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West Word
An Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word From Mr. Creeden
This month at West we recognize Black History Month. Black history is American history and should be taught all year, not just during one month. February is an opportunity though -- an opportunity to purposefully recognize the contributions of African Americans to our country, our society, our communities, and our schools. It is an opportunity to recognize a group of individuals who historically have been marginalized. At West we want to share this rich history with our students throughout the school year in our different curriculums. We look forward to providing these learning opportunities in their classes as well as other activities to celebrate this rich history. Learn more on The Library of Congress website: Black History.
Next week we also recognize and celebrate our incredible counselors at Middle School West during National Counseling Week. Our West counselors are always actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.
We want to recognize and thank Mr. Montgomery, Mrs. Zielinski, and Mr. Specht for their incredible dedication and care for our West students. Each of them are part of what makes West the very Best!!!😊
Half-Day for Students on Wednesday 2/7 (Teacher In-Service)
Quick Snapshot📸
- What's Up @ West
- World Read Aloud Day @ West
- West H&S Dine🍽️ to Donate💲 to Middle School West
- PVHS Info For 8th Grade Students
- Oliver Jr. Coming To West
- Spring Break Meal Boxes
- After School Clubs & Activities @ West
- After School Athletic/Activity Transportation
- West School Store
- Attendance Announcement📢
- Order Your 23/24 Yearbook Early and Save!
- 23/24 PV Middle School Handbook
- PV West Athletic Update
- PVSD Foundation's 2024 Dodgeball Tournament
- The 7th Annual Perkiomen Valley Art and Food Truck Festival
- Tween Talk Group
- School Cafe
- Community Education Registration
- Virtual Parent Support Group
- Be Part of the Conversation - Upcoming Programs
- Safe2Say
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- PV West on Social Media
- Community Bulletin Board
- West Weeks At A Glance
- HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
What's Up @ West
Fraction Action
Students in Tracy Moreno's sixth grade math classes used bar models to explore the process of dividing fractions. By using a bar model, teachers can demonstrate that one whole can be divided into equal, smaller parts. By drawing a bar model and separating the bar into equal parts, students can visualize the process of multiplication and division and how they have an inverse relationship.
Winter Wonderland Dance
School dances are often seen as an important part of the middle school experience, and can be a memorable and enjoyable event for students. They provide an opportunity for students to socialize and build relationships outside of the classroom, and can be a fun way to celebrate special occasions or break up the long winter months. Our wonderful Home and School Association sponsored a West Winter Wonderland Dance on Friday, January 26th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the West Cafeteria. The cost was $10.00 at the door. Crumble Cookies, cotton candy, snacks and beverages were available for purchase and eighth graders enjoyed their own VIP lounge! A huge thanks to our Home and School officers and parent volunteers!
Name that State Competition
Name that State! West students in seventh grade Social Studies classes participated in the annual Geography Challenge Thursday, January 25th. After weeks of intense “training”, contestants representing the Titan and Crusader Teams vied for points by naming the U.S. state and on white boards from a numbered map. This year’s Geography Challenge championship went to the mighty Crusader Team! Congratulations to all of the participants and thanks to Mr. Cook and Mrs. Glanski for organizing this exciting educational event
Faculty vs Girls' Basketball Team Showdown
The West girls' basketball team held its last basketball practice of the season on Thursday, February 1st. To make it an enjoyable and memorable afternoon, Coach Davis mustered a team of faculty and staff members to play our girls in a scrimmage! Parents, faculty and staff were invited to watch and cheer. Fun was had by all! The aging, yet still nimble teacher team eked out a win; 38 to 41!
World Read Aloud Day @ West
World Read Aloud Day is coming up on Wednesday, February 7! This is an international celebration for the power of reading, begun to bring awareness to shockingly low levels of literacy around the world. Did you know that Chad had a female literacy rate of only 22% in 2016? This day highlights all the benefits offered by listening to stories--even for older students and adults! Research shows many positive effects of hearing books read aloud, including improved comprehension, reduced stress, and expanded exposure to different types of materials. Because we have a half day on 2/7, this day will be celebrated throughout the week in various classes at Middle School West. Join us by reading aloud with your family this week!
West H&S Dine🍽️ to Donate💲 to Middle School West
This Tuesday, February 6, TimeOut Sports Bar in Skippack will be hosting a Dine to Donate event benefiting West’s Home & School. All day, TimeOut will be donating 20% of the entire check for both dine-in and take-out orders. See the flyer below for more details.
PVHS Info For 8th Grade Students
Currently the teachers are making their recommendations for the students core classes next year, and meeting with their students from January 23rd until February 8th. On February 6th & 8th, Mr. Specht will be speaking to social studies classes to inform the students of the process, and their options in regards to program planning. The powerpoint that Mr. Specht will use during the presentation will be posted to their Class of 2028 Google Classroom to have as a source of information. It is also linked below as the "2024 West Electives Presentation." On February 15th there will be a Parent Presentation at the High School. On February 16th, students will be able to go on StudentVue to see their recommendations, as well as make selections for all of their courses/electives. Mr. Specht will be going back into classrooms on February 20th & 21st to ensure all students have accurately selected their courses/electives. The window to select courses for the 24-25 school year will be open until March 7th. March 31st is the deadline for any changes to the course recommendations. The student's ability to select courses in StudentVue ends on March 7th, but changes can be made until March 31st through the school counselor.
Lastly, please save the date as there will be a mixer for West & East students on May 17th. Please see a number of resources below to help your discussions with your children regarding PVHS Program Planning.
Oliver Jr. Coming To West
Perkiomen Valley Middle School West proudly presents Oliver Jr. Get ready for an enchanting theatrical experience that will leave you spellbound. As we gear up for the upcoming show, the excitement is building! Join in on the anticipation and be a part of this extraordinary event.
See the performance dates below. See below for ordering information to secure your tickets and reserve your spot for a night filled with unforgettable performances.
Friday March 8th - 7:00pm
Saturday March 9th - 6:00pm
Sunday March 10th - 2:00pm
Tickets on Sale Now!
See below for ordering information.
Spring Break Meal Boxes
Perkiomen Valley alumni and community members are organizing family meal boxes for those in need to obtain during spring break. The box would include a complete meal box to feed a family of 6. Please use the form below to sign up to pick up or receive a meal box. Pick up will be on Wednesday, March 27th, between 11am and 1pm. Registration for this will close on Friday, March 22nd OR once we reach the 55 families signed up threshold.
After School Clubs & Activities @ West
Math Lab
Homework Club
Homework Club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30pm in our Large Group Instruction room. Homework Club will provide a quiet, comfortable, and supportive setting for students to complete school work and become better organized. Students will receive assistance and support when needed. School resources will also be provided for all students in attendance. There is no sign-up required. If students are attending they can report directly to the Library after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Students attending Homework Club that need to take the 4:00 activity bus must sign up for the activity bus before 10:00am on the day of Homework Club. See below for more information about signing up for the activity bus.
The CAUSE Club
The CAUSE (Connecting And Uniting Students to Empower) is a student leadership group that works collaboratively to educate the larger school community on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as to support the individual club members. Students joining The CAUSE Club will meet every other Tuesday to collaborate, plan, create, and help make positive change in our school community. If you are interested in joining The CAUSE Club please email Mrs. Moreno at tmoreno@pvsd.org.
After School Athletic/Activity Transportation
- 4:00pm Departure (outside main office) - Monday through Thursday.
- 5:00pm Departure (outside gym entrance) - Monday through Thursday. The 5:00 activity bus will begin running on Fridays starting after Thanksgiving break.
For each day students intend to take either the 4:00pm or 5:00pm activity bus, they are asked to inform the school district and bus company for routing purposes using the electronic form provided. The form links are below and also available to students via the PV LaunchPad - Classlink. Students must submit their information each morning by 10:00 am if they intend to ride the afternoon activity bus that day.
West School Store
The West School Store is open and ready for all of your school needs. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 - 7:40am in the Cafeteria. Students can purchase school supplies such as pencils (regular and mechanical), erasers, highlighters, and whiteboard markers. The store also has earbuds and PV West water bottles. Students can make their purchases in the cafeteria as they arrive in the morning and before they go to homeroom.
Attendance Announcement📢
It's that time of year again when all the absences start to pile up. Between illness and obligations there is always so much happening this time of year. Please know that we understand how life throws curveballs and sometimes absence communication is not feeling like a top priority. Please know that we are here to help! A quick email to mswattendance@pvsd.org with your student's name and a brief reason for their absence is typically all we need to get that absence excused. Please refer to the PV District Attendance Policy here - PV District Attendance for details. Always feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns as well. Don't forget to fill out trip forms for appropriate absences. Find that form on the PVSD.org website.
Kacie Kaufmann, kkaufmann@pvsd.org
Middle School West Attendance/Counseling Secretary
Order Your 23/24 Yearbook Early and Save!
23/24 PV Middle School Handbook
- Attendance (pg. 8)
- Educational Trips (pg. 9)
- Dress Code (pg. 13)
- Parent Questions/Concerns (pg. 20)
- Personal Equipment (pg. 20)
- Procedure for Administration of Medications in School (pg. 32)
PV West Athletic Update
Middle School Boys' Wrestling Head Coach: Kyle Barnes
Upcoming Events:
Monday February 5th - Home vs. Upper Merion Middle School @ 3:30pm
Tuesday February 6th - Away vs. Owen J. Roberts Middle School @ 3:30pm
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SPRING SPORTS
Spring sports registration must occur by FEBRUARY 20.
First day of Varsity, JV, and Freshman Spring Sports Tryouts MARCH 4.
First day of Middle School Sports is MARCH 11.
If the spring sports season will be the first sport of participation at PV this school year: Registration for spring sports must occur by February 20. This can be done at http://www.planeths.com. In addition to registering, student-athletes must have a PIAA physical examination done by a doctor and the proper paperwork completed by the doctor. In order to count for the 2024 school year, the physical must occur June 1, 2023 or later. The form is found on www.planeths.com when you register.
If the spring sports season is your second or third sport season this school year: Complete section 7 Spring Recertification at http://www.planeths.com by February 20. If there has been a change to your health history or an injury since completing your last physical, an additional section 8 form is required as well. This does require a clearance from a doctor.
PVSD Foundation's 2024 Dodgeball Tournament
Join us for our 2024 Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, March 2nd (rain date: Sunday, March 3rd) at the High School (509 Gravel Pike). The event starts at 12:00 pm, but times will vary based on divisioning.
Registration is open from now until Monday, February 5th. The cost per team is $175 due at the time of registration. There is an option to upgrade the WHOLE team's tee to a dri-fit tee for an additional $25. Please note, the whole team must do either cotton tees or dri-fit tees, we cannot accommodate mix-and-match team tees. See the link below to register.
What you need for registration:
Team Name
Information for 6-10 players on a team (70% must be PV residents):
- Name
- Parent/Guardian Email Address
- School
- Grade
- Shirt Size
Tween Talk Group
Tweens, ages 11 to 13, are invited to chat in a fun, informal atmosphere with Erin McMonagle, a guidance counselor at Perkiomen Valley East Middle School - as part of our Julia’s Joy Youth Empowerment Program. We have created a safe group, where they can come relax, unload and learn they are not alone all while meeting new friends. We believe learning Stress Management tips will help youth deal with the pressures they are feeling at this age and into the future!
This group is free thanks to donations, if you would like to make a donation, it is always appreciated, but not necessary!
Learn more about our workshops and our mission at http://www.JuliasJoy.org
School Cafe
School Cafe is a secure, online system that can be used by parents to make payments to their child’s cafeteria meal accounts, to review student buying history, and to set low-balance alerts. If you already have an account, you may log in to School Cafe using the button below. For more information on how to set up an account, please review the documents below.
The 7th Annual Perkiomen Valley Art and Food Truck Festival
Good Afternoon West Families,
The Perkiomen Valley School District Art Department is proud to host its 7th annual Art & Food Truck Festival on Saturday, June 1st from 11 - 3 pm at PV High School. The festival was established to create awareness for our students and community members of the numerous careers in the art fields. Our mission is to encourage students to pursue their aspirations in the arts while also supporting local artists.
In addition to the Art and Food Trucks, we pride ourselves in promoting our local businesses, large and small. I am reaching out to see if anyone in the West Community has a local business or connection to a company that might be interested in donating items for our raffle. The donation could include a company themed basket, gift card, coupons or even an offered service. All proceeds of the event raffle will benefit our PV art students in grades K-12 through PVAB, the Perkiomen Valley Art Booster Club! Check out our booster club at www.pvab.org!
If you are interested in supporting our event, please contact Christina Bolc, AFTF Raffle Basket Coordinator at Raffles@pvartfest.com to coordinate your donation. All donations are due by Friday, May 17th, 2024.
Thank you in advance for supporting the Perkiomen Valley Art Department!
Sincerely,
Miss Marla DiCicco
Middle School West Art Teacher
Virtual Parent Support Group
Embark Behavioral Health continues to expand our services to meet the growing need to teen and young adult mental health needs throughout our country. With incidents of depression in adolescents up by 216% since 2006 and suicide as the 2nd leading cause of death for our preteen youth, it is our responsibility to act now and act quickly. In partnership with all of you, we can reverse this youth mental health crisis and change the trajectory of the next generation.
Continuing on our mission to be the leader in driving teen and young adult depression, anxiety, and suicide rates from all-time highs to all-time lows, Embark Behavioral Health is proud to offer our FREE Monthly Virtual Multi-family Support Group. This structured group, led by a licensed clinician is open to the public (ages 18+) and assists with the challenges that many loved ones and caregivers face while caring for someone with a behavioral health concern.
Please see the flyer below for more info about Embark Behavioral Health and the free monthly virtual multi-family support group.
Be 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.
We love being with you in person, but we are also pleased to provide you with recorded programing that can be viewed at your convenience on our YouTube Channel! See the link below to view and subscribe.
Safe2Say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Did you know that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?
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.
https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/
The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
PV West on Social Media
We would love to have you join our social media accounts to stay updated on the latest West news and happenings. Please see below on where to find each of our accounts.
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.
West Weeks At A Glance
Monday February 5th - PVSD Board Meeting Work Session (Includes Education & Finance Committees of the Whole) @ 7pm in PVHS Library
Tuesday February 6th - Student report cards available on ParentVUE at 12:00pm; Dine to Donate event benefiting West’s Home & School @ TimeOut Sports Bar in Skippack
Wednesday February 7th -World Read Aloud Day @ West; Half-Day for Students; PVSD Superintendent's Roundtable - Safe and Supportive Schools @ 6:30pm in Middle School East Auditorium