OCTOBER

National Anti-Bullying Month

National Principal Month

• 10/1 through 10/4 – 5th Graders to Cispus
• 10/1 - "Be Kind Day" - Wear blue today to support anti-bullying!
• 10/1 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/2 - Mustang of the Month Assembly
• 10/2 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
• 10/3 – Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
  
• 10/4 - Spirit Friday - Wear green and blue Mustang colors!
• 10/8 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/9 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
• 10/10 - Registration opens for November Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 10/10 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/11 - NO SCHOOL - In-service Day
• 10/14 - All School Open House - 5:00-6:30 pm
• 10/14 through 10/18 - Scholastic Book Fair
• 10/15 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/16 - "Unity Day" - Wear orange to support unity
• 10/16 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
  
• 10/17 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/18 - Spirit Friday - Wear green and blue Mustang colors!
• 10/18 - N.E.D. Yo-Yo Assembly
• 10/21 - PTO Meeting (Library) 6:00 pm
• 10/22 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/23 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
  
• 10/24 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/25 - Spirit Friday - Wear your favorite college gear!
• 10/28 through 11/1 - SPIRIT WEEK!
• 10/28 - Wear Orange, Black, Purple Day
  
• 10/29 - Wear a Hat Day
• 10/29 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 10/30 - Dress Wacky Wednesday
• 10/30 - Mustang of the Month Assembly
• 10/30 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
• 10/31 - HALLOWEEN! (see note below)
• 10/31 - Dress as your favorite book character!
• 10/31 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm

NOVEMBER

• 11/1 - PTO-hosted School Dance - "Monster Mash!" - 5:30-7:30 pm
• 11/3 - Daylight Saving Time Ends - SET YOUR CLOCK BACK AN HOUR!
  
• 11/5 - Coding Club - 3:30-4:45 pm
• 11/6 - Veteran's Day Assembly - 10:20 am
• 11/6 - Early Release - 3 Hour - 12:30 pm
• 11/7-11/8 - NO SCHOOL - STUDENT CONFERENCES (full student release days)
• 11/11 - NO SCHOOL (Veteran's Day --THANK YOU, VETS!)
  
• 11/12 - Picture Day
• 11/13 - Early Release - 2:30 pm
• 11/15 - Spirit Friday - Wear green and blue Mustang colors!
• 11/20 - Early Release - 12:30 pm
  
• 11/22 - Spirit Friday - Wear your favorite college gear!
• 11/27 - Early Release - 2 Hour - 1:30 pm
• 11/28-29 - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well! I want to extend a warm welcome to all as we continue our great start to the school year. It’s been wonderful to see our students engaged and thriving!

October is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month. We have several key events coming up, including:

• Cispus Outdoor School: A fantastic opportunity for our students to learn and connect with nature.
• Open House on October 14th: A chance for you to meet our dedicated staff and explore our classrooms.
• Spirit Week: Filled with fun activities in the last week of October to promote school spirit!

Stay tuned for more information on these events. Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a fantastic month ahead!

Warm regards,

Principal Mitchell

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to increase awareness and education around bullying. In 2006, National Bullying Prevention Month was founded to help prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. The aim of the recognition is to help prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion.

Elementary Parent-Teacher conferences will be held November 6-8, 2024. Students will be dismissed three hours early on November 6th (12:30 pm) and full day dismissal November 7th and November 8th (NO SCHOOL) so that teachers may arrange conferences with parents.

A link to schedule those conferences will be available after OCTOBER 10TH! Stay tuned for the link and further information....

Whether your student is going to be absent for an appointment, vacation or sickness, you must notify the school as soon as possible. The district now has an phone app to make this process even easier! Please visit the site below to see how to download and use this helpful app.

Of course, you are always welcomed to call the school directly, as well, at (360) 575-7581.

https://www.longviewschools.com/submit-an-absence-on-the-longview-schools-app

FOR VACATION ABSENCES: The Mint Valley Elementary secretaries have a special form for families to use when they take their children out of school for vacation. It must be pre-approved (and with sufficient notice), by the principal and teacher so that homework is available and the absence has the least impact on the student's learning.

Book Lovers!....Mint Valley Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon!

Each class will have an opportunity to attend the book fair during school, but the fair will also be open the following after school hours:

OCTOBER 14 - OCTOBER 18TH

Mint Valley Elementary School Library

Monday, October 14th - 3:30-4:30 pm and 5:00-6:30 pm (during the Open House)

Tuesday, October 15th - 3:30-4:30 pm

Wednesday, October 16th - 2:30-3:30 pm

Thursday, October 17th - 3:30-4:30 pm

Friday, October 18th - 3:30-4:30 pm

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet--your child's digital payment account. No more lost money on the bus or on the way to school! Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child's eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

If you can't make it to the Fair, then shop at our school's Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our ONLINE Book Fair at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/mintvalleyelementaryschool2

Halloween falls on Thursday, October 31st. In keeping the policy outlined in the Longview School District's "Elementary Student Handbook," Halloween costumes should not be worn by Mint Valley Elementary students during the school day. The policy states:

"Costumes are not allowed at school at any time except as part of a school program or presentation." (Dress Code, page 2)

Please save those fun, creative costumes for your family's evening events instead!

Last year's NED show was a huge success with our students!

The NED (NEVER give up, ENCOURAGE others, DO your best) show is a free assembly, provided to public schools based on the inspiring "pay it forward" model. This means that the PTO will be selling yo-yos after the assembly. Profits from these sales help to fund a future school's assembly, just as we are receiving a free assembly. Mint Valley is not profiting monetarily from the sale of yo-yos, but we are all contributing to a positive cycle of giving and receiving. Purchasing a yo-yo is OPTIONAL. PTO members will be holding yo-yo sales at recesses after the assembly.

More information on the assembly can be found here:

http://www.mindsetmission.com/assembly.html

PTO is once again offering Mint Valley Spirit Wear!

REMEMBER TO SHOP OUR NEW SPIRIT WEAR WEBSITE

Each week they have a special discount or offer, so check often!

Get yours now & show your MUSTANG PRIDE!

www.mintvalleyspiritwear.com

Don't forget to bring your brightest smiles and get to school on time that day! Picture packets will go home with students the first week of November.

Don't forgot that we have Early Release on most Wednesdays where the students are dismissed ONE HOUR earlier, but there a few dates with a TWO HOUR or a THREE HOUR early release. Please check the district calendar below for all Early Release dates and times this year.

Do you want to be involved?

Do you want to help decide what events our students get to participate in?

Do you want to meet new people?

Then.....

JOIN THE PTO!!!

Any questions? Please contact PTO President, Erickah Love, mvemustangpto@gmail.com.

We have safety procedures in place at our school. These include:

• 6 foot perimeter fences all around the school.
• Locked school entry doors. ALL students, parents, volunteers and visitors MUST ring the bell on the silver box and wait for the secretary to buzz you into the vestibule to help you with your requests and provide entry to those needing to be on campus.
• Reminder to please bring your photo id when checking a student out.

Great News! All students in the Longview School District, including Mint Valley Elementary, will have a free breakfast and lunch available to them for the next several years! If your student will be late to school, be sure to let the secretary know whether your student will be ordering school lunch that day when they check in at arrival.

We are ALWAYS looking for great volunteers to help in classrooms or assist in projects that make Mint Valley special!

Your volunteering can look like as much as an hour every week or as little as 15 minutes for a one-time event--WHATEVER works for you!!!

We email approved volunteers when we have a need for help and each person decides whether or not it will work for them and their schedule. No pressure or commitment!

To comply with the district and state, there are a few requirements to complete. You can find the CHAMPS application at the link below. The entire application is now ONLINE. Once complete, you will be notified directly by the school district of your approval, a badge will be sent to the school and your email will be shared for volunteer opportunities.

Our Volunteer Coordinator is Terri Troy and her phone is 360-575-7599. Please call with any questions!

Here is a link to the district's volunteer page:

https://www.longviewschools.com/fam.../volunteerget-involved

Don't miss out on helping with the 5th grade party or Field Day! Get your CHAMPS paperwork completed NOW!

Parents,

In an effort to ensure the safety and well being of staff and students, there are several clarifications to the “Drop Off” and “Pick Up” of students. Please read the following guidelines for the safe and efficient arrival and departure of students at school.

BEFORE SCHOOL ARRIVAL:

School starts at 9:00 am. All school gates open at 8:30 am and remain open until 9:00 am. Students arriving at school after 9:00 am need to check in at the office with the secretaries.

Car Drop Off:

· Every student being dropped off by car should be entering the playground gate and using the drive-through line. Staff will be there to assist your students getting out of the car. Please remain in your vehicle.

Walking Gate:

· Every student walking to school should be entering the flag pole gate nearest the office. If your student needs assistance getting to the walking gate, please park in a designated parking spot and walk your student to the flag pole gate.

· If you choose to drop your student off at the church, please walk them over to school and use the walking gate

· ALL students walking to school whether from home or from the church MUST use the sidewalk and crossing guard on 38th Avenue. The crossing guards are there to help ensure everyone stays safe!

· Walkers need to arrive after 8:30 am!

Bus Gate:

· Only students riding the bus to school should be entering the bus gate. There is NO parking in the bus parking lot.

AFTER SCHOOL DEPARTURE:

School ends at 3:30 pm, except Wednesdays, when school is dismissed at 2:30 pm.

Car Pick Up:

· Every student being picked up by car will be at the curb waiting for their family in the drive-through line. Staff will be there to assist your students getting in the car. Please remain in your vehicle.

Walking Gate:

· All walking students will exit the flag pole gate nearest the office. If your student needs assistance, please park in a designated parking spot, meet your student at the gate and walk your student to your vehicle.

· You may choose to have your student exit the flag pole gate and then walk over to church to meet you.

· ALL students walking to home or to the church MUST use the sidewalk and crossing guard on 38th Avenue. The crossing guards are there to help ensure everyone stays safe!

Bus Gate:

· Only students riding the bus to school should be exiting the bus gate. There is NO parking in the bus parking lot.

AFTER SCHOOL MESSAGES:

Finally, there has been an increase in the number of last minute “afterschool messages” being sent to students for those that may have alternate arrangements for transportation other than ones that are typical for your student. The last 30 minutes of the school day are often quite hectic and the secretaries are sometimes unable to reach your student. This can cause unnecessary stress to the students.

· Please communicate clearly with your student how they should be returning home. If there are changes in their regular arrangements, please be sure to notify the school early in the day so that your message arrives to your student in a timely manner.

Thank you for your attention to these changes. We appreciate the courtesy and efficiency our wonderful families show in the transportation of all students!

Office Hours are 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Email: mintvalley@longviewschools.org
Website: https://mintvalley.longviewschools.com/
Phone: 360 575 7581
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MintValleyElementarySchool