What a great week at Valley View!

Thank you to all of our families who joined us for Open House. It was wonderful to welcome you into the building, connect with so many of you, and give you a glimpse into all of the learning and fun happening in our classrooms.

Our students continue to settle into routines, build friendships, and grow more comfortable each day. We are so grateful for your continued partnership and support.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Mallory Emmons

Principal

**Parent Drop Off & Pick Up Reminder: Thank you for helping us keep drop off and dismissal running smoothly! Please be mindful of your arrival time when dropping off and picking up your child. Drop off ends at 8:30 AM.  If arriving after this time, please park and walk your child into the school.  Parent Pick Up ends at 3:15 PM. If you arrive after 3:15 PM, please come to the main office to sign your child out. We appreciate your patience and cooperation!

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.

Busing in the Portland Public Schools is provided by M&J Bus. Bus route lists are posted here: https://www.portlandctschools.org/bus-routes 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.

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.

 

Happy Friday!

This week I have been making my way into classrooms to read “The Little Girl Who Cried Nurse”. It’s a cautionary tale about a student who decides that she needs more adventure in her school day so she starts travelling to see the school nurse each day with a new complaint.  The nurse is patient with her until the fourth day of visiting and when Penny shows up with a real injury the nurse is stern with her until she realizes Penny has a real injury and poor Penny has dissolved into tears.  The nurse then talks to Penny about the importance of being honest and not using the nurse’s office to have an adventure.   Then we talked about good reasons to come see me- bleeding, losing a tooth, bad stomachache or headache that doesn’t go away or a bad bump on the head.  And how the teachers will always send a student to me who needs me.

My role in school is not only about Band-Aids and ice packs it is about helping students understand their bodies, helping them to understand that sometimes something hurts but doesn’t need an ice pack and sometimes a cut that is healing doesn’t need a Band-Aid.  I talk to students about their feelings and how feeling bad can make us feel unwell and how to understand the difference.  It is a tough concept at this young age but beginning the conversation is important.  

I look forward to getting to know your children and being a safe space for them during the school year.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Mrs. Karen Rettich

Valley View School Nurse

Phone 860 342 3226

Students have started taking home their first library books this week! They were all really excited!  All students will bring home library books unless I hear from you.  Please keep the library bag in a safe place because we only ordered enough for each student to receive one bag for the entire year. Our first library check out was by Abby O. in Mrs. Klemish’s class!

Our summer reading celebration will be Wednesday, September 16th.  We have a lot of students who read a lot of books this summer and it’s wonderful to see! 

During library classes, we have been learning about how our library works and how to take good care of library books when they are reading them at home.  Please help your child to take good care of the books and return them on time.  They do have the option to renew them once.  

Please send back the blue birthday book club forms if you think you want your child to participate this year.  Our first birthday book club will be for September and October birthdays on September 23rd. Information has been emailed for those who sent in their forms and have a September or October birthday.  If you didn’t receive an email and want your child to participate, please email me at mthorpe@portlandct.us to be added to the list.  

Please see below for the spooky story writing contest that the Portland Public Library is participating in

Thanks for all your support!  Happy Reading!

Melissa Thorpe

Library Media Specialist

This week, kindergarten artists practiced their cutting skills and began learning different types of lines. A fun time was had by all!

Mrs. Julie French

Visual Art Teacher

Breakfast is FREE for all students. If your child should be eating breakfast at school, let them know they need to come see me in the Cafeteria before they head to their classrooms. 

Secondly, milk is included in any complete meal. However, if your students wish to purchase milk to have with their lunches from home it costs 60 cents. In addition to purchasing milk your children will have the opportunity to buy other items throughout the school year. Thursdays will be our designated "Snack Day" In order to purchase milk or snack, students must have a positive balance in their student lunch account or cash can be sent in to school.