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Valley Creek Cougargram

October 16, 2026

Valley CreekCougargramOctober 16, 2026

PRINCIPAL'S NOTE PRINCIPAL'S NOTE

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Dear Valley Creek Families,

Even though this was a short week, it was a mighty one! Our classrooms were full of energy, learning, and progress, and it’s incredible to see just how much our students have accomplished in such a brief window. There was even an airplane ride squeezed in there!

We are officially on the home stretch of October. A month that can often feel like one of the busiest and most overwhelming stretches of the school year for both students and staff. Through it all, our teachers have continued to shine as your children’s greatest cheerleaders, keeping learning fun, engaging, and supportive every single day.

We are so grateful for our dedicated teaching team and for the wonderful partnership we share with all of you as parents and guardians.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


Dr. King

Valley Creek Elementary
Where Relationships Matter, Every Child Belongs, and Learning is EXPECTED!

Dear Parents and Guardians, The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. Recently, we have received multiple complaints and witnessed several concerning incidents during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times regarding unsafe driving and parking practices around our campus. To ensure every child arrives and leaves school safely, we ask that all drivers—including those operating golf carts—strictly adhere to the following safety rules and traffic laws at all times: Golf Cart Guidelines: Golf carts must follow the traffic laws and drop-off/pick-up rules. Operators must adhere to street traffic rules, avoid parking on pedestrian walkways, and yield to pedestrians. Follow Crosswalk & Sidewalk Rules: Always use designated crosswalks when crossing the street. If your child rides a bike or scooter, please remind them that bikes and scooters must be walked on the sidewalk while on or near school property. Observe School Bus Stop Laws: Please exercise extreme caution and mindfulness around school buses. When a bus stops to pick up or drop off children with its lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must stop and wait until the bus has moved and given the all-clear. Drop Off & Pick Up in Designated Areas Only: Do not drop off or pick up students along the side of the road or in live traffic lanes. All loading and unloading must take place in designated lanes or approved parking spaces. Park Only in Permitted Locations: Parking or stopping in cul-de-sacs is strictly prohibited. Pay close attention to all city street signs regarding parking restrictions and posted time limits around the neighborhood. Police Traffic Enforcement Notice: Please be advised that the McKinney Police Department has been notified of these ongoing traffic and parking issues. Officers will be patrolling the area around the school and issuing traffic tickets to any vehicles or golf carts violating parking signs, traffic laws, or drop-off procedures. We appreciate your immediate cooperation and partnership in keeping our school zone safe for all students, families, and staff. Sincerely, Dr. Ebonee King Valley Creek ES
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COUGAR CASH COUGAR CASH

Cougar Cash is Here!


Cougar Cash is Valley Creek’s schoolwide incentive program that recognizes students for following our PAWS expectations: Prepare, Act Responsible, Work and Play Safe, and Show Respect. Staff members can give Cougar Cash when they see students demonstrating these expectations throughout the school day.

Students can save their Cougar Cash and use it to shop for fun items at our PAWS Store! The PAWS Store will open for morning shopping beginning in November, with more details coming soon.


We are excited to celebrate our Cougars for making positive choices and showing their PAWS each day!

VISITOR AND VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

A valid state or government issued photo ID must be presented each time you visit, volunteer, or pick up a student. Please be prepared to present your physical ID upon arrival.


A background check is required each school year for people wanting to volunteer in McKinney ISD. This includes making copies, lunch duty coverage, classroom parties, field trips, and other volunteering that takes place inside and outside our building. We encourage all parents and guardians to complete your volunteer application as soon as possible to avoid any delay in the processing.


2026 - 2027 VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

2026 - 2027 EVENTS 2026 - 2027 EVENTS

VALLEY CREEK COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Monday October 19th - 6:00pm - CEC - School Board Meeting

PTA - Veggie Stars Week! - Students eating veggies during lunch will be recognized on a special day this week. more info below


Tuesday October 20th - 4th grade SMU Meadows Art Museum field trip


Friday October 23rd - 1st grade pumpkin patch field trip


Valley Creek Spirit Night at MISD Stadium - 5:00pm - 6:00pm - North End of the Home side of the stadium - VCE Tailgate Fun - Bring a sack dinner and chairs/blanket for a tailgate picnic in the parking lot before the game. We will have some games and hang out before we go into the stadium!


6:30pm - 7:00pm - Valley Creek Spirit Night at MISD Stadium - McKinney HS vs Rock Hill HS

  • Students, along with their parents/guardians, are invited to join us to show off our Valley Creek spirit and cheer on the MHS Lions in their Homecoming game vs Rock Hill Blue Hawks that starts at 7:00pm.
  • Gates open at 6:00pm.
  • Families may meet teachers/staff in the stands, section 109, by 6:30pm.
  • Students and teachers/staff will go onto the field to be recognized and have a pic taken!
  • Parents will wait in the stands to cheer for our school! Look for the kids on the video board!
  • Students will return to the stands to their parents/guardians. Families are then free to sit wherever their tickets permit to enjoy the rest of the game!
  • This is not a drop off event for students; an adult is required to attend with them.
  • Ticket info . Students are FREE with a VCE shirt!


Saturday October 24th - 4:30pm - 6:30pm - back of the school - PTA Fall Carnival - info about volunteer opportunites, cereal drive, pumpkin decorating contest, and more below!


Monday October 26th - Teacher Professional Learning Day - no school for students


Tuesday October 27th - no visitors/volunteers

Red Ribbon Week begins

5:00pm - 8:30pm - Fall Community Resource Night and Parent Education Series - Connecting families with resources. Parenting the Digital Generation - free food for first 1,000 and childcare provided with registration. Info below.


Thursday October 29th - Picture retake day - Students new to VCE after 9/30, students absent on 9/30, and students needing retakes

VALLEY CREEK, PTA, AND MISD EVENT FLYERS AND INFORMATION LINKS

Links to sites, folders, and information updated regularly. Flyers for our campus, PTA, and MISD will be advertised and then archived in the folders below till they expire.

VCE INFO VCE INFO

VALLEY CREEK EVENTS AND FLYERS
Valley Creek Tailgate 4201 S. Hardin Blvd. McKinney, TX 75070 McKinney HS vs Rock Hill HS Friday, October 23rd at 5:00pm We will meet up for some fun before we enter the stadium for our spirit night. 5:00pm - 6:00pm Tailgate section: byt the cones on the home side at the north end of the Home parking lot.
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VCE PTA INFO VCE PTA INFO

PTA VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
PTA EVENTS AND FLYERS
VEGGIE STARS Eat Veggies • Earn Recognition • Be a Healthy Cougar! Our first Veggie Stars Week is October 19–23! What is Veggie Stars? Veggie Stars is a Texas PTA Healthy Lifestyles program that encourages our students to choose and eat more vegetables. How It Works: During lunch, PTA volunteers will be walking through the cafeteria looking for students who are eating vegetables. Students will receive Veggie Star recognition! What Counts? Any vegetable from the school cafeteria or brought from home counts. Vegetables need to be in their whole form—not items that have been processed or simply have a vegetable listed as an ingredient (for example: ketchup, French fries/tater tots, veggie chips, etc.). Parents Can Help! During October 19–23, pack a vegetable in your child’s lunch or encourage them to choose one from the cafeteria. Let’s make healthy choices together!
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PTA Reflections Art Program Running Sept 1-November 1st, entries are due November 1st Entries can be submitted on this form: https://forms.gle/Rmmq9Px866RxjJPVA Submit original artwork in one or more arts categories for the opportunity to receive recognition at the district level and advance through multiple levels of judging on the theme of What My Culture Means To Me. SUBMISSION CATEGORIES: LITERATURE VISUAL ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY FILM PRODUCTION MUSIC COMPOSITION HOSTED BY VALLEY CREEK ELEMENTARY PТА -- Devon Rhodes M: 650-906-8114 VCE PTA Academic Enrichment
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“VALLEY CREEK ELEMENTARY County, Fair October 24th 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM FREE Admission! Inflatables • Dunk Tank • Cake Walk • DJ • Face Painting Hair Dye • Balloon Twister • Games Bring Cash! Cougar Dads: Food for sale (BBQ Sandwiches & Hot Dogs) STC: Popcorn fundraiser for Special Olympics DonutNV: Mini donuts & lemonade (First 270 donut orders FREE!) Cougars Care! Valley Creek PTA is collecting new, unopened boxes of cereal for our local food pantries. Every box donated will be part of a schoolwide domino effect! Our goal is to collect 500 boxes! Don't forget your decorated pumpkin!”
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VALLEY CREEK ELEMENTARY'S PTA County Fair VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Date: Saturday, October 24th, 2026 Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m. The County Fair is one of the most exciting community events of the fall and we need YOUR help to make it a success! We're welcoming Adults, Middle School, and High School Students to volunteer for: • Set-Up • Midway Game & Booth Shifts (Two 1-hour shifts available) • Clean-Up Perks: -Service Hour Sign Offs -Volunteers get entered into a Gift Card Raffle We can't wait to celebrate this special day with our amazing volunteers. Join us and help make the County Fair unforgettable! Sign up here! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BACA6283-66460538-vcecounty?utm_source=qrcode
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VALLEY CREEK'S CEREAL DRIVE our purpose: create a kindness domino Effect to ensure no child goes hungry! Our goal is to collect 500 BOXES. Collection Dates are OCTOBER 19-24. Students will celebrate our cereal collections with a GIANT DOMINO RALLY made out of the boxes of cereal. FOOD PANTRIES ARE REQUESTING CEREALS WITH LOWER AMOUNTS OF SUGAR. STUDENTS WILL DROP OFF IN FRONT OF CAFETERIA OR AT THE VC COUNTY FAIR! Cereal boxes will be donated to local tood pantries to ensure no tamily begins their day hungry. Questions? Email programsvalleycreekpta@gmail.com
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Valley Creek County Fair PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST! RULES AND GUIDELINES: 1. Pumpkins must be real but any size. 2. Pumpkins should be painted, decorated, and "disguised" within this year's theme "Children's Storybook Characters." 3. Pumpkins should be kid created but parent guidance is okay. Please bring your decorated pumpkin to the check-in table when you arrive at the school carnival on October 24th. Judging will take place at 5:45 p.m
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MISD INFO MISD INFO

MISD EVENTS AND INFORMATION FLYERS
mek􀀄 1$-fJ H,,fidMj WJ lfrt utu'4t Design this year's MISD greeting card for the upcoming holiday season for pnzes and more! Turn in your entry to Ms.Oh (VCE Art) by October 16th. Work must be done SOLELY by student and must be the original work of the student. (No copy work of any kind is permitted- NO tracing, no clip art designs, even to be used as a suggestion, etc.) Requirements: 1 /2 sheet or whole sheet of 8 ½ x 11 n paper Color drawings are required. Try to keep things bright in color for printing purposes. Either vertical or horizontal designs will be acceptable. Drawings need to be crisp and clean. Simple drawings with only a few details work best for this project. Winter landscapes, winter activities, & animals are all encouraged. DO NOT WRITE WORDS ON THE FRONT OR INSIDE OF THE CARD .
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Fall Community Resource Night Connecting Families with Community Resources October 27, 2026 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. McKinney High School 1400 Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, TX 75069 Parenting the Digital Generation 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Event for parents only. In partnership with the Children's Advocacy Center. Registration will be required for those needing childcare for PreK-5th grade students. Registration Deadline October 16. Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/MISDCRN26 A supervised activity will be provided for secondary students during this time. Childcare and activities are provided to support families in attending this important event. Complimentary food provided to the first 1000 people.
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12TH ANNUAL RUNNING OF THE BULLDOGS 5K + 1 MILE FUN RUN WHEN Saturday, October 24, 2026 1 Mile: 8:30 AM 5K: 9:00 AM LOCATION McKinney North High School 2550 Wilmeth Drive | McKinney, Texas 75071 RACE OPTIONS 1 Mile Fun Run – $20: Includes participation ribbon 5K – $35: Includes custom Bulldog medal Premium 5K – $75: Includes medal + Bulldog Goodr sunglasses RUN FOR THE TEAM. STAY FOR THE FUN! Your registration or donation supports MNHS Cross Country and Track & Field. Enjoy food trucks, coffee, live music, bounce houses, face painting and more! REGISTER • DONATE • LEARN MORE Website: www.MNHSXCTF.com Hosted by: MNHS XC + Track & Field
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McKinney Boyd High School Cheer Mini Clinic Learn. Cheer. Have Fun! Join the McKinney Boyd Varsity Cheerleaders for a morning of cheers, skills, games, and lots of Bronco spirit! Date: Saturday, October 24 Location: McKinney Boyd High School Gym Schedule: 8:45 a.m. – Doors Open 9:00–11:00 a.m. – Cheer Mini Clinic 11:00–11:15 a.m. – Parent Showoff Who Can Attend: Students in grades K–6 Cost: $35 per participant Registration includes a Mini Clinic T-shirt and snack. Please be sure to include the participant’s T-shirt size during registration. Special Opportunity: Mini Clinic participants will be invited to cheer with the McKinney Boyd Varsity Cheerleaders at the football game on October 30. Registration: Register online at: boydcheerbooster.com/mini-clinic The QR code on the event flyer also directs participants to the registration page. Optional Sweatshirt: Participants may purchase a Mini Clinic sweatshirt for an additional $30. The sweatshirt is optional and is available through the McKinney Apparel Company website. Questions: Contact the McKinney Boyd Cheer Booster Club for additional information. This version should work well pasted directly beneath or alongside the flyer in a school newsletter/web posting because someone using a screen reader gets the event information without needing to interpret the image or scan the QR code.
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Childcare Program Childcare Programs is excited to invite students in Kinder–5th grade to our annual Daddy/Daughter Dance for an evening of dancing and fun! When: November 7, 2026 Where: McKinney Boyd High School Cafeteria Time: 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Registration and Cost Parents may register through the Childcare Programs Eleyo website beginning October 2, 2026. Admission: $25 per person Corsages: $12 each Boutonnieres: $10 each
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VCE HELPFUL LINKS VCE HELPFUL LINKS

DISMISSAL CHANGE FORM
ABSENCE FORM
VCE PARENT COUNSELOR DASHBOARD
CHARACTER STRONG GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTERS
VCE ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL INFORMATION
STUDENT MEALS INFORMATION
MISD CHILDCARE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
DURHAM TRANSPORTATION / BUS TRACKER
26 - 27 VACATION PLANNER CALENDAR
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Lunches by grade level.

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Valley Creek Elementary

Email: adrabek@mckinneyisd.net

Website: https://schools.mckinneyisd.net/valleycreek/

Location: 2800 Valley Creek Trail, McKinney, TX, 75072

Phone: 469-302-4800

Angela Drabek
Campus Secretary
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