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Numbers and Luck DebateAre Lucky Numbers Real? The question was posed to students in Mrs. McCloskey's sixth grade math classes. Working in small groups in the library, the young mathematicians researched both sides of the argument, then formally chose a side. They formed a case, complete with rebuttals, to present to their classmates. All of this was done in a respectful discussion within a real debate scenario.
Debates are perfect activities for middle school students as it combines critical thinking, communication skills, and creativity skills. The debate can be a great way to explore a diverse number of opinions, and it can help kids in real-life situations as they grow. It can also contribute to their future success, since debates allow for practice with so many important communication skills. | Heat TransferWhat is the best insulating material for a coffee cup? Students in Mrs. Herzog, Mrs. Chesen and Mr. Patterson's eighth grade physical science classes were posed this question during a unit on thermal energy. To find out, students tested the heat retention of cups made of glass, metal and Styrofoam by filling each with hot water and monitoring the temperature for ten minutes. The students found that Styrofoam was the best at retaining the water's thermal energy because polystyrene and plastic foam have small air bubbles trapped inside them. This makes them very good insulators because heat energy can't flow through them. However, they also learned that Styrofoam is littered more than any other waste product and fills up 30 percent of landfills globally. Styrofoam is not only a dangerous air pollutant but also poses a great threat to humans, the environment, and animals. The worst part is that Styrofoam takes over 500 years to decompose and in the process, it leaches harmful chemicals into the environment. Hear that fast food restaurants? | Moon ShadowIt is a common misconception that the phases of the Moon are caused by Earth’s shadow falling on the surface of the Moon blocking out some of the light. This is not true. On relatively rare occasions, Earth’s shadow does fall on the Moon, but that is what causes lunar eclipses, not the phases of the Moon. Additionally, for this to be the case, the Moon would have to be positioned in its orbit so that the Earth’s shadow could fall on it. If you think about the Moon orbiting around and around the Earth, the opportunity for Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon will only occur once per trip around the Earth. This would occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are all in a line with the Moon on the opposite side of the Earth. Students in Mrs. Corr's sixth grade science classes performed a simple experiment that demonstrated these concepts using a lamp and Styrofoam balls on sticks. |
Numbers and Luck Debate
Are Lucky Numbers Real? The question was posed to students in Mrs. McCloskey's sixth grade math classes. Working in small groups in the library, the young mathematicians researched both sides of the argument, then formally chose a side. They formed a case, complete with rebuttals, to present to their classmates. All of this was done in a respectful discussion within a real debate scenario.
Debates are perfect activities for middle school students as it combines critical thinking, communication skills, and creativity skills. The debate can be a great way to explore a diverse number of opinions, and it can help kids in real-life situations as they grow. It can also contribute to their future success, since debates allow for practice with so many important communication skills.
Heat Transfer
What is the best insulating material for a coffee cup? Students in Mrs. Herzog, Mrs. Chesen and Mr. Patterson's eighth grade physical science classes were posed this question during a unit on thermal energy. To find out, students tested the heat retention of cups made of glass, metal and Styrofoam by filling each with hot water and monitoring the temperature for ten minutes. The students found that Styrofoam was the best at retaining the water's thermal energy because polystyrene and plastic foam have small air bubbles trapped inside them. This makes them very good insulators because heat energy can't flow through them. However, they also learned that Styrofoam is littered more than any other waste product and fills up 30 percent of landfills globally. Styrofoam is not only a dangerous air pollutant but also poses a great threat to humans, the environment, and animals. The worst part is that Styrofoam takes over 500 years to decompose and in the process, it leaches harmful chemicals into the environment. Hear that fast food restaurants?
Moon Shadow
It is a common misconception that the phases of the Moon are caused by Earth’s shadow falling on the surface of the Moon blocking out some of the light. This is not true. On relatively rare occasions, Earth’s shadow does fall on the Moon, but that is what causes lunar eclipses, not the phases of the Moon. Additionally, for this to be the case, the Moon would have to be positioned in its orbit so that the Earth’s shadow could fall on it. If you think about the Moon orbiting around and around the Earth, the opportunity for Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon will only occur once per trip around the Earth. This would occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are all in a line with the Moon on the opposite side of the Earth. Students in Mrs. Corr's sixth grade science classes performed a simple experiment that demonstrated these concepts using a lamp and Styrofoam balls on sticks.
Principal's Roundtable - Wednesday March 1st
A Principal's Roundtable will take place on Wednesday March 1st from 6:30 - 8:30pm in the Library at Middle School East. The roundtable will be led by Middle Level Administration and Counseling. Middle level administration is considering the following changes.
- Wearing ID Badges throughout the day.
- Blocking all Chromebook apps and extensions unless pre-approved by the District Office to prevent students from getting around our filter with a 3rd party extension.
- All backpacks are placed in student lockers to limit what students carry throughout the day.
- All cell phones to be placed in lockers throughout the day.
We are hoping you can join us to gather parent feedback at the Roundtable on Wednesday, March 1st . Hope to see you there.
READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK IS NEXT WEEK @ WEST
PV West will be recognizing Read Across America Week next week as all students and staff will participate in a spirit week (see below), "Guess Who" voting, visits from guest readers, and opportunities to receive prizes if they are caught reading throughout the week.
To learn more about Read Across America Week go to https://nationaltoday.com/read-across-america-week/.
8th Grade Field Trip to Washington DC
Mark your calendars! 8th Graders at PV East and West will be traveling to Washington, DC on Monday, May 15th. This will be an extended day, departing 6:15 AM and returning by 8:45PM on coach buses. We will be looking for some interested parents to chaperone. Parent chaperones will need to have all of their clearances. More information regarding cost, itinerary, as well as sign up will be coming in the near future.
Award Winning Author Visiting West
Willy Wonka Jr. Is Coming to West
Friday March 10th - 7:00pm
Saturday March 11th - 6:00pm
Sunday March 12th - 2:00pm
Tickets on Sale Now!
See below for ordering information.
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Chess Club Chess, which requires wit and intellect, is played by millions of people across the globe. It is one of the finest indoor games. Chess is played on a 64 square board of black and white. The aim of the game is to conquer the opposite king. On both sides, there are pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, and the queen to formulate a strategy to attack the opposite army in a war. Once the opposition king is blocked and doesn't have any option to make a move, the game ends. West students from all three grades are welcome again this year to join eighth grade social studies teacher Sean Murphy for Chess Club! The novice Bobby Fischer's will meet every other Wednesday, after school for friendly competition where they will gain experience and skill. | Debate Club Join the PV West Debate Club. Learn the art of constructing, supporting, and discussing arguments. These skills are an integral part of life in a free society. In Debate club students will engage in a variety of discussions centered around group selected topics. They will learn to argue both their own perspective and the perspectives of others. Students will use evidence based practice to back up arguments as well as learning about logical fallacies and cognitive biases that may lead to poor argument construction. Debate club will take place on the second and last Tuesday of each month. Join us for our first organizational meeting on December 13th from 2:30 - 3:45. We hope to see you there. | C.A.U.S.E. ClubThe CAUSE stands for Connecting And Uniting Students to Empower. This is club that was started to try and help other students and get all students involved in our school community. Students in the CAUSE Club will have opportunities to make positive change in the school environment in various ways as well as support our local community. The club meets every Tuesday from 2:30 - 4:00 and we welcome all students that would like to join. |
Chess Club
Debate Club
C.A.U.S.E. Club
The CAUSE stands for Connecting And Uniting Students to Empower. This is club that was started to try and help other students and get all students involved in our school community. Students in the CAUSE Club will have opportunities to make positive change in the school environment in various ways as well as support our local community. The club meets every Tuesday from 2:30 - 4:00 and we welcome all students that would like to join.
K-8 Red Carpet Family Night
Join Us For An Evening of
Learning, Laughter, Movie Magic, andFun!
Thursday, March 9, 2023, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
5 Tammanund Circle, Collegeville, PA
Note: All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Tickets not required. All are welcome!
To assist us in planning for this event, we ask that you indicate your
interest using the link below. This will help us ensure
appropriate staffing and materials!
Homework Club
Homework Club takes place next Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2:30 - 3:45pm in the West library. Homework Club will provide a quiet, comfortable, and supportive setting for students to complete school work and become better organized. Students will receive assistance and support when needed. School resources will also be provided for all students in attendance. There is no sign-up required. If students are attending they can report directly to the Library after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
After School Activity Transportation
- 4:00pm Departure (outside main office) - Monday through Thursday
- 5:00pm Departure (outside gym entrance) - Monday through Thursday
For each day students intend to take either the 4:00pm or 5:30pm activity bus, they are asked to inform the school district and bus company for routing purposes using the electronic form provided. The form links are below and also available to students via the PV LaunchPad - Classlink. Students must submit their information each morning by 10:00 am if they intend to ride the afternoon activity bus that day.
Power Packs
PV Power Packs is a weekend food program for students experiencing food insecurity. Bags of food, including 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items, 2 snacks, and 2 fruits, are sent home with students prior to every weekend. There is no financial information required to participate in this program and students pick up their bags from their counselor or designated person every week.
Sign up for your child(ren) to receive a Power Packs bag by filling out this form: 2022-23 Power Packs or by emailing PowerPacks@pvsd.org.
Learn more about Power Packs at https://www.pvsd.org/families/pv-power-packs/ and follow us on Facebook @PVPowerPacks.
PV West Athletic Update
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SPRING SPORTS
Spring sports registration must occur by FEBRUARY 21.
First day of Middle School Sports is MARCH 13.
If the spring sports season will be the first sport of participation at PV this school year: Registration for spring sports must occur by February 21. This can be done at http://www.planeths.com. In addition to registering, student-athletes must have a PIAA physical examination done by a doctor and the proper paperwork completed by the doctor. In order to count for the 2023 school year, the physical must occur June 1, 2022 or later. The form is found on www.planeths.com when you register.
If the spring sports season is your second or third sport season this school year: Complete section 8 Spring Recertification at http://www.planeths.com by February 21. If there has been a change to your health history or an injury since completing your last physical, an additional section 9 form is required as well. This does require a clearance from a doctor.
West Home & School Information
If you would like to volunteer at any events that Home and School may have in the Spring, please email pvmswesths@gmail.com
Nurse Notes - Physical and Dental Exams
Parents of 6th grade students, please know that you are required to submit a physical form for your child during this school year. In addition, if your child receives any immunizations, please submit those as well. Prior to the start of 7th grade, your child will need to receive the Tdap and Meningitis vaccinations, so now is a good time to get those immunizations!
Parents of 7th grade students are required to submit a dental form for your child.
The school physician and the school dentist will be at Middle School West in the Spring of 2023, and your child will be seen by them if the proper form is not handed in prior.
Shape The Sky - Creating Responsible Kids on Smartphones
At Shape The Sky, our goal is to connect knowledge and wisdom to create safe and responsible children online and on digital devices. We provide parents, teachers, counselors and other professionals with an insider’s view of the internet and social media, so they know how to start the conversation. Our goal is to have children and adults connect, share, and learn together to bridge youth knowledge of technology with adult wisdom of using it responsibly. See below for a link to more information and resources at Shape The Sky.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Class
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
This course covers......
Common signs and symptoms of mental illness in this age group, including » Anxiety » Depression » Eating disorders » Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) • Common signs and symptoms of substance use • How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis • How to connect the person with help • New: Expanded content on trauma, addiction and self-care and the impact of social media and bullying
This class includes two hours of online, pre-work towards certification. It takes about 2 hours.
Be Part of the Conversation - Upcoming Programs
We are a collaboration of community leaders, clinicians, students, school district representatives, and families who believe that having meaningful, inclusive conversations about substance use and addiction will support individuals and their families in their efforts to develop healthy coping skills and access support whenever there is a need. Learn more about us. See the link below for a number of programs that Be a Part of the Conversation offers.
PV West 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 or written parent note 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 or Dr.'s notes should be placed in the Attendance Box, right outside the Guidance Department.
If you have any questions at all, please contact Lori Tropea at ltropea@pvsd.org or you may call her at x3540.
PVSD Food Service Updates
Parents/Guardians put money in their student(s) accounts electronically in SchoolCafe or by sending cash or checks in with their students. For more information about SchoolCafe please go to https://www.pvsd.org/departments/food-service/school-cafe-information/. If you are sending funds in with your students, please note the students’ names and account number on the envelope and ask them to give the envelope to their cashier in the cafeteria.
Upon entering the serving area, students make their selections and enter their 6 digit Student ID number on the pin pad or scanner. Our staff will be happy to help them become more comfortable with the system.
Safe2Say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.
When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Please see below for more information.
The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
Community Bulletin Board
Want to find out what’s going on in the PV Community? Visit here for flyers about upcoming events in and around our area!
To submit an event for posting, please send a PDF version of your flyer to webmaster@pvsd.org for review.
Please note that Community Bulletin Board items may contain links to websites of organizations outside Perkiomen Valley School District. Items are posted to this bulletin board as a free service to the community, and should not be interpreted as being sponsored or endorsed by the district.
West Weeks At A Glance
Monday February 27th - Friday March 3rd - Read Across America Week @ West
Monday February 27th - Socks Off To Reading (Crazy Sock Day)
Tuesday February 28th - Reading Jogs the Mind (Wear Exercise Clothes); Homework Club @ 2:30pm in LGI 123
Wednesday March 1st - Rah Rah to Reading (Wear West Gear); Middle School Principal's Roundtable @ 6:30pm in MS East Library
Thursday March 2nd - Fan Favorite Day (Dress Up As Your Favorite Character); Homework Club @ 2:30pm in LGI 123
Friday March 3rd - Cozy Up To A Good Book (Wear PJ's); West Home & School Glo Dance at 7pm in West Gym
Friday March 10th - Author Jordan Sonnenblick visit to West; Willy Wonka Jr. performance at 7pm in West Auditorium
Saturday March 11th - Willy Wonka Jr. performance at 6pm in West Auditorium
Sunday March 12th - Willy Wonka Jr. performance at 2pm in West Auditorium
For more details on the 22/23 school year go to the 22/23 Instructional Calendar
Perkiomen Valley Middle School West