GVES Weekly Update
April 26, 2019
Upcoming Events
4/29-4/30: Math PSSA Testing
5/1-5/2: Science PSSA Testing--4th Grade Only
5/3: GV Spirit Day
5/3: HSA Committee Meeting 9am
Raptor Reminder
Beginning April 23, all visitors will need an ID to go into the school and/or main office even if you are a regular visitor and/or volunteer. Please bring your ID if you will be visiting the school. Details are below.
Garnet Valley School District is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Although Raptor is already used at the secondary level, all elementary schools will begin implementation after spring break. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do that. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.
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. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district.
Jaguar Jog Time Again
2 days! Go online and register for the Jaguar Jog today! Sunday is the big day full of family fun, games, races, raffles and drawings! Help us reach our goal of 400 racers - our largest turnout yet! There will be opportunities to win a laptop, an iFly gift card, Mongiovi gift card, class water ice party, and of course awards for the races!
Please consider volunteering for an hour on Sunday - with more participants than expected, we need more help. Even an hour would be helpful. Please see the sign up genius. Thank you!
GV Mini Thon is Coming!
Seasonal Temperatures
Lockdown Drill
GVES conducted a lockdown drill on Tuesday, April 23rd, at 10:20AM. The purpose of this drill was to practice our safety procedures in case of an emergency, and it was held in place of a monthly fire drill. The drill was conducted with the assistance of our Director of Safety & Security, Tony Sivo. Our staff and students did a great job with the drill. Thank you for your support.
5th Grade Sendoff
Registration Link - http://bit.ly/5thgradesendoff2019
Volunteer Link - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4BA4A82DA3FE3-5thgrade
5th to 6th Tour Opportunity
Parent Registration Links:
5/10/2019: https://forms.gle/gajUUH7uZBCfrMbR9
5/31/2019: https://forms.gle/mgtW1TDNEPC6X7fM9
Waitlist: https://forms.gle/GZTfKgBnxsYAgfNk8
SUMMER CAMPS
Summer Music Academy
https://www.eschoolgarnetvalley.com/2019-summer-courses/2019-summer-music-academy
PSSA Testing Dates - Attendance is Important
- Math - Grades, 3, 4, 5 - April 29 & 30
- Science - Grade 4 only - May 1 & 2
Save-the-Dates
Elementary Open House - Wednesday, August 28, 12:30-2:30PM (one session open to all families)
HSA Update
Staff Appreciation Week – May 6th – 10th
Staff Appreciation Week is May 6-May 10. Please help show the GVES staff how much we “REEL”y appreciate all that they do for our children. Use the link below to sign up to volunteer to help or to donate items for the week.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4bafa72da7fa7-2019
HSA Committee Work Group Meeting – Friday, May 3rd
Always wanted to help out with HSA events but don’t know how to get involved? Join us for our Committee Work Group Meeting and get to know us/get looped in! Friday, May 3rd – 9 am in the GVE LGI Room
Muffins in May! May 15th (Gr 3), May 16th (Gr 4) and May 17th (Gr 5)
Our annual Muffins in May celebration is coming up soon! Mark your calendars and stay tuned here for more information!
School News
Student Placement Process
As we wrap up spring conferences, we naturally start to think about next school year. We have an extensive placement process that uses student assessment and observation data to help us place each student into next year’s classes. Our teachers collect this information, and it goes to our placement team. The team creates mixed-ability homerooms that are well-balanced by student gender, background, personality, and development. As part of this process, we do not accept requests for specific teachers. Such requests are not sent to the team that makes the classes.
On some occasions, there may be information specific to your child beyond what will be shared at spring conferences. If you believe there are circumstances that may not be addressed within the comprehensive placement process, please complete this form by May 1, 2019 for students who will be attending GVES in the fall. Teacher requests should not be included in these letters. The information you provide will go directly to the GVES principals in lieu of letters or emails regarding student placement.
Thank you for your understanding and confidence in our process to place all of our students.
COTA--Celebration of the Arts
The Celebration of the Arts is just around the corner. In fact, it's next month. The students of Garnet Valley have been diligently working in the Visual Arts, Technology, and Family and Consumer Science Departments. The Celebration of the Arts is our opportunity to demonstrate our creativity, talents, and dedication. So please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The opening exhibition is Tuesday, May 7 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm in the HS new gym.
Additional viewing times are:
Tuesday, May 7, daytime from 8am - 6pm
Wednesday, May 8 daytime from 8am - 3pm
Wednesday, May 8 evening from 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, May 9 daytime from 8am - 3pm
It’s FREE to the public! We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Grade 3 Math Screening
GV CTC Quick Tip # 35 The Teen Brain
The results are back from the 2017 Pennsylvania Youth Survey for Garnet Valley’s 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. We also have results from 2013 and 2015.
The results of this anonymous survey are self-reported and represent 83.9% of our students.
Did you know?
The human brain is not fully developed until age 25. Our students do not have the same brains that they will have as adults. They also do not have the same brain that they had in elementary school.
The Teen Brain has been described as a high-performance sports car with faulty steering and intermittent brakes. Emotions are bigger! Risk is more attractive! Reasoning is skewed!
The 2015 PAYS survey revealed that an average of 30% of students in grades 6,8,10 and 12 answered the following questions affirmatively. This average declined to 26% in our 2017 PAYS survey results.
· They have done something that feels good no matter what
· They have done something dangerous on a dare
· They have done crazy things even if they were dangerous
Thinking back to your teen years, some of the above statements may feel familiar. Teens need to be open to risk in order to achieve their goals and make their way in the world with success.
But what happens when teen behavior is affected by ATOD (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs)? And in today’s world, Juuls and vaping are currently poorly regulated and very concerning. Opiates in pill form for pain and heroin which can be laced with Fentanyl add even more danger to risk taking behavior.
Call to action…
Remember the teen brain and provide the support, limits, and belief in their future success and maturity that helps them see it also.
Click on the link below or paste in your browser to find out more about how our brains change from childhood to teen years, and how to help our teens make safer choices.
https://drugfree.org/article/brain-development-teen-behavior/
UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS
Jaguarmax Radio Podcast
Want a chance to be on the podcast? Students can submit a book review here and you might get to read it and be 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
Parent Right to Know Information
Connect with GVES! Now Podcasting!
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