Viper Voice
February 16, 2024
The school spirit exhibited by our students, staff, and families this Valentine's day was truly spectacular, and it was heartwarming to see everyone come together to spread love and positivity throughout our school community.
As we continue to cherish these moments of togetherness, I wanted to remind everyone that there will be no school on Monday, February 19th, in observance of Presidents Day. It's a great opportunity for students and families to take a well-deserved break, recharge, and reflect on the contributions of our nation's leaders.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to making our school a vibrant and supportive community. Your dedication and involvement are truly appreciated.
Parent and Community Satisfaction Survey
Please take a moment to fill out the DVUSD Parent and Community Satisfaction Survey. These results are used to get a feel for how we are doing as a campus, and district, and focus on improving! Your input matters!
Our K-6 Event!
7th & 8th Grade ONLY
Don't Miss Your Chance To Buy a Yearbook
Some reminders from our office:
- Please do not park in Handicap parking spots without the proper Legal License plate or placard. We have staff and families who have the proper credentials and need to park in those spots.
- If your student(s) are currently registered at this time and you plan to return next year, you will not need to register again. Your student(s) registration will automatically roll over to the next school year.
- Open enrollment is now open for the 24/25 school year.
- If your student is attending any of our before school clubs or tutoring, please pull up to the curb in front of the office and drop them off - as our parking lot is for our staff.
- If picking up your child AFTER 2:45 PM, please park in our parking lot or you may get caught in the afternoon pick up traffic.
- Please make sure that you call the attendance line if your student is going to be absent for any reason - (623) 376-4890
- Breakfast service begins at 8:10 AM, no students can be dropped off prior to 8:10 AM - as there is no adult supervision available.
- If your student has tutoring in the morning, please do not drop them off before 8:00 AM - as there is no adult supervision available.
Upcoming Events!
- Monday, February 19
- NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, February 20
- Specials Day 2
- 8:00 AM - SV Honor Choir Club
- 3:30 PM - GenTech Club - Drone Discovery
- 3:30 PM - Young Rembrandts Drawing Club
- 3:30 PM - Basketball Tryouts
- 3:30 PM - Cheer Tryouts
- 3:45 PM - D and D Club
- 3:45 PM - Girls on the Run Club
- Wednesday, February 21
- 2nd Grade Field Trip
- 8:00 AM - Team Connect Club
- 3:30 PM - Basketball Tryouts
- 3:30 PM - Cheer Tryouts
- 3:30 PM - Chess Emporium Club
- 3:30 PM - Egg to Chick Club
- 3:30 PM - GenTech Club - Cool Coding
- 3:45 PM - Student Drama Practice
- Thursday, February 22
- 8:00 AM - Battle of the Books
- 8:00 AM - Honorary Choir Club
- 3:30 PM - Athletes in Training Club
- 3:30 PM - Bonanza Educational Club
- 3:30 PM - Elements of Music Club
- 3:30 PM - Right Start Golf Club
- 3:45 PM - Girls on the Run Club
- 3:30 PM - Basketball Tryouts
- Friday, February 23
- 2:00 PM - Early Release for Teacher MSCT
- 2:00 - 4:00 PM - Boys Basketball Tryouts
Each week, students from each grade level is recognized for making a positive difference on our campus. Thank you for making SV a better place!
Mountain Ridge Middle School Track and Field
SV Sports Updates
Basketball tryouts start on Tuesday, February 20th! Both teams will have tryouts all week (unless there is a cut mid-week) from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Boys will have practice inside on Tuesday, outside on Wednesday, and split their time between outside and inside. Boys WILL continue tryouts on Friday from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m on the outside courts. Girls will have practice outside on Tuesday, inside on Wednesday, and split their time between inside and outside. Please make sure they have appropriate shoes for inside/outside practice. Registration for both sports closed today at 4:00 p.m. If your child's registration did not say "Ready for Tryouts" by that time, they were removed from the roster. We are looking for a great turnout!!
PTSO Updates
APEX IS COMING!!!!!
Have you heard? We’re launching our @apexleadershipcomany obstacle course and Color Games fundraiser on Tuesday, February 27th. Our PK-6th grade students will participate in an amazing obstacle course and our 7th-8th graders who raise $30 or more will participate in the Color Games program. We’re going to have so much fun learning and working as a team as we raise money for STEM Supply Closet, STEM Activities and Resources . Join us!
Thinking about joining our SV team? APPLY NOW
Available Positions:
- Special Education Teacher (Certified)
- Paraprofessional (Classified)
- Crossing Guard (Classified - can also volunteer)
If you are interested and want to know more, please contact Jenny Morales at Jennifer.Morales@dvusd.org or 623-376-4800.
Bullying or Peer Conflict?
WHAT IS NOT BULLYING? Adults must realize that not every unkind thing a child does constitutes bullying. For example:
Being left out is not always bullying. It’s natural for kids to have a select group of friends. Although they should be kind towards everyone, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be close friends with every child they know, and be invited to every function or event.
Experiencing conflict is not bullying. Learning to deal with conflict is a normal part of growing up. The key is for children to learn how to solve their problems peacefully and respectfully.
Not playing fair is not bullying. Wanting a game to be played a certain way is not bullying. Children understand the concept of sharing, and should take turns being in charge of the game.
When observing the unkind behaviors your child experiences, be sure to label them correctly. This will help you know how to handle the situation appropriately so that your child can learn and grow from it.
(Ref. Policy JICK, JICK-R, JICK-EA, JICK-EB)
Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that:
has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,
is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment,
occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or
may constitute a violation of law
SRR handbook 2023-2024 (pages 2-4)
Connect with Us!
Volunteer Opportunities
We are always excited to be able to welcome our parents/guardians back to help volunteer and visit at SV. If you would like to visit, we welcome you to come and eat lunch with your child in the MPR. Please arrive on time, and bring lunch only for your student - as we cannot have lunches passed out to other student or friends in the MPR for their safety. If you are interested in volunteering, we will soon welcome you back in our classrooms once we have our classroom procedures setup and in place. Mandatory volunteer training dates (required for all NEW volunteers) are listed below! If you are already a trained volunteer, please be sure to stop by the office to update your information.
As a reminder, we require all parents to follow our school rules and dress code on campus and ask that you do not use any cell phones or tablets in the MPR or around our students.
PBIS Rewards
Our PBIS store is OPEN! Students can use their points earned for being a Problem-solver, being Engaged, being Accountable, and being Kind to purchase fun items. These items are delivered on Fridays. If you are interested in tracking your student through our PBIS Rewards app, download the PBIS Rewards for Family app and ask your child's teacher for their unique QR code.
If you are interested in donating to our PBIS store, we have a PBIS Store Amazon wishlist. You can also drop off any donation items to our office - new/gently loved stuffed animals are always a popular item.
1. We need parent volunteers to help keep inventory and package PBIS rewards for students.
2. The store needs rewards! There are many ways to donate – new and gently used toys, party favors – anything that kids would be excited to receive!
3. Help stock the PBIS Store Rewards Store by purchasing Rewards directly on Amazon. If you purchase from our PBIS Rewards wishlist it will ship directly to campus and our kids can purchase immediately. Stock our store here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2YZ9H9VV492G3?ref_=wl_share
If you have are available to donate your time or have questions about our PBIS program, please contact Mrs. Stephanie Hoffpauir in the front office.
Pick Up & Drop Off Procedure Reminders
- Make sure that all adults who will be picking up students at 3:30 have a purple placard with the student's Last Name and Grade clearly written in marker bold and big so we can read them. Placards are available in the office. Take as many copies as you need (one for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, etc......).
- Please pull forward and follow all staff directions around the pick up loop, don't stop short, and stay in your car.
- We will load you kids, if they need help buckling, pull up and around the loop to the buckle zone past our bike rack
- We do not have any supervision of students until 8:30 am so please do not drop off or leave any kids unattended before 8:30 am.
- Please be patient and be kind to staff and other drivers as it takes a few weeks for all to learn our procedures. Remember out staff is out in 100+ degree weather keeping all our kids safe, and everyone's safety is more important than any individual's convenience
- If you do not have a kindergarten student, you must use the front loop for morning drop-off. We do not have enough spaces for additional vehicles, and our front loop is much more efficient and safe for our 1st-8th graders.
- Do not cross any streets outside of the designated and manned crosswalks in the am or pm. We have had some very close calls and pedestrians almost struck crossing rose garden illegally.
- If picking up on 74th, please be sure that you are not parking or waiting in the "no parking/loading zone" and please do not block any private driveways
- Please pull all the way down the loop before dropping off. Your student should not be getting out of the car when the line slows down
- Do not enter the parking lot through the EXIT
Policy Reminders
- All 1st-8th grade students should be dropped off in the front traffic loop, parking in the lot is reserved for Kindergarten parents only. It is also not permissible to park and cross Rose Garden or 74th Ave at any point other than our crosswalks.
- 8:45 is the start of our academic day, kids who are not in class at 8:45 will need a tardy pass.
- We cannot sign students out after 3:15.
- Do not text your students during the school day, phones are available for use at the office with staff permission.
- We will not interrupt instruction to relay messages or deliver items left at home (unless medically needed)
- Attendance warnings will be sent home for students who are absent more than 10% of days in session or who have accumulated 5+ tardies
- If you have a concern or question regarding progress, grades, or behavior, address the classroom level teacher per our DVUSD Problem Solving Guidance
- School staff and administration are not available to meet on demand, appointments will be made to set up meetings or phone calls for administrators and teachers. Walk-in appointments are not an option.
- SV teachers adhere to an email curfew. They will check emails Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM only
- SV staff will respond to emails within 48 hours, excluding weekends & holidays.
Food & Nutrition
For the 23-24 school year, we will once again be charging for school meals, to apply for a free or reduced meal application visit https://secure.ezmealapp.com or stop by Sierra Verde for a paper application (though the online process is much quicker). See the complete information from DVUSD Food & Nutrition below.
We will not be allowing outside food or drink for any reason on campus. DVUSD has a birthday bucket order form that will be the only method of birthday treats for 23-24. You can fill out an application for a birthday bucket and work with our Cafeteria Manger Mrs. Debbie Jasperson to arrange these birthday treats. The Birthday Bucket application is on our homepage and is linked below as well.
In order to keep meal account balances topped off, you can put money on the student account with cash or check. Please drop off any cash or check in the office, or use E-Z school pay. EZ School pay also has an app available to download and track your balance.