VALLEY VIKING NEWS
November 2, 2018
VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Email: tracy.poquette@fcps.org
Website: education.fcps.org/ves/home
Location: Valley Elementary School, Jefferson Pike, Jefferson, MD, USA
Phone: 240.236.3000
Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps
MESSAGE FROM MRS. POQUETTE
Happy November! We wrapped up our successful PTA membership drive with a little bit of duct tape. Mrs. Stover's class brought in the most PTA memberships, so they won this exciting incentive.
We hope you had as much fun as the students at our Fall Festival parade and party! Thank you to all of our fantastic room parents for putting together such great parties!
Today is the last day of our first quarter. November is a time for parent-teacher conferences (11/7– 11/9). I encourage all parents to attend the conference to keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher. At the conference, you will be discussing your child’s progress (both academically and behaviorally) and learn ways to help your child at home. This is also your time to ask questions and bring up any concerns to your child’s teacher. Please make every effort to attend. First quarter report cards will be sent home on Thursday, November 15th.
I would like to thank you for your continuous support and partnership to help students achieve their very best.
TECH TROT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
The following students were our top earners and won the limo ride to lunch: Zaniya L., Lila B., Connor F., Brooke C., Lindsay P., Sienna R., Sean F., Cami P., Aubrey M., and Ryan C.
LAST DAY TO VOTE
We have two days left to vote for the Farmers Thank Americas Teachers contest. We need to finish strong! We were informed that Valley Elementary is still in 3rd place. The top 5 schools win the $100,000!
https://www.farmers.com/thank-americas-teachers/vote-for-a-teacher/vote-100k-proposal/
INFORMATION FROM OUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT
What is multisensory learning?
Multisensory learning involves the use of our senses. This kind of learning is taught by incorporating all senses into the learning process to activate different parts of the brain at the same time, enhancing memory and the learning of written language. It provides more ways for understanding new information, more ways to remember information and more ways to recall information at a later date.
Sample Activities:
Shaving Cream Writing-
You will need shaving cream and a clean flat surface, words/letters/numbers written on index cards. Spray shaving cream onto a flat surface, spread out. Have student select an index card. Than have them practice writing the word, letter, or numbers in the shaving cream while looking at the work written in print, spelling/naming it out loud.
VAKT (Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Tactile) Sight Word Strategy- All you need is a chalkboard, a piece of chalk and a cotton or fuzzy ball that can be found at craft stores. In large letters, have your child write a High Frequency word on the chalkboard. Next, take the cotton ball or fuzzy ball and erase the letters in the exact way they were formed while repeating each letter (it's important that the word is not erased haphazardly, each letter should be formed as if writing it a second time). After the word has been erased letter by letter, have your child sweep his or her pointer finger as if underlining the word, while also saying the word. A dry erase board can be used instead of a chalkboard.
Sight Word Jump (Kinesthetic Learning)-Write sight words on post it notes and put them up high on the wall. Students jump for the word when it is called out.
Writing Tip from our Literacy Specialist
Diego M., Brynn G., Ava G.
Hope L.
IMPORTANT DATES
Nov. 5 & 6- School Closed
Nov. 7th & 8th Parent Teacher Conferences School opens 4 hours late (no lunch served)
Nov. 7- PTA Meeting 6pm
Nov. 8- Volunteer Training 7pm
Nov. 9th Parent Teacher Conferences School closes 3.5 hours early
Nov. 14th & 15th Grandparents Day with Breakfast or Lunch option
Nov. 16- Spirit Day (Wear Green or Valley gear)
Nov. 16- Coffee with the Principal 9-10am
Nov. 16-Movie Night
Nov. 21- 2-hour early dismissal
Nov. 22 & 23 School Closed
Nov. 26-Volunteer Training 6pm
Nov. 26-Play Meeting 6:30pm
Nov. 30- Q1 Awards Ceremony (k-2 at 9:15) (3-5 at 1:30) *A letter will come home if your student is receiving an award
STAY INFORMED
Communication is very important to your child’s success at school and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at Valley Elementary School. Please remember communication is a two-way process and you are encouraged to get in touch with your child’s teacher as needed. We will use electronic communication frequently (Find Out First), so if you do not have access to a computer at home, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher to let them know, so they can send you information in your child’s backpack. We do not want you to miss important information.
Below are a few ways to stay informed about Valley and Frederick County Public Schools.
- Find Out First: register online at www.fcps.org/fof/ves (Almost all of our communication goes out through FOF)
- Remind App: https://www.remind.com/join/1718ve (Text Message Reminders for all Valley events)
- Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps (Reminders and pictures of Valley events)
- PTA website: https://valleyelementaryschoolpta.weebly.com/
- PTA facebook page: Valley Elementary School PTA
- Valley Elementary Website: https://education.fcps.org/ves/