Grass Valley Elementary
School Newsletter • December 6, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Grass Valley school community,
Our first trimester has ended already, and the first report cards of the school year will be coming home in students’ backpacks on Thursday, Dec. 12. Report cards are an important communication tool between home and school, and an opportunity to recognize the hard work students are doing as well as to spot any areas that might need a little more effort.
Our mission at Grass Valley is a commitment to high levels of learning for all. We also want to empower our students and families to recognize and celebrate student growth. Learning is a journey filled with challenges and successes. It is important to remember that each student’s pathway is different and that persevering through difficult times is an important part of the journey; it’s not a negative. Every bit of growth counts. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
As you talk with your child about their report card, one great way to recognize their growth and hard work is to offer what we call “process praise,” rather than “person praise.” That means saying “You must have worked really hard at reading” or “You must have practiced your math facts a lot,” rather than saying “You’re really smart” at reading or math. These small changes in what we say can help reinforce a “growth mindset” for our students that they can carry with them for life. A growth mindset is the understanding that intelligence isn’t innate or fixed, but is instead something we can improve with practice.
At this time we would also like to thank Shannon Stewart and Diana Garcia for their support in teaching fourth grade this fall, as we welcome back teachers Ahna Jura and Kara Curtin. Also note that PE teacher Traci Crowston will be going on leave Dec. 12 through winter break. Trisha Brotherton will be substituting for her during this time.
We at Grass Valley value the partnership we have with our parents. We greatly appreciate your support throughout 2019, and wish you a restful and relaxing break with your families. School resumes on Jan. 6 in the new year.
Regards,
Sean McMillan, principal
Melissa Hutton, associate principalPTA News
The next PTA Family Movie Night will feature "Abominable" on Friday, Dec. 13, in the GVE cafeteria. Doors open at 5:30 PM, with the movie starting at 6 PM. Admission and popcorn are free. Candy will be available for $1 cash-only purchase. Seating is on the floor, so bring your own blankets, pillows or low chairs, as well as a picnic dinner or snacks if you wish. PLEASE NOTE: For everyone's safety, all children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event.
FUNDRAISER COMING UP AT MENCHIES:
We'll be having another "dine-around" fundraiser on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Menchie's. See below.
FIND GIFT IDEAS FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF:
If you're planning to give a gift to a GVE staff member this season, we're here to help: We've set up wish lists for teachers and staff to help you choose something you know they'll like. You can find the lists in a binder in the office, or on the PTA website under the "More" tab.
"PENNY WAR" STAFF FUNDRAISER COMING IN JANUARY:
Start saving your change (if you have any left!). We're launching our first-ever Penny War, coming Jan. 14-31, to raise money for our school. All proceeds will be divided evenly and given to each of our teachers to use to support their classrooms. Watch for details coming in the new year.
WATER BOTTLES NEEDED FOR ART DISCOVERY:
Please save your empty 16-oz water bottles and bring in as many as you can this month for an upcoming school-wide Art Discovery project! There are boxes under the stairs near the office to store them. Thank you!
ART DISCOVERY VOLUNTEER MEETINGS SET:
The next two meetings for Art Discovery volunteers will be Thursday, Jan. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 6, at 9 AM at school (room TBA).
BOX TOPS WINNERS ANNOUNCED:
The fall Box Tops collection drive brought in 4,043! The top classes were:
First place: Mrs. Hunting-Knight's class, 383
Second place: Mrs. Thorkelson's class, 314
Third place: Mr. Crone's class, 306
Please keep clipping and/or scanning your receipts to give our school credit for Box Tops! We'll have another collection drive in early spring.
Cold-weather reminders
The arrival of colder weather and slippery roads means it's time for a few reminders. First, please remember to send students to school with warm clothing and coats on cold days.
In the event of a weather-related school closure or delay, the district will launch an emergency notification alert that will send a recorded message via telephone, email and/or text message to every parent in the district. You will receive this notification at approximately 6:00 AM. The information is also available through local news media and the district website.
If school should close early for any reason, you will be notified in the same manner. Children will be dismissed at the notified time and will leave school in the same way they would normally go home that day UNLESS WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY DISMISSAL PLAN IN PLACE.
NOTE: Students whose normal end-of-day plan is to ride the bus to JWR or Camas Extended Day will be sent home on their home bus or will walk home if they are not on the bus schedule. If you need a different plan in place for an emergency early dismissal, please complete an Emergency Dismissal Plan and bring it to the office, or email to Melanie.johnson@camas.wednet.edu and Aileen.hay@camas.wednet.edu.
Talent show during music class Dec. 16-20
Dust off your horn, hit the keys, practice your guitar/ukulele or prepare a favorite song to sing! Back by popular demand, GVE students (and teachers, too!) are invited to perform for our musical talent exhibition during their regularly scheduled music class the week of Dec. 16-20.
The guidelines:
1) The song must be prepared, which means practiced and rehearsed.
2) You may use music.
3) You may perform solo, or in a group from your class.
4) The song must be less than 3 minutes long.
5) Any and all lyrics must be school appropriate.
6) You may use karaoke or another accompaniment. (Mrs. Wilson will not be able to accompany.)
7) You must use proper performance skills: Stand and introduce your song appropriately. Include title and composer. Speak loudly/clearly. Dress appropriately. Bow properly at the end of performance.
8) You must sign up in advance with Mrs. Wilson.
I am excited to witness our student talent in Music Class. If you have any questions, please ask!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Wilson (natalie.wilson@camas.wednet.edu), music teacher
Lost & Found items will be donated soon
Coats, hats and more are piling up in the Lost & Found, located in the hall near the cafeteria. Please remember to stop by before Dec. 20 to check for missing items. Also, please label your child's belongings with their first and last name to help our parent volunteers return lost items to students' classrooms.
All unclaimed and unlabeled items will be donated to charity soon after the winter break. We
make multiple attempts to return labeled items to students before donation. Thank you!
Hi-Cap Program
Visit the Camas School District website for more information and to access the referral form.
Dine Around
Math Strong
Thanks for stuffing the bus!
The annual Stuff the Bus food drive has ended. Camas High School students collected donations Friday — with festive accompaniment from members of the CHS band.
In total, Grass Valley families and staff brought in 4,672 nonperishable items to support families in need in our community. The donation contest classroom winners are:
Second place: Mrs. Keller's class, 546 items
A note from the library
In addition, we are calling on all makers, pet lovers and anyone wanting to clean out their closets: The GVE library is in need of old T-shirts to repurpose into dog chew toys. Throughout the week of Dec. 16-20, we will be making dog toys from the shirts, reading about some furry friends, then delivering the toys to our local Humane Society. Thank you kindly for your donations.
Sincerely,
Erin Linton, teacher librarian
December-January Calendar of Events
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
Report cards go home with students in backpacks
FRIDAY, DEC. 13
PTA Family Movie Night – 6 PM, Cafeteria
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
Assembly – 8:10-8:50 AM, Gym
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
THURSDAY, DEC. 19
December Birthday Lunch – 11:05-12:15, Cafeteria
DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 3 – WINTER BREAK
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
Art Discovery Meeting – 9:00-10:00 AM, Room 104
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
MONDAY, JAN. 20
MLK Holiday – NO SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
MONDAY, JAN. 27
Grading Day – NO SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29
Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Choir – 12:15-1:15 PM, Music Room
Warm wishes from everyone at GVE
Contact Us
3000 NW Grass Valley Drive
Camas, WA 98607
Phone: 360-833-5710 | Fax: 360-833-5711
http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/grassvalley/
Grass Valley PTA: Visit us at http://grassvalleypta3665.weebly.com, "like" us on Facebook and follow gvezebraspta on Instagram.
This newsletter is published monthly during the school year by Grass Valley Elementary and the PTA. You can email the newsletter coordinator, Nancy Nilles, at newsletter@gvezebraspta.org. To add email addresses to the mailing list, contact GVE Head Secretary Aileen Hay at 360-833-5710.