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Portland Public School

Community - Inquiry - Agency

Valley View Newsletter 11-13-2026

Posted Date: 11/13/26 (03:33 PM)

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Valley View Newsletter

The Future Starts Here!

November 13, 2026

Principal's Message

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Happy Friday, Valley View!

It was a short week with Wednesday off, but we still packed a lot into our time together!

Next week, we are back for a full five days before heading into Parent Teacher Conferences and Thanksgiving week. It is hard to believe how quickly November is moving!

As we get closer to conferences, please be sure you have a time scheduled with your child’s teacher. We are looking forward to connecting with families and sharing all of the learning and growth happening at Valley View.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and restful weekend!

Ms. Mallory Emmons
Principal

Parent Drop Off & Pick Up Reminders

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 pick up your child. We appreciate your patience and cooperation!

Friday Shout Out Student Recognitions!

This week we are recognizing Eva S, Grade 1  in Mrs. Klemish's class and  Harper H., Grade K in  Mrs. Tomlinson's class.  Thanks for being Valley View Superheros!
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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.
Garcia
Garcia

Important Dates to Remember...



  • November 16th-24th: Book Fair
  • November 23-24th: Parent Conferences/Early Dismissal at 12 PM
  • November 25-27th: Thanksgiving Holiday/No School 
  • December 9th: 2 hour delay
  • December 11th: CCMC PJ Day
  • December 23rd: Early Dismissal at 12 PM 
  • December 24th-January 1st: Winter Recess/No School
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Bus Information

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.
tracy remy

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.
 
Garcia
Garcia
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Fine Motor Corner

Learning to write letters takes time and practice! Children in Pre-K through Grade 1 are developing the hand strength, coordination, and visual-motor skills needed to form letters. A little practice at home can make a big difference.
What is typical at each age?
  • Pre-K: Children are developing the foundations for handwriting. Expect scribbling, drawing, making lines and circles, and beginning to recognize or write letters in their names. Some children may begin copying simple letters.
  • Kindergarten: Children are learning to form uppercase and lowercase letters. They are working on starting letters in the correct place, following the correct stroke direction, and keeping letters recognizable.
  • Grade 1: Children are refining letter formation, working on consistent letter size, spacing between words, and keeping letters on the writing line. They are building speed and endurance as they begin writing words and sentences.
Easy ways to practice at home:
  • Write in the air: Use a finger to make large letters in the air. Say the letter name and describe how to make it (e.g., "Start at the top, go down, then across").
  • Practice in shaving cream or salt: Spread a thin layer on a tray or baking sheet and have your child use their finger to make letters.
  • Use sidewalk chalk: Practice writing large letters on the driveway or sidewalk.
  • Make letters with play dough: Roll and shape play dough into letters to practice recognizing their formation.
  • Write with water: Give your child a paintbrush and a cup of water to "paint" letters on the sidewalk or a piece of construction paper.
  • Use sticky notes: Write a letter on one sticky note and have your child copy it on another. Practice letters in their name!
  • Try a whiteboard: Use a dry-erase marker to practice letters, erase, and try again.
  • Write for a purpose: Have your child help make a grocery list, sign a birthday card, label a picture, or write their name on artwork.
Alyssa Sampognaro, OTR/L 
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Nurse's News

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Happy Friday!

Our vision screening went very well.  Special thanks to the Lion’s Club volunteers for doing this for us!  All referral letters have been sent home at this time.  I will begin hearing screening in the next couple weeks.  If you would prefer that your child not be screened, please send me an email stating this.  This is a state mandated test like the vision screening but you can opt your child out if you wish.

The weather has taken a colder turn this week so please be sure to send your child in with a warm coat, layers and hats or gloves.  It does get windy and cold up here!  

We have not had any specific illnesses reported this week and attendance has been great this week.  

Enjoy the weekend ahead!
 
Mrs. Karen Rettich
Valley View School Nurse
Phone 860 342 3226
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Library News

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Our book fair is almost here!  Our Scholastic Book Fair will be held November 16-24th in our Valley View Library.  We still need a few shopping helpers during the classes’ library times which are 8:45-10:15am.  See attached flyer for more information and if anyone is able to help students shop, please sign up at the following link- Book Fair Sign Up

The Book Fair will also be open to all families during conferences on Monday (11/23) until 6:00.  Hope you can join us!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our birthday book club for November and December birthdays!  We have 8 gorgeous new books for our library!  Our next birthday book club will be December 9th for January and February birthdays.  An email with information has been sent out so if you didn’t receive it, please let me know if your child would like to participate.  

I am going to share our library stats as often as possible. See the picture below.  We are up to 37 overdue books- let’s get those books back to the library!  If you or your child is having trouble keeping track of the A-E special schedule, please have them keep their library bags and books in their backpacks daily - take them out to read them and then put them right back in.  That way, they will always have them ready to return.  Our 100% club on our board is classes who have ALL returned their books that week.  Thanks for helping your child keep track of their library book(s)!  We will still check out library books before students shop at the book fair.

Next week's library days: (11/16): Monday- Bertrand and Garcia (no book fair shopping), Tuesday- Klemish and Ford (book fair shopping) - Wednesday- Smith and Tomlinson (book fair shopping) Thursday(11/19)- Peterson and Esteves (book fair shopping), Friday(11/20)- Neubig and Scrivano (book fair shopping)

It’s a busy time in the library! Thanks for all your support!  Happy Reading!

Melissa Thorpe
Valley View School Librarian
Library
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Art Room News

This week, kindergarten artists learned a little about lions and their beautiful manes. Using what they know about different kinds of lines, they created these really cool "Line Lions", take a look!

Mrs. Julie French
Visual Art Teacher
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PTO News, Meetings & Updates

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Upcoming Meeting Dates


  • January 6th
  • February 3rd
  • March 3rd
  • April 7th
  • May 5th

Valley View PTO 2026-2027 Officers
  • Erin Benson - President
  • Gen Veliu - Vice President
  • Jenna Lee Dickinson - Treasurer
  • Lauren Flood - Secretary


Email: valleyviewptoct@gmail.com
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News From the Cafeteria...

This webpage includes all nutritional information for everything offered in the cafeteria at school. 


This app allows you to monitor your child’s cafeteria account at school. You can see each transaction and balance information.


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. 

In order to purchase milk or snacks from the cafeteria, students must have a positive balance in their account or bring in cash. The easiest way to manage their meal account is by downloading the MySchoolBucks app.

Cafe Menus - November 2026

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District News

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