Gifted Trip to PVHS
On Wednesday, February 8th, students in 8th grade gifted classes from Middle School West and Middle School East met in the PV High School Media Center with a panel of high school gifted students who shared their experiences transitioning to the high school. A couple topics discuss during the trip were "Know yourself and what you need to maintain a balanced, healthy and happy life, and "create your schedule accordingly, the importance of time management in successfully balancing extracurricular activities and academics."
Mitosis and Cancer
Students in Ms. Emers' seventh grade science classes took on the role of cancer scientists and solved puzzles in a mitosis escape experience! Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth. Cancer begins when a cell undergoes uncontrolled mitosis, so students were able to connect this real world problem with learning about the cell cycle.
Human Body Systems
An understanding of the body can benefit our own health as we go through life. Familiarity with the human body can help us make healthful choices and prompt us to take appropriate action when signs of illness arise. Students in Mr. Weygand and Mrs. Burg's eighth grade health classes explored the many systems that make up our bodies this week. Working in groups, they researched the anatomy, function and diseases of a system then created a life sized diagram that they will share with their classmates.
8th Grade Field Trip to Washington DC
Mark your calendars! 8th Graders at PV East and West will be traveling to Washington, DC on Monday, May 15th. This will be an extended day, departing 6:15 AM and returning by 8:45PM on coach buses. We will be looking for some interested parents to chaperone. Parent chaperones will need to have all of their clearances. More information regarding cost, itinerary, as well as sign up will be coming in the near future.
Principal's Roundtable - New Date and Location!
The ‘Principal’s Roundtable’ has been moved to Wednesday March 1st and will now take place at PV East's Library from 6:30 - 8:30PM. The roundtable will be led by Middle Level Administration and Counseling. The topic will be “Backpacks, Lockers, and Cellphones”. We are looking forward to an engaging conversation with our Middle level parents and students. Please join us!
Shape The Sky - Creating Responsible Kids on Smartphones
At Shape The Sky, our goal is to connect knowledge and wisdom to create safe and responsible children online and on digital devices. We provide parents, teachers, counselors and other professionals with an insider’s view of the internet and social media, so they know how to start the conversation. Our goal is to have children and adults connect, share, and learn together to bridge youth knowledge of technology with adult wisdom of using it responsibly. See below for a link to more information and resources at Shape The Sky.
8th Grade Parent Night @ PVHS - New Date!
Chess Club
Debate Club
C.A.U.S.E. Club
The CAUSE stands for Connecting And Uniting Students to Empower. This is club that was started to try and help other students and get all students involved in our school community. Students in the CAUSE Club will have opportunities to make positive change in the school environment in various ways as well as support our local community. The club meets every Tuesday from 2:30 - 4:00 and we welcome all students that would like to join.
Homework Club
Homework Club takes place next Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2:30 - 3:45pm in the West library. 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.
After School Activity Transportation
- 4:00pm Departure (outside main office) - Monday through Thursday
- 5:00pm Departure (outside gym entrance) - Monday through Thursday
For each day students intend to take either the 4:00pm or 5:30pm 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.
Power Packs
PV Power Packs is a weekend food program for students experiencing food insecurity. Bags of food, including 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items, 2 snacks, and 2 fruits, are sent home with students prior to every weekend. There is no financial information required to participate in this program and students pick up their bags from their counselor or designated person every week.
Sign up for your child(ren) to receive a Power Packs bag by filling out this form: 2022-23 Power Packs or by emailing PowerPacks@pvsd.org.
Learn more about Power Packs at https://www.pvsd.org/families/pv-power-packs/ and follow us on Facebook @PVPowerPacks.
PV West Athletic Update
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SPRING SPORTS
Spring sports registration must occur by FEBRUARY 21.
First day of Middle School Sports is MARCH 13.
If the spring sports season will be the first sport of participation at PV this school year: Registration for spring sports must occur by February 21. This can be done at http://www.planeths.com. In addition to registering, student-athletes must have a PIAA physical examination done by a doctor and the proper paperwork completed by the doctor. In order to count for the 2023 school year, the physical must occur June 1, 2022 or later. The form is found on www.planeths.com when you register.
If the spring sports season is your second or third sport season this school year: Complete section 8 Spring Recertification at http://www.planeths.com by February 21. If there has been a change to your health history or an injury since completing your last physical, an additional section 9 form is required as well. This does require a clearance from a doctor.
West Home & School Information
If you would like to volunteer at any events that Home and School may have in the Spring, please email pvmswesths@gmail.com
Nurse Notes - Physical and Dental Exams
Parents of 6th grade students, please know that you are required to submit a physical form for your child during this school year. In addition, if your child receives any immunizations, please submit those as well. Prior to the start of 7th grade, your child will need to receive the Tdap and Meningitis vaccinations, so now is a good time to get those immunizations!
Parents of 7th grade students are required to submit a dental form for your child.
The school physician and the school dentist will be at Middle School West in the Spring of 2023, and your child will be seen by them if the proper form is not handed in prior.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Class
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
This course covers......
Common signs and symptoms of mental illness in this age group, including » Anxiety » Depression » Eating disorders » Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) • Common signs and symptoms of substance use • How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis • How to connect the person with help • New: Expanded content on trauma, addiction and self-care and the impact of social media and bullying
This class includes two hours of online, pre-work towards certification. It takes about 2 hours.
Be Part of the Conversation - Upcoming Programs
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.
PV West Attendance Information
If your child will be absent or missing any class time, please send an email (from the email you have listed in our new SIS system) to:
This will count as your call-out AND parent excuse. Please indicate in your email the date of absence, student’s grade and the reason for the absence. An absence is considered unexcused when the child’s school has not received an email or written parent note providing an acceptable reason for the absence, within a 3-day period.
You may also call our attendance line at: 1 (484) 977-7210, option 1. If you do this, you would still need to submit an email with the above information in order for it to be excused.
Any medical notes or Dr.'s notes should be placed in the Attendance Box, right outside the Guidance Department.
If you have any questions at all, please contact Lori Tropea at ltropea@pvsd.org or you may call her at x3540.
PVSD Food Service Updates
Parents/Guardians put money in their student(s) accounts electronically in SchoolCafe or by sending cash or checks in with their students. For more information about SchoolCafe please go to https://www.pvsd.org/departments/food-service/school-cafe-information/. If you are sending funds in with your students, please note the students’ names and account number on the envelope and ask them to give the envelope to their cashier in the cafeteria.
Upon entering the serving area, students make their selections and enter their 6 digit Student ID number on the pin pad or scanner. Our staff will be happy to help them become more comfortable with the system.
Safe2Say
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.
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. Please see below for more information.
The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
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
Random Acts of Kindness Week @ West (Monday February 13th - Friday February 17th)
Monday February 13th - Kick It Into Gear and Help Someone Near Day, PVSD School Board Business Meeting @ 7pm in PVHS Library
Tuesday February 14th - Share the Love Day, Homework Club @ 2:30pm in West Library
Wednesday February 15th - Half Day for Students, Dream of Kindness Day
Thursday February 16th - Crazy for Kindness Day, Homework Club @ 2:30pm in Library; West Ski/Snowboard Club Trip to Bear Creek - 2pm departure
Friday February 17th - PV Vikings are Kind Day
For more details on the 22/23 school year go to the 22/23 Instructional Calendar
