eTV News
February 28 - March 14, 2017
NEW NEWS...
Listen to Connect Ed Message - 3/9/17 Here!
UPCOMING EVENTS...
March 9th - Coffee & Conversations with the Principal - 9:30-10:30 - Library
March 10th - Talent Show - 7pm @ Strayer Middle School
March 14th - PTO Meeting - 7pm - Library
March 20th - No School for Students
March 23rd - QCSD School Board Meeting - 7pm
March 27th - 30th - Kindergarten Registration - See details below
Good News Club (Spring) has begun! Participants will need to be picked up at 5:15 on Mondays when school is in session!
QCSD Summer Camps - Please look for opportunities for your students K-11 to be involved in our new QCSD Summer Camps! Camp sessions will be offered in the mornings during the month of July and will include topics such as cooking, coding, crafting. More information will be provided in the weeks ahead.
Cub Scouts are coming to TV - Spread the Word! Click HERE for details and come out to Coffee and Conversations with the Principal on March 9th (9:30-10:30) and the PTO Meeting (7pm) on March 14th to learn more from a local Cub Scout representative.
Support Nicholas' Fight (TV Student) - Check out this flyer and Click HERE to learn more and come out to the Beef and Beverage, Saturday, April 29th, 5PM at Benner Hall in Richlandtown!
Support Pride of Quakertown (POQ) - Click HERE for ways you can support!
PSSA FAQ and Cell Phone Policy for Parents - Click HERE
Coffee and Conversations with Principal Event was a hit! - The first Coffee and Conversation event went well last month. Parents, who brought a wealth of feedback and shared a long history at TV with several children that have gone through TV, were encouraged to bring up topics of their choice. We discussed lots of things:
- the paradigmatic shifts that have occurred in education (such as student-centered teaching and learning, cooperative learning experiences in the classroom, traditional vs. current math expectations, etc.),
- parents' desire for all teachers to post homework online in CANVAS for easy access,
- limited use of CANVAS by teachers at the elementary level,
- uneven class sizes due to Plus/Standard classes in grades 4 and 5,
- opportunities for parents to participate in PTO classroom parties,
- parents' desire to volunteer in their child's classroom for literacy, math and college and career readiness support,
- clearance requirements when volunteering and visiting, and
- a parking concern regarding a daycare bus during dismissal.
The next Coffee and Conversations event is on March 9th. The flyer is available HERE. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP below and join us on March 9th!
Coffee and Conversation with Dr. Bradley
Partnering with families is an important goal at TV. This event is an informal time to find out the details of the latest news and upcoming events at TV. This is also a good opportunity to meet and chat with other TV parents and share ideas as we Work Together to Be Our Best to ensure Student Achievement for All—Whatever it Takes. Stop in for a cup of coffee or two and join in on the conversation. Bring your questions, comments, suggestions, and compliments. Feel free to contact Dr. Bradley (obradley@qcsd.org) directly to add to specific topics to the open agenda!
Hope you can join us!
RSVP today here or via Ms. Arriaga at marriaga@qcsd.org!
Thursday, Mar 9, 2017, 09:30 AM
Tohickon Valley Elementary (Library)
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
From the Desk of Principal Bradley:
Greetings,
The recent warm weather is a reminder that spring is on its way, and the hustle and bustle of March is upon us! If you didn't make it out to the Coffee and Conversations with the Principal event in February, you missed a great time! I really hope you'll consider coming to the March 9th! It's an informal opportunity to discuss things that are important to you and help work together to be our best. Join us!
As you know, springtime brings more than blooming flowers and chirping birds at Tohickon Valley! It’s a time when our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will take the PSSA exams. This year, the PSSA assessments take place in April and early May, and preparations are well underway! The assessments measure our students’ proficiency with essential skills and content at specific grade levels. , your children work diligently towards reaching high expectations set by their teachers. The PSSA is an assessment that helps us determine students’ achievement and growth toward specific standards. As such, we hope that all of our students in grades 3-5 will take the PSSA. However, if a child needs to be excluded from taking the test for religious purposes, please review this important opt-out information.
The entire building will make adjustments to its daily schedule on PSSA testing days, so students in grades K-5 will need to be flexible to ensure optimal testing and learning environments for all. The PSSA Testing Dates are as follows:
Tuesday, 4/4 - Friday, 4/7 - English Language Arts (ELA) - (4 days)
Monday, 4/24 - Wednesday, 4/26 - Math - (3 days)
Tuesday, 5/2 & Wednesday, 5/3 - Science - (2 days - 4th grade only)
~Make-up tests will be scheduled immediately following an absence~
You can help prepare your child for testing and/or the alternative schedule by reminding them that they should try their best (not stress), get a good night's sleep, eat breakfast, expect a change to the normal routines and demonstrate flexibility.
I’ve attached this helpful guide regarding test preparation with advice that would benefit students in grades K-5 on the next page! Enjoy!
Please click on the link for the PSSA Frequently Asked Questions and Cell Phone Policy letter for parents in grades 3-5.
Let's make it a marvelous March! Thank you for partnering with us and Working Together to Be Our Best!
Your partner in education,
Dr. Orathia Bradley
Reading Tips in 11 languages and more! - Click HERE to check it out
Supporting the Common Core from Mrs. Sugita - Reading Specialist - Click HERE to view the article
Check out this helpful information from Dr. Greenday - Special Education Teacher
Communication Strategies for Students with ADD/ADHD
A Message from our School Counselor, Mrs. Lucchesi, on "Grit" - Click HERE to view
Here's What's New in Library with Mr. Nagle - Click HERE for details
Supporting Math Learning with Mrs. Armstrong - Click HERE for helpful resources
RECENT NEWS...
Kindergarten Registration is March 27-30, 2017 at the District Services Center. Hours vary as follows:
Monday, March 27th, 2017 8:30a – 4:00p
Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 11:30p – 7:00p
Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 8:30a – 4:00p
Thursday, March 30th, 2017 11:30p – 7:00p
If your child will be five years of age before August 31, 2017, they are eligible to register for kindergarten. Kindergarten registration for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on Monday, March 27, 2017, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, and Thursday, March 30, 2017, at the District Services Center. The calendar to schedule a registration appointment for one of these dates will be available after February 1st, 2017. You can access the calendar by visiting the Quakertown Community School District web site, www.qcsd.org and clicking on the Kindergarten Registration link. Then follow the instructions to schedule your appointment. You must also complete the InfoSnap on line registration documents prior to your scheduled appointment. REGISTRATION IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, so please schedule your appointment early to ensure your choice of day and time. There will be a brief assessment given to your child on the day of registration so please plan to bring them with you.
**NEW THIS YEAR**
· Due to the number of late registrations of kindergarten students in the 2016-2017 school year, there was a significant delay in finalizing our kindergarten classes and classroom placements; therefore, if you currently have a child enrolled in a Quakertown school, but have NOT registered their sibling for kindergarten by June 1st, 2017, the kindergarten student will not be guaranteed a spot in their neighborhood school for the 2017-2018 kindergarten year. Please register early to ensure that your child attends kindergarten in the same school as their siblings and neighborhood friends.
Full Day Kindergarten - The initial screening for the Full Day Kindergarten program will be held during the kindergarten registration appointment in March. Please plan to bring your child to that appointment with you. All registered Kindergarten students will be assigned to an AM or PM half day class in June, 2017. Any student that is being considered for the Full Day Kindergarten program will be asked to attend an additional assessment in early August, 2017 to determine kindergarten placement. Invitations to the Full Day Kindergarten Program will be made by mid-August, 2017.
LUNCH MENU - Click HERE for March
QCSD DISTRICT Calendar of Events - Click HERE
6-day Cycle # DAY CALENDAR - Click HERE
Click HERE to view previously shared important information
REMINDER:
PSSA Testing Window
English Language Arts - April 3 - 7, 2017 (Grades 3-5)
Math - April 24 - 28, 2017 (Grades 3-5)
Science - May 1- 5, 2017 (Grade 4)
Please keep in mind that the district will not approve any family trips for students in grades 3-5 during the assessment periods due to the nature of the tests. Please contact Dr. Bradley directly if you have questions or concerns.
ATTENDANCE REMINDER
Parents are reminded that they have three (3) school days to return a signed, written excuse verifying a child’s absence. As per PA State law, excuse blanks cannot be accepted more than three days after a student returns to school. Emails to the school office are appreciated, but do not replace the written excuse. Parents are welcome to call the office (215-529-2509) to verify that the written excuse has been submitted by the student. We would like to partner with you in any way necessary to facilitate compliance with Compulsory School Attendance Laws, including meeting to develop a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP).
- If a written excuse is not submitted within the three day return window, the excuse is permanently considered illegal or “unexcused” by the state.
- If a student accumulates three (3) unexcused absences, parents will receive a written “First Legal Notice” from the school district with a warning that future unexcused absences may result in a citation from District Court.
- Once a student compiles ten (10) total absences (including trip requests, half day absences, etc.), parents will be required to submit a doctor’s excuse for an absence to be considered excused. Parents will be notified in writing if this occurs.
- If your family is planning for your child(ren) to be away for several school days, there is an “Educational Trip Request” form that needs to be filled out and submitted to the school office. Parents can download a form from the T.V. website or call the office for a hard copy. All trip requests must be pre-approved by the building Principal and should be submitted at least 10 days in advance.
- More information and the QCSD Elementary Attendance letter can be found on the TV website. All information written above reflects Pennsylvania State Compulsory Attendance laws.
Working Together to be Our Best...Student Achievement for All - Whatever it Takes!
PTO Executive Board Contact Information:
- Christine Weinschenk: Co-President- christine_romano@hotmail.com
- Melissa O’Rourke: Co-President- orourke5250@gmail.com
- Michelle Kuremsky- 1st Vice President- michellekuremsky@gmail.com
- Erica Miracle- Vice President- ericalmiracle@yahoo.com
- Chrissy Urenovich: Treasurer- urenovich.christine@gmail.com
- Dana James: Secretary- danajamestvpto@gmail.com
- Stephanie Ruane: Corresponding Secretary- sruane224@yahoo.com
SAVE THE DATE FOR UPCOMING PTO EVENTS:
- Talent Show: March 10th
- Spring Family Fun Night: April 28th
- Spring Fling: June 2nd
- Fifth Grade Picnic: June 5th (Rain Date June 6th)