September 26, 2025
#Engage, Energize,& Educate
Dear PVE Families,
Happy National PTO Day! 🎉 On behalf of our school, we want to thank our amazing PTO for the countless ways you support our students, staff, and community. Your time, energy, and dedication make such a difference every single day—we are so grateful for you!
Alycia Casazza-President
Gina Sifakis-Vice President
Lindsey Whitten-Vicee President
Deb Bettencourt-Treasurer
Corey Montanari-Secretary
Carly Warrener-5th Grade Committee
Caitlyn Adler-5th Grade Committee
Again, thank you for all of your support in yet another successful Boosterthon. We are so grateful for the opportunities these funds provide for our students and staff this school year. The PTO will share the final total in the upcoming weeks.
A Message from Melissa at Revive the Roots
Thanks for a great start to the year. We learned about the Three Sisters garden and how corn supports beans reaching for the sun while beans add nitrogen to the soil, and squash keeps out weeds and prevents the soil from drying out. We compared wind-pollination with insect pollination. We also talked a little about strong-smelling plants like basil keeping pests away from tomatoes and how bees and other insects pollinate and need food for three seasons. I will keep building on this as we dig deeper (no pun intended) into companion planting and ecosystems.
Some gaps in knowledge were that more than just bees pollinate (which we will go more in depth with in the spring), edible plants can have poisonous leaves (tomatoes), and a lot happens underground. They got introduced to nitrogen and how it moves from the air to plants to animals with the help of bacteria. This is a very abstract concept, but one we will touch on more during May, when we literally get into compost.
Next month we will focus on seed mobility, scaffolded for different age groups and tying in with Next Generation Science Standards. There will be some drawing and designing to get them to really look and problem-solve. Little ones will see how far they can get milkweed to blow and older kids will experiment with gravity and drag.
A Message from Nurse Mullins
Art Club
Art club for grades 3rd-5th starts next week. If your child registered, below is the schedule:
Tuesdays Art Class starts September 30th-November 26th (No class on November 11th)
Thursdays Art Class starts October 2nd -November 20th
Fridays Art Class starts October 3rd-November 21st
Art Club flyer
BCI (Background Check) from our 8/29/25 Newsletter
Please be advised that your background check is only good for one year from the time it is issued. Below is the link to update your BCI. Just a reminder that you must have a BCI and Volunteer Training in order to help at school events or attend school events. This also applies to family members such as grandparents. It is helpful if you complete your BCI well in advance of any events..
Once you receive your BCI letter, email a copy of it to Mrs. Ross at jross@smithfield-ps.org. If you need your volunteer training, please email me at tviera@smithfield-ps.org to schedule a brief call with me.
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is growing. All unclaimed items will be donated on Friday, October 3rd. We highly recommend you put your child’s name on all belongings to ensure any lost items are returned to them.
Important Dates:
Friday, October 3rd-Today is PAJAMA DAY!
Tuesday, October 7th-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Wednesday, October 8th-Lifetouch Picture Day
Monday, October 13th-Columbus Day/No School
Friday, October 17th-Wear your Favorite Sports Jersey Day!
Saturday, October 18th-Trunk or Treat at PVES Faculty Lot from 5:00-5:30pm SENSORY friendly hours and 5:30-7:00 p.m. general admission
Tuesday, October 21st-SSELAC meeting in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m,
Tuesday, November 18th-SSELAC meeting in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, October 20th-24th & October 27th-31st-Fifth Grade Bike Safety
Friday, October 24th-Pumpkin Palooza in the courtyard
Tuesday, November 4th-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Thursday, November 13th-Lifetouch Picture Retakes
Friday, November 14th-It’s Crazy Sock Day!
Wednesday, November 26th-The Brain Show is here! Wear your panda t-shirts!
Thursday, November 27th & Friday, November 28th-Thanksgiving Recess/No School
Tuesday, December 2nd-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Wednesday, December 3rd-Parent Teacher Conferences from 1:00-7:45 p.m./No School
Friday, December 5th-Holiday Event at PVES! Sensory Friendly Hours 5:30-6:00 pm Event runs from 6:00-8:00pm
Saturday, December 6th-is the Smithfield All Lit Up Parade!
Monday, December 8th-Set up for PTO Holiday Shop in the Old Library
Tuesday, December 9th-Friday, December 12th-PTO Holiday Shop in the Old Library/TBD for each grade level
Tuesday, December 16th- Grades k, 1, and 2 Winter Concert-more information to follow.This event will be livestreamed.
Wednesday, December 17th-Grades 3, 4, and 5 Winter Concert-more information to follow. This event will be livestreamed.
Monday, December 22nd-Friday, January 2nd-Holiday Recess/No School
Tuesday, January 6th-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Tuesday, January 20th-SSELAC meeting in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 3rd-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Thursday, February 5th-It’s the 100th Day of School! Dress like you are 100 YEARS old. For safety, please do not use walkers or canes.
Monday, February 16th-Friday, February 20th-President’s Day-Winter Recess/No School
Tuesday, February 24th-SSELAC meeting in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3rd-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Friday, March 6th-Wear Blue for Colorectal Awareness Day
Monday, March 9th-Professional Development Day/No School
Wednesday, March 11th-Lifetouch Spring Pictures
Monday, March 16th-Friday, March 20th-Respect Week/More details to follow
Tuesday, March 17th-SSELAC in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25th- Teaching & Learning Night from 5:00-7:00p.m.
Tuesday, March 31st & Wednesday, April 1st- Grades 3, 4, & 5 RICAS Testing/English Language Arts
Tuesday, April 7th-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Monday, April 20th-Friday, April 24th-Spring Recess/No School
Tuesday, April 28th-SSELAC in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2nd- Annual SSELAC Color Run
Tuesday, May 5th & Wednesday, May 6th-Grades 3, 4, and 5 RICAS Testing/Math-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria on May 5th. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Tuesday, May 12th-NGSS Science Testing/Grade 5 only
Thursday, May 14th & Friday, May 15th-Panda Players Performance at SHS from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 15th-In School Panda Players Performance at SHS from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 19th-SSELAC meeting in the SHS media center at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28th-PVES Talent Show at SHS from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 25th-Memorial Day/No School
Tuesday, June 2nd-PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria. Please enter through door 2. Children are invited to attend.
Wednesday, June 10th-Tentative date for Kindergarten and Fifth Grade MOVING UP CEREMONIES
Tuesday, June 16th-Tentative Last Day of School
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
Mrs. Dohoney & Mrs. Viera