Pleasant Valley Elementary School
December 2017 Newsletter
Ms. Barbara Bradley Mr. Roger Pomposello Ms. Valerie Rudawski
Co - Principal Co - 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.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
REGARDING EARLY DISMISSALS AND SCHOOL CLOSING DATES
Friday, December 22nd – Early Dismissal ~ 1:30 PM
Lunch will be served to students in All Day Kindergarten and Grades 1-3.
AM Kindergarten Dismissal ~ 11:05 AM
PM Kindergarten Arrival ~ 11:10, dismissal at 1:30 pm
PM Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade Dismissal ~1:30 PM
Monday, December 25th , 2017 to January 1st 2018
– SCHOOL CLOSED FOR WINTER RECESS –
Tuesday, January 2nd 2018 – School Reopens
Upcoming Events
Santa’s Luncheon
Santa’s Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 2nd , 2017 from 11:00 – 2:00 pm. See attached flyer in this Newsletter.
Winter Tree Lighting at PVE
Join us on Monday, December 4th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM for our seventh annual winter tree lighting at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
What: PVE’s 7th Annual Winter Tree Lighting
When: Monday, December 4th, 2017
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Where: In front of PVE
Families will be able to enjoy holiday songs by our 3rd Grade Students.
Students should bring along the ornaments (which went home to be decorated) to hang on the tree. There will be baked goods and hot chocolate made by staff for sale in the gym The proceeds will be used to benefit Mini-thon this holiday season.
A Big “Thank you” to all Staff & Families who participated in our very successful Trunk or Treat!
Gifts n’ Things Winners
We would like to congratulate the following three top sellers for our school fundraiser: Amelia Buchanan in Ms. Goffredo’s 1st grade class who sold $556.00; Lani Vanburen in Ms. Solinger’s Kindergarten class sold $392.00 and David Hoffman in Ms. McMaster/Ms. Colon’s Kindergarten class sold $385.00.
Toys for Tots/PVE Kids Caring for Kids
The thirteenth annual Toys for Tots campaign is underway. This drive is to help some of the needy children in Monroe County have a more joyous holiday season. The school is accepting donations until Friday, December 15th . If you are able to help, please send in new, unwrapped toys for any age child – please no violent toys. PVE’s goal is to collect 1,000 toys for this worthwhile cause. A parade will take place on Friday, December 15th when the United States Marines come in to collect all the toys.
On behalf of PVE’s Cultural Diversity Task Force, and the children of Monroe County, we would like to thank you for your participation.
School District Website
Please visit our Pleasant Valley School District website at www.pvbears.org. The web-site contains pertinent information such as dress code information, School Board meeting dates, times, and locations, as well as the School Board meeting agendas and approved minutes. School Board policies can also be accessed from the website.
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.”
News from the Nurse
School Physicals
School physicals will be held on Thursday, December 7th at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Dr. Ambani will be conducting physicals for students in Kindergarten and new students in grades 1-3 who do not have a documented physical.
Dental Exams
Dr. Pierce, the school dentist will be doing dental exams on Tuesday, December 12th at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Dental exams are required for students in Kindergarten, third grade and new students that do not have a documented dental exam.
Mobile Dentist
Smile Pennsylvania (Mobile Dentist) will be providing on-site dental care at PVE from Monday, March 19th through Friday, March 23rd , 2018. If you wish to take advantage of this program, please fill out the permission slip that will be sent home with your student and return it to school by Friday, December 15, 2017.
A note to parents: Please make sure you dress your children prepared for outside recess. The nurses’ office does not have hats, gloves, or coats to loan out. Thank you!
Lost Items
If you feel your child has lost something like an article of clothing or glasses, please have them check the lost and found either in the cafeteria or in the main office. Also, please make sure to label your student’s jacket(s), backpack, lunch box and other school items so they can be returned if lost…
Yearbook Sales
Yearbook sales will begin the month of February. Soft cover yearbooks will be available for $10 each. Information will be sent home with students in February.
Pajama Day
On Friday, December 22nd we will have Pajama Day. We ask that your child wear his or her pajamas to school. The pajamas will be worn for the entire half day of school, so make certain they are appropriate (shoulders and legs need to be covered) for school. Also please have your child wear dress code shoes for recess and specials.
Important News About Homework
If a student is absent for MORE THAN TWO (2) DAYS, the parents may contact the school to secure any assignments that can be completed during the absence. ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THE REQUEST. Parents are responsible to see that assignments are picked up at the school when they have been requested.
Weather Related School Information
Weather Related Cancellations
Early Dismissal - All after school events and activities will be canceled.
No School – All school related events and activities will be canceled.
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 (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 11:27.
§ Kindergarten will follow the modified schedule as described below.
Modified Kindergarten Schedule
Our school district always defers to the safety of our school children when making decisions as to holding classes on days when the weather turns nasty. Often times a “delay” in our start time will allow for roads to be cleared and for better visibility for our drivers. However, the impact of a two-hour delay costs us the loss of many of our AM sessions and requires us to “balance” attendance at the end of the year.
To address this, 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.
AM buses arrive ~ 11:07 AM
AM classes begin ~11:17 AM
AM dismissal ~ 1:30 PM
(one hour later than normal)
PM pickup time one hour beyond normal time.
PM buses arrive ~ 1:35 PM
PM classes begin ~ 1:45 PM
PM dismissal ~ 3:52 PM
Classroom teachers will communicate with you as to what the expectations are for these days (snack, modified instructional components, rescheduling special events, etc.).
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 one, two and three. There will be NO PM Kindergarten. Students in grades 1-3 will be sent home on the bus they normally take home from school. AM 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.
Parents are reminded NOT to drop students off before 9:07 AM
Welcome New Kindergartners!
Kindergarten registration for the 2018-2019 school year will be held Monday, March 12th through Tuesday, April 17th (for those of you who like to plan ahead!) Calls are being taken to schedule an appointment to pre-register your child. When calling, please be prepared with your child’s entire legal name, both your physical and mailing address, phone number, and parents’ full names. Please call (570) 402-1000, ext. 4010. Calls should be made between the hours of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Please remember that students must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2018, and reside in the Pleasant Valley School District in order to register.
Counselors’ Corner
After the holiday break many children and parents find it hard to return to the routine. Students that suffer from separation anxiety can find this even harder, returning to old habits, and crying at drop off. The best thing you can do is remain consistent, contact the school, and reward positive behavior. Our guidance office usually deals with this quite frequently and is prepared to help. Don’t feel like you are the only parent having this problem. Here is a clip from an article to give some helpful tips.
“There’s always at least one child in every class who suffers from separation anxiety – and it’s distressing for all concerned. How many parents have finally managed to extricate themselves from their howling child, only to fall in a heap themselves when they reach the car?
Primary school children who regularly get distressed when being left at school are often classified as having separation anxiety disorder. This can sound serious, but in nearly all cases, the child will improve over time – with the occasional relapse.
It’s natural for your young child to feel anxious when you say goodbye. Although it can be difficult, separation anxiety is a normal stage of development. With understanding, patience and coping strategies, it can be relieved and should fade as your child gets older.
There’s lots of advice out there on how to deal with it – but understanding your child and working on some common sense strategies to deal with it is sometimes the best approach.
Try these tips to break the crying at drop-off cycle:
· Explain beforehand your drop-off procedure so she is completely aware of what will happen. And then tell her when you’ll be back, and from where you’ll be picking her up.
· Involve your child’s class teacher in the process as she will be left with your crying child.
· Don’t hang around at school or prolong the goodbyes. You may need to run through the pick-up process again.
· Never sneak out – make sure she knows you’ve left.
· Try to appear relaxed with a happy or calm expression.
· Set up a reward chart in which your child works towards something special, putting a sticker on each day she separates from you without too much trouble.
It’s worth noting that for some kids, the crying and howling at drop-off can last for weeks and may reappear after school holidays for a few days.”
For more information on this topic or to read the full article go to: http://www.kidspot.com.au/school/primary/learning-and-behaviour/school-and-separation-anxiety
The Pleasant Valley School District has established an emergency “HOTLINE” available to parents, students, and the general public.
1-570-402-1000, ext. 4444
ALL CALLS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS
This number is to be used to report THREATS or TIPS with regard to the safety
NOTE: Calls may be recorded. Any person making false claims or reports will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!!
Ticket to Knowledge
Congratulations to the following winners:
October
Jackson Kowalczyk – Ms. Solinger PM Kindergarten Class
Patrick Marr – Ms. Linkhorst 1st Grade Class
Lia Baker – Ms. Hauze 2nd Grade Class
Paulie Fernicola – Mr. Farkas 3rd Grade Class
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Fill in the following information related to the history of Thanksgiving
The sailing ship called The ______brought 102 Pilgrims to a New World.
These Pilgrims left ______to come to ______
They crossed the dangerous ______Ocean to start a new life for themselves.
After making rules to follow, the Pilgrims needed to get started working. Write three things the Pilgrims did to show teamwork.
______
Name ______
Teacher ______
Return this bottom portion with the correct answers to your teacher. At the end of the month, a name from each grade will be drawn for a free trip to the:
“PAWS Reward Bear Den”
Date / December Calendar of EventsNovember 28 / Classes Resume from Thanksgiving Recess
December 1 / Hope Day
December 2 / Santa Luncheon at PVE 11:00 am 2:00 pm (snow date: December 3)
December 4 / PVE 3rd Grade Chorus & Winter Tree Lighting 5:30 – 6:30 PM
December 4 - 6 / PVE PTO Holiday Shop (Snow make-up day Thursday, December 7th)
December 7 / Pearl Harbor Day
School Physicals with Dr. Ambani
Board of Education Meeting – School District Office 8:00 PM
December 8 / Orange Dress Down Day
December 11-12 / PVE PTO Holiday Shop (Snow make-up day Wednesday, December 13th)
December 12 / Hanukkah Begins
School Dental Exams by Dr. Pierce – Kindergarten, 3rd Grade & New Students
December 15 / Last day for Toys for Tots Collection – Parade
Ugly Sweater Dress Down Day for Mini-thon
December 20 / Hanukkah Ends
December 21 / First day of winter
Red & Green Dress Down Day
December 22 / Pajama Day
Early Dismissal
AM Kindergarten – 11:05 AM Dismissal
PM Kindergarten – 11:10 AM Arrival, 1:30 PM Dismissal
PM Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grades – 1:30 PM Dismissal
December 25 / Christmas Day
Dec. 25 -Jan. 1 / Winter Recess
December 26 / Kwanzaa begins
January 1 / New Year’s Day
Kwanzaa ends
January 2 / School Reopens
December 2017 Day / Date Calendar