Parenting and educating today’s students, while demanding, is undoubtedly, one of life’s most important pursuits. The Valley Central School District seeks to support our families and community members through Parent Resources.
VCSD recognizes that behind each successful student are supportive families, teachers, school staff and community members who take an active role in educating all of our students. No matter what your role, we encourage involvement and participation in the education of the community’s students.
VC Website Features
Parent Portal
Use SchoolTool Parent Portal for online access to your student’s schedule, attendance and grades.
If you do not have a School Tool Parent Portal or need to change something on your current account, please fill out this form.
Valley Central Facebook Page
The School District updates this page frequently to share student and staff achievements, information and/or photos of school and District-sponsored activities and events. The District Facebook page is not an alternative method of communicating with school personnel. The Valley Central Facebook page is not moderated by any District administrator and cannot respond to any specific concerns or questions through the page.
The goal of the VCSD Facebook page is to have a place on social media where we share how #VCPROUD we are about the events and activities that take place in the District.
To help us accomplish this goal, we ask that you abide by the following guidelines when, and if, you would like to make a comment on a post:
- Be respectful. Defamatory attacks or comments aimed at specific individuals, employees, or students are not permitted and will be deleted immediately from the page.
- Be polite. Avoid language that is abusive, harassing, sexually explicit and/or obscene. Profanity is not allowed. These comments will be deleted immediately.
- Stay on topic. This is a page dedicated to the education of students of Valley Central. Let’s keep the conversation related to our district, schools and activities. Comments of all kinds are welcome so long as they directly relate to our district, schools and activities.
- Do not post comments that advertise or promote a product or service. Spam and commercial advertisements will be deleted.
- Do not use the Valley Central School District Facebook page in place of standard communication practices, such as contacting District staff to share personal issues and concerns. This page is not intended to circumvent regular communication channels for sharing these issues and concerns. Comments regarding a personal issue with the District, a school, student or a staff member will be removed.
- In administering the page, the District will abide by Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.facebook.com/terms.php). The District asks that its Facebook users do the same.
- Please be certain that your comments are appropriate for an educational environment and followers of all ages.
- Be factual. Blatantly inaccurate information will not be allowed. False information will be removed and factual information will be posted.
Abuse of the above guidelines can lead to removal of a specific comment or the blocking/removal from our page.
Viking Calendar/District Guide
The Viking Calendar/District Guide is mailed to all district residents in August. If you would like to pick up an additional copy, please contact our district receptionist at (845) 457-2400 ext. 18505.
VC21 meetings
VC21 is an open community conversation about the Valley Central School District and the Educational Future of our Students. VC21 meetings are held throughout the school year to encourage community input about what is being taught at Valley Central. Meetings dates and times are posted on our website news and social media.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
This purpose of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is to better understand and respond to the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion that exist in society and at Valley Central. We empathize with the community and condemn hatred, injustice, and destruction at all levels. The Valley Central School District seeks to engage with one another and collaboratively design learning environments that will be liberating for all.
Social-Emotional Learning
Valley Central is using the Yale RULER program to help students assess, understand, and respond to their state of emotions as it affects their daily life including the learning process. Social-Emotional Learning is partnered with the curriculum to give students a more well-rounded education.
Speech and Language Resources
Our Berea Speech and Language teachers created a page of resources including videos to help parents practice with their children at home. Learn more about Parent Speech and Language Resources here.
Bullying Prevention
Bullying in schools is a systemic problem that affects all school districts in the United States. Bullying is a repeated aggressive behavior characterized by a power imbalance and the intent to cause harm. Students who are bullied often feel threatened and powerless. Learn more about Bullying Prevention here.
Navigating Your Child’s Social Media
Sourav Sengupta, a University of Buffalo professor and an expert in child and adolescent mental health, says “our children will need to grow up to find a reasonable way to incorporate, tolerate and utilize social technologies in their lives”. Trusted adults can support young people is by setting age- and developmentally appropriate boundaries. He suggests slowly teaching young people how to use social media in healthy ways. (How parents can help teens navigate social media, January 2022)
In order to do that parents need to familiarize themselves with the social media that children and teens are using. This presentation has video and web resources to help parents navigate their child’s social media.
News: How to Help Your Child Understand
How can we talk to our children about the scary events we all may see in the news? It’s sometimes overwhelming for us as adults to witness the stories of war, natural disaster or crime that fill the daily newscast. For kids, exposure to these images and information can be unsettling and traumatic. Here are things to keep in mind as we watch the news together with our kids.
VCSD Calming Room
- Visual Relaxation
- Sounds and Music
- Mindful Movement
- Guided Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Exercise
- Live Animal Cams
- Coloring and Creativity
- Puzzles and Games
- Virtual Field Trips
- Positive Affirmation and Quotes
- DIY Coping Tools to Reduce Stress
- Mental Health Wellness App Reviews
- VCSD Resources
- Support Websites
- Self-help Phone Numbers
Parent Digital Resources
Created by our Instructional Technology Coach, this page will help you navigate the digital side of learning.
For Elementary School parents
Elementary Summer Reading List 2022-2023 can be found here.
Printable PDF of Elementary Summer Reading List can be found here.
https://www.vcsd.k12.ny.us/about-us/parent-resources/academic-help-for-elementary-parents/
For Middle School parents
Academic Help for Middle School parents
For High School parents
Academic Help for High School parents
Orange County’s Social Host Law
College Admission and Social Media
Yearbooks
Each school produces a yearbook. This page provides the links to order a yearbook online. For more information, email the yearbook advisor at your child’s school (or the principal).
Special Education Resources
There are many resources useful to parents dealing with Special Education issues.
ENL -English as New Language Resources
There are resources to help English as New Language learners.
Health and Wellness Links
Find health and wellness links to help you with mental, emotional and physical health/wellness issues
Report Child Abuse
New York State Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-342-3720
If you believe a child is being abused or maltreated, you can help by making a call to the New York State Child Abuse Hotline. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you suspect a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Orange County Youth Bureau
Find the CYFS Services Directory at this link. The Orange County Youth Bureau distributes a free comprehensive Children, Youth and Families Services/CYFS Directory to all Orange County schools through their Guidance Departments. Our Directory is filled with descriptions and contact information for dozens of local service providers, government departments, school districts, colleges, and libraries.
Stay Safe Online
Protecting Our Children on the Internet
Adult Learning Opportunities
Orange-Ulster BOCES offers many Adult Learning Opportunities.