Putnam Valley Elementary School

Dear PVES Families,

The month of October will be off to a wonderful start at PVES, and it looks like we will have more sunshine this week! The students are now receiving regular homework assignments. Thank you so much for establishing a structured schedule for homework, reading, and bedtime routines each school night. This makes such a difference for our young learners!

Please be reminded that schools will be dismissed 15 minutes early on this Friday, October 6th, as part of a NYS Emergency Dismissal Drill. Please mark your calendars to be at your child’s bus stop 15 minutes early on that Friday afternoon. Schools will then be closed on Monday, October 9th, in honor of Columbus Day.

Our students have been participating in regular Fire Drills throughout this past month, and we have also held one scheduled Lockdown Drill. These mandated drills are held throughout the year, and our students are reassured throughout the process. We are so proud of them!

Our elementary classes are taking great pride in earning their class Tiger Paws on their Character Education & Diversity Charts. This positive reinforcement initiative is a fun way to encourage respect, safety, and kindness, and proper behavior, especially in our hallways, at specials, and at recess and lunch. Our PVES students are just wonderful, and they take great PRIDE in celebrating their successes.

This Friday will be the first Friday of the new month, and so it will be the October PV Pride Day. On each first Friday of the month, students and staff are welcome to wear blue and white to show off their school pride. We also sing the PVES School Song as a whole building.

Our students are welcome to celebrate Halloween with a whole-school parade, for students and staff only. On Tuesday, October 31st, all students are welcome to bring Halloween costumes to school. Student costumes will be put on for the last hour of the day. This is not mandatory, of course, and we ask that our students do not wear scary masks or bring costume weapons. Thank you!

We are looking forward to our Annual PVES First Responder Read Aloud, which will be held on the morning of Wednesday, October 25th. If you or your local neighbors or friends are First Responders and would like to read to and visit with a class, please contact me! My email is mpodesta@pvcsd.org. We would love to have your join us from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on October 25th!

Enjoy the week ahead! Thank you for all you are doing to make this year a great one! We will be sending information about our Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences soon, to be held throughout the month of November.

Sincerely,

Dr. Margaret Podesta
Principal