getting translated versions of the calendar and will share them in the coming weeks! 

CELEBRATIONS & COMMUNITY CONNECTION 

As we continue through January, our community is invited to practice empathy, reflection, and collective care. This week centers dignity, kindness, and our shared responsibility to one another.

National Observances

• Fri., Jan. 23–Fri., Jan. 31 — No Name-Calling Week (U.S.) This week promotes kindness, respect, and accountability by addressing bullying and harmful language—an important reminder that our words shape belonging and student joy.
• Tue., Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A global day honoring the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirming our commitment to remembrance, tolerance, and human dignity.

Local Highlights & Community Resources

Community Food Distribution

5734 Hickory Plaza – 11:00 a.m.

Held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, in partnership with Conexión Américas, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Nashville Noticias.

Community Resource Fair for Expecting & New Moms

Sat., Jan. 31 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

3421 Belmont Blvd

Families can connect with local resources supporting pregnancy and early parenthood, including giveaways and parenting supports.

Recovering from Collective Trauma: Community Conversation

Tue., Feb. 3 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.

Lentz Public Health Center

A facilitated conversation focused on collective healing and community care

VALOR THEATRE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Valor Theatre Presents: Disney’s Beauty & The Beast Jr
February 27th – March 1st

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! (CLICK HERE

FACE: FINE ARTS, CLUBS & ENRICHMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ATHLETIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: