GVES Weekly Announcements
November 22, 2019
Principals' Message
Happy Friday GVES families!
We had a fun-filled week full of activities, lessons, and celebrations centered around collaboration and giving thanks. We are reminded how grateful and thankful we are for our GVE students and their families. This week, some of our classrooms took part in a Mystery Skype where our students used their geography and cultural skills to guess where another class was located in the United States. Our students connected with and had fun meeting new friends in Maine! We are looking forward to our parent-teacher conferences next week and wish you all a restful and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Mrs. Jones & Mrs. Conley
Upcoming Events
11/28-11/29: Thanksgiving Holiday--Schools & Offices Closed
12/3-12/5: HSA Holiday Shop
12/4: 5th Grade Band Concert 7pm GVHS
12/6: End of 1st Trimester
12/6: Wear Yellow Spirit Day
Parents Night Out - sponsored by GVHS Interact Club
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TYkGA8ep0WouqqcMcYuGK_6u63bZx4Kj1O9pdDGKR5Y
HSA AUCTION IS HERE!
GVE HSA Weekly Announcements – 11/22/2019
Holiday Shop is coming! – December 3rd - 5th
We are excited to pair with a new vendor this year. Visions of Sugarplums will be providing quality holiday gifts for the entire family at various price points between $1 and $15. Students will have the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for family and friends during their recess time on their designated day.
We need as many volunteers as possible to help the days run smoothly. Many hands make light work! Please click this link for the Signup Genius to sign up to help. (There is no school store in December since the kids will be participating in Holiday Shop).
December 2nd-16th – First Annual GVE Online Auction!
Sponsored by Platinum Sponsor John Williams RE/MAX Excellence Reality and Bronze sponsors B-tan and Sport and Spine Chiropractic Centers
Does your child want to…
- be principal for the day?
- read the morning announcements over the loud speaker?
- have a special lunch with a teacher and friends?
Are you interested in…
- Fitness memberships?
- Spa services?
- Personal chef service?
Don't miss your opportunity to bid on amazing school experiences for your student AND community experiences for you or your family!…and just in time for this to make a GREAT holiday gift! Proceeds will benefit enhancements to the GVE Library. For a sneak peek of some of the available items, check out our auction website!
It is not to late to become a sponsor or provide a community donation. Contact gveshsa@gmail.com for more information.
HSA Raffle – to be drawn December 16th
GVES HSA is hosting a raffle! Get your tickets for a chance to win. Tickets will be sent home the week of December 2nd in your childs collection folder. Tickets cost $5 for one, $20 for 5. 1st prize is $300, 2nd prize is $200 and 3rd prize is $100. The raffle winner will be announced Monday 12/16/19. Our raffle is sponsored by Realtor John Williams RE/MAX Excellence.
Lunch Buddies – Wednesday, December 18th
If you have signed up to be a Lunch Buddy for December, your time is coming! Wednesday, December 18th is our next Lunch Buddy opportunity. There is one day identified for Lunch Buddies every month between October and March and spots are available on a first come, first served basis.
This SignUp Genius is broken out into tabs across the top for different lunch periods, listed out by grade and classroom. Find your child’s grade/class on the appropriate tab…. select from the available dates…and MARK YOUR CALENDAR to enjoy lunch with your student!
PLEASE NOTE: Only one guest per student per school year can sign up.
Class Holiday Parties – Friday, December 20th
Each class will have their own holiday party in their classroom. Homeroom parents will be sending out sign-ups for goodies for the parties.
School News
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #12 Stress??
Did you know? The words holiday and stress do not need to go together.
· We know that many of us will be busy and feel overwhelmed.
· We may assume that we need to give up some of our healthy habits.
· In our rush to the perfect holiday we can forget to savor time with friends and loved ones, the surprising beauty of the changing seasons, and the quiet moments that can be found during vacations and holidays.
Call to action…
· Stick to at least one healthy habit and give yourself kudos for sticking to more than one.
· Ask for help when you need it, most people and our children are happy to help.
· Take a moment or two to savor whatever you love most about this time of year.
Using your browser to copy and past the links below will provide more information and ideas.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20439135,00.html#seasonal-stress-0
Box Tops are Back!
DCIU Workshop for Parents
Elementary Handbook & GVSD Procedural Manual
Communication Procedures
Early Dismissals - Early dismissals due to weather or unforeseen circumstances will be announced through the phone number you provide in Alma, email, district-level social media, and websites. Please keep your Alma contact information current. You can update this information in your account.
Absence Reporting - Launched at the end of the last school year, the new School Messenger (Safe Arrival) Absence Reporting System makes it easy for parents/guardians to report their child's absence, reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance and will allow our staff to respond to unexplained student absences more efficiently. Please click here for directions on how to use your phone, app, or computer to report an absence.
Social Media - GVES is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Our handle is @GarnetValleyES on all three platforms. We also podcast on iTunes. Just search iTunes for "Jaguarmax."
GVES Calendar
The view the full calendar on our website, click here or go to https://gves.garnetvalleyschools.com/calendar.
Attendance Information
State law establishes conditions under which any child may be excused from attendance at school. In keeping with these statues and recommendations of the State Department of Education, pupils in the Garnet Valley Schools may be excused temporarily from school attendance for the following reasons:
Sickness
Quarantine
Death in the immediate family
Weather so inclement so as to endanger the health of the child or make roads impassable
For observance of a major religious holiday
College visits, pre-approved educational trips
In order for an absence to be excused, a parent/guardian must respond to the Safe Arrival phone call, use the Safe Arrival app to report the absence ahead of time, or submit a written note to the office within three days after return from an absence. The absence of any student failing to comply with this time period will automatically become unexcused and illegal, and the school laws of Pennsylvania shall be applied accordingly.
Raptor Information
The Raptor system is used to enhance our ability to monitor who enters our buildings by screening visitors, contractors, and volunteers. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit.
Please adhere to the following regulations:
1. Enter the building at the main office door.
2. Go directly to the office, sign in through Raptor and inform the school secretary of your
destination.
3. PLEASE DO NOT GO to any area of the building without receiving permission from the office.
4. Do not attempt to go to a classroom to pick up a child. Students who are being dismissed early
will be sent to the office.
5. Return the visitor badge at the conclusion of your visit to sign out.
Volunteer Clearance Information
Legislation in Pennsylvania requires community members and parents to obtain clearances in order to volunteer in our schools. If you have previously submitted your clearances to the Human Resources office, they are good for five (5) years from the date of the clearance.
Governor Wolf has waived the fees associated with the Pennsylvania State Police—Criminal Background Check and the Child Abuse History Clearance. Since the FBI clearance is a federal program, those costs still remain; however, the district has decided to permit individuals who have resided in Pennsylvania continuously for ten years or more to sign a certification form that saves the volunteer the expense of the fee, ensures compliance with the law, and allows the district to maximize student safety.
Jaguarmax Radio Podcast
Jaguarmax Radio is changing formats! We will be a student-run podcast created through the after school club program starting in the fall. Check us out on iTunes!
Jaguarmax Radio Podcast on iTunes
Important Links
After School Activity Dismissal Procedures - Dismissal Locations
VEFLS - Foreign Language Contact Person, kgardler@yahoo.com or 610-717-2755
Cafeteria Information - Menus and Payments
GVES Yearly Calendar - Important Dates
Safe Arrival - Attendance Reporting App
GVSD App - Download app here
MySchoolBucks - Online Payments
District Text Messaging Opt-In - Registration Info
Handbooks & Manuals - GVSD Resources
Parent Right to Know Information
Connect with GVES!
Garnet Valley Elementary School
"A Caring Community of Learners"
Est. 1997
The mission of our learning community is to maximize the potential of all students by empowering them to do their personal best.
Website: gves.garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 599 Smithbridge Rd
Phone: (610) 579-4150
Facebook: facebook.com/GarnetValleyES
Twitter: @GarnetValleyES