VALLEY VIKING NEWS
12.9.18
VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Email: tracy.poquette@fcps.org
Website: education.fcps.org/ves/home
Location: 3519 Jefferson Pike Jefferson, Maryland
Phone: (240)236-3000
Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps
MESSAGE FROM MRS. POQUETTE
The shorter days and cooler temperatures let us know that winter break is almost here! As our calendar year comes to an end and a new calendar year begins, excitement continues to grow at Valley!
While we are still a few weeks away from winter break, I wanted to extend our warmest holiday and New Year wishes to you and your family. Thank you all for your partnership, your fundraising efforts, your continued support, and for sharing your wonderful children with us. It truly is a pleasure to interact and work with them each day. Please make sure that you take time to rest, unwind from the rigors of daily life, and be present with the amazing family and friends that each of you have. As a reminder the school office will be closed over Winter Break from December 22 through January 1. School resumes on January 2, 2018.
CONGRATULATIONS BRADY RENN!
HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
How are we doing with communication? We would love your feedback. Please consider taking a few minutes to complete our survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M99YXZP
Also, please remember to check your child's Thursday folder each week, as well as their agenda each day.
Valley's November Students of the Month
NEWS FROM THE P.E. DEPARTMENT
Exciting things are happening with the PE department the past few weeks. We received a “Play 60” grant, which is a kit that is valued at $395, this kit includes 10 footballs, 50 Flag belts and 3 kicking tees, we can’t wait to use this kit in the spring to teach the fundamentals of throwing a football and different flag football skills with our classes. We also just received word on Tuesday that we received another grant of $600 from the US Lacrosse association. Although we just wrapped up our lacrosse unit a few weeks ago we will have to break out the new lacrosse sticks that we will be receiving again in the spring to test them out.
With the Holiday season upon us I thought I would reach out to our Valley families about a possible way for you to donate to Valleys Physical Education program as well as de-cluttering your household. For some extra fun in PE class and looking forward into 2019, I am looking for donations of older video game systems and specific games. I am on the lookout for the Wii game console, controllers and any version of the games; “Just Dance”, “Just Dance Kids”, “Just Dance Disney”, and “Wii Sports”. The PE department will supply a receipt for your donation to use on your 2018 taxes to show your donation to the program. Please email Jaclyn.Finley@fcps.org with any questions or donations.
Happy Holidays!!
IMPORTANT DATES
Dec. 10 Play Tryouts for grades 2 and 3 3:30-5:00
Dec. 12 Play Tryouts for grades 4 and 5 3:30-5:30
Dec. 13-PTA Holiday Shop 4-8pm
Dec. 14-Spirit Day Wear Green or Valley Gear
Dec.14- 2 hour early dismissal; Movie Night; Holiday Shop
Dec. 18- Volunteer Training 5pm
Dec. 18-Band Concert
Jan. 4- Coffee with the Principal 9-10am
Jan. 8- PTA Meeting 6pm
EXCITING NEWS...
MORE EXCITING NEWS...
GIFTED AND TALENTED NOMINATIONS
The magnet program is designed for academically gifted students in grades 3 – 5 with superior performance in both language arts and mathematics. Nomination booklets, which will be available beginning January 25, 2019, may be obtained from the school office, the FCPS Office of Advanced Academics or online at http://www.fcps.org/advacademics under Elementary Magnet Program. Beginning January 25, 2019, the Office of Advanced Academics will be accepting nominations of present second through fourth grade students for possible placement in the magnet program for the 2019 - 2020 school year.
Students may be nominated for the magnet program by school staff, parents or jointly. Parents and teachers are encouraged to review information, including some characteristics of gifted students, that is posted at http://www.fcps.org/advacademics. Teacher nominations, parent nominations and a completed Parent/Guardian Rating Form are due in the school office by February 28, 2019, so that information required to complete the nomination packet may be gathered by school staff.
A Magnet Program Overview for parents interested in nominating their child will be held on January 24, 2019, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Central Office (191 South East Street). Parking is available in the East All Saints Street parking deck or in the parking lot located next to the Central Office off of East All Saints Street. Accessible parking is located in the Commerce Street lot located behind the Central Office. Enter the Board Room at the front of the building. The overview will include components of the magnet program and the processes leading to placement. Please note that this meeting is designed for parents, not students. The snow date for this meeting is January 31, 2019 at the same time and location. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Advanced Academics at 301-696-6891.
OUT OF DISTRICT APPROVAL PROCESS
Please be aware that the FCPS Regulation 400-15, the Assignment and Transfer of Students was recently revised to include new submission dates for yearly applications. The new dates that out-of-district applications must be submitted to the Department of Student Services are between January 2 and March 1 prior to each new school year. You will have access to reapply by going to the FCPS website at FCPS.org, going to the link that states “For Families and Students,” and then scrolling to the out-of-district section. There you will find a link for the application that will be active starting on January 2, 2019 and will close at the end of business on March 1, 2019. If you are in need of a paper copy of the application, please contact 240-236-2493 to make this request.
FCPS will publish schools identified as over-capacity and thus restricted for the 2019-2020 school year after December 1, 2018. Please note that the restricted schools are not open to out-of-district transfers.
WHEN INCLEMENT WEATHER STRIKES
- Frederick County Public Schools website - www.fcps.org - information about closings or delays is available on the home page.
- Find Out First - this subscription text service that will alert you to closings or delays. Go to www.fcps.org and scroll down to "Find Out First" to register.
- WFRE radio - 99.9
- Channel 18 - the FCPS television channel.
STAY INFORMED
Communication is very important to your child’s success at school and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at Valley Elementary School. Please remember communication is a two-way process and you are encouraged to get in touch with your child’s teacher as needed. We will use electronic communication frequently (Find Out First), so if you do not have access to a computer at home, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher to let them know, so they can send you information in your child’s backpack. We do not want you to miss important information.
Below are a few ways to stay informed about Valley and Frederick County Public Schools.
- Find Out First: register online at www.fcps.org/fof/ves (Almost all of our communication goes out through FOF)
- Remind App: https://www.remind.com/join/1718ve (Text Message Reminders for all Valley events)
- Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps (Reminders and pictures of Valley events)
- PTA website: https://valleyelementaryschoolpta.weebly.com/
- PTA facebook page: Valley Elementary School PTA
- Valley Elementary Website: https://education.fcps.org/ves/