A letter from Valley Catholic Middle School Principal Dr. Jennifer Gfroerer
Dear VCMS Families,
As the school year comes to a close, we celebrate the accomplishments, growth, and relationships that have defined the Valley Catholic Middle School Class of 2026. Soon, these students will leave our halls and begin a new chapter in high school. While they will undoubtedly take with them academic knowledge and valuable experiences, we hope they also carry forward the values that have helped shape our community: faith, kindness, service, and respect for others.
One of the traditions that marks the end of the eighth-grade year is the selection of the Archbishop’s Christian Leadership & Service Award recipient. Chosen through nominations submitted by fellow classmates, this award recognizes a student who best exemplifies Christian leadership through service, compassion, integrity, and a commitment to others.
This year, 90 eighth-grade students participated in the nomination process. While the recipient was announced at the Eighth-Grade Sending Ceremony on June 4, what stood out most was the remarkable consistency in the qualities students chose to celebrate. Again and again, nominations highlighted kindness, inclusion, humility, dependability, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Students praised classmates who make everyone feel welcome, who quietly help those in need, and who consistently treat others with dignity and respect.
These responses reveal something important about the Class of 2026. The qualities they admire most are not popularity, athletic achievement, or academic success alone. Rather, they value character. They recognize and appreciate classmates who lead by example, serve without seeking recognition, and make their community stronger through everyday acts of kindness.
The student selected for the Archbishop’s Christian Leadership & Service Award represents the very best of these qualities and serves as a reflection of the values embraced by the class as a whole. While one student will receive the recognition, the nomination process reminds us that Christian leadership is alive and well throughout the Class of 2026.
We congratulate all of our eighth-grade students and wish them God’s blessings as they move forward. May they continue to use their gifts in service to others, lead with compassion, and carry the spirit of Valley Catholic School wherever their journeys take them.
Dr. Jennifer Gfroerer
