Spring Valley Elementary School Fall Newsletter October 2008
SV Elementary Staff Changes
At the start of a typical school year, we marvel at how the kids have grown in July and August. We always look forward to another year of ‘learning and growing’, but as is typical, there are always a few changes at our elementary school. These include: • Ms. Emily Faber is our new AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator. She replaces Mrs. Peggy Knegendorf who has completed the second year of her two year AmeriCorps position. • Mrs. Marcia Goveonski, along with Mrs. Deb Franzen, are assisting children in different classrooms • Pierce County Deputy Steve Albarado will be the new Pierce County D.A.R.E. Officer. He plans to make the transition to full time classroom instruction later this month. All grade levels receive D.A.R.E. instruction. At SVE, the grade level instructional emphasis each year is at fifth grade. • Another familiar face over the past weeks at Spring Valley Elementary is our very Mr. Craig Yakes. Mr. Yakes (our SVE principal from 1998-2004) has been back to allow Mr. Lasure to cover some of the Middle and High School duties in Mrs. Cipriano’s absence this fall following the birth of happy, healthy twins, Kate and Parker. • Mrs. Sherry Ellefson is a familiar face who will be assisting in the office the first part of the year.
Our 2008-09 school year is off to a fast start!!
Our full school - year calendar is available on the district web site (see below).
Parent’s Club Fundraiser
The SVE Parents’ Club is sponsoring a fundraiser, Oct. 1 thru Oct. 15, to help support the many non-district funded opportunities available to the elementary. Our Parents’ Club contributes to classroom field trips, classroom needs, teacher mini-grants and all-school presentations. It has been many years since we have had a major fundraiser and it is time to refill “our piggy bank.” While we encourage everyone’s support, we realize not every family is able to participate. When out fundraising, please remind your child to stay safe by not selling to strangers, collect the money at the time of sale, and it will also be important to have the full addresses of everyone who purchases an item because the products will be shipped directly to their homes. Thank you for helping make our fundraiser a success.
SVE’s Classroom Info for 2008-09
Our school year is off to a great start!
Thank you to everyone for helping make the start of the school year smooth and successful. Whenever you have 438 students in an elementary program, there will always be individual challenges, but we know that our students are up to the task to ‘learn and grow’ everyday, both inside the classroom and out! Updated ‘Everyday Math – 3rd Edition Parent Handbooks‘ were created and handed out beginning Tuesday evening, September 23rd at our Family Math Night. If your family has not yet received your copy, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. These handbooks have proved to be useful when parents keep them available throughout their child’s elementary school years.
Two major changes happened over the summer at SVE. The first was implementing a brand new 4-Year-Old Kindergarten program, partnering with the SV Community Preschool. We currently have 65 students attending the half day program that meets five days per week.
4 Year Old Kindergarten: C. Keehr J. Holcomb
2nd Grade: R. Dykhouse L. Fesenmaier M. Johnson 5th Grade: K. Crownhart B. Ninneman
5 Year Old Kindergarten: J. Dahl S. Hartung N. Johnson * K. Manor 3rd Grade: D. Avestruz R. Lund J. Y-Bourn 6th Grade: C. Ducklow K. Fesenmaier
We are again an AmeriCorps school with
1st Grade: J. Borgerding N. Cleveland A. O’Meara 4th Grade: C. Husby D. Jameson A. Vetsch
Sabin Avenue Update
The change to close the section of Sabin Avenue immediately in front of the school to traffic each school day has helped keep kids safe. We want to remind everyone that from 7:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. each school day, this small section of Sabin Avenue will be closed. On days where it is nice enough to be outdoors, but still too wet on areas of the playgrounds, students use the blacktop to get fresh air and burn off youthful energy. We continue to partner with our village administration and our Police Department to help keep kids safe. Staff members are on hand each morning to help students with the transition from bus to classrooms. Please remember that at the end of each day all students not riding buses home will again be directed to the cafeteria by 3:05 pm.
* = 5K & 1 Multiage Emily Faber as our Classroom Volunteer Coordinator
For more information, call 778-5602 or click on the School District of Spring Valley web site at: www.springvalley.k12.wi.us
Spring Valley Elementary School Fall Newsletter October 2008
Target ‘Take-Charge-of-Education’ Payout
As part of the September Take Charge of Education donation, Target has awarded Spring Valley Elementary with a check. This payout is a direct result of the parents, teachers and school supporters who participate in the program, which has earned this school a total of $5,602.43 since 1997. Through Take Charge of Education, families, teachers and members of the community have an easy way to raise money for their school. When they sign up and designate us as their eligible K-12 school, Target donates up to 1% of every purchase they make with their REDcard. Over the years Spring Valley Elementary has used the funds to contribute to field trips, events, technology, or special gifts. Visit Target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142 for more information.
Parent Volunteers Needed!!
We need your help if we hope to continue to expand the good work that our elementary volunteer program does. We are recruiting parents, grandparents, retired seniors, and other community members to help by being a reading buddy, a tutor, a copy wiz, a library promoter, a classroom volunteer, a field trip chaperone, a hearing or vision screener, (or if you always wanted to be a camp counselor – be a playground or lunchroom monitor). Contact us !!
Wellness Plan
SVE To Run ‘Mock Election’
Tuesday November 4, 2008, our nation will be holding our 56th consecutive United States presidential election. We will select the President and Vice President of the United States along with state and local officials. At SVE, our Fifth Graders will help conduct a ‘Mock Election’ the on election day. There will be three polling locations manned by SVE Fifth Graders. Students who “vote” will receive a sticker and ribbon. Hopefully this will reinforce the importance of informed voting as a critical part of citizenship.
Among the variety of activities planned for the school year by our Wellness Committee, we are continuing ‘Footie’s Movin’ Miles’ program. Students ask parents to help them chart their ‘moving miles’ outside of school. We also plan for grades 1-6 to come together in the gym at 8:15 a.m. at the beginning of each month and begin their school day with a brisk ten minute walk followed by the morning announcements. Parents are encouraged to join us when able! Our goals continue to include finding ways for our students to demonstrate “one year’s academic growth” (or more!) in key academic areas over one school year. We use multiple methods to measure growth: • Classroom assessments daily and unit assessments weekly, • Traditional report cards help define classroom effort and skills, • STAR Reading scores for grades 2-6 can show an approximate “gradelevel reading equivalent”, • statewide mandated WKCE (WI Knowledge & Concepts Exam) tests in grades 3-6 each November can show beginning of the year comparisons to WI state standards, and • Scantron Performance Series can quickly show how Spring Valley Elementary students in grade 3-6 “grew” academically from September to May and we can compare it to national expectations. These assessments help us learn two things; what each of our students know and can do; and where we need to make changes in our curriculum.
Measuring Academic Growth
Student Safety Procedures
Entrance Doors:
To help monitor access to the elementary, after 8:15 each school morning the only doors left unlocked for parent access will be the main doors immediately in front of the elementary office.
Our end of the school day routine will begin with the 3:03 dismissal. We are trying to minimize the length of time our young bus riders are seated on the bus at the end of an already busy day of learning and growing.
Dismissal Time:
Dismissal Procedure:
As in previous years, we’re trying hard to reduce traffic anywhere near the buses as they pull up to pick up students at the end of the day. All students not riding buses home will again be directed to the cafeteria. They will exit using the Sabin Avenue doors nearest the gym or our main doors. Parents are asked to meet their students in the cafeteria or at the benches near the gymnasium entrance.
Food Service Accounts
Each student’s ‘family food service account’ runs as a “debit account.” Families are asked to maintain a positive balance in their account throughout the year as this can not be run as a “credit or charge account.” Accounts that reach a negative total will generate parent contacts and the need for our students to purchase lunches on a cash-only basis.
SV Elem Parents Club Corner
We hope you were able to continue to save your Campbell’s Soup labels and ‘BoxTops for Education’ over the summer. You can send them in with students any time. ●Box Tops for Education ●Campbell’s Labels ●Kemps Give ‘Em Five Milk Caps ●Empty Ink cartridges ●Used Cell Phones
Free & Reduced Lunch Program
The district participates in the federal government program that assists families in breakfast and lunch costs. The Free and Reduced Lunch Program applications are given to all SV families. This application information is kept confidential. We encourage any family who believes they may qualify for the service (such as parents who are self-employed) to apply as the applications have a dramatic, positive impact on some of our school finance formulas. Interested parties can get more info from the elementary office or Ruth Veith, our Food Service Supervisor.
For more information, call 778-5602 or click on the School District of Spring Valley web site at: www.springvalley.k12.wi.us
Spring Valley Elementary School Fall Newsletter October 2008
Pierce County Health Survey
Pierce County Health is again collaborating with area schools to track illness within school districts. Spring Valley Elementary reports once a week to Pierce County Health on how many students were out ill and what sickness they had. This has been an effective tool in monitoring illness not only in our schools, but also in our communities. Please remember to report if you child is ill and his/her sickness early in the morning. If a parent/guardian has not reported an absence, someone in the office will call your home by 10:00am. Thanks for your cooperation!
Hot Handbook Items
Listed below are reminders out of the current handbook. p. 14 “It is strongly recommended that electronic items such as CD players, iPods, radios, walkman, headsets, boom boxes, tape recorders and electronic games not be brought to school due to the possibility of damage, disturbances or theft.” p. 12 “We do ask that birthday invitations NOT be handed out at school, but are instead MAILED to students’ homes and/or distributed out after school hours. Students’ feelings are easily hurt and mailing invitations helps minimize the hurt feelings.” p. 23 “CHANGE IN DAILY ROUTINE: If your child is leaving school at the end of the day and going any place other than where he/she usually is dropped off (home, babysitter’s, grandparent’s, etc) you MUST send a note to your child’s teacher informing him/her of this change. Otherwise your child will be sent to his regular destination. To avoid confusion, we ask that you send a WRITTEN NOTE.”
Lost and Found Reminder
We have already accumulated many items in our lost and found this year. If you are in the school, please take the time to check the lost and found for an item that may belong to your child. Once again, we will display the lost and found during conferences, so please be sure to check for that near the office. Also, please remember we can almost immediately return an item if it is clearly labeled with the child’s name.
SV Elementary Upcoming Events
Parent-Teacher Conf. 3:30–7:30 pm following the normal school day October 17 NO SCHOOL-Parent-Teacher Conf. 8:00amnoon, then Teacher Inservice October 27 – Nov 21 Statewide ‘Wisconsin Knowledge & Concepts Exam’ (WKCE) window - for Gr. 3 through 6 October 29 Picture Retake Day (am) October 31 Halloween observed at SVE November 07 Early Release for teacher team planning. Elem. dismissal @ 1:15 p.m. November 17 Report Cards sent home with students November 26-28 NO SCHOOL December 04 SV Elementary Intervention Conferences 3:30-7:30 pm December 05 Muffins for Moms 7:30-8:00am December 05 Early Release for teacher team planning. Elem. dismissal @ 1:15 p.m. December 12 Doughnuts for Dads 7:30-8:00am December 17 SV Elementary Holiday Concert (5K-6th grade) @ 1:00 p.m. in the SVE gym December 23 SVE Classroom Holiday Parties December 24-January 02 NO SCHOOL January 05 School Resumes January 05 SVE ‘Battle of the Books’ begins January 22 END OF 1st SEMESTER January 23 NO SCHOOL – Teacher Inservice Day February 02-20 Wisconsin DPI Open Enrollment timeline February 05 Wellness Walk & Announcements in the gym (8:15-8:30 am) February 06 Report Cards sent home with students October 16 SVE
Student Assurance Services is offering optional insurance protection while your child is at school. There are a variety of coverage plans to choose from for a nominal fee. If you choose to apply, please send your enrollment envelope to the elementary office.
Student Insurance Available
Family Access
The district is again offering the program that allows you to view your own SV student’s attendance, health records, and food service information via the Internet, anytime, day or night. Passwords remain the same as last year and are available at open house or through the office once the school year begins.
‘Fabulous Friday Footie Foodtime Follies!’
On the 3rd Friday of each month, students who wish to will again have a chance to “perform” in the cafeteria for the lunchtime crowd on Fridays. During the last ten minutes of the class’ lunch, students will have the chance to show their talents.
“Students, do you have a special talent? Could you: • play an instrument? sing a song? read a poem? • perform a two or three person skit? Show your talent at the ‘Fabulous Friday Footie Foodtime Follies!’ by having a teacher sign you up in the office.”
“I am a Spring Valley Elementary student.”
Every day I LEARN and GROW. I take PRIDE in my work. I take PRIDE in my school. I am a good LISTENER. I treat others with RESPECT. I will work hard to make HEALTHY CHOICES. I am SAFE, HONEST, and RESPONSIBLE.
For more information, call 778-5602 or click on the School District of Spring Valley web site at: www.springvalley.k12.wi.us
Spring Valley Elementary School Fall Newsletter October 2008
Internet Safety:
“Good Kids Can Get in Trouble on the Web Too !”
The Internet can be a wonderful resource for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games. Kids who are old enough to punch in a few letters on the keyboard can literally access the world.
But that access can also pose hazards. For example, an 8‐year‐old might do an online search for "Lego." But with just one missed keystroke, the word "Legs" is entered instead, and the child may be directed to a slew of websites with a focus on legs — some of which may contain very specific, questionable material.
That's why it's important to be aware of what your kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online.
Just like any safety issue, it's wise to talk with your kids about your concerns, take advantage of resources to protect them, and keep a close eye on their activities.
Plenty of adults have a hard time resisting the plethora of temptations provided by the Internet. You probably know one of these adults…or know their spouse, coworker, or boss. Many of them are bright and even well educated, but they've still fallen prey to online gambling, dating, shopping, other inappropriate adult sites, etc. If adults are struggling so much with these issues, don't for a minute believe that your kids won't too…even if they are "good" kids. Many great and responsible young people have made mistakes that have got them into massive trouble on the Internet. That's why it's wise to never let your guard down when it comes to the sorts of things your youngsters are accessing. Listed below are some quick tips for keeping your kids…and yourself…safe: Just like televisions, keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms, where you can watch and monitor its use. Don't allow them to have computers in their rooms.
Regard the Internet as a very useful yet dangerous tool. Teach your kids that it's very similar to a chainsaw: useful in well–trained and mature hands…yet deadly in careless ones.
Remember that it's your job as a parent to invade your kids' privacy. If you don't know what they are doing on the Web, you aren't doing your job.
Remember that Love and Logic believes that kids should be allowed to learn from making affordable mistakes. Chatting with pedophiles or ogling “adult” sites are NOT one of these. Information from Dr. Charles Fay, Love and Logic Institute, Inc. www.loveandlogic.com and www.kidshealth.org
Love and Logic Institute, Inc. America’s Parenting Experts 2207 Jackson Street, Golden, CO 80401 1‐800‐338‐4065
www.loveandlogic.com
*Much of what we do for kids at SVE to help them ‘learn and grow’ is based on the work of Charles Fay and Foster Kline of the Love and Logic Institute, Inc.
For more information, call 778-5602 or click on the School District of Spring Valley web site at: www.springvalley.k12.wi.us