Principal's Report
A Weekly Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
A Word From Dr. Clune
Dear PV East Parents and Guardians,
Please take a few moments to review all of the topics in this Principal's Report. There is a Bike Survey, Hat & Mittens Drive, Password Change, as well as important H&S information.
End of Vector 2
Monday, December 19 is the end of Vector 2 for 6th and 7th graders for special area classes. Please have your child check to make sure that all assignments are completed.
On Thursday, December 22nd (The last school day before Winter Break.) we will be running a modified schedule to accommodate our PBIS School Wide Reward. Each grade level will compete in a 'Minute to Win It' Game show as part of a Holidays Extravaganza. Many thanks to our East Home & School Association for providing a 'high value' big prize for each grade level. In addition, we also want to thank Chick-Fil-A for providing other prizes and helping us plan an exciting event for our students.
We also recognize that December can also be a stressful time for our students and their families. Please do not hesitate to contact our school counselors or administration if you need support.
Sincerely,
Seamus Clune, Ph.D.
#EastROCKs
Warm & Fuzzy Drive
The VIP Crew will be holding a "Warm and Fuzzy" drive collecting new hats, mittens, ear muffs etc. These items will go to families who are in great need of warm clothing for the winter. Please consider contributing to this wonderful cause. There will be collection boxes housed in the following rooms: 6th Grade (Houser), 7th Grade (Dooner), and 8th Grade (Pfanstiel). Please send donations into school with your child by December 16.
Home & School Association Updates
New MSE Student Only Event this year!
Wednesday 12/21, 6:30-9pm:
A Night with Buddy! H&S is hosting a night with Buddy and all of your MSE buddies!
Please note this event is only for Middle School EAST students
On December 21st drop your MSE child off at East and let them enjoy our first Holiday Movie Extravaganza! ELF will be featured on the big screen in our auditorium. We will have lots of snacks and drinks, including hot chocolate, for sale. We will also be hosting our first annual "decorate at home" student gingerbread contest (see details below). There will be plenty of opportunity to take selfies and photos with friends around our festive gymnasium, so we are encouraging students to wear festive PJs or their best ugly sweater!!! (Please remember Pajamas must be appropriate for school )
Gingerbread Contest Instructions: This is completely optional and not required to join in our movie night. There are no rules or restrictions for this contest, however please remember students will need to be able to carry in their house on their own. The houses will be displayed on tables thoughout the gym for students to vote for their favorite. Please have your child put his/her full name and grade discretely on the bottom of the display.
Again, all of the decorating is done at home. Please have your child, bring his/her fully decorated gingerbread house to our event that night. The top three will receive a prize, so have your child bring out their creativity and start decorating!!
**If you have a financial need and would like to participate, please reach out to your child's counselor.
Because this is a new event, we are asking you to sign up if you are interested in attending! This will help us get a head count to ensure we have enough goodies for all!
Volunteers! We need you! If interested in volunteering during our event, please use below sign up genius.
** This event is free to all Middle School East students , please remind children to bring their ID badges. (Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase) .
**. This event is only for current Middle School East students, no siblings or friends outside of MSE allowed.
**. Drop off will begin at 6:30pm at the gymnasium doors. Pick up will begin at 9pm, by the bus loading zone (car line pick up) For safety reasons, we cannot allow students to be picked up early or at any other place except in our car line.
Any questions, please email pvmsehs@gmail.com
PVSD Safe Routes To School - Montgomery Planning Commission
Student Password Change by 12/16
Next week PVSD IT is requiring all students to change their password. If you need help changing your password, please view this video. If you have not changed your password by 12/16 you will be locked out of your account. If you have questions or concerns please reach out to helpdesk@pvsd.org
Holiday Shop & Power Packs
Perkiomen Valley School District is excited to once again support families in need this holiday season through the PV Power Packs Holiday Shop run by community volunteers.
The PV Power Packs Holiday Shop will be open on the following dates and times in the Evergreen Elementary School Library located at 98 Kagey Road. Enter through the main doors at the front of the school. Security will be present to help direct you.
Tuesday, 12/6: 5-8 pm
Wednesday, 12/7: 5-8 pm
Thursday, 12/8: 11 - 1:30
If you are a parent or guardian of a student in the Perkiomen Valley School District who is in need of assistance this holiday season, you can come during these times to shop, free of charge, for your student(s) and any younger siblings. There is no financial documentation needed and we only ask that you share the name of the school where your child is enrolled. We will have extra volunteers in a separate room to supervise younger children if you are unable to get childcare.
If you have specific needs or are unable to come during these times, please email Sarah at PowerPacks@pvsd.org or reach out to your school principal or counselor.
Guiding Good Choices
GGC is an evidence based 5-session virtual program for parents with children ages 9-14. The program is a multimedia family-competency training program specifically designed to strengthen parents' family management skills, parent-child bonding, and children's peer-resistance skills. Most sessions are parent-focused, though children attend one session, focused on peer pressure.
The group will meet Monday-Friday December 12-16 from 6:00pm- 7:00pm. . Parents meet each night without children, but the children join their parent during the 3rd session for a discussion about peer pressure. Dinner will also be sent to families every night and incentives (gift cards) will be provided to the kids for participation. If interested, please see the information in the flyer below.
Free Breakfast Program for ALL Students.
As a reminder, Governor Tom Wolf announced free school breakfast for all students across the commonwealth. The Universal Free Breakfast Program will run through the end of the 2022-23 school year and is open to all students, no questions asked.
We are aware that some families may prefer that their students not participate in the free breakfast at school (in some instances last year, students were eating two breakfasts - one at home prior to school and one after arriving at school). Families may choose to “opt their child(ren) out” from obtaining breakfast using this form. If a family opts out, the student’s account will be flagged and breakfast will not be available to them. You may change this preference at any time by contacting our Food Service department.
PV Athletics Update
Perkiomen Valley Sports Network
Welcome to the Perkiomen Valley Sports Network inaugural podcast featuring student-athletes and coaches from within the Perkiomen Valley School District. The production team is a collaboration of our Sports Marketing & Management classes, PVTV, and the Athletic Department here at PVHS. Our mission is to shine light and positive stories on impactful players, coaches, and teams within our school and discuss their experiences as student-athletes and coaches. This is the first of many podcasts that will be shared throughout the school year.
In this our first episode, our host Evan Kenny will be interviewing three PVHS Varsity golf team members: Ayush Patel, Abigail McCorkell, and Nadia Yackanicz. These golfers have all had very successful seasons and recently qualified for the PIAA District One Golf Championships. In the podcast they discuss their experiences and thoughts on being a part of the PV Golf Team this season.
We look forward to sharing more podcasts with you throughout the year.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C9DqaLOYJTMlKLvrtxTzafVvFeLd3QHK/view
Middle School East 8th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach: Chris Jackson
Head Coach Chris Jackson is entering his 7th year as coach for the Perkiomen Valley Middle School East 8th-grade Girls basketball team. Coach Jackson is in his 7th year as school counselor at Middle School East. Coach Jackson enjoys coaching because it allows him to make further connections with his students outside of the typical school day. He also enjoys watching them grow into leaders and better athletes. Coach Jackson teaches all of his athletes that teamwork, discipline, and character are all you need to be successful in school, on the court, and in life.
Middle School East 7th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach: Mickey Marsilio
Coach Marsilio enters his second year in this position, however, he has been involved at the JV and Varsity level basketball and also has served as a PVHS JV softball coach. He lives in Skippack and is a project manager for Merck for 24 years. He and his wife Sabrina of 20 years, have 2 daughters - Emilia 9th grade at PVHS and Nina 7th grade at PVMS East. He is a 1993 graduate of PVHS, 1998 graduate of Penn State University (BA), and 2016 graduate of Temple University (MS). His favorite part of coaching is preparing students-athletes for a successful future. His message to the PV athletic community is that the future is bright at Perk Valley, on & off the field/court.
Be A Part of the Conversation - Upcoming Programs
Be a Part of the Conversation equips families and communities in Pennsylvania with skills and resources to understand substance use, addiction, and related health issues. We provide community programs, foster supportive connections, highlight lived experiences, and challenge stigma.
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.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
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.
Safe2Say
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.
Important Dates
December
December 19 End of Vector 2
December 21 A Night With Buddy 6:30
December 23 - January 2 No School, winter break
Perkiomen Valley Middle School East
Email: sclune@pvsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/perkiomen-valley-middle-school-east/
Location: 100 Kagey Road, Collegeville, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 409-8580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVMSE/
Twitter: @PVMSEast