Schwenksville Family Newsletter
October 29, 2022
Audio Overview of Newsletter
Audio overview coming soon due to technical difficulties.
You will find the following topics in this Newsletter:
- Schwenksville Family Information Site
- Picture Retakes/Make-Ups - November 3rd
- Welcome Mr. Bauder!
- Safe Bus Riding Expectations
- Student Store
- Food Services Information / Menu
- Arrival & Dismissal / Transportation
- Home & School Association Updates
- Garden Club Updates
- New Winter Coats Available
- PV Power Packs
- Holiday Shop & Power Packs!
- Feature Teacher - Mr. Basile
- 22-23 School Calendar & Events
- 6 Day Cycle
- Out & About at the 'Ville
Schwenksville Family Information Site
The Schwenksville Family Information Site has been created to help families easily access information in one location. You can bookmark this link, find the link in SW Family Newsletters, and on the Perkiomen Valley School District Schwenksville Elementary School webpage.
There is a tab named "Newsletters" where you will find each SW Family Newsletter posted so you don't have to search through emails to locate it.
SW Family Site - Please check it out. There is a lot of helpful information available.
Picture Retakes/Make-Ups - November 3rd
Picture Retakes/Make-Ups will be from 1:30pm-2:30pm on Thursday, November 3rd.
*For RETAKES: STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGE WITH THEM*
*Kindergarten AM students must return for a re-take/make-up*
Please email Showstoppers Support: support@showstop.co with any concerns or questions.
Welcome Mr. Bauder!
Message from Dr. Russell's Superintendent's Message (10/19/22)
Conversations about school safety are ongoing and we continue to consider the steps we can take as a district to make safety as strong as possible for our students, staff, and community. A major step taken recently is the expansion of our security team to consist of PVSD employees in addition to contracted individuals. Beginning next week, each of our elementary schools will have its own dedicated security staff member, while the middle schools will host one security person during the day and another one after school hours. The high school will continue to have several security staff members during the school day as well as after due to their student enrollment and the number of activities that take place in the facility.
Our secondary students are used to seeing security personnel in and around their buildings on a daily basis, however, the elementary students are not. I wanted you to be aware of this new presence and to be able to provide your child with additional information if needed. Our principals and teachers will also share information to facilitate positive relationships between our students and these new staff members.
Safe Bus Riding Expectations
Prior to this week's practice, safe bus riding expectations have been reviewed in classrooms, as a whole school during a school community meeting, with individual students/parents, on the buses Mrs. Venza has rode home, and on buses by bus monitors and Mrs. Venza when buses arrived at school or before buses pulled out at dismissal.
This week every student has been explicitly taught the expectations while on a bus and all have demonstrated that they understand and are capable of following each of the expectations. Students did an EXCELLENT job during our review.
We reviewed and practiced the following expectations:
- Boarding the bus safely - using left hand to hold on to the railing
- Sitting in assigned seats
- Sitting properly - back against the back of the seat, legs in front of us, backpacks on our laps
- Keeping hands, feet, and belongings to ourselves
- Keeping belongings in backpacks - nothing should be taken out of backpacks while on the bus including electronic devices
- Volume level - practiced talking at a level 1 (partner talking)
- Following directions given by the driver
- Exiting the bus safely - unloading at school seat by seat while everyone else remains seated. Using right hand on the railing when exiting the bus
We would greatly appreciate if families review the importance of following these expectations with students as well. Thank you very much for your support.
Student Store
Our items range in price from $0.05 to $1.50. We encourage students to only purchase one or two items. The proceeds remain here at Schwenksville Elementary and help to provide rewards for our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework.
The School Store is open from 8:30am-9:00am.
For parents/guardians that are interested in volunteering, please complete the form:
We are looking for some Grade 5 Student Helpers to count money, help with purchases, collect money and make change, etc. 5th grade teachers will post a link in their Google Classroom for interested students to complete.
Thank you,
Mrs. Wendy Town
Food Services Information / Menu
CAFETERIA PROCEDURES
Parents/Guardians put money in their student(s) accounts electronically in SchoolCafe or by sending cash or checks in with their students. If you are sending funds in with your students, please note the student's name and account number on the envelope and ask them to give the envelope to their cashier in the cafeteria.
SCHOOLCAFE ACCOUNTS
Go to www.schoolcafe.com and enter your user name and password.
SchoolCafe Parent Support Hotline: 855-729-2328
MENUS
Elementary Breakfast & Lunch Menus
PRICES
Breakfast - Free
Lunch - $2.90
Arrival & Dismissal / Transportation
Regular School Schedule:
The doors open at 8:30 AM. Students should be in classrooms ready to begin the day at 8:40 AM.
Dismissal begins at 3:10 PM.
Please follow this link to our Family Information Site for details regarding
Arrival/Dismissal/Transportation Information.
Please Note:
- ONLY families dropping off in a vehicle should be dropping their child off in the carline.
- AM Walkers should approach the building along the sidewalk by the fire hydrant on the side of the school where the outdoor classroom is located.
- PM Walkers should not be picked up on campus, in the Greenfield parking lot, or on 2nd street by a vehicle.
Thank you for your cooperation in supporting a safe and efficient process for arrival and dismissal.
*EARLY PICK UP or CARLINE PICK UP NOTES/EMAILS ~ IMPORTANT!*
If you plan to pick up your child early or during dismissal (and the student does not normally get picked up in the carline), please remember to send in a note or an email to our office staff, swattendance@pvsd.org AND to your child’s teacher. Please include your child’s name, date of the pick up, and the adult who will be picking up your child.
Please be sure whomever is picking your child up has their ID with them in order for the student to be released.
Home & School Association Updates
Events
Happening Now:
Yearbook:
Order your yearbook: click here to save 10% until 10/31/22
Custom pages due 4/6/23. Learn more about custom pages here
Upcoming:
Winter Dance: Friday, December 2, 2022 6:30-8:30 PM
Space is limited so register early!
Cost is $5/family and children must be accompanied by an adult
Schwenksville Showcase: March 31, 2023
Details and sign up form for students AND parents sign up by November 17,2022
BINGO: Friday, January 20, 2023 (Snow date 1/27)
Hosted at PVHS, Look for details in upcoming newsletters
Fundraisers
Current:
Spirit Wear: All orders due by Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Click here for the order form
Nothing Bundt Cake: Schwenksville Elementary is participating in a Bundt Cake Fundraiser. Bundlet's are available at $6 per cake. You will receive a voucher to pick up your cake of choice when you choose to. Nothing Bundt Cake flyer for sharing to friends and family on social media. Once you collect orders and money please fill out one form for all orders. Order here!
Pretzels: If you would like to order pretzels for upcoming months, you can venmo/paypal or send your student with money with student’s name, grade, and teacher
AmazonSmile: Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases when you shop at AmazonSmile
H&S Information
Email / Website / Facebook / Calendar of Events
Nicole Vozzolo – Co-President / Nikki Hartman – Co-President
Denby Guellich – Vice President / Jill Podbutzky – Secretary
Sarah Nickels – Treasurer / Rene Adelsberger – Asst. Treasurer
Garden Club Updates
Penny Wars begin on Monday, October 31st!
- Bring in your change - pennies to add points to your grade, and silver to deduct points from other grades (flyer attached).
- *NEW* Each grade (K-5) has their 2 jugs for collecting money: One jug just for pennies, and the other for silver and bills.
- Reminder - add pennies to your grade! Add silver coins to OTHER grades to lower their points!
- Adding Pennies = +1 point
- Subtracting Nickels = -5 points, Dimes = -10 points, Quarters = -25 points, 1 Dollar = -100 points
- How to win: The grade with the most points wins
- Penny Wars Flyer
Next Garden Club Meeting
- Tuesday November 15th at 6 PM in the cafeteria.
NEW WINTER COATS AVAILABLE
Winter is on its way! If you are in need of a new coat for your child, please reach out to Mrs. Strano (Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grade) or Mrs. Hyman (1st, 3rd, and 5th grade), our School Counselors. They would be happy to get you connected with one, no questions asked.
Mrs. Strano - cstrano@pvsd.org
Mrs. Hyman - jhyman@pvsd.org
PV POWER PACKS
PV Power Packs is a weekend food program for students experiencing food insecurity. Bags of food, including 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items, 2 snacks, and 2 fruits, are sent home with students prior to every weekend. There is no financial information required to participate in this program. Bags are delivered to the students' classrooms for them to take home prior to the weekend.
For more information regarding how to receive a Power Pack for your child or to make donations to the Power Packs program, click here: https://www.pvsd.org/families/pv-power-packs/
Holiday Shop & Power Packs!
We are excited to announce we will be running the Holiday Shop again this year for families in need of assistance for the winter holidays. Last year we provided gifts to over 100 PV students and hope to do even more this year! Check out our Amazon wish list for ideas: https://tinyurl.com/powerpackshs.
Items can be shipped directly to our shop at Evergreen Elementary School, c/o PV Power Packs, 98 Kagey Rd, Collegeville, PA 19426 or monetary donations can be made by check sent to PV Power Packs, 3 Iron Bridge Dr. Collegeville, 19426 or by PayPal at donations@pvsd.org with Power Packs in the memo line.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook @pvpowerpacks or email us with any questions at powerpacks@pvsd.org.
Flu/Covid Vaccine Clinic
Skippack Pharmacy invites you to Get Boo-Sted & Flu-Sted!
The Skippack Pharmacy will hold a Flu/COVID vaccine clinic for families at Skippack Elementary School on Tuesday, November 1 from 5:00pm-8:00pm.
For more information and to sign up for an appointment visit Skippack Pharmacy Vax Tour.
Community Bulletin Board
Wondering about family and community events in the area? Curious to learn about local sports clubs and other opportunities? Visit our online Community Bulletin Board!
To submit an event for posting, please send a PDF version of your flyer to webmaster@pvsd.org for review.
Please note that Community Bulletin Board items may contain links to websites of organizations outside Perkiomen Valley School District. Items are posted to this bulletin board as a free service to the community, and should not be interpreted as being sponsored or endorsed by the district.
Feature Teacher - Mr. Basile
Our Feature Teacher is Mr. Basile! He is a 5th grade teacher. Thank you for all that you do, Mr. Basile!
I have been teaching in PV for 26 years. I was at Evergreen for 7 years, and I've been at Schwenksville since it opened in 2004.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of school?
I love football and coaching my high school players. I am part of a staff that has created a winning program, but more importantly, a culture that helps young men grow into responsible adults.
What are you most proud of/your greatest accomplishment?
I am most proud of my wife, Robin, and my daughters, Callista and Chloe. They are incredibly kind to others and supportive of me. I am a better person because of them.
What advice would you like to pass on to our students?
If every single person made it a rule that wherever you are, wherever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary- the world really would be a better place.
Anything else you would like to share?
Baseball is my favorite sport. I love watching games, no matter the team. My favorite are the Boston Red Sox but I enjoy Phillies games as well.
22-23 School Calendar & Events
22-23 Perkiomen Valley School Calendar
11/3 - Picture Retake Day *See details above
11/8 - In-Service (Act 80) Day/Election Day - NO SCHOOL
11/21 and 11/22 - Parent/Teacher Conferences *More information coming
11/21 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving Break
Wednesdays are "Wellness Wednesday" at Schwenksville. Students and staff are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing as we try to engage in a little extra movement to support our wellness.
Fridays are "PositiviTEE Days" at Schwenksville. Students and staff are encouraged to wear shirts that have a positive message or Schwenksville/PV spirit wear/orange.
6 Day Cycle
Tuesday, November 1 - F Day
Wednesday, November 2 - A Day
Thursday, November 3 - B Day
Friday, November 4 - C Day