Principal's Report
A Weekly Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
A Word From Dr. Clune
This has been a very busy week at PV East as we prepare to head into Thanksgiving break followed by a week of virtual instruction. All students will be virtual during the week of November 30 - December 4. Despite the recent safety issues that I shared in separate emails, it is important to not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of our students overall are doing an amazing job! They are respectful, following directions and engaged in their learning. Moving learning forward and connecting with each of our students continues to be our primary focus. It is our amazing learning community of students, teachers and parents that I am most thankful for at this time of year.
I hope to see many of you at Parent Teacher conferences next week. On behalf of the faculty and staff at PV East I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Please contact the main office if you have any questions or concerns.
#EastROCKs
Shift To Virtual
As you may be aware, the Montgomery County Office of Public Health has ordered all Montgomery County school districts and private schools to move to virtual instruction for the two-week period of Nov. 23 to Dec. 4, with a scheduled return-to-school date of Dec. 7, Montgomery County Health Department School Closure Order 11-13-20. This is in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the county and the anticipation that there could be even more cases following the Thanksgiving holiday.
While the majority of students maximize their school experience when they are able to attend school in-person, we respect and understand the County’s decision to shift all public and private schools to virtual instruction. In addition to increasing incidence and positivity rates across the region, we are observing increased hospitalizations and ventilator usage. Given our experience in September with everyone learning virtually, we believe we are in a strong position to transition back and continue instruction with little interruption for students.
In an effort to support your planning, here is what you can expect over the next several weeks:
- The week of Nov. 23, there is no school for students due to parent/teacher conferences and the Thanksgiving holiday. This was already on the district’s calendar. Conferences will continue as planned Nov. 23-24, since they are virtual. Nov. 25-27 schools are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Prior to or by Nov. 20 at 4 pm, students should make sure that they take home from school what they need to learn remotely (i.e., Chromebook, text books, other instructional materials). There are no scheduled grab-and-go events for the weeks of Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. If you have technology needs, please reach out to your child’s building with specific questions or submit a ticket to helpdesk@pvsd.org.
- Secondary schedule during virtual period: Effective Nov. 30th, hybrid and virtual students will follow their regular schedules remotely and learning will be synchronous. North Montco Technical Career Center students will be virtual as well. Attendance will be recorded.
- Special Ed Services: Effective Nov. 30th, all special education services will be delivered remotely. No students will be reporting on-site. If you have specific questions about your child’s accommodations, please reach out to your case manager.
- Athletics and activities: The official start to the winter sports season is slated for Dec. 7 for middle school. At this time, it is not clear whether or how this date will be adjusted, so we will share updates when we learn more. Extra-curricular clubs are not permitted to meet in person during the two-week virtual period. However, virtual meetings are permitted.
- Food: Food distribution will be offered next week at the regular times and locations. On Thursday, Nov. 19, and Friday, Nov. 20, food will be provided to cover meals from Nov. 20 to Nov. 24, since no meals will be distributed the week of Nov. 23. The regular food distribution schedule will resume Monday, Nov. 30. Please see our website for details on hours and locations.
- Any district or district-related meetings scheduled to occur during the two-week virtual period will be conducted online via Zoom. Please refer to our district website calendar for meeting links and other details.
Thank you for your patience and partnership during this time and please stay safe.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent/teacher conferences will be next week. If you have not registered through ParentVUE please contact teachers directly if you still wish to schedule a conference.
Winter Sports
Winter Sports - Middle School boys and girls will only play basketball during the winter season this year. Wrestling will not be offered due to the current Covid regulations. Registration is open until December 1 and tryouts begin on December 14.
Report Cards
Report cards are available on ParentVUE. To access your child's report card in ParentVUE, follow the directions found on page 44 in the ParentVUE user guide. There will be a report card representation in ParentVUE, as well as the ability to print a PDF version.
If you do not have a ParentVUE account set up yet, please contact the Help Desk to get one set up: helpdesk@pvsd.org.
Attention 8th Graders
Attention 8th graders. At the high school there are 3 different houses (Red, White, and Blue). What house you are in determines your principal and counselor. You are randomly assigned to each house, however, we like to keep families together. Please complete the survey at this link so we can make sure you have the same principal and counselor as your siblings. http://bit.ly/2025house
PV Cares Holiday Drive
PV Cares Toy Drive - toys, books, and gift cards are being collected to support the Daily Food Pantry and the PV Power Packs Program both of which are serving the local PV families during this holiday season. Donations can be dropped off at any school and placed in bins located in the lobby until December 11. If you are a family in need, please print this flyer PV Cares Flyer and bring it to the Daily Food Pantry located at 3938 Ridge Pike in Collegeville.
Library News
if you still have books from last year from MS East or an elementary school, please return them to the East library so that they can be returned to the appropriate location. Feel free to email our librarian, Mrs. Kratz, at gmkratz@pvsd.org with any questions.
PVSD Foundation
The Perkiomen Valley Foundation is sponsoring the Boon Fundraiser again this year. Your purchases will help to support the district and its teachers during this challenging time. Go to boonsupply.com/57856.
Attendance
On your child's report card you will see a daily attendance summary. Calculating daily attendance has changed recently to accommodate the virtual as well as hybrid learning that is taking place. To calculate daily attendance please refer to the information below.
Middle School Daily Attendance
0-99 minutes absent = No Absence
100-199 minutes absent = 0.25 day absent
200-347 minutes absent = 0.50 day absent
348-400 minutes absent = 1.00 day absent
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 providing an acceptable reason for the absence within a 3-day period.
You may also call our attendance line at: (610) 409-8580 and press #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 should be scanned in. When back to school (in person), any Dr.’s notes should be placed in the Attendance Box, right outside the Guidance Department.
If you have any questions at all, please contact mseattendance@pvsd.org
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
November 23 & 24 - Parent/teacher conferences
25 - 27 - Thanksgiving break
30 - All students are virtual
December 1 - 4 - All students are virtual
7 & 8 - Group 1 in school
9 - 11 - Group 2 in school
14 - Winter sports begin
A Message From East Home & School Association
Amazon Smile: if you are like shopping at Amazon, consider supporting H&S by signing up for Amazon Smile. A portion of everything you spend goes directly back to MSE H&S. Search for Perkiomen Valley Middle School East Home and School through Amazon Smile to help support our school!
Box Tops: MSE H&S is collecting box tops! See link below for more info.
You're Invited! - Box Tops for Education
You're Invited! - Box Tops for Education
Any questions, please contact H&S at pvmsehs@gmail.com
Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
Email: sclune@pvsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/perkiomen-valley-middle-school-east/
Location: 100 Kagey Road, Collegeville, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 409-8580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVMSE/
Twitter: @PVMSEast