Paul V. Fly Elementary School
September 2022 Newsletter
Greetings from Mr. Smith
Hello Paul V. Fly Families,
As we move to the mid-way mark of the first month of school I would like to take a moment to thank all of our families for your flexibility and support as we opened up the new school year. It has been a joy serving you and our students.
I would like to share with you a couple of important events taking place this month. Fall picture day will take place on Monday, September 19th. On Thursday, September 22nd we would like to invite you to our Open House. This event will take place at Paul V. Fly Elementary School from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Please see the link below for the official invite. Also, next Friday, September 23rd will be our first early dismissal of the school year. Dismissal will begin at 12:20 PM.
Finally, I am excited to share that Paul V. Fly Elementary School will be celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. Students will participate in a variety of activities as they explore the Hispanic heritage. Please check out our social media pages to see how we are celebrating!
In closing, I want to thank you again for your support and for partnership with Paul V. Fly Elementary School. We are blessed to have such an amazing group of parents. I wish you and your family a healthy and safe September.
Sincerely,
Jason W. Smith
Principal
Paul V. Fly Elementary School
Important Dates/Information:
Chromebooks - Students will need to continue to bring their fully charged Chromebook to school each day. Any broken Chromebooks can be fixed at Paul V. Fly Elementary School. Kindergarten students will receive their Chromebooks during the week of September 26th.
Special Request - Our teachers are asking for your help with sending your child to school with a pair of headphones or earbuds. Your child will keep the earbuds/headphones at school. A cheap pair will do. You can also find a decent pair on amazon for around $8 or at Five Below.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus -
***If parents wish to put money on their students account for extra servings and a la carte (snack) purposes only, they may do so by clicking here.
Important Dates - To access the entire District Calendar, click on the following link. District Calendar & PVF School Calendar
September 16th - Spirit Day (Blue & White or PVF Spirit Wear)
September 19th - Fall Picture Day
September 22nd - Open House 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
September 23rd - Early Dismissal (Dismissal begins at 12:20)
September 26th - Rosh Hashanah ~ No School
September 30th - Favorite Color Day
October 5th - Yom Kippur ~ No School
October 6th - 4th Grade Farm Park Trip
October 6th - 1st Parent Faculty Club (PFC) meeting at 6:30 PM ~PVF Library
October 9th - 15th - Fire Prevention Week
October 14th - Favorite Team Jersey Day
October 21st - Early Dismissal (Dismissal begins at 12:20)
November 22nd - Fall Conferences (evening)
November 23th - Fall Conferences (morning)
Important School & District Forms & Information
Paul V. Fly Student Handbook - We at Paul V. Fly Elementary School are committed to the adherence to the policies outlined in this Handbook because we are committed to providing you with the program and opportunities outlined in the Handbook. We want Paul V. Fly Elementary School to be the best it can be, and we want you to be a part of it. Please keep this handbook as a reference throughout the year.
Emergency Card - Please make sure to complete an updated emergency card for each Paul V. Fly student. We cannot release your child to another adult unless they are listed on the card. Click here to access the electronic EMERGENCY CARD
FERPA -The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that the Norristown Area School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. Please click here to access NASD's official FERPA Letter
Custodial Letter - Please be advised that the Norristown Area School District will grant equal parent access to school records (and to the child) unless a court order is provided specifying any special conditions that may exist. Please see the district's Custodial Letter for more information.
Day Care Transportation Request - If you are enrolling your child(ren) in a childcare center and are authorizing that center to provide transportation to/from NASD schools each day OR if you if you are enrolling your child(ren) in a childcare center and are authorizing NASD to provide transportation to/from the center each day, you must fill out this form Day Care Transportation Request.
Parent Right to Know Letter - This letter lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom staff working with your child. Click here to access this information: Parent Right to Know Letter
***Please see the FAQ's below for more information about the school year.***
What are we observing and celebrating this month?
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days. Meaning “head of the year” or “first of the year,” the festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion.
Rosh Hashanah 2022 begins on Sunday, September 25, 2022 and ends on the evening of Tuesday, September 27, 2022. The exact date of Rosh Hashanah varies every year, since it is based on the Hebrew Calendar, where it begins on the first day of the seventh month. Rosh Hashanah is almost always in September or October.
~ History.com Editors, (2022 September 15) Rosh Hashanah https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/rosh-hashanah-history
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) for Hebrew Year 5783 begins at sundown on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים), Also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes "the Days of Awe").
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
Want to learn more? Check out these websites:
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month as a Family
National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Education Association ~ Hispanic Heritage Month
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there before and after school childcare available at Paul V. Fly? It Takes A Village Childcare offers before and after school childcare here at Paul V. Fly. Childcare is available from 7:00 - 9:00 AM & 3:20 - 6:00 PM Monday to Friday. To learn more check out. It Takes A Village Childcare
What time does school start and end?
Students should arrive by 9:05 AM. We dismiss at 3:20 PM. If you are picking up your child at school in the afternoon, please send a note in the morning so that they are at the car-rider pickup door to meet you. The pickup area is behind the building off of Taft road.
Where do the children enter the school? All school buses arrive at the front door and the students enter the building directly from there. If you are dropping off your child, you need to do so in the Car Rider Parking lot in the rear of the building. Please do not bring your child to school before 8:50 AM.
How do I find out what bus my child rides? You will receive a bus notice from the First Student transportation department a week prior to school starting. If you do not, please call transportation at 610-630-5022 or 610-630-5051 or the main number at 610-630-5000. Make sure that you download the transportation app. You can set up an account by accessing firstviewapp.com School Code (FGAM) PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE TIMES CHANGE FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL AS NEW CHILDREN ARE ADDED TO THE BUS ROUTE. Please stay at the bus stop at the end of the day for at least twenty minutes past the arrival time. It is a good idea to have a cell phone with you at the bus stop, in case the bus is delayed. FOR ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS, SOMEONE MUST BE AT THE BUS STOP AT THE END OF THE DAY TO RECIEVE YOUR CHILD. IF NOT, THE BUS WILL RETURN YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL.
How will I know what days there is no school? The Norristown Area School District Web Site has that information. Please click here to access the 22-23 calendar 2022-2023 School District Calendar. You will periodically receive documents with important dates for the month in your child’s Wednesday folder as well. Please make sure to check the Wednesday folder each week for all important information, events of the school, and in the community. Communication is primarily sent via email. Make sure you provide an updated email address to the school.
What is the dismissal time for an early dismissal day? The dismissal time is 12:20 PM. Please be sure to make arrangements for someone to be at the bus stop for the early dismissal days.
When will I find out about the curriculum? There will be an Open House on September 22nd from 5:30 to 7:30 PM for parents. Please join us for this evening to meet the staff, your child’s teacher, and find out everything your child will be learning this year.
What about breakfast and lunch? We participate in a universal meal program, which means all children eat breakfast and lunch free of charge. Students can also purchase various snacks each day for an additional cost. Money can be place on your child’s account by going on to our district website under Food Services. You will need a credit card to add money on behalf of your child.
What do I do if my child is sick? You should call school to report your child absent. You must send in a completed absence card or written note within 3 days of the illness. You can complete it electronically: Electronic Absence Card. Otherwise, the child will be marked unexcused absent. After 3 days of unexcused absences or truancy, a SAIP plan will be required with the Guidance Counselor. This process is a State Law.
What if I want to change my child’s transportation? Any temporary car-rider transportation change must be in writing. A note must be sent in with your child to explain the change in transportation. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED TO CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S TRANSPORTATION. This is to protect your child’s safety. Bus changes are not permitted. Permanent changes must be done through the office and transportation.
What do I need to complete if I would like to request transportation from my child's daycare/childcare center? Parents must complete the following request forms.
What if I had a change of address? All changes of address must be reported immediately. The safety of all Paul Fly children is paramount, and that means getting them to and from school safely, responding swiftly during an emergency, as well as ensuring the compliance of all school boundaries. Please notify the main office immediately of any changes at (610) 630-0380.
What if I need to pick up my child early? You must put the request in writing and send it in with your child. You can also email your child's teacher and the school secretary. When you arrive for pick up, please see our secretary to sign out your child (You will need your ID). Your child will be called to the office once we confirm your id. Please do not ask to have your child waiting in the office for you. Students who are sitting in the office are missing instructional time. We will do our best to have your child in the office as quickly as possible.
What if my child needs medication during the school day? Please contact the Nurse’s office. All medical forms should go directly to the Nurse’s Office. No medicine can be administered without written doctor’s orders. You may enclose them in an envelope marked SCHOOL NURSE. ** It would be very helpful if you could send in a change of clothes for your kindergarten child. In case of a spill, dirty or wet at recess, or if your child may not get to the bathroom in time.
*** The most important document is the EMERGENCY CARD. Please be sure to complete this form right away.***
Please know that we are happy to have your child with us. Your child’s safety, academic, social and emotional well-being are our primary goals. Please help by providing any information that will help us understand your child’s needs. Thank you in advance for your support and partnership.