West Word
An Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word From Mr. Creeden
Quick Snapshot📸
- What's Up @ West
- Picture Day @ West📸
- West Activity Night on Friday September 24th
- Link-It Benchmark Testing
- 6th Grade College Settlement Camp Field Trip
- Ursinus Mentoring Program
- Important Info to Know
- Food Service
- PV West Attendance Information
- PVSD Health & Safety Plan
- PV West Athletic Update
- West Home & School Information
- PV Power Packs
- Helpful Resources from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
- Change Demographic Information in Synergy
- PV West on Social Media
- West Weeks At-A Glance - Save The Dates
- HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
What's Up @ West
Target heart rate
Clay unit
Let's measure!
Students in Mrs. Foulke's sixth grade Family Consumer Science classes practiced their measuring skills by making their own PlayDoh!
Picture Day @ West📸
West Activity Night on Friday September 24th
Please join us for Activity Night next Friday!
Come " Rally in the Valley" before the PV High School Vikings play Springford in football at 7pm.
WHAT: PVMSW Outdoor Activity Night
WHEN: Friday, Sept 24th 4:30-6:30 PM **note this is a time change
WHERE: Bus Deck
COST: $5.00 per student (cash only)
DETAILS: Show your school spirit and wear orange / PV gear. Music, board games & outdoor games such as basketball, corn hole, bottle bash & pool noodle capture the flag will be played. Bruster's ice cream will be for sale along with chips and drinks (cash only).
Parents, if you're available and have your clearances on file, we could certainly use your help. If you are interested in helping please email PVMSWestHS@gmail.com.
Link-It Benchmark Testing
LinkIt! Benchmark assessments are tests administered to students as a way of assessing/gauging where students stand in regards to their grasp of the coursework/subjects being taught. Students are encouraged to do their very best. Teachers will use this data to better support their students as well as use it to inform their instructional practices.
6th Grade College Settlement Camp Field Trip
Dear Sixth-grade Families,
The sixth-grade teams will be participating in a field trip to the College Settlement Outdoor School, which is located in Horsham, PA. The outdoor school program offers students experiential-based lessons designed to complement the science curriculum. In addition, students will participate in group challenges to foster team building.
Trip Details
Date: Element Team – Monday, October 4, 2021
Wilderness Team–Tuesday , October 12, 2021
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Lunch: Students should bring a bagged lunch (no glass bottles)
Return to school: 2:15 p.m.
Trip cost: $36.00 per student (Cash or Checks made out to PVMS West)
Students should wear old shoes and clothes that can get dirty. This is an all-weather event, so students should dress in layers for the change in temperatures throughout the day. We are requesting that students eat outside, weather permitting. If eating indoors, the camp will be unable to maintain a 6 foot distance and will distance the students as far as possible. It is our school’s wish that all students attend. Your inability to fully finance this trip should not be a reason for your child to miss this wonderful opportunity. Please contact your child’s teacher, a guidance counselor or the office if paying for this activity causes concern. We are committed to ensuring that every child attends.
We are asking for the permission slip and money to be turned in to your HOMEROOM TEACHER by Friday, October 1st for both the Element and Wilderness Teams.
Sincerely,
The Wilderness and Element Teams
Ursinus Mentoring Program
The following message will be sent to students next week. I strongly encourage our students to consider participating in this award winning program with Ursinus College. Students need to use their pvsd account to apply.
Please consider submitting an application to be part of an extraordinary experience between PV Middle Schools and Ursinus College.
Ursinus Mentoring Program
A unique opportunity for middle school students at East and West to meet virtually for two hours a week with Ursinus College students. You will engage in a variety of activities to build a relationship with each other. This program will assist you with making connections and setting goals. There is no cost to the program but you must apply as there is limited space.
Students must submit a completed application by Wednesday, September 22nd at 3:00PM to be considered for participation in this 1st Semester. Mentoring groups will meet weekly on Monday & Wednesday OR Tuesday & Thursday. Groups of middle school students will be paired with Ursinus College students for the entire 1st Semester. Groups will start meeting virtually in the last week of September.
Space is limited and the program begins at the end of September so apply today!
Important Info to Know
Talent Show
Can you sing? Dance? Play an instrument? Perform feats of strength and amaze a crowd? Do you have a unique talent? Then you belong in this year's talent show! Auditions will be taking place in a few weeks for our November 12th show. Start practicing now! We love unique performances and appreciate all types of talent, whether performed alone, as a pair, or in groups! Keep listening to PVTV for more information. If your child is interested or please have him or her see Ms. Emers in room 242 or email Ms. Emers at demers@pvsd.org
PVTV
Social Media Concerns
Signs have been posted in bathrooms around West asking students to be responsible and respectful of school property and if they are not there will be school consequences as well as police involvement, if necessary. After learning more about this trend I would like to ask if you could speak with your children about the responsible use of social media and to not allow it to negatively influence their behavior. Thank You.
Food Service
PV West Attendance Information
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:
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 Brenda Continelli at bcontinelli@pvsd.org or you may call her at x3540.
PVSD Health & Safety Plan Update
The following information summarizes information within our current 2021-22 Health and Safety Plan:
when in our schools, all staff and students are required to wear masks indoors;
students are required to wear masks while riding on buses (in accordance with the CDC order);
physical/social distancing of 3’ is recommended;
while eating lunch, students in grades 1-6 will be situated 6’ apart to the greatest extent possible;
masks remain optional when students are outdoors (for example, during physical education classes, recess, learning activities, etc.)
On Tuesday August 31st, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced that masks/face coverings will be required in schools in Pennsylvania beginning Tuesday, September 7, 2021. This order will remain in effect until the Acting Secretary of Health determines the public health risk is sufficiently reduced so that masks/face coverings are no longer necessary as public health mitigation measures in schools.
The order outlines the situations when a mask/face covering must be worn and also identifies the limited exceptions to the mandate. Mask/Face covering exemption requests must be based on a medical or mental health provider attesting to the fact that wearing a mask/face covering either causes a medical condition or exacerbates an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition, or a disability. The District has updated its Student Mask/Face Covering Exemption Request Form. In the event you believe your child needs an exemption and qualifies based on a PA licensed medical or mental health provider’s diagnosis, please complete the form and submit to your child’s school nurse electronically or in print format.
Mask/Face covering exemption forms should be submitted electronically or in print to the school nurse. The email address of your child’s school nurse is available on the website: Staff Directory.
Students with an IEP or 504 requesting a mask/face covering exemption should reach out to their child’s case manager. These requests will be reviewed by the IEP or 504 team, respectively.
As a note, the DOH order does not apply to school sports or outdoor activities. However, the District’s approved Health and Safety Plan continues to require masks/face coverings for student athletes when practicing and competing indoors as well as all spectators attending events indoors. Masks/face coverings are recommended when outdoors on the fields or in the stadium when the gathering size is large, i.e., football games, otherwise they are optional.
The District continues to monitor the incidence and positivity rates and the most appropriate recommendations for health and safety in response. The District’s COVID dashboard is active now that the school year is underway.
Your partnership in supporting student learning as well as upholding these mitigation measures is much appreciated.
PV West Athletic Update
Middle school sports continue to prepare for upcoming competitions. See the schedules below for upcoming competition dates.
Middle School West Girls' Soccer
8th Grade Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3745296/seasonid/4635292
Middle School Football
8th Grade events for this week: Tuesday, September 14 scrimmage at Pottsgrove 3:45pm. Bus 2:35pm.
7th Grade events for this week: Friday, September 17 scrimmage home versus Spring-Ford 3:45pm.
8th Grade Schedule: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3697196/seasonid/4635616
7th Grade Schedule: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3697195/seasonid/4658701
Middle School West Boys' Soccer
8th Grade Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3745191/seasonid/4635147
7th Grade Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3745197/seasonid/4635148
Middle School West Field Hockey
8th Grade Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3745182/seasonid/4635265
Middle School West Cross Country
Boys Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3783373/seasonid/4635728
Girls Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3783374/seasonid/4635729
Middle School West Volleyball
Schedule for this year: https://pvvikings.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3782156/seasonid/4635715
West Home & School Information
- Back-to-school Spirit Wear Sale! Get ready for fall and check out our new 2021 logo below. Order your PV West spirit wear online and help support PV West Home & School. Visit https://pvwest.itemorder.com/ to place your order and pay with your credit card
Sale ends September 19, 2021
Orders will be delivered to school 2-3 weeks after
Questions? Contact Jodi Lieb jodilieb@verizon.net
- When you shop on Amazon, be sure to log on through AmazonSmile and designate PV Middle School West as your charity. We will receive .5% of all sales. https://smile.amazon.com/
Home and School page https://www.pvsd.org/west/home-school/
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 and students pick up their bags from their counselor or designated person every week.
We will begin distributing Power Packs on 9/10. You can sign up for your student to receive a Power Packs bag by filling out this form: Power Packs Sign Up
If you have any questions, email Sarah at powerpacks@pvsd.org.
Helpful Resources from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
Please join the upcoming events hosted by Montgomery County Health and Human Services!
Back to School Series, hosted by Montgomery County System of Care weekly from 6:30pm – 8pm (Flyer attached)
- September 22 - Positive Parenting Strategies for Less Worrying and More Connection
- Presented by Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Founder/Director of Brave is Better LLC
- September 29 – A Discussion to Support Family and Youth Wellness
- With Panelists from Access Services, FamilyWorx, NAMI, Office of Mental Health and Dr. Will LaValle of Quintessential Health
Session recordings will be available to registered participants for a limited time period afterwards!
Change Demographic Information in Synergy
PV West on Social Media
We would love to have you join our social media accounts to stay updated on the latest West news and happenings. Please see below on where to find each of our accounts.
West Weeks At A Glance - Save the Dates
Consult calendar for details regarding activities below
September
21st - Picture Day!; Policy Committee @ 7pm
22nd - Wellness Committee @ 7pm
23rd - Safety & Operations Committee @ 7pm
24th - Math LinkIt Benchmark Testing; West Activity Night from 4:30pm - 6:30pm; PVHS vs. Springford Football @ 7pm