PPlleeaassaanntt VVaalllleeyy EElleemmeennttaarryy SScchhooooll FFeebbrruuaarryy 22001144 NNeewwsslleetttteerr Mr. Pomposello Mr. Krebs Ms. Rudawski Assistant to the Principal Principal Dean of Students
Be sure to look for the PVE Newsletter and other pertinent school information on the Pleasant Valley School District web site at www.pvbears.org.
To access the School Board Meeting Agenda, go to www.pvbears.org, click on “Our District,” click on “Board of Education,” and click on “Tentative Board Meeting Agenda.”
Pleasant Valley School District can be reached at 570-402-1000
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Pleasant Valley Elementary School is to inspire all students toward physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth as lifelong learners.
Collecting tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Ready, Set Read Now! Many families travel far from home to get Ready, Set Read Now! is for any students who treatment for their seriously ill or injured children. will be entering Kindergarten in the 2014-2015 school The treatment may last a day, a month, or even year. Please call Donna Jackiewicz at 570-402-1000, longer. It’s a long time to be away from home or to ext. 4010, to pre-register your child(ren). Once divide a family. registered, you will receive invitations to the RSRN Ronald McDonald Houses offer families a way sessions. Ready, Set Read Now! is held from 5:30- to stay together in close proximity to a treatment 7:30 PM at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. The hospital and to be comfortable and cared for during remaining dates are: their stay. Simply put, families are Tuesday, March 11, 2014, and stronger when they are together, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 and having families nearby helps in the healing process. By staying Memory Book Sale at a Ronald McDonald House, The Memory Book Committee will soon be parents can better communicate selling PVE Memory Books. Information will be sent with their child’s medical team home with your student sometime in March and keep up with complicated concerning the price and schedule for distribution. treatment plans when needed. Please remember NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please consider saving your can tabs (such as soda, pull tabs from tuna fish cans, fruit cans, etc.) for this worthwhile cause. These tabs will be given to the Ronald McDonald House. Collection bins will be available in the main office for your child/children to place the tabs in.
Early Dismissal Procedures Due to Inclement Weather In the event of an early dismissal, AM Kindergarten students will be held at the school and dismissed with the students in grades 1-3. There will be NO PM Kindergarten. Students in grades 1-3 will be sent home on the bus they normally take home from school. Morning Kindergarten students will be sent home on the same bus they come to school on. Depending on the time of the dismissal, lunch may be served to students. AM Kindergarten students will be provided with some form of extra snack or lunch on these days. Every attempt will be made by the school to contact parents of AM Kindergarten students in the event of an early dismissal. PM Kindergarten parents and ALL parents are encouraged to listen to the radio, or watch the major television stations on inclement days.
Where to Find School Session Information If the weather seems questionable, please tune your radio or television to one of the stations listed below to find out about early dismissals or cancellations:
Television Radio WBRE-TV Channel 28 WLEV-FM 100.7 WAEB-FM B104.1, AM 790 WYOU-TV Channel 22 WZZO-FM 95.1 WARM AM 590 WNEP-TV Channel 16 WYNX-AM 1160 WCTO-FM 96.1 WFMZ-TV Channel 69 WEST-AM 1400 WXKW-1470
WHCY-FM 106.3 WKAP-1320 AM WVPO-AM 840 WSBG-FM 93.5 WSGD-FM 94.3 WPMR-FM 107.9 WCDL-AM 1440 Oldies-FM 99.9
Information on Cancellations and Delays: First and foremost, please do not call the school if you suspect school may be delayed or closed. Information is printed in this newsletter with directions to get all the snow updates. If you do not have access to any of these radio or television stations, you can call (570) 402-1000, and a recorded message will have the latest updates as they affect our school district.
Weather Related Cancellations Early Dismissal – All after school events and activities will be cancelled. No School - All school events and activities will be cancelled.
K-3 Schedule for One-hour Delay Classes will begin one hour later with no real disruption to the day. Specials will begin at 10:42 AM (beginning of period 3). Lunch and the Kindergarten day will otherwise go as normal. Breakfast IS served when school is delayed for one hour.
K-3 Schedule for Two-hour Delay Classes will begin two hours later. Breakfast is NOT served when school is delayed for two hours. Specials begin at 11:19 AM (beginning of period 4). Kindergarten will follow the modified schedule as described below.
Modified Kindergarten Schedule We provide a modified Kindergarten schedule that will yield shorter sessions, but allow for no loss of the AM classes. In the event the school district implements a two-hour delay, we will operate under the following time schedule. Please note this schedule and post it in a prominent place in your home.
Kindergarten Two-hour Delay AM pickup time two hours beyond normal time PM pickup time one hour beyond normal time
AM buses arrive ~ 11:07 AM PM buses arrive ~ 1:35 PM AM classes begin ~ 11:19 AM PM classes begin ~ 1:47 PM AM dismissal ~ 1:30 PM PM dismissal ~ 3:47 PM (one hour later than normal)
PTO Basket Auction and Family Fun Day beads to wear throughout the school day for The PTO Basket the entire week! All proceeds will stay in Auction and Family Fun Day is Monroe County to benefit our local residents being held Saturday, through programs and research. No donation is February 8, 2014 at too small or too large. PVI. (The snow date is We are hoping to show our PVE Saturday, February 15). This POWER to STOMP out Cancer! Auction benefits the student field trips, assemblies, and activities A Message from the Nurse About Head Lice at PVE, Polk, and PVI. Come out and enjoy Heads are examined this fun-filled PTO event. (head checks) for the There will be lots of games, crafts and presence of lice on all food. We will hold our annual Basket Auction as students twice a year, well. Doors open at 10:00 AM. A sheet of September and January. tickets costs $7 for 25 chances. Also 50/50 Throughout the school year raffle will be offered as well as big ticket items classrooms are randomly Flat Screen TV and 4 Park Hopper passes to checked. Disney World. Lice are found by inspecting the scalp Baskets will be drawn at 2:00 PM. You and hair closely with adequate light. Head lice must be present to win. If you would like to are a small wingless insect about the size of a make donations please feel free to contact sesame seed and vary in color from tan to anyone from the PVE PTO at grey/white. Lice live on the human scalp and [email protected] feed exclusively on human blood. The presence of small nits (eggs) which are found firmly glued PVE POWER Relay for Life Team Beads to the hair and cannot be simply picked off Fundraiser - Show your support for the PVE along with a itchy scalp are signs that your child POWER- Relay for Life team! head lice. The PVE POWER – Relay The treatment consists of treating the for Life Team will be hosting a child’s hair with a special shampoo or cream bead fundraiser to show your rinse, combing the hair with a fine tooth metal support for our team. All comb to remove the nits, and manually removing students and staff will have the opportunity to any nits that the comb did not remove. All participate in our Relay for Life Team’s efforts family members must be checked and those by making a donation for a set of PURPLE found to have evidence of lice must also be BEADS! treated. The students will be able to buy and In addition to treating the person, the wear their beads for the entire week of environment must also be treated. February 10 – 14, 2014! Simply make a donation All sheets, blankets, pillows and personal to the PVE POWER Team and receive a set of clothing worn within the past (5) days must be
washed in hot water. Those articles that may Smith Gymnasium of Pleasant Valley High not be washed or dry-cleaned (i.e. stuffed School. A Night of Unity is a FREE event that animals and toys) must be placed in a sealed celebrates the diversity of our community. It plastic bag and stored for two weeks. All includes art, music, food, performances, and upholstered furniture must be vacuumed. All displays that promote an understanding of the combs, brushes and other devices used for hair many cultures that make up the Pleasant Valley care must be washed with soap and hot water. School District. During the past twelve years If you find your child has head lice, this night has been an enjoyable and please contact the school nurse. Children must enlightening experience for all involved. Many be checked by the nurse after a home months of preparation and hard work by treatment has been done. This must be done numerous school and community groups go into prior to the child returning to school. this annual event.
Immunization Reminder The theme of this year’s event is “Painting a Students who lack Pennsylvania State Positive World.” Some exhibits will be required immunizations are granted an eight entertaining, some are interactive, and all will month provisional enrollment period by the be enjoyable and informative. Overall, we are Pleasant Valley School District in accordance anticipating over 50 displays and performances with the Pennsylvania Department of Health throughout the evening. School Immunization Regulation. Students in need of immunizations, will not be allowed to We hope you plan to attend and we invite you to attend school if the school nurse does receive bring a canned food item that will be donated to proof they have completed the required the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network. immunizations by the last day of the eight- month period. PVE’s Lost and Found If your child has lost Mobile Dentist any of his or her belongings, The Smile Program, they are quite possibly in the mobile dentist, will be lost and found bin in the providing on-site dental care cafeteria or in the school th at PVE on Wednesday, May 7 , office. Please have them check th Thursday, May 8 , and Friday, with the office for help. Be th May 9 . If you wish to take sure to put your child’s name on their personal advantage of this program, please fill out the items so if something is misplaced, it can permission slip that will be sent home with your quickly be returned. student and return it to school by the due date on the form. Pupil Attendance/Important Attendance You can learn more about Smile Procedures Programs by going to mobiledentists.com and In accordance with watching the short video about the dental care compulsory school attendance program. requirements, as outlined in the School Law of Pennsylvania, the Pleasant Valley School District Celebrates “A Pleasant Valley School District will Night of Unity” follow the policies listed below. th On Tuesday, February 25 , 2014 (snow School attendance is closely related to a th date – Thursday, February 27 ) from 6:30 – student’s academic progress. It is the parent’s 8:30 PM, the Pleasant Valley School District responsibility to see that a pupil attends school. Diversity Task Force will present its thirteenth The parent should not hesitate to call the annual “A Night of Unity” in the Arthur A.
school office and request assistance if there and regulations. The Handbook can also be is a problem. accessed online at www.pvbears.org. 1. Excused Absences – There are times when students must be absent. Examples Note to Parents: of excused absences are illness, death in When looking at the the family, quarantine, and health care day/date calendar, please appointments. remember that snow days affect 2. Excuses – For excused absences, it is the day/date cycle. For example, the parent’s responsibility to send a if Monday is Day 1 and it becomes written excuse to the school on the day a snow day, then Tuesday will be Day 1. This the student returns. If a note is not cycle ensures that students do not miss received within three (3) school days, specials because of weather related the absence will be considered cancellations. The newsletter is printed nearly unlawfull. An unexcused absence will one week prior to its distribution; therefore, result in the absence being considered we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the unlawful (children 16 years old and day/date calendar when it is sent home with younger). After three (3) unlawful your child. Please make any needed corrections excuses, a citation warning will be to your calendar as soon as possible. issued, and attendance may be required at a school district truancy meeting. IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 3. A doctor’s note may be required for six For students who wear snow (6) or more consecutive days absent. boots in school, the boots must be in compliance with approved colors. Unexcused Absence (Reference Dress Code Policy for On a regular basis, the principal and the footwear information) attendance secretary review the excuses to Snow boots that are not in compliance determine if absences are excused or may be worn to school, but students will be unexcused. Students who have excessive required to change into compliant footwear absences will receive a letter. Please keep us once they arrive to class. Therefore, it would informed of situations that may be interfering be greatly appreciated if you would send your with your child’s attendance so we can child in with compliant footwear in his or her determine whether the absence is excused or book bag so that he or she can get changed. unexcused. All unexcused absences will be Thank you! recorded as unlawful. Examples of absences which may be declared unexcused and The front doors at PVE are opened at unlawful include, but are not limited to: 9:07 AM. Parents who are dropping off oversleeping, missing the bus, car trouble, students or dropping off projects should plan traffic problems, babysitting, refusing to accordingly. At the end of the day, doors are come to school, personal reasons, staying up opened at 3:42 PM for parent pickup. Parents late, parent/sibling appointment, getting are asked to not pick up their child(ren) home late, and relatives visiting. between 3:20 - 3:47 as this disrupts our Please note it is important that we normal dismissal procedures and may result in receive a written excuse upon your child’s delays for parents. Please keep this in mind return to school. when scheduling appointments for your Be sure to carefully read through the child(ren). Handbook with your child to review other Please make sure you have photo elementary school procedures along with identification ready for your child(ren) to be additional transportation and attendance rules released.
Kindergarten Parents: work efficiently. This phone system notifies Please keep in mind your child has parents/guardians of important messages, such specials for the AM session from 11:56 – 12:31 as school cancellations, meetings, conferences, and in the PM from 3:01 – 3:36. This etc. Changes may be sent in writing to your information will be helpful when picking up your child’s teacher. child. All address changes must be made It is imperative that when parents through Central Registration. Central drop off or pick up their students, they use Registration is located at Administration on caution in the parking lots. Remember to Route #115. For more information, please call maintain a safe speed for the safety of 570-402-1000, ext. 4010. everyone! Thank you. Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) FYI FOR PARENTS: As the principal at We will continue to send out automated Pleasant Valley Elementary reminders to the parents of students who are School, Mr. Krebs is committed absent each day to please send in a written to creating a school excuse upon returning to school. This will be environment that promotes done using our Connect-Ed calling system. parental involvement along with In an effort to high academic expectations. ensure the safety of our This is an opportunity students and staff, please to meet with other administrators and staff to adhere to the following discuss new ideas and explore new concepts and guidelines when dropping off concerns. In an effort to gain input and your child in the morning in feedback from parents/guardians, he holds the back parking lot: regular Parent Advisory Committee meetings where parents are able to discuss their ideas Maintain a safe speed at all times both and suggestions allowing for continuous growth entering and exiting the lot. of our school. Be prepared to unload when it is your The next meeting is scheduled for th turn. Monday, February 24 , from 7:00 – 8:00 PM in Make sure your child exits on the the PVE Cafeteria. Child care will be provided passenger side of the vehicle. by the Growing Place for parents who would like Follow the flow of traffic as directed to bring their children with them. We look by staff. forward to your attendance and participation. Make sure your vehicle is clear of children and staff before moving. School District Website Please visit our Pleasant Valley School It is imperative that these guidelines are District website at www.pvbears.org. The being followed at all times. Our goal is to create web-site contains pertinent information such a safe environment for everyone. Thank you for as dress code information, School Board your understanding and cooperation. meeting dates, times, and locations, as well as the School Board meeting agendas and Change of address or phone number approved minutes. School Board policies can It is extremely important also be accessed from the website. to notify your child’s school of To access the School Board Meeting any address or phone number Agenda, go to www.pvbears.org, click on “Our changes so the Connect-Ed District,” click on “Board of Education,” and Automated Phone System can click on “Tentative Board Meeting Agenda.”
and students will include activities to support these topics: Registration Forms will come home with your Kindergarten student next month. If you would like to attend this program please return The Pleasant Valley School District has the form to your classroom teacher. established an emergency “HOTLINE” available to parents, students, and the general public. Just a Note from the Music Department
rd 1-570-402-1000, ext. 4444 3 Grade Students: rd All 3 Grade students have received their very own recorders! We will be learning how to play recorders in music class as well as learning to read and compose music! Students need to bring their This number is to be used to report recorder, folder, and pencil to THREATS or TIPS with regard to the safety or every music class! They will be well-being of the Pleasant Valley School graded on being prepared and District or any members of the school participating! community (e.g. students, faculty, or staff). Students should be practicing ALL CALLS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS. their recorders at home. Encourage your child to play at home by asking NOTE: Calls may be recorded. Any person them to play for you. making false claims or reports will be Wash recorders with soap and warm prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!! water or place them in the dishwasher. Recorders SHOULD NOT be played on the bus or shared with anyone SAVE THE DATE Smencils! What: PLANET LEARN Smencil sales have been great! The Kindergarten music department would like to thank all Parent/Student Night of the students and families for Where: PVE purchasing Smencils! When: Thursday, April 3rd Smalentines (Valentine Smencils) will be Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM arriving in February! Remember: 100% of Smencil sales go (Registration will begin at 5:15 PM) toward buying new instruments and (Presentation and Activities will begin materials to be used in music class! promptly at 5:30 PM) So far we have purchased Djembe drums, Xylophones, Metallophones, Kindergarten students and parents are Glockenspiels, Rhythm instruments, invited to attend our second Planet LEARN Boomwhackers, and much, much more! Program during the 2013-2014 school year. Our fall program was a huge success for parents and students. We look forward to Kindergarten students and families attending these activity sessions to support reading, writing, and math instruction at home. The sessions for parents
February Calendar of Events
February is American Heart Month, National Children’s Dental Health Month, & National African-American History Month
nd January 31 Updated end of 2 Marking Period (as of 1/22/14)
February 1 SNOW DATE for Clothing Swap – PVE Cafeteria, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
February 3 – 7 National School Counseling Week
February 4 3rd Grade Ski Club
February 7 HOPE Day for staff & students
February 8 PTO Basket Auction & Family Fun Day at PVI – doors open at 10:00 AM – benefits PVE, Polk, & PVI (snow date – February 15)
February 10 Spring Photo Day for Kindergarten & 1st Grade
February 10 – 14 PVE POWER Relay for Life bead fundraiser (buy & wear beads at PVE)
February 10 – 14 Friendship Week
February 11 Spring Photo Day for 2nd & 3rd Grades
st nd rd February 11 Report Cards distributed for Kindergarten, 1 , 2 , & 3 Grades (as of 1/22/14)
February 11 3rd Grade Ski Club
February 12 Spring Photo Day for I.U. 20 classes & makeups
February 12 Parent-Teacher Conferences K-12
February 13 Board of Education Meeting – 8:00 PM, School District Office
February 14 HOPE Day for staff & students
February 15 SNOW DATE - PTO Basket Auction & Family Fun Day at PVI – doors open at 10:00 AM – benefits PVE, Polk, & PVI
February 17 Presidents’ Day – No school for students, Offices open
February 18 Diversity Task Force at School District Office 9:30 – 11:30 AM
February 18 Rescheduled 3rd Grade Ski Club
February 18 PVE PTO meeting – 7:00 PM, PVE Cafeteria
February 21 Gertrude Hawk fundraiser starts (ends March 7)
February 24 PAC meeting – PVE Cafeteria, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
February 25 A Night of Unity – PVHS – 6:00 – 8:00 PM
February 27 SNOW DATE – A Night of Unity – 6:00 – 8:00 PM
February 27 Board of Education Meeting – 8:00 PM, School District Office
Counselor’s Corner
February is for Friendship School is a place to learn, not only about math and reading, but also about relationships. Children learn about friendships and social problem-solving at school and from you at home. It can be difficult to know what to say to a child who is upset about a disagreement with a friend. Try the following suggestions to turn hurt feelings into a learning experience about friendship. o Although your first instinct may be to protect your child and intervene, helping them solve their own problems in a responsible and respectful way will teach them to be a peaceful problem- solver and a great friend.
o Remember, there is always more than one side to a story. Ask your child what their friend might say if we asked them what happened.
o By putting themselves in their friend’s shoes, your child may gain understanding and be in a better position to brainstorm solutions that will work for all parties.
o Encourage your child to talk to their friends about their feelings.
o Ask how they can solve the problem without hurting someone else.
o Encourage them to take action to resolve the conflict.
o Most importantly, teach by example. When your child sees you being a good friend, they will learn about what a good friend does. Each time you call to check on a friend, take a meal to someone who is not feeling well, or lend a helping hand, you are showing your child what it means to care for others.
o Take it a step further and encourage your child to do some of these things for a friend in need. Making a simple card, inviting someone to play, or just calling to say “Hello” are things you can do together to be a good friend to someone else.
Ticket to Knowledge
Congratulations to Ryan Cordero in Ms. Clauson’s 3rd Grade for correctly answering the December question!
Where and in front of what monument did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., give his famous “I Have a Dream” speech?
Good Citizen Resolution responses from January: Help our planet become clean and healthy Be nice to one another and not fight Help a pet that is cold or hungry Good manners and help others Vote Show respect to others Be good Complete Kindergarten To not bully Be kind to others Obey all laws Do not smoke Keep on trying
Answer ______
Name ______
Teacher ______
Return this bottom portion with the correct answer to your teacher. At the end of the month, a name will be drawn for a free trip to the: “PAWS Rewards Bear Den”
Pleasant Valley School District KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Pleasant Valley to Register Kindergarten Students for the 2014 – 2015 School Year
The Pleasant Valley School District has begun registering the incoming Kindergarten class for the 2014-2015 school year. The first part of the two-part registration process will ask parents to provide Pleasant Valley School District with the basic registration information (child’s legal name, parent’s name(s), birth date, mailing address, and phone numbers). The second phase of the regular Kindergarten registration process will take place Wednesday, March 26th, through Tuesday, April 15th, 2014.
Students must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2014 and reside in the Pleasant Valley School District in order to register.
Parents should call Donna Jackiewicz, Registration Secretary at the Pleasant Administration Building (570) 402-1000, ext. 4010, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM to schedule an appointment.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR CHILD ATTEND REGISTRATION WITH YOU!!
February 2014 Day / Date Calendar
(as of 1/22/14)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 3 4 5 6 7
Day 6 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
10 11 12 13 14
Day 5 Day 6 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
17 18 19 20 21
NO SCHOOL Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 1
24 25 26 27 28
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
March 3 March 4 March 5 March 6 March 7
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5