VCS Spiritual Formation Initiatives & Prayer Guide | Fall 2025

5202 RETSEMES LLAF

Spiritual Formation

VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

CHAPEL

SF EVENTS

CAMPUS MINISTRY

FROM THE CAMPUS PASTORS Over the past couple of years, we have experienced an incredible move of God. From students, parents, and teachers, people are sharing how they are seeing God move throughout our campus. I believe the move we are experiencing is a direct result of your prayers for our community. We have new ministries being planted on all three campuses. Students are coming to faith in Christ, getting connected to churches, making the decision to be baptized, and looking for ways to serve God’s Kingdom.

This school year, we are excited to focus on the life of Jesus in our Skyway chapels. As a spiritual formation team, we are investing in raising up future Kingdom leaders for the ministry and marketplace, cultivating more parent community and connection, communicating God’s transformative work on our campuses through stories, and co-creating spiritual formation strategies with student voice.

On behalf of Pastors Marcus (VCHS ’02), Anna, and myself, we want to say, “thank you” for your partnership in prayer. Be sure to follow us @vcs_faith on Instagram.

Grace and Peace,

STEVE DANG (VCHS ’02) CHIEF MINISTRY OFFICER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI MINISTRIES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FALL SPIRITUAL FORMATION EVENTS

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VCS: WAY OF THE WARRIOR Way of the Warrior

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JH AND HS CHAPEL: FALL Sermon on the Mount

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JH AND HS CHAPEL: WINTER Songs for the Season Advent Conspiracy

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WORSHIP & PRODUCTION ARTS Christ Centered Worship

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SPIRITUAL FORMATION EVENTS Serving Our Community

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ELEMENTARY MINISTRY Building a Strong Foundation

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MINISTRY COHORT Equipping God’s People

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BIBLICAL UNITY Love God and Love Others

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WELLNESS You’ve Got A Friend In Me

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MINISTRY RELATIONS Partners in the Gospel

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PRAY FOR A CHURCH NEAR YOU

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FALL SPIRITUAL FORMATION EVENTS AUGUST 07 | Keynote 09 | Worship & Production Arts Retreat 19 | K-12 Convocation SEPTEMBER 09 | Wise Parenting in a Digital World 15-17 | Impact Week 20 | Cultural Event: Carnaval 24 | See You at the Cross 27 | Homecoming OCTOBER 04 | Elementary Open House 13-16 | Spiritual Emphasis Week 18 | HS Open House 20 | Employee Spiritual Retreat 23 | SJPD Digital Safety NOVEMBER 01 | JH Open House 12 | Advent Giving Project Begins 13 | Panel on AI

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CHAPEL

JUNIOR HIGH CHAPEL

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VCES - VCJH - VCHS WAY OF THE WARRIOR BIG IDEA: Wisdom. Honor. Courage. Sacrifice.

These virtues at VCS are what we call the Way of the Warrior. Our hope is not merely to prepare students for a life in academia, but to become wise and faithful stewards of their gifts for God’s Kingdom in the world. Across all three campuses, our principals and Pastor Steve will unpack how we see the Way of the Warrior in Jesus’ life and ministry.

DATES: August 20-September 17, 2025 KEY VERSE: Luke 2:52 PRAYER REQUESTS 1.Pray for our community to see these virtues—wisdom, honor, courage, and sacrifice—not just as aspirational values, but as expressions of a life shaped by Jesus.

2.Pray for those who attend Convocation to be blessed and inspired to grow in their relationship with God. 3.Pray for our Principals who will be speaking in each of the campus chapels.

4.Pray for unity across all of our students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and partners.

5.Pray for our high school student chaplains as they minister and serve their peers.

6.Pray for people to feel blessed and connected at VCS’ Carnaval community event.

STUDENT CHAPLAIN OPENING CHAPEL IN SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER

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STUDENTS PRAYING AND WORSHIPING DURING SEE YOU AT THE CROSS

HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH CHAPEL: FALL HERE AS IT IS IN HEAVEN THEME: What does the vision of Jesus’ community look like, and how do we live it out here as it is in heaven? Jesus has a vision for the world and the people living in it. In his most famous sermon, more popularly known as “the Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus shows us what He cares about and what it means to live a life fully submitted to Him. Throughout this series, we will explore how we live as salt and light, embrace a life of generosity, pursue peace with our neighbor, embrace mercy, practice prayer, and build our lives on His words. Imagine what our relationships and communities would look like if we practiced the way of Jesus. Throughout this series, we will unpack a section of Jesus’ teaching and offer practical ways to put Jesus’ words into practice.

KEY VERSE: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” Matthew 7:24.

SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK – October 13-16, 2025 | Spiritual Emphasis Week happens once each semester, where we gather together as a school every day of the week for chapel. The week is filled with amazing worship, guest speakers, and lunchtime activities. Students are invited to reflect and can make a decision to follow Jesus for the first time or recommit their lives to Jesus. This year’s high school speaker is Pastor Amy Zielsdorf (VCHS ’09) and junior high speaker is Pastor Diane Clemons.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Pray for our students to wrestle with the life and teachings of Jesus.

2. Pray for students to have amazing encounters with God during Spiritual Emphasis Week.

3. Pray that students accept Jesus as their Savior.

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JUNIOR HIGH CHAPEL WORSHIPPING

HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH CHAPEL: WINTER NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER: SONGS OF THE SEASON THEME: Everybody has a Christmas album. The songs we sing at Christmas time are nostalgic, but they also contain some beautiful truths about Jesus that we can miss out on because they are tied to our cultural celebrations of Christmas. This winter, our teachers will be unpacking some significant truths in our Christmas classics, as well as creating visual and musical pieces to display the beauty of this season.

ADVENT GIFT Last year, we wanted to do something different at Christmas. We wondered, what if cutting back on our Christmas spending allowed us to give more to those who are in need? As a result, our Skyway campus raised enough money to fund the building of a home in Mexico and support projects around the world.

This year, we hope to continue blessing others.

ADVENT BEGINS FOR SKYWAY CHAPELS AND GIVING PROJECT – November 12-December 10, 2025 | As a school community, students will hear in chapel about how they can tangibly make a difference this Christmas and will then be given the opportunity to give.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Pray for our students to reflect on the theological truths in the Christmas songs.

2. Pray for a spirit of generosity around our campuses during this season and that they can make a tangible difference.

3. Pray for our students, faculty and staff as they wrap up the first semester.

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WORSHIP AND PRODUCTION ARTS

WORSHIP, PRODUCTION, STUDENT CHAPLAINS, AND CHAPEL TEAM

Led by Dr. Ivan Utomo, the Production Arts & Warrior Worship Team is a student-led group responsible for the musical and technical leadership of chapel at Valley Christian. From live worship and Scripture reading to sound, lighting, and visual media, these students create an atmosphere where the school community can encounter Jesus and engage deeply with their faith.

With up to 40 students involved each week, this growing team has brought renewed energy and excitement to chapel. More than just leading a service, they are shaping the spiritual climate of our campus, sparking meaningful moments of worship, reflection, and transformation that extend well beyond the stage. Their leadership is helping build a culture where Christ-centered worship and discipleship thrive.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Pray that each student on the team would grow in their personal walk with Jesus as they lead others in worship and service.

2. Pray for unity, creativity, and excellence as the team continues to grow and influence the spiritual life of the school.

3. Pray that the Holy Spirit fills the chapel environments they help create, leading many students to the next step of their spiritual journey.

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JUNIOR HIGH STUDENT BEING BAPTIZED

SPIRITUAL FORMATION EVENTS SPIRITUAL FORMATION CAMPUS CLUBS We desire for our students to find a place on campus where they can connect with other students and faculty in order to grow spiritually and learn more about God that is outside of the classroom and outside of chapel. Spiritual Formation Warrior Time clubs allow students the option to go deeper in their faith with like-minded students. Offerings include: Junior high: Iron Sharpens Iron (boys) and Radiant Souls (girls) High school: Graceline Chapel (Mondays, led by Valley Christian Pastoral Team), TAPS (Thursdays), Institute of Biblical and Theological Studies (Thursdays), Let’s Talk (Thursdays), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Thursdays), Sisterhood (Thursdays).

DISCIPLESHIP TRACK Following Spiritual Emphasis Week, students have the opportunity to join Discipleship Track, a once-aweek meeting during lunch, where they learn more about what it practically means to follow Jesus, as well as the importance of worship, prayer, reading scripture, attending church, serving others, and sharing testimonies. Discipleship Track is offered for students during junior high and high school lunch. It is a powerful time where those questioning Christianity, new believers, and committed Christians come together to become equipped in their walks with the Lord.

STUDENT SPIRITUAL RETREAT Once a semester, a group of high school students gather together for a weekend of being challenged to grow deeper spiritually. Students join to worship, hear teachings from pastors, grow together in community, share testimonies, and dive deeper into their faith. It is a time of rich fellowship and spiritual growth.

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STAFF SPIRITUAL RETREAT This year, Staff Staff Retreat is happening at Mt. Hermon on October 20. It is an intentional time for faculty and staff to gather together and be poured into. We will be joined by principal, author, speaker, and TikTok famous, Zac Bauermaster.

STUDENTS WORSHIPPING AT CONVOCATION

STUDENT CHAPLAINS On the junior high and high school campus, we Student Chaplains who help plan chapels, speak at chapels, lead Spiritual Formation clubs, and minister to fellow students. These students are discipled and poured into by the Valley Christian Pastoral Team and are ministers on campus to their peers by fostering conversations, praying for students, and being lights on campus.

IMPACT WEEK - September 15-17 A time to share with our student community the global opportunities available to serve, learn, and grow through cross-cultural mission trips. This year, we're excited to deepen ministry partnerships around the world, expand program-specific trips through AMSE and BEI, and launch new Bible Education and Cultural Immersion trips over the summer. We can’t wait to see how God will use these experiences to shape hearts and lives of our students for His Kingdom. Signups happen this week for all that are interested.

Prayer Requests Pray that our students attend Discipleship Track and enter into a life-long relationship with Jesus.

Pray for our students and faculty who lead Spiritual Formation Warrior Time clubs, as well as for the students who attend. May these gatherings provide deep Christian community for our students, as well as biblical training and wisdom.

Pray for our staff and students attending the high school Spiritual Retreat. May students encounter Jesus, grow in their relationship with Him, and grow in community with one another.

Pray that our faculty and staff feel refreshed, equipped, and loved after the Spiritual Staff Retreat.

Pray that our student chaplains are able to minister to their peers, friends, and students on campus.

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ELEMENTARY MINISTRIES 12

ELEMENTARY JOG-A-THON

ELEMENTARY MINISTRIES CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY BIG IDEA: In elementary school, we focus on establishing the foundations of faith, which include God’s love for us, His purpose for our lives, and how we live out our faith in the world. We break down our lessons according to “Today’s Total Truth,” which makes the lessons applicable. This semester, Principal Gabe Guven and Pastor Anna Messersmith are talking about who God is and how we can be His disciples during chapel and Bible studies.

KEY VERSE: LUKE 2:52 EVENTS Spiritual Emphasis Week – October 13-16 This year, elementary’s focus is the same theme as junior high and high school, highlighting the Sermon on the Mount in class and in chapel.

Launching Fifth Grade Girls Bible Study and Fourth and Fifth Grade Biblical Leadership Clubs – Pastor Anna runs two weekly optional clubs that allow students to dive deeper into community by reading the Bible, having group discussions, playing games, doing crafts, and serving others. Students walk away with a deeper understanding of God, as well as a closer community.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1.Pray for the Holy Spirit to plant seeds of faith in our little ones that will last a lifetime.

2.Pray for all the students participating in the Biblical Leadership Club and Fifth Grade Bible Study to grow in their faith.

3.Pray for unity amongst our campuses and families as all students learn about the Sermon on the Mount at the same time.

4.Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill our local churches and ministries as they serve and minister in Jesus’ name.

ELEMENTARY CHAPEL

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ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN PROJECT DURING 2025 ENCOUNTER

MINISTRY COHORT: EQUIPPING GOD’S PEOPLE “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” — Ephesians 4:12 Spiritual formation is the work of the Holy Spirit and a shared responsibility across our community.

To cultivate a Gospel culture that reaches 2,800 students, 350 staff, and 9,500 alumni, we launched a Ministry Cohort—a group of faculty and staff passionate about ministry.

The cohort meets regularly to grow in ministry skills, support one another, and reflect on how God is working across all campuses and programs. A key focus is “passion projects,” Spirit-led ministries rooted in each leader’s calling. We’ve already seen the Spirit move powerfully through them.

Our vision is a community of spiritually-formed educators devoted to shaping a Gospel culture.

As each member steps into ministry, we aim to make Jesus’ love and the Kingdom’s beauty tangible, inviting students to embody the Way of the Warrior—living with wisdom, honor, courage, and sacrifice.

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The Ministry Cohort team includes members from all campuses, AMSE, BEI, community service, international students, counselors, Athletics, and more.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Pray for Spiritually Formed Leaders & DiscipleMakers.

2. Pray God continues to shape each cohort member into a Christ-like leader.

3. Pray for creativity, clarity, and courage as each participant develops and launches ministry action plans. Ask God to use their unique gifts and positions to spark spiritual growth across every department and campus.

4. Pray that the Ministry Cohort serves as a catalyst for unity among staff. That a Gospel culture flourishes, and all are committed to advancing Valley Christian’s mission with excellence for God’s glory.

CARNAVAL AT VALLEY

BIBLICAL UNITY “Biblical Unity at VCS uses the critical lens of biblical analysis to approach raising cultural awareness and implement strategies to educate our community.” – Dr. Steven McGriff, K-12 Director of Biblical Unity Biblical Unity is an integral part of the Spiritual Formation Office. As our team seeks to care for the whole person through discipleship and wellness, the role of Biblical Unity is caring for all the diverse groups of people in the VCS community.

Jesus said the greatest command is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:28-33). We believe that following Jesus’ commands to love our neighbor is a significant pathway for uniting people for God’s glory. When we embrace our God-given differences, we demonstrate how God wants us to thrive, teach our children to love the nations, and share the gospel of grace and peace with them.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity” (Psalms 133:1 NIV).

The Bible tells a unifying story of God’s son, Jesus, and how we can live like Him in a culture that presents challenges that often divide our community.

Biblical Unity uses the critical lens of a biblical worldview to analyze culture and engage social challenges with Christian hope.

God has created a wonderfully diverse community at Valley Christian. Biblical unity explores how to love our community and neighbors as Jesus modeled in His life. We guide our community to discover how they belong and encourage each other to promote belonging based on the biblical truths of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, not secular socialcultural worldviews.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1.Pray for the student cultural club leaders planning Carnaval (September 20) to find wisdom and apply godly discernment as they program cultural celebrations that honor God. 2. Pray for the outreach to parents who represent cultural groups and want to build our community to celebrate diversity at VCS.

The foundation of biblical unity begins when God created all people on earth in His image (Genesis 1:26) and finishes in the last book, where God welcomes a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language into heaven (Revelation 7:9).

Our deep hope is for our community to become an earthly preview of our eternal reality.

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BREAKING DOWN THE WALLS SCHOOL WELLNESS EVENT

WELLNESS “YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME.” Research shows that people today have fewer close friends than they did 30 years ago. Ironically, despite the rise of social media, we have become more disconnected than ever.

At Valley Christian, our wellness team is committed to supporting students in need, combating loneliness, and fostering healthy connections through programs and personal interactions. Across all campuses, our wellness counselors support the social and emotional needs of our students. Whether it’s through sessions with a licensed therapist or spending time with Lady Warrior, our wellness dog. Our team is ready to provide compassionate care for our community.

WARRIORS UNITED Warriors United is being launched at the elementary this year and expanded in the junior high. Warriors United is a group of students dedicated to befriending peers who are seeking connection and a sense of belonging. It does this by bridging students with a student leader in a fun, music-filled space, with games and intentional conversations where everyone can feel included and valued. They are launching a weekly outdoor game time that has been envisioned and led by student leaders.

LIGHTWALKERS A monthly, campus-wide program hosted by caring adults in which students learn how to put into practice the Fruits of the Spirit. We will dive deep into our core virtues and learn how to problem solve, work through emotions, build friendships, and develop a sense of ownership in the way we treat ourselves and others.

KINDNESS CREW A kids-as-doers initiative to spread kindness around campus.

Fourth and fifth-grade students choose to participate in discussions and activities that help facilitate a loving, positive school climate.

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WARRIORS CHILL A quiet, calming nook open to students during Warrior Time on Thursdays. The chill room invites students to be still, relax, and regroup away from the hustle and bustle of the lively school environment. Caring adults are present.

HIGH SCHOOL Introduce Wellness topics during Navigate. In an interactive environment, students learn to address stressors, anxieties, emotional upsets, relational skills, thoughtful decision making, and consider their personal values.

PARENT EDUCATION EVENT Join us for a special parent event centered on The Yes Brain by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for raising resilient, emotionally healthy kids as Christian families. We talk about how this integrates with our faith and Christian worldview. This book club is designed to equip and encourage parents while fostering deeper community across our Valley Christian family. We are excited to partner with you as we seek to intentionally disciple our children with wisdom, love, and grace. Two options to attend are listed below: Friday AM: Sep. 19, Sep. 26, Oct. 3 Thursday PM: Sep. 25, Oct. 2 PRAYER REQUESTS 1.Pray for our wellness counselors Jane Bahou, Abra Martinez, and C. J. Clark as they care for the volume of needs on all our campuses.

2.Pray for our junior high and elementary Warriors United clubs to continue to provide a kind and hospitable place where all of our students can belong, and that our new outdoor program would go well.

3. Pray for our parents and students as they search and discover a place to belong.

4.Pray for our Parent Ambassadors who are looking to reach and minister to other parents.

VCS ALUMNI AT 2024 HOMECOMING GAME

MINISTRY RELATIONS: PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL Students graduate from Valley Christian, but they do not graduate from the kingdom of God. We intentionally build partnerships with local churches and ministries to build a strong network, working together for God’s kingdom.

COLLEGE PARTNERSHIPS We are committed to strengthening relationships with Christian colleges and universities across the country. We are currently partnering with: Azusa Pacific University Biola University Westmont College Grand Canyon University Wheaton College We’re incredibly thankful for these connections and excited for VCS Warriors to have options to further their studies in Christian education.

CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS We are grateful to see continued growth—not only in the number of churches we partner with, but in the depth and quality of those relationships. One of our key goals is to connect families and students with local churches in their communities. It's a joy to witness families finding church homes for both youth group involvement and weekend worship.

ALUMNI MINISTRY It was a blessing to reconnect with many of our alumni over the summer! We’re looking forward to several reunions during Homecoming and we are excited to visit alumni on college campuses around the country.

Keep an eye on alumni social media channels (@vchsalumni) for our upcoming visitation schedule—we’d love to take you out for dinner and hear about your journey.

EVENTS Pastors’ Prayer and Gathering are scheduled for the Fall and Spring.

Mark Lodewyk and Steve Dang look forward to visiting Alumni this Fall.

PRAYER REQUESTS 1. Church Partnerships – Pray for deeper connections between students, families, and local churches.

2. Christian Education – Pray for students discerning their next steps with the support of our Christ-centered college partners.

3. Alumni Connections – Pray for meaningful reconnections and spiritual growth in our alumni community.

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Visit or pray for a local church near you North San Jose/Milpitas Echo Church Christ Community Church of Milpitas New Beginnings Church Resonate Church First Church San Jose West San Jose/Santa Clara Vive San Jose Crossroads Church Awakening Church Garden City Church Neighborhood Christian Center St. Volodymyr Catholic East San Jose Evergreen Valley Church Rohi Christian Church Family Community Church Immanuel Baptist Church South San Jose Westgate: South Hills Menlo Church Cathedral of Faith Church on the Hill Gateway City Church Hillside Church Holy Spirit Church Kingsway Community Church

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Willow Glen Willow Glen Bible Church Foxworthy Baptist Vertical Church San Jose Willow Glen United Methodist Campbell Bethel Church Campbell Church of Christ Central Christian Church Community Christian: Campbell Center Set Church The Home Church St. Lucy Church Bold Church Los Gatos/Saratoga Calvary Los Gatos Saratoga Federated Church Venture Christian Church Noel Presbyterian Church Immanuel Lutheran Church Westgate Church

Visit or pray for a local church near you Los Altos/Palo Alto/Menlo Park Bridges Community Church Abundant Life Fellowship Crosspoint Church Vive Church Menlo Church New Community Baptist Lord’s Grace Christian Church Woodside Priory Catholic St. Francis of Assisi

Morgan Hill/Gilroy West Hills South Valley Community Church Morgan Hill Bible Church Community Christian: Morgan Hill St. Catherine’s of Alexandria St. John’s Episcopal Grace Hill Church Ministerios Generacion Josue Gilroy Presbyterian Church

Cupertino Creekside New Life Church Cupertino St. Andrew Armenian Valley Church Abundant Life

Fremont/Newark/Union City Forerunner Christian Church Harbor Light New Life Valley Church Pathway Bible Church St. Joseph Catholic 3 Crosses Haven Christian

Milpitas Ark Baptist Church Good Shepherd Community Grace Alliance New Vision Church St. James Orthodox San Jose Christian Assembly

San Francisco Cornerstone SF Reality SF Greek Orthodox Cathedral San Francisco Chinese Alliance

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Athletics Retreat

Convocation

High School Spiritual Retreat Your paragraph text

Advent

Discipleship Track

MISSION STATEMENT 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.

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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. valleychristian Valley Christian Schools (San Jose)

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To support VCS, please call the Community Development and Advancement Office at (408) 362-7644 or visit give.vcs.net.

Elementary (408) 559-4400 | 1450 Leigh Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 Junior High (408) 513-2460 | High School (408) 513-2400 vcs.net | (408) 513-2500 | 100 Skyway Drive, San Jose, CA 95111