Dear Putnam Valley High School Families,
As we approach the end of our first semester, we wanted to share some important information and upcoming dates with you!
Key Dates & Information
End of 1st Semester: Friday, January 30th
All grades and comments will be updated and available by Friday, February 6th. Please remember to check your child’s attendance progress regularly as well.
2nd Semester Begins: Monday, February 2nd
Please take time to review your child’s schedule for any changes due to half-year courses either beginning or ending.
Honor Society Celebration
We’re excited to announce our first combined Honor Society Induction Ceremony!
When: Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 PM
Where: Performing Arts Center (PAC)
This special ceremony will recognize students who have been accepted into the English, Spanish, French, Math, Science, and Music Honor Societies. Please note that a separate National Honor Society induction ceremony will be held in April.
Course Selection for 2025-2026
It’s time to start planning for next year! Our course selection process begins next week with grade-level community meetings, where we’ll review the course options available to students. Following these meetings, students will meet individually with their guidance counselors. Please note that individual meetings will continue through March.
What families should do now:
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Review the course catalog on the PVHS website
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Discuss course options together
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Encourage your student to talk with their current teachers
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Prepare for a collaborative meeting with their guidance counselor to select courses that best meet their needs
An Important Conversation: Student Health & Wellness
We want to partner with you in keeping our students healthy and safe. We’ve noticed certain cohorts of students in school bathrooms often, and this is indicative of the vaping culture. We want to address this issue together as a community.
A conversation worth having: If you notice your child frequently using the bathroom between or during classes, it could be a sign that they are meeting up with friends to vape there. We encourage you to have an open, supportive conversation with your child about vaping and the use of nicotine products, including synthetic chewing tobacco products like Zyn.
We’re here to help: Our approach is supportive. If your child is struggling with vaping or nicotine use, we will work with you and your student individually to develop a plan to provide the support they need. Student health and well-being are our priority, and we believe in working together to address these challenges.
Social Media and Group Chats: We need your partnership in addressing a concerning social media issue at our school.
Some students have been creating “PV Barstool” segments on Instagram and Snapchat in which they record staff members without permission and post inappropriate content. Some posts have also targeted other students in disrespectful and potentially harmful ways.
This behavior violates privacy, can constitute bullying, and creates a disrespectful environment for our school community. Students are not allowed to have internet-enabled devices during the school day and they are not allowed to record anyone without their permission.
Please take time to discuss appropriate social media use with your child. We ask that you:
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Talk about the impact of their online posts on others
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Monitor their social media activity
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Emphasize that recording people without consent is unacceptable
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Remind them that online actions have real-world consequences
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Here’s to finishing the semester strong and looking forward to an exciting second semester ahead!
Warmly,
Mr. Matt Mello
Principal
Putnam Valley High School