Dear PVMS Families,
Fall has finally arrived and October is upon us! We have had a spectacular start to our school year and your children have been amazing. Please keep in mind that it’s the time of year for cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and pumpkins. The sun is setting earlier and earlier and it is dark before we know it. Our early mornings are full of darkness and Halloween is right around the corner. With all of these changes, please remind your children to dress appropriately for these dropping temperatures as they wait for their buses in the morning.
Thank you to all that were able to come out to our Back to School Night(s) and partnering with us in your child’s educational journey. If you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers, please contact the teacher directly and/or the team leader on the grade level to set up a day that works for everyone. Topics of these meetings may range from academic, social and emotional, or just letting teachers know who your child is as a learner. Since we do not have scheduled parent teacher conferences like our elementary school, I highly encourage you to reach out and schedule these meetings at your convenience.
Some of our clubs have started and many more will start this month. We always encourage students to expand their horizons in trying new things and this is a wonderful opportunity to do so. Eighth grade students that may qualify for National Junior Honor Society can expand on their experiences and application requirements by joining modified sports and joining clubs. Many of our clubs run in the afternoon but some run in the morning so there is a need to be dropped off at 7:00AM. Please sign your child up prior to attending and remember students can sign up for as many as they would like to. Students will take the loop bus that runs home or must be picked up by parents/guardians at 4:15PM.
Our Student Council speeches and elections were held on Friday, September 27th in our HS PAC. Congratulations to all of our students who campaigned and had the courage to give speeches in front of our eighth grade student body. We are so proud of you all!
The following candidates have been elected to the student council for the 2024-2025 school year.
5th grade representatives
Ryan Byrd, Isabella Cruz, and Jayden Specht
6th grade representatives
Adam Davino
William Marinelli
7th grade senators
Leah Craane
Brenden Keeler
8th grade co-presidents
Liam Craane
Trevor Specht
Please note that our first Student of the Month recognition will be focused on what it means to be principled. We look at this attribute along with the 9 other attributes for nominating students. Our breakfast will take place on Friday, October 18th from 8-8:30AM in the Dining Hall and is through invitation only. A continued thank you to our PTA for sponsoring this throughout the year. We are always looking for volunteers to help set up and take pictures the morning of the event.
Some important dates to mark on your calendar this month:
October 1 Washington D.C. Parent Info Night – 6:00PM – PVMS Dining Hall –
For those families not signed up yet.
October 3 & 4 Rosh Hashanah – School Closed
October 4 Mid Point Quarter 1
October 7 PVMS Picture Day – Dress Your Best
October 8 Flu Vaccine Clinic (sign ups only)
October 11 Grades/Comments Posted for Mid-Point Quarter 1 –
Check Power School
October 11 Emergency Management Drill – Dismissal 15 minutes early – 2:21PM
October 11 Therapy Dog Murphy – visit
October 14 Columbus Day – School Closed
October 15 – 18 Scholastic Book Fair – Dining Hall – Lunch Periods
October 16 & 17 7th Grade TOEC Trip
October 18 End of Encore 1 for Grades 5 & 6
October 21 Start of Encore 2 for Grades 5 & 6
October 23 – 31 Red Ribbon Week (see Dress Theme Flyer below)
October 25 Therapy Dog Murphy – visit
October 25 MS Halloween Bash 5 – 7PM
October 31 Halloween – Students may dress up (no full face masks, weapons, or
face paint)
The midpoint of quarter 1 will be Friday, October 4th. Please log-on to PowerSchool on October 11th for comments from your child’s teachers regarding the first 5 weeks of school. Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.
Our PTA will be hosting our Book Fair the week of October 15th. Please send your child in with money to purchase books and items related to reading. There will also be a communication with online access to purchase items online.
This month we recognize “Red Ribbon Week” where we support healthy, drug free kids. Though we draw attention to this topic during the week of October 23rd, it is imperative that we open lines of communication with our children so that they are comfortable sharing anything with us throughout the entire year and through their entire life. Please continue to talk with your children to see how they are doing. The use of group text messages and use of social media platforms continues to grow. Please monitor the words and actions taking place on these platforms. If something is concerning then bring it to our attention as there is a nexus between what happens outside of school and its impact on those in school. Continue to help us in raising children who are upstanders in using positive language and actions as opposed to bystanders who join in and/or look the other way. It is through these relationships that we continue to inform and reflect.
Please remember to contact the Middle School if you have any questions. We hope to continue to work hard in partnering with you in helping to develop life-long learners who make good choices.
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty