Principal's Page
Middlesex Valley Elementary News
May 2016
Dates to Remember:
- May 17th Budget Vote
- May 27th Half Day K-5
- May 27th No UPK
- May 30th No School - Memorial Day
- June 6th Board of Education Meeting - 6:30 PM
- June 14th Flag Day Celebration—Students should wear red, white and blue
- June 17th Valley Palooza
- June 20th Last Day of UPK
- June 21st Last Day of School K-2
- June 21st Kindergarten Concert
- June 24th Report Cards Mailed Home
Warmer Weather
Dressing For the Warmer Weather
Here are a few reminders regarding dressing your child for school during the warmer weather. Children are not to wear hats in the building once the school day has begun. Hats can be worn during outdoor play. We strongly recommend that students wear sneakers to school each day. Flip-flops and strapless sandals are a safety hazard on stairs and on the playground and should not be worn to school. Sneakers are required for physical education and on the playground.
The way a student is dressed should not in any way interfere with the learning process. In hot weather, students are asked to come to school in clothing that helps prevent sun exposure to sensitive areas such as shoulders and upper arms. Tube tops, and bare midriffs are not allowed. Parents are encouraged to apply sunscreen to their child before they come to school, we cannot apply sunscreen to your child.
UPK and Kindergarten Registration
Children who turn five years old on or before December 1, 2016 are eligible for Kindergarten. If your child is NOT currently enrolled in the Middlesex Valley UPK program, you need to register your child for Kindergarten. Children who turn four years old on or before December 1, 2016 are eligible for UPK. We encourage you to please register as soon as possible to guarantee a placement for next year’s UPK program as spaces are limited. Registration Packets can be picked up at Middlesex Valley Primary School or from the Marcus Whitman School District website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the main office at Middlesex Valley Primary School at 585-554-3115.
Finding the time to read....
I know you must be busy, because I find myself busier than ever and my three children are all living independently and you have at least one primary aged child in your home. Each newsletter I have listed books which fit the season or another theme, I will do this again this month, however I also want to share some ways to help you create a literacy environment at home.
Parents don't have to invest a lot of money in materials to have a literate home. When you do not have the time to stop and read to your child, there are some ways you can support the literacy development of your child.
One way to support your child with literacy development is to create a home with literacy areas. Creating comfortable areas to read independently and having books available within a child’s reach at anytime of the day sends the message to your child that reading can happen at anytime and is an activity you encourage them to participate in. You make literacy fun if books are as readily available as toys. Reading can be viewed as a fun activity, reading is for pleasure and relaxation...not a chore!
In addition to having an area for reading, parents create a literate home environment when they encourage children to write. Parents can set up a chalkboard or white board in the kitchen where children can imitate them making grocery lists or writing notes to other family members. Children also need accessibility to paper, markers, and crayons so they can "write" letters to grandparents, practice writing their names or just do scribble writing.
Having a literate home develops in young children a love for reading and writing. I encourage you to take the time to look around your home and ask yourself if you have created areas where your child can interact independently with books and writing activities. If the answer is no, please consider creating at least one area for independent literacy.