West Word
A Weekly Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word from Mr. Creeden
Quick Snapshot📸
- Hybrid Group Calendar Updates
- Hybrid Updates/Reminders
- After School Homework Help
- Activity Wednesday on 3/3
- PV West Esports Club
- PV West Reading Olympics Team
- Attention 8th Grade Parents: PV High School Scheduling
- PV West Athletic Update
- Nurse Notes
- Purchase Your PV West Yearbook
- Part-time Support Position Available at West
- Counseling Groups @ West
- Creative Health Social/Emotional Resources for Parents
- Change Demographic Information in Synergy
- Attendance Information
- West Home & School Information
- Technology Help
- PV West on Social Media
- West Weeks At-A Glance
- HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
Hybrid Group Calendar Updates
Hybrid Updates/Reminders
Hybrid Groupings This Coming Week
Group 1 (A-K)
Monday (3/1) - C Day
Tuesday (3/2) - D Day
Wednesday (3/3) - E Day
Group 2 (L - Z)
Thursday (3/4) - F Day
Friday (3/5) - A Day
Cell Phones
In recent class meetings with West assistant principal, Mrs. Capriotti, students were reminded to keep cell phones off and away during school hours unless instructed by teachers to bring them to class for learning purposes. If you want to contact your child during the school day please contact the West main office at 484-977-7210 and we will be sure your child gets the message asap.
Instructional Model Change Requests
After School Homework Help
After school homework help will take place on Tuesday and Thursday of next week from 2:30 - 3:45 in the West library. Please encourage your children to attend as after school homework help time will be a great opportunity to not only get help, but also get organized, and get caught up.
Activity Wednesday on 3/3
We will be practicing and playing in-person. We hope this will be a time for students to play, connect with others, and have lots of fun. Any West student may participate and there is no need to sign-up. Any students participating can report to the cafeteria at 2:30 on Wednesday. Students not attending school in-person on an activity Wednesday may be dropped off by a parent/guardian at the main entrance and report to the cafeteria. We will continue to be extremely diligent at following all health and safety protocols.
PV West Esports Club
The Middle School Esports League aims to harness middle school students’ passion for video games through organized competition in a safe and secure format. MSEL is an integral part of teaching important skills that students will be able to take with them into high school, college, and beyond.
If students are interested in participating in the Esports Club this Spring please email Mrs. Yeager at kyeager@pvsd.org
PV West Reading Olympics Team
Do you love to read? Consider joining the Perkiomen Valley Middle School West Reading Olympics Team! Each year the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit provides a list of books for middle school students to read. During the spring, there is a competition to celebrate the students' reading success; this year competition is going to take place as a virtual competition against other Montgomery County Schools. The team meets each Tuesday via Zoom at 3:30 to discuss the books.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Lesh at dlesh@pvsd.org or Mrs. Stauffer at rstauffer@pvsd.org.
Attention 8th Grade Parents: PV High School Scheduling
Students were part of an assembly earlier this week on credit requirements for high school and electives available. Students now have access to start picking courses for next year. Most students were shown a video on how to select courses. Counselors will be available during period 1 for the next week to help answer questions. Students will also be meeting with their counselors individually during one of their classes the week of 3/8. As you have questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the counselors. Information from all the presentations is available at: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/perkiomen-valley-middle-school-east/departments/counseling/8th-grade-program-planning
Applications for Northern Montgomery Technical Center are past due. Please get them to the counseling center asap. Information and the applications can be found at: https://sites.google.com/pvsd.org/pvmswestcounseling/nmtcc?authuser=0
If you have any questions about anything with the transition to high school, please contact Kristin Hildreth khildreth@pvsd.org
PV West Athletic Update
Congratulations to our 7th & 8th grade Girls' and Boys' Basketball as well as Wrestling teams for concluding very successful seasons this winter. You certainly made us West Proud!
The original start date for spring tryouts and practices was March 8. The Pioneer Athletic Conference voted to postpone the start of spring sports to Monday, March 22. If you are a spring athlete, please remember to go to http://www.planeths.com and complete the necessary paperwork to participate in spring sports. We ask you complete all of your necessary paperwork by Monday, March 15 in order to be able to participate. Failure to do so will result in your inability to tryout for the team.
Please see the link below for the most recent Perkiomen Valley Athletics newsletter.
Nurse Notes
Health Screening
The Pennsylvania Public School Code requires certain school health services for all children of school age, regardless of the school setting. Health services for your child in school include (Board Policies #203, #209): an annual vision screening, an annual growth screening (height, weight, body mass index calculation), and a hearing screening in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11. Screenings for scoliosis occur in sixth and seventh grades.
We are offering to the parents of our virtual learners the opportunity to have these screenings completed for their children. The Middle School West screening dates are March 25th and 26th. Please call the School Nurse at 484-977-7210 option 4 to schedule your appointment.
The screenings will take 5-10 minutes and will be conducted during the school day.
We ask that you evaluate your child for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to entering the school. Please do not bring any child displaying signs of illness. All students are required to wear a mask.
Students should bring their eyeglasses or wear their contacts if they have been prescribed. Sixth and seventh grade students should wear a T-shirt.
Referral letters for additional care will be mailed home if needed.
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Students will enter through the front door. The nurse will accompany students at all times- from door to screening area and back. She will conduct screenings in the nurse's office near the main entrance. Staff nurse will cover the office for on-site student illnesses and injuries.
Growth screenings are posted on Parent Vue and referrals for failed vision and / or hearing screenings will be mailed home with the appropriate letters.
Purchase Your PV West Yearbook
Part-Time Support Position Available at West
Counseling Groups @ West
The Counseling Center will be offering student counseling groups during the 2nd marking period. All groups will be created based on the information gathered from our student needs survey that will be shared with students. Parents are also encouraged to refer their children to any of the counseling groups listed below by contacting William Montgomery (wmontgomery@pvsd.org)
6th Grade Life Support- (During Advisory on Fridays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
7th Grade Life Support - (During Advisory on Thursdays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
8th Grade Life Support - (During Advisory on Fridays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
SAFE Collective - (Tuesdays at 3:15 on Zoom) An after school club developed to work directly with students to create equity and actionable change within the PVHS community. SAFE Collective provides a judgement free space for students to have open discussions regarding race, gender expression, ability, and shape. From there we are developing actionable solutions and restorative justice practices to create change.
Lunch Bunch Friendship Group - (During lunch on Mondays and Fridays) for all students maintaining friendships while we are socially distancing at school and virtually. This will be an in-person group only.
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning) A group for students identifying as LGBTQ to create a safe and a judgement free space in school.
Executive Functioning/Study Skills - (During Advisory on Tuesdays) for anyone who wants additional help organizing or studying.
Creative Health Social/Emotional Resources for Parents
CIC Updates:
- Alternatives to Suicide is now offered virtually! Please see attached flyer and share this information with others!
- Circle of Hope schedule attached! (New schedule attached!)
- Taking Back Our Power schedule also attached! (New schedule attached!)
- Fun Day Friday February schedule attached!
- Voices Learning Community - February flyer attached! Every second Thursday of the month at 6 pm!
The film "A Beautiful Day Tomorrow: Taking Suicide Awareness on the Road" is available for viewing in its entirety at www.abeautifuldaytomorrow.com. This website also includes information and resources for those in crisis, loss, and attempt survivors.
Emergency Food Map of Montgomery County – Click here to view an interactive map of resources and see related flyer attached.
Parent/Caregiver Support – Family Mentor and Advocacy Network of Montgomery County is holding virtual support groups the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 7 p.m.
Registration is required (Click here for second Thursdays and here for fourth Thursdays).
Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Community Center offers various online support groups. Visit their website or click here for a meeting calendar.
Change Demographic Information in Synergy
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 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 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 Brenda Continelli at bcontinelli@pvsd.org.
West Home & School Information
Our next Home & School Zoom meeting is March 16th at 7pm. If interested in attending please email PVMSWestHS@gmail.com. All parents are welcome!
Home and School page http://mswest.pvsd.org/home/home-school
Technology Help
Email for Tech help, helpdesk@pvsd.org
Tech Support Zoom Room (Available 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, M-F)
https://zoom.us/j/96825432361?pwd=QTlYS2hzMk9FUmF0ZXhtWmhxalFWZz09
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
March 1,2 & 3 - Hybrid Group 1 (A-K) on-site
March 1 - PVSD School Board Work Session @ 6:30PM (Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://pvsd-org.zoom.us/j/96344083498 Passcode: pvsd)
March 2 - After School Homework Help in Library at 2:30PM; PVSD Wellness Committee Meeting (Join Zoom Meeting; ID:7278264794; Password: 11106102)
March 3 - Activity Wednesday in Cafeteria at 2:30PM
March 4 & 5 - Hybrid Group 2 (L-Z) on-site
March 4 - After School Homework Help in Library at 2:30PM