Junior High is a time when students develop valuable skills, cultivate rich friendships, and deepen their understanding of the world. Our dedicated faculty and staff guide and support students throughout this journey, fostering a safe and engaging atmosphere that encourages exploration and personal growth.
We commit to providing an inspiring and interactive learning experience. Believing in the importance of a well-rounded education, our students will access a range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and athletic programs to explore their interests and talents outside the classroom.
We emphasize character development and spiritual formation, instilling in our students values such as wisdom, honor, sacrifice, and courage. Through our strong Christian foundation, we encourage students to deepen their relationship with God, embrace their unique gifts, and use them to positively impact the world around them.
We value your partnership and encourage open dialogue. Together, we will create a nurturing and dynamic educational experience where students can flourish academically, grow personally, and deepen their faith.
Once again, welcome to Valley Christian Junior High!
Mr. Eric Maxwell Principal of Valley Christian Junior High SchoolValley Christian Schools admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment offering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.
0.1% American Indian
40.2% Asian
3.2% Black or African American
22.4% Caucasian
1.4% Filipino
6.4% Hispanic or Latino
8.5% Indian
10.5% Mixed Ethnicities
0.7% Pacific Islander
6.6% Prefer not to answer
Based on K-12 2023-24 enrollment information.
24 Average Class Size
720 Enrollment
12:1 Student/Faculty Ratio
30+ Teachers with Master’s Degrees
12 Alumni Faculty/Staff
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Principal, Mr. Eric Maxwell, emaxwell@vcs.net, (408) 513-2463
Vice Principal, Miss Lauren Chaplin, lchaplin@vcs.net, (408) 513-2462
Dean of Students, Mr. Steve Parmenter, sparmenter@vcs.net, (408) 513-2482
While known for high-quality programs and one-of-a-kind opportunities, VCJH places an important value on fostering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We recognize that this relationship is one that not only transforms our world but also makes a difference for eternity.
Through interactions with Christian mentors, campus pastors, chaplains, Biblical teaching, and meaningful life experiences, VCJH students can define and live out their own faith both on our campus and in the community. Alongside a student’s educational journey, we seek to foster the values of wisdom, honor, courage and sacrifice, which we call ‘the Way of the Warrior’. For our students, the Way of the Warrior is about personal formation on their journey towards high school. Our goal for every Valley student, is the desire to be formed into the likeness of Jesus, allowing us to reflect His love, and grace to others around the world. We will encourage our students to grow in their Christian faith or be willing to give Jesus a fair hearing.
Every student is required to take a Bible class each year, with sixth grade focusing on God the Father, seventh grade focusing on God the Son, and eighth grade focusing on God the Holy Spirit.
Valley Christian Junior High offers students the opportunity to learn at a young age how to demonstrate God’s love. VCJH encourages students to serve, inspire, and motivate others on and off our campus in their everyday lives. Through action and love, students seek to advance the Lord’s Kingdom with the redemptive power of the Gospel to transform our communities and the world.
Student Opportunities of Service:
• Operation Christmas Child
• City Team
• Community Outreach Programs
• Student-led initiatives involving worship, prayer, and service on the campus
• Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) Program
• Campus Leadership
Chapels are held weekly, and include a time of worship, teaching, Bible readings, and prayer.
• Bi-annual Spiritual Emphasis Week gives students the opportunity to learn from world-renowned Christian speakers.
• Each student participates in twice a quarter small groups to form meaningful friendships and grow deeper in their faith.
VCJH is an academically-challenging yet nurturing learning environment where sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students learn through a comprehensive approach to all subjects. Emphasis is placed on developing effective study skills and discipline for more advanced academic work. Additionally, co-curricular programs through the Conservatory of the Arts, AMSE (the Applied Math, Science, and Engineering Institute), and BEI (Business, Entrepreneurship, & Innovation) enrich students’ God-given talents with extraordinary opportunities, preparing them for the extensive college preparatory program at Valley Christian High School.
Bible, English, Math, Physical Education, Science, and History
Many students take multiple Honors courses during their time in junior high. A majority of the VCJH graduates continue to Valley Christian High School and enter classes as high as English Honors and Trigonometry/ Pre-Calculus Honors.
In addition to strong core subjects, students at VCJH select from a wide range of exciting electives.
Junior AMSE (Applied Math, Science, and Engineering)
Applied Technology
3D Animation
3D Animation II
3D Design + Print
3D Game Design
App Development
Intro to Technology (required course)
Video Fun
Engineering
ISS Space Program
Project Lead the Way: Design & Robotics
Project Lead the Way: Environmental Science
Project Lead the Way: Medicine and Technology
Project Lead the Way: Space & Electricity
Robotics
Other AMSE Electives
Intro to Logic & Reasoning
Investigative Science
Ocean Discovery
Introductory BEI (Business, Entrepreneurship, & Innovation)
Creative Design Thinking
DIY Start-A-Business
Launch-A-Business
Junior Conservatory of the Arts
Dance Arts
Dance for Musical Theatre
Dance Technique I, II, III
Hip Hop I, II
Music Arts
Intro to Band
Band I, II
Intro to Choir
Choir I
Intro to Drums
Drums I, II
Piano I, II
Intro to Strings
Strings I, II
Intro to Video Game Music
Theatre Arts
Intro to Drama
Drama I, II
Visual Arts
Intro to Art Foundations
Intro to Clay Projects
Clay Projects II
Intro to Photo
Additional Electives
Campus Leadership
Community Outreach Leadership
Leadership and Athletic Performance
Math Workshop
Beginning Spanish
Spanish I Honors
Speech & Debate
Sporting Life Study Hall
Teacher Aide (TA)
Yearbook
Our junior high STEM program, the Junior Applied Math, Science, and Engineering (AMSE) Institute provides students with incredible facilities and unique opportunities to inspire future mathematicians, scientists, and engineers, while preparing them for high school.
Designed to enhance and expand on the comprehensive math, science, and STEM electives, VCJH offers many opportunities for students to participate in Junior AMSE, from the competitive robotics program to various innovative hands-on science and engineering programs.
The junior high Math Department provides a comprehensive math program that encompassing all levels of ability from grades six through eight. We are pleased to offer advanced-level courses at every grade level, with all math courses emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, mathematical concepts/applications, and preparation for high school mathematics.
VCJH science curriculum reaches all levels of students, from those just beginning to explore the field to those with exceptionally advanced scientific minds. Students can analyze DNA, participate in the national competition eCybermission, and identify solutions to erosion problems on campus.
We offer several exciting and challenging electives, including Investigative Science, Logic and Reasoning, Ocean Discovery, and Project Lead the Way (engineering).
The AMSE Institute offers a variety of after-school Junior AMSE programs to provide students with innovative opportunities in the world of STEM. This year’s programs include:
This health science initiative introduces students to various physical and mental health aspects. Students will apply scientific principles to studying and interpreting health and disease with unique learning and service opportunities.
Designed for students who are interested in space science, this program includes two to three pre-designed experiments, multiple data uploads to the International Space Station, and the opportunity for data analysis. Students will analyze experiments around heat, radiation, conduction, and convection and compare the results on Earth and in micro-gravity.
Students further their math skills, as well as meet other people who share the same love and interest in math and compete in local competitions. Students will develop skills in collaboration and teamwork, improve their critical thinking, and expand their problem-solving strategies.
The Ocean Discovery Program exposes students to the fields of marine biology and ocean engineering. Students will discover the ocean through hands-on activities and experiences.
RoboQuest Derby introduces robotics fundamentals focusing on construction, programming, and problem-solving skills. Students build their very own bot and compete in district and championship tournaments.
The Explore Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (BEI) program starts with the belief that every student is creative and can solve real-world challenges through entrepreneurship. Students are challenged to come up with tangible products and learn the entrepreneurial process required to take a product from concept to pitch.
Valley Christian Junior High students develop their creative thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills through various learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Explore BEI provides the following hands-on, project-based learning opportunities grounded in biblical principles while introducing the concepts of entrepreneurship.
Creative Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that is at the heart of entrepreneurship and innovation. This elective provides students the opportunity to develop skills to become creative problem-solvers through experiential learning. The course introduces the design thinking process of empathy, ideation, and rapid prototyping through hands-on projects and activities. Students will learn that failure, iteration, and perseverance are part of the design thinking journey to success.
DIY Start-A-Business elective helps students build an entrepreneurial mindset by teaching: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity (the 4 C’s) while introducing students to how to start a business. The new elective combines lessons from start-ups, businesses, and social entrepreneurs with hands-on activities that teach students how to have a “do it yourself” mindset and relevant skills. Students will learn the design thinking process to create solutions to real-world problems in the community, work in teams, and receive feedback from adult mentors.
This newest elective class will build on learnings from the DIY Start-A-Business elective class and JH Explore Entrepreneurship after-school program. Students will be able to gain real-world experience starting an on-campus business selling products. The class will learn the process of operating a small business by exploring and evaluating business ideas. Students will be able to come up with an operational plan to sell products, manage operations, evaluate offerings, analyze metrics, and pivot as needed.
This after-school program offers a shortened 8-week version of the DIY Start-A-Business elective. Students learn how to take a business idea from creation to pitch (think Shark Tank!). Through this hands-on learning opportunity, students learn to develop ideas through different brainstorming techniques, walk through fundamental market analysis, work on prototyping an idea, and prepare a pitch presentation. Students work in teams and develop communication skills.
During the fall and spring semesters, Valley Christian High School students in the Quest Incubator program teach an introductory 8-week program on Personal Finance and Stewardship with oversight by Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (BEI) teachers and staff.
This eight-week after-school program will introduce students to the foundations of Speech and Debate, helping students develop effective communication skills. Speech will be offered in the fall semester and Debate will be offered in the spring semester.
Our Junior Conservatory invites young artists to further develop their God-given talents with a full range of visual and performing arts offerings. In a program of unmatched quality and breadth, the Junior Conservatory provides the foundational training required for successful and seamless matriculation to the high school Conservatory of the Arts.
• Private lessons with instructors that have extensive training and years of experience
• School-day courses in music, art, theatre, and dance in an environment that delivers unmatched quality and breadth
• Unique performance opportunities in outstanding venues, including Disneyland and the professional stages of the California Theatre in downtown San Jose
• An abundance of exceptional facilities, including a dance studio, piano lab, rehearsal hall, Learning Commons, main stage theatre, Black Box Theatre, and a ceramics studio, in addition to practice suites, recording facilities, and specially designed music classrooms
The Dance Arts Department is designed to serve students with wide-ranging abilities, offering dance classes for beginning through advanced students, to expand their knowledge and mastery of dance styles, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, partnering, world dance, lyrical, and contemporary. Students have the opportunity to perform in multiple productions annually.
The Junior Conservatory Music Department provides beginner through advanced-level instruction in strings, band, percussion, piano, and choir. Students are introduced to opportunities for overnight travel as they represent VCJH in music competitions and festivals statewide, as well as having the opportunity to perform in high-caliber concert venues.
Junior Conservatory Theatre Arts focuses on fun and cultivating a love for Theatre Arts. Students are introduced to all aspects of theatre, including performance and technical theatre, with studies in acting, voice and movement, technical design, and production.
Disney’s The Lion King, The Sound of Music, High School Musical Jr., The Bully Plays, The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Outrageous Fortunes, Little Women, Bye Bye Birdie, Legally Blonde Jr., The Good Doctor, Fractured Fairytales, Willy Wonka, Jr., Footloose Youth Edition
Junior Conservatory Visual Arts provides inspiration and instruction in painting, drawing, ceramics, and photography in state-of-the-art facilities, with opportunities for students to share their work at art shows and festivals.
STEAM Odyssey teaches students how to harness and unleash their innate creativity, enabling them to become adept problem-solvers. Imagine being confronted with a challenge that demands an innovative solution. It can be intimidating. Now envision fearlessly tackling that problem –that is precisely what participants will acquire. STEAM Odyssey emphasizes teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking, and various other essential skills. The Conservatory of the Arts is excited to partner with Odyssey of the Mind and offer a program that is meticulously crafted to foster the growth of students across all learning levels, nurturing them as individual learners and team players, and empowering them to realize their utmost potential.
VCJH competes at the highest level of athletics in Santa Clara County, offering 22 teams competing in 13 different sports. Our coaches are committed to modeling Christian values both on and off the athletic field, and to preparing our emerging student-athletes to be leaders in the community.
FALL
Boys: Flag Football, Baseball Training
Girls: Volleyball, Softball
Co-Ed: Cross Country
WINTER
Boys: Basketball, Wrestling
Girls: Basketball
SPRING
Boys: Soccer, Volleyball
Girls: Soccer, Volleyball
Co-Ed: Track & Field, Golf, Tennis, Water Polo
Our Physical Education and Human Performance departments empower all students to learn how to sustain a regular lifelong commitment to physical activity. As a foundation for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life Valley Christian aims to train the body and soul of each student. A physically-educated student at VCJH actively participates in making healthy decisions and displays integrity on the team and in the classroom.
Many of our student-athletes take advantage of the sport-specific workouts offered after-school to receive training from our highly experienced coaching staff in the state-of-the-art Human Performance Center.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, students will have time set aside with a teacher for valuable instruction beyond the definition of specific subjects. They include the following sessions.
Academic Advising: To provide students with important executive functioning skills and academic support during school hours with one of our teachers
House Games: To build their knowledge of wellness and teamwork
Chapel: To learn more about God through worship and teaching of His Word
Academic Lab: To improve every student’s reading comprehension skills as well as offering intentional intervention in other subject areas as students need support
Spiritual Formation: To provide additional discussion of spiritual themes from Chapels with teachers and peers
The Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) Program exists to make sure no student goes through junior high alone. Part of a national organization, WEB offers leadership classes and training for seventhand eighth-grade students to help sixth-graders achieve success in their first year at VCJH. From encouraging notes to lunch-time socials, student leaders take initiative to help create a community where everybody really does belong.
During each school year, VCJH hosts multiple student and family-focused events. Some events include:
• New Parent Community Dinner and Orientation
• JH Student Orientation
• 8th Grade Breakaway Retreat
• JH Family Pancake Breakfast
• Fundraiser
• 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
• Junior Conservatory Disneyland Trip
• Family Skate Night
• JH Student’s HYPE Night
Parents are invited to get involved at VCES by joining our Parent Teacher Prayer Fellowship (PTPF).
Valley Christian Junior High offers students enriching opportunities through a variety of clubs led by caring faculty members. These clubs are for students who want to learn more about subjects they are passionate about or discover new activities while they make new friends and develop a life-long love of learning.
Students will learn environmental awareness, agricultural engineering skills, ecological research, and business skills. Students work together on projects such as raising organic crops and urban farming.
This club is open to all students interested in learning about or playing tournament chess. Students who play in tournaments will earn a U.S. Chess Federation rating.
This club provides students with creative, hands-on learning experiences. The club will make functional pottery as well as playful 3D art, pinch pots, and various other clay projects. No experience is needed.
The ‘Girls love Engineering, Math, Science, and Technology’ club is open to all female students who want to explore math, science, and engineering. Students will build, create, get messy and use tools, all without the pressure of grades or test scores.
This club offers assistance to students who need a little extra help with Math and English. Students can drop in every day after-school as needed.
Students challenge themselves and their creativity by utilizing a variety of tools, techniques, and disciplines. They learn proper safety guidelines of all the materials before they can begin. Students then experiment, design, and create in a variety of mediums.
This club offers students an opportunity to grow in their understanding of mathematical concepts. The club competes in several local and national assessments and competitions such as the Chi Alpha Mu National Honors Society, Online Math Competitions, American Regional Math League, National Assessment Testing, MathCounts, and the Math Olympiad.
This student-run club is supervised by our Science Department Head. It’s design helps students develop authentic investigations to submit to the regional ISEF science fair and support them in their science homework and learning.
The STAR club is for all students who have an interest in wireless communications. Students will track satellites, perform experiments, develop emergency radio service skills, prepare for the FCC Technician Class Radio Exam, and, for licensed operators, receive and transmit radio communications.
MISSION STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment o ering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.
VISION STATEMENT
A world where every student pursues their personal Quest for Excellence™
FOUNDING STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools supports the homes and churches of students in providing an education that is grounded in the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, as reflected in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Valley Christian Schools is committed to a Quest for Excellence™ in all of its educational programs, and provides a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum with a rigorous college preparatory program. Firmly founded on Christian values, Valley Christian Schools challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence
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To support VCS, please call the Extend the Gift Advancement O ce at (408) 362-7644.
