A message from the Superintendent

January 4, 2023

Greetings PV Families,

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well following an enjoyable holiday season and winter break. We are right back into the routines of school and excited to be here!

Thankfully this winter we are not facing the COVID-19 challenges of last year at this time, although there is illness affecting our school communities. In speaking with representatives of our nursing department, I have learned that there have been quite a few students who have been ill with flu-like symptoms this school year. I certainly hope you and your children were spared over the break, however, as we continue through the winter season, I would like to share a few reminders that can help to maintain the health and well being of our students, staff, and community.

Please continue to encourage your children to practice regular hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer, to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and to dress appropriately for colder weather. Our custodial team is working to clean high touch surfaces as well. All of these measures can help reduce the spread of infection. If children become ill, they must be fever-free for at least 24 hours, without the use of any fever reducing medication, before they return to school. Additionally, they cannot be vomiting and/or have diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. A doctor's note must accompany any medication a child needs to take during the school day. Also, the District continues to offer KN95 or KF94 masks to any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask during the day.

If your child experiences an extended illness, I encourage you to reach out to their school nurse to address any questions or concerns. Others from our school teams may reach out to you to discuss your child's absences. Our schools realize that illness can keep students from attending school and this is certainly acceptable. It is important to note that we initiate conversation when the number of days absent starts to accumulate. We do this because first and foremost, we are concerned about your child and the "why" of their absences. Additionally, we are obligated to communicate under Pennsylvania's Compulsory Attendance Requirements and Board Policy 204. These discussions are not intended to be punitive and instead, supportive. Our staff are partners with you in your child's education and will continue to support their attendance as well as a positive school experience overall.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and peaceful 2023. Thank you for all that you do in partnership with us to support teaching and learning everyday.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara A. Russell

Superintendent

• January PV Showcase
• Language Mentoring Program
• 2022-2023 School Calendar Survey
• Community Ed - Registration for Winter '23
• MLK Day of Service
• Drive Through Donation Station
• Upcoming Superintendent Roundtable
  
• Hall of Fame Nominations
• FID Reminder
• Important District Dates

Visit Activities & Happenings from Around the District. Learn about:

• STEM Houses
• HS Poster Exhibit
• Stone Age Painting
• Geography Challenge
• and more!

Our District continues to become more diverse. Currently, there are 17 different primary languages spoken by our students/families. Students new to our schools can find it very challenging to acclimate when they do not speak fluent English - or know only a little English. In an effort to support them, we are launching a mentoring program. We are inviting high school students fluent in communicating in a second language, to serve as mentors to our younger students speaking the same language. These high school mentors would be asked to travel to other PV schools on a schedule to be determined. We are attempting to pilot the idea and learn from any positive connections and benefits we discover.

We are asking any interested high school students to complete this brief survey: Language Mentoring Program. Administration will follow up in January. We are very excited to offer this opportunity to our students, both mentors and mentees!

Planning for the 2023-2024 instructional school calendar has begun - and we need your input! There are many factors to consider when developing a school calendar such as the beginning and ending dates of the school year, scheduling of conferences, holidays and inservice days. Your feedback will help guide us as we prepare a recommendation for the Board of School Directors.

We ask that you complete the survey by Friday, January 6, 2023.

2023-2024 Calendar Survey

We are looking forward to the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16th and hope you can join us!

This year's event features both In Person and Take Home opportunities.The Day of Service will take place in the Perkiomen Valley High School Cafeteria from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm. The day is broken into two sessions, 8:30 am & 10:30 am, where elementary and middle school students can take part in service activities to benefit both local and international organizations. If you are unable to join us in-person, a limited number of at-home activities will be available.

Use this link to sign up for either In Person or Take Home opportunities

Please note:

• Participants are asked to choose only one option: In Person or Take Home.
• Sign up for Take Home options will close on January 9th so that materials can be distributed.
• Sign up for In Person will be open through January 16th. Spaces are limited and subject to availability.

Contact Mr. Steve Willis (swillis@pvsd.org), Coordinator of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, with questions.

During the MLK Day of Service, we will again be hosting a Drive-Thru Donation Station at Middle School East. Goods can be dropped off on Monday, January 16th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. We will be collecting for the following organizations:

• Perkiomen Valley Post Prom
  • Formal Wear
    • Shoes, Purses, Accessories
  • Any other clothing items bag separately from formal wear
• Perkiomen Valley Spirit Wear (Non-personalized items)
  • If your “Little Vikings” have become “Big Vikings” and you would like to donate their gently used PV Spirit Wear here is your chance.
  • We will be collecting all sizes and all PV School Spirit Wear
• Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
  • Non-perishable goods
  • personal care items
  • supplies for babies and pets
• Lions Club
  • Used glasses (both prescription and any other types of glasses)

Do you have thoughts on a school-related topic or two? Would you like to engage with the superintendent about your child's school experience? If so, please feel free to attend any one or more of this year's Superintendent Roundtables held at the PV High School Library. These meetings are open to the public and will focus on certain topics while also affording attendees open time to share their questions and comments. Beverages and lite desserts will be provided.

Upcoming Roundtable - January 11 from 6:30-8:00pm - Transitions: Elementary to Middle and Middle to High

For more information, visit Superintendent Roundtable Discussions. As a note, topics are tentative and may be adjusted.

We look forward to our next Hall of Fame Induction in the Fall of 2023! Nominations are open now through March 31, 2023. Visit our Hall of Fame website to learn more and to access the nomination form. Reach out to Mr. Steve Willis (swillis@pvsd.org) with questions.

As the weather begins to turn, I thought it best to remind everyone about the possibility of FIDs (Flexible Instructional Days) in response to inclement weather. After utilizing all three (3) built-in inclement weather days, the District may implement a FID to provide virtual instruction to students. FIDs assist schools in meeting the required 180 student days while avoiding the need to extend the instructional calendar year. PA Schools may use up to five (5) FIDs per school year.

Learn more on our website.

• Monday, January 9: Board Business Meeting @ 7pm
• Wednesday, January 11: Superintendent Roundtable #2 @ 6:30pm
• Thursday, January 12: Educational Equity Task Force @ 7pm
• Monday, January 16: Holiday (Schools & Offices Closed) & MLK Day of Service

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