Dear PVMS Families,
We had over 250 students attend our annual Halloween Bash on the evening of October 26th. Students and staff had extremely creative costumes this year with some unbelievable themes. The treats and photo booth were a hit as always. Please take a look at some of the pictures from the night.
The month of November is always a time to be thankful for all that we have and to be thoughtful and empathetic with the way we approach any situation. Please join us in helping to send this message to our students. During our advisory classes we continue to read the novel, Out of My Mind and our groups have had wonderful discussions around the topic of empathy and treating others the way we want to be treated.
As we continue deep into autumn and start to feel the colder temperatures, please have your children bundled up. They should be wearing jackets and be prepared for outdoor recess while enjoying the fresh air.
Please keep in mind that there is always the possibility of snow or icy roads moving forward and to have a contingency plan in place. In the case that we may have an early dismissal, it is imperative to provide your children with a house key or a plan to go to a neighbor’s or relative’s house. We do not want your children to panic or need to make last minute plans as this will impact their emotional state and distress them in a time where this doesn’t need to be the case. Create a plan and be prepared as this will help everyone to be where they need to be without creating stress during these situations.
Important Dates
Election Day is on Tuesday, 11/6/18. Please remember that children do not come to school on this day. Our staff members will be taking part in a Superintendent’s Conference Day and expanding on professional development opportunities. Please remember to vote!
Picture retakes will occur on Friday, 11/9/18. Please remind your children to dress appropriately for their pictures if choosing to retake them or if they were absent during the initial picture day. In addition, we will be having grade level class group photos on this day as well.
School will be closed on Monday 11/12/18 for Veteran’s Day. Thank you to all who served or are serving our country!
Our annual fall campus cleanup will take place on Wednesday, 11/14/18 from 2:45 – 4:15 on our Middle School Campus. This is a great opportunity for those 8th graders interested in getting community service hours with regard to National Junior Honor Society criteria.
Quarter 2 begins Monday, 11/19/18 so please have a conversation with your children regarding any missing materials that need to be turned in before the end of the quarter. Please check PowerSchool weekly to ensure that your children are being successful and up to date on assignments. This is also a great time to clean out binders and keep all items in safe storage until the end of the year.
Please mark your calendar to check PowerSchool on Thursday, 11/22/18 for Quarter 1 Report Card Grades and Comments. Please be sure to reach out to teachers regarding any academic, behavioral, or social concerns.
Thanksgiving Recess will be observed 11/21/18 – 11/25/18. Enjoy this time with your family and reflect on everything that we have to be thankful for.
Capital Facilities Project Vote – December 4th from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Putnam Valley Elementary School. Please remember to take the time to vote!
As the year progresses quickly, please find the time to communicate with your children. We have implemented monthly history checks regarding laptops and a few students have been on games, You Tube, and other areas where they have not been instructed. As a result, we collect the device and they need to write a letter explaining what happened. These devices are intended for educational purposes only! Please partner with us in reminding students to make good choices. Studies show that spending time with your children through reading together, playing sports or games, and creating arts and crafts just to name a few, opens the line of communication for all.
Thank you for partnering with us in helping to remind our students to make good choices and be empathetic.
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal