Back to School Dear PVMS Families,

 Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!  We are extremely excited to see your children back in classrooms and it has been a smooth transition thus far.  Please continue to be patient with bus runs as our transportation company becomes more acclimated to routes.  We take your feedback into consideration and make changes to improve systems overall.  It has been wonderful to see new students and fifth graders in our building getting acclimated to their new surroundings.  Sixth graders are getting used to memorizing their combinations and opening their lockers.  Our seventh graders are getting used to transitioning more often with more teachers.  Finally, we  look to our eighth graders as the role models of our building with whom all of our students will look up to and our staff will help to guide along the way.  

I know you are full of emotions as well!  Some of you may be excited, hopeful, curious, nervous, and wondering what this year will look like.  Please know that your children are in great hands and that we all work together for what is best for all students.   Be sure to partner with us to ensure that your child has a successful experience.  We have an exciting year planned!  With change comes numerous opportunities for growth and we are excited to welcome a few new staff members to our PVMS family as we continue our work in becoming an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) School.  This is a big year for us as we hope to be authorized in early spring.  I want to thank all of our teachers and staff as well as community members who have helped and continue to help with this journey.

In accordance with recent amendments to New York State Law, school districts must notify parents/guardians of upcoming lockdown drills.  Our district is required to hold at least four lockdown drills each school year.  These drills provide students and staff with an opportunity to practice our security and safety protocols in a trauma-informed and age appropriate manner.  All drills will be announced prior to commencement so that students and staff are aware of the current situation.  

Our hope this school year is to take advantage of opportunities, obtain IB MYP authorization,  build relationships and continue to  form a positive climate and culture while inspiring lifelong learners.  I look forward to continuing our work together and value your feedback and collaboration.  We are on this journey together and our students are our number one priority in all decisions that we make. 

To start our school year, it is imperative to establish a routine that 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 soon for those students and families that prefer them 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.  For those who would like assistance with technological needs such as updating demographics and/or looking at grades on PowerSchool, please see our technology website.  You may also contact Mrs. Sherwood at lsherwood@pvcsd.org for assistance as well.

Student 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 use an opt in system to send home paper report cards twice a year if you choose this option.  Otherwise, report cards can be seen electronically at the end of each marking period.  We will send home reminders of these calendar dates with reminders when interim reports are posted as well as end of the quarter postings.  You may check your child’s grades as often as you would like.

Please note that if you ever have any questions regarding grades, an event that took place in class, or you just want to share information; please contact your child’s teacher directly.  If you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers then you may arrange to do so through a grade level team leader or classroom teacher.  We encourage you to do this at any point of the school year.  Please see below for a list of each grade level team leader.

2024-2025 Team Leaders

5th – Mrs. Dreessen – cdreessen@pvcsd.org

6th – Mrs. Johnson – ljohnson@pvcsd.org

7th – Mrs. Hajkowski – dhajkowski@pvcsd.org

8th – Must contact individual teachers

Please join our Putnam Valley PTA as they help to partner with us and support many events in our schools.  We are looking forward to a continued relationship that brings experiences beyond our classrooms.  

To purchase a PTA membership, go to https://putnamvalleypta.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships

As always, if you have any questions/concerns please reach out to the PTA at putnamvalleypta@gmail.com

In addition, please consider joining our Putnam Valley Education Foundation.  They partner with us as well as provide funding for our teachers and students. PVEF Website                                                            

Please give your support this  2024-2025 school year.

If you haven’t done so already, please make sure to read and complete the following three important student and parent agreement documents found on this page as they are the Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and Laptop and Mobile Device Agreement.  You must then complete the  Online Middle School Agreement Permission Form.  We will not issue a laptop unless this form is completed in full and returned electronically. Laptop distribution will take place during school hours.

Mark Your Calendar

September 9th – 10th – Fall iReady Assessments – More to come!

September 11th (6th Grade – Group #1) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

September 16th (5th Grade – Group #1) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

September 17th (5th Grade – Group #2) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

September 17th – Back to School Night 5th and 6th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 – More information to come!

September 18th (6th Grade – Group #2) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

September 18th – Back to School Night – 7th and 8th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 – More information to come! 

September 19th (8th Grade – Group #1) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

September 20th (8th Grade – Group #2) Trip to TOEC – Team building activities

October 1st 8th Grade Washington DC Trip (Current 8th Graders) – Parent Interest Meeting 6-7 pm  (PVMS Dining Hall) 

Please stay 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 outstanding and exceptional year!

Sincerely,

Travis W. McCarty
Principal

Early Dismissal - Friday, December 20, 2024
Due to the forecast for inclement weather later today, all Putnam Valley Schools will dismiss ONE hour earlier than normal. All afterschool activities are canceled.
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