Gold

Gold is a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal. I consider our faculty and staff to be like gold; valuable and highly sought after. Perspective teaching candidates flock to our doors when a position is posted. Parents call from miles around wanting to purchase or build in our attendance area. They want to be a part of an award winning school. They want that gold standard.

So, it should come as no surprise that PVES received recognition as being a gold winner for general performance and silver recognition for "closing the achievement gap". This should come as no surprise. We have worked hard to maintain high expectations for excellence at PVES. Our challenge becomes adapting to a changing school population in order to meet new challenges head on. Gold is the standard. Congratulations!





Lily Has Arrived!
Lily Tollison was born at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, February 24th. She weighed 7 pounds and 1 ounce and 19 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!

We've enjoyed an incredibly busy week and have lots to share...

World Wide Read Aloud Day was fun! I watched as many of you read aloud to your students. I hope we never forget that this is such a fun and important activity for elementary school students. Make time to read aloud often. Encourage parents to do so. Thanks for being a part of this special day!

Continuing our theme of reading, how about the over 200 titles recently purchased by Mrs. Fowler for our media center. Mrs. Fowler has spent thousands this year in an effort to provide more choice for students. It was awesome to see the students come in the library and be excited to see new books on the shelves. Way to go, Mrs. Fowler!

Literacy Night was a huge success. We had an incredible crowd. Thanks to the many of you who made this event possible. Parents and students enjoyed a pizza supper, a guest reader from the Clemson football team, and learning about strategies to help readers. A special thanks to reading coach Kelle Martin for organizing this event. #PVES loves reading!

Ms. Wilcox's class hosted Ms. Marino's students as they "made" cupcakes. It was incredible to see our sweet third graders show care and concern for those special students from Ms. Marino's class. I won't call any names, but it was so powerful as I stood and watched one of our little ones in third grade, who struggles with his behavior, offer to assist a student who needed extra help and attention. Yes, we have standards to teach and tests for which we need to prepare, but watching these two classes work together is what it is all about.

Clemson junior practicum students visited classrooms. Thank you all for inviting them in and working with them to assist them in accomplishing their tasks. They are future teachers and leaders. You are setting an example for them. We value opportunities to work with these teachers and develop relationships with universities who will supply us with the best and brightest in the profession! They will be visiting with us once again on Monday, February 29th.

We do have student teachers in the building this semester, and I look forward to observing them in the coming weeks. However, I want to focus on those teachers who are working with these student teachers. They have such a meaningful task in front of them in supporting and training these young educators. They also serve in various places throughout our building as needed. I am very appreciative of this! Mrs. Golden found herself in Ms. Marino's class one afternoon. Did I mention she even shelves books in the media center every week?

Boosterthon is Coming:

I placed in your box a pre-program letter for our Boosterthon Fun Run event. As most of you know, this event is our major fundraiser for the year and has brought in an average of $20,000 over the past 4-5 years. This is only made possible due to the enthusiasm and buy-in from our teachers and staff. Thank you in advance for your positive attitude and assistance throughout the entirety of this event. Attached to the letter was a schedule for the daily "team huddles" to be held during related arts in the MP Room. We will discuss again at our faculty kickoff event scheduled for Monday, February 29th at 3:10 P.M. in the PD Room (102). Since our pep rally for students is scheduled for that afternoon at around 1:35-1:40 PM, please plan to wear blue jeans on Monday along with your Boosterthon shirt. 

Technology Tidings:

Please remember that our next instructional iCoach session with Jessica Preisig will be held on Tuesday, March 1st during your planning period in the PD Room (102). Thank you in advance for attending and participating. Speaking of technology, we will have technologists from around the state in our building on Thursday meeting with our ASD1 instructional technology team. These individuals will visit classrooms to see how we are using technology to enhance instruction. It's wonderful to have visitors in our building and show off the awesome things happening at PVES. 

EAFK:

If Tammy Lee has not visited your classroom for the lesson on our third nine week's virtues, please contact ASAP. The virtues for this nine week period, and appropriately so, are perseverance and discipline. Our next EAFK ceremony is scheduled for Friday, March 18th. Please submit student names, one per virtue, to Mrs. Booth no later than Monday, March 7th by noon. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Moore Musings:

Please keep in mind that Mrs. Tollison is out for the next 8 weeks or so. That leaves one administrator for 605 plus students and 50 plus faculty and staff. I am here to support you, as always, but please consider this before submitting a student referral. I would also ask that you notify me as early as possible if you need to meet with me or need me to attend a parent meeting. Additionally, I ask for grace and patience as I am sure there will be some days where I struggle to accomplish everything in front of me. Thanks for being awesome! And as a "thank you" please wear jeans on Friday! 

Mark Your Calendar (MYC):

• Grade level meetings during planning on Thursday, February 25th. Meet in conference room.
• The Painted Rock House on Thursday, February 25th at 3:30 in the PD Room (102). Thanks, Mrs. Thomas! 
• Jet Toy Car Competition at Spearman on Friday, February 26th. 
• PTSO Father Daughter Dance at PVES on Friday, February 26th from 6:30-8:30 P.M.
• Boosterthon Pep Rally on Monday, February 29th at 1:35 PM in the MP Room.
• Boosterthon teacher meeting on Monday, February 29th at 3:10 P.M. in the PD Room (102).
• Technology meetings with Preisig during planning on Tuesday, March 1st in PD Room (102).
• Third grade Launch to Atlanta on Friday, March 4th. 
• EAFK names due to Booth by noon on Monday, March 7th. 
• Boosterthon Fun Run on Wednesday March 9th (to be held outside, weather permitting):
• 3rd grade at 8:30 A.M.
• 4th grade at 9:35 A.M.
• 5th Grade at 10:40 A.M.
• Marino following 5th. 
• AXA Semi-annual retirements benefit review on Thursday, March 10th from 12:00-3:00 P.M. in the work room. 
• Professional development day on Friday, March 11th (no students). 

Video of the Week: Part of our Gold Faculty Dancing at the Talent Show