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West Word
An Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word From Mr. Creeden
West’s Operation H.E.L.P. held its wildly popular Stuff-a-Bus event last evening, Friday, December 15th. Toys and proceeds from the event benefit the Red Hill extension of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys-for-Tots Foundation whose mission is to collect and distribute toys to needy families in our area. This year’s festivities included a dance and various stage events that included Buddy’s Ice Cream Bowl and a reindeer feeding contest. Delicious snacks were offered by our Home and School Association, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Crumbl Cookies, and Chick Fil-A. Students also had the opportunity to win prizes as well as chances to pie a teacher or administrator in the face through a raffle. The event followed Stuff-a-Bus Spirit Week which featured winter and holiday themed days and a homeroom winter poster contest. On Saturday, December 16th, Operation H.E.L.P members will volunteer at the Red Hill Firehouse to assist the Marines with the distribution of toys to over 300 participating children. A huge thanks to Ms. Emers, Mrs. Nehila, and Operation H.E.L.P. members for organizing this special holiday event. Thanks, also, to all of the student, staff, and parent volunteers as well as the generous participants who donated toys and cash to Toys for Tots.
Stuff-A-Bus 2023🎁
Quick Snapshot📸
- What's Up @ West
- Attendance Announcement📢
- Family Meal Boxes
- After School Clubs & Activities @ West
- After School Athletic/Activity Transportation
- West School Store
- Order Your 23/24 Yearbook Early and Save!
- 23/24 PV Middle School Handbook
- Raptor System
- PV West Athletic Update
- 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
West Band & Orchestra Winter Concert
The Middle School West instrumental ensembles performed their Winter Concert this past Monday evening to a packed house! The show featured performances from our dazzling bands and orchestras. The program opened with the sixth grade orchestra's rendition of "Russian Music Box." After two more selections, the sixth grade band performed three pieces that included "The Nutcracker March'', "Greensleeves" and "Chanukah Joy." The combined seventh and eighth grade orchestra performance followed featuring four selections. Then the seventh and eighth grade band took the stage with their superior interpretations of four holiday pieces. Our select orchestra then offered two lovely pieces and the full orchestra wrapped up the concert with "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and "A Holiday Celebration." Congratulations to our amazing musicians and to our dedicated musical department directors, Mrs Krown and Mrs. Querci. We also thank all who came out to support our important music program.
Here's Your Sign
Students in Dr. Weir's seventh grade Technical Education classes put their knowledge of electrical circuits to the test by manufacturing their own LED desk signs. The novice electricians learned wiring and soldering skills in addition to the printing, cutting and drilling needed to complete this novel project.
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.
Happy Holidays!
Kacie Kaufmann, kkaufmann@pvsd.org
Middle School West Attendance/Counseling Secretary
Family Meal Boxes
Perkiomen Valley community members are organizing family meal boxes for those in need for winter 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. The winter meal box registration will close on Monday, December 18th or once we reach 70 families.
After School Clubs & Activities @ West
Math Lab
Homework Club
Homework Club will meet this Tuesday, 12/19 in our Large Group Instruction room. Homework Club is cancelled this coming Thursday, 12/21. 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.
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)
Raptor System
PV West Athletic Update
Middle School West 8th Grade Girls' Basketball; Head Coach: Alesia Davis
Upcoming Events:
Monday December 18th - Away vs. Spring-Ford Middle School @ 4:00pm
Wednesday December 20th - Home vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 3:30pm
Middle School West 7th Grade Girls' Basketball; Head Coach: Alesia Davis
Upcoming Events:
Monday December 18th - Away vs. Spring-Ford Middle School @ 5:00pm
Wednesday December 20th - Home vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 4:30pm
Middle School West 8th Grade Boys' Basketball Head Coach: Reynone Frederick
Upcoming Events:
Monday December 18th - Home vs. Spring-Ford Middle School @ 3:30pm
Wednesday December 20th - Away vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 3:30pm
Middle School West 7th Grade Boys' Basketball Head Coach: Nagash Cockburn
Upcoming Events:
Monday December 18th - Home vs. Spring-Ford Middle School @ 3:30pm
Wednesday December 20th - Away vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 3:30pm
Middle School Boys' Wrestling Head Coach: Kyle Barnes
Thursday December 21st - Away vs. Boyertown Area Middle School East @ 3:30pm
Middle School Girls' Wrestling Head Coach: Mike Moyano
Mike Moyano is the Head Coach for the inaugural season of Girls Wrestling at PV. Coach Moyano has coached boys and girls wrestling for almost 25 years, most recently at Pope John Paul II last year where he grew the program from just 6 athletes to 18. Originally from California, Coach Moyano moved to the area with his wife, Denise, and their two children, Michael and Samantha in 2020. They love their new home and the opportunities to be part of the community. Coach Moyano owns a sports card shop, "What's Hot Cards & Collectibles" in Limerick, and has a passion for all sports, especially the San Francisco Giants. When asked about what brought him to PV, Coach Moyano said, "I came to PV because I'm excited about the opportunity to start a new program and tradition at the school. Wrestling is a sport that teaches lessons that the athletes will carry with them the rest of their lives, and I'm passionate about building a legacy that our student-athletes can be proud of when they graduate."
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.
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.
Safe2Say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Did you know that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisit 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 December 18th - End of Vector 2; West Home & School Meeting @ 7:00pm in West Library
Tuesday December 19th - Homework Club at 2:30pm in LGI
Thursday December 21st - Homework Club Cancelled
Monday December 25th - Monday January 1st - School Closed (Winter Break)