Viper Voice

It was another great week of learning here at SV! I want to thank each and every one of you who came out to support our school at our first PTSO Restaurant Night at Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers. It was a great turnout and these nights are always a fantastic way to support our school!

We are still on the lookout for any individuals interested in joining our SV family! We are looking for crossing guards to help out at drop off and pickup - from 8:00-8:45 AM AND/OR from 3:00-3:45 PM. We are also looking for a cook in our cafeteria from 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM. If you would like to find out more about these positions, please call our office!

Some reminders from our office:

• Please make sure that you call the attendance line if your student is going to be absent for any reason - (623) 376-4890
• Breakfast service begins at 8:10 AM, no students can be dropped off prior to 8:10 AM - as there is no adult supervision available.
• If your student has tutoring in the morning, please do not drop them off before 8:00 AM - as there is no adult supervision available.

This week:

• Monday, August 28
• Baseball/Softball Practice after school
• GenTech Club - Radical Robots (Room 712) after school
• NJHS Meeting (Room 608) after school
• Tuesday, August 29
• Baseball/Softball Practice after school
• Young Rembrandts Drawing Club (Room 517) after school
• Homeroom Parent Meeting - 6:30 PM in the Library
• Wednesday, August 30
• Team Connect Meeting (Room 608) - 8:00 AM
• Baseball/Softball Practice after school
• B.O.L.T.S. Club (Room 502) after school
• Chess Emporium Club (Room 514) after school
• Thursday, August 31
• Battle of the Books Club (Library) - 7:45 AM
• Baseball/Softball practice after school
• Friday, September 1
• 2:00 PM - Early Release for Teacher PLC's
  

Upcoming Events

• September 4 - School Closed for Labor Day
• September 15 - 2:00 PM - Early Release for Teacher Professional Development
• September 19 - 6:30 PM - PTSO Meeting in the Library

Volunteer Trainings (One Class Required for NEW Volunteers) - All trainings will be held in the SV Library

• September 6th - 6:00 PM - Volunteer Training
• October 30th - 8:45 AM - Volunteer Training

We are always excited to be able to welcome our parents/guardians back to help volunteer and visit at SV. If you would like to visit, we welcome you to come and eat lunch with your child in the MPR. Please arrive on time, and bring lunch only for your student - as we cannot have lunches passed out to other student or friends in the MPR for their safety. If you are interested in volunteering, we will soon welcome you back in our classrooms once we have our classroom procedures setup and in place. Mandatory volunteer training dates (required for all NEW volunteers) are listed below! If you are already a trained volunteer, please be sure to stop by the office to update your information.

As a reminder, we require all parents to follow our school rules and dress code on campus and ask that you do not use any cell phones or tablets in the MPR or around our students.

Each week, one student from each grade level is recognized for making a positive difference on our campus. Thank you to Abigail, Gregory, Ella, Cameron, Nhyira, Kinsley, Bella, Ryan, Lyla, Brayden, Shawn, Thomas, Valerie, Lola and Max for making SV a better place!

Parents please remember to go to the SV website and click o,n Online Payments and Tax Credit Donations to pay the $60 Athletic Fee found under Athletics and if you click on Non Tax Credit link and then baseball/softball you will find the $30 Family Pass and $20 hats/visor links. Please remember Family passes will be delivered on Monday to your child during their practice. If you purchase after that day, please send your child to me to pick it up. As for hats, I have a few in my classroom to give to those that have paid. I do have to order more and they should be here in a couple of weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Cullen sara.cullen@dvusd.org

Elizabeth is an Arizona native! At Sunrise Mountain High School, she was a drama kid, choir enthusiast, ceramic expert, German linguist, and honors student. Passion, creativity, and dedication to her craft continued well beyond her high school years. She cultivated valuable skill sets in voice performance, program coordination, classroom management, private instruction, child care, and K-12 music education pending her college graduation. In 2018, Elizabeth completed her Bachelor of Music Education in Voice from Arizona State University, eager to broaden her music career. The highlight of her youth was performing in various small and large vocal ensembles, inspiring her to continue vocal performance as a lifelong pursuit.

In the summer of 2018, Elizabeth enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an active-duty musician. She spent nearly four years in the Hampton Roads area performing as a vocalist and entertainer for the U.S. Fleet Forces Band. Her duties included solo vocal engagements and lead singing for popular music groups, wind ensembles, brass bands, jazz combos, brass quintets, and various duets. Her collateral military duties included public affairs, social media, travel planning, and command recreation. The 2019 Virginia International Tattoo, 2019 Continuing Promise Deployment, 2022 Virginia International Tattoo, and 2022 Navy Week Richmond are a few of Elizabeth's best highlights from her active-duty contract. Her deployment aboard the USNS Comfort for Continuing Promise 2019 was an immeasurable honor. During this mission, the deploying units aided countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean as part of a far-reaching humanitarian effort. She stated it was an "unforgettable and extremely humbling experience," amplifying her skills, knowledge, and interest in the global music community.

Elizabeth's proudest accomplishment is bringing her son, Lincoln, into this world. He motivates her to be better, work harder and secure a future full of possibilities. Furthermore, she expressed, "I am a very lucky Mama! Lincoln is my whole world - he drives me to be the best version of myself. He is the inspiration behind every challenge and opportunity I pursue to deepen my professional expertise as a musician, vocalist, entertainer, and music educator." Elizabeth is dedicated to continuous improvement through professional development to ensure her teaching remains highly valuable. She is determined to provide quality education for her students and believes the gift of music promotes academic growth, social-emotional development, and cultural awareness in students of all ages. By fostering lifelong musicians and providing education in the universal language of music, she hopes to leave a lasting legacy in her community. At Sierra Verde Elementary, Elizabeth is excited to carry on this legacy by imparting her expertise and love for music to this and future generations.

Restaurant Night

Thank you to everyone that came out to our August Restaurant Night at Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers. We made $317.95! As a reminder, membership dues and eating at our restaurant nights are an easy way to contribute to the PTSO and help us fulfill teacher grants on Donors Choose! Go to www.SierraVerdePTSO.com to become a member!

Our PBIS store is OPEN! Students can use their points earned for being a Problem-solver, being Engaged, being Accountable, and being Kind to purchase fun items. These items are delivered on Fridays. If you are interested in tracking your student through our PBIS Rewards app, download the PBIS Rewards for Family app and ask your child's teacher for their unique QR code.

If you are interested in donating to our PBIS store, we have a PBIS Store Amazon wishlist. You can also drop off any donation items to our office - new/gently loved stuffed animals are always a popular item.

1. We need parent volunteers to help keep inventory and package PBIS rewards for students.

2. The store needs rewards! There are many ways to donate – new and gently used toys, party favors – anything that kids would be excited to receive!

3. Help stock the PBIS Store Rewards Store by purchasing Rewards directly on Amazon. If you purchase from our PBIS Rewards wishlist it will ship directly to campus and our kids can purchase immediately. Stock our store here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2YZ9H9VV492G3?ref_=wl_share

If you have are available to donate your time or have questions about our PBIS program, please contact Mrs. Stephanie Hoffpauir in the front office.

If you have not done so already, please review the SV Student Handbook, Off & Away All Day Policy, DVUSD Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook, as well as the DVUSD Directory, Internet and E-Mail User Agreement. Once you have read and reviewed, please print, sign, and return the checklist page only to your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible. You may also scan it and email the copy to Jennifer.Morales@dvusd.org . If you need a paper copy of the checklist, copies are available in the front office.

• Make sure that all adults who will be picking up students at 3:30 have a purple placard with the student's Last Name and Grade clearly written in marker bold and big so we can read them. Placards are available in the office. Take as many copies as you need (one for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, etc......).
• Please pull forward and follow all staff directions around the pick up loop, don't stop short, and stay in your car.
• We will load you kids, if they need help buckling, pull up and around the loop to the buckle zone past our bike rack
• We do not have any supervision of students until 8:30 am so please do not drop off or leave any kids unattended before 8:30 am.
• Please be patient and be kind to staff and other drivers as it takes a few weeks for all to learn our procedures. Remember out staff is out in 100+ degree weather keeping all our kids safe, and everyone's safety is more important than any individual's convenience
• If you do not have a kindergarten student, you must use the front loop for morning drop-off. We do not have enough spaces for additional vehicles, and our front loop is much more efficient and safe for our 1st-8th graders.
• Do not cross any streets outside of the designated and manned crosswalks in the am or pm. We have had some very close calls and pedestrians almost struck crossing rose garden illegally.
• If picking up on 74th, please be sure that you are not parking or waiting in the "no parking/loading zone" and please do not block any private driveways
• Please pull all the way down the loop before dropping off. Your student should not be getting out of the car when the line slows down
• Do not enter the parking lot through the EXIT

• All 1st-8th grade students should be dropped off in the front traffic loop, parking in the lot is reserved for Kindergarten parents only. It is also not permissible to park and cross Rose Garden or 74th Ave at any point other than our crosswalks.
• 8:45 is the start of our academic day, kids who are not in class at 8:45 will need a tardy pass.
• We cannot sign students out after 3:15.
• Do not text your students during the school day, phones are available for use at the office with staff permission.
• We will not interrupt instruction to relay messages or deliver items left at home (unless medically needed)
• Attendance warnings will be sent home for students who are absent more than 10% of days in session or who have accumulated 5+ tardies
• If you have a concern or question regarding progress, grades, or behavior, address the classroom level teacher per our DVUSD Problem Solving Guidance
• School staff and administration are not available to meet on demand, appointments will be made to set up meetings or phone calls for administrators and teachers. Walk-in appointments are not an option.
• SV teachers adhere to an email curfew. They will check emails Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM only
• SV staff will respond to emails within 48 hours, excluding weekends & holidays.

For the 23-24 school year, we will once again be charging for school meals, to apply for a free or reduced meal application visit https://secure.ezmealapp.com or stop by Sierra Verde for a paper application (though the online process is much quicker). See the complete information from DVUSD Food & Nutrition below.

We will not be allowing outside food or drink for any reason on campus. DVUSD has a birthday bucket order form that will be the only method of birthday treats for 23-24. You can fill out an application for a birthday bucket and work with our Cafeteria Manger Mrs. Debbie Jasperson to arrange these birthday treats. The Birthday Bucket application is on our homepage and is linked below as well.

In order to keep meal account balances topped off, you can put money on the student account with cash or check. Please drop off any cash or check in the office, or use E-Z school pay. EZ School pay also has an app available to download and track your balance.