Viper Voice
Week 15 Recap
Thank You Veterans!
We had a very busy 4 days on campus at SV this week. We were honored to have so many of our veterans in attendance this morning at our hero's breakfast and assembly to honor those brave men and women who proudly served our country. All our student's did an amazing job honoring our Veteran's and listening to all our student performances and speeches in addition to the keynote address from Col. William Edwards.
We also had a great visit from our A+ Judges on Monday and Tuesday for this week. Thank you to our parents who came to the parent panel on Tuesday, and for all our students who put their best foot forward during these two days. Later this year the Arizona Educational Foundation will announce all the A+ winners for 2022-23.
Veteran's Day
Thank You Letters
3rd Grade Readers
Week of Empathy
Dear SV Families,
We are beginning a “Week of Empathy” here at SV the week of 11/14. Empathy is the ability to place ourselves in the shoes of others - to feel what they feel, to understand their struggles and joys. Empathy happens very naturally when we relate to our kids and tell them we understand how they feel, comfort them and show them we care. When we feel understood and validated, we feel loved. When our kids experience our gift of empathy towards them, they experience a deep connection with us that provides a template for what healthy relationships and connections can and should look like in their future. There is no greater reward for a parent who strives for a deep connection such as this, to see their child empathize with others!
During this “Week of Empathy” our students will be spending time in class learning about how behaviors affect others, empathy, inclusion, and community. Our lessons will include engaging activities and thoughtful discussions. Our hope is that your child will develop a better understanding of why it’s important to include others, show kindness to everyone, and be able to approach situations from different perspectives. We would love for you to talk with your child about social awareness at home and reinforce the message they will be getting throughout the week.
Here are some strategies that you can try at home to support your child’s social awareness:
- Discuss what it means to be empathetic
- Discuss what it means to be compassionate and understanding of others
- Identify ways to be inclusive and why that would make others feel good
- Listen to your child tell you about their feelings and tell them that you understand. It is healthy for kids to learn at an early age that identifying emotions and talking about how we feel is the best way to cope with feelings that we have, so that we can move on.
- Reflecting on feelings they share with you will allow them to feel safe to express their ideas and thoughts - without feeling that any feelings are right or wrong. Feelings are not right or wrong, they just are. Children need to express their feelings and learn to cope without judgment.
Thank you for joining us in this charge, and for your help in building these important skills! I know that your partnership will positively impact your child!
Positive Office Referrals for the Week
Thanksgiving Lunch for Students Next Week
Sierra Verde Families,
This year we will continue the tradition and have a Student Only Thanksgiving Lunch on Thursday November 17. Although we would love to include families, we have limited space and staff.
Mrs. Jasperson
PTSO Update
Silent Auction
Thank you to everyone that participated in our online Silent Auction! The PTSO was able to raise over $16,000 for our teachers and Sierra Verde!
Volunteers of the Week ~Bingo Night Crew~
A huge thank you to our Bingo Volunteers- Lacey Valentine, Nikki Lengal, Libby Zukowski, Zilin Xie, Sean Ahn, Justine Huh, Lori Pierce, Sandra Avalon’s and Krista Kelly. From setting up, taking credit card payments and cleaning up after- you helped make the night a success. We appreciate you!
Gaga for Gaga Ball Court
Next week, SV is having a week-long fund raiser for our Gaga Ball Courts! This is a project spearheaded by Mrs. Copenhaver and a group of 6th grade students who brought this amazing activity to our campus following last year's 5th grade camp experience. Gaga Ball is a fun outdoor game that will be installed on the playground as soon as we can secure enough funds. Next week, students can pay $5 to wear a hat ALL WEEK LONG! They are also able to donate funds if they don't want to wear a hat and/or donate beyond the $5 to help us get this project paid for. Please see link below for directions on how to make a donation online. Our goal is to reach $4000 to pay for materials and supplies for the Gaga Ball Court. Thank you for considering!
SIERRA VERDE ONLINE PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS LOGGING IN Go to https://www.dvusd.org/Domain/29 or scan the QR code for Sierra Verde’s Home Page (look for online payments Donations box, middle of the page) Log into Student Account using student’s username and password *USER NAME=Student’s Power School ID Number (six digit lunch #) *PASSWORD=Student’s Last Name (case sensitive)
Select the Student you are shopping for (large gray shaded box with student name, grade)MAKING A PURCHASE Select Shop/Items at Your School Choose a Category Select Item and Click Buy (note the EXAMPLE below, look for GaGa Ball Donation)When all items have been added to the shopping cart, click on the Checkout link upper right corner. Verify the cart contents and click on the BLUE CHECKOUT icon. The customer will be directed to a payment screen where all of the debit/credit card information is entered. Click Pay Now and complete the transaction. The customer has the opportunity to print and/or save a copy of the payment receipt All purchases on a student account will reflect on their Purchase History.
Middle School Volleyball Starts Next Week
Home Volleyball Games
11/16 at 4:30 PM vs. Diamond Canyon
Away Volleyball Games
11/17 at 4:30 vs. Stetson Hills
Good Luck to our athletes next week!
Girls on the Run 2023
Priority Open Enrollment 23-24
Open Enrollment is underway for the 2023– 2024 school year. Through Open Enrollment, your child has the opportunity to attend any school of their choice, if capacity permits. If you currently have an 8th grader that will be attending Mountain Ridge High School next year and Mountain Ridge is not your home school, you need to apply for open enrollment by December 05, 2022 for priority consideration. If you have another student starting school next year in any grade and your current student is on open enrollment, you should also apply by December 2022. Priority will be given to siblings of currently enrolled students if grade level capacity permits. You must apply online at dvusd.org/openenrollment. It is not necessary to reapply for Open Enrollment for currently enrolled students at Sierra Verde, only new students wishing to attend.
For those of you with family, friends, or neighbors looking to attend SV next year, it is essential that you get an application ASAP and prior to the the closing of our priority window. In most grades, we typically have to waitlist most students if they apply after December.
Families will be notified if the application has been approved or denied via email in January 2023. Upon notification, a registration must be completed online, no later than 10 days after notification of the decision, or the student potentially forfeits the approved Open Enrollment and may need to reapply.
If you have any questions, please contact the front office at 623-376-4800.
Mindfulness Monday Challenge of the Week
We are beginning a “Week of Empathy”! Our Mindfulness Monday this week is all about a big word: EMPATHY. What is empathy? Empathy is the ability to place ourselves in the shoes of others. To feel what they feel, to understand their struggles and joys.
Believe it or not, mindfulness and stress are linked through their shared relationship with stress. While mindfulness decreases stress, stress weakens empathy. When our attention is pooled up in our own stress, our concern for others decreases. With that being said, leading with empathy can actually help us build more positive relationships and reduce our stress overall. How do we avoid letting our stress take over our ability to empathize? Listen. By practicing empathetic listening with one another, we become less likely to take things personally or focus on only the negative instead of the positive.
So this week, increase your empathetic listening skills - especially when working on our Week of Empathy lessons.
- Reflect on what others say.
- Pay attention to body language
- Ask open-ended questions
- Slow down and take a break to calm yourself
- Learn from what others are saying
Join Team SV
Yearbook Sales Are Open
Office Updates
- The cut off to sign students out is 15 minutes before dismissal, 3:15 for full days, 1:45 for early release and 11:50 for half days.
- If you are coming to eat lunch with your students in the cafeteria, please remember that you cannot deliver lunch or bring food for any other students.
- Next Friday, 11/18 is a 90 minute early release for Teachers to participate in their PLC teams.
Immunizations @ Constitution Elementary School 11.18.22
Social Studies and Music Curriculum Adoptions
Have a Great Weekend!
Sierra Verde STEAM Academy
Nationally Accredited STEM Certification
"A" Rated School by Arizona Dept. of Education
Proud Home of the Vipers
Deer Valley Unified School District
Email: Tony.Galietti@dvusd.org
Website: dvusd.org/sierraverde
Location: 7241 West Rose Garden Lane, Glendale, AZ, USA
Phone: 623-376-4800
Twitter: @SVViperPride