Dear PVMS Families,
Welcome to March! We finally experienced some snowfall as well as a snow day. What does this mean for us? Will March come in like a lion and provide more snow and wind or will we continue to experience a mild winter? With that being said, I hope you are looking forward to Spring as much as I am.
We had a wonderful turnout by families and great support by our Board of Education members for our IB Parent Information Night. Thank you to Mrs. Levine and Dr. Luft as well as BOE members Helen Horvitz, Sam Oliverio Jr., Barbara Parmly, and Janette Yetter for being in attendance. Please take a look at our IB MYP Presentation with FAQs that were brought up the evening of our presentation. If you have more questions then please contact us directly and we would be happy to look into your inquiries. The greatest take away from the evening was that IB MYP is for all middle school students. It is about the process of learning and ensuring students master how to learn as opposed to memorization of facts and details and this is a journey for all.
Please note that if your 7th and 8th grader is going to play school sports this season then please ensure to sign them up before the end of the day on Friday, March 3rd. Registration for SPRING Modified (7th/8th Grade), JV, and Varsity sports is open. Registration will close on Friday, March 3 at 11:59pm. Late registrations will not be accepted. Register Here: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/putnam-valley-csd-athletics
Our Middle School Drama, Lion King Jr. will take place Friday, March 10th and Saturday, March 11th at 7:00PM. Please come out in person and see our students on stage. We have tremendous talent and your continued support is greatly appreciated.
We continue to see a rise in social media usage amongst our student population. Students communicate in a variety of ways through gaming platforms, text messaging groups, Snapchat, etc. There will always be a way for them to communicate but have we addressed these platforms and the proper way to communicate in a positive and productive way? It has been a goal of ours at PVMS to bring attention to the concerns that we have observed around the hurtful texting that exists. Please partner with us in monitoring what your children are texting on their phones as well as other devices. Students should treat one another with respect and dignity. They should be reminded to treat everyone the way in which they would like to be treated. Some of our students act differently in the “virtual” world at times. Our role is to educate them to make positive choices and if anything, let it be something they learn from if they make a poor choice. Families should know that what students do outside of school can have a connection to what happens in school and we must investigate these situations when they are brought to our attention. It takes a village to raise a child and we appreciate your partnership.
Key Dates – Mark Your Calendar
Friday, March 3rd marks the midpoint of the 3rd quarter. Please look for updated comments on PowerSchool starting Thursday, March 9th. After reviewing your child’s progress, please contact their classroom teacher(s) with any questions or concerns.
Encore 4 for 5th and 6th grade begins on Monday, March 6th. Please review your child’s schedule and ensure that they know where they are going. They can always stop by the Main Office and we will let them know if they are unsure.
We have a Superintendent’s Conference Day on Friday, March 10th. There is no school for students on this day while our staff embarks on professional development.
MS Drama – The Lion King Jr. – Friday, March 10th & Saturday, March 11th – 7:00PM – PVMS Stage
Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 12th. Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th
We will announce our National Junior Honor Society recipients on Friday, March 17th. Congratulations to all who receive this recognition. Our induction ceremony will be at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 23rd on our PVMS stage.
Our Student VS Staff Olympics will take place during 8th period on Friday, March 31st. We hope everyone enjoys their Spring Break the following week!
Our school is a safe place where we focus on not only academics, but also the social and emotional wellbeing of all children. If you have any questions please remember to call the Middle School and we will get you the information you need.
We look forward to a wonderful month with Spring officially starting on the 20th with even warmer temperatures. Thank you for your continued support of our PVMS community.
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal