GVES Summer Update
July 6, 2018
Summer Events
7/9: GVES Library Summer Hours - 9AM to 12PM - Come check out some books!
7/25: GVES Library Summer Hours - 12PM to 3PM - More books can be checked out!
8/17: Back to School Information Released
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
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!
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.
Summer Mailing Information
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.
Summer Reading for Students Entering Grades 3, 4, and 5
Summer Math
Packet for students entering 4th grade
Transportation Changes
With the exception of daycare arrangements, students will not be allowed to ride any bus home that they are not assigned to ride unless it is an extreme emergency. Therefore, students may not ride a different bus home with a friend. Students who need to go home with a friend from a different bus may be picked up in the car line once the school office is notified. Parents who have an emergency should call the transportation department to obtain permission for their child to ride an unauthorized bus.
We understand that many parents use after school daycare to accommodate their work schedules. The transportation department will transport students to certified daycare locations within the district. The maximum number of options that the district will transport students to is two different daycares within the district and to their home.
A form will be available on the transportation website to register for daycare transportation. The form must be filled out prior to the start of the school year. The deadline to complete this form is August 15th. This deadline will give the transportation department adequate time to adjust the bus routes to be ready for the start of the school year.
A parent may request that their child go to an existing stop on another bus for a daily daycare situation. This request will be granted as long as there is room on that bus. A stop will not be added to any route for daycare issues.
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