A letter from Valley Catholic Middle School Principal Dr. Jennifer Gfroerer
Dear VCMS Families,
As we enter the second half of the school year, I want to pause and offer a sincere word of gratitude to the community that so generously surrounds and sustains our school.
In recent weeks, we invited parents of our seventh- and eighth-grade students to participate in a pilot program designed to deepen learning through authentic feedback and community partnership. Rather than waiting to showcase final products in a traditional open-house format, we intentionally brought community members into the process, allowing students to receive meaningful feedback while there was still time to reflect, revise, and grow.
For our seventh graders, this meant presenting their research and design work connected to the Future City project. For our eighth graders, it involved sharing progress on the Dog Mobility Project, a deeply interdisciplinary experience rooted in empathy, engineering, and problem-solving. The feedback students received from parents with professional expertise, lived experience, or simply a fresh perspective was thoughtful, specific, and affirming.
What stood out most was not only the quality of the feedback, but the students’ excitement in receiving it. Having time to apply suggestions before final deadlines reinforced what we value deeply: learning that mirrors the real world, where growth happens through iteration, collaboration, and listening to others. This kind of engagement elevates student work and reminds us that education is strongest when school and community learn together.
Another powerful moment of community support came on the final Friday of January, when several Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon led a faith formation day for PreK–12 school employees. Faculty and staff spent the day learning, reflecting, and reconnecting with the SSMO Core Values, the Sisters’ guiding initiatives, and the spiritual practices that shape the Sisters’ navigation of life.
For those of us who serve as lay ministers, entrusted with carrying forward the Sisters’ legacy, this day was both grounding and inspiring. Even after decades of learning and working on campus, there is always more to discover, more to reflect upon, and more to carry forward with intention.
We do not always have space in the rhythm of daily school life to step back and fully appreciate the interwoven relationships that sustain our community. These recent moments of partnership, faith, reflection, and shared purpose were a gift to our students and our staff alike.
To everyone who has supported our programs, our mission, and our students in both seen and unseen ways: thank you. We are truly grateful.
Dr. Jennifer Gfroerer
