Dear PVMS Families,
We are excited to see your children back in school! The social, emotional, and academic wellbeing of all middle school students will continue to be our focus this year.
Establishing a routine will help to promote success. Please create time where your children can focus on school inclusive of your busy schedules outside of our school day. An academic planner will come home and should be used on a daily basis for students to write down homework, take notes, and schedule their busy lives. In addition, please check Google Classroom for assignments that may be posted by classroom teachers.
Grades will be posted on PowerSchool. Please work with your children and partner with us in checking assignments and grades so that everyone stays up to date on work. We will send home paper report cards twice a year. One will go home after the second quarter and the final report card will go home after the fourth quarter. Families will receive notifications when mid-quarter grades are posted and quarterly grades are finalized and you may check grades as often as you would like.
Three of our goals this year are building relationships, being empathetic, and excelling academically. An Advisory period has been added to our schedule and will help to establish these goals while encouraging student advocacy and focusing on the social and emotional well being of all students.
Key dates this month:
September 17 – 21 – iReady Math and ELA Benchmark Assessments
September 19 – School Closed – Yom Kippur
September 21 – Student Government Applications Due
September 24 – 28 – Student Government Campaigning
September 24 – Back to School Night – Grades 5 &6 – 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
September 25 – Back to School Night – Grades 7 & 8 – 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
September 28 – Student Government Speeches and Elections
October 1 – School Picture Day
Reading is essential to education. All students should have independent reading books that they carry around with them on a daily basis. In order to encourage this practice, we have a PVMS Reading Challenge this year. If 450 children read 500,000 words or more, Ms. Mangiere will dye her hair pink! We will measure the student word counts using Accelerated Reader. The student body will be updated on their progress towards achieving this goal each month!
Washington, D.C. Trip and Parent Meeting
Our 8th graders will have the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. this year. The trip will take place from May 8th through May 10th. Any 8th grader who is interested in attending the trip must attend an information session with their parents on Wednesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. Students will be receiving invitations to the meeting during their history classes.
As you can see, we are off to a great start. The middle school has undergone many changes with a new recess area, block scheduling, and an advisory class, and we will continue to improve and provide the best experience possible for your children.
Please be involved and partner with us in your child’s educational journey. Contact us with any questions, feedback, or stop by and schedule an appointment to meet with us.
We look forward to an exceptional year!
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal