A message from the Superintendent

April 19, 2023

Dear PV Families,

Spring has sprung and with it comes lots of activities across the district! Our students are participating in athletics, preparing for spring concerts, field trips, the prom and so much more. Beginning this month, we will also be participating in the end of year assessments to include, PSSAs (grades 3-8), Keystone Exams (Algebra, Biology, and 10th Grade English students), and Advanced Placement (AP) tests for those enrolled in AP coursework. PSSAs begin next week (see below for more details), while Keystones and AP exams will take place in May.

I would like to showcase an exciting opportunity for some of our high school students. Members of the PVHS musical, under the leadership of Mr. Noah Mallitz, will travel to Times Square in New York to perform in the Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert! This is the second year in a row that PVHS musical cast members have been invited to perform in New York City. This year's members include Catie Becker, MaryKate Bricker, Emilia Hall, Victoria Hall, Grace Maran, Caroline Panek, Andrew Reyes, Sammi Schoenewald, Christian Sibel, and Jake Taylor. They will take the stage starting at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 22. Their commitment to the arts is inspiring! We are proud of their hard work and cannot wait to see them perform alongside some of Broadway's best. The concert begins at 10:00 am.

This year's concert will be live streamed through Stars In The House, which was started by SiriusXM Broadway channel host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley. If making the trip to New York isn't possible, we hope you will watch and enjoy the performances. Congratulations to all!

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara A. Russell
Superintendent

I would also like to highlight this year's Post Prom event which will be held at PVHS on the evening of Saturday, April 29 following the Junior/Senior Prom. This event is organized by parent and student volunteers and provides a safe space for students to celebrate after the prom. The event extends from 11:00 pm - 5:00 am and includes activities, games, contests, food and fun.

Post Prom will be hosting a Community Walk-Thru so everyone can see how they transform the high school for the Post Prom event. The event is extremely fortunate this year to host members of the Star Wars 501st performance group who has appeared in the Disney show The Madolorian. This is anticipated to be a huge hit as part of the movie theme this year.

Please consider stopping by PV Post Prom Community Walk-Thru on Saturday, April 29 between 7:00-9:00 pm to view the wonderful work of the Post Prom Committee. We are fortunate to have their dedication and support in our community.

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Education Ad Hoc Committee
• Safety & Operations Ad Hoc Committee
• Elementary LIFT Summer Programming
• Now Hiring- Student Helpers
• PSSA State Testing
• Important District Dates

In July of 2022, 988 became the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This United States-based suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers provides 24/7 service to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

This school year we have held Education Committee meetings as part of the School Board meetings on the first Monday of the month. We had also held several Ad Hoc committee meetings to facilitate additional conversations. The next scheduled meetings will be held on April 24 and May 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the PVHS Library. Members of the public are welcome to attend!

The topics for April 24th include:

• Curriculum Guides & Resources

  ~ several areas tentatively including HS Music, 1-5 Social Studies, 9/10 ELA, K-5 ELA, 6 Social Studies, 7 ELA Collections Renewal, 6-8 Math, Algebra I, AP Pre-Calc, Health I/II, 6-8 Tech Ed

• Potential Read 180 Update

• Staffing Updates

Conversations continue about implementing school police officers into our schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Policy discussions are underway and will be ongoing as part of Policy Committee and School Board meetings. There will also be conversations during two meetings of the Safety and Operations Ad Hoc Committee on April 25 and on May 10 in the high school library from from 6:30-8:00 pm. These meetings will focus on the details of the roles, responsibilities, and accountability measures of school police. They are open to the public.

We are excited to announce the launch of our 2023 Elementary LIFT (Learning Is Fun Together) Summer Camps. We have MANY exciting offerings this summer (listed below). Visit our LIFT website for details and registration information. Registration closes June 30, 2023.

Students in grades three, four, and five in our elementary schools and six, seven, and eight in our middle schools will be participating in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) beginning April 25 and extending into the month of May. The PSSA is made up of three separate tests which assess to what degree our students have become proficient in English Language Arts (reading and writing), Mathematics, and Science. Principals will provide further details as we approach the testing dates. For additional information regarding this year’s assessment, please review our previously emailed parent letter and frequently asked questions document and do not hesitate to reach out to your child's principal with questions.

Consult the District calendar for details regarding these upcoming activities.

• Monday, April 24: Education Ad Hoc Committee @ 6pm
• Tuesday, April 25: Safety & Operations Ad Hoc Committee @ 6:30pm
• Monday, May 1: Board Work Session @ 7pm
• Wednesday, May, 3: Wellness Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm
• Wednesday, May, 3: Educational Equity Task Force @ 7pm

22-23 v18 4/19/2023