And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:8-11 NIV
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun, with Christmas now just 24 days away. Included in that countdown is the season traditionally known as “Advent” in the church. Advent begins this year on December 3 and ends on December 24th. It is a time that spans the four Sundays before Christmas.
The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth and in expectation of His coming again. The four candles for each Sunday represent hope, joy, peace and love.Whether your church participates in Advent or not, I think we should be more intentional about helping our children focus on the true meaning of Christmas as we countdown the days until it arrives. It’s far too easy to get lost in the worldly celebrations of Christmas and lose sight of the true significance for us as believers and for a lost world in need of a Savior.
May the light of Christ shine in your hearts and homes as you enter this Advent season. He alone can bring hope, joy, peace and love into a world in desperate need of each.
David Funk
Superintendent, VCA
ILLNESS: We are entering the cold/flu season and childhood pneumonia is on the rise across the country this year. With this in mind, we strongly encourage parents to monitor your children’s health and keep them home if they are running a fever or coughing frequently and feeling listless. Rest is key to recovery from upper respiratory illness and also preventing its spread to others.
STAFF CHRISTMAS OFFERING: It has been the tradition since the founding of VCA to take a free-will offering to support our teachers and staff with a Christmas bonus. Thank you to those who participated in Giving Tuesday on November 28th to give to the VCA staff Christmas fund. Our teachers work for 60% of what they could earn in the Valpo Community Schools and with fewer benefits. To date, $5,000 has been raised to offer our staff a Christmas bonus this year. With a staff of over 60 employees, every dollar given will help provide them with a much needed and appreciated Christmas bonus. Donations can be made now through December 15 by cash/check in one of the school offices, text CHRISTMAS to 219-533-0229 or by scanning the QR code attached Thank you.
NWEA TESTING for grades 1-5 will be held on December 7 & 8. Grades 6-8 will be held the week of December 4-8
DECEMBER DAD’S LUNCH will be held on Thursday, December 7 at 12:00 noon at the North Campus. All VCA dads are invited for a time of food, fellowship and encouragement. Please RSVP to Megan Huber at vcabusinessoffice@vcacademy.info or call the North Campus office at 548-2701. A $7 donation is appreciated.
SOUTH CAMPUS CHRISTMAS MUSICAL - Thursday, December 14 at Valparaiso High School Auditorium. Program begins at 6:30pm with doors opening at 6:00pm.
SOUTH CAMPUS RECESS - With the cold weather upon us please ensure that your child brings their winter coat, hat, and gloves to school with them. Please label their coats and accessories with their names so that if they end up in the Lost and Found we can get them back to the correct owner.
SOUTH CAMPUS CHRISTMAS DRESS-UP DAYS: On Friday, December 15 all elementary students are invited to wear Christmas pajamas to school. On Tuesday, December 19 all elementary students are invited to wear a fun Christmas sweater, t-shirt, or sweatshirt. The crazier the better!
SOUTH CAMPUS CHRISTMAS PARTIES: K-5th grade Christmas parties will be held on December 19. Please refer to your teachers weekly emails or newsletters for more information!
CHRISTMAS BREAK: December 20-January 3, school resumes on Thursday, January 4.