Anyone know anything about Valley Crossing Community School in Woodbury? (Maplewood: fit in, daycare) - Minneapolis - St. Paul - Minnesota (MN) -Twin Cities - City-Data Forum

psychomamma · 05-19-2010, 05:19 PM

Hi all --

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about Valley Crossing Community School in Woodbury. Looks like an unusual school - it actually serves three separate public school districts. One place I saw said it is year-round. I like the sound of it -- my kids are coming from a Montessori environment, so it sounds almost like that, except it is a public school. Curious if anyone knows anyone who has gone there...?

Lisa..

vetcon · 05-19-2010, 07:52 PM

When we lived in Woodbury I did tour it when we were considering it as an option for our kids (we don't live in Woodbury anymore and our kids didn't end up going there)

It seemed like a nice school. It did have a Montessori kind of feel to it. One thing that I didn't like is that is is completely open - no walls of any kind in the "classroom" areas. It seemed very distracting to me to have kindergarten kids open to third grade "classrooms" open to fifth grade "classrooms" but supposedly the kids did fine with it. It really bothered me, however, and I don't know if I could have got past that for my kids.

They used to have a year round option, but I believe I just read in the paper that as of this coming school year that they have eliminated that option (they used to have multiple calendar options - traditional and year round, now they will just offer traditional).

You are correct, they do admit kids from multiple districts although it is located in Woodbury. The odd thing we found when we lived in Woodbury is that they allot a certain number of spaces for kids from each of the districts that they admit from. When we were there Woodbury kids had quite a waiting list to get in, the other districts did not. I am sure it was a location thing. The kids from other districts were traveling quite a distance to get there, while it was local for the Woodbury kids.

In the end, the local district Woodbury schools were just fine for us and that is what we went with, but it is definitely worth checking out, just be prepared for potentially a couple year waiting list if you live in South Washington County district - as least from our experience.

Oh, one other odd thing I remember from the tour... a number of the local news achors' kids have gone to school there so they have alot of really nice TV news equipment donated for their in house student tv "station".

eastside38 · 05-20-2010, 02:21 PM

I went there 3-5th grade (fall of 98 through spring of 02) and the education they give there is as weak as a house of cards. They don't give real grades and a lot of the teachers don't have a work ethic and are obsessed with teaching PC-oriented topics. They get good test scores because the kids are naturally higher achievers.

eastside38 · 05-20-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastside38

I went there 3-5th grade (fall of 98 through spring of 01) and the education they give there is as weak as a house of cards. They don't give real grades and a lot of the teachers don't have a work ethic and are obsessed with teaching PC-oriented topics. They get good test scores because the kids are naturally higher achievers.

crucial typo

Swedishgirl · 06-24-2010, 07:59 PM

I teach in Woodbury and have taught at Valley Crossing. No comparison, hands down. The kids are so distracted at VC and the rigor is not even close to Woodbury schools. The kids who transfer to my school from VC (and there are many) never do as well coming in.

teachum · 08-15-2010, 05:59 PM

I have taught at Valley Crossing since it opened. Compared to other schools I have taught in, this school is far above any around. My 2 children have attended and have done extremely well as they have moved on to the older grades. The sense of community and family is incredible. Since students stay with one teacher for 2 or 3 years, a relationship is established with them and their parents. Many families will continue their next child with the same teacher because this bond is formed.

On top of relationships built, students are developed into problem solvers, leaders and strong academic learners. They are taught how to be part of a team and how to work in a team. Research out there now says this is what schools should be doing-we have been doing it for 15 years. We have always based our instruction on research, best practices and standards. As any school that forms from scratch, we have grown into a stronger school over the years and have improved in areas where needed.

There are walls that separate teams and other academic specialists. Not every teacher has fit in the team teaching philosophy of Valley. However, the teachers that have sustained and been successful, have a strong, respectful relationship with each other, valuing the covenant we have agreed upon about how to treat each other. Our warm welcoming atmosphere is evident of how we feel about each other, parents, students and our passion for the school.

I highly recommend this school. Children have had tremendous success here and some children came from schools where they were not valued, respected or successful. They left Valley Crossing fulfilling their full potential and becoming strong leaders, friends to others and academic learners.

SuperO's · 08-16-2010, 05:13 PM

I have personal experience at Valley Crossing and think it is as unique as it is wonderful!!! I have taught in a traditional style school as well, and I prefer the team-teaching style at Valley by far! Instead of a "closed door" style, I feel that our team teaching brings so much professional sharing of ideas and instruction for the success of our students!

The rigor is based on high expectations both socially and academically. The standards are MN based and the students do very well with the community based learning. I have many friends who teach in traditional style schools, and over the years, have heard them start curriculum that Valley has used for quite some time.

I have two young children and can't wait until they can start at Valley Crossing!
I highly suggest calling for a tour and not only seeing, but feeling for yourself the great sense of community in our students and staff!

kirbysam · 08-19-2010, 04:54 PM

its starnge

mkaz13 · 09-07-2010, 07:58 AM

We have two kids attending VCCS and we believe it is outstanding. Interesting that Swedishgirl thinks Woodbury schools are so much better, when there is a large waiting list of Woodbury (District 833) kids waiting to get into VCCS, but they can't.

Open environment has not been as issue for us at all. "Neighborhoods" are grouped by age groups, so there is little interaction with older kids. K-1 together, 2-3 together, 3-4 together, etc.

We have done alot of research on private schools and other public schools and have concluded that VCCS is best for us. Excellent school and teachers.

dxturtle · 09-07-2010, 02:09 PM

Hi, we're in Woodbury ISD 834 (Stillwater) and our children would attend VCCS. My son will be in kindergarten next year. We're planning to tour VCCS (as well as St. Croix Prep) at some point this fall. Our neighbors have a daughter entering in =to 1st grade and have said they really like the K-1 program at VCCS, so that has helped calm some of our concerns, however, they have also suggested a tour so we're not taken by surprise. The little part of ISD 834 that is in Woodbury is the only school dristrict that 'assigns' it's students to VCCS. For 833 South Washington and Oakdale/N.St.Paul/Maplewood, I think the students have to apply.

We do think that it is a little odd that it combines 3 districts. Both my husband and I grew up in a traditional school system -elementary/middle school/high school all in one district. That is the weirdest thing for us. The inter-mingling of ages set-up is very similar to our current daycare, so I'm less concerned with that and think it will give our kids an opportunity to thrive and learn from and lead both older and younger students.