Dear PVMS Families,
We have reached the midway point of August and the opening of school is right around the corner. I hope you have been enjoying the warm days of summer and finding some time to relax with your loved ones. Please find the time to decompress and unwind with the remaining days of summer and continue to communicate with your children regarding all of their experiences. These experiences help to make memories that they will never forget.
This upcoming year has presented us with some new challenges as we prepared to offer students either a hybrid or remote learning model. Students within the hybrid model, we will start the year with Mondays being a remote day where students will learn synchronously from home. Tuesdays and Thursdays will see students with the last names beginning with A-K in person and L-Z at home learning synchronously. Wednesdays and Fridays will see students with the last names beginning with L-Z in person and A-K at home learning synchronously. Students whose parents have opted them into the 100% remote learning option will be provided with daily interactions with their teachers as they complete a blend of synchronous and self directed learning. These students will follow their typical daily bell schedule and check in with their teacher at the beginning of each class. Please note that all students are expected to participate and be engaged within the learning everyday while following their daily schedule. Attendance will be taken on a period by period basis regardless of the instructional model (hybrid or remote).
Hybrid Model of Instructional Days –
This represents Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Our schedule will run on an
A-F rotation on Mondays and then repeat.
IS – In School – In Person Instruction – at school receiving live instruction
R – Remote Instruction – students at home participating in live instruction
IS – In School – In Person Instruction – at school receiving live instruction
R – Remote Instruction – students at home participating in live instruction
All students stay home on Mondays and receive remote instruction. Cohort 1 (Students A-K) come to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cohort 2 (Students L-Z) come to school on Wednesdays and Fridays. When a cohort is home, they will receive live instruction synchronously when a class is in session.
The first day of the upcoming school year is Tuesday, September 8, 2020. School will be in session daily from 7:45AM until 1:50PM.
If you are dropping off your student, as opposed to bus transportation, please use the crosswalk area as the drop off point. This is a monitored area where students can safely cross the driveway and avoid moving bus traffic. Please do not drop your child off prior to 7:30AM.
Encore classes:
5th – Art, Designed World, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), Sustainability, Technology
6th – Apparel & Textile Production and Design, Art, Health, Sustainability, Technology
7th – Art, Technology
8th – Health, Technology
Our incoming 5th graders will be participating in our new student orientation on Tuesday, September 1st. The first session will be for students with the last name (A-K) from 11:00AM – 11:45AM. Our second session will be for students with the last name (L-Z ) from 12:00PM – 12:45PM. This will be a drop off event and only 5th grade students will be permitted to enter the building. We ask that everyone wear masks and abide by socially distancing practices. Please park near the side entrance to the middle school located between the high school. Teachers will meet students outside and walk them into the building. Please be available to pick up your children at 11:45AM (A-K) or 12:45PM (L-Z).
Key Details
Students will not be using lockers this year. We ask that all students carry their belongings in backpacks or bags. Personal belongings should not be shared among students. Please be sure to visit our PVMS Back To School Supply List page. This will help to prepare your children for the upcoming year.
Summer Reading – A reminder that we have a number of suggestions for summer reading. Please take a look at our website if you have not had the opportunity to do so. Reading helps bring the world alive and this is a great opportunity to gain knowledge. It is never too late to read a great book!
Masks should be used at all times. Exceptions include eating lunch, those that are medically excused, or when a teacher provides students with a mask break. Students will be socially distanced six feet apart in classrooms.
Lunch will be provided in the Dining Hall with students sitting six feet apart. Monitors will supervise students and enforce social distancing regulations.
Regarding Schedules
Your PowerSchool account will be available for you to view your new class schedule on Monday, August 24th at 11:00AM. A few simple clicks on our website will give you access to everything you need to know about the opening of the 2020-2021 school year.
Please take a moment to read the information below…many of your questions may be answered.
1) Students this year must select Band or Chorus due to scheduling constraints.
2) If you have questions regarding logging into PowerSchool, or creating a parent account, please visit https://sites.google.com/pvcsd.org/pvcsd-parent. If you still have questions, please email Mrs. Sherwood at lsherwood@pvcsd.org.
3) IE stands for Intervention/Enrichment. This time is when students will receive additional academic support and enhancement. Students may receive AIS services, band lessons, and/or speech or OT/PT services during this time.
4) If you have other questions regarding your schedule, please email our Guidance Counselors, Mrs. Kilduff at lkilduff@pvcsd.org (5th grade) or Ms. Coleman at kcoleman@pvcsd.org (6th, 7th, 8th grade).
Now let’s get to your student information:
1) First, go to the Putnam Valley Central School District website at https://www.pvcsd.org. Click on the Middle School tab at the top of the page. Please click on the Student/Parent Resources tab to find all things necessary for the school year including the tab, Code of Conduct/Student Handbook/Laptop Agreement. Please read the three documents titled, Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and Laptop and Mobile Device Agreement in their entirety and when completed, please fill out and electronically submit the Online Middle School Agreement Permission Form. We will not issue a laptop unless this form is completed in full and returned electronically.
Laptop distribution will begin the week of August 24th. Please read the following communication from our technology department.
2) The link to PowerSchool Parent Access will provide you with your child(s) class schedule as well as transportation information. Please enter your account username and password. For directions to create an account and to link your child or children to your account, please click on the following link: https://sites.google.com/pvcsd.org/pvcsd-parent. PLEASE NOTE: Many families have already set up an account when you were in elementary school. For those of you who have not or those of you new to the district, an email will be sent with your access code information. For help, please email lsherwood@pvcsd.org.
Once you have logged into the parent portal of PowerSchool, you will see a number of tabs along the left sidebar. We ask that you focus on four tabs that will have all the information you need.
Grades & Attendance: This tab provides the area where you will see the student’s grades and attendance throughout the year. You will also see your locker number and locker combination here.
Transportation information is located under the tab that looks like a small bus. This will provide you with your bus number and any additional transportation needs. The link to the bus schedule is on top of this information. If you would like to contact the transportation department, please call 845-528-8900.
The Demographic Change tab needs to be reviewed and updated. The center column of this form is the information we currently have on file. If changes need to be made, please enter the new information in the right hand column. Once all changes have been made, please click on the “submit” button located in the lower right hand corner of the page. We will then confirm and update your Demographic Information. We need this information to be current and correct. We use this information in case of emergency.
My Schedule: This tab will provide a printable copy of your child’s schedule. Please note, our schedules run on a twelve-day rotation cycle. A, A, B, B, C, C, D, D, E, E, F, F days will appear on your schedule.
Once you finish, please click on the logout tab in the upper right hand corner. Please DO NOT share your User Name or Password with anyone. Each student will have his or her own login.
As the year progresses we will continue to provide you information in a paperless fashion.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Main Office at 845-528-8101.Enjoy the remainder of the month of August and spend time together with your family. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal