PATRIOT PRESS
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL * * * December 3, 2023
Inside Scoop
Here's what's inside this week:
- Late Start Wednesdays May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
- NO SCHOOL Monday, May 27th - Memorial Day
- Principals' message
- State testing dates and information
- Teacher/staff appreciation May 6th - 10th
- Scholastic Book Fair May 13th - 17th
- Registration for summer credit recovery classes
- Summer baking and pastry arts class grades 8-11
- Track meet schedule
- In and out of district boundary exception applications being accepted
- New end-of-year schedule and 2024/25 school calendar
- *** New 5/7 *** Right At School summer camp registration open
- *** New 5/7 *** Prairie Wrestling Camp June 27th - 29th
- PV PTA Carnival, Sat. June 1st 11am - 3pm
- Notes from the Nurse - updating health information
- Enrollment is open for 2024-2025 Kindergarten, transitional kindergarten and alternative learning programs
- Counselor's Corner - **New** Care Solace link to mental health support
- Chai with a PI flyer
- Report incidents anonymously with SafeSchools
- PTA Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner & Awards Ceremony May 28th, 6pm PV small gym RSVP for dinner
- PTA - Fred Meyer Community Rewards
- Family Resource Center information
- BGPS information links
- New digital school menus
- May menu
- Contact info - hours, calendars, handbooks
Upcoming events
* May 6th-10th Teacher appreciation week
* May 8th - National School Nurse Day
* May 9th WCAS testing 5th and 8th grade, Testing will be the first 2 hours of the morning
* May 13th - 17th Scholastic Book Fair
* May 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th Smarter Balanced testing, all grades
Testing will be the first 2.5 hours each morning
* May 17th Color Run 5-7pm, check in 5, start at 5:30
* May 18th Hazel Dell Parade of Bands
* May 27th - Memorial Day
* May 28th PTA Volunteer appreciation dinner & awards, final board meeting 6pm PV small gym
* June 1st PV PTA Carnival 11am -3 pm
Principals' message
Dear PVM Families,
Wow! We can't believe that it is May already at Pleasant Valley Middle School. This has been a fantastic year of growing and learning together, but we aren't stopping yet. This next month will see the start of our Washington State testing for Math, ELA and Science. In addition, our students will be working hard completing Term 6 unit tests and projects as we start to eye the end of the school year finish line. We appreciate all of the support this year as we worked to build our PBIS expectations of being Safe, Respectful and Responsible. Your students have worked hard this year to become better learners and citizens. We look forward to wrapping up this school year on a positive note for all of our kids. Thank you again for the patience and support as we continue to work to make the 23-24 school year the best ever!
Thank you,
Austin and Alex
State testing dates and information - updated 5/15
WCAS testing (science) 5th and 8th grade May 9th 8:10 am - 10:10 am
Smarter Balanced (SBA) testing for ELA and Math 8:10 am - 10:40 am on the following dates:
May 16th, 21st, 23rd and 28th. Since we canceled testing on May 14th, the fourth testing date will now be May 28th.
On SBA testing days we will test in home rooms the first 2.5 hours of the day. Students will attend all periods on a shortened time schedule the remainder of the day. (5/9 WCAS testing we test the first 2 hours of the day).
Students may not use wireless headphones/airpods or mice during the test, and all electronic devices must be silenced/off and put away during testing. We DO encourage students to bring their own wired headphones if they have them.
Tips to be at your best for the test sessions:
Get a good night sleep
Eat breakfast
Bring a water bottle - stay hydrated
Bring a snack if you think you will want one for break time
Get to school on time
Make sure your student charges their Chromebook each nightGently encourage your students to do their best work
Don't rush through the test, it is ok to take your time
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, May 6th - 10th
It’s time to celebrate our all-star staff!
Staff appreciation week is May 6-10 this year. Below you’ll find some suggestions on how families can honor our staff all week long! If you’re looking for specific items to help stock up classrooms, visit https://rb.gy/w1zxnb for links to teacher wishlists. We know our teachers set the stage for success, so let’s thank them for a picture perfect year!
Monday - PV Pride Day: Show our staff you’re their biggest fan - wear your PV gear and cheer on our school stars!
Tuesday - Treat Tuesday: Bring a sweet or savory treat in for your teacher!
Wednesday - Specialist Stars: Bring a card or gift for your favorite support staff and/or specialist!
Thursday - Thoughtful Thursday: Bring in a gift card or wish list item to show your teachers how valuable they are!
Friday - Fan Mail Friday: Bring in a note telling your teacher about how they’re your number 1 star!
Scholastic Book Fair, May 13th - 17th
Scholastic Book Fair is almost here!
The Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be held May 13-17 during the school day. On Thursday May 16th, there will be special evening hours to come shop with your student during the open house at PVP from 5-6:30pm.
Your student will also have an opportunity to shop at the book fair during their normal weekly library time. If you would like to have your student shop, please send them with money on their library day. Books start at apx $5, and trinkets start at apx $1.25. Cash and checks made payable to “PV PTA” are accepted (change for checks will be given in cash). Alternatively you may create an eWallet for your student, so that they can shop without cash. Please note that the eWallets are specific to school, and can not be interchanged. Please visit the links below to set one up.
Click to navigate to the PVP eWallet
Click to navigate to the PVM eWallet
Volunteer at Book Fair and get 20% off your purchase!
Click to navigate to the Volunteer at PVP sign up
Click to navigate to the Volunteer at PVM sign up
Volunteers must have a current cleared background check through BGSD. Visit https://www.battlegroundps.org/volunteer/ to start the process. Clearance takes 7-10 days to complete. PTA Membership is only required for cashier positions. Visit https://membership-2022-2023-30180.cheddarup.com to join.
Registration for summer credit recovery classes
Registration open for high school online summer classes
Battle Ground Public Schools is offering online summer school classes for high school students looking to earn original credit or for those needing to recover credit for failed courses. Classes will be offered in a variety of subjects. Current eighth grade students also may recover the Washington state history requirement.
For credit recovery, students should speak with their school counselor to figure out which courses they need to recover, then work with them to complete the required forms starting May 1, 2024.
Students may begin working on courses as soon as they receive a confirmation email and instructions. The deadline to complete credit recovery coursework and original credit courses is Friday, Aug. 16.
Summer baking and pasty arts class grades 8-11
Students who are currently in grades 8-11 and are interested in improving your baking or pastry arts skills this summer, consider signing up for the Intro to Baking and Pastry Arts class at Battle Ground High School. Offered through Cascadia Tech Academy, this 90 hour course (over 13 days) will provide students with the opportunity to learn about things like basic baking and pastry techniques related to quick breads, yeast breads, enriched yeast doughs, laminated doughs, cookies, brownies / snack bars, macarons, fillings and ganache, frozen desserts and confections, plate composition and presentation, and much more.
Visit the Summer School page for Cascadia Tech to learn more. Registration opens Wednesday, May 1.
Track Meet Schedule
Friday May 10th at Prairie - Field events start at 3:30, running events start at 4:00
Thursday May 16th at Prairie - Field events start at 3:30, running events start at 4:00
Wednesday May 22nd DISTRICT MEET AT BATTLE GROUND HIGH SCHOOL - time to be announced
Requirements for student attendance at middle school sports games
Students who will be attending sports events as a spectator at the middle school will need to go home after school and return for the game later. We do not have supervision for students to stay after until the game. Students attending games will need to be accompanied by an adult and will need to remain inside the gym while they are on campus.
Requirements for middle and primary school students attending athletic events at District Stadium
As of September 1, 2023 any primary or middle student attending athletic events at District Stadium must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older who will be responsible for the student(s) for the duration of the event. The adult cannot be a high school student. Primary and middle school students will not be allowed to enter if they are not accompanied by an adult.
In addition, only clear bags are allowed into District Stadium. Students will need to leave all backpacks and bags that are not clear at home.The school district will not be responsible for any student bags that are lost, stolen or not allowed in the stadium.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to ensure that all students and spectators are able to enjoy BGPS events.
Boundary exceptions for the 2024-2025 school year being accepted
Schools are accepting requests for in and out of district boundary exceptions for the 2024-2025 school year. If you need to renew or apply for a new in-district boundary exception, please complete the request form and submit it to the school where you wish your student to attend, or the BGPS boundaries office.
In district boundary exception application
Out of district boundary exception Choice Transfer requests should be submitted to the boundary office for the district in which you live. They will transmit the request to the BGPS boundary office after they have reviewed your request.
Out of district Choice Transfer Form
If you need more information on boundary exceptions, please visit our BGPS boundaries webpage.
New end-of-year schedule and 2024/25 school calendar
New end-of-year schedule, including last day of school
Schedule changes will be in effect for the end of this school year due to weather-related closures in January. The last day of school for students in south schools will be Friday, June 14. The last day of school for students in most north schools will be Monday, June 17. Get the details. PVM is a south school.
2024-25 school calendar
The 2024-25 academic calendar (Русский) (Español) has been updated since it was first released.
Here are some of the key dates:
First day of school: Tuesday, Aug. 27
Kindergarten Smart Start begins: Tuesday, Sept. 3
Thanksgiving break: Nov. 27-29
Winter break: Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 3, 2025
Spring break: Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4
In-service dates (no student attendance): Oct. 11, Oct. 30, Jan. 29
- Last day of school: Tuesday, June 10 (assuming no added days for weather-related closures)
Right At School summer camp registration is open
Right at School will offer summer camps for kids ages 5-12. Camps will be offered June 24 through Aug. 9, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be different themes for each week including water fun, extreme engineering, believe it or not, silly summer Olympics and much more. Registration is now open.
Prairie Wrestling Camp June 27th - 29th
Correction to contact email: smith.rob@battlegroundps.org
PV PTA Carnival, June 1st!
Don’t miss the biggest event of the year!
The Carnival is returning on June 1st from 11am-3pm, and will be bigger and better than last year! We’ll have games, inflatables, food trucks, pie eating contests, face painting, laser tag and more! Admission is free, game tickets will go on sale soon. Please visit www.pleasantvalleypta.org/carnival for more information, and watch for the flier coming home later this month!
Notes from the Nurse
Hello PVM families!
Parents/guardians please make sure you are updating the School Health Form in Skyward each year so that we have correct and current information regarding your child/ren. We want to keep your child/ren safe while at school and we can't do our job if we do not have correct and updated information. Thank you for your time in this important matter.
From your School Nurse Janel Salisbury, BSN, RN & Building nurse Diane Davis, LPN
Latest COVID-19 guidance
The health of our children is important to all of us. Battle Ground Public Schools is working with Clark County Public Health and the Washington state Department of Health to continue best practices for responding to COVID-19.
COVID safety in schools
- Battle Ground Public Schools is following the standard guidelines for keeping children home from school. These are based on the infectious disease guidelines provided by Clark County Department of Health. The guidelines apply to both staff and students.
- Staff and volunteers are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Volunteers must still complete the standard clearance process.
- General masking is optional in schools, including in school health rooms.
- Anyone may choose to continue wearing a mask on school grounds. We expect our students and staff to continue to show respect for one another and the many different viewpoints that make up our community.
- Rapid test kits will continue to be available in buildings for use at home. Depending on availability, these also may be obtained through the Washington Department of Health website.
Staying healthy
Clark County Public Health recommends that people take the following actions to prevent colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Stay home if running a fever or experiencing other symptoms of illness. See our guidelines for keeping children home from school for more information.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
COVID-19 cases in schools
Starting with the 2023-24 school year, the district will no longer maintain a COVID-19 information dashboard. Information on outbreaks, as identified in consultation with Clark County Public Health, will continue to be communicated to staff and families as necessary. Previous data can be found for the 2022-23 school year, the 2021-22 school year and the 2020-21 school year.
If you need to email our nurses:
salisbury.janel@battlegroundps.org
davis.diane@battlegroundps.org
School office 360-885-5500
Additional information:
Enrollment open for 2024-25 Kindergarten and alternative learning programs
Enrollment
Calling next year's kindergartners!
Online enrollment is now available for 2024-25 kindergartners. That’s right, it’s time to enroll next year’s kindergartners! Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2024, is eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall. To enroll, parents will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or a completed certificate of exemption form. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified.
Have your documents ready and enroll online now so that you and your child can attend kindergarten orientation in the spring.
Transitional Kindergarten
Battle Ground Public Schools also offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will turn 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. The program is offered at Captain Strong, Daybreak, Glenwood Heights, Tukes Valley, Maple Grove and Yacolt primary schools, with plans underway to expand at the Pleasant Valley campus. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program and fill out an online eligibility form by June 12. Families will be notified by June 30 of their eligibility status.
Enrollment is open for district’s alternative learning experience programs
Battle Ground Public Schools’ specialized and alternative learning experience programs are accepting enrollment applications for the 2024-25 school year. The district offers specialized and alternative programs for students in kindergarten through high school.
Character and Academics for the Marketplace (CAM) Academy - A grades 3-12 school focusing on English language arts, history, science, math and instruction in computer technology.
Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education (CASEE) - A half-day program focused on science, technology, engineering and math on an 80-acre learning campus in Brush Prairie.
Summit View High School - An individualized learning environment for students from ages 14-21 focusing on reaching graduation.
Open Doors GED - A program through Summit View High School for students ages 16-21 who are behind in credits and want to earn their GED.
River HomeLink - An accredited public school providing parent-partnered educational options and support for students.
Battle Ground Virtual Academy - In fall 2023, the program formerly named River Online was launched as a new, independent school for online learning. BGVA provides a high-quality online learning experience where students are assigned a teacher with whom they and their parents meet regularly. Parents and guardians also play an active role in their child's online education. Families who are interested in attending BGVA should complete the online interest form to begin the enrollment process.
Counselor's Corner - **New** Care Solace link to mental health support
Care Solace: Your link to mental health support
Battle Ground Public Schools has partnered with an organization called Care Solace to support the well-being of students and their immediate family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help any student and/or their immediate family members quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of insurance or circumstance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 in any language).
Visit www.caresolace.com/battlegroundps and either search on your own or select “Book appointment” for assistance by video chat, email or phone.
Social-Emotional Supports
There are great resources available for social-emotional support via the Battle Ground Public Schools website. On the district page there are links that lead you to more information for different topics. Here is the link to our school district's page: Social Emotional Supports
NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Groups are Free of charge.
.https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups/NAMI-Family-Support-Group
NAMI- National Alliance on Mental Illness
800-950-6264
Or Text “HelpLine” to 62640
Talk 360-984-0396 (text)
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish
Text 988
Community Resources and Information
311- Non-life threatening concerns
211- County Resource Directory
800-273-8255- Suicide Prevention
741741- Suicide Text
360-205-1222- Lifeline Crisis Center
360-695-9677- Housing Line
360-903-2833- CVBAP Warm Line (4 pm- 12 am)
866-789-1511- Washington Recovery HelpLine
360-356-1890- Rainier Springs Detox
360-397-8246 ext 30846- Lifeline Detox
800-626-8137 OR 360-696-95560 SW Washington Crisis Line
Locations
Recovery Cafe Clark County
3312 E Fourth Plain Blvd. Suite #100
Vancouver WA 98661
The Reach Center
1601 E 4th Plain Blvd
Building 17, Suite A114
Vancouver, WA 98661
The Recovery Resource Center
9317 NE Hwy 99 Suite M
Vancouver, WA 98665
The People's Harm Reduction Alliance
Online training/Order Free Narcan
What you need to know about vaping among youth
Inhaling and exhaling the aerosol produced by an electronic vapor device, also known as vaping, carries health risks. Vaping products can include nicotine, chemicals, marijuana or other drugs that can affect students’ learning, attention and self-control. While most youth nationwide are choosing not to vape, we are concerned whenever a student chooses to use these products. Read about how the district helps students make healthy choices, how parents and guardians can help teens and consequences when a student uses vaping products at school.
Report incidents anonymously with SafeSchools
PV PTA news
Pleasant Valley PTA supports students and teachers at Pleasant Valley by providing programs, activities, and events that help them grow socially and academically. We work closely with school administrators and teachers to determine the needs of our schools and advocate for our students.
We all care about our students. Some of us just don’t know how we can make a difference or don’t have the time to volunteer because of other obligations. Pleasant Valley PTA and Washington State PTA can be your voice and can help make a difference in the lives of ALL our students. As a large organized body we can impact decisions at the National and State levels that affect our students at Pleasant Valley.
By joining Pleasant Valley PTA and exercising your right to vote, you have a voice in your students education. Become a member and stay connected with important issues and information about our school.
What Membership is:
Support for students & staff
Our legislative voice! (Membership count affects our number of votes at Convention & Legislative Assembly)
Funding for student programs & activties
What Membership is NOT:
A commitment to volunteer. The PTA will never require your participation in fundraising or volunteering.
What your Membership includes:
Access to resources
Discounts from State and National PTA
- NEW PTA WEBSITE: PleasantValleyPTA.org,
- Sign up here to receive info on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities: https://pleasantvalleypta.org/volunteer
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner & General PTA Meeting, 2024-2025 Board Elections
The Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner & Awards Ceremony will be held on May 28th, at 6pm in the small gym. All Pleasant Valley volunteers are welcome (PTA member or not!). Please RSVP so that we know how many to expect! Free Childcare will be provided by Right At School, and we will have pizza for the kids!
Award nominations are due by May 10th. A copy of the form can be found here: Award Nominations Form
The last general PTA meeting of the year will immediately follow the dinner at 7pm. At this meeting we will be approving a budget for next year, as well as electing our 2024-2025 Executive Board Members. Everyone is welcome, however you must be an active PV PTA Member to vote.
PTA - Fred Meyer Community Rewards
Hey there! Guess what? Every time you hit up Fred Meyer for your shopping needs, you can actually sprinkle a little magic dust (aka cold hard cash) into the Pleasant Valley PTA, all while reaping your own rewards! All you need to do is link your card and continue to shop as you always have.
Getting started is easy-peasy!
1. Go to fredmeyer.com
2. Log in to your account
3. Go to My Account
4. Scroll down to Community Rewards and click View Community Rewards
5. Search for “Pleasant Valley PTA”
6. Give that enroll button a satisfying click and watch the magic unfold!
See? Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy! Each time you shop Fred Meyer will donate a percentage straight to the PTA!
Family and Community Resource Center
Battle Ground Public Schools’ Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) helps meet the needs of families faced with housing instability and similar economic challenges.
While a main goal of the FCRC is to assist families experiencing housing instability, it can also help connect families with many other types of resources and is intended to respond to the changing needs of the community.
The FCRC is a continuation of the district’s joint efforts with the Battle Ground Education Foundation, an all-volunteer, nonprofit community organization whose purpose is to leverage community resources to help maintain quality education for all students in Battle Ground schools.
The Family Resource Guide is full of contacts to aid families in connecting with agencies who are able to help with a great variety of needs. Please click the link below to view this helpful guide.
(click below to be redirected to the FCRC page)
Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC)
Phone: (360) 885-5434
Email: fcrc@battlegroundps.org
The FCRC office has moved from CASEE to our Lewisville campus.
BGPS information links
Free/reduced lunch application (we encourage all our families to apply)
Medication at school (forms and other health information)
Nutrition services (menus, meal prices)
New digital school menus
Sodexo, the district’s food services provider, is excited to announce that they are transitioning their menu system to Nutrislice. This switch will provide an enhanced user experience, better navigation, filters for dietary and allergen restrictions, language options and much more. Check out the Nutrislice menus.
May menu
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION
We believe ALL students can experience academic and personal growth.
School information, calendars, handbook
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Office: 360-885-5500
Fax: 360-885-5510
Absence reporting: 360-885-5512
District office switchboard: 360-885-5300
Mailing address:
PO Box 200
Battle Ground, WA 98604
Email: info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
Website: https://pvm.battlegroundps.org/
Location: 14320 NE 50th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98686 Mail to: Pleasant Valley Middle, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360-885-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVMiddle/
School hours
Late start Wed.: 9:10 - 2:40
Early Release: 8:10 - 11:40
2-hr late start: 10:10 - 2:40
School colors: red, white and blue
Mascot: Patriots (Patriot Pete)
Pleasant Valley Middle Handbook 2023-2024
* * *
Battle Ground Public Schools provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, HIV/Hepatitis C status. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other
designated youth groups. Contact the following regarding questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Tom Adams, Director of Student Services, adams.tom@battlegroundps.org, Title IX Compliance Officer, 360.885.5415; Michelle Reinhardt, Executive Director of Human Resources, reinhardt.michelle@battlegroundps.org, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 360.885.5481; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604
* * *
May 5, 2024
Issue #18-24