Dear PVMS Families,
I am hopeful that you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving Break with your families as a time to relax and be thankful for what we have. The month of December always seems to move by quickly as we have many events planned before our Holiday Break and the New Year.
In late November, our PVMS Student Council had an extremely successful food drive. Together we collected more than 1,389 items, which will be donated to the Putnam Valley Food Pantry, as well as other local pantries. One of our 7th grade students, Abigail Kui, donated 492 items! We want to thank all of our students and families who donated to such a great cause over the holiday season. Thank you again for your generosity and making our food drive an overwhelming success!
It is rare we have not had a substantial snowfall yet, and our temperatures remain mild for this time of year. Colder temperatures will be upon us soon, so please have your children bundle up. They should be wearing jackets and be prepared for outdoor recess and physical education classes while enjoying the fresh air.
We have many items of clothing in our lost and found. A vast majority of the items are sweatshirts and jackets. Please label all of your child’s items so that we can return them if they are misplaced. Feel free to remind your children to check the lost and found if you feel they are missing items.
Reminders:
There is always the possibility of snow or icy road conditions moving forward and it is good to have a contingency plan in place. In the case that we may have an early dismissal, it is imperative to provide your children with a house key or a plan to go to a neighbor’s or relative’s house. Create a plan and be prepared, this will help everyone, without creating stress during these situations.
Upcoming Events:
Social Media
Social media continues to expand its influence over the lives of our children, exposing them to new cultures, new ideas, and new friendships. For all that is positive in this digital landscape, students need to be informed about and guided away from negative influences and dangerous habits. Join us for an evening featuring speaker Tom Roidl, a retired Cyber Crimes Investigator, and parent roundtables to discuss the ways we can support our students in this growing frontier.
Audience: All parents/guardians
Date: Tuesday, December 6
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: PVMS Dining Hall
RSVP here.
Picture Retakes – Thursday, December 8th during lunch/recess periods.
8th Grade Assembly – Thursday, December 8th during period 8 – Inspirational Speaker – Brandon Lee White
Midpoint of Quarter 2 – Friday, December 9th. Please check PowerSchool for updated comments and grades on Thursday, December 15th.
The PVMS Student Council will be hosting its Annual Coat Drive from December 12th through December 16th, benefiting our local communities and distributed through the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown.
We will be collecting coats, gloves, scarves, and hats. Items must be new, or gently used and clean. Please do NOT donate items that have holes, rips, missing buttons, broken zippers or stains. Please do not donate items if there is pet hair embedded in the fabric.
Students may bring donations to the boxes in the cafeteria or parents can drop off in the boxes in the front lobby. All items should be dropped off in plastic bags.
Thank you to all of our families that will be donating to this great cause.
Concert season is upon us! All concerts will take place in the Putnam Valley High School Performing Arts Center (PAC).
5th and 6th Grade Chorus – Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00PM
7th and 8th Grade Chorus – Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00PM
Snow Date for Chorus Concerts – Friday, December 16th at 7:00PM
5th and 6th Grade Band – Tuesday, December 20 at 7:00PM
7th and 8th Grade Band – Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00PM
Snow Date for Band Concerts – Thursday, December 22nd at 7:00PM
Encore 2 Ends – Grades 5 & 6 – Friday, December 23rd
Holiday Recess will begin on Saturday, December 24 and go through Monday, January 2nd. We will resume classes on Tuesday, January 3rd.
This time of year brings wonder, excitement, and family gatherings and also brings attention to other emotions that build throughout the entire year. This is a time to reflect on what went well and changes that could be made for the upcoming calendar year. Emotions run high and it is extremely important to be sensitive to what everyone might be challenged with on a daily basis. Please remind your children to be empathetic toward one another and to be responsive to everyone’s needs if possible. Words matter and we must be thoughtful and kind to everyone as it is impossible to know what everyone is going through.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday season with your families. Be sure to spend time with your children and discuss the importance of forming relationships, working hard, and building character. It is through making good choices and setting examples for others that everyone learns and grows on a daily basis. Monitor your child’s progress and partner with us in establishing the best experience possible for our children. We look forward to an exciting 2023!
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal