VALERIUS ELEMENTARY
Late Start School Hours: 10:00am-3:35pm
Breakfast Time: 8:40-8:55
Click here for the school calendar!
Website: urbandaleschools.com
Location: 3305 92nd Street, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: (515)457-6500
Facebook: facebook.com/valeriuselementary
MESSAGE FROM MRS. MAURO
Valerius Families and Staff,
I’d like to take a moment to respond to questions and concerns shared by several Valerius parents at a recent School Board meeting. I thought it would helpful to respond in our J-Hawk Journal to provide this information to our entire school community. I’d also like to invite you to attend a Question/Answer Session during our PTO Meeting on Thursday, April 4th at 7pm in the Valerius Library. Superintendent Steve Bass, Coordinator of Special Education Shawna Eschliman, and I will listen to concerns and will provide answers to questions. My hope is that all families and staff members will feel heard, understood, and valued.
The specific topics that were raised during the School Board meeting include: staffing changes, substitute shortage, room clears, social/emotional supports, and supporting the needs of staff. I will briefly address each of these topics here, and we can discuss in greater depth during the Question/Answer Session on Thursday night.
Staffing Changes
Over the past six years, we have averaged one classroom teacher leaving Valerius per year. This is in-line with what is typical across elementary schools in our district. As we look toward the 2019-20 school year, two classroom teachers are leaving Valerius in order to move closer to family, which is sad for us, but happy overall for them! One teacher is leaving to teach closer to where she lives. I will provide specific data regarding staffing changes during our Question/Answer Session Thursday evening.
Substitute Shortage
The substitute teacher shortage is a state-wide issue and not unique to our district. The substitute pool is often exhausted before all absences can be filled. Our District HR department focuses on ensuring classroom substitute positions are filled based on availability of qualified substitutes. This school year, Valerius has experienced one full day and four half days for when a classroom teacher was absent without a dedicated substitute to fill her/his position. When this happens, our elementary team provides coverage for that particular classroom. It also gives me the opportunity to provide coverage and support students in the classroom as both their teacher and their principal.
Room Clears
When a student is unable to regulate their verbal or physical behaviors to an extent that the situation interrupts the teacher’s ability to maintain a productive learning environment for all students, the teacher may chose to do a room clear in order to preserve the child’s dignity and ensure that learning continues for all other students.
When a room clear occurs, teachers will get support from the office to help with supervision. Teachers are trained to have a “go bag or basket” of things that they may need in order to ensure that instruction continues for their class in a different space. The student exhibiting the behaviors has an opportunity to regulate his/her behaviors. Once the student’s behavior is regulated, the teacher and students return to the classroom. A room clear’s duration will vary based on each individual situation. As a district, we experience room clears that last a range between 15 and 45 minutes, but some are as short as 5 minutes at Valerius. We typically do not communicate with families each time a room clear occurs in their child’s classroom.
Social/Emotional Training Supports for Teachers:
Valerius teachers participate in annual trainings and meetings about our school’s safety plan. Our plan ensures that if a teacher calls for assistance, the appropriate person comes to help her/him. We have multiple ways for teachers to communicate issues through a behavior referral system.
All teachers were offered the opportunity to participate in “Responsive Classroom Training” which involves strategies for managing and supporting strong relationships with students and social emotional learning for students. Seventeen certified staff members took advantage of this training, and 3 of our staff members have advanced certification in the Responsive Classroom approach.
PBIS is an additional form of support that we use as a framework for managing behavior. Staff have been provided training over the past six years on the PBIS framework and its components. I will provide specific information about the PBIS framework during our Question/Answer Session Thursday evening.
Supporting Needs of Staff
We use a process for listening to staff that is called “Rounding.” Similar to the parent rounding I do during conferences, I meet individually with every certified and classified staff member on a regular basis, with the purpose of facilitating frank and honest two-way communication. The questions I ask staff members are:
What is working well at school (both in your area and in the building)?
Please tell me the name of someone I can recognize on your behalf.
What can we do better in our school to improve?
Do you have all the tools, equipment, and information you need to do your job?
Is there something that can be done to ensure you and colleagues feel "heard"?
How have you felt about my effectiveness in supporting you individually? Is there anything you suggest for me to do differently?
After each cycle of rounding, I create a “stoplight report” which is shared with staff and clarifies how feedback is being used for continual improvement. For example, the changes and adjustments made as a result of the rounding conversations (what we accomplish as a result of the feedback, what we’re working on but not yet finished, and what aren’t able to address with a reason why). There are also multiple frequent anonymous opportunities (monthly survey check-ins and an electronic “suggestions box” application) where staff can also share concerns if they are not comfortable discussing them in person. If an anonymous concern arises, these are also addressed, and outcomes shared in the stoplight report. Listening to staff, addressing concerns, and taking actions that lead to improvement are critical components in my role as principal.
I’m thankful to be a leader in a school whose parents take an active role in their child’s education. I believe children greatly benefit when parents and educators partner together in order to help students be successful both inside and outside the classroom. I want every single parent and staff member to know that your partnership is valued, your feedback directly supports the continual improvement of our school, and your support of our students serves to create a stronger school community.
I look forward to seeing you during our Question/Answer Session on Thursday, April 4th at 7pm. In the meantime, please reach out to me with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Meredith Mauro
Principal
MESSAGE FROM MRS. MACGREGOR
Happy Spring to our Valerius Families! It is so nice to be able to get back outside and enjoy some fresh air during recess. Occasionally the games and activities lead to playground issues and accusations of bullying. I want to take a minute to clarify what we teach the kids about bullying so you can help your child understand the difference between bullying and mean moments.
We consider four main characteristics when we define bullying:
Hurting someone’s body, feelings or things
A pattern of behavior that is repeated
The behavior is on purpose
There is a power imbalance between the bully and the target
The kids do a great job understanding the first three, but a power imbalance is a little more confusing for them. We usually say it represents when you feel like someone has power over you because of the bullying. You may feel scared to come to school, ride the bus or go out to the playground, you may feel anxious and have stomach aches, or you might have trouble sleeping.
Bullying behaviors are different than a mean moment because typically a mean moment is something a student does when they are upset or frustrated and it is more of a one time behavior rather than a pattern. Physical aggression is not acceptable at school and we do encourage students to seek help from an adult right away, but in most cases it would not be considered bullying.
Also, we work on strategies to help students prevent the power imbalance:
Use positive self-talk to encourage yourself
Stay with friends
Ignore the bully
Be confident- use your invisible shield to deflect the bully’s words
Avoid the bullying by playing somewhere else
Stay by an adult
Please see the attached links for ways to support our learning at home.
Thank you for your support at home and have a great spring!
GRADE LEVEL SPOTLIGHT: 5TH GRADE
In March, 5th graders visited Junior Achievement Biztown. We spend the entire day at Biztown. While there, each student has a job and plays a vital role in running a business in a working economy. We spend months preparing for our visit. Students learn about communities, economies, and financial literacy. All students earn a paycheck, have a bank account, and spend money at each other's’ businesses. This is an amazing experience and Valerius tradition that has become a favorite fifth grade memory for many students!
MESSAGE FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
As Spring arrives and children are outside more often, the chance for accidents and injuries is more likely. Please encourage your children to take safety precautions when outdoors while riding bikes and scooters by wearing bike helmets, and possibly knee and elbow pads.
Influenza is still a concern even throughout the Spring season, and hand washing is still the best method of preventing the spread of this and other illnesses.
With nicer temperatures approaching, students are always tempted to leave their coats at home. Please be sure that your student brings appropriate outerwear to school as the temperature does fluctuate during the day. Multiple layers work well this time of year, so bringing a sweatshirt and a heavier jacket to school works best, if possible. We don’t have enough extra coats here at school, so bringing one from home is the best option.
Attendance Phone Number (515) 457-6503
When to Stay Home:
- Fever- Student must be fever free for 24 hours (less than 100 degrees) without a fever reducer medication.
- Vomit- Student must have not vomited for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Diarrhea- Student must be free from diarrhea for 24 hours.
- Pink Eye- Student can return to school after 1st dose of medication or as directed by your physician.
MESSAGE FROM MS. TIFFANY
Spring has finally arrived, and there are a few upcoming events “arriving” this month I am happy to share. The information listed below.
District wide snow pants drive: Does your child have snow pants they have outgrown? We’ve got a place for them. A snow pants drive will be held from April 1-5th. Please bring clean and gently used snow pants to the office (there will be a bin available for drop off) these snowpants will be stored for next winter to utilize for students in need.
Movin on Up: Attention 5th grade families. Movin on Up is a two day event designed to assist students into making the transition from elementary school to middle school. If your child is interested in attending, registration begins April 1st at 4:00pm. Available spots are first come first served. The quickest method to register is online through this link https://urbandaleschools.revtrak.net then please click on the Movin on Up Tab. Students will also receive paper applications that are coming soon this month. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity apply today!