March 2025

Spring is almost here!  This is the time of year where we are starting to see slightly milder temperatures and bright sunshine in the early hours of the morning. It looks like a bit of rainfall in the near future as opposed to snowfall but we can never rule out the chance of snow before we finally say goodbye to winter.  Will March come in like a lion or go out like a lamb?  For those of you who enjoy winter and snowfall, I hope you were able to get out on our frozen lakes to ice skate, ski, or even ice fish.  It’s been a few years since many were able to do so!  With that being said, I know Puxatawnee Phil forecasted six more weeks of winter when he saw his shadow.  One thing is for certain and that is we will welcome the first day of spring on March 20th.  

I wanted to share a quick update regarding our IB MYP authorization status.  We will be welcoming a team on April 2nd and 3rd for a verification visit.  This will provide us with in depth feedback on becoming an IB MYP school. Did you know our 5th graders are reading The Girl With the Big Big Questions by Britney Win which supports the IB learner profile of being inquirers.  Teachers use one book a month to reflect each of the ten learner profiles.  It is about the process of learning and ensuring students master how to learn as opposed to memorization of facts and details and this is a journey for all.  Please take a look at our PVMS IB MYP page that can be found as a link off of our web page and take a look at our timeline below as we continue to make positive progress with our implementation.

Registration for Spring Modified Sports will open on March 1st.  The season will begin April 1st. Please ensure to respond to the emails from our athletic department if your child will be participating.  Late registrations will not be accepted.  As with any sports season, in order to be a scholar athlete, students should be in good academic standing.  We will partner with families to refer our students to H.W. Booster Lab if they need additional time and support to complete their assignments.

We have noticed a rise in the number of students on games, videos, and websites that have not been approved.  These can be distractions to learning during a time where focus is imperative for comprehensive learning.   Please speak with your children about utilizing school devices (Chromebooks) for educational purposes only.  Our technology department will be putting further restrictions on our devices but our firewall can only block so much.  Distractions from learning will be monitored through history check and other means.  Thank you for speaking with your children about focussing on academics as opposed to these distractions that many are searching and seeking out.

While on the topic of technology, please check your child’s cell phone!  It would be appreciated if you could look through their text messages, group chats, and social media platforms.  We continue to see a rise in social media usage amongst our student population.  Students communicate in a variety of ways through gaming platforms, text messaging groups, Snapchat, etc.  There will always be a way for our children to communicate but as adults we need to address these platforms and the proper way to communicate in a positive and productive way.  It has been a goal of ours at PVMS to bring attention to the concerns that we have observed around the hurtful texting that exists.   Please partner with us in monitoring what your children are texting on their phones as well as other devices.  Students should treat one another with respect and dignity.  They should be reminded to treat everyone the way in which they would like to be treated.  Some of our students act differently in the “virtual” world at times.  Our role is to educate them to make positive choices and if anything, let it be something they learn from if they make a poor choice.  Families should know that what students do outside of school can have a connection to what happens in school and we must investigate these situations when they are brought to our attention.  It takes a village to raise a child and we appreciate your partnership.

Key Dates – Mark Your Calendar

Erin’s Law Assembly (Part #1 for 6th/8th Grade Students) – Monday, March 3rd & Wednesday, March 5th.  Separate email communications have been sent to families.

Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 9th.  Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour.

Friday, March 14th marks the midpoint of the 3rd quarter.  Please look for updated comments on PowerSchool starting Thursday, March 20th.  After reviewing your child’s progress, please contact their classroom teacher(s) with any questions or concerns.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th

We will announce our National Junior Honor Society recipients on Monday, March 17th.  Congratulations to all who receive this recognition.  Our induction ceremony will be at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 25th on our PVMS stage.

Our first day of Spring and the March equinox happens on March 20th at 5:01am.

Monday, March 24th is the beginning of Encore #5 for 5th & 6th grade students.  Please review your child’s schedule and ensure that they know where they are going.  They can always stop by the Main Office and we will let them know if they are unsure.

Erin’s Law Assembly (Part #2 for 6th/8th Grade Students) – Wednesday, March 26th & Friday, March 28th.  Separate email communications have been sent to families.

We have a Superintendent’s Conference Day on Monday, March 31st.  There is no school for students on this day while our staff embarks on professional development.

Our school is a safe place where we focus on not only academics, but also the social and emotional wellbeing of all children.  If you have any questions please remember to call the Middle School and we will get you the information you need.  We have had a very productive and successful year thus far and we look forward to this continuing through the spring.

Thank you for your continued support of our PVMS community.

Sincerely,

Travis W. McCarty
Principal