PVI COVID-19 School Closure Update 3/29/2020

Dear PVI Families,

This communication serves as a follow-up to Dr. Brennan’s district-wide communication that was sent on Friday, March 27, 2020. As you are aware, Governor Wolf has extended the mandatory school closures in Pennsylvania until April 7th for staff and April 9th for students. I hope this communication finds you and your family safe and healthy. As Dr. Brennan stated, The Pleasant Valley School District remains committed to keeping our students, staff, families and community informed. The district will continue to provide resources and guidance for voluntary at home learning through Friday, April 3, 2020. These activities continue to be optional for students, ungraded, and will not introduce new learning. I take comfort in knowing that just last year, we faced an unprecedented emergency at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School in the form of a mold remediation that severely impacted our school building, our staff, our students, and our community. The Pleasant Valley community rallied together at that time to support students and each other, put the pieces back together, and carry on. I know that we can and will do the same thing now.

Continuation of Education at PVI:

Beginning March 30th through April 3rd, students should re-engage their thinking by accessing and completing optional assignments for remediation and/or enrichment available HERE. Beginning on April 6th, teachers will begin posting online assignments and materials that represent new learning in each of your child’s classes. The material will be posted in Google Classroom or a similar online space that your child’s teachers already have in place. Teachers who did not have Google Classrooms created for their classes prior to school closures have already done so, and information on how to access those classrooms will be posted on the Pleasant Valley Home Learning Site on Monday April 6th by homeroom. Until then, students should be accessing the grade level/content area assignments that will be posted on Monday March 30th. 

As stated before, new learning activities will be posted by Monday, April 6th and continue to be posted, should schools remain closed. They will be available on-demand in an asynchronous format. This means that students are not required to log in at specific times of day to receive instruction, but can complete the learning activities at their own pace at a time that is most convenient for them and your family’s circumstances. All of your child’s teachers will conduct virtual office hours every week at scheduled times beginning the week of April 6th, during which students can log in to ask questions and get help as needed. Learning activities that your child submits will be reviewed by the teacher, and your child will receive feedback on the activity. 

The best way to monitor your child’s online schoolwork is to have them log into Google Classroom with you. They will be able to show you what the teachers have posted in each class and what they have submitted. 

We recognize that all of the material that would normally be covered cannot be addressed given current circumstances. During the week of March 30th, teachers will review each curriculum and identify the essential content and skills that must be addressed prior to the end of the school year in order for students to successfully move on next year. Learning objectives and work expectations will be consistent in all classes. Throughout the week administrators and teachers will continue to work diligently on planning instruction and completing professional development on using online tools that will provide new learning. Teachers will also be meeting virtually for building principals, teams, and departments to collaborate and plan moving forward. Technology staff will continue to get computers out to families, and our special education department will be working with families to ensure equitable learning for our students with special needs.

Grades:

Assignments completed during this transition in learning will not be traditionally graded. The decision not to grade during this time is important because we recognize that current conditions could interfere with student learning. Once new learning begins on April 6th, we want to provide learning and meaningful feedback for students without creating additional challenges and barriers. However, it is necessary for students to complete the learning activities in order to remain on pace with their classmates. 

At this time, the 3rd Marking Period is officially complete. Any student that has outstanding work that they wanted to turn in to their teacher, can do so until Friday, April 3rd and should do so by contacting their teacher directly.  On April 6th, we will begin our distance learning and the 4th marking period.  

Attendance:

Although traditional attendance will not be tracked in Home Access Center, teachers will monitor student participation in online activities once we beggin distance learning on Monday, April 6th. Members of our staff and administration will contact the parents/guardians of students who are not completing online activities to provide notification and support.

Support:

Your child’s school counselors will be available to provide social, emotional, and academic support as we move forward. Feel free to email your child’s counselor to request support.

Students with disabilities will receive enhanced support in completing the online learning activities from our learning support teachers and case managers. Assignments will be modified and accommodations provided consistent with student’s IEPs or 504 agreements. English Learners will also receive necessary accommodations under the support and supervision of our English as a Second Language teachers.

Contacting Us:

As you know, our building remains closed. You can continue to call the building with questions and your messages will be returned through the week. You can also contact your child’s teacher, counselor, Mrs. Askins, Mr. Dudley, or me at any time through email. 

On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School I want to thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we do our best during this unprecedented time. Please stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Todd Breiner Principal – breiner.todd@pvbears.org

Pleasant Valley Intermediate School

PVI MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Pleasant Valley Intermediate School is to inspire all students toward physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth as lifelong learners.

STUDENT SERVICES AT PVI

The goal of the Pleasant Valley Intermediate School is to create and maintain a support system that enables all children to meet with success. Determining what works for each child through the collaborative efforts of the school, home and community accomplish this process. We believe that all children belong and learn best with their age appropriate peers. We also believe that it is our responsibility to educate all our children in an optimal educational environment that addresses their academic, social and emotional needs. Children identified as having special needs will receive additional support through special education teachers working with the classroom teacher. In this way, all children can benefit while learning to appreciate diversity.

PVI Pertussis Letter 1.28.2020

PVI Parent Pick Up/Early Dismissal Email

For your convenience, parent pick up and early dismissal notes can be emailed to pviparentpickup@pvbears.org by 2:00 PM. Please feel free to cc your child’s teachers however, once the office is notified, the student and teacher will be notified as well.

As always, notes can also be sent in with your child or faxed to the office at 610-681-8666.

Leader In Me - Parent Survey Information

Parent Survey Letter/Link

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