Tremendous year at Valley View!
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December 7, 2013 |
Principal Pfleuger Press
By Principal Gary Pfleuger
The end of a year comes quickly ... At this point
in time, there are three ways to look; past,
present and future, so let’s go in these
directions. Starting with our accomplishments:
2013 was a tremendous year for Valley View
Elementary School!
Through hard work and dedication by our staff,
the students and their parents, VVES was awarded
FOUR STARS in the Idaho School Accreditation
Process!
Not only did our students improve test scores in
all areas, state measures showed we had more
students scoring advanced than proficient. This
is remarkable and a fact that we are still very
proud of!
Now for the present, listed below are our
upcoming events. Please look this over
carefully: some things are new, some have
changed:
Upcoming Events
12/5: 10:30 a.m, African Dance and Drum Troupe
Assembly
12/9-12: PTO Jingle Bell Junction (see below)
12/16: Third Grade Skating in Coeur d'Alene
12/17: Christmas Program: 3 p.m. Assembly at
VVES; 7 p.m. at high school auditorium
12/18: Holiday Luncheon — Parents Welcome! Ham,
mashed potatoes, hot cinnamon apples and
gingerbread. Only $3.60 per adult meal. RSVP by
12/12
12/18: School Geo Bee time 2:45 p.m. in the gym
1/15: Kelly Milner-Hall Author Assembly and
Workshops tba
Remember, Mario’s Mexican Restaurant has adopted
VVES during the month of December. For every
dozen tamales sold, the school receives $5! Tell
your friends and family! “Tamales for the
Holidays!”
Before I discuss the challenges of the future, a
few notes of thanks: to Melissa Bateman and her
crew for heading up the Jingle Bell Junction.
This student-centered event offers children an
opportunity to give back to their parents, pets
and family members. This runs from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. each day. All gifts are only $2.
Parent volunteers are still needed!
Also, thanks to David Carpenter, the
kindergarten students/teachers and the
fourth/fifth grade classes. We are in for a
treat December 17! I hope to see you all there!
This November, our school started a new Positive
Support Program. Badger PAWS were given out to
students who exhibit safe, civil and productive
behaviors without a prompt. Student names are
written on a PAW and these are displayed in the
hallway.
At the end of the month, these PAWS are place in
a grade level drawing for a gift from the PTO
School Pride Display.
The first month’s winners were: kindergarten,
Ryder Johnson; First,
Merritt Robbins; Second, Avalon
Thiel; Third, Shawn Webster;
Fourth, Hailey Brooks; and
Fifth, Maygen Fisher. Great job
to all students who earn a PAW!
Now to the future — the Idaho Common Core
Standards and assessments are coming soon! For
the rest of the school year, using the PPP, I
will attempt to inform you of the main
components of this new and higher level
assessment.
First and foremost, you need to know, this is a
big difference!
The standards are higher and, in my opinion,
good!
Students in third grade and up will be required
to read a passage or two, break down the
information, form an opinion and rationalize
their response on a typed word document.
Math problems will consist of multiple step
problems to get to a solution; explaining how
they came to the answer along the way.
So, my opening to help you understand the change
is — it is big! Students, parents and teachers
will not be able to compare the ISAT results to
the new assessment; this is a new and higher
standard. I will get into further detail in
future issues.
Until then, do your child a favor and look on
the
Smarter Balance link posted on our
school web-site.
PS: Watch your child’s attendance! By board
policy, missing four days of school per quarter
surpasses the 90% rule. |
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