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HELLO! We hope you are doing well and enjoying the start to your summer. While the 2021-22 year has just come to a close, many of us at VES are beginning to prepare for the fall when we will welcome our new students and families and catch up with our returning students as they join us back on campus. Each summer, we share this comprehensive e-book—Your Guide to Success—to provide the details VES families need to know to prepare for a successful start to the school year. Please read this information thoroughly and complete all required actions on time. All families will find these resources particularly helpful: • • • • • •
The 2022-23 School Calendar and Academic Schedule Your Summer Contacts Required Forms and Due Dates Our Dress Code Summer Reading and AP Course Work Orientation Information and Important Travel Dates
New families will find a special section with additional information and actions to take, including: • • • • • •
Fall Athletics & Afternoon Activity Sign Up Preparing for Residential Life & Roommate Survey for New Boarding Students A Guide to What to Bring / What to Wear What to Know about Laptops, Cell Phones and School Supplies Uploading Your Student’s Headshot and Audio File of Their Name Pronunciation Parent Information and Opportunities
Should you find that any information you need is not available in this guide or at ves.org/MyGuide, please contact Susan Brown (sbrown@ves.org), who will direct you to the person who can best help. Later in the summer, we will share our 2022-23 Student and Parent Handbook, an informative online tool to help you know what to expect and how to successfully engage as a member of the VES community. Most importantly, we encourage you to find time to relax and refresh. Wishing you all the best,
Chris Button Jenny Anderson Associate Head of School Dean of Teaching and Learning
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 28
2022-23 SCHOOL SCHEDULES YOUR VES SUMMER CONTACTS LOG IN AND STAY CONNECTED WITH VES DOWNLOAD THESE APPS COMPLETE REQUIRED FORMS + MAKE TUITION PAYMENTS STUDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS PREPARING FOR SCHOOL LAPTOPS & TECH REQUIREMENTS DRESS CODE ACADEMICS & SUMMER WORK ARRIVING AT VES & ORIENTATION + PREPARING FOR FALL SPORTS
JUST FOR NEW STUDENTS & PARENTS
35 36 37 38 40
JOINING THE VES COMMUNITY UPLOAD YOUR HEADSHOT + WORLD LANGUAGE PLACEMENT PREPARING FOR RESIDENTIAL LIFE SETTING UP YOUR VES EMAIL CHOOSING YOUR FALL AFTERNOON ACTIVITY
JUST FOR PARENTS
42 43
PARENTS COUNCIL & VES PARENT UNIVERSITY CONNECT WITH VES
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2022-23 SCHOOL SCHEDULES SCHOOL-YEAR CALENDAR Review the 2022-23 VES Calendar so that you can plan your year early and in line with important school dates. The calendar includes a detailed list of opening, closing, special events and vacation dates for semesters and holidays. Please take careful note of these key dates as you make your travel plans and reservations; we do not give exams before their scheduled times. ARRIVAL, REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION SCHEDULE August 17 - 27
Pre-Season Football Camp for All Football Players
August 24
International Students Elected to Student Leadership Positions Return
August 24 - 25
Return to Campus & Move-in for New International Students
August 24 - 26 Elected Student Leader Training August 25 - 26
New International Students Orientation
August 27 New U.S. Students Move-in & Orientation Return to Campus & Move-in for All Returning International Students August 28 Returning U.S. Students Arrive on Campus & Move In Orientation Continues for All Students August 29
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First Day of Classes
YOUR VES SUMMER CONTACTS GENERAL QUESTIONS
STUDENT & RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Chris Button
Brendon Barrios
Associate Head of School
Dean of Student Life
cbutton@ves.org 434.385.3600
bbarrios@ves.org 434.385.3671
Esther Johnson
ACADEMICS
Assistant Dean of Student Life Residential Life Coordinator International Student Coordinator Student Activities Coordinator
Jenny Anderson Dean of Teaching & Learning
ejohnson@ves.org 434.660.3429
janderson@ves.org 434.385.3639
Liz Alford ’16 Assistant Dean of Student Life elalford@ves.org 434.660.3675
ACADEMIC SCHEDULES
Charles Watson Director of Studies cwatson@ves.org 434.385.3630
ATHLETICS
Bob Leake Athletic Director
HEALTH CENTER & MAGNUS HEALTH
bleake@ves.org 434.385.3811
TBD Head Nurse nurses@ves.org 434.385.3706
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HOW TO LOG IN AND STAY CONNECTED WITH VES You need to log in to www.ves.org. 1. Complete essential forms so your student will be registered to begin the school year. 2. Discover how to stay connected with the school and find the information you need throughout our website. ACCESSING THE STUDENT & PARENT PORTAL OF THE VES WEBSITE Parents, you have already established your username and password. New students have received an email explaining how to establish their login. To log in, begin by going to www.ves.org, then click on LOGIN in the upper right corner of the homepage.
If you have forgotten your login, enter your email address and click NEXT, then click FORGOT PASSWORD? If you have any questions or problems logging in, email Sandra Ross: sross@ves.org.
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YOUR RESOURCES PAGE Bryan Adams
When you login, you will arrive at your Resources page. The buttons allow you to: • • • • • •
find calendars, handbooks and forms access the Magnus Health site pay your VES bill schedule parent-teacher conferences refer prospective students and much more.
PARENT & STUDENT PERSONALIZED INFORMATION The top row of links (see below) provides quick access to personalized information for parents and their students—groups you are in, VES news, a customizable school calendar, and directories to reach out to faculty, staff and others.
Parents may click on your child’s name to arrive at a page showing a list of his/her classes and progress in those courses, individualized school schedule, assignments and much more.
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CUSTOMIZING YOUR VIEW IN ONCAMPUS Bryan Adams
After choosing Settings under your name, look at the Account Settings box at the left of the page. • Choose Login Settings to select your starting page view. -M ost parents prefer to select Resources. -M ost students prefer to select My Day - Schedule & Performance.
• Choose Notifications. -Select how you would like to receive notifications (text, email or both).
badams@ves.org
888.888.8888
-Select the type of Notifications you would like to receive. For example, students will want to be alerted when assignments, games or practices are added or updated.
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DOWNLOAD THESE APPS STUDENTS ONLY Orah (Available July 1). This app helps you with sign-ins, roll calls, campus leaves, and helps us support your wellbeing. We will guide you through the use of the app during Orientation. Safe to Speak Up. Students, download this app prior to your arrival on campus in August. You will log in during Orientation in your first dorm meeting or day student meeting and will learn about the app, which is important for student safety and crisis communications across our campus. PARENTS ONLY Magnus Health. You will upload your student’s health records, proof of insurance, annual physical exam form, a list of prescription medicines, up-to-date immunization and Covid-19 vaccination records via the app or the web portal. Tuition Management. VES uses Tuition Management as its platform for tuition payment. With this app, you can make secure online payments for tuition, activities, bookstore purchases, etc., review your payment history and see an itemized breakdown of tuition, fees and discounts billed to your account. Read all the benefits and details about Tuition Management. You also can use their website.
MAKE A SHORTCUT TO THE VES HOMEPAGE ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE Why spend the extra time to log in to the VES website or login page the conventional way? Save time and taps by creating a shortcut on your mobile device! Follow these steps: •F or an iOS device, open the Safari app. In the address bar, enter the desired URL, tap the Share button and then select Add to home screen. Enter a name for the link (such as "VES") and then select Add. •F or an Android device, open Google Chrome. Enter the URL, tap the Menu button (it may look like a vertical ellipsis of three dots in the upper right corner) and then select Add to home screen. Enter a name for the link (such as “My School Login”) and then select Add.
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COMPLETE REQUIRED FORMS & MAKE TUITION PAYMENTS All forms that parents and students need to complete are available online on your Resources page at www.ves.org. Please note that some forms require the signatures of both parents. To participate in pre-season athletics, move into the dorm and begin attending classes, all forms must be completed and submitted on time. We are strict on this point for the protection of students and the wellbeing of the community. COMPLETE THESE FORMS ☐ Registration Forms (due by July 15) Log in to www.ves.org and you will land on your Resources page. When you arrive there, you will see a yellow banner at the top that notes that you have checklist items you must complete. Simply click on the link: Checklists to Review.
☐ Health Forms: Magnus Health (due by August 1) Before completing the Magnus Health forms, you may find it helpful to read about our partnership with Magnus Health on page 11 of this guide. Only parents have access to Magnus Health. Complete all requirements and receive notications from the school on the Magnus Mobile App or on the website. Please note: You will upload an image of your student’s Covid-19 vaccine card under Certificate of Immunization. Even if your student has only completed one of two shots, please go ahead and upload the card. When the student becomes fully vaccinated, you may upload the completed card. Direct all questions to Magnus Health at 877.461.6831 or click on the “Need Help” button on the website/app. If Magnus Health cannot answer your questions, contact VES Nurse Elaine Dameron, RN: edameron@ves.org. NEW STUDENTS ONLY (due by July 15) Beginning on page 30 of this guide, you will learn about three additional forms/surveys you need to complete: ☐ World Language Survey
☐ Roommate Compatability Survey
☐ Afternoon Activity Form
PAY TUITION Billing statements are emailed to families on or about the 10th of each month, with the first sent around June 10 and due by July 1. Use the button “Pay My Bill” on your Resources page to pay your 2022-23 tuition through Tuition Management.
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STUDENT HEALTH YOUR VES HEALTH RECORD VES partners with Magnus Health to keep all student medical information in an online Student Medical Record. Benefits include less paperwork for parents to complete each year, easy access for parents to update information during the school year, and more accurate information that is accessible to parents and the appropriate employees at our school. Another bonus: you will also have the option to take the digital health file with you after graduation from VES. Parents of seniors will have easy access to Magnus for any information they might need for college until the end of June when records are archived. After that they will need to contact Magnus. Note about Annual Physical Exams: As mandated by state law, each student must have a physical performed on or after May 1, 2022 (which is good for the 2022-23 school year), and a completed up-to-date Immunization Record, both of which are to be signed and dated by the student’s physician or Health Department official. If you haven’t already made this appointment, please do so to meet our August 1 Magnus Health forms deadline. New U.S. Families: To complete the Magnus Health Student Medical Record, we encourage you to gather your student’s health records in advance and set aside 20 - 30 minutes per child. You will receive automated weekly reminders until the form is submitted. The good news is that you will not have to repeat this work next year; the data is securely stored, so going forward you will simply provide updates to the record as needed. Returning Families: Simply click on the Magnus Health button and review, update and approve/sign off on the data already in your student’s record. International Families: Over the summer, you should plan to see a medical doctor who will sign important health forms. VES will enroll you in the schoolrequired ISM health insurance plan. This will be automatic and you do not need to take any action. You will receive a health insurance card and ID number after you arrive at VES. We encourage you to view this helpful video, which gives you a simplified overview of the U.S. health system.
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PREPARING FOR SCHOOL MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR THE SCHOOL DAY If you want to purchase supplies and academic tools prior to the start of the year, here is a short list of items you will want to have available. Check your class pages on OnCampus, as teachers may list specific supplies there. Boarders: Trips to our local Target and Walmart are routinely scheduled for any additional needs you may have. • • • •
Backpack Personal Laptop TI-84 Plus Calculator Ruled Notepaper and Graph Paper bound or unbound
• • • •
Binders Pens/Pencils Highlighters School Planner
CHOOSING A CELL PHONE PROVIDER Domestic Students: If you are planning on purchasing a new cell phone or switching service plans before your arrival, please be aware that Verizon has the best reception on the VES campus. All other carriers have weak to no cellular coverage. International Students: Many international students choose to use prepaid SIM cards rather than contract with a cellular service. It is possible to purchase these after you arrive on campus.
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STUDENT VEHICLES ON CAMPUS We believe the risks and temptations to students with cars on campus are great. Therefore, the school policy for both boarding and day students is as follows: Boarders Starting in the fall, only 12th grade boarders may have their cars on campus as long as they follow the instructions listed below: • A student must have a proper driver’s license, • A long with a parent or guardian, students must complete the Boarder Vehicle Request Form on the Resources page in OnCampus (under Handbooks, Schedules and Forms), • A school-issued VES car sticker must be visibly placed on the car. • Students may ONLY drive to and from home during weekend leaves. • Town permissions for 12th grade students with cars does not begin until approved by the Dean of Student Life. • Students may only drive ONE student at a time if you are under 18 (regardless of where their license is issued). • Students may drive up to THREE students at a time if you have held your driver’s license for more than one year and are over the age of 18. • Students must keep their keys on file and must request them when needed from the Duty Desk. In the spring, 11th grade boarders may bring their cars to school as long as they follow the same instructions listed above for 12th graders. Day Students May drive to and from campus each day and on weekends. The day student instructions for cars on campus are as follows: • Students must have a proper driver’s license. • Along with a parent or guardian, students must complete the Day Student Vehicle Registration form on the Resources page in OnCampus (under Handbooks, Schedules and Forms). • A school-issued VES car sticker must be visibly placed on the car. • Students should not access their vehicles during the academic day. At the discretion of the Dean of Student Life office, repeated failure to follow all necessary vehicle procedures will result in the loss of driving privileges. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Assistant Dean of Students Liz Alford: 434.385.3675 or elalford@ves.org.
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LAPTOPS & TECH REQUIREMENTS LAPTOPS Click on these Tech Specs for our computer hardware and software requirements. GET YOUR LAPTOP CONFIGURED For students to be ready to start school well, our IT team needs to pre-configure computers for the following students: • New students in the U.S. (international students: see note below) • Returning domestic students who have purchased a new laptop over the summer To help us do this work in a timely manner, we ask you to get your laptops to the IT team as soon as possible, beginning July 18. First, complete and print this fillable form, which needs to accompany your computer. Deliver your laptop to us in one of the following ways: Come in Person • Drop your laptop and form at the front office of Jett Hall or in the Admissions office. • Expect to leave your computer. We will call you when it is ready for pickup (usually within 4 hours).
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Ship Your Laptop • Ship your computer to VES by August 12 if you wish for us to ship it back to you in advance of school. • Ship your computer to VES to arrive after August 22 if you wish for us to hold onto your computer for pickup at school when you arrive in late August. • If you have not yet purchased your laptop, you may have it shipped directly from the vendor to VES. If you choose one of the shipping options, please ship the computer via UPS or FedEx in a special laptop shipping box generally available at those stores, and mail to: Liz Parthemore | Virginia Episcopal School | 400 VES Road | Lynchburg, VA 24503 Have Your Laptop Configured Remotely • Sign up here to reserve your appointment. Please allocate one hour for the remote session. • You will need to have Zoom installed on your device. • When you sign up for your appointment with Sign Up Genius, there is a link to join the Zoom session where we will get your Office suite installed and configured, campus printers setup, and Symantec Antivirus software installed. International students, we will configure your computers when you arrive in Lynchburg. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Liz Parthemore, Director of Technology: eparthemore@ves.org. Please Note: With ongoing supply chain issues, most online computer retailers are quoting anywhere from two to eight weeks for delivery. If you plan to purchase a new computer for next year, we strongly suggest you place your order now due to long lead times.
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VES DRESS CODE 2022-23 VES strives for consistency in all school rules and expectations. The following are universal expectations that apply to all VES students; the school expects all students to maintain distinct and similar degrees of formality in their attire. Please see the descriptions below to help guide your wardrobe decisions.
Classroom Dress Top • Sport coat, blazer, varsity jacket • Tailored dress shirt (tucked in as appropriate) • Sweater • Necktie Bottom • Dress pants/slacks: khakis or corduroys • Belt (if the pants have belt loops) • Skirt or dress of professional length (longer than a minimum of five inches from the top of the knee) Shoes Student choice with the exception of flip flops, slides or slippers
Business Casual When granted by the Dean of Student Life Office Top • Polo-style shirt • Dress shirt Bottom • Pants/slacks: khakis, corduroys • Nice jeans • Dressy shorts (when allowed by DOS office) • Skirt or dress of professional length (longer than a minimum of five inches from the top of the knee) Shoes Student choice with the exception of flips flops, slides or slippers
Bishop Dress Fridays and other special occasions
All Students Tops: Must be adorned with the VES logo or be VES colors (garnet and white); can be a t-shirt or sweatshirt Pants: Shorts (must not expose a student’s behind); jeans; athletic pants Shoes: Student choice
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DRESS CODE SUCCESS We want all students to succeed when it comes to understanding how to dress professionally. When getting dressed for school, all students should ask themselves: 1. Is the general tone of my outfit professional, neat, clean and in good repair? If not, make a change. 2. Is the tailoring of my outfit in line with school policies and expectations? If not, make a change. 3. Do I have good personal hygiene in line with VES norms and expectations? If not, make a change. Universal Expectations • All clothing must be clean and in good repair. In good repair means free from frayed edges and holes with buttons and working zippers. • Undergarments must be completely covered at all times. • Students may wear frayed clothing outside the academic day only.
• Denim and flannel may be worn outside of the school day unless it’s a special occasion allowed by the DOS office • Athleisure—including sweatpants or spandex pants—may be worn outside of the academic day only, with the exception of Friday Bishop Dress. • All clothes should be free from drug, alcohol, nicotine, and/or any offensive reference. If a question over what is offensive arises, the Dean of Student Life office will make the final determination and act accordingly. Dress for Meals No shirts with visible sweat soaked through or visible dirt will be allowed. Athletic tank tops are not allowed in the dining hall. Athletes should make sure to have at least a clean shirt if they must rush to dinner. Exceptions The school may grant exceptions to this policy for particular reasons, such as documented religious or medical reasons. Violations Repeated violations of this dress code policy will result in disciplinary action.
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ACADEMICS & SUMMER WORK YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESS | 18
REVIEW YOUR COURSE ASSIGNMENTS FOR FALL TERM Course assignments for Fall Term are available on OnCampus. You can find your assignments by going to the following: Students • Login to www.ves.org. • Click Progress (first tab). • Your schedule will appear.
Parents • Login to www.ves.org. • Click your child’s picture/name in top left corner. • You will land on his/her Progress tab. Directly under the Progress tab, be sure to select your student’s grade for the 2022-23 year to view that schedule.
If you have questions, contact Mr. Charles Watson: cwatson@ves.org.
SUMMER CLASSWORK Each summer, students in certain AP classes are assigned work to build their knowledge in preparation for a quick start to the year with the required AP coursework. In addition, rising seniors begin work on their college essays. Review the assignments below; pay attention to when work is due. REQUIRED COLLEGE COUNSELING ASSIGNMENT FOR RISING SENIORS All seniors must have a completed rough draft of an essay addressing one of the Common App essay prompts. You will be asked to share your essay with your senior English teacher and college counselor during the first week of classes. To prepare your rough draft, please read this assignment sheet. SUMMER ACADEMIC WORK REQUIREMENTS Courses with summer assignments are listed on ves.org/MyGuide. Please review this information carefully and plan ahead to meet deadlines. If you have questions, contact Mrs. Jenny Anderson: janderson@ves.org.
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REQUIRED SUMMER READING TH
9
GRADERS
Rising 9th grade students must choose one of the following five books to read over the summer. At the start of the year in their English class, they will join discussion groups based on their book choice and also write a response to the book.
LORD OF THE FLIES BY WILLIAM GOLDING At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. This far from civilization they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far removed from reality as the hope of being rescued.
GOOD ENOUGH BY PAULA YOO Patti is trying to make her Korean parents happy by living into their expectations of her getting good grades, being a great musician, being involved with youth group, and ultimately getting into the “right college.” This is a book about a teenager learning to manage expectations, both those that she has for herself, and those that her parents have for her. If you have ever felt stressed out by SATs, college applications, grades, your parents’ expectations, or even by the pressure you put on yourself, you will find a soulmate in Patti.
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HAROUN AND THE SEA OF STORIES BY SALMAN RUSHDIE Set in an exotic eastern landscape peopled by magicians and fantastic talking animals, Salman Rushdie’s classic children’s novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories inhabits the same imaginative space as The Lord of the Rings, The Alchemist, and The Wizard of Oz. Haroun sets out on an adventure to restore the poisoned source of the sea of stories. On the way he encounters many foes, all intent on draining the sea of all its storytelling powers.
HOLD STILL BY NINA LACOUR In the wake of her best friend Ingrid’s suicide, Caitlin is left alone, struggling to find hope and answers. When she finds the journal Ingrid left behind for her, she begins a journey of understanding and broadening her horizons that leads her to new friendships and first love. Nina LaCour brings the changing seasons of Caitlin’s first year without Ingrid to life with emotion, honesty, and captivating writing.
LONG WAY DOWN BY JASON REYNOLDS Have you ever had to really think about something? What if you’re off on your way to do something that will be life changing, and you are forced to consider your options due to being stuck in traffic or just waiting for the moment to arrive? As ghosts from his past join him and bring their own experiences to light in face of this decision he must make, we follow 15-year-old Will on his elevator ride out of his building on the way to confront the person he believes killed his older brother.
10TH GRADERS Rising 10th grade students must read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury over the summer. At the start of the year in their English class, students will join discussion groups and also write a book review. FAHRENHEIT 451 BY RAY BRADBURY Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.
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11TH GRADERS: AP COMPOSITION Rising 11th grade students taking AP Composition must read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass (Penguin Classics Version) by Lewis Carroll over the summer. ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS BY LEWIS CARROLL This classic book features the incredible adventures of Alice in Wonderland, a subterranean fantasy dream world in which Alice experienced peculiar incidents and encountered extraordinary characters such as the White Rabbit who wore a waistcoat and served as the royal herald, the Mad Hatter who “killed the Time” and stayed stuck at 6 p.m. tea time forever, the Cheshire Cat who always grinned mischievously, or the Queen of Hearts whose childish and foul temper terrified everybody as she would gave death sentences at the slightest offense.
12TH GRADERS: AP LITERATURE Rising 12th grade students taking AP Literature must read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley over the summer. If your teacher has specific assignments related to summer reading, they will reach out over the summertime. FRANKENSTEIN BY MARY SHELLEY Young scientist Victor Frankenstein, grief-stricken over the death of his mother, sets out in a series of laboratory experiments testing the ability to create life from non-living matter. Soon, his experiments progress further until he creates a humanoid creature eight feet tall. But as Frankenstein soon discovers, a successful experiment does not always equal a positive outcome.
11TH AND 12TH GRADERS: SEMINARS Rising 11th and 12th grade students taking one of the seminars must read the books listed under your specific course. If a teacher has specific assignments related to summer reading, they will reach out over the summertime.
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GOTHIC HORROR
GREAT TALES AND POEMS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE BY EDGAR ALLAN POE The melancholy, brilliance, passionate lyricism, and torment of Edgar Allen Poe are all well represented in this collection. Here, in one volume, are his masterpieces of mystery, terror, humor, and adventure, including stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, The Masque of the Red Death, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, and The Pit and the Pendulum, and his finest lyric and narrative poetry—The Raven and Annabel Lee, to name just a few—that defined American romanticism and secured Poe as one of the most enduring literary voices of the nineteenth century.
POETRY
STAYING ALIVE: REAL POEMS FOR UNREAL TIMES Assembling a diverse mix of contemporary poets—Mary Oliver, W.H. Auden, Maya Angelou, Billy Collins, Louise Gluck, Gwendolyn MacEwen, Rita Dove, and hundreds more—Staying Alive is a unique anthology that illuminates the vital force of our humanity, the passion of our aspirations, the power of our spirituality. From the enigma of death to the sweetness of friendship, these poems speak to life’s mysteries and consolations and help us navigate the most trying times in recent memory. Staying Alive is already an astonishing best-seller in the United Kingdom, where it has gained a wide-ranging audience. This new edition, specially revised for its American readership, reconnects aficionados and newcomers alike to the force of poetry, helping us stay alive to the world and stay true to ourselves.
LITERATURE AS ART
THE ODYSSEY BY HOMER If the Iliad is the world’s greatest war epic, The Odyssey is literature’s grandest evocation of an everyman’s journey through life. Odysseus’ reliance on his wit and wiliness for survival in his encounters with divine and natural forces during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is at once a timeless human story and an individual test of moral endurance. In the myths and legends retold here, Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer’s original in a bold, contemporary idiom, and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.
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EXPERIMENTAL LITERATURE
AFTER DARK BY HARUKI MURAKAMI Nineteen-year-old Mari is waiting out the night in an anonymous Denny’s when she meets a young man who insists he knows her older sister, thus setting her on an odyssey through the sleeping city. In the space of a single night, the lives of a diverse cast of Tokyo residents— models, prostitutes, mobsters, and musicians—collide in a world suspended between fantasy and reality. Utterly enchanting and infused with surrealism, After Dark is a thrilling account of the magical hours separating midnight from dawn.
PERSONAL ESSAY Choose one of the following two.
BORN A CRIME BY TREVOR NOAH Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
LAB GIRL BY HOPE JAHREN In these pages, Hope takes us back to her Minnesota childhood, where she spent hours in unfettered play in her father’s college laboratory. She tells us how she found a sanctuary in science, learning to perform lab work “with both the heart and the hands.” She introduces us to Bill, her brilliant, eccentric lab manager. And she extends the mantle of scientist to each one of her readers, inviting us to join her in observing and protecting our environment. Warm, luminous, compulsively readable, Lab Girl vividly demonstrates the mountains that we can move when love and work come together.
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ESSENTIAL STORIES Choose one of the following four.
THE ALCHEMIST BY PAULO COELHO Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PIE SOCIETY BY MARY ANN SHAFFER AND ANNIE BARROWS January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. STATE OF WONDER BY ANN PATCHETT Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest. Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotional urgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels Bel Canto, Taft, Run, The Magician’s Assistant, and The Patron Saint of Liars, Patchett delivers an enthrallingly innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in State of Wonder—a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.
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ACT & SAT TESTING: 2022-23 As the landscape surrounding college admissions and standardized testing continues to evolve, VES is committed to ensuring that our students have ample opportunities to take the SAT and/or ACT, should they decide that submitting these test scores will be in their best interest in the college admissions process. While more and more colleges have recently committed to test-optional admissions practices, we never want students to inadvertently close doors on the opportunities that could help them in the future. As such, we continue to encourage all students to take at least one ACT or SAT in their junior year, ideally in the fall semester. College counselors will use those results to help juniors make wise plans regarding their standardized testing moving forward. Families should reference the testing recommendations that are sent to rising juniors in early June to make an informed decision about whether their child will likely perform better on the ACT or SAT. Please remember that you are always welcome to email the college counselors at collegecounseling@ves.org if you would like to schedule a conversation about your child’s standardized testing plans or any other college admissions-related matter. TESTS BEING OFFERED IN 2022-2023 Weekday Test Dates: We will continue to offer opportunities for students to take the SAT and/or ACT during the school week, as testing in a familiar environment on a weekday is an appreciated and successful approach. Dates when we will offer school day testing in the 2022 - 2023 school year are:
School Day ACT Test Dates
School Day SAT Dates
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Thursday, October 12, 2022
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Registration is still required for in-school testing, but instead of registering through the College Board or ACT websites, students will sign-up through the College Counseling Office. The cost of testing will be charged to the students’ accounts through the VES business office.
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Saturday Test Dates: VES will not be offering Saturday testing this year because the national registration website does not allow us to limit seats to only VES students. As such, here is the plan for testing: • Whenever the SAT or ACT is being offered while school is in session, we will provide transportation to and from one of the local testing centers. • Later this summer, once we know which local schools will be hosting Saturday tests in the fall, we will communicate with you the Lynchburg testing center where students should register. • For students who need school transportation, generally we ask that they select the testing center closest to VES that is offering the test they want to take. In most cases that will be E.C. Glass High School, followed by Heritage High School, then Liberty Christian Academy. The scheduled dates for Saturday tests in the 2022-2023 school year are as follows; registration for these dates will open later in the summer:
ACT Saturday Test Dates
SAT Saturday Test Dates
September 10, 2022
August 27, 2022
October 22, 2022
October 1, 2022
December 10, 2022
November 5, 2022
February 11, 2023
December 3, 2022
April 15, 2023
March 11, 2023*
June 10, 2023*
May 6, 2023
July 15, 2023*
June 3, 2023*
* Testing dates that occur during school breaks and holidays; school transportation likely not available.
Please send any questions regarding next year’s standardized testing plans to collegecounseling@ves.org.
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ARRIVING AT VES & ORIENTATION
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WELCOME, MOVE-IN & ORIENTATION FOR U.S. STUDENTS We cannot wait to greet you on campus in late August. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please communicate what your on-campus arrival plan will be as soon as possible with Associate Head of School Chris Button: cbutton@ves.org. TRAVEL TO VES & ACCOMMODATIONS We look forward to seeing you! Click here for driving instructions, options for hotel accommodations and other helpful information to plan your stay. MOVE-IN & ORIENTATION The full schedules for these days will be provided upon your arrival. Here are a few highlights: New Domestic Students It is extremely important for new students’ families to participate in New Student Orientation. You and your parents will arrive on campus Saturday, August 27. We will send information closer to the time with specific details, but the day typically unfolds this way: • Boarders will move on dorm and register in the mid-morning. • Day students typically arrive to register following lunch. • We ask that parents remain on campus for key sessions through early afternoon Saturday, then depart campus. • Day students typically remain on campus Saturday until early evening and return Sunday for activities that run the entire day through early evening. Returning Domestic Students If not already on campus because of other commitments, boarders will return and move in on Sunday, August 28. Details for boarders and day students will follow by email in August.
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GUIDANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES: TRAVEL AND OPENING OF SCHOOL We look forward to welcoming you to our VES campus in the fall. This information provides guidance to help you prepare for your journey. Please review it thoroughly. We will issue updates as new information is available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Esther Johnson, International Student Coordinator: ejohnson@ves.org.
YOUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR You will receive communication from Esther Johnson. Reach out to her with any questions you have throughout the school year.
Esther Johnson ejohnson@ves.org 434.660.3429
ARRIVING IN THE U.S. AND TO THE VES CAMPUS New international students will arrive Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25 to attend the new international student orientation on August 25 - 27. • If the student is traveling alone, they will arrive on Wednesday, August 24. • If the student is traveling to campus with a parent, they will arrive on Thursday, August 25. Students traveling with parents may drop off their belongings after 3 p.m. on August 24. All new international students accompanied by family will be expected to sleep on dorm starting August 25. Students elected into next year’s student leadership will arrive on Wednesday, August 24 for leadership training on August 24 - 27. Returning international students will arrive on Saturday, August 27. TRANSPORTATION SHUTTLE SERVICE FOR ARRIVING TO CAMPUS ON AUGUST 24 AND 27 We encourage students to arrive before 4 p.m. at Dulles International Airport to allow sufficient time to go through customs and collect your baggage in advance of boarding the 5 p.m. VES shuttle. SHUTTLE PICKUP DATES New International Students
August 24 | 5 p.m. Pick Up
Returning International Students
August 27 | 5 p.m. Pick Up
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We ask that students who are traveling alone by plane select a flight to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or to Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH), and VES will provide transportation to campus. If it is not possible to arrange a flight into these airports, we ask families reach out to Esther Johnson: ejohnson@ves.org. ACCOMMODATIONS IN LYNCHBURG For families traveling to Lynchburg who need accommodations, please click this link, then select “Accommodations” above the campus map. COVID VACCINATION Covid vaccination is not required but highly encouraged. For students who would like to be vaccinated, we will work with our healthcare partners to provide vaccinations when you arrive on campus. We will ask parents to sign a form giving permission for their students to be vaccinated with an FDA emergency-approved vaccine appropriate for the student’s age. ORIENTATION & REGISTRATION International Student Orientation runs August 25 - 27. Our All School Orientation takes place August 27 - 28. Family members traveling with students will enjoy orientation sessions on August 25. SIGNING UP FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES & BUYING NECESSITIES During registration, a local bank representative will be onsite. You will have the option to meet with the rep if you wish to set up a bank account. We also will offer a shopping trip into town to purchase items needed for school and dorm rooms.
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PLANNING FOR SCHOOL BREAKS & SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION Breaks Campus will not remain open during Thanksgiving Break (November 19 - 28), Christmas Break (December 17 - January 8) and Spring Break (March 11 - 26). If your student is unable to travel home, we will work with the student to assist in finding a family to host them over the holiday. Flight Schedules & VES Dulles Shuttle Service VES offers shuttle service to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at the beginning and end of each major school break: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and Summer. • Inbound Travel. We encourage you to arrange inbound flights to the U.S. to arrive by 4 p.m. whenever possible for the 5 p.m. VES shuttle departure back to campus. • Outbound Travel. At the beginning of breaks, shuttles from VES to Dulles leave at 6 a.m., arriving at Dulles at approximately 9:30 a.m. We strongly encourage you to book flights after 12:30 p.m. to allow sufficient time to get through the airport. Our VES Dulles shuttle will operate for these major breaks. Please plan your travel accordingly. 2022-23 DULLES SHUTTLE INFO Please book all flights leaving Dulles after 12 p.m. The bus will depart VES at 6 a.m. and drop students off at Dulles at 9:30 a.m. BREAK
FROM VES TO DULLES
FROM DULLES TO VES
Thanksgiving Break
November 19
November 28
Christmas Break
December 17
January 8
Spring Break
March 11
March 26
Summer Break
May 28
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PREPARING FOR FALL SPORTS PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL CAMP | AUGUST 17 - 27 All football players need to arrive after 3 p.m. on August 17 to check in for practice. Players will stay together as a team on dorm. Boarders will move into their permanent rooms when camp concludes. Please contact Coach Matt Porter with questions: mporter@ves.org. FALL SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS In early August, you should receive an email from the coach of your selected fall activity to introduce themselves, communicate equipment needs and share any essential details.
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JUST FOR NEW STUDENTS & PARENTS YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESS | 34
JOINING THE VES COMMUNITY Joining our VES community presents a new stage in your life. We know it can be exciting and also a little overwhelming. That’s why VES works to provide you a lot of support in this transition, helping you build independence and confidence, and laying the foundation that will set you up for long-term success. WE HELP YOU GET WELL-CONNECTED RIGHT FROM THE START Before you arrive at VES, you will be paired with a VES student—we call them “Big Sibs”— who is ready and available to provide insights and answer your questions. A full weekend of VES Orientation will help you get familiar with both new and returning students while you begin to learn about our VES culture...and laugh a lot! Dorm parents, Student Counselors and Junior Resident Assistants will all help you quickly and comfortably enjoy dorm and school life. Another important person in your career at VES is your advisor. New students can expect to hear from their advisors in August. As soon as you step foot on campus, you will begin to form an important partnership with your advisor, who serves as a “parent away from home” and a trusted adult link between home and school life. Advisory groups meet weekly at Advisory Lunch and in off-campus activities where you will bond with each other. In addition, advisors guide the selection of coursework and activities so you can develop your interests, serving as a willing ear to help solve challenges and keeping a pulse on how you are performing in and out of the classroom. And for freshmen—in your first month of school—your class will participate in an off-campus two-day Freshman Retreat, helping you form strong connections with classmates, develop your communication skills, collaborate with and trust each other, and just have fun.
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HELP US ENSURE YOU ARE WELL KNOWN WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL To help ensure faculty and staff know faces and the correct pronunciation of each student’s name, please upload a high-res headshot and audio file with the proper pronunciation of your name. Log into your account on www.ves.org and go to Checklist to upload both files.
WORLD LANGUAGE PLACEMENT AND SURVEY Placement in Spanish and French classes is based on your transcripts and teacher recommendations. When you see your class placement, if you believe you have been placed in the wrong course or would like to discuss or advocate for a different placement, please reach out to World Language Department Chair Amanda Rhem: arhem@ves.org. Students Who Are Currently Taking French or Spanish Please forward this link to your current world language teacher. Ask them to fill out the brief survey as soon as possible.
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PREPARE FOR RESIDENTIAL LIFE WHO IS MY ROOMMATE? Complete the roommate compatibility survey (under Checklist on your www.ves.org account) as soon as possible. You will learn your roommate pairing when you arrive on campus. We have had great success over the past few years in creating good partnerships that help students succeed at VES and broaden their horizons. If you have any questions about this, please contact Assistant Dean of Student Life Esther Johnson: ejohnson@ves.org.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING FOR MY ROOM? As new boarding families, we know you have lots of questions about what you need to bring —and what not to bring—with you to campus. Check out our helpful guide here. DECORATING YOUR DORM ROOM Students may choose to order room essentials and accessories from cost-efficient companies* like dormco.com or dormify.com, or a luxury dorm essentials provider like Leighdeuxdorm.com. When you arrive in Lynchburg, we provide transportation to our local Target and Walmart. * VES has no affiliation with these companies and is not endorsing these over other options in the marketplace.
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SETTING UP YOUR VES EMAIL We have created your student VES email account and updated your login to www.ves.org! Your VES email address is the one we will now use to communicate with you about all things VES. We want to help you get your email set up right away, so let’s get started. YOUR VES STUDENT EMAIL ADDRESS AND USERNAME Your VES email address is composed of the first initial of your first name (or nickname if that is your preferred name) followed by your last name. You will use this email address and password to access your email, login to www.ves.org and Google Apps for Edu, and to connect to the VES wi-fi once you are on campus. Example: The email and username for Robert Smith, who goes by “Bob,” is bsmith@ves.org. YOUR VES EMAIL PASSWORD To start, your password will be VES! combined with your 2-digit birth month followed by your 4-digit birth year. Example: Bob Smith’s birthday is September 8, 2005, so his password is: VES!092005 At this time, go to office.com, log in and change your password. Create a password you can remember that meets these requirements: • • • •
a minimum of 8 characters contains a capital letter contains a number does not include any part of your name
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To ensure you can reset your password in the future, set up your cell phone as an authentication phone (see below for how to set up email on your cell phone). Follow the remaining prompts to access your VES email. SETTING YOUR EMAIL UP ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE After setting up your account at office.com, if you wish to set your email up on your phone, please follow these instructions: • Go to Settings, Accounts, and select Microsoft Exchange Active Sync (or Exchange, depending on which option you are offered by your phone). • Enter your VES email address and password. Remember your username is your VES email address. • If you find this challenging or don’t have success, don’t worry. Our technology team will be available to help you when you arrive on campus in September. PLEASE TEST YOUR EMAIL AND VES.ORG LOGINS NOW Go ahead and give your new email a try. Make sure it works for you by sending a test to Director of Technology, Liz Parthemore: eparthemore@ves.org. After that, login to www.ves.org using your same username\email address and password. Once there, complete your registration documents by clicking the yellow bar across the page —Afternoon Activity selection and Technology Acceptable Use Policy. If you have any challenges with your new email or website access, please don’t hesitate to email Liz Parthemore: eparthemore@ves.org.
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SELECT YOUR FALL AFTERNOON ACTIVITY All new students are required to participate on a competitive VES team (which includes Robotics and Drama) in their first season on campus. We believe this is integral to the VES experience and team-building that are part of our mission. To help students make the choice that’s right for them, we ask that parents and students review together the descriptions below, then complete your Afternoon Activity Form online, which you will access by clicking on the yellow bar at the top of the Resource web page. If you have questions, contact Athletic Director Bob Leake: bleake@ves.org.
CROSS COUNTRY VES offers a coed cross country program that competes in conference meets and invitational events. Head Coach – Chris Bright @ves_xf_tf
DRAMA Interested in a fine arts opportunity where you can participate in the fall in “one act” drama productions? Students will learn acting skills, including characterization, stage directions and improvisation. Advanced students will have an opportunity to try directing. Depending on the level of proficiency, a one-act play may be chosen to compete at the Virginia Theatre Association conference in October/ November. Head of Program – Chris Aldrich
FIELD HOCKEY VES offers a varsity and JV program for our female student athletes. Both teams play a competitive schedule during the fall season. Placement on one of the two teams is by experience level and skill, and is determined by the coaching staff. Head Coach – To Be Named @ves_fieldhockey YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESS | 40
FOOTBALL VES offers an 8-player football program with a competitive schedule during the fall season. Head Coach – Matt Porter @ves_football
MOUNTAIN BIKING Our coed mountain biking program focuses on developing proper technique and safety protocols. The team rides both on campus and off-campus courses, allowing for various degrees of difficulty. The team also competes with other schools. Head Coach – Chris Button @ves_mountainbiking
BOYS SOCCER VES offers three boys soccer teams—varsity, JV and Deacon— which all play a competitive schedule during the fall season. Placement on one of the three teams is by experience level and skill, and is determined by the coaching staff. Boys soccer in our conference is played in the fall. Girls soccer is offered in the spring. Head Coach – Peter Huryk @ves_soccer
GIRLS TENNIS
VOLLEYBALL
VES offers three levels of play— varsity, JV and Deacon. The Varsity and JV teams play a full competitive schedule during the fall season. Placement on one of the three teams is by experience level and skill, and is determined by the coaching staff. Girls tennis in our conference plays in the fall. Boys tennis is offered in the spring.
VES offers three volleyball teams for our female student athletes. Varsity and JV teams play a competitive schedule during the fall season. Our Deacon program offers developmental instruction in the sport. Placement on one of the three teams is by experience level and skill, and is determined by the coaching staff.
Head Coach – Amanda Rhem @ves_wtennis
Head Coach – Summer Jones @vesvolleyball
SPECIAL PERMISSION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE DANCE
HORSEBACK RIDING
Students seeking advanced dance classes may take classes at local dance studios. Most VES dancers are affiliated with Seven Hills Dance Studios just minutes from our VES campus. There is an added tuition payable directly to the dance studio for this option.
Students who wish to ride may contact us to discuss options available through local riding programs for individual and group lessons and IEA competition. Costs for these programs are payable directly to the trainer/barn.
Contact: Bob Leake | bleake@ves.org
Contact: Mimi Csatlos | mcsatlos@ves.org
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FOR OUR PARENTS VES PARENTS COUNCIL The Parents Council engages and involves parents in the life of the VES community to effectively support the school in our commitment to guide every student Toward Full Stature. The Council is an active and vibrant group of day and boarding parents who come together to assist with the school’s academic, athletic and arts programs, student life, campus beautification, faculty appreciation, and admissions and development projects. Parents also play a key role in events such as Casino Night, Hanging of the Greens, and Family Weekends, and they open their doors for admission and alumni gatherings at locations throughout the world. Your fundraising support helps to support a number of projects across the campus.
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CONNECT WITH US VES Main Phone 434.385.3600 | Street Address 400 VES Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503
STAY CURRENT WITH ALL THAT IS HAPPENING AT VES Website: www.ves.org Weekly Email. Read Your VES Weekly News—our official school newsletter sent to you by email each Wednesday—which shares a recap of news highlights as well fun events and opportunities to be engaged at school. Social Media: Like/Follow us on social media. facebook.com/vesbishops instagram.com/ves_bishops youtube.com/bishoptv VES Photo Gallery
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