Sunday, March 31, 2019

Finish Strong

Finish. Finish strong. Mrs. Tollison's word for the year is finish and it is truly appropriate for all of us to turn our attention, for a moment, to this word. Finish means to bring something to an end or to completion. In other words, to finish is to take action. You have to act. You control your actions and attitudes that, ultimately, determine just how well you finish. As the picture above states, many other schools and teachers began the year just as we did. They were full of hope; fueled by passion and purpose. But the rigors and stresses of the job have worn them down. They will finish in name only. The promises of a new school year will fade away and give way to a mediocre "going through the motions" mentality that will cripple student progress and damage the culture of the school. I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to be at PVES. Our faculty and staff always answers the call, always rises to the occasion. Our culture is built on a solid foundation in which our positive energy, continuous focus on teaching and learning, and desire to push forward is only outmatched by our willingness to build relationships and motivate students to be better, learn more than they ever thought possible. As we inch closer to the end, don't let it slip up on you. It is not about the destination, but rather the journey. You are an encourager. You are a leader. You are an inspirer. You are a finisher. Finish. Finish strong.



Great things abound at PVES as we focus on the finish!


Students in Mrs. Horn's class enjoyed a TDA March Madness competition. Thanks to PVES faculty who stopped by to help judge. What a fun way to challenge our students to finish strong!


Speaking of March Madness, it was fun to see students get fired up about reading as they enjoyed our March Book Madness competition. The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors was our champion. Thanks to Mrs. Martin for leading us to the finish line! 


Mr. Binnicker spoke to PVES faculty and staff and the Powdersville Business Council this week as he continues to lead our district to the finish line; which culminates in the April 30th vote of yes/no to approve a bond referendum. 


We challenged teachers to get creative when preparing our students to finish the year strong as we inch closer to state testing. Of course, you came through! Here is one such example in which 5th grade students from Mrs. Horn's classroom mentored students from Mrs. Plowden's classroom to assist them with school work. 


It is always great to see our students enjoying learning. There is no better way to finish strong than to have fun. Using manipulatives and engaging in true hands-on learning is one such way to accomplish this - just ask these students from Mrs. Carey's classroom. 


We welcomed representatives from DreamBox into our school last week. They were so impressed with our school culture; even moreso than our implementation of their product.  On a wild and crazy day, they saw the true PVES, and came away so impressed. This is how we finish! 



This blog will front-load the next two weeks for us and get us to Spring Break. Two weeks remain; allowing us plenty of time to make a difference! 


Action Plans for LEAP Students:
It was wonderful to sit down with all grade levels and discuss the action plans you developed for your LEAP students. These students needs a little extra attention and they will soar to new heights! Please remember that you were given the opportunity to pass on OLWEUS meetings on Mondays until testing begins. I did hear several of you say you felt the need to hold a class meeting due to some behaviors you have observed. This is wonderful. Let's do our best to follow our action plans. Be specific. Be intentional. Help these students finish strong. 

End of 9 Weeks:
This is a final reminder that 3rd 9 weeks grades will be stored Monday morning at 8:30 A.M. Report cards will then be printed. Report cards should be sent home with students at the end of the day on Wednesday this week. 

Good Luck, Olympians!:
We want to wish our PVES Olympians the best of luck this week as they compete! Ms. Marino's students will participate in the Special Olympics on Wednesday. Coach Thompson will lead our 5th grade students in the 5th grade Olympic games on Friday. We are so proud of these teachers and students. Please read my separate email in regard to our celebrating and sending off Ms. Marino's class on Wednesday morning! 

Thursday PRIDE Practice Ceremonies:
We are excited to honor students from each home room in our 3rd 9 weeks PRIDE Practice Ceremonies on Thursday, April 4th in the afternoon. The times listed below are approximate. We will call for you to bring your classes to the MP Room when appropriate. Thanks for talking to your students ahead of time about respect and decorum during ceremonies such as these! 
  • 12:05 - 3rd Grade
  • 12:50 - 4th Grade
  • 1:35 - 5th Grade
PVES Art Show:
The PVES Art Show is scheduled for Thursday, April 4th from 5-7 P.M. This is a drop-in style event. Mrs. Nix does so much for our school from preparing the yearbook to assisting with decorations for Literacy Night. Let's show her our support by making it a point to stop by on Thursday evening. Please get the word out to parents as well. This is always one of our favorite events of the year! 

Friday is Spirit Day:
Friday is Spirit Day at PVES. Please wear blue jeans and your House shirt. Encourage your students to wear their house shirts/colors as well! PTSO will be selling Chic-Fil-A biscuits in the morning car line. We will have House meetings, weather permitting, on Friday afternoon shortly before 2:00 P.M. Let's truly make this a day or spirit and celebration! 

Raising Funds for United Way and Camp iRock:
In an effort to raise money for ASD1 to host Camp iRock this summer, we will be offering some fun opportunities for our students and teachers the week of April 8th. Teachers, for just $20.00 you can wear blue jeans April 8th-April 12th. In addition to blue jeans for the week, you will be able to leave early any day after you have completed your responsibilities for the day. For students, they are asked to bring a dollar on Monday-Wednesday that week to participate in some fun. Make sure you to check out this S'More newsletter and share with students are parents!

Monday Open House:
We are excited about PVES Open House on Monday, April 8th. This will be a great way to engage our school community prior to the referendum on April 30th. I have emailed more specific information about this event to everyone on Sunday, March 31st. Please take time to read this and ask questions. More specifically, use the link and graphic provided to get the word out to parents via SeeSaw. Thanks for your help in making this event a huge success! 

PTSO Events:
We have already mentioned Spirit Day on Friday this week. The next week is a big week for our PVES. On Tuesday, April 9th from 6-8 P.M., our Mother-Son Evening of Fun will be held at PVES. PTSO is still in need of volunteers. Our Papa John's "Dollars for Dough" monthly fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, April 10th. Encourage parents to order from Papa Johns and send their receipts to school! 

Battle of the Books:
3rd grade "Battle of the Books" will take place in the MP Room on Wednesday, April 10th at 8:30 A.M. 4th/5th grade "Battle of the Books" will take place on Thursday, April 11th at 8:30 A.M. also in the MP Room. We will attempt to livestream these using this link. Mrs. Fowler will send out any additional information needed.

Tech Time with Thomas:
Teachers should plan to meet with Thomas McAuliff on Wednesday, April 10th during planning for our mandatory monthly technology PD. 

Spring ALiCE Drill:
We are required to hold a second ALiCE drill. Ours will take place during the day on Thursday, April 11th. We will be typing a letter to parents and putting that in teacher boxes by Thursday. It would be appropriate to review ALiCE procedures and information to the extent that you deem necessary prior to this drill. We will not be providing a time or location in regard to the type of intruder or emergency. I know this can be stressful, so making sure students are calm and clearly informed of procedures and expectations is key. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Spring Class Parties:
Class parties will be held on Friday, April 12th beginning at 1:40 P.M. If we are all set, we may let parents down a few minutes prior to this time. We would ask that non-homeroom teachers be very visible and help us locate any potential issues. We will allow parents to sign students out from the classroom after parties have concluded. 

Spring Break:
Spring Break is Monday, April 15th-19th. In addition to these days off, Monday, April 22nd is a snow make-up day that was not used so we will have this day off. I hope you have a wonderful Spring Break. Make sure you recharge your batteries! 


Moore's Musings:
Whew! That's a lot of information. The blog will resume when we get back from break. I do hope you finish strong and remain dedicated to our process; even in the midst of very busy few weeks. With so much going on, it is important to remember that our students will thrive with structure. Sprinkle in some grace and mercy and we have a great recipe for success! 

I think everyone saw the terrible news of the 5th grader from the lower part of the state killed in a fight in the classroom. I think this gives us a reason to quickly discuss why structure and supervision are so important - especially during these very busy times. Thanks for making sure we are safe and protected as we remain committed to the safety and security of our most precious students. 


Mark Your Calendar:
  • Grades stored at 8:30 A.M. - 4/1
  • Report Cards printed - 4/1
  • Special Olympics Send-Off - 8:05 A.M. on 4/3
  • Report Cards Sent Home - 4/3
  • PRIDE Practice Ceremonies - 4/4 in afternoon 
  • PVES Art Show - 5-7 P.M. on 4/4
  • 5th Grade Olympic Games - 4/5
  • House Meetings at 1:55 P.M. - 4/5 
  • United Way Fundraising - 4/8-4/11
  • 5th Graders Take SDE Survey - Pride Time on 4/8
  • Open House - 4/8 beginning at 6 P.M.
  • Papa John's "Dollars for Dough" - 4/9 & 4/10
  • Mother/Son PTSO Event - 6-8 P.M. on 4/9
  • Progress Reports Sent Home - 4/10
  • Tech PD with Thomas - Planning on 4/10
  • ALiCE Intruder Drill - 4/11
  • Class Parties - 4/12 at 1:40 P.M. 
  • Spring Break - 4/15-4/19
  • No School - 4/22


Videos of the Week: Finish Strong Teachers!




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