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West Word
An Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word From Mr. Creeden
Two teams from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West participated in the 25th annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Reading Olympics competition on Friday April 5th via Zoom. MCIU Reading Olympics is a countywide reading event that encourages students to increase the quality and quantity of books they read for enjoyment. The Reading Olympics Program is based upon the belief that good reading habits form the foundation for a productive and successful life. This program is currently active in schools in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties. This year's event featured nearly thirty teams from sixteen middle schools in Montgomery County. The teams of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students read a combined total of forty-six books since the beginning of the school year and answered questions about them during the competition.
This year's participants were the The Reverse Readers team: Alexis Alderfer, Addison Drace, Brennan Sibel, Lucy Pariatore, Livia Burkholder, Joseph Grohosky, Jackson Skonier, Emma Witt and Camron Ettwein and the Rock - N - Readers with Harika Nandipati, Shravidea Karra, Adrianna Hartzman, Evelin Menedez Duque, Sannidhi Satrusalya, Anusha Verma, Anime-En-ew-nay Verma, and Colin Arnold. Congratulations to our amazing bibliophiles! We are PV-proud!
Next week, the solar eclipse is taking place on Monday April 8th and the West Spring Fling will be on Friday April 12th from 3-5pm. See more information about these two events/activities as well as much more in the newsletter below.
West Reading Olympics Teams
No School For Students (Teacher In-Service) on Wednesday April 10th
Quick Snapshot📸
- What's Up @ West
- West H&S Spring Apparel Sale
- Solar Eclipse on Monday April 8th
- Spring Fling @ West
- PVMSW Green Team's Native Plant Sale
- West Cleans Up The Perkiomen Creek
- Proposed 24/25 Schedule Insights
- PSSA's Coming Soon
- PV West Student Bingo Night on 4/26
- PV Mountain Bike Team - Informational Meeting
- PVHS Info For 8th Grade Students
- After School Clubs & Activities @ West
- After School Athletic/Activity Transportation
- West School Store
- Attendance Announcement📢
- 23/24 PV Middle School Handbook
- PV Hall of Fame - Now Accepting Nominations
- PV West Athletic Update
- Tween Talk Group
- School Cafe
- Art Department Trip to Italy
- The 7th Annual Perkiomen Valley Art and Food Truck Festival
- Perkiomen Valley Art Boosters
- Virtual Parent Support Group
- Summer Help @ PVSD
- 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
Beaks of a Feather Competition
Students in Ms. Emers' Life Science classes participated in an activity that simulated the competition for food in a pond ecosystem as part of their investigation of evolution through natural selection. Using "beaks" made from tongue depressors, the student "wading birds" grabbed "food" from different levels in a water filled aquarium pond. The students observed the difference in the amount of food that they could acquire as the numbers feeding at the pond increased.
Autism Awareness Day
West recognised World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 2nd. The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2nd as a day to raise awareness of autism worldwide. It is a day where all are encouraged to improve their knowledge and understanding of the different experiences and characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum. It is also a day to showcase the value that autistic perspectives bring to our workplaces, educational spaces and communities.
True Grit
Perseverance tends to be associated with a steadfastness on mastering skills or completing a task; having a commitment to learning. Grit is defined as the tendency to sustain interest and effort towards long term goals. Perseverance is an important skill that can help students succeed in school. Students who have the perseverance to stick with something until they succeed are more likely to get good grades and go on to college than those who give up easily. Grit enhances student perseverance when confronting challenges, enhances academic performance, and helps graduates stay in higher education longer. Students in Mr. Cook and Mrs. Glanski's seventh grade social studies classes practiced grit and perseverance with a very difficult M&M stacking challenge.
West H&S Spring Apparel Sale
PV West Home & School Spring Spirit Wear Sale is now OPEN!
Orders must be placed by Sunday April 7th. Delivery of items will be approximately 3 weeks after the sale closes.
A portion of each sale benefits the West Home & School. Go to https://pvmswest24.itemorder.com/shop/home/ or see below for ordering information.
Please contact Jodi Lieb (jodilieb@verizon.net) with any questions.
Solar Eclipse on Monday April 8th
Pennsylvania will be in the direct line of a total/partial solar eclipse during the afternoon this coming Monday April 8th. The last time this occurred in our area was in 1806, making this event truly historic. (PDE)
This experience presents a unique educational and scientific opportunity for our community! A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light. To learn more, visit NASA: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. In the Collegeville area, our view will be of a partial solar eclipse (90% coverage range), which occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, but the moon only partially covers the sun. Event details specific to the Borough of Collegeville are below.
While this is an exciting event, there are safety precautions to consider:
Eyewear - Experts strongly suggest protective eyewear be worn as even a short glimpse of the sun in normal conditions can cause permanent eye damage. The following are recommendations presented by The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Resources -2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Pennsylvania:
Using eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard when viewing the partial eclipse phases
- *As a note, it is difficult to see anything when wearing the eclipse glasses, everything appears black. It is recommended the glasses only be worn during observations of the eclipse and not during normal activities.
Skin Care - During any partial or total eclipse the sun will be very bright and intensified. It is recommended that individuals spending time outside take precautions to prevent skin damage. (ie sunscreen, hat, and protective clothing with SPF ratings).
Equipment - Watching a solar eclipse on your smartphone camera or other device that is not configured to view solar events can be harmful. It could also damage the equipment. It is recommended that specific solar filters to protect against eye injury be used when viewing through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope.
In the event that your child is interested in viewing the partial eclipse, the District has acquired ISO 12312-2 glasses that meet the specifications for safe viewing. Over the next few days, our teachers will be distributing these glasses to each of our students, should they choose to observe the eclipse during the school day, dismissal, and/or while traveling home. *You can also feel free to send your own ISO 12312-2 international standard viewing glasses in with your child if preferred.
Finally, if you feel more comfortable keeping your child at home for the day or picking them up from school early on April 8th, their absence will be excused, as supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
Spring Fling @ West
West is having a Spring Fling on Friday, April 12 and all West students are invited! It will begin right after school, and pick-up is at 5 pm. We have reserved a game/karaoke/VR truck! Students can enjoy this and lots more fun and food with friends! Plus, a soft pretzel and drink are included in the $10 entry fee! Students will be able to purchase additional food at the event. We hope to see many of our students there!
Proposed 24-25 Schedule Insights
A middle school schedule, see below, is being proposed for the 24/25 school year. This proposed schedule would provide purposeful time (I&E) for intervention and/or enrichment (Math and/or ELA), core rotations, and character education to occur within the school day. This week we will share more information about character education.
All students will participate in an approved character education program for two days every cycle during I/E time. We are currently piloting two research-based curricula, Character Strong and Second Step. One of these two character education programs will be selected for the fall. These lessons will be delivered by the homeroom teacher. The curriculum and training will support increasing belonging, well-being, and engagement for students and staff. An extensive 2017 (Jeynes) meta-analysis of 52 research studies, indicated that character education is associated with higher levels of educational outcomes. Character education was also related to higher levels of expressions of love, integrity, compassion, and self-discipline.
Any parents/guardians interested in learning more about the proposed schedule are encouraged to join us for a virtual meeting. The virtual meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 9th at 7:00pm. Please log into this zoom link for the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://pvsd-org.zoom.us/j/7581033537?omn=81842479491
We will record the meeting and share questions and answers posted from the meeting.
PSSA's Coming Soon
All West students will be participating in some or all of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) starting on Monday April 22nd and concluding in early May. The PSSA's are examples of assessments that provide achievement and growth data that assist schools in developing educational plans in support of successful school experiences for students. Please see the dates below for when subject specific testing will take place. The PSSA is made up of three separate tests which assess to what degree our students have become proficient in English Language Arts (reading and writing), Mathematics, and Science. The PSSA Parent FAQs (Spanish), the Keystone Parent FAQ’s, and Electronic Device Letter serve to address questions you may have, however, do not hesitate to email Mr. Creeden at rcreeden@pvsd.org if you have additional questions. Thank you.
PSSA Testing Dates
ELA PSSA ~ April 22, 24, & 26 (Grades 6, 7, and 8)
Math PSSA ~ April 30 & May 1 (Grades 6, 7, and 8)
Science PSSA - May 2 & May 3 (Grade 8)
PV West Student Bingo Night on 4/26
PV Mountain Bike Team - Informational Meeting
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.
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.
Disc Golf Club
Disc Golf is back starting next Tuesday, April 9th! We will meet every Tuesday, weather permitting, in the gym hallway after school. Parent pick-up is at 3:45 pm or you can take the 4:00 pm activity bus. All you need to bring is a bottle of water and a pair of shoes you don't mind getting dirty. We have discs you can borrow, or you can bring your own if you have them! New players are welcome! Any questions see Ms. Bangert in room 222 during homeroom or 10th period.
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📢
Just a few reminders for Student Attendance
Written Excuses are always required (per the State of Pennsylvania) - email is a valid written excuse mswattendance@pvsd.org
Phone calls are helpful but not necessary
If your child is going out of town for any reason (other than family emergency or funeral), a trip form must be completed and submitted for the absence(s). We can allow up to five (5) excused trip/travel related absences per school year.
Please see the helpful links below for forms and more information.
Kacie Kaufmann, kkaufmann@pvsd.org
Middle School West Attendance/Counseling Secretary
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 Hall of Fame - Now Accepting Nominations
The Perkiomen Valley School District Hall of Fame was established in 2018 to recognize distinguished alumni, or others, whose outstanding athletic, professional, or civic endeavors have brought honor to Perkiomen Valley School District and serve to inspire future graduates to perform and serve in the same spirit.
Nominations for the Hall of Fame are now open! Nominations will be accepted through May 1, 2024. We are excited to return this tradition here in Perkiomen Valley. We ask that you please follow the criteria on the link below to make your nominations. Please click the link below to nominate.
PV West Athletic Update
Middle School West 8th Grade Baseball
Events next week:
Monday, April 8 at Boyertown East 3:45pm. Bus 2pm
Tuesday, April 9 at home versus Spring-Ford 3:45pm
Friday, April 12 at Spring-Ford 3:45pm. Bus 2:20pm
Middle School West 7th Grade Baseball
Events next week:
Monday, April 8 at Boyertown East 3:45pm. Bus 2pm
Tuesday, April 9 at home versus Spring-Ford 3:45pm
Friday, April 12 at Spring-Ford 3:45pm. Bus 2:20pm
Middle School West Softball
Events next week:
Monday, April 8 at Spring-Ford 3:45pm
Thursday, April 11 at home versus Boyertown East 3:45pm
Middle School West Girls Lacrosse
Events next week:
Tuesday, April 9 at home versus Norristown 3:45pm
Friday, April 12 at Pottstown 3:45pm. Bus 2pm
Middle School Girls Track and Field
Events next week:
Tuesday, April 9 at OJR 3:30pm. Bus 2pm
Middle School Boys Track and Field
Events next week: Tuesday, April 9 at OJR 3:30pm. Bus 2pm.
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.
Art Department Trip to Italy
The PVHS Art Department is traveling to Italy for Summer 2025. Current 8th Grade students are invited to participate in this travel adventure. If interested, please see the attached flier 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
Perkiomen Valley Art Boosters
The K-12 Art Department is thrilled to introduce you to the Perkiomen Valley Art Booster, a dynamic organization dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic expression within our community.
The Perkiomen Valley Art Booster is a passionate group of individuals committed to supporting and enhancing the arts in our local schools and beyond. Through collaborative efforts, fundraising initiatives, and community engagement, we aim to create an environment where every
artistic spark can ignite a flame of inspiration.
We encourage you to follow PVAB on Facebook, Instagram, and www.pvab.org
for upcoming events, fundraisers, and collaborative projects.
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.
Summer Help @ PVSD
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 April 8th - Solar Eclipse beginning at 2:07pm; PVSD School Board Meeting @ 7pm in PVHS Auditorium
Tuesday April 9th - PVSD Wellness Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm in PVHS Library
Wednesday April 10th - PVSD In-Service (No School For Students)
Friday April 12th - West Spring Fling from 3-5pm