PATRIOT PRESS
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL * * * March 3, 2023
Welcome to another edition of the Patriot Press.
Inside Scoop
Here's what's inside this week:
Upcoming events
* Solar Car Challenge - 5th grade STEAM students - Saturday March 11th 8am-12:30pm at Hudson's Bay high school
* Future Falcons Night at PHS March 21st 5-7 pm
* March 22nd & 23rd parent/teacher conferences. In the next couple weeks teachers will contact families of students who they need to conference with. If you do not hear from a teacher and wish to have a conference, please contact your student's teacher or the school office.
March 17th will be a school attendance day to make up for a lost snow day.
As the south district schools have missed three days due to weather, we will have to attend school on our built-in snow day, Friday March 17th. Any additional days will be added on to our calendar in June. Keep an eye out for updated district calendars in the near future.
Daylight Savings begins March 12th! Set your clocks forward an hour.
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:00 A.M. Be sure to set your clocks forward an hour so you aren't late on Sunday.
Welcome to our new PVM staff members
We would like to welcome our new Pleasant Valley Middle staff as they join our team this week.
Mr. Alex Bennett has joined us as our assistant principal, freeing up Ms. Jennifer Marrott to continue her administration intern training rotation in our district schools. We are glad to have Mr. Bennett here to support our PVM students and staff. We will miss having Ms. Marrott at PVM every day, but know she will be an asset wherever she goes.
Mr. Seth Muck has joined our eighth grade team, teaching English language arts. He will be taking over for Ms. Lindbo, who we will miss and wish the best for in her retirement.
Ms. Simone Osborne has also recently joined our special education team, supporting our students in those programs. We are happy to have her here helping our students succeed.
8th grade forecasting for fall Prairie HS classes
Prairie counselors are gearing up for 8th grade forecasting for fall classes. They have planned several events to help students prepare for choosing their high school classes. Future Falcons night at PHS is a great time for students and families to get more information together about high school.
March 9th PVM 8th graders will visit Prairie during the school day for the Falcon Tour
March 15th 8th grade advisory classes to view PHS slideshow
March 21st Future Falcons Night at PHS for students/families 5-7pm
March 30th PHS counselors visit PVM during 8th grade history classes
Download Future Falcon Night flyer below
Solar Car Challenge - 5th grade students, Sat., March 11th
Earn High School Credit via Challenge Exams
High school credit can be earned for certain high school courses by taking and passing a challenge exam. This option is available to students in grades 8-12, with testing occurring annually in May at the Prairie High School Media Center. This is not the same as recovering an unearned credit. For information on credit recovery, please reach out to your school counselor.
Students must register no later than April 14, 2023. Late registrations will not be accepted
Read more about this opportunity on the BGPS website HERE.
Download application form below.
BGPS Crossing Guard and other employment opportunities
Yearbook orders may be placed starting Monday, Jan. 23rd
Starting Monday, January 23rd, students may turn in orders for a 2022/23 PVM yearbook. Yearbooks will cost $20 this year and order forms will be available at the school office.
You may pay by cash (exact change is appreciated, we do not have a change box), or check - made out to PVM. Payment must be made at the time you place your order.
We will receive a limited number of yearbooks, so order early to ensure you get one!
Yearbook photos needed: 8th grader's baby photos, activity photos, sports photos etc - March 10th deadline
Yearbook is asking for 8th grade student's baby photos. The student's name (first and last) should be entered as the description on the photo submission page.
Any other photos students or families would like to upload to be considered for inclusion in the yearbook may be uploaded using this webpage as well. Entering names of the students pictured in the photos in the description field is helpful.
To upload photos, simply go to https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=hj7846 and enter the required information.
The deadline for submitting photos for the yearbook is MARCH 10TH
Boys basketball game schedules
Download boys basketball schedule below
Co-ed track - registration for 6th -8th graders opens March 20th
Co-ed track starts April 10th for all 6th-8th graders. The season runs from April 10th - May 25th.
Registration opens March 20th; you won't be able to sign up before that.
Registration is signing up in Family ID, or updating info. and waivers in Family ID if you have played another sport here at PVM, link found here:
https://www.familyid.com/organizations/pleasant-valley-middle-school
You will also need to turn in a sports physical if you haven't already, and pay the registration and participation fee of $40. The registration fee can be paid with cash (exact change appreciated, we have no change box) or check made out to PVM at the PVM office, or pay online through this link :https://wa-battleground.intouchreceipting.com/
Any questions please reach out to Cathy at PVM, 360-885-5500.
Calling next year's kindergartners!
Online enrollment is open for 2023-24 kindergartners. Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2023, is eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall. To enroll, parents will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or a completed certificate of exemption form. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified.
Have your documents ready and enroll online now so that you and your child can attend kindergarten orientation in the spring.
Transitional Kindergarten
Battle Ground Public Schools now offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will turn 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. The program is offered at Daybreak, Glenwood Heights, Tukes Valley and Yacolt primary schools. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten website to learn more about the program and fill out an online eligibility form by June 16. Families who qualify will be notified after June 23.
World language testing registration is Dec. 5 - March 24
Battle Ground Public Schools offers students the opportunity to earn world language high school credits through remote world language testing. Students who test proficiently can earn up to 4 world language credits on their high school transcript. Students who earn credits and meet their high school English language arts district and state graduation requirements are eligible to earn the Seal of Biliteracy with their high school diploma. Credits earned and Seal of Biliteracy awards will be assigned prior to graduation in June. Battle Ground Public Schools partners with Avant Assessment and LTI for world language testing.
Applications are open now on the district website, along with a schedule of upcoming testing dates.
Counselor's Corner
Happy New Year!
If you are interested in having your student involved in a group with a focus of goal setting, organizing work, and navigating their google calendar, please email me. mccann.amanda@battlegroundps.org .
Thanks,
Social-Emotional Supports
There are great resources available for social-emotional support via the Battle Ground Public Schools website. On the district page there are links that lead you to more information for different topics. Here is the link to our school district's page: Social Emotional Supports
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is also a great resource: NAMI
Amanda McCann
School Counselor
Notes from the Nurse
Hello Pleasant Valley Middle School Families.
- Nurse Janel would like to remind us that everyone will still need to put on a mask when in the health room area, as it is a health care setting.
- Students who arrive at school with a fever of 100.0 or above will be sent home. Please don't try to "push through" the day. When staff or students have a fever they are most likely to pass their illness on to others.
- Please wash your hands before eating, after using the restroom, after sneezing or using a tissue for your face. Hand hygiene is very important and can eliminate a majority of germs that we spread! Also, if you do not feel well or are sick please, PLEASE stay home to get well!
Thank you!
PVM nursing team
COVID safety in schools
The district posts information about cases in schools on a COVID-19 dashboard.
General guidelines and requirements
- Staff and school volunteers are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Volunteers must still complete the standard clearance process.
- It is recommended that people with symptoms of an infectious disease stay home and isolate themselves from others for at least five days.
- If someone shows symptoms of an infectious disease while at school, it is recommended that they isolate away from others and be sent home.
- While general masking is not required in schools, masks or face coverings are still required in school health rooms.
- Anyone may choose to continue wearing a mask on school grounds. We expect our students and staff to continue to show respect for one another and the many different viewpoints that make up our community.
- Rapid test kits will continue to be available in buildings for use at home.
Parents and guardians should report positive test results to their child’s building(s). Get contact information for each school.
If you need to email our nurses:
pell.jessica@battlegroundps.org
salisbury.janel@battlegroundps.org
School office 360-885-5500
Additional information:
Health & Attendance flyer
BGPS Corona Virus guidelines/requirements page
Medication at school
If your student requires any medication at school, please be sure we have a current doctor-signed medication at school form and, if necessary, medical orders for your student, for each medication. Medications at school must be unexpired. Please communicate with our nurses if you are not sure if your child's medication is past its expiration date.
Inclement Weather and emergency closure information.
In the case of school closures due to weather or emergency, Battle Ground Public Schools has provided information to assist families in preparing plans in advance for unexpected closures. Please view this information on the
District website; it contains information on closure notifications, bus routes, Right at School program, and more. Included below are the BGPS weather guides to help you prepare.
How we notify families
- Automated Phone Calls & Emails: Please keep your contact information updated in Skyward (Family Access) or contact your school office. On weather days, calls begin going out at 5:30 a.m. to families who have not opted out.
- Information Line: (360) 885-5343 (Updated by 6:00 a.m. on impacted days).
- District Website: Bookmark www.battlegroundps.org for easy access.
- Social Media Accounts
- Flash Alert: Sign up for email alerts or download the mobile app for updates about emergency and non-emergency issues.
- TV and radio stations, local newspapers
Family and Community Resource Center
Battle Ground Public Schools’ Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) helps meet the needs of families faced with housing instability and similar economic challenges.
While a main goal of the FCRC is to assist families experiencing housing instability, it can also help connect families with many other types of resources and is intended to respond to the changing needs of the community.
The FCRC is a continuation of the district’s joint efforts with the Battle Ground Education Foundation, an all-volunteer, nonprofit community organization whose purpose is to leverage community resources to help maintain quality education for all students in Battle Ground schools.
The Family Resource Guide is full of contacts to aid families in connecting with agencies who are able to help with a great variety of needs. Please click the link below to view this helpful guide.
Family Resource Guide
(click below to be redirected to the FCRC page)
Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC)
Phone: (360) 885-5434
Email: fcrc@battlegroundps.org
School lunch information
There will be a charge for all school meals beginning on the first day of school, Aug. 31, 2022. The USDA waiver that allowed school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch expired at the end of last school year. For the 2022-23 school year, families will be charged regular prices for school meals. Free / reduced meal applications for the 2022-23 school year are available on Skyward (Family Access).
NOTE: Those who qualify for free/reduced lunch may also be eligible for decreased school fees. To learn more and to apply, visit https://www.battlegroundps.org/free-and-reduced/.
Meal information and prices
March Menu
You can always find the most current menu and other nutritional information on the Sodexo webpage
HERE. Reporting Absences - Russian/Ukrainian attendance line information
Please be sure to contact the school
office to excuse absences for your student. Absences may be excused up to three school days after a student returns from the absence. Read below for more important attendance information and contact information for reporting absences.
Our Russian/Ukrainian Support team would like to announce the new attendance line for Russian and Ukrainian families.
Download Russian/Ukrainian attendance line flyer:
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION
Every student at Pleasant Valley Middle School is known by name, strength, and need.
We believe ALL students can experience academic and personal growth.
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Office: 360-885-5500
Fax: 360-885-5510
Absence reporting: 360-885-5512
District office switchboard: 360-885-5300
PV PTA
PV PTA on Instagram
School hours
Regular days: 8:10 - 2:40
Late start Wed.: 9:10 - 2:40
Early Release: 8:10 - 11:40
2-hr late start: 10:10 - 2:40
2023-24 school year district calendar available now
View this year's school calendar as well as the newly-approved calendar for the 2023-24 school year on the
BGPS website HERE.
Just select the link for the year you wish to view and the language in which you wish to view it.
Battle Ground School District Calendars 2022-2023
Battle Ground Student and Family Handbook 2022-2023
Pleasant Valley Middle Handbook 2022-2023
* * *
The Battle Ground Public Schools provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, HIV/Hepatitis C status. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other
designated youth groups. Contact the following regarding questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Tom Adams, Director of Student Services, adams.tom@battlegroundps.org, Title IX Compliance Officer, 360.885.5415; Michelle Reinhardt, Executive Director of Human Resources, reinhardt.michelle@battlegroundps.org, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 360.885.5481; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604
* * *
March 3, 2023
Issue #13-23
