Prairie View Elementary
January 2024 Monthly Newsletter
Principal's Note
Happy New Year! As we embark on the exciting journey of 2024, I am filled with gratitude for the wonderful year we shared in 2023. I hope each of you had a joyous holiday season surrounded by loved ones. Welcome back to Prairie View, where the spirit of learning and community thrives. The start of a new year is always a time for reflection and renewal, and I'm eager to continue our collaborative efforts to create a positive and enriching environment for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and here's to another year of growth, learning, and success at PVES.
Warm regards,
Valerie Vos, Principal
School Counselor Note
Dear Families,
It’s that time of year. The holidays are over but there is still so much winter ahead of us! SEL lessons this month will focus on emotions for grades K-5. We will talk about recognizing our own feelings, recognizing the feelings of others, showing empathy, and acting on that empathy with kindness.
Your child is learning that emotions are important because they give us helpful information about what’s happening in our daily lives. For example, fear might tell us we might be in danger. Anger might tell us that something around us isn’t right. In addition, students learn to identify when and how they can take a break to help calm strong emotions.
Research shows that children who learn the skills in this unit are more likely to: develop stronger coping skills, be better problem-solvers, make better decisions, and build stronger relationships.
At home, please practice: Help your child think about when and how to take a break at home. Then, when your child is experiencing a strong emotion such as anger, ask, “Would now be a good time to take a break?” Also, notice and praise your child when they choose to take a break at home. They may find a comfortable corner or just put their head down for a few minutes. You can say, Good job taking a break when you needed it.
We will also be learning how empathy and kindness can help strengthen friendships as well as make new friends. Students learn the meaning of empathy—feeling or understanding what someone else is feeling—and how it can help them be kind in ways their friends will appreciate. They practice empathy in action by asking questions to learn more about what someone might want or need and then following up with an act of kindness.
Showing kindness is also something you can practice at home. If you hear your child mention a friend who’s going through a hard time, encourage them to think of something they could do to show they care. For example, your child could make a get-well card for a friend who stayed home sick. Likewise, if a friend has something to celebrate, your child could tell them, “I’m so happy for you!”
As always, please let me know if your family is interested in learning more.
Mrs. Toelle
Book Club Fan Club in February
Any 2nd-3rd grade reader is welcome to read an Ivy & Bean book by Annie Barrows and submit this completed form to Mrs. Mack by Wednesday, January 31. The Ivy & Bean Fan Club will meet on Friday, February 2 after school to discuss our favorite series, enjoy snacks, and watch the movie adaptation of an Ivy & Bean book!
All 4th-5th grade readers are encouraged to read a book by Kate Dicamillo and submit this completed form to Mrs. Mack by Wednesday, February 7. The Kate Dicamillo Fan Club will meet on Friday, February 9 after school to discuss our favorite books, compare and contrast lead characters, enjoy snacks, and watch the movie adaptation of The Magician's Elephant.
Please email Mrs. Mack at mackan@masd.k12.wi.us with questions about our PVES Fan Clubs Nights. Thanks for supporting our readers!
PVES Yearbook Online Ordering
Order your yearbook for the 2023/2024 school year! Link below.
Deadline to order a yearbook is February 5th, 2024.
Calling in Absences
Indoor or Outdoor Recess?
Students will be going outside unless air temperature or wind chill drop below 0.
**PLEASE NOTE** All students are expected to participate in our scheduled recesses. Students will only be allowed to stay in from outdoor recess with a signed, medical excuse from their doctor.
PVES PTO
A great way to learn more about Prairie View, connect with parents, and get involved is to attend a PTO meeting. The goal of the PTO is to support students and teachers as well as build a strong "school-family-community" connection.
JOIN US FOR THE PTO MEETING ON JANUARY 8TH!
Meeting starts at 7:00 PM and are located in the Prairie View Library.
Google Meet Link to Join Virtual Meeting
Click HERE to earn more about the PVES PTO, upcoming events, meetings, and ways to get involved.
Student Directory Friendly Reminder: Enter your student(s) in the Student Directory (Link to PTBoard). All PVES families will have access to PVES students that have entered their information. This is contact information families can use to get together for play dates and to send out birthday party invites. A new student directory is created every year.
Free and Reduced Lunch Program
If at any time during the school year you have a change in your household income (i.e. due to a
change in job or marital status,) you may still apply for free or reduced-price school lunches. The
information you provide on your application will be used to determine eligibility only. If you have any questions, please contact Pam Harris, District Food Service Supervisor at 363-6200 ext. 25601.
Resources for Homeless Students and Families
Are you experiencing a transition in housing due to financial hardship? Visit Resources for Homeless Students and Families
Registration for Tom Farley Presentation
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 16, and join us at Brooklife Church at 6 p.m. to hear Tom Farley in the latest of our parent series on mental health. Farley is the community relations coordinator for Rosecrance and the brother of the late Chris Farley. Farley will share his personal story and the impact substance abuse has had on him and his family.
While the event is free and open to the public. Free child care will be provided.
Intra-District Transfer Requests
Elementary schools are accepting intra-district transfer requests. Intra-district transfers are requests for a district resident student to attend a Mukwonago Area School District elementary school outside his or her attendance area. Parents desiring a transfer for their son or daughter must complete a form and submit to the building principal of their current home school. Home school principals will notify the requested school of transfer papers. Transportation to attend a school outside of the home area is the responsibility of the parent. Students who are already attending a school as an intra-district transfer do not need to re-apply; however, new family members would need to do so.
Written transfer requests for the next school year can begin on January 4th. If there are more requests than seats, students will be selected on a lottery basis. See School Board Policy IEB for the full set of criteria governing intra-district transfers.
VISION & HEARING SCREEN TIME! FEBRUARY 8TH
Vision and hearing screens will take place at your child’s school in February. First graders will receive both vision and hearing screenings, and kindergarten, third and fifth graders will receive vision screening.
Your child will receive a copy of the screening results. The form will indicate if no further evaluation is needed or if follow up is recommended with a Physician, Optometrist, or Audiologist for further evaluation. Results will be documented in your child’s school health record and available to parent/guardian upon request.
If you have a child in second, fourth, and sixth grade, and feel they would benefit from a vision or hearing screen at this time, please contact your child’s school health assistant to request a vision or hearing screen for your child. If you would prefer not to have your child screened at this time, please contact your child’s school health assistant.
Hearing screening will be done on Thursday, February 8th at Prairie View Elementary.
4K (2024/2025) Parent Info Night
A 4K parent information night will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Greenwald Foundation Performing Arts Center at Mukwonago High School. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Parents interested in more information about the MASD 4K program and our community partners should plan to attend!
Details and dates regarding enrollment for 2024-25 will be released at a later date.
For additional information, visit our 4K Information webpage.
Important Upcoming Dates
1/2 School Resumes
1/6 Harlem Wizards Games @ 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
1/8 PTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m. PVES Library
1/ Progress Report sent to all parents
1/15 No School
1/23 4K Parent Information Night
1/25 No School
Prairie View ElementarySchool
Email: vosva@masd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.masd.k12.wi.us/schools/prairie-view/
Location: w330s6473 County Road E, North Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: 262-392-6310