Salford Hills Link
Staying Connected During the Mandatory Closure
May 20, 2020
LINK #7
Important Home and School News
If you have any questions, please contact our Home and School secretary, Stacy Caldwell. (stacycaldwell@gmail.com)
Our School Year Comes to a Close
I ask that you review the calendar below which details end of year activities and deadlines. Of note:
- New academic learning ends Friday, May 29
- Last mandatory Connections end Friday, May 29. Some teachers may decide to have one more class connection on June 1-3.
- Teachers will hold office hours and are available via e-mail through and including June 3.
- The last 8 days of the academic year (June 1-10) will highlight ungraded enrichment activities, our all-district book Humphrey, and four special days; Art Day, Music Day, PE Day and Library Day. I'm excited about these editions, the perfect opportunity to wind down our distance learning experience.
- In lieu of standard Progress Reports, teachers will directly e-mail Progress Summaries which highlight student strengths and area to grow in addition to making general recommendations for making Fall preparations. Summer will be an important time of learning in our Covid-19 world, and we'll offer a menu of options as to how students can stay sharp for the new year.
As we approach the end, I invite our students to finish strong! Much opportunity awaits, and I wouldn't want them to miss a single bit of it! Thank you for providing what our children need to be successful in a challenging environment. I am so appreciative.
Respectfully,
Dave Purnell, Ed.D.
Principal, Salford Hills
Humphrey Begins Today!
A Book Connection (ABC)!
#SASD_ABC - #SoudyStrong
Today’s (Wednesday, May 20th) ABC chapter is:
Chapter 1 - Strange Change
Use the links below for today’s chapter of Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty Birney:
- Chapter Introduction
- Mystery Reader - ENGLISH | SPANISH
- Extension Activities - ENGLISH | SPANISH | VIETNAMESE
REMINDER: All ABC links will be posted in Schoology for elementary and sent through parent e-mail for K-12. Stay tuned for a new chapter introduction and mystery reader each school day through Wednesday, June 10th.
Don't forget to share your reading experience using #SASD_ABC and #SoudyStrong.
Fifth Grade Only: Transition to Indian Valley
Dear 5th Grade Parent/Guardian,
The Indian Valley teachers, staff, and I welcome you and your children in transitioning to Indian Valley Middle School for 2020-2021. This e-mail begins our transition process with many more correspondences to follow. I know that you will have many questions and we are here to help in any capacity. Please review the information below and who to reach out to if needed.
Transition Videos
Using a nontraditional format, we are beginning the 5th to 6th grade transition process for the 2020-2021 year. The IV staff have created videos explaining components of the transition for you to view (scheduling, counselor services, our WEB program, and teaming). Please view the videos using the links below. Note that the intro to each video showcases one of our 6th grade teams and the teachers on the team. Our 6th grade teams are Ares, Olympia, Odyssey, Nike, and Marathon.
Elective Course Selection Form for Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Participants
The 5th to 6th grade related arts course selection form is a Google Form that will only be completed by students participating in band, chorus, or orchestra. Students and parents received information from Mr. Ryan Pongras and Mr. Eric Stover. Please refer to their information sent to all 5th grade students and parents currently participating in band, chorus, or orchestra classes. You can also contact Mr. Pongras at rpongras@soudertonsd.org or Mr. Stover at estover@soudertonsd.org.
Accelerated Math
Information was sent to all 5th grade parents regarding the accelerated math program. The information has also been posted as an announcement to each elementary school Web site’s home page – e.g. https://oakridge.soudertonsd.org, https:///salfordhills.soudertonsd.org, https://vernfield.soudertonsd.org. Please check out the information and complete the opt-in form if your child is interested in applying for the accelerated math program in 6th grade.
Contact with Questions
If you have any questions pertaining to any of the above information, please contact:
- Ms. Jen Toby, counselor for students with last names beginning with the letter A and ending with the letters Lh - jtoby@soudertonsd.org
- Mrs. Kristen Raught, counselor for students with last names beginning with the letters Li and ending with Z - kraught@soudertonsd.org
- Dr. Catherine Heller, Assistant Principal and Master Scheduler - cheller@soudertonsd.org
You can also contact me with questions.
Sincerely,
Jeff Pammer, Ed.D.
Principal, Indian Valley Middle School
Third and Fourth Grade Only: Register to Play an Instrument in the Fall
Third and Fourth grade students have the opportunity to sign-up for an instrument in the 2020/2021 school year. Both NEW and RETURNING students must register. Please check out the instrumental presentation created by the elementary music department in an effort to guide your choices. We look forward to seeing you in the band and orchestra next year!
Would you Plant a Garden This Summer?
Here's a little video that some fifth graders made with the help of Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Pfeil. We're having a hard time starting our garden this year and we're feeling badly about all the folks at the Keystone Opportunity Center who may be missing out on the many, many vegetables we usually donate. So the video encourages families to start their own garden that will benefit not only their own family but maybe others, too. It's a kindness project that fits right in at Salford Hills.
We put the link at the bottom, so we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Better yet, we hope you'll plant a garden this year and think about sharing some of your produce with those who may really need it. Thanks to many fifth graders who participated and continue to make their mark on a school I know they love.
First of all, a little disclaimer:
The linked sites contained in this video are not under the control of the School District, and the School District is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. The School District is providing this link to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site(s) by the School District.
Now, enjoy the video!
Here's the LINK: https://satv.viebit.com/player.php?hash=dEkA2uBfCul3
Here are the YouTube links contained in the video:
- 14 Store Bought Vegetables & Herbs You Can Regrow
https://safeYouTube.net/w/yoYD
- How to Regrow Everything
https://safeYouTube.net/w/hqYD
Dear SASD Parent/Guardian,
*Online store sale ends this Friday, May 22nd.
*Teacher and staff appreciation donations should be completed by Friday, June 5th.
On behalf of the Indian Valley Education Foundation (IVEF) Board of Directors, we send our well wishes. We have seen this community at its best on so many levels over the past several weeks. Those who have been able to help are doing so in incredible ways, and those who need help are able to find it through many of the resources available across the area.
The IVEF is working in partnership with many local organizations who are providing food and other necessities by maintaining a newsletter, updated regularly with the most current resources available.
Additionally, we have worked in partnership with SASD to provide technology to students to allow for online learning and will be starting a district wide reading initiative for all families with students in kindergarten through 5th grade. More information will be forthcoming this week. These are only a few examples of the way the IVEF is working to support our schools and school community.
We are aware of what a difficult time this is for many of our SASD families and want you to be assured that we remain committed to our partnership with the Souderton Area School District and providing resources and opportunities to the students and teachers. If you are in a position to support our work at this time, we have two opportunities for you to do so right now. Please see the opportunities to help IVEF support SASD.
Thank you for your consideration,
The Indian Valley Education Foundation
Kindergarten Registration Open!
Important End of Year Information
Dear SASD Parent/Guardian,
As we move closer to summer, I am writing to share our plans for finishing out this school year – a year which has brought challenges none of us could have anticipated.
As you know, at the end of each year we begin to wind down our academic calendar with field trips, celebrations, awards ceremonies, and other fun events and activities to honor our students’ many achievements, and to simply bring them together as a community. This year, we will continue to do this as much as possible, but in a different way.
We will also use the last few days with our teachers to continue to plan and train for the coming 2020-2021 school year. The school closure and move to online learning has dramatically changed our educational landscape, and while no one is yet certain what the coming year will look like, we are planning for a wide variety of scenarios. These planning and training days will help ensure we are prepared to welcome students back to the learning environment, whatever the new year may bring. Enrichment opportunities for students such as the ABC Book Project, virtual field trips, and other engaging activities for kids of all ages will be available for students on these days. These activities will not be graded, but students are highly encouraged to participate.
We recognize parents may have concerns about material that our students may have missed during the closure. Our school district excels in differentiating instruction to meet the diverse learning needs and levels of all of our students, and to teach in ways that are meaningful to each of our learners. We have every confidence that our teachers and administrators will work effectively with all of our students to get them up to speed and on track during the start of the coming school year.
Please take a moment to view this calendar and read the accompanying information regarding important events as we close out the 2019-2020 school year:
This is a school year like no other. We are here for our students and our parents. We are Souderton Strong: A team of passionate, talented educators who care deeply for the children we educate and the community we serve. I continue to be grateful for the patience and compassion of our entire school community.
Sincerely,
Frank T. Gallagher, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
A Generous Salford Hills Community Reaches Out to Help
How Can We Help?
Salford Hills Elementary School
Fundamentally committed to each other, we at Salford Hills are a caring community of learners who value each individual’s intrinsic worth and potential.
In our supportive environment, learners are encouraged to achieve high standards by developing responsibility for their learning through authentic experiences that require hard work, critical thinking and reflection.
Learning is a process that positively impacts the future.
Website: http://salfordhills.soudertonsd.org/
Location: 2721 Barndt Road, Harleysville, PA, United States
Phone: 610-287-9197
Twitter: @SASD_SalfordHil