It is hard to believe that Spring is almost here! With one of the coldest winters in recent times and much more snow than we are used to, it will certainly take quite a few warm days above freezing to melt the snow piles in order for our children to get out on the fields for recess and sports. This is the time of year where we start to see slightly milder temperatures and bright sunshine in the early hours of the morning. It looks like a bit more snow in our future with up and down temperatures and a chance of inclement weather before we finally say goodbye to winter. Puxatawnee Phil forecasted six more weeks of winter when he saw his shadow. One thing is certain, the first day of Spring will be on March 20th as I hope we see warmer temperatures by that time.
Thank you to all who were able to participate in our Student vs Staff Volleyball Game prior to our Winter Break. I cannot believe the athleticism from both our staff and eighth grade students that played in the game. It was an extremely competitive event that ended in controversial fashion. We would need to see the video replay but I am pretty sure the staff won on a ball hit out of bounds by the students as time ran out. Our student referee signalled the ball to be in bounds so we will have to leave the final score up for interpretation.
Registration for Spring Modified Sports opened on February 21st and will remain open through Sunday, March 15th. The season will begin March 23rd. Please ensure to respond to the emails from our athletic department if your child will be participating. You can register at Modified Sports Registration Link. Late registrations will not be accepted. As with any sports season, in order to be a scholar athlete, students should be in good academic standing. We will partner with families and coaches to refer our students to H.W. Booster Lab if they need additional time and support to complete their assignments.
I want to take the opportunity to thank our students and families for adhering to our ban on cell phones during the school day. Overall, we have had very few infractions regarding the policy. Unfortunately, we have noticed a rise in the number of students on games, videos, and websites that have not been approved. These can be distractions to learning during a time where focus is imperative for comprehensive learning. Please speak with your children about utilizing school devices (Chromebooks) for educational purposes only. Our technology department will be putting further restrictions on our devices but our firewall can only block so much. Distractions from learning will be monitored through history check and other means. Thank you for speaking with your children about focussing on academics as opposed to these distractions that many are searching and seeking out. These are school issued devices and we have the right to limit who uses them if they are not responsible for being where teachers direct them to be. 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.
Key Dates – Mark Your Calendar
PV PTA will be hosting Mini Golf Madness in the MS gymnasium on Friday, March 6th
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Please contact putnamvalleypta@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday, March 6th marks the midpoint of the 3rd quarter. Please look for updated comments on PowerSchool starting Thursday, March 12th. After reviewing your child’s progress, please contact their classroom teacher(s) with any questions or concerns.
Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, March 8th. 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 Monday, March 16th. Congratulations to all who receive this recognition. Our induction ceremony will be at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, March 25th on our PVMS stage.
Our first day of Spring and the March equinox happens on March 20th at 10:46 AM.
We have a Superintendent’s Conference Day on Friday, March 20th. There is no school for students on this day while our staff embarks on professional development.
This year’s PVMS Musical “Once Upon a Mattress” will have multiple performances this month.
Showtimes are as follows:
Friday, March 20th – 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 21st – 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 22nd – 2:00 PM
Monday, March 23rd is the beginning of Encore #5 for 5th & 6th grade students. 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.
Spring Break will run from March 28th through April 6th. School will resume on Tuesday, April 7th. This is a nice break from busy schedules and time to spend with one another before an extremely busy end of year. With that being said, our students must stay focused on our goals and continue to work hard as some students develop “Spring Fever” and, recognizably, have busy lives outside of the school day. Executive functioning and planning the day outside of school is even more important when life becomes hectic. Please ensure to plan accordingly and finish the year strong academically.
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 have had a very productive and successful year thus far and we look forward to this continuing through the spring.
Thank you for your continued support of our PVMS community.
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal