GVES Summer Update
July 27, 2018
Summer Events
8/17: Class Lists Released on Alma
8/20: Future Ready Boot Camp
8/22: 3rd Grade Transition Camp
8/22: New Family Luncheon
8/23: Building Tours (must register below)
8/29: Open House
8/31: VEFLS - Voluntary Elementary Foreign Language Studies Early Registration Deadline (see more info below)
New Open House for Next Year
We are excited to announce a new event to start the next school year! On August 29th, all three elementary schools will be hosting an Open House in the afternoon so that students and their families can visit the schools and meet their teachers before school officially start. The schedule has been developed with families in multiple schools and siblings in mind. It will be split into two sessions to accommodate the parking needed for this new event. We look forward to starting the school year with our students, families, and all teachers!
Click here for background information on the new Open House
August 23rd Building Tours
Guided school tours are being offered by Dr. Kotch & Mrs. Jones on Thursday, August 23rd. These tours are for families who cannot attend the Open House on August 29th. Since Sneak a Peek was previously in two separate weeks, we are offering the tours for this year in the week prior to the Open House. For next year, the Open House will be the only transition event. Please plan vacations accordingly for next summer if you'd like to attend the Open House.
Tours are being offered at 5, 5:30, 6, and 6:30PM on August 23rd. Please register in advance. There will not be any Home & School events during the tours.
A separate form is setup for each tour time. Please register for the time that you'd like. Space is limited for each time. If the time you selected is not available, please try another time.
5:00PM Tour
5:30PM Tour
6:00PM Tour
6:30PM Tour
If you have any questions about the tours, please call our office at 610.579.4150.
We look forward to seeing you in August! Thank you.
New Website
The new web address for our school is gves.garnetvalleyschools.com.
Links in our announcements are all updated and active again.
Voluntary Elementary Foreign Language Studies
Sign up for Band and Orchestra
Don't forget to sign up for band or orchestra! All incoming 4th and 5th graders are welcome to sign up. Lessons will begin in September. Please click here to register.
Contact Mrs. Burke (orchestra) or Mr. Olson (band) with any questions you may have.
Mrs. Burke: burkej@garnetvalley.org
Mr. Olson: olsonj@garnetvalley.org
Band and Orchestra Schedule for 2018-2019
Monday - 4th Orchestra in LGI
Tuesday - 5th Orchestra in LGI, 4th Band in Cafeteria
Wednesday - Wind Ensemble in LGI
Thursday - 5th Band in Cafeteria
Summer Mailing Information
New Digital Emergency Card and Parent Agreement Forms
All Garnet Valley School District emergency cards and parent forms will now be completed online usingFamilyID. This means that all of the information that was once mailed home and stored on paper is now digital, making the process for both our parents and staff more efficient. Family ID is a secure registration platform that provides families with an easy, user-friendly way to complete school emergency cards, sign school policies, media releases, and more. FamilyID also helps the district to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, the system keeps track of your information in your FamilyID profile. You enter your information only once for each family member for multiple uses and multiple programs.
Please click here to access the FamilyID Site and create or sign into your account (top right corner of the page). All emergency cards should be completed before the start of school.
New Progress Report for 2018-2019
Our GVSD elementary progress report is updated for the 2018-2019 school year to reflect current trends in education. It remains anchored in a standards based reporting principle where students’ progress towards standards is indicated along with reporting on the Qualities of a Learner. The updated progress report enhances the Qualities of a Learner to reflect 21st century skills and updates academic indicators to be more accessible to students and parents/guardians. Characteristics of an ideal progress report were identified through research on assessment and best practice, examining samples from other districts, and by defining those qualities essential in our own district.
The recent updates were created to achieve different goals. The updated progress report provides more information to parent/guardians, has a consistent grade scale across K-5 via a new rubric, reflects elements of current instructional practices like reading workshop, and will include the level of books the student is reading.
Student progress on each Quality of a Learner and academic indicator will be reported using a 4-point rubric. This rubric is a departure from previously used state reporting language and intended to be more student-centered. The rubric was designed so that grades do not indicate the end of the learning progress. The student score on the rubric informs the student and parent/guardian of where the student currently is on a learning continuum.
A full description of the new progress report will be included in the Elementary Handbook that will be sent to parents when back to school information is sent out.
New District App
Please click here for directions on how to download the new app.
New Absence Reporting System
Please click here for directions on how to use your phone, app, or computer to report an absence.
Transportation Information
The Garnet Valley School District is pleased to introduce a new feature of our bus routing system for the 2018-2019 school year. InfoFinder-i provides online access to assist in finding your child’s bus number, pick-up/drop-off locations and times.
InfoFinder-i allows you to:
- Find your child’s designated bus stop;
- Find the estimated pick-up/drop-off times for your child’s bus stop;
- Locate which school your child would attend if you are planning to move.
This feature will be available beginning August 15, 2018. Parents/guardians are encouraged to check InfoFinder-i periodically between August 15th and the start of school as pick-up and drop-off times may be slightly altered due to daily enrollment changes.
Also, please read this very important procedure change for the 2018-2019 school year. You will also be receiving additional information with detailed instructions on InfoFinder-i the week of August 6th.
Please click here to access the site. Please note, busing information will not be finalized until August 15, 2018, so any information on this site before that date may not be accurate.
Summer Reading for Students Entering Grades 3, 4, and 5
Summer Math
Packet for students entering 4th grade
Jaguarmax Radio Podcast - Final Episode from 17/18
End of Year Residency Changes
You must update any changes in residency status or address with our Administrative Offices at the Education Center, not at the building level. Contact Administration at 610-579-7300 if you need a Change of Address Form and/or if you have questions regarding what is accepted as proof of new address. Note: ALL change of address paperwork requires 2 proofs of residence.
If you are moving out of district over the summer, you must fill out withdraw paperwork which is available in the GVES Main Office.
Finally, if your Proof of Residence expires over the summer, your Alma access and start of the school year information will be held until residency is updated.
School Supplies
18/19 Back to School Nights
Thursday, September 13: 4th Grade--7:00pm
10 Summer Movies to Broaden Kids' Perspectives
Common Sense Education recommends checking out these movies over the summer to get students thinking and reflecting. Enjoy a family movie together and some conversation afterward.
Connect with GVES! Now Podcasting!
Information from the Office
Volunteer Clearances - School volunteers are required to have clearances on file with the District Office. More information is here.
Alma Student Information System - To access your parent/guardian account, go to https://gves.getalma.com/ .
Attendance - Automated calls go out around 10AM when a student is absent. There is no call-in line. More attendance info is here.
Garnet Valley Elementary School
"A Caring Community of Learners"
Est. 1997
The mission of our learning community is to maximize the potential of all students by empowering them to do their personal best.
Website: gves.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 599 Smithbridge Rd
Phone: (610) 579-4150
Facebook: facebook.com/GarnetValleyES
Twitter: @GarnetValleyES