Valley View Newsletter 5-15-2026

Posted Date: 05/15/26 (03:30 PM)

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Valley View Newsletter

The Future Starts Here!

May 15, 2026

Principal's Message

Dear Valley View Families,

It has been a busy and exciting week at Valley View!

Today marked the start of our ABC Countdown, which means we have just 26 days of school left! Our teachers will be communicating the special events and activities as we count down through the letters all the way to Z. We are looking forward to a fun-filled end to the school year!

A big thank you to our PTO for organizing last Wednesday’s Jog-a-Thon. All of our students in PreK through First Grade had a wonderful time participating. We also appreciate the generosity of our families for their donations and support.

Another special thank you goes to Gillian Schenck and our first grade teachers for putting together the fantastic “Moo-sical.” It was a wonderful performance, and we are so proud of our students for all of their hard work and enthusiasm.

The fun continues next week with our PreK Fun Day on Tuesday, May 19. The AM class will participate at 9:15 a.m., and the PM class at 1:00 p.m., both taking place in the gym.

Lastly, we will have a Character Assembly next Wednesday focused on “What Makes Us Unique.” Students are encouraged to wear their red Valley View T-shirt for the assembly.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we head into the final weeks of school!

Take care,

Ryan Walstrom

Principal

Attendance & Transportation Updates

Please make sure to email vvattendance@portlandct.us if your child will be absent or if there is a change of dismissal/transportation plans. Please do NOT send messages directly through ParentSquare to the office. The email should include your child’s first and last name, name of teacher, reason for absence, and the date or dates of absence. Please make sure the email is sent the night before or the morning of the absence to ensure the office staff, nurse and teacher are aware. Please make sure the office is aware of all transportation updates regarding your child.

Important Dates to Remember...

May 19th: PK Fun Day
May 20th: 2 hour delay
May 25th: No school/Memorial Day
June 2nd: 1st Grade Fun Day
June 3rd: PTO Meeting at 5pm
June 5th: Grades close
June 8th: Grade 1 Step Up Day
June 11th: Field Day
June 12th: Grade 1 Talent Show
June 15th: Grade 1 Farewell
June 17th: Kindergarten Fun Day/Family Picnic
June 22nd: Last Day of School

Alternate Bus Route Form 2026-2027 School Year

Dear Portland Parents/Guardians:

Each student in the Portland Public Schools is assigned a bus route based on the home address and school that the student is assigned. Parents and guardians are provided the option of selecting alternate pick-up and drop-off locations. If you do not need an alternate pick-up or drop-off location, you DO NOT need to complete the form. Due to the complex nature of creating bus routes, we ask that you complete this request for alternate bus routes by 5:00 pm on July 31st. This information will be shared with M&J Bus and used to create a.m. and p.m. bus routes for the 26-27 school year. Any requests for alternative bus routes after July 31 will not be honored until after the start of the school year. Once the school year gets underway, and we determine bus capacity, parents and guardians will have another opportunity to request alternative bus routes in mid-September.

*IMPORTANT - Please complete a separate form for each child.

Please direct questions about alternative bus route requests to your child's school:

Valley View (860) 342-3131

Gildersleeve (860) 342-0411

Brownstone (860) 342-6765

Portland Middle School (860) 342-1880

Portland High School (860) 342-1720

Here is the link to complete this form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenKAz73XfRayyvBOhaFv_yW5zGWvAjQkT8mLLUeQWye6c5GQ/viewform

Bus Information

Busing in the Portland Public Schools is provided by M&J Bus. Bus route lists are posted here: https://www.portlandctschools.org/transportation. The bus lists identify each stop's pick-up/drop-off time and location.

On a typical day, when all drivers are present and there are no abnormal road conditions, we expect that the routes will pick up and drop off students at times identified on the bus lists, give or take ten minutes.

If parents/guardians need real-time information about the whereabouts of a bus, please call M&J Bus at (860) 342-2217. The dispatcher at M&J Bus has real-time access via radio to all bus drivers.

Community Health Center, Inc. School Based Health Center

Your child’s school works with Community Health Center, Inc. School Based Health Center program to provide health services (behavioral/mental health) services to your child during the school day. This means they won’t miss as much class and you don’t need to miss work to support their health care needs.

Lean more about the services offered at your child’s school and enroll today at SBHC1.com! Interested families can also seek this service through the link or through our school website.

Nurse's News

Happy Friday!

Our end of year activities are starting. We had our Jog a Thon this week, a little rainy but fun. You all should have received the permission form for our popsicle snack for the various end of year activities. Please be sure to send that in.

With outdoor activities happening in the coming weeks, I have attached our sunblock policy below. I have also attached the sun block permission form. If you would like a form please let me know. Please contact me if you have any questions.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

https://z2policy.cabe.org/cabe/browse/portland/portland/z20000222/JD_5141.21

Mrs. Karen Rettich

Valley View School Nurse

Phone 860 342 3226

Library News

We have been busy during library classes beginning our final unit of the year- research projects! Students have been really enjoying the database Pebble Go. They can use it at home as well and they have been asking me to give them the password so here it is! Go to www.pebblego.com and our username is ducks and password is read. There are tons of interesting topics for students to explore!

Our final birthday book club for July/August birthdays or anyone who missed theirs this year is May 20th. I sent out the email to everyone who signed up, but if anyone else would like to participate- let me know!

Valley View has 53 overdue library books so please bring those in as soon as possible! We only have a couple more weeks to check out books and get them all back before the school year ends.

Thank you for your support of the Valley View Library!

Melissa Thorpe

Library Media Specialist

Art Room News

Valley View students are learning about different kinds of drawing. This week they were drawing from their imagination. After reading the book "Harold and the Purple Crayon" they went on their own purple adventure! Take a look!

PTO News, Meetings & Updates

Next Meeting: June 3rd

Valley View PTO 2025-2026 Officers

Erin Benson - President
Gen Veliu - Vice President
Nicole Wimmer - Treasurer
Erin Wells - Secretary
Caitlin Custy - Voting Member
Ashley Hetrick - Voting Member
Lauren Flood - Supporting Volunteer
Rochelle Cortezzo - Supporting Volunteer

Email: valleyviewptoct@gmail.com

News from the Cafeteria

Snacks will be offered in the cafeteria on Thursdays. Snacks include things like cookies, rice crispy treats, chips and even ice cream. The cost for these items range from $1 to $1.50. Students will only be allowed to choose one item each week. In order to purchase a snack, children will need to bring in cash on Thursdays or have a positive balance established within their MySchoolBucks account. Please reach out if you need any further information.

Thank you for your help,

Ms. Denise

Cafe Menus - May 2026

District News