Dear PVMS Families,
Welcome to February and the midpoint of the school year. We have a month full of activities and learning planned for your children. Please take the opportunity to speak with your children and partner with us regarding digital citizenship and the proper use of technology as we continue to encourage students to make good choices.
Challenge of Social Media and Gaming
As a community we have been faced with great challenges in how our children are communicating with one another over social media. Students use snap chat, house party, Facebook, and group chats to communicate in various ways. Many students have used language, shared images, and sent videos that question the integrity of their character. We are asking that you partner with us to oversee the usage of these technologies and ensure that children are being responsible. Please oversee the technology that your children use and remind your children that their actions are a reflection of their character and pose consequences if inappropriate.
In addition, we have seen an upsurge of students who are on games, watching videos, and on websites that are not educationally appropriate while using school issued laptops. Our laptops are tools for education and these are a privilege. We ask that you review the code of conduct with your children so that everyone knows what is appropriate. Our children use laptops as devices for the classroom only and students will lose the privilege if they make poor choices.
Building Relationships at Lunch and Recess
Our lunch and recess groups have switched for the year. The 7th and 8th grade have been given the choice of lunch and recess partners, and the 5th and 6th graders have swapped their times. Ask your children about these changes to see how it is going.
Report Cards
On Friday, February 2nd we will be sending home paper copies of report cards that will provide information for the first and second quarters of the school year. Please be on the look out for these and contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Benchmark assessments
The second round of iReady Benchmark Assessments will take place on February 6th and 7th. Please make sure that your children have ear buds or headphones and an independent book to read. These results help teachers to inform instruction and provide feedback for classroom use.
Staff vs. Student Volleyball Games
An abbreviated class schedule will be implemented on Friday, February 16th for our annual student versus staff volleyball games. This is a great event where our 8th grade students as well as our girl’s volleyball team compete against staff members. This is an event for building relationships with healthy competition.
Mark Your Calendar!
Winter Recess will take place February 19th and 20th. Students will not have school on these days.
Encore four will begin on February 23rd for fifth and sixth graders. Please review their schedule to ensure that they go to their correct locations.
Please mark your calendar, as there will be a PVMS Curriculum Night on February 27th, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. We will have more information to follow regarding the agenda.
As always, we partner to give children the best experience possible. We look forward to a fantastic February full of good choices!
Sincerely,
Mr. McCarty
Principal