#Engage, Energize, & Educate
January 10th
Dear Families,
Our winter benchmarking for Star Math and Reading runs from January 6th-January 17th. This information from Star is used to measure students' achievement and growth from the beginning of the year. This data is also used to drive instruction and interventions in our classrooms.
Technology Devices, Online Services, and Social Media
Every family has the right to choose how much access to technology devices, online services, and social media apps their child has while outside of school. There are certainly lots of benefits for kids to be able to communicate with family and friends online, as well as to access information and entertainment. However, a number of families have expressed to us that they were not aware of exactly what each online service, game, or social media app allowed their child to do or how much it allowed them to communicate with other people. There are so many online services, games, and social media apps that it can be extremely difficult for families to keep on top of everything. Most social media apps require their users to be at least 13 years old, but they don’t often make this clear to parents and the requirements are easy to bypass. Also, parental controls built into devices, games, and social media apps can be difficult to navigate and ineffective.
Here are some resources from Common Sense Media and Common Sense Education that may be helpful to families when investigating and deciding what devices, social media apps, and games their children should have access to:
https://www.webwise.ie/parents/online-gaming-talking-points-parents/
Parents' Ultimate Guides to TikTok, Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, etc.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/parents-ultimate-guides
Grades K–2 Family Conversations
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zYSaO6dR-N9R6XUQQLt6iFjavkp7-qH/edit
“Family Tech Planner for Children Ages 2-8”
Grades 3–5 Family Conversations
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AQqtJlobiHKGNDVBARClMtiGmL3qeVvh/edit
“Family Tech Planner for Children Ages 9-12”
“Digital Citizenship Resources for Family Engagement”
https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-resources
We hope that these resources provide a good starting point for any families that have questions about online services, games, and social media apps and their children.
Revive the Roots
Next week students will be discussing all things that are grown but not eaten, agricultural products are used for fuel, fiber and more. Students will be dyeing bookmarks using the Hopi black dye sunflowers we grew in the garden last summer.
Recess
Students go outside before school and after lunch if the feel like temperature is 20 degrees or higher. Please have your child properly dressed for the weather. For those students who like to wear shorts 365 days a year, we recommend those students to bring in sweatpants to wear over their shorts for recess.
The Elementary Handbook which can be found on our website prohibits slides with socks or Crocs without the straps for recess.
Friendly Reminder on Recycling
Please support our STEAM projects with Mrs. Clapprood by sending in any of the following items:
1. Paper Towels & Toilet Paper Towel Cardboard
2. Empty Fruit Containers
3. Empty Kleenex Boxes
4. Empty and rinsed out soda bottles (all sizes)
All items are being collected at door 4. Thank you in advance for your support.
Important Dates:
Wednesday, January 15th-SSELAC meeting at SHS Media Center at 6:30pm
Monday, January 20th-No School for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Fifth Grade trip toTop Golf / Time TBD. $16.00 for 2 hours play and lunch.
Thursday, January 23rd-Fifth into Sixth Grade Orientation at GMS from 6:00-8:00pm
Friday, January 24th-Wear your Panda Spirit Gear!
Monday, January 27th-Classroom Spelling Bees take place in 4th & 5th grade classrooms this week.
Tuesday, February 4th-PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30pm in the cafeteria (door 2). Children are welcome to attend.
Thursday, February 6th-Wear your favorite Sports Jersey.
Friday, February 7th-Spelling Bee finalists attend Spelling Bee at LaPerche at 9:30 am. Today is the 100th Day of School! Dress like you are 100 years old!
Monday, February 10th-Friday, February 14th-Bracing for Winter Break Spirit Days! Here is the link for Spirit Days.
Monday, February 17th-Friday, February 21st-No School for Presidents Day/Winter Recess
Tuesday, March 4th-PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30pm in the cafeteria (door 2). Children are welcome to attend.
Thursday, March 6th-Volunteers needed for Ladies Bingo set up. Please contact Alycia at pleasantviewptopresident@gmail.com to sign up to help set up.
Friday, March 7th Ladies Bingo Night at the Portuguese American Club
Saturday, March 8th- Selected 4th & 5th Graders will participate in the All State Chorus 9:00-3:30 pm at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium-More information to follow
Wednesday, March 12th-Lifetouch Spring Picture Day
Monday, March 17th- Friday, March 21st-Respect Week. Flyer forthcoming
Wednesday, March 19th-SSELAC meeting at SHS Media Center at 6:30pm & The Fifth Grade Pasta Dinner at SHS
Tuesday, April 1st-PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30pm in the cafeteria (door 2). Children are welcome to attend
Wednesday, April 2nd-World Autism Day! Wear your tie dye.
Friday, April 4th-Fifth Graders vs. Staff Basketball, Soccer, or Kickball Game
Sunday, April 6th-Student Choice is Dave & Busters from 9:00-12:00 pm or the Dance from 4:00-7:00 pm
Monday April 7th-Friday April 11th- Reading Week-more information to follow
Thursday, April 10th-Teaching & Learning Night-more information to follow.
Monday, April 14th-Friday, April 18th-No School for Spring Recess
Tuesday, April 22nd-Earth Day Activities
Saturday, May 3rd-Fifth Grade Pool Party
Tuesday, May 6th-PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30pm in the cafeteria (door 2). Children are welcome to attend.
Wednesday, May 7th-Hearing Screenings take place at PVES.
Monday, May 12th-Wednesday, May 14th- Musical Rehearsal
Thursday, May 15th-Musical Performance-more information to follow
Friday, May 16th-In school musical performance at SHS
Wednesday, May 21st-SSELAC meeting at SHS Media Center at 6:30pm
Thursday, May 22nd-Grade 3 & 4 Field Trip to the RI Philharmonic from 10:30-1:00 pm/End of Year Carnival in the staff parking lot
Monday, May 26th-No School for Memorial Day
Thursday, May 29th-PVE’s Got Talent- Talent Show at SHS
Friday, May 30th-District Fifth Grade Field Day at Deerfield Park and Fifth Grade Dance
Monday, June 2nd-2P & 2L have a field trip to Revive the Roots from 9:30-11:30 am/Special Olympics Torch Run-Date and time to be determined.
Tuesday, June 3rd-PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30pm in the cafeteria (door 2). Children are welcome to attend. 2K & 2A Revive the Roots field trip from 9:30-11:30 am.
Thursday, June 5th-Field Day at PVES
Friday, June 6th-Rain Date for Field Day at PVES
Wednesday, June 11th-Tentative Kindergarten Ceremony at PVES and Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony at SHS
Thursday, June 12th- Fifth Grade Pizza Lunch in the courtyard at 11:10 am. Parents (with BCI’s and volunteer training are welcome to supervise).
Monday, June 16th-Tentative Last Day of School!
September 15th-Boosterthon Kick-Off
September 24th-Boosterthon Event
Have a restful weekend.
Warmly,
Mrs. Dohoney & Mrs. Viera