View from the Valley
4/30/2026
A Successful Day of Service!
We had a wonderful day of service on Friday, April 24. Students, teachers, and many parent volunteers went to 14 different venues to serve. We sang, interacted, recited, removed, disposed, sorted, scrubbed, mopped, vacuumed, cleared, organized, carried, cooked, drew, beautified, washed, weeded, planted, raked, scooped, snipped, sawed, hammered, shoveled, dug, filled, laughed, and sang some more!
Many came back sweaty, a little bit dirty, and rather tired but with a joyful heart!
Christ called us to serve others as He Himself came to serve (Matt. 10:45). May parents continue to teach their children (and the school will walk right alongside you!) to look for the need, reach out to help, and serve as unto the Lord! (Colossians 3:23)
Thanks to all who served, prayed, and encouraged!
House of Edwards
Child Life Donation Drive
Help us bless children during hospital visits!
We’re collecting (new items only):
• Infant toys (rattles, teethers, musical toys)
• Art supplies (crayons, markers, craft kits)
• Games (UNO, board games, playing cards)
• Stuffed animals (with tags)
• Sensory toys (Pop-Its, stress balls)
• Teen/tech items (headphones, Bluetooth speakers)
• Gift cards ($25 – Amazon, Target, Walmart)
Child Life Wish List – Additional items can be purchased here
Deadline: May 15
Drop-Off: Office or Mrs. Rippon’s room
Further information is included in an upcoming email.
VFW Essay Contest
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The fourth wall was broken with much merriment, marked by laughs all around!
DV Classical’s theater elective, The Noble Jester’s brought Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to select grades on April 21. In one hour, this cast of 16 brought the Bard to life just steps away from their audience, performing in-the-round, a first at DV Classical. Mr. Tim Carroll led the orchestra with curated overture and transition music, and Will Crossan played guitar.
Actors served as their own crew, costume assistants, and in some cases edited scenes. Together, Eva Shetterly and Hadley Shimkus choreographed a fairy dance with their own melody.
The cast took their show on the road to the Kennett Library Stage in Kennett Square, PA, on April 18, meeting with an enthusiastic audience.
Cast: David Corrado (10, Bottom/Pyramus), Sarah Corrado (6, Philostrate at Kennett),
John Patrick Hamant (10, Egeus), Luke Humpton (10, Theseus/Oberon), Hadley Shimkus (8, Mustardseed), Sadie Shimkus (9, Peaseblossom), Addison Jamison (9, Puck), Reese Jamison (9, Hermia), Faith Mackie (10, Quince), Morris Oyamo (10, Demetrius), Stephen Parveen (10, Flute/Thisby), Corwin Schmiedel (9, Lysander), Eva Shetterly (8, Cobweb/Titania at Kennett), Gigi Shetterly (9, Helena), Lucia Urti (9, Hippolyta/Titania) , Ethan Warshaw (8, Philostrate/Indian Boy)
The Classical Difference
The Spring 2026 edition of The Classical Difference magazine is now available. The Classical Difference is a publication from the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS) on behalf of member schools.
Articles from this current edition can be read online at: https://
There is also an option to subscribe to the ACCS blog, The Classical
Hot lunch Order Forms
There are changes to the lunch menu! You may now order through your FACTS Family Portal.
Billing will be through FACTS at the end of each month.
**Please note: If your child is absent on a day he or she has lunch, you must send an email to absent@dvclassical.org. If we are aware of the absence, we will make all attempts to sell the item(s) purchased. If you do not make the office aware of the absence, you will be charged for the item(s) ordered if we are unable to sell the food.
You may also request that the food be sent home or given to a sibling. Thank you!
Moms in Prayer
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:3-6 ESV
DVCS Moms and Grandmoms,
Join us for Moms in Prayer!
We meet in the DVCS Library on ER Wednesdays from 8:05 to 8:30 a.m.
Come connect with other moms as we thank God for His blessings, bring our concerns to Him, encourage one another, and pray for our school.
We’d love to have you join us!
Bible Memory Program
Want to learn with us?
Our students memorize Bible verses throughout the school year. We are taught in Scripture to hide God’s Word in our hearts (Ps. 119:11). God also promises that His Word will not return empty but will accomplish what He purposes and will succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Memorizing Scripture is one of the most important parts of our students’ education!
Verse for May 5
1 Corinthians 15:24 – 26
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Calendar Reminders/Updates
A link to the updated school calendar is always available on Parent Quicklinks (password protected).
For the DVCS sports schedule, visit www.dvcssports.com for updated information.
The Reading Nook
We are pleased to provide the Reading Nook: a space for articles and other readings that are pertinent and helpful as we embark upon classical Christian education together in this community.
Read anything good lately?
If you have an article you would like to recommend, send the link to readingnook@dvclassical.org.
DVCS Merch for Sale
New product! 20 oz tumbler – $14.00
RaiseRight
RaiseRight ~ one of the easiest ways to raise money for the school!
To join RaiseRight and help earn money for DVCS, contact Jenny Johnson at jjohnson@dvclassical.org for the enrollment code.
RaiseRight is a company through which you can purchase gift cards and a rebate is then returned to our school. The rebates can range between 1% – 15% and be even more when they are running specials. There is no extra charge for the gift card – you pay the face value. Please consider purchasing cards for gifts as well as for everyday use. Scroll down to DVCS Fundraising Opportunities, and click on RaiseRight to learn more.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Reading Nook – Past Links
- “A Charge for Upper School Parents: Read with Your Kids”
- “Every Square Inch of Our Minds”
- Christian Parents Need the Classics Too
- The CAFF College Guide
- Art for Art’s Sake
- How Do You Teach Beauty?
- “Flipping the Script: Unexpected Lessons in Letting Your Light Shine”
- Hymnology – Behold, Our God
- “The Joy of Light”
- “Ten Tips for Reading More This Summer”
- “The Bloody Swords Clashed – Getting Boys to Love Writing”
- “A Classical, Practical Education”
- “The Mathematical and Philosophic Art of Music”
- “Little Things”
- “Discipline Without Destruction: Correcting Eye-Rolling Without Crushing the Child”
- “Raising Kids Who Raise the Bar”
- “Classical Creates Culture”
- “Handwriting: The Case for Recovery”
- What Songs Will Our Children Be Singing All Their Lives?
- “When AI Sends Us Back to the Middle Ages (and Why Classical Christian Schools Are Already There)”
- “Classical Education Will Not Save Your Child”
- “Restoring Raw Experience: Building the soil of raw experience necessary for learning to take root”
- “Reading in Community: Does It Matter?”
- “Classical & Calvinist: The Federalist Papers as a Model for Classical Christian Education in America”
To recommend an article, send the link to readingnook@dvclassical.org.
DVCS Fundraising Opportunities
Consider participating in our RaiseRight (formerly Shop with Scrip) school fundraiser! RaiseRight is a company through which you can purchase gift cards and a rebate is then returned to our school. The rebates can range between 1% – 15% and be even more when they are running specials. There is no extra charge for the gift card – you pay the face value. Please consider purchasing cards for gifts as well as for everyday use.
Example for those who like examples: I buy a $100 Texas Roadhouse gift card. RaiseRight gives a rebate of 8% on each card. I earn $8.00 for the school (and I paid $100).
There are two ways to participate:
-
- Do it yourself! This is the only way to do eGiftcards, but you can order physical cards as well using a credit card (2.6% fee on order) or bank account ($.15 fee on order). This option also includes processing and shipping fees. (You can pay by check to the coordinator; however, if you want to use this option, it is best to use the order form (link below) to avoid the shipping fees.)
- Go to RaiseRight – Order eGift cards here.
- Create an account.
- Click on the card(s) that you want to buy then choose “ecard.” Follow the additional steps to check out.
- Ecards should be available almost immediately upon checking out.
- Bonuses are offered almost on a daily basis.
- Order through us! (Physical cards only; Cash/check only, but NO ADDITIONAL fees!)
- Go to RaiseRight – Order gift cards here. (If you already have an account, go to https://www.raiseright.com/shop/)
- Create an account.
- Click on the card(s) that you want to buy then choose “physical card.”
- Choose “Ship them to my coordinator.” (No shipping charges to you!)
- If you’d rather not order online, print the following form: RaiseRight Order Form
- Return the form with cash or a check made out to DVCS.
- Payments can be turned in at the office.
- Do it yourself! This is the only way to do eGiftcards, but you can order physical cards as well using a credit card (2.6% fee on order) or bank account ($.15 fee on order). This option also includes processing and shipping fees. (You can pay by check to the coordinator; however, if you want to use this option, it is best to use the order form (link below) to avoid the shipping fees.)
If you have any questions, please let us know.
To earn money for DVCS, sign up for Box Tops for Education online. You need to download the app and scan your receipt (receipt expires after two weeks)…
To learn how the app and scanning work, click here.
Even though Box Tops has moved primarily to a digital format, there are still a few Box Tops floating around that can be clipped from the box.
If you have any clipped Box tops (not expired), please send them to school.
If you have a Microsoft account and you use Bing as your search engine, there is a way to earn points (which translates to rewards) for the school…
Go to this link for more information: Give with Bing and choose DVCS. Search with Bing to earn points which convert to rewards.
