Pleasant Valley Elementary School
January 2017 Newsletter
Mr. Roger Pomposello Ms. Erica Greer Ms. Valerie Rudawski
Assistant 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.
Welcome to PVE!
Please welcome Ms. Barbara Bradley to PVE starting January 4, 2017 until the end of the school year. While Ms. Greer is on Family Medical Leave, Ms. Barbara Bradley will be serving as the PVE Interim Principal. Ms. Bradley is a tenured principal with many years of experience in the Stroudsburg Area School District. Ms. Bradley has been fortunate to have a variety of experiences in her career. In the Stroudsburg Area School District, she taught English, Spanish, General Business, and Foreign Foods and enjoyed every single minute of being with her students. After 14 years as a teacher, she became an administrator in the Middle School and later moved to the elementary schools for the remainder of her career. Last spring she served as the Interim Principal at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School.
Ms. Bradley’s hobbies include the love of reading, spending time outdoors walking and hiking and she loves to garden. She is very excited to be a part of Pleasant Valley Elementary School and engage with our students, staff, and families.
Please feel free to contact Ms. Bradley at extension #6003 or by email .
COMMUNICATION
Parents/Guardians: It is very important that you do not leave an important message that requires immediate attention on the office voicemail, as we do not want your message to go without the proper attention. We are asking that you call back later and speak to someone in the office. The same applies to faxing information to the school. Please follow up any faxes with a phone call to confirm that we received it (parent pickup, early release, etc.). Thank you for your cooperation!
PARENT PICK UP
Just a reminder if you plan to pick up your child at the end of the school day, please be sure to give the student(s) a note prior to attending school that day. This insures that teachers are aware that the child is not to go home on the bus and the student will be directed to the Parent Pick-up Line. Please keep in mind that students will not be dismissed after 3:15 pm. These students will participate in parent pick up at the end of the school day. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter for the safety of our students.
Winter weather
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Below are guidelines concerning early dismissals, delays, or cancellations as they relate to winter weather. Adhering to these procedures will ensure that all important weather-related information is provided/available to all families.
TCall the school district number (570-402-1000) to hear the latest information. Please do not call the building directly.
TRefer to the radio and television stations as provided in this newsletter.
TBe sure to provide any changed phone numbers to our office so our automated phone message system can contact you.
TMake sure only people listed on your emergency form attempt to pick up your child. Advise your emergency contacts that they must show photo ID.
TNotify the school as soon as possible if someone else will pick up your child. Provide the person’s name and relationship in writing.
TRefer to the following information for changes in the school schedule as related to winter weather.
Where to Find School 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 / RadioWBRE-TV
WYOU-TV
WNEP-TV
WFMZ-TV
/ WLEV-FM 100.7
WZZO-FM 95.1
WYNX-AM 1160
WEST-AM 1400
WHCY-FM 106.3
WVPO-AM 840
WSGD-FM 94.3
WCDL-AM 1440 / WAEB-FM B104.1, AM 790
WARM AM 590
WCTO-FM 96.1
WXKW-1470
WKAP-1320 AM
WSBG-FM 93.5
WPMR-FM 107.9
Oldies-FM 99.9
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 10:40 (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 11:17.
Weather Related Kindergarten schedule
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 unless parents complete
and return the form sent home by their child’s Kindergarten teacher.
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.
An automated Connect Ed call will be made, but we encourage ALL parents to listen to the radio, or watch
the major television stations on inclement days for possible
early dismissals. In the event of an early dismissal or a school closing, all after school activities are cancelled.
In case of inclement weather, please remember that school
closings, delayed openings and early dismissals are listed
on the major radio & television stations. You may also call
(570) 402-1000 for a recorded message on any closings,
delays or early dismissals.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL DIRECTLY
What’s Happening at Pleasant Valley Elementary…
January is School Director Recognition Month
A message from the Principal
January is the perfect time of year to show appreciation for our school board members. Our School Directors work hard, spending many hours dedicated to improving our schools. Very few people fully understand the responsibilities associated with being a member of the team that runs a school district.
Our School Board members not only attend many meetings and serve on several committees, they also spend many hours reading and studying reports, proposals, and various other documents. They listen to suggestions, good news, and concerns of our community, parents, students, and staff. They work with administrators to make difficult decisions and develop policies.
Do you ever wonder why they are so willing to give of their time? Our School Board members step forward to lead our school district because they care deeply about the future of our students and our community.
Pleasant Valley is fortunate to have such a cohesive, fully involved leadership team. Please join me in recognizing and thanking our Pleasant Valley School Board Directors for all they do. We couldn’t do it without them!
PVE’s Four Diamonds Mini-Thon
On February 17th, 2017 PVE Students will dance to fight cancer
Pleasant Valley Elementary School will be holding a multi-hour dance marathon on February 17th 2017 to raise money to support the Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The money raised for this event will help cover medical expenses for families that have children battling pediatric cancer, as well as support a comprehensive team of researchers that are looking for a cure.
This is the third time students at Pleasant Valley Elementary School will participate in a Mini-THON. Games and activities will be taking place along with the actual Dance-A-Thon. Students will learn a special PVE THON dance during the event and at the end of the day, every student in the school will step into the hallways to do PVE THON moves building wide.
The goal of the PVE Mini-THON is to empower students to make a difference in the lives of others through volunteerism, philanthropy, and community outreach. Teachers, administrators, PTO members, and students are working to plan an amazing experience for the February 17th Mini-THON!
If you are interested in making a donation to the Four Diamonds Fund on behalf of your child/ grandchild use the following options:
· Use the Donation Envelope attached to the Mini-Thon Flyer that is coming home in January, to send in a check made out to the Four Diamonds Fund.
· Access the Donor Drive website through the pvbears.org home page. At the top of the page in the Select a School drop down tab, choose Pleasant Valley Elementary and then click on the Mini Thon link.
· Scan the QR code below with your smart phone or tablet to access the Donor Drive website directly.
Thank you to all our families and staff who continue to support our dress down days at PVE. Our Red, White and Blue dress down day in November raised $326.84 for our Families in Need program! We are so thankful for your generosity!
Counselors’ Corner
8 Fun Snow Day Activities for Kids
What to do with kids when there is a snow school day.
Each winter, the same scenario plays out: parents go to bed with their driveways clear only to wake up the next morning to find it completely covered in snow and ice. Mother Nature's great surprise! Then comes the announcement school has been canceled, leaving mom and dad struggling to find a last-minute sitter and come up with ideas to keep the kids occupied all day.
Resist the temptation to let them "veg" on the couch in front of movies or video games. Instead, be prepared this winter with these fun, creative, simple projects that will keep the kids busy during a snow day.
Create Snow Art
Bring some color into the outdoor fun. Fill empty spray bottles or liquid dishwasher bottles with food coloring and water, then let the kids unleash their inner winter wonderland artist!
1. Build a Living Room Campsite
Kids love when their parents flip normal household routines upside down. Creating a campsite in the living room is the perfect way to take them by surprise! Turn out the lights, wear PJs, bust out the sleeping bags and sit around telling stories. If you don't have a tent, be creative and build a fort using blankets, couch cushions and pillows. Hide marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers in the pantry for snow day s'mores.
2. Schedule a Neighborhood Play Date
At the beginning of each school year, make a snow day roster with neighbors who want to participate. When the snow hits, play dates are already lined up! Make rotating shifts throughout the day, allowing each parent a little peace and quiet to catch up on their own tasks as well.
3. Make Magazine Mosaics
Use old magazines in creative, artistic ways. Have kids cut out different colors from the pages into small squares. Next, sketch a design on a paper plate. Then use glue and a paint brush to make a colorful mosaic. You can make designs using different shades of one color or lots of different colors.
4. Bake, Bake, Bake
If it's too cold to enjoy the snow outside, bring the fun into the kitchen. Make some yummy treats that everyone will enjoy.
Craft an Indoor Snowman
You don't always have to freeze outside to build a snowman -- be creative and make one using marshmallows. Outline a snowman on construction paper and trace glue around each circle. Place mini marshmallows onto the glue. Add details with other materials from around the house. Grab scraps of felt for his hat or yarn for his scarf and color in his face with markers or dried food products. When he's dry, the kids can name and hang him up in the house. Don't have mini marshmallows? Use cotton balls for a fluffier snowman.
1. Make Homemade Play Dough
You can easily find simple instructions on the internet for how to make homemade play dough. The kids will be kneading and rolling their play dough all day long to create fun designs.
2. Whip up Snow Cones
After playing in the snow with the kids, gather up clean, freshly fallen snow and bring it inside. Divide it into cups and pour lemon juice and a little sugar or frozen juice concentrate over each and you and the kids can enjoy some scrumptious homemade snow cones.
With a little advance preparation and a lot of creativity, you'll have plenty of activities to keep your whole crew entertained the next time snow strands you at home!
~ Taken from www.care.com, article by Meredith Johns
3rd Grade Ski Club
The 3rd Grade Ski Club will be skiing at Blue Mountain starting on Tuesday, January 3rd , 2017. Dates for Ski Club are January 3rd , 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st and February 7nd The bus will leave Blue Mountain at 7:00 PM and return to the Pleasant Valley Intermediate School building by 7:30 PM. Please note these times may change due to busing delays. Please understand that all students will be dropped off in the evening ONLY at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School. More information will be provided if we need makeup days due to inclement weather.