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Pleasant Valley

Intermediate School

477 Polk Township Road

Kunkletown, PA 18058

Phone (570)402-1000

Fax (610)681-8666

Principal- Mr. Breiner x3003

Assistant Principal- Mrs. Askins x3018

Dean of Students-Mr. Tom Dudley x3018

PVI Mission Statement

The mission of the Pleasant Valley

Intermediate School is to inspire all students

toward physical, intellectual, emotional, and

social growth as life-long learners.

Issue 1 2019-2020

Be sure to look for the PVI Newsletter and other school information

on the Pleasant Valley School District web site at www.pvbears.org.

PVSD BOARD MEETINGS:

Board meeting agendas, school district policies and other district information can be accessed via our website: www.pvbears.org. In addition, copies of board meeting agendas are available prior to the board meeting at central administration or via the website.

In this Issue: Principal Letter page 2 Welcome page 3 Office Notes page 4 Early Dismissal/Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures page 5-6 Library News page 7 Nurse’s News Page 8-9 Counselor’s Corner page 10 News page 11 School Lunch Prices page 12 District Wellness Policy page 13 Physical Education Dress page 14 Day Date Calendar page 14

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Dear PVI Families,

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School! We hope that you had a wonderful and

relaxing summer. It is with great excitement that we welcome our fourth grade students. We are also thrilled to welcome

back our returning fifth and sixth grade students for another wonderful year.

Our goal is to work with staff, parents, and students in order to ensure a successful school year for all students. At Pleasant

Valley Intermediate School, students are welcomed into a safe and supportive environment. Teachers and staff will work

diligently to implement a rigorous curriculum that challenges our students to be the very best they can be and support their

overall academic, social, and emotional growth.

We challenge each of our PVI students to be leaders in our school and in the community. Following our school wide

expectations and treating one another with kindness and respect is paramount. We know that our students will make us

proud through their hard work, dedication, and being positive role models for one another. Our Positive Behavior Support

program is bigger than ever this year and we are extremely excited to recognize all of the exemplary behavior from our

students.

Parent involvement is always welcomed, encouraged, and greatly appreciated. There are many events throughout the school

year in which we seek your participation and input. Your partnership is valued and will allow PVI to continue to blossom.

Thank you to those who attended our Title I Parent Meeting on Monday, September 16th at 9:30 AM at PVI. Information on

Title I may be found on the PVI website in the shortcut menu. It is important to understand that Title I is school wide at PVI

and the funds allow us to do so many great things for all students.

Open House evenings were well attended on Tuesday, September 10th (fourth grade) and Thursday, September 12th (fifth and

sixth grade). Both Open Houses ran from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. The Scholastic Book Fair was held during school from September 9 –

13, and each evening of Open House. We welcome all families for this wonderful opportunity to learn about your child’s

teachers and the upcoming school year. Thank you to all who attended.

We would also like to extend an invitation for you to attend our first Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting of the school

year on Thursday, September 19th at 6:00 PM in the PVI Library. These meetings will provide parents/guardians an

opportunity to share ideas with our PTO officers and building administrators in order to make our school the best it can be.

We strongly encourage you to get involved in the PTO and would love to welcome many new members for the 2019 – 2020

school year. See you on September 19th.

On a final note, our school’s breakfast program began on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019. The cost for breakfast is $1.55.

Students who ride the school bus will be released early in order to eat breakfast. Students who are not eating breakfast at

school should remain on the school bus. For students being dropped off in the morning, they should report directly to the

cafeteria to eat breakfast. Drop-off students not eating breakfast should report directly to homeroom.

If you ever need our assistance or have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to contact us at 570-402-1000,

extension 3001, or by emailing us at breiner.todd@pvbears.org, askins.kendal@pvbears.org or Dudley.tom@pvbears.org.

Yours in Education,

Todd Breiner Kendal Askins Tom Dudley

Principal Assistant Principal Dean of Students

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Lost Items

If you feel your child has lost something like an article of clothing or

glasses, please have them check the lost and found either in the

cafeteria or in the main office. Also, please make sure to label your

student’s jacket(s), backpack, lunch box and other school items so they

can be returned if lost.

Important News About

If a student is absent for MORE THAN TWO (2) DAYS, the

parents/guardians may contact the school to secure any assignments

that can be completed during the absence. ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE

AVAILABLE 24 HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THE REQUEST. Parents are

responsible to see that assignments are picked up at the school when

they have been requested.

Notes to the Office:

When writing an early dismissal, parent-pick up or

absence note please have the student’s first and last

name written legibly on the note. Also please include the student’s

homeroom teacher and date. Emails for parent pick up/early dismissal

sent AFTER 2:00 will not be accepted. Please have your notes emailed

BEFORE this time. The latest you can pick up your student for early

dismissal is 3:00 pm.

Office Notes:

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Early Dismissal Procedure at PVI

PVI’s procedure for early dismissal students:

Homeroom teachers, upon receipt

of an early dismissal note, will

complete a PVI pass indicating the

early dismissal time, date,

homeroom teacher signature, etc. A completed

pass will be given to the student with direction

to that student that he/she is responsible for

giving the pass to the teacher he/she is with at

the time of the early dismissal. The original note

will be forwarded to the office. PVI is asking for

parents/guardians to inform PVI as soon as

possible regarding an early dismissal. The most

effective way is to send in a note with your child

in the beginning of the school day. As always,

we still offer the following ways to inform the

office: e-mail to PVIparentpickup@pvbears.org:

fax – 610-681-8666; or drop off a note to the

main office. Please be sure to do this before

2:00 pm. The latest a student can be released

for early dismissal is 3:00 pm. We strongly

suggest, when choosing to e-mail

the office, that you include

your child’s team of teachers

in the email. Please be sure to

include the child’s name,

homeroom teacher, time of dismissal, contact

phone number, and reason for the early

dismissal. If any adult other than the parent or

guardian is picking up your student, please

include their name in the note.

Parent drop-off

We highly recommend that students ride the

bus to and from school. We realize that

situations may occur that make riding the bus

impossible. In order to make parent drop off

and pick up proceed in a smooth manner, we

would like to remind you of the following

information: students are to report to school

no earlier than 8:34 am when the parent pick-

up/drop-off doors will be opened, and no later

than 8:47 am, when the doors will be locked.

Parents who find it necessary to drop students

off before school must use driveway b, the 1st

driveway from Burger Hollow Road located on

Polk Township Road. In the morning, parents

should proceed along driveway b. Upon

entering the circular driveway, cars will line up

along the sidewalk area and park. At 8:34 the

children will exit the vehicle, curbside, and walk

along the sidewalk and into the school. Children

cannot be dropped off early and parents are

asked to park in a line. Students

are to proceed directly to

homeroom. Students being

dropped off later than 8:47am

must report to the main office

with a parent or guardian.

Parent Pick-up

All notes must be turned in to the office by 2:00

pm in order to have your child placed on the

parent pick up clipboard. We ask that the notes

be provided to your child’s homeroom teacher.

In order to accommodate everyone we have 3

options:

Fax a note to 610-681-8666; E-mail a note to

PVIparentpickup@pvbears.org or Drop off a

note to the office. Please be sure to have the

name of the adult picking up the child if other

than the parent/guardian. Also, the individual

picking up a student must have a valid photo ID.

Parents/Guardians of 4th Grade Students

Parents/guardians will continue to park in the

north end (by water tower) of the main parking

lot. Parents/guardians will line up at entrance

door W2. At dismissal time parents/guardians

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must show the issued identification card before

student will be released.

Parents/Guardians of 5th and 6th

Grade/Multiple Students

Parents/guardians of 5th, 6th and multiple

students will utilize the circular driveway at the

east end of the building (1st driveway on your

right from Burger Hollow Road on Polk

Township Road.) The color coded number

identification card will be placed in the front

windshield of the car so that is clearly visible.

Parents/guardians will remain

in their car during the dismissal

process beginning at 3:32 pm.

Staff members will

communicate the

identification numbers of the

vehicles and students will walk out and enter on

the passenger side of the car. In an effort to

maintain safety and make this process as

efficient as possible, we ask that you encourage

your child to report directly to parent pick-up

area upon dismissal.

Parents/Guardians without identification cards

Parents/guardians who do not obtain an

identification card will be required to send in a

note with the student on the day in question

indicating that the student will be parent pick-

up. Upon arrival, parents/guardians must park

in the north end of the main parking and go the

W2 doors. Upon showing valid photo

identification, the student will be released. In

the event that an adult other than those listed

on the application form would need to pick-up

your child(ren), written notification (hand

written note, fax, or email) must be submitted

to the main office by 2:00 pm

on that day.

Parents/guardians parking in

the main parking lot are

reminded to park in the north end (by water

tower) of the lot. Parents parking in the rear

circle (parent drop off) are also reminded to

park in the outer lane of the circle only.

Special activity parent pick-up

Students participating in after school activities

are required to submit a permission note

identifying the coach/advisor, the activity, time

and date and parent/guardian signature. This

note is to be given to the

homeroom teacher. One

note for the season will be

sufficient. All students that

are being picked up for a special activity will

need to report to the auxiliary gym when the

announcement is made. Students who do not

have a note on file will not be permitted to

participate in the activity and will be directed to

their designated bus. Coaches and advisors are

directed to provide the office with a list of

children who are on their team or in their group

(this will not substitute as a parent note). It is

the student’s responsibility to report to the

special activity pick-up area, as they will not be

called from their classroom or bus.

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WELCOME BACK TO YOUR LIBRARY!

Mrs. Kleinle and Mrs. Anderson would like to welcome everyone back to the library in this new school year. Students will be coming to the library every three weeks for book selections. During this time, students will be taught library skills, research skills, be read to, and enjoy some independent reading time. In addition, students are welcome to come to the library anytime throughout the day that their teacher permits them to. We recommend parents/guardians have a conversation with their child about the types of books you would like your son/daughter to check out. Different families have different expectations, and it is best if your child is aware of what your expectations are. Any students as well as parents/guardians can view books in our collection by using the online catalog using the steps below.

• www.pvbears.org • Select a School – PV Intermediate • Library • Pleasant Valley Intermediate School • You can search right where it says “Search Follett Destiny” in the middle of the screen, or you can click the “Catalog” tab at the top of the screen. Both areas allow you to search by title, author, series and keyword. You can also search for your child’s guided reading level by typing GRL # (where the # represents your child’s level). So for example if your child is reading on level R you can type GRL R and it will show you all of the books we have on the R reading level. *Please note, this is not perfect, but it is pretty accurate for the most part. Additionally, our students and staff can access a collection of e-books from the library’s homepage link icon, Sora. We will be going over how to access this during library visits.

We are very thankful for our parent volunteers who come to help with small tasks around the library. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mrs. Anderson at Anderson.Deborah@pvbears.org. This is a great way to support our school!

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Welcome to a new school year! Just a few reminders and health hints from your school nurse!

• Medications: Whenever possible, medication should be scheduled during non-school

hours. However, in the event your child needs medication during school hours, please be sure

to have the “Authorization to Administer Medication” form completed by your child’s

physician and returned to the school nurse. All medications (prescription and non-prescription)

must be sent in the original container, sealed, and labeled with the child’s name. Non-

prescription medication (Tylenol, Advil, cough syrup, etc) may not be administered without

physician authorization. Prescribed antibiotics may be given with a physician’s note, but need

to be in a properly labeled pharmacy container that can remain at the school.

Epi-Pens and Inhalers may be carried and self-administered when the medication is

needed, with proper authorization noted on the medication form. All medication must be hand-

delivered to the nurse’s office by the parent/guardian. Children are not encouraged to be

transporting medication to school in their backpacks or lunch boxes. Parents will be required to

pick up all medications at school.

• Uniforms: At times, children may soil or rip their clothing. Thanks to the

parents/guardians who have donated outgrown uniforms, we usually have clothes for them to

wear home. Please return these items washed as soon as possible so they are available for

other students. If your child has ongoing bathroom issues, please put an extra change of

clothes in their backpack for personal use.

• Screenings: All students in fourth through sixth grade will have their annual vision

screening. If there is an abnormal finding, parents will be notified by letter/email. Please

contact the school nurse if you have any concerns regarding your child and the screening

process.

• Illness/Injury: If your child is ill or injured during school hours, he/she will be assessed

by a nurse. For superficial abrasions, Bactine or soap and water will be used for cleansing.

Occasional cough drops will be given if needed. You will not be contacted each time your child

visits the school nurse, however, in the event your child appears to have a serious illness/injury,

every effort will be made to notify you. Please be sure all phone numbers and health care

information is kept current throughout the school year.

Children with temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home immediately.

Please keep students home from school until they remain fever-free (below 100 degrees) for 24

hours without fever-reducing medication. Children with other symptoms of a possibly

communicable disease will also be sent home from school at the discretion of the school nurse.

If your child has been diagnosed with a possibly contagious illness, such as flu or strep throat,

please notify the school nurse.

Nurses’ News

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• Lice: Head lice are a common community problem. They are not dangerous and do not

transmit disease. The school nurse will notify parents of the student with lice or nits and

recommend treatment. The student may return to school the next day if they have received

home treatment. A letter will not be sent to other parents in that classroom unless an unusual

clustering of active head lice cases (2 or more) is discovered in the classroom.

• Mobile Dentist Form: The mobile dentist is coming to PVI in September 2019. Forms

will be distributed during the first week of school or register at myschooldentist.com The

mobile dentist will do routine cleanings and can also do most restorative work at school. This

exam counts towards required third grade, seventh grade, and new student exams. Please turn

in the permission form, in order for your child to be seen.

• Dental Exam Form: Deficient 3rd grade dental exams are due. Students without an

exam in 3rd grade will be excluded from all extracurricular activities including PTA sponsored

dances, school plays, etc. Sixth grade students may turn in private dental exam forms or be

seen by mobile dentist to complete the 7th grade mandated dental exam.

• Physical Exam Forms: Mandated 6th grade private physical exams forms are now due

for all 6th grade students and new student. Parents may opt for a school physical exam to meet

this requirement. Private physical exams are accepted one year prior to starting 6th grade. This

means 5th grade students may turn a private exam in that will meet the 6th grade requirement.

Michelle Morcombe, RN BSN PVI Certified School Nurse

Morcombe.michelle@pvbears.org or 570-402-1000 ext 3104.

Nurses’ News (continued)

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We hope everyone had a wonderful summer! We are excited to welcome everyone back for another great year at PVI! Ms. Romanisko will be the 6th grade counselor, Ms. Moore will be the 5th grade counselor and Mrs. Below will be the 4th grade counselor.

As school counselors, we are here to help students with transitioning to a new school year. We work with students on developing friendships, learning conflict resolution skills, building self-confidence, coping with family changes, and handling overwhelming feelings.

Students can request to meet their counselor by asking their teacher or by filling out a request for appointment slip and bringing it to the counseling office.

We will be holding small groups on topics such as anxiety, divorce, and friendship skills. Parent letters will come home with students within the first few weeks of school.

We are available to parents to assist with any concerns you may have about your child. We will work with you to help ensure that your child has a happy and successful year!

Counselor’s Corner

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New Faculty and Staff

at PVI, and PV Staff in

new positions.

Ms. Christine Preston Grade 6 Special

Education Teacher

Ms. Christina Ciaravino Grade 4 Teacher of the

Gifted

Ms. Shannon Steckel 4th Grade Teacher

Ms. Colette Flory 5th Grade Teacher

Ms. Anne Gordon Math

Ms. Samantha Ziemba Art

Mr. Christopher Jarrow Technology

Ms. Melissa O’Keefe ESOL

Ms. Athena Yeager Music

Thanks to all who attended!

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

It is imperative that parents and

guardians be completely familiar

with the district’s pupil

attendance policy which is a

reflection of Pennsylvania’s compulsory attendance

law. Detailed attendance information can be

reviewed on the PVSD website in the “pupil” section

of “District Policies”.

Once again this year at PVI, students will receive a

receipt for any lawful excuse returned to the

homeroom teacher. Parents can expect to receive

the receipt no later than one day after the return of

the excuse. Hopefully, this will help ensure that your

child has given his/her excuse to the teacher. Please

be reminded that a lawful excuse must be returned

to the school within three school days to be

recorded as lawful. All excuse notes should have

student name clearly written, homeroom teacher,

date of absence and date note was written. Any

questions may be directed to the Attendance

Secretary, at ext. 3018.

SKI CLUB

Attention 4th Grade Students:

The 4th Grade Ski Club letter will

be distributed to students mid-

September. Please be aware of

the registration deadline that will be in the letter as

spots fill quickly. Once maximum participation is

reached, registration will be closed. Please see Ms.

Ammermann for detailsEmail:

Ammermann.Laura@pvbears.org.

Attention 5th and 6th Grade Students: Sign-ups will

begin in September and end in October for 5th and

6th Grade Ski Club. A letter with detailed

information for anyone interested will go home with

students in September. See Mr. Kresge for details.

He can also be emailed at

Kresge.Trevor@pvbears.org .

Ski Club dates are January 7, 14, 21 and 28, and

February 4

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*Applications for free and reduced-price meals

are sent home the first day of school and should

be returned the next day to the main office.

*Applications for free or reduced-price meals

may also be completed anytime during the

school year when a family’s income changes.

Menus are subject to change. Parents with

questions about the school lunch program may

contact Beverly

Hendricks at 570-

402-1000 ext. 8451

Breakfast $1.55 Breakfast (reduced)

$0.30

Lunch K-6 $2.75 Lunch 7-12 $2.85

Lunch (reduced) $0.40 Milk Only $0.50

2019-2020 SCHOOL LUNCH

PRICES

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Dear Families,

The Pleasant Valley School District is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student

wellness, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity as part of our learning experience.

In compliance with our District Wellness Policy, we encourage you to provide healthy selections for school

snacks, birthday snacks, and classroom celebrations that may occur throughout the year. If providing for a whole

class event, pre-packaged snacks are always a great option to ensure the safety of all students, including those

individuals with food allergies.

Some examples of healthy snack foods:

Fresh Fruit (apples, grapes, orange slices, bananas, peaches, etc.)

Fresh Vegetables (carrots, celery, pepper slices, etc.) and Hummus

Yogurt

Yogurt Smoothie

Popcorn

Whole Grain Cereal

String Cheese

Whole Grain Crackers

Goldfish Crackers

Pretzels

Animal Crackers

Graham Crackers

Baked Tortilla Chips and Salsa

Raisins

Whole Grain Muffin

Whole Grain Bagel

Whole Grain Cereal Bar

Granola Bar

Dried Fruit

Water

Milk

Keep in mind that our cafeteria also has “Birthday Baskets” available to purchase to celebrate your child’s birthday.

This is a great healthy and convenient option that students thoroughly enjoy!

Thank you for your support and promoting healthy nutrition for our students!

DISTRICT WELLNESS POLICY

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION DAYS

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