The Green Valley Gazette
Oct. 18, 2022
Letter From the Principal
A key ingredient for student success in school is parent-teacher partnership. A trusting partnership and a strong working relationship between parent and teacher has the potential to increase student achievement greatly. Even though the conference season has concluded, this partnership is instrumental throughout the year. Remember that parent/teacher conferences can be held anytime throughout the school year. Be sure to stay in touch with your child’s teacher throughout the year and keep communication lines open.
At Green Valley Elementary, we strongly agree with National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel’s statement: “Parents are the best resource for a child to make the grade...When teachers and parents work together, we can help a child have a successful school year.”
As always, our administration is also available to you if you ever need further support and would like to meet with us. We enjoy working with families to further support the achievement of all of our students. Never hesitate to reach out and contact us if a need arises.
Fall Reading Parties on Oct. 28: In order to support all of our students and maintain an optimal environment of safety we have put some guidelines in place for our Fall Reading Parties. Each teacher and classroom parent will work to ensure appropriate and safe food items and activities for the parties. Remember:
- Parties are for students and not open for visitors.
- We place a cap on volunteers due to spacing and safety, allowing our staff to maintain attention on student needs.
- We have a wonderful opportunity later that evening to reconnect as a community at the PTA sponsored Trunk or Treat.
We will officially reach the end of the 1st quarter on Oct. 19. This is a great time to discuss goals with your child about the 2nd quarter of the school year. It is also a time to celebrate growth and progress, reflecting on the effective effort that was utilized to reach great progress. Conversations about school habits around the dinner table are a great way to talk to your child(ren) about their progress and growth in school.
The fall weather has finally set in. Remember, it is our goal for students to go outside for recess daily. Please be sure they dress appropriately and bring layers for this time of year.
With that being said, our lost and found is full of items. Please have your child check the area to see if one of their items is there. We will hold onto all items until the Thanksgiving Break. At the break, we will donate any unclaimed items.
Finally, I would like to remind our community of the importance of patience and care during our arrival and dismissal process. We have a large number of cars and busses entering and leaving our lot at the same time. Our staff also works diligently to ensure every child gets to the right place. It is imperative that drivers and pedestrians follow our traffic flow rules during this time. Every child’s and citizen’s safety depends on it.
Remember that any changes to dismissal must be communicated to the front office per the procedure above prior to 2 p.m. Please continue to send all electronic dismissal changes and absent notices to GreenValley.ES@fcps.org.
With the above email address we are able to quickly monitor dismissal changes. We still highly encourage families to send in notes or give us a phone call for dismissal changes, if necessary. Please remember, per FCPS policy, that we do not allow bus changes.
Yours in teaching and learning,
Dr. Giuseppe DiMonte
----------Mark Your Calendar---------
Oct. 20: No School
Oct. 21: No School
Oct. 24: School Picture Day
Oct. 24-28 Character Counts Spirit Week
Oct. 28: Fall Reading Parties
Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.: Trunk or Treat
Nov. 1: Report Cards Issued
Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.: PTA Board Meeting (public is welcome)
Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m.: Veteran's Day Assembly
Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m.: Movie Night
Nov. 18: Fun Run
Nov. 23-25: Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m.: Early Dismissal
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Sign Up for Trunk or Treat
The GVES PTA will be hosting a Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. We still need some families to sign up to decorate their cars and donate items for cars to hand out to students.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4ca8a72ca0fb6-trunkIs it Your Child's Birthday?
Community Events are Successes Worth Celebrating
Thanks to you, the first quarter of school was filled with donations, food and volunteers. From the teachers' chili cook off to the book fair, from classroom supplies to teacher lunch/dinner supplies during long conference days. This is a hectic time of the year -- we have asked a lot from the community and you have delivered! The school and PTA couldn't do it without you.
The Watch D.O.G.S. Race is Heating Up
So far, Mrs. Ferrin's class is in the lead but SEVEN other classes within striking distance! October's winner will be named in the next newsletter!
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We are looking for fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures who can volunteer as positive male role models for the students. Our goal this school year is to have 100 days of Watch D.O.G.S. volunteers.
The PTA is providing classroom parties to monthly and annual winners with the most Watch D.O.G.S. volunteers. Kids of WatchDOGS will also receive a prize that day! Learn more about the program on the WatchDOGS Home Page.
Stay Connected
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from GVES:
- Find Out First E-mails - We use the email address you provided when your student enrolled to send out information. If that email address changes, please email the school (greenvalley.es@fcps.org, also listed in the About Us info below) to update your information.
- PTA Website - This provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities, current and previous editions of this newsletter, and more. Bookmark it today! https://gvespta.memberhub.com
- PTA Facebook Page - Stay informed about PTA events, activities, and school information by liking the Green Valley Elementary School PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GreenValleyESPTA
About Us
Email: GreenValley.ES@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/gves/home
Location: 11501 Fingerboard Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770, USA
Phone: (240) 236-3400