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Pleasant Valley School

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Family Newsletter 4/25

Posted Date: 04/24/26 (04:08 PM)
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Pleasant Valley Elementary School logo featuring a blue paw print and the word 'Panthers'.

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

Pleasant Valley Weekly newsletter cover with date April 24, 2026.
 
Dear PV Families,
Another week of learning has concluded successfully! Our students have been busy both inside and outside the classroom. This week, we held a fire drill as part of our ongoing commitment to meet state safety expectations and ensure our community is prepared. We also celebrated Earth Day with our first-grade classes, who did a wonderful job cleaning up the PV grounds and caring for our environment.
Looking ahead, we have a very active weekend! If you haven't had a chance to participate before, please join us for the PV Family Hike this Sunday. Additionally, our Girls on the Run team will be having their practice 5k at Nevers Park—feel free to stop by and cheer them on!
As we look toward next week, we are excited for our Spring Book Fair. It is never too late to volunteer if you’d like to help out. Finally, SBAC testing is only two weeks away. Our students are working hard to prepare and show off all their incredible learning. To support your student at home, we encourage you to explore the practice resources available on the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Esther & Jenna
Newsletter Highlights & Upcoming Events
🐣 The Eggs are Here!
As part of the Grade 1 Plant and Animal science unit, we have 19 eggs in the classroom incubator! You can follow along with the excitement via our Chick Webcam. The anticipated hatch date is Wednesday, May 13th.
📚 Spring Book Fair
  • Dates: April 28th – May 1st
  • Family Night: Friday, May 1st (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM) at the PV Library. Come enjoy free ice cream and browse new books!
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
  • Saturday, 4/25: GOTR Practice 5k @ Nevers Park (9:00 AM)
  • Sunday, 4/26: PV Family Hike (2:00 PM)
  • Tuesday, 4/28: GOTR Scoop Night @ Ben & Jerry's (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) - Ms. Drake & Mrs. Kardos will be scooping!
  • Wednesday, 4/29: Early Release (1:15 PM Dismissal)
  • Thursday, 4/30: Poem in Your Pocket Day
  • Wednesday, 5/6: National Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day
  • Saturday, 5/16: Yard Goats Family Night (6:00 PM)
Important Reminders
  • Attendance: If your child will be absent, please log into the Parent Portal to use the Attendance Monitor before the start of the school day.
  • Kindergarten Registration: Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open! Please view our Kindergarten Information Summary for details.

🌸Supporting Learning at Home
We encourage families to support learning at home by reading and practicing math facts for at least 20 minutes each evening. SBAC Practice & Information for Families
  • Practice Tests (Official SBAC Site)
https://practice.smarterbalanced.org/
Students can try real sample questions and test tools.
  • Connecticut Practice & Resources (CSDE)
https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Assessment/Smarter-Balanced-Assessment-System
State-specific information, guides, and updates.

Finally, if you haven't completed the family survey, please use this link to do so. We need to hear everyone's voice.

Have a great weekend!

Excellence and Belonging
Every

The Eggs are Here!

As an extension to the Plant and Animal science unit in grade 1, Ms. DiCioccio's class has 19 eggs in the classroom incubator. Students will make observations and record information in journals and families can view the incubator on the school webcam at bit.ly/PVPeeps2022.

All first graders participated in an introduction to the extension unit and will visit the chicks once they arrive. The anticipated hatch date is Wednesday, May 13th (+/- a day), after which the chicks will be in the brooder cage until Friday, May 22nd when they will then make their return trip to Newberry Farm in East Haddam, CT.
Chick Webcam
Five bright yellow cartoon chicks walk in a line from left to right.
A close-up of delicate white wildflowers and green grass, with the word 'Photos' overlaid.
A group of diverse students walk through school doors, some carrying backpacks.
 

Celebrating Earth Day

A diverse group of young students wearing Earth Day crowns pose for a photo in a classroom.

Ms. Drake and Ms. Devlin's class spent time on Earth Day picking up trash around the school.

Children participate in an Earth Day cleanup event, wearing blue gloves and carrying trash bags.

Earth Day Art Work from Mrs. McGuire-Bruce's Class

A classroom wall displays student artwork featuring collages of the Earth with accompanying text titled 'I am the Earth'.
A soft-focus background of green grass and small white flowers with the word 'Events' overlaid.
  • Saturday, 4/25: GOTR Practice 5k 9am @ Nevers Park - Come Cheer the Girls On!
  • Sunday, 4/26: PV Family Hike 2pm (see below for more details)
  • Wednesday, 4/29: Early Release - 1:15 dismissal, Mad Science Club
  • Thursday, 4/30: Poem in Your Pocket Day, STEM After School Clubs Session 3, Newspaper Club (Group 2)
  • Friday, 5/1: Book Fair Family Night 6-8pm
 

Book Fair - April 28th to May 1st

Family Night - May 1st 6-8 PM @ the PV Library

Advertisement for PV Book Fair Family Night featuring ice cream cones and text about free ice cream and new books.
 

National Poetry Month

Announcement for the Pleasant Valley Poetry Contest in honor of National Poetry Month.
A poster announces "Poem in Your Pocket Day" on Thursday, April 30th, encouraging people to share poetry.
 

Student Art Show - April 9th-May 27th

Poster for the 48th Annual Student Art Exhibit by South Windsor Public Schools Art Department, featuring a pink tulip.
 

PV Hike - April 26th

Poster announcing the Pleasant Valley Family Hike on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM.
 

Girls on the Run Upcoming Events

Practice 5k - April 25th

Poster announcing a Girls on the Run (GOTR) Practice 5K event for SWPS teams, featuring silhouettes of runners.

GOTR Scoop Night - April 28th

Ms. Drake & Mrs. Kardos will be Scooping!!

Poster announcing 'Scoop Night with Ben & Jerry's' on April 28th, 6-9 PM.

Final 5k - May 9th

Event poster for Girls on the Run Greater Connecticut Spring 5k celebrating courage and confidence.
 

Walk, Bike, & Roll to School - May 6th

Banner for National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day with text and icons.
A soft focus background of green grass and small white flowers with the word 'Announcements' in white script.

Upcoming 3rd Grade Instrumental Music Information

South Windsor Public Schools Instrumental Music Program flyer for fourth graders.
 

Kindergarten Registration

Colorful hands raised with drawings of sun, hearts, and clouds, announcing Kindergarten 2026 registration.
Click on the following links for more information on registration.

The text 'PTO Happenings' is overlaid on a soft-focus background of green grass and small white flowers.

Calling All Heroes! Staff Appreciation Week is May 4-8

The PV PTO Staff Appreciation Committee has been working hard behind the scenes to plan a SUPER Staff Appreciation Week (May 4-8) for PV Staff. Please consider being a hero for our everyday heroes by signing up to donate food/drink items. We are also offering a convenient option to Venmo money, and the committee will do all the shopping.


We will also communicate additional ways that students and families can show their appreciation in the coming week so you can prepare!

Yard Goats Game

Poster for Pleasant Valley Elementary School PTO Family Night at the Yard Goats baseball game on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Questions on any of these events can be sent to PTO@PVPTO.org.
 
Text overlay reads 'Activities & Sports' on a background of green grass and small white flowers.







Text overlay 'Important Links' on a background of green grass and small white flowers.
PV Procedures
Attendance Monitor Instructions
FAQ
Cell Phone/Watch Guidelines
PV School Website
SWPS Schedule
PTO Website
PTO Shout Outs
Newspaper Club Webzine
District Lice Protocol
 
Arrival & Dismissal
A soft focus image of green grass and small white flowers with the word 'Reminders' in elegant script.
Image promoting school attendance with colorful hands raised.

Attendance

If your child is going to be absent, please log in to your Parent Portal and fill out the Attendance Monitor prior to the start of the day. It is very important that the office be aware of your child's absence. Attendance Monitor instructions can be found under Helpful Links, below.

If you would like to pick your child up early, please email both Mrs. Brown & Mrs. Strom or call the office at 860-610-0291.
A cartoon green car with blue windows is driving.

End of Day Pick Up/Car Rider Tags

If you would like to pick your child up at dismissal time, please email Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Strom or call the office at 860-610-0291 NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM

Please Indicate:
Student Name
Teacher Name
Tag Number
A green backpack filled with school supplies, including pencils, a notebook, and an apple.

Dropping off Items for Your Student

If you need to drop off items for your child during the school day, you will be asked to leave them in the vestibule outside the main office. Please be sure to write your child's name and teacher's name on the items and notify your teach via parentsquare or email that they have been dropped off.

From the Health Office

Infographic advising parents on when to keep children home from school.