Dear PVMS Families,

It’s that time of year when playoff baseball is in full swing and football season is among us.  For those of you that aren’t into sports, the pumpkin and spice flavored everything time of year has begun as well.

We have had a spectacular start to our school year and your children have been amazing.  Although we typically see cooler temperatures this time of year, it has been unseasonably warm with little to no rainfall. The sun is setting earlier and earlier and it is dark before 7PM.  Our early mornings are full of darkness as well and Halloween is right around the corner.

Thank you to all of our families that were able to come out to our Back to School Night(s) and partnering with us in your child’s educational journey.  If you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers, please contact the teacher directly and/or the team leader on the grade level  to set up a day that works for everyone.  Topics of these meetings may range from academic, social and emotional, or just letting teachers know who your child is as a learner.  Since we do not have scheduled parent teacher conferences like our elementary school, I highly encourage you to reach out and schedule these meetings at your convenience.

Some of our clubs have started and many more will start this month.  We always encourage students to expand their horizons in trying new things and this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.  Seventh and eighth grade students that may qualify for National Junior Honor Society can expand on their experiences and application requirements by joining modified sports and joining clubs.  Many of our clubs run in the afternoon but some run in the morning so there is a need to be dropped off at 7:00AM.  Please sign your child up prior to attending and remember students can sign up for as many as they would like to.  Students will take the loop bus that runs home or must be picked up by parents/guardians at 4:15PM.

Our Student Council speeches and elections will be  held on Wednesday, October 8th in our HS PAC.  Our students have started to campaign and have displayed their posters around the school.  It takes a great deal of courage to give speeches in front of our student body.  Good luck to all!

Please note that our first Student of the Month recognition will be focused on what it means to be principled.  We look at this attribute along with the 9 other attributes for nominating students.   Our breakfast will take place on Wednesday, October 15th from  8-8:30AM in the Dining Hall and is through invitation only.  A continued thank you to our PTA  for sponsoring this throughout the year.  We are always looking for volunteers to help set up and take pictures the morning of the event.

Our middle school will be hosting a blood drive in collaboration with the NY Blood Center on November 3rd from 2:30 – 7:00PM in our own PVMS Gymnasium.  Please consider donating if you are able to.  Our students will have the opportunity to spread the word, volunteer their time, and learn about how these donations help to save lives.

Some important dates to mark on your calendar this month:

October 1               PTA Meeting – 6:30 – 7:30PM – PVMS Dining Hall

October 2               Yom Kippur – School Closed

October 3           Mid Point Quarter 1

October 6               PVMS Picture Day – Dress Your Best

October 7               Washington D.C. Parent Info Night – 6:00PM – PVMS Dining Hall –

For those families not signed up yet.

October 9            Grades/Comments Posted for Mid-Point Quarter 1 –

Check Power School

October 9               Game Show Assembly  (5th/6th & 7th/8th) PAC

October 10            Emergency Management Drill – Dismissal 15 minutes early – 2:21PM

October 13            Columbus Day – School Closed

October 16             5th Grade TOEC Trip (Group #1)

October 17             End of Encore 1 for Grades 5 & 6

October 20            Start of Encore 2 for Grades 5 & 6

October 21-24       MS Fall Book Fair (during lunch periods)

October 23 – 31    Red Ribbon Week (see Dress Theme Flyer below)

October 26            PVEF Trunk or Treat – 2:00 – 4:00PM – PVMS Parking Lot

October 30            8th Grade TOEC Trip (Group #1)

October 30            MS Halloween Bash 5 – 7PM

October 31             Recognition of Halloween – Students may dress up

(no full facemasks, weapons, or face paint)

October 31             8th Grade TOEC Trip (Group #2)

The midpoint of quarter 1 will be Friday, October 3rd.  Please log-on to PowerSchool on October 9th for comments from your child’s teachers regarding the first 5 weeks of school.  Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.

This month we recognize “Red Ribbon Week” where we support healthy, drug free kids.  Though we draw attention to this topic during the week of October 23rd, it is imperative that we open lines of communication with our children so that they are comfortable sharing anything with us throughout the entire year and through their entire life.  Please continue to talk with your children to see how they are doing.  The use of group text messages and use of social media platforms continues to grow.  Please monitor the words and actions taking place on these platforms.  If something is concerning then bring it to our attention as there is a nexus between what happens outside of school and its impact on those in school.  Continue to help us in raising children who are upstanders in using positive language and actions as opposed to bystanders who join in and/or look the other way.  It is through these relationships that we continue to inform and reflect.

As you can see, we have an extremely busy month ahead of us!  Please remember to contact the middle school if you have any questions.  We hope to continue to work hard in partnering with you in helping to develop life-long learners who make good choices.

Sincerely,

Travis W. McCarty