Weekly WOW - October 26
East Vincent Elementary School
GREETINGS FROM EV PRINCIPAL, MS. SEELEY
Dear East Vincent Elementary School Family,
This week's Weekly WOW contains information about upcoming events, parent volunteers, behavior notes, MADD total, special area news, grant awardee, Staff Spotlight, Spread the News.
Last week, the Weekly WOW contained information about upcoming events, EV broadcast, Staff Spotlight, Spread the News.
Stay tuned for more EV news each Saturday via the Weekly WOW.
See you soon,
Ms. Seeley
UPCOMING EVENTS
OCTOBER
10/28/2019 Crystal Cave 3rd Grade
10/28/2019 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EV PTA Committee Meeting
10/29/2019 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Intramural Soccer
10/29/2019 6:00-8:00 PM REA Safe Trick or Treat at OJRHS
10/31/2019 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EV KAM Halloween Parade KAM Only
10/31/2019 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM EV Halloween Parade Grades 1-6 and KPM
NOVEMBER
11/5/2019 No School Students - Professional Development
11/7/2019 3:10 PM - 4:15 PM Run 101
11/7/2019 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM EV Yearbook Club
11/7/2019 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Intramural Soccer
11/9/2019 9:00 AM Run101/5K Event
11/11/2019 9:00-10:00 Veteran's Day Event
11/12/2019 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Intramural Soccer
11/13/2019 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EV PTA General Meeting
11/18/2019 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EV PTA Committee Meeting
11/21/2019 1st Trimester Ends (Elementary)
11/25/2019 - 11/26/2019 Half Day Students
11/25/2019 - 11/26/2019 Parent/Teacher Conferences
11/27/2019 No School Students/Staff
11/28/2019 - 11/29/2019 District Closed
Remember, you can check our dates on our webpage calendar, too. Click on an event and see details. Need to know more? Looking for an event but cannot find it? Contact Mrs. Shronk in the EV Main Office at evoffice@ojrsd.net or 610-469-5713.
HALLOWEEN AT EV
EV celebrates Halloween with festivities on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
For Kindergarten Parents: The parade for the AM Kindergarten classes will be held at 10:30 a.m. The parade for the PM Kindergarten classes will be held in the afternoon at 1:15 p.m. The parties for the Kindergarten classes will be held following the parade.
The parade for Grades 1-6 will take place at 1:15 p.m. Students will walk along the parade route twice and the parade will be streamed live on the EV Facebook page. The parade route starts from the back of the building at the glass stair tower and continues around the sidewalk of the school. Students enter the school via the cafeteria doors and loop around again.
We welcome you to park in our front lot or at Grace Assembly Church on the corner of Rt23 and Bridge Street. Please do not park on the grass other than the grass spots by the guardrails. We recommend carpooling when possible. OJR Security will be here to assist with parking.
Students in grades 1-6 are invited to bring/wear costumes to school provided they are appropriate and comfortable. Any student needing to put on their costume will have adequate time prior to the parades. Students should wear as much of their costume to school (as appropriate) in an effort to reduce bathroom traffic.
Please note that masks cannot be worn during instructional times, recess, walking in hallways, etc. Masks should be worn during the parade only. The appropriateness of shoes must also be taken into consideration for safety. No heels or shoes without backs permitted.
Costumes may not include look-alike WEAPONS (swords, lasers, etc.). No BLOOD OR GORE! (Inappropriate items may be taken and returned at a later date).
Classroom parties for most grade levels occur immediately follow the parade. Only pre-determined parent helpers may enter the building after the parade to assist with the classroom party. Classroom parties will need to conclude promptly by 2:50 p.m. so we can begin dismissal on time and not conflict with the departure of the students. Classroom teachers will send or sent information to you.
We do not permit early dismissal on Halloween (after parties). Parents who wish to pick-up their child may do so in the parent pick-up line provided a note/e-mail is sent to evoffice@ojrsd.net prior to 2:00 p.m. on 10/31.
IMPORTANT - In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be moved indoors. A Skylert would be sent the morning of October 31 with details.
VETERANS DAY AT EV
We plan to honor our school community veterans on Monday, November 11th from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the gym. Students may invite a veteran and join them for a special breakfast and notes of gratitude. Please RSVP with the name of the student(s) and the Veteran who they choose to honor.
CLICK HERE to register for the event. The registration should include the name of the student(s) and the Veteran of honor only. Thank you!
CYCLE DAYS
OCTOBER CYCLE DAY ROTATION
October 28 - Day 3October 29 - Day 4
October 30 - Day 5
October 31 - Day 1
November 1- Day 2
For a look at the cycle days for all of October, visit HERE.
BEHAVIOR AT EV
We are well under way in year two of our school-wide positive behavior system. In the "Weekly WOW" from October 12, I shared quantitative and perception data with you. As mentioned, EV is a safe, caring, well-disciplined learning environment.
CURRENTLY
This year, we are in year two of our school-wide behavior system and have more than one year of training in working with diverse needs (academic, behavior, social, emotional). Owen J. Roberts School District school board and administration continues to support us with more behavioral and mental health supports, as we have multiple trained personnel available five days per week. We have seen major behaviors decrease by about half so far in this year as compared to the same time frame in the 18-19 school year. Plus, we have seen an increase in student performance and growth on beginning of year assessments.
While some families have questioned the validity of the data, please know that I make every effort to be transparent with you. If I bring a behavioral concern to your attention, the purpose is to make you aware so you have context for family discussions in partnership with the school.
The intention is not to cause alarm. The intention is to demonstrate quick, swift responses both with discipline and teaching to decrease or to extinguish misbehavior. The intention is to keep each and every one of our students in mind with every decision that we make and to partner with parents.
Again, if ever you have questions please send an e-mail to me at cseeley@ojrsd.net or give me a call at 610-469-5106.
EV IS AWARDED $19,950 GRANT FROM PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
East Vincent was awarded $19,950 from the Department of Education Safe Schools Program Grant. The money will be used to support the School Wide Positive Behavior program. Monthly training sessions will be held for building advisory and staff to learn to work together, effectively communicate, collaborate and build a culture of trust between stakeholders focusing on the School Wide Positive Behavior Program. Thom Stecher will provide training to students giving them tools for leadership and empowering them to build a climate and a culture in support of the School Wide Positive Behavior. In addition to the training opportunities, funding will be used to purchase signage and software to further enhance programs started last year and design targeted student discipline intervention and response plans.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Safe Schools Targeted Grants.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
EV collected 1,162 items for the Make A Difference Day Coventry Food Pantry collection. Great job, EV! Thanks to our K Kids and our K Kids teacher leaders for coordinating a successful event.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Many thanks to our parents, family members, and community members who have participated in the mandatory volunteer training for classroom, school, field trip, and party volunteers. Some have asked why we have mandatory volunteer training?
Here is why...
Previously, EV did not have volunteers during the school day, including PTA. Now, we welcome volunteers regularly to East Vincent Elementary School for the betterment of our entire school community. Each volunteer commits time and invests care in our students and in our staff. The presence of volunteers provides students with the sense of partnership and belonging between home and school.
The volunteers over the past two years questioned how they could be more involved and how they could help when they volunteered. As a result, we wanted to make sure each and every volunteer felt welcome, confident, and competent during their time at EV and hence, the volunteer training idea began.
Volunteer training consists of an overview, tips, tricks, important locations around the school, and a confidentiality agreement. The training is meant to be conversational and informal, yet it meets the needs of the OJRSD School Board Policy #916. Volunteers also sign a confidentiality agreement that reminds us of the importance and privacy of our work.
The feedback from the training has been overwhelmingly positive. Volunteers are in our school quite often (to the point we have nearly completed our supply of Raptor tags already... more tags are on the way)! Unfortunately, some parents have taken offense to the training citing their previous experiences as educators, volunteers in other schools, the time commitment for training, and more. I very much apologize for the offense as none was intended. I'm glad we can move forward and remember the purpose of volunteers in our school... our students.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
SCHOOL SECRETARY, MRS. SHRONK
My name is Debbie Shronk. I started working at OJR 10 years ago as a substitute in both clerical and paraprofessional positions. East Vincent was one of my favorite schools to work with the children and staff. Helping students learn in various subjects, especially math is a passion of mine. I live with my husband, John. We have 3 children that graduated from Owen J. Roberts. Taylor, Kyle, and Morgan were all active in various activities and sports. My daughter, Taylor, inherited my passion for math and is currently a high school math teacher. I love to spend summers in Outer Banks with my family, reading books, and learning new things. I look forward to beginning my new job as secretary at East Vincent.
PARAPROFESSIONAL, MRS. GRANDE
My name is Krystal Grande and I am going on my fifth school year of being a paraprofessional at East Vincent. I have experience in many different roles throughout the school and have had the pleasure of getting to know and working with many of the students at all the different grade levels. Prior to East Vincent, I was a paraprofessional for Phoenixville Area School District and also worked in a childcare center for six years as an assistant teacher. I have an Associates from Montgomery County Community College in General Studies that I obtained in 2013 and just recently I graduated with my Bachelors in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. My next goal is to earn a Masters to eventually become a counselor. When I am not at EV, I enjoy spending time with my four year old son and getting together with family and friends.
EV SOCCER TOURNAMENT WINNERS
Photo credit: The Bui Family
SPREAD THE NEWS
Do you have exciting news to share about our EV students? Did a student participate in a service activity, competition, or sporting event? Share with Ms. Seeley at cseeley@ojrsd.net to add to our Weekly WOW newsletters. Pictures welcome!
East Vincent Elementary School
Email: evoffice@ojrsd.net
Website: www.ojrsd.com/ev
Location: 340 Ridge Rd, Spring City, PA 19475, USA
Phone: 610-469-5106
Facebook: facebook.com/EastVincentElementarySchool
Twitter: @OwenJRobertsEV