Tremendous year at Valley View! |
| December 7, 2013 |
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Principal Pfleuger Press By Principal Gary Pfleuger The end of a year comes quickly ... At this point in time, there are three ways to look; past, present and future, so let’s go in these directions. Starting with our accomplishments: 2013 was a tremendous year for Valley View Elementary School! Through hard work and dedication by our staff, the students and their parents, VVES was awarded FOUR STARS in the Idaho School Accreditation Process! Not only did our students improve test scores in all areas, state measures showed we had more students scoring advanced than proficient. This is remarkable and a fact that we are still very proud of! Now for the present, listed below are our upcoming events. Please look this over carefully: some things are new, some have changed: Upcoming Events 12/5: 10:30 a.m, African Dance and Drum Troupe Assembly 12/9-12: PTO Jingle Bell Junction (see below) 12/16: Third Grade Skating in Coeur d'Alene 12/17: Christmas Program: 3 p.m. Assembly at VVES; 7 p.m. at high school auditorium 12/18: Holiday Luncheon — Parents Welcome! Ham, mashed potatoes, hot cinnamon apples and gingerbread. Only $3.60 per adult meal. RSVP by 12/12 12/18: School Geo Bee time 2:45 p.m. in the gym 1/15: Kelly Milner-Hall Author Assembly and Workshops tba Remember, Mario’s Mexican Restaurant has adopted VVES during the month of December. For every dozen tamales sold, the school receives $5! Tell your friends and family! “Tamales for the Holidays!” Before I discuss the challenges of the future, a few notes of thanks: to Melissa Bateman and her crew for heading up the Jingle Bell Junction. This student-centered event offers children an opportunity to give back to their parents, pets and family members. This runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. All gifts are only $2. Parent volunteers are still needed! Also, thanks to David Carpenter, the kindergarten students/teachers and the fourth/fifth grade classes. We are in for a treat December 17! I hope to see you all there! This November, our school started a new Positive Support Program. Badger PAWS were given out to students who exhibit safe, civil and productive behaviors without a prompt. Student names are written on a PAW and these are displayed in the hallway. At the end of the month, these PAWS are place in a grade level drawing for a gift from the PTO School Pride Display. The first month’s winners were: kindergarten, Ryder Johnson; First, Merritt Robbins; Second, Avalon Thiel; Third, Shawn Webster; Fourth, Hailey Brooks; and Fifth, Maygen Fisher. Great job to all students who earn a PAW! Now to the future — the Idaho Common Core Standards and assessments are coming soon! For the rest of the school year, using the PPP, I will attempt to inform you of the main components of this new and higher level assessment. First and foremost, you need to know, this is a big difference! The standards are higher and, in my opinion, good! Students in third grade and up will be required to read a passage or two, break down the information, form an opinion and rationalize their response on a typed word document. Math problems will consist of multiple step problems to get to a solution; explaining how they came to the answer along the way. So, my opening to help you understand the change is — it is big! Students, parents and teachers will not be able to compare the ISAT results to the new assessment; this is a new and higher standard. I will get into further detail in future issues. Until then, do your child a favor and look on the Smarter Balance link posted on our school web-site. PS: Watch your child’s attendance! By board policy, missing four days of school per quarter surpasses the 90% rule. |