Viking Pride - March 27, 2021
Whether you are a roomie or a zoomie, see you Monday!
Hello Valhalla Families and Staff,
Thank you so much for all of the support and feedback this week. We had a very successful two days with TK, K, 1 and 2 of group B with the afternoons both via Zoom and in person! We can't wait to see group A on Monday!
Here are a few reminders and tips:
Please fill out the compact (just one time) if you are attending in person.
Please fill out the daily health form on the days your student is coming to Valhalla.
We have paper copies in the office of all forms and the handbook.
We encourage you to walk to school, or park and then walk in to campus.
Parents, please remind your kids how they will be picked up in the afternoon, walking, by car, etc. and by whom.
Please don't forget to send your students with a water bottle.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Respectfully,
Theodora Pappas, Principal
925-687-1700
Free COVID-19 Testing Available March 30 and 31 at MDUSD Schools:
For the week of March 22 - 26, COVID-19 testing times and locations are available at our school sites.
These COVID-19 tests are now available to parents, students, and staff.
Tuesday, March 30
2:00PM - 5:00PM at College Park High, Concord High, Mt. Diablo High, Northgate High, and Ygnacio Valley High
Wednesday, March 31
3:00PM - 5:00PM at Riverview Middle School
3:00PM - 4:00PM at Oak Grove Middle School
Please click here for the complete family letter in English & Spanish
Please complete compact for all in-person students:
This compact needs to be completed before students can resume in-person learning. It would be very helpful for us if you are able to fill it out as soon as possible:
MDUSD Family Compact in English google form
MDUSD Family Compact in Spanish google form
*We have hard copies in the office available upon request.
Daily Student Health Form:
Please use the link below:
Daily Student Health Form: link English
Daily Student Health Form: link Spanish
*We have hard copies in the office available upon request.
VALHALLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Reconnect Safely, Return Strong PROTOCOLS & PROCEDURES
*We have had copies available in the office available upon request.
It was a super safe, smooth and fun two days at Valhalla!
Thank you VPFA for the delicious lunch!
Miss Rebecca, Miss Pappas and Mr. Ken greeting and helping students!
Our campus supervisors are so happy to be back with our students! Miss Debbie, Miss Andee and Mr. Kevin!
Mrs. Rodezno is so happy to meet her students live!
Thank you Dr. Clark for visiting and supporting Valhalla!
Mrs. Fairbanks is explaining recess!
So much fun using the "big toy"!
Hello Miss Fivey!
Thank you Mr. Murray for waling out to recess so safely!
Thank you Mr. Ken for helping!
Check out Miss Fivey's class drawing self-portraits!
Directed drawing in Ms. Robinette's class.
Recess is so fun and safe!
Who are you going to call?
Mr. Ken - GERMBUSTERS!
Thank you Mr. Kevin for inflating and delivering sports equipment!
Thank you Mr. Murray for teaching basketball skills!
So much fun on the swings!
Check out Mrs. Young's super fancy face shield!
A wonderful story with Mrs. Richards!
Great job to all of our TK, K, 1 and 2 students! Both in-person and hybrid afternoons were amazing!
Deadline to Purchase Yearbooks - April 8th!
The deadline to purchase our Valhalla yearbook is April 8th (next Thursday!). This has been a year to remember! If you haven't yet - please send any photos to be considered for the yearbook during distance learning to: Valhallayearbook@mdusd.org
The awesome thing about TreeRing (our yearbook company) is that they plant one tree for every yearbook purchased, you can customize two pages for your child AND it's also a fundraiser for our school!
To purchase, go to: www.treering.com/validate
Enter our school code: 1015925122132765
Price: $25.00 (plus tax)
Deadline to order: April 8th.
We can't wait to see your student's pictures in the yearbook! :)
March
3-31, Wednesday (all students via zoom) Read - a -Thon Kickoff! 📚
April
4-2 Friday, Cesar Chavez Day no school
4-5 - 4-9, Spring break! No school. 🌞
4-12 & 4-13, TK-5 hybrid, Group A
4/14, Wednesday (all students via zoom)
4/15 & 16, Thursday & Friday hybrid, Group B
VPFA News & Updates:
Valhalla Viking families!
We are just 4 days away from the launch of the Valhalla Read-a-thon!!
Check out the Read-a-thon website at https://ischoolsjsu.libguides.com/ValhallaReadaThon or http://bit.ly/3a6Gai5 for more information.
Need something to post on your socials or email to family and friends asking for support? We've got you covered. Personalize the blurb below.
The countdown is on, Vikings! Let's get ready to READ!
Blurb:
Valhalla Elementary kicks off its annual Read-a-thon on March 31. This is an event we love because it is designed to enrich students' lives with reading while raising money to support the things we love about Valhalla. You can help [NAME] develop a lifelong love of learning through reading with your support. Are you in? If so I will sign you up on [NAME]'s pledge form. You can sponsor [him/her/them] with a flat rate (ex. $25) or by the minute (ex. $0.10/min) or by the hour (ex. $1/hr). At the end of the Read-a-thon on April 14, I will let you know the total time [NAME] spent reading and we can celebrate with a victory dance. You can then visit http://bit.ly/3r9QqLD to make your donation. Thank you for sponsoring [NAME] in [his/her/their] 2-week quest to read as much as possible because reading is our superpower.
A note from our VPFA President:
Dear Valhalla Families,
What a year it has been! Over the past year, you have likely been through a roller coaster of emotions and many of us are anxious to get back to as much normality as possible. While we still have a few months left in this school year, VPFA is starting to look forward to 2021-2022! We have so many great opportunities for parents to get involved at the school. There are several events that need chairs or co-chairs (Spring Auction, Welcome Back Dinner Dance etc.) and there are a few openings for other positions that have no current candidates that I would like to share with you about:
VPFA Treasurer – this is a very important role as this allows us to deposit and spend funds. Without a treasurer, we literally cannot function. This position does require some accounting or Quickbooks background, but we have an awesome treasurer this year who can help train you and be a resource.
Director of School Services – No experience necessary. Will work with chairs for events and projects like Red Ribbon Week, All-in-One and Yearbook.
Director of Community Events – No experience necessary. Will work with event chairs for events like Art Fair, Welcome Back Dinner Dance, Ice Cream Social etc.
If you like more information about these or other positions, please check out our webpage www.valhallavpfa.com and click on the VPFA Manual link. Or you can email vpfapresident@gmail.com with specific questions.
Get ready for Read-a-thon! It begins on March 31st and will be our BIGGEST fundraiser for this year. The great news is that 100% of the proceeds go directly to Valhalla and will be used for continuing to keep our instructional aides and increase our technology. All students are encouraged to participate even if they do not fundraise. Check out the plan on our website www.valhallavpfa.com or on Konstella. Huge thanks to Julie McPherson for her hard work putting this together.
We encourage you to attend the VPFA meeting on Wednesday April 14th at 6pm via zoom:
https://mdusd.zoom.us/j/5437538086?pwd=TXFxNEgxRzE4K01Ddk1qQXl1QnVCQT09
Meeting ID 543 753 8086
Password 2020
Thank you,
Marni Hutchins
VPFA President
Important Hybrid/Distance Learning (DL) Information:
Hello Valhalla Families,
We had a smooth and safe start to our hybrid program last week with TK, K, 1 and 2 of group B. We're looking forward to continuing with group A on Monday! Below are answers to questions I've been receiving:
When does the hybrid model start?
For TK-2 and our SDC classes, the hybrid model started Thursday, 3/25 at 12:30 PM. Hybrid A (Monday/Tuesday) in-person students for grades TK-5 start on Monday, 3/29.
Is any additional paperwork required before students begin in-person learning?
Yes. Families must complete the MDUSD Family Compact in English google form
MDUSD Family Compact in Spanish google form before returning to in-person learning.
In addition, all students must complete a daily health attestation: Daily Student Health Form: link English Daily Student Health Form: link Spanish
*Paper versions are available for both the compact and attestation in the office.
Will I be able to walk my child to their classroom?
Kinder & TK parents can walk their children directly to their door. For grades 1-5, you may walk your child to the front of the school and say goodbyes there, since we must limit the campus to students and staff only. Students can enter at both corridors and we have the fire lane closed.
What are the hours and where do we meet?
Hybrid and DL learning starts at 12:30 PM. TK and Kinder classes will dismiss at 2:45 PM. Grades 1-5 will end their day at 2:50 PM.
All students will go directly to their classrooms when they arrive.
Supervision starts at 12:20 PM; please do not arrive early. We are asking students to report directly to their classrooms when they arrive. We need to sanitize playground equipment between each hybrid class and we are asking students to refrain from playing before and after our hybrid classes to ensure everyone's safety.
Where do we pick students up at the end of the day?
Students who walk home will leave campus when class is dismissed. Students who are picked up by car will wait for you in the pick up circle (like last year) with myself or a noon supervisor. All other students will walk down with their teachers at the front of the school, to wait for their caregiver to pick them up on foot.
Can students bring food to school? Can they bring water bottles?
No food, please. Yes, we encourage students to bring filled water bottles to school. With the exception of our water-filling station in Thor Hall, all drinking fountains have been turned off.
Are there new norms and protocols to follow?
Yes. Below I have included the link for our new Valhalla Hybrid/DL Handbook. Our COVID-19 school safety plan includes stable groups, social distancing, face coverings, health screenings, healthy hygiene practices, and the identification and tracing of contacts as needed. https://docs.google.com/document/d/16_esu0K2Ka5QnosD3IEIi69lKpjkY8uwb1Gv_VLCKAc/edit?usp=sharing
*Paper copies are available of the Valhalla Hybrid/DL Handbook in the office.
What happens if my child doesn't feel well at school?
We will contact you and then wait with your child in our health room. Please pick them up as soon as possible.
Will my child have less virtual instruction time with their current teacher?
Yes. Many teachers have exceeded the 90 minute or 120 minute daily expectation to provide additional learning opportunities throughout this pandemic. Teachers need to modify instructional times when we transition to our hybrid/DL model because they need to be available for afternoon instruction.
Will students who remain in distance learning miss out on core instruction?
No. Core instruction will occur during the morning sessions. In the afternoons, teacher will offer additional academic support as needed. Socio-emotional learning will be prioritized.
Will students who are not participating in hybrid instruction receive additional teaching time in the afternoons?
Yes. Distance-only teachers will create new intervention/enrichment schedules for DL students and will meet with them in small groups twice a week.
When will I know who my hybrid teacher will be?
For grades TK-2 and SDC students, teachers will send introductory emails tomorrow. For grades 3-5, informative emails will arrive later this week.
Can I still change from DL to hybrid or vice versa?
Yes. Please email us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Will we still be in a hybrid/DL model in August?
I hope not! Fingers crossed we will back in school full-time in the fall.
How do I get more information?
Feel free to email me or call our office at (925) 687-1700.
Welcome Back!
Principal Pappas
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Email: Pappast@mdusd.org
Website: https://ves-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 530 Kiki Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Phone: (925)687-1700
Twitter: @VikingPridePH