Pleasant Valley Family Newsletter
December 6, 2024
Hello PV Families,
Wishing you a restful weekend—take a moment to hold your loved ones closer!
A few announcements:
Writing Celebration: A big shout-out to Mrs. Cezus and her 4th-grade class for hosting a Writing Celebration today! Parents joined students in the cafeteria to celebrate their realistic fiction stories from the first writing unit. Check out the pictures below to see the celebration in action!
Holiday Fair: Our Holiday Fair is scheduled for next Friday, December 13th. This event gives students an opportunity to shop for family and friends while supporting local vendors. Please send your child with money and a shopping list to guide their purchases.
Winter Weather Reminders: With the arrival of colder weather, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for recess with jackets, gloves, and proper footwear. On snowy days, snow pants and boots are required for safe play in the snow.
- Lost and Found: Our lost and found is overflowing! Items will be displayed in the main lobby on Wednesday during conferences. Please take a moment to check if any of your child’s belongings are there. Students can also check the tables near the cafeteria during the week. Any unclaimed items will be donated to the clothing bin after December 19th.
Other Reminders: Don’t forget to check out the S’more for details about:
- The Invention Convention
- PTO Wolfpack Game
- Bike Volunteers for Bike Week
- Countdown to Break Dress-Down Days
Girls on the Run: Our Girls on the Run team will participate in the HMF Blue Back Mitten Run at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 8th, in West Hartford. We hope to see many of you there to cheer on our amazing girls!
Have a restful weekend!
Sincerely,
Esther & Jenna
Dear 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Families,
I am thrilled to invite South Windsor students in grades 3, 4, and 5 to participate in this year’s Invention Convention! Our first informational and work session will take place on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 7:00 PM at Timothy Edwards Middle School.
The Connecticut Invention Convention is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an interest in STEM careers by encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills. During the program, students will have the opportunity to design and create their own invention to solve a problem of their choosing. Through this experience, they’ll learn about invention design, brainstorming techniques, and reflecting on challenges in their lives and the world around them.
The Invention Convention is a unique science fair that South Windsor students have participated in for many years, and we are excited to continue this tradition. While most of the project will be completed independently at home, there will be two additional work sessions where students can get feedback and support on their process. Students will present their inventions at our in-person South Windsor Public Schools Invention Convention tentatively set for March 1, 2025 at Timothy Edwards Middle School.
If your child is interested in participating in the 2024-2025 South Windsor Invention Convention, please take the following steps:
- Submit the "Intent to Invent" permission slip by Friday, December 9, 2024.
- Attend the introductory meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM at Timothy Edwards Middle School. A family member must attend with their student. During this meeting, inventors will receive an overview of the invention process, the Invention Log, and suggested deadlines to help guide their work.
For additional details about the Connecticut Invention Convention, visit ctinventionconvention.org.
We look forward to seeing your young inventors at the Invention Convention!
Sincerely,
Karyn Kruzick
5th Grade Teacher
Orchard Hill School
South Windsor Invention Convention Coordinator
Holiday Fair - December 13th
The Pleasant Valley Holiday Fair is quickly approaching! We are looking for volunteers to help to make this amazing Pleasant Valley tradition possible. The Holiday Fair will run on Friday, December 13th from 9:00-3:00. We are looking for gift wrappers and those who are willing to help run the PTO table to help students shop for gifts for their loved ones. Thank you for being willing to help make the Holiday Fair magical! Click on the link to sign up to volunteer.
Do you love to ride bikes? Are you willing to help 4th graders learn to ride? We would love to have your help. Dates for Bike week are April 23, 22, 24, & 25. If you are interested, please complete the Volunteer Registration form above and email Kristin Carmon to let us know you are interested.
If your child is going to be absent, please log in to your Parent Portal and fill out the Attendance Monitor prior to the start of the school day. It is very important that the office be aware of your child's absence. Attendance Monitor Instructions can be found under Important Links, below.
If you would like to pick your child up early, please email both Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Strom or call the office at 860-610-0291.
Throughout the school year, there are many volunteer opportunities for parents/guardians (for example - chaperoning a field trip, helping at a PTO event, etc.) If you would like to volunteer, you must complete a Volunteer Registration form-