#Engage, Energize, & Educate
November 15th
Dear Families,
While it was a short week, it was another busy week at PVE. On Tuesday, Mrs. Dohoney and I surprised the staff with a GRATITUDE cart of treats and visited each classroom. Staff members enjoyed flavored waters, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, chips, and candy. We are so grateful for ALL of our staff.
Mrs. Dohoney & Mrs. Viera treat staff to a GRATITUDE CART full of treats!
Last week, Mrs. Dohoney surprised me with classrooms creating chart paper messages of gratitude for ME. Below are some of the pictures. We are so grateful for Mrs. Dohoney today and everyday!
A class message from Ms. Arndt.
A class message from Mrs. Bearss.
A class message from Mrs. Grace.
We are happy to share that our Pumpkin Palooza pumpkins were repurposed. Stacie Nichols from Revive the Roots used the leftover pumpkins to feed her farm animals.
Dandie enjoyed his pumpkin meal!
A Message From Stacie Nichols
Happy November!
Do we leave the leaves? This question comes up every fall, and the answer is not always easy.
Leaves provide protection for our soil. Wind and rain, and soon snow, can take all the nutrients out of the soil that plants need when we go to plant in the spring. Leaves can help cover the soil, like a cover crop, but more practical for the small garden (or the super busy gardener).
Leaves are also winter habitat for bugs. This is where it can sometimes be good or bad to remove them. We have garden friends and garden foes when we talk bugs, and both love leaf litter. If your garden did not have many pests this past year, then leaves may provide habitat for beneficial bugs. If your garden was hit hard by pests it may make more sense to remove the leaves and not give those bugs winter habitat.
Wherever you choose to place them, leaves will return nutrients to the soil when they decompose. Even our schools' garden compost, provided by RI Resource Recovery, is leaf mulch compost! So leave them in your garden, compost them at home or bag them up to be composted by the state. Most importantly, leaves don't belong in the trash!
While we're talking leaves here is a short video that talks about why all those green leaves turn different colors in the fall for kids.
Adults, if you're looking to become more sustainable in your lawn/garden care here is a short article from USDA on the benefits and uses of leaf mulch:
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2022/10/17/fall-leave-leaves
Get out and explore the leaf litter in our gardens or your yard. What animals can you find using the leaves as a winter home?
A Message from Mrs. MJ
Grades K-2 have been working on locomotor skills and throwing with opposition.
Locomotor skills, which include running, jumping, skipping, hopping, and leaping, form the building blocks for more complex physical activities.Throwing with opposition involves coordinating the body so that the opposite arm and leg work together to generate power and accuracy. By engaging in targeted activities and fun exercises, we aim to enhance your child’s coordination, balance, and overall fitness. These skills are not only crucial for sports but also contribute to their self-confidence, social interaction, and long-term health. To support this learning, we will engage students in a variety of fun and interactive exercises that emphasize proper body positioning, balance, and follow-through. These activities are designed to be inclusive and adapted for different skill levels, ensuring that all students can participate and progress at their own pace.
Grades 3-5 are starting our Quidditch unit which is inspired by the beloved sport from the Harry Potter series. Quidditch has been adapted into a fun, inclusive, and physically engaging game suitable for all students. Quidditch incorporates a variety of physical skills, including running, dodging, passing, and teamwork. This fast-paced game will not only help develop your child’s coordination, agility, and cardiovascular fitness but also foster strategic thinking and cooperative play. Our version of Quidditch has been modified to ensure safety and inclusivity, so every student, regardless of their athletic ability, can participate and enjoy the experience.
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is busting at the seams again. We will donate all items on Wednesday, November 27th. We encourage you to write your child names on all coats, hats, sweatshirts, gloves, etc.
Please encourage your child to visit our Lost & Found, located outside the cafeteria!
Weekly Flyers
Fifth Grade Thanksgiving Pie Fundraiser
Important Dates for Next Week
Thursday, November 21st- School Spiritwear Day- Gratitude Month: Grateful to be a Panda!
Have a terrific weekend!
Warmly,
Mrs. Dohoney & Mrs. Viera