Hello Perkiomen Valley Families,

We are looking forward to having you join us for the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16th, 2023. This year's event features both “In-Person” and “Take-Home” options. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will take place in the Perkiomen Valley High School Cafeteria from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm. The day is broken into two sessions, 8:30 am & 10:30 am, where elementary and middle school students can take part in service activities to benefit both local and international organizations.

If you are unable to join us for the “In-Person” options, we are offering a limited number of “Take Home” service projects for both elementary and middle school students. To participate in the “take home” activities, select the “take home” option in the link below. Please note that the day’s events are either in person or take home, please register for only one option. See the link below.

This year we will again be hosting a “Drive-Thru Donation Station” at Middle School East. Goods can be dropped off from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. This year we will be collecting for the following organizations:

Perkiomen Valley Post Prom

• Formal Wear - Shoes, Purses, Accessories

• Any other clothing items bag separately from formal wear

Perkiomen Valley Spirit Wear (Non-personalized items)

• If your “Little Vikings” have become “Big Vikings” and you would like to donate their gently used PV Spirit Wear here is your chance.
• We will be collecting all sizes and all PV School Spirit Wear

Daily Bread Community Food Pantry

• Non-perishable goods
• personal care items
• supplies for babies and pets

Lions Club

• Used glasses (both prescription and any other types of glasses)

Please use this link to sign up for the sessions starting on January 4th, 2023.

Please Note: “Take-Home” options will close on January 9th, 2023 so that material can be distributed. “In-Person” will be open until January 16th, 2023. Spaces are limited and subject to availability.

Join us for a fun night of ice skating, food, music and friends!

When: Friday, January 20, 2023 from 7:00 - 9:00pm

Where: Spring Mountain Adventures

Cost: $18 (includes skate rental)

Please note that parents are expected to ensure there is proper adult supervision for their child(ren). In addition to your ticket for entrance, all participants must bring a signed waiver, which can be accessed at https://bit.ly/springmtn-iceskatingwaiver.

Use the below link to purchase your tickets and for more information pertaining to the event. Space is limited to 300, so don't delay in purchasing your tickets.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastwest-ice-skating-night-tickets-500086340707

Dear West Parents and Guardians,

PVMS West is offering interested eighth grade students the opportunity to visit NMTCC so that they may tour the facility and observe the many different programs the school has to offer. The tour will be offered on Tuesday, January 24th, 2023. Students will leave PVMS West at 8:15 AM and will return to PVMS West by 11:15 AM. Each student must have a signed permission slip in order to attend the trip.

North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC) is one way to get a head start on establishing a rewarding career. NMTCC is a great place to learn and explore a career path before entering college, technical school, or the workforce. Please check out the programs at www.nmtcc.org.

Parents are encouraged to tour NMTCC during the Open House on Thursday, February 2nd from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to learn what programs the school has to offer and to ask questions about the school.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns,

Kind Regards,

William Montgomery ● 484.977.7210, ext. 3542 ● wmontgomery@pvsd.org

Calling all students who LOVE math! Math Club is pleased to announce West’s participation in CALCUSOLVE, a free math competition during which a team of up to 4 students will work both individually and as a team to solve problems that will put their mathematical skills to the test. Math skills include Math 7 (pre algebra) for students in grade 6 and Algebra for students in grades 7 or 8. Check out the attached information sheet for details and links to sample competition problems.

To register (by 1/31/23) : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI-AuxK4SkEztVYbxMYzUiHUdSgH9tZgiWU152522llTdQfQ/viewform?usp=pp_url

For additional information, email Ms. Kashey (mkashey@pvsd.org) or stop by room 221.

Perkiomen Valley School District Foundation's highly anticipated Dodgeball Tournament returns on Saturday, March 4th. Register a team of 6-10 students (K-8) now to play at this exciting event. Prizes will be given to the top team in each division, the best team name, the best uniform, and the top three fundraising teams.

Perkiomen Valley School District Foundation builds a stronger community by providing funds for projects and programs that enhance and enrich educational opportunities in the Perkiomen Valley School District. Last year, the Foundation funded Outdoor Equipment and a Bird Walk at Middle School West.

I hope you represent West at PVSD Foundation's Dodgeball Tournament. You can register for the event HERE.

Homework Club takes place next Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2:30 - 3:45pm in the West library. Homework Club will provide a quiet, comfortable, and supportive setting for students to complete school work and become better organized. Students will receive assistance and support when needed. School resources will also be provided for all students in attendance. There is no sign-up required. If students are attending they can report directly to the Library after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• 4:00pm Departure (outside main office) - Monday through Thursday
• 5:00pm Departure (outside gym entrance) - Monday through Thursday

For each day students intend to take either the 4:00pm or 5:30pm activity bus, they are asked to inform the school district and bus company for routing purposes using the electronic form provided. The form links are below and also available to students via the PV LaunchPad - Classlink. Students must submit their information each morning by 10:00 am if they intend to ride the afternoon activity bus that day.

• MSW - https://forms.gle/xGSV1Ry1euTJTQsx8

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 and students pick up their bags from their counselor or designated person every week.

Sign up for your child(ren) to receive a Power Packs bag by filling out this form: 2022-23 Power Packs or by emailing PowerPacks@pvsd.org.

Learn more about Power Packs at https://www.pvsd.org/families/pv-power-packs/ and follow us on Facebook @PVPowerPacks.

Perkiomen Valley Sports Network

Welcome to the Perkiomen Valley Sports Network inaugural podcast featuring student-athletes and coaches from within the Perkiomen Valley School District. The production team is a collaboration of our Sports Marketing & Management classes, PVTV, and the Athletic Department here at PVHS. Our mission is to shine light and positive stories on impactful players, coaches, and teams within our school and discuss their experiences as student-athletes and coaches. This is the first of many podcasts that will be shared throughout the school year.

In this our first episode, our host Evan Kenny will be interviewing three PVHS Varsity golf team members: Ayush Patel, Abigail McCorkell, and Nadia Yackanicz. These golfers have all had very successful seasons and recently qualified for the PIAA District One Golf Championships. In the podcast they discuss their experiences and thoughts on being a part of the PV Golf Team this season.

We look forward to sharing more podcasts with you throughout the year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C9DqaLOYJTMlKLvrtxTzafVvFeLd3QHK/view

Middle School West 8th Grade Girls' Basketball

Unsung athletes of the week: The backcourt of Brianna Lindsay and Reghan Gilchrist continue to be the engine that drives the team. Besides organizing the offense and putting up points, they are versatile enough to guard all 5 positions and help out in any way we need them.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday January 18th - Home vs. Pottsgrove Middle School @ 3:30pm

Friday January 20th - Away vs. Owen J. Roberts Middle School @ 3:30pm

Middle School West 7th Grade Girls' Basketball

Unsung athletes of the week: Zoe Buckman continues to improve each game and has been the leading scorer in half of our games as well as being the leading rebounder. Pressed into 8th grade action this week because of injuries and sickness, Zoe was again a positive force on the court; scoring each time she was on the court.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday January 18th - Home vs. Pottsgrove Middle School @ 4:30pm

Friday January 20th - Away vs. Owen J. Roberts Middle School @ 4:30pm

Middle School West 8th Grade Boys' Basketball

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday January 18th - Away vs. Pottsgrove Middle School @ 3:30pm

Friday January 20th - Home vs. Owen J. Roberts Middle School @ 3:30pm

Middle School West 7th Grade Boys' Basketball

Unsung athletes of the week: Ben Motley had 13 points over Upper Perk and Wyatt Padworny had 13 points over Boyertown East.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday January 18th - Away vs. Pottsgrove Middle School @ 4:30pm

Friday January 20th - Home vs. Owen J. Roberts Middle School @ 4:30pm

Middle School Boys' Wrestling

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday January 18th - Home vs. Spring Ford Middle School @ 5:30pm

Friday January 20th - Home vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 3:30pm

If you would like to volunteer at any events that Home and School may have in the Spring, please email pvmswesths@gmail.com

Parents of 6th grade students, please know that you are required to submit a physical form for your child during this school year. In addition, if your child receives any immunizations, please submit those as well. Prior to the start of 7th grade, your child will need to receive the Tdap and Meningitis vaccinations, so now is a good time to get those immunizations!

Parents of 7th grade students are required to submit a dental form for your child.

The school physician and the school dentist will be at Middle School West in the Spring of 2023, and your child will be seen by them if the proper form is not handed in prior.

Now more than ever, technology plays a vital role in all our lives. It keeps us connected and can educate, illuminate and entertain. With increased use, kids can develop an unhealthy dependence on tech as an escape or way to avoid life’s challenges.

Gaming, social media, and streaming entertainment can be fun and relaxing, but moderation can easily slide toward dependence. We’ll provide strategies to help our kids develop a healthy relationship with technology, and skills to practice self-care.

Presented in partnership with the School District of Springfield Township.

Be a Part of the Conversation equips families and communities in Pennsylvania with skills and resources to understand substance use, addiction, and related health issues. We provide community programs, foster supportive connections, highlight lived experiences, and challenge stigma.

We are a collaboration of community leaders, clinicians, students, school district representatives, and families who believe that having meaningful, inclusive conversations about substance use and addiction will support individuals and their families in their efforts to develop healthy coping skills and access support whenever there is a need. Learn more about us. See the link below for a number of programs that Be a Part of the Conversation offers.

If your child will be absent or missing any class time, please send an email (from the email you have listed in our new SIS system) to:

MSWAttendance@pvsd.org

This will count as your call-out AND parent excuse. Please indicate in your email the date of absence, student’s grade and the reason for the absence. An absence is considered unexcused when the child’s school has not received an email or written parent note providing an acceptable reason for the absence, within a 3-day period.

You may also call our attendance line at: 1 (484) 977-7210, option 1. If you do this, you would still need to submit an email with the above information in order for it to be excused.

Any medical notes or Dr.'s notes should be placed in the Attendance Box, right outside the Guidance Department.

If you have any questions at all, please contact Lori Tropea at ltropea@pvsd.org or you may call her at x3540.

Parents/Guardians put money in their student(s) accounts electronically in SchoolCafe or by sending cash or checks in with their students. For more information about SchoolCafe please go to https://www.pvsd.org/departments/food-service/school-cafe-information/. If you are sending funds in with your students, please note the students’ names and account number on the envelope and ask them to give the envelope to their cashier in the cafeteria.

Upon entering the serving area, students make their selections and enter their 6 digit Student ID number on the pin pad or scanner. Our staff will be happy to help them become more comfortable with the system.

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Please see below for more information.

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

Want to find out what’s going on in the PV Community? Visit here for flyers about upcoming events in and around our area!

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.

Monday January 16th - No School; MLK Day Day of Service at Perkiomen Valley High School Cafeteria

Tuesday January 17th - Homework Club @ 2:30pm in Library; West Home & School Meeting @ 7pm in Library

Thursday January 19th - Homework Club @ 2:30pm in Library

Friday January 20th - West Spelling Bee; East/West Ice Skating Night @ 7pm at Spring Mountain

Tuesday January 24th - End of 2nd Marking Period

Wednesday January 25th - Half-Day for students (Teacher In-Service)

For more details on the 22/23 school year go to the 22/23 Instructional Calendar