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Pleasant Valley School

Dream. Achieve. Inspire.

Family Newsletter 10/16

Posted Date: 10/16/26 (05:26 PM)
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Pleasant Valley Elementary School logo featuring a blue paw print and the word 'Panthers'.

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

A colorful banner reading 'Pleasant Valley Family Newsletter' with blue paw prints and the date October 16, 2026.
 

💙💛 PV Family Newsletter 💛💙

Dear PV Families,

What a wonderful way to end the week! Today was Book Character Day, and WOW, did our students and staff embrace the fun! At PV, we love any opportunity to celebrate the joy and importance of books and reading. What a perfect way to wrap up our Read-a-thon and Book Fair! Enjoy the photos below showcasing everyone's creativity and amazing costumes!

Thank you to all our families for your generous participation and support of our two fall fundraisers—the Read-a-thon and Book Fair! A special shout-out to our incredible volunteers and event leads: Jaime Girouard (Read-a-thon) and Meredith Roche and Katrina Mattern (Book Fair). We couldn't do it without you! Both fundraisers officially conclude tonight at our Family Night at PV at 6pm. We hope you'll stop by, enjoy some family time and ice cream, and help us finish our Book Fair strong!

We are excited to celebrate our first two fifth-grade classes completing their STARBASE experience last week! This is an incredible hands-on learning opportunity, one I can personally appreciate after my own children participated this past summer. Enjoy the photos from their visit!
Our remaining fifth-grade classes are scheduled as follows:
  • Mrs. Hermenowski: October 19–23
  • Mrs. Bruce and Mrs. Augustyn: November 10, 12, 13, 16 & 17
  • Ms. Manguinao: November 30–December 4
Please note that there will be no STARBASE sessions on Veterans Day, November 11. All students will be at PV as we come together to honor and celebrate our veterans.

As shared last week, we warmly invite veterans in our PV community to join us for a special breakfast and assembly with their families. Please use Veterans Day Registration Link to sign up.
This year, we're also adding a personal touch to our celebration! We invite students, families, and staff to complete an "In Honor Of" tribute recognizing a veteran who holds a special place in their hearts. These heartfelt messages will be displayed throughout our school.
Please use Tribute Worksheet Link to complete your tribute and return it to your child's teacher. Paper copies will also be available in the main office.

As we close another busy and wonderful week, I want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you. Whether your contributions to PV are big or small, visible or behind the scenes, please know they matter and are deeply appreciated. Our school community is stronger because of YOU!

Wishing everyone a restful, rejuvenating weekend filled with precious moments with loved ones.

PS. Looking forward to seeing you for some family time with ice cream tonight...

With gratitude,
Esther & Jenna
Excellence & Belonging. Every Student. Every Staff Member. Every Family. Every Day.
An autumn-themed banner with the word 'PHOTOS' centered in bold orange letters against a light background.
A person wearing a blue shirt and a handmade paper hat stands in a school office beside a wooden desk.
A four-panel image shows teachers and children interacting in a brightly lit school environment with various learning activities.

Bookfair

A collage shows children enjoying a school book fair, smiling while browsing and holding books.
A collage of photos showing children browsing books and items at a school book fair.
A collage shows children enjoying a school book fair, browsing shelves, and holding books.
A collage of students holding books at a school book fair, smiling and browsing.
Two boys smile while standing in a bookstore aisle filled with shelves of children's books.

And a Big Thank you to Our Volunteers!

A brightly lit bookstore or school library features children and adults browsing shelves and interacting near the checkout registers.

Dress Like your Favorite Book Character

A collage shows children and teachers dressed in creative costumes for school spirit day.
A collage of four photos shows elementary students participating in a fun spirit day at school, dressed in costumes, pajamas, and colorful outfits.
A collage of four photos shows students and teachers dressed in various costumes inside a colorful elementary school classroom.
A collage of four photos shows students and teachers dressed in creative costumes at school.
A collage of four photos shows students participating in school activities, including a teacher reading to a group of children.
A collage of four photos shows school children in a classroom and hallway wearing various fun costumes.

Starbase Photos

A compilation of photos showing students participating in STEM activities and visiting a helicopter hangar.
Students sit at round tables in a brightly lit modern classroom with digital screens and posters on the walls.
A banner with the text 'EVENTS' in orange, decorated with autumn leaves and acorns.
A colorful blue and yellow graphic displays the PV Event Calendar with three scheduled dates in October.
A school flyer announces Early Release Wednesdays with important dates, a 1:15 PM dismissal time, a paw print logo, a calendar, and a clock icon.
 
A colorful flyer advertising a Readathon and Book Fair Family Night Ice Cream Social.
 
A flyer for the Pleasant Valley Family Hike at Risley Reservoir Preserve on October 18, 2026, featuring an illustrated landscape banner.
 
A flyer announces a Pumpkin Decorating Contest 2026 for 5th graders to raise money for UNICEF.
 
A colorful flyer for a Fall Fest Trunk or Treat event on Friday, 10/30, featuring illustrations of a car trunk filled with candy, pumpkins, and a friendly ghost.
Trunk or Treat Sign Up
 
A colorful poster advertising Family STEM and Math Night at Pleasant Valley Elementary School on Thursday, November 5th, 2026.
 

Bingo night is 11/13 at TEMS!

A black and white flyer for Pleasant Valley Elementary School's 53rd Annual Bingo Night, featuring colorful bingo balls and a card.
Bingo night is 11/13 at TEMS!  Ticket sales start today.
$8 per ticket, includes bingo card.
Concessions, raffles, and additional bingo cards for purchase.
CASH PREFERRED!

We are looking for parent/guardian volunteers for the event.  Volunteers get 1 free bingo admission.
We are also looking for businesses and families to donate concessions, raffle prizes, and bingo prizes.
Please sign up using the following sign up genius. 

Please click on the below picture to buy tickets for Bingo.
A colorful graphic with text reading 'TURKEY TOY BINGO' featuring bingo cards, colorful balls, autumn leaves, turkeys, and a teddy bear.
 
A colorful flyer advertising a 5th Grade Concert featuring orchestra, band, and chorus performances.
 

27-28 Peer Role Model Application for Preschool Outreach Program (POP)

27-28 Peer Role Model Application for Preschool Outreach Program (POP)
South Windsor Public Schools is now accepting applications for community peer role models in the preschool outreach program (POP) for the 2027-2028 school year. If you are interested in this opportunity for your child, please complete the Preschool Outreach Program (POP) Inquiry Form. Peer role model screenings will begin in January 2027. You can learn more about POP by accessing our school district's website.
An autumn-themed banner with fall leaves, acorns, and mushrooms framing the text "THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE AT PV".

Portrait of a Graduate: Engaged Student Spotlight Recipients

This week, our Panthers explored what it means to show engagement through creativity and imagination! Being an engaged learner means bringing your own ideas, imagination, and unique perspective to what you are learning and creating. From inventing a new character to imagining a different ending to a story, students discovered how their creativity can make their classroom work special and uniquely their own. This week, our Panthers were challenged to add one imaginative detail to something they created at school!

Families can keep the creativity flowing at home by asking, “How did you use your imagination in your learning this week?” or “What is something you created that shows your own unique ideas?” Encourage your child to think outside the box, share their ideas, and celebrate the creative ways they approach learning!🐾
A student holds up a flashcard while a classmate raises her hand to answer in a classroom.
An autumn-themed banner with the word 'ANNOUNCEMENTS' in bold orange text, decorated with fall leaves, acorns, and mushrooms.

A Message from our Health Center

Dear PV Families,
As part of our commitment to supporting your child’s health and academic success, our school will soon be conducting state-required annual vision and hearing screenings for elementary students. Clear vision and hearing are essential for reading, learning, and classroom participation, and these routine check-ups help ensure any potential vision or hearing issues are identified early.
To provide high-quality vision screenings, we are proud to partner with the Lions Club through their Lions KidSight program. Vision screenings will be conducted using the Welch Allyn Spot Vision Checker, a state-of-the-art handheld device that can detect potential vision problems in just a few seconds. The device is non-invasive, takes a quick photo-like scan from a comfortable distance, and requires no contact or eye drops. This screening will take place October 28th  and October 29th.
Hearing screenings will be conducted using a pure-tone audiometer designed to detect potential hearing changes in just a few minutes. The process is completely non-invasive, requiring the student to wear a soft set of headphones and simply raise a hand whenever they hear a brief, gentle tone. 
Important Details
  • Screening Date(s): Hearing screenings will begin October 13th and continue until December; Vision screenings will take place October 28th and 29th. 
  • Participation: All eligible students will participate. If you wish to opt your student out of these screenings, please provide a written request to the school nurse.
What Happens After the Screening?
  • Pass Result: If no vision or hearing issues are detected, no further action is needed, and results will be kept in your child's health record.
  • Referral Result: If the screening indicates that your child may benefit from a comprehensive exam, a result report will be sent home with recommendations to follow up with the appropriate specialty provider.
Please note: These screenings are a preventive check and do not replace a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist or hearing examination by an audiologist.
If you have any questions, please contact the school health office at 860-856-8261 or via email at dkorzep@southwindsorschools.org, kward@southwindsorschools.org or kconnor@southwindsorschools.org. 
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students healthy and ready to learn!
Sincerely,
PV Nurses 
Danielle, Kellie and Kara

A banner with the text "ART NEWS" features an autumn-themed border of leaves, acorns, and mushrooms.

Panther Pigment

Our first graders are putting the finishing touches on their very first Big Art Studio project! Along the way, they explored color families and how colors work together, experimented with different painting techniques, and added a splash of sensory fun to bring their colorful creations to life!
A colorful first-grade art project display titled 'Panther Pigment Spotlight' features student fish paintings.
An autumn-themed banner features hanging fall leaves, acorns, and the text "FISH!" in the center.

Magic Mondays

Another Monday, another chance to make some MAGIC!  Let’s encourage our students to kick off their week with a little extra fun and excitement! Wear your favorite Disney gear and join us in making every Monday MAGICAL! 
A colorful, hand-drawn flyer promoting 'Magical Mondays' with school spirit, featuring two blue shirts and text inviting students to wear Disney gear.

FISH Family

Make some Ripples this week with FISH! At home!
A colorful, hand-drawn educational poster titled "Fish at Home! Ripples of Engagement" outlines family activity ideas.
A banner with the text 'PTO CORNER' surrounded by a border of autumn leaves, acorns, and small pumpkins on a cream background.
PV PTO Events calendar for 2026-2027, listing monthly activities from August to June.
PTO Facebook Page
Questions on any of these events can be sent to PTO@PVPTO.org.
 
A banner with the text "ACTIVITIES & SPORTS" featuring autumn leaves, acorns, and mushrooms along the border.

A banner with a cream background, framed by autumn leaves, acorns, and mushrooms, featuring the word 'LINKS' in orange.
PV Procedures
Attendance Monitor Instructions
FAQ
Cell Phone/Watch Guidelines
PV School Website
SWPS Schedule
PTO Facebook Page
Newspaper Club Webzine
District Lice Protocol
A digital card with the word 'REMINDERS' in bold orange text, decorated with fall leaves, acorns, and small pumpkins.
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.
 
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.
 

From The Health Office

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