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Pleasant Valley School

Dream. Achieve. Inspire.

Family Newsletter 10/30

Posted Date: 10/30/26 (05:11 PM)
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Pleasant Valley Elementary School logo featuring a blue paw print and the word 'Panthers'.

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

A banner for the PV Family Newsletter, dated October 30, 2026, decorated with pumpkins and autumn leaves.
 

PV Family Newsletter

Dear PV Families,
Happy Friday!
Another busy and wonderful week at Pleasant Valley! Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Welcoming Schools Walkthrough
This week, we had a successful Welcoming Schools Walkthrough, with much to celebrate! Our teams highlighted our clean and welcoming building, diverse school community, positive interactions among students and staff, and strong family communication. We also identified opportunities to improve signage and accessibility, streamline communication, and create more meaningful opportunities for family engagement.
A heartfelt thank you to our parent and staff representatives who generously gave their time and shared thoughtful, constructive feedback. We are truly grateful for your partnership and look forward to putting your recommendations into action!
Communication Updates
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen home-school communication, and in response to feedback from our walkthrough, we are making a few adjustments:
  • PTO Updates: Moving forward, we will share PTO news and updates on Tuesdays, with a reminder flyer included in our Friday newsletters. Since there is no school on November 3, our next PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10.
  • Previous Newsletters: Looking for information from an earlier newsletter? You can access previous editions through our school website.
  • Family Feedback: Our family feedback form remains open throughout the year. We welcome your ideas, questions, celebrations, and suggestions.
  • Translation Options: Did you know that ParentSquare and our school website offer translation features? You can select your preferred language to access newsletters, announcements, and other school information.
Upcoming Dates & Events
  • Tuesday, November 3: No School – Professional Development Day
  • Thursday, November 5: Math & STEM Night, 6:30–7:45 PM
  • Tuesday, November 10: Picture Retake Day
  • Tuesday, November 10: PTO Meeting
  • Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day Celebration at PV
  • November 10, 12, 13, 16 & 17: Grade 5 STARBASE – Mrs. Bruce's and Mrs. Augustyn's classes
STARBASE Reminder: Our fifth graders will be at Pleasant Valley on November 11 to participate in our Veterans Day celebration. Their STARBASE sessions will take place on November 10, 12, 13, 16, and 17.

As always, thank you for being such an important part of our Pleasant Valley community. Your partnership helps us continue to build a school where every student, staff member, and family feels welcomed, valued, and connected.
Wishing you a wonderful and restful weekend!

Graciously, 
Esther & Jenna 
Excellence and Belonging
A digital newsletter titled Pleasant Valley Elementary Family Newsletter with updates, school events, and a panther mascot.
An autumn-themed banner with the word 'PHOTOS' centered in bold orange letters against a light background.

Principal of the Day - Lucas Wortel

Two boys pose together indoors, with one boy holding a walkie-talkie labeled 'PRINCIPAL'.

Fall Partner Pal Activity

A group of children sit around tables in a colorful classroom, engaged in drawing and coloring activities.
A group of children sit around tables in a classroom, engaged in coloring and craft activities.
Children sit at tables in a bright, colorful classroom, engaged in various arts and crafts activities.
A group of elementary students gather around tables in a classroom, engaged in art and craft activities.

5th Grade Pumpkins

A display table showcases decorated pumpkins, including a Minion pumpkin labeled 38 and a pumpkin donuts box.
A table displays several creatively decorated pumpkins, including a witch, a Pikachu, and a gold monster.
A table displays a collection of creatively decorated pumpkins painted to look like characters and objects.
A table displays a collection of creatively decorated and painted pumpkins for a school contest.
A science display titled 'The Life of a Pumpkin' features a seed packet, a real pumpkin, and a boxed pumpkin pie.
A white table displays various decorated pumpkins and plush toys against a wall with student artwork.
A table display showcases student art projects and autumn-themed pumpkin crafts, with drawings and paintings hung on the wall above.
A table displays decorated pumpkins and gourds for a school project, with informational posters about different countries on the wood wall behind it.

Pumpkin Winners Announcers

Three students and a woman stand behind a school front desk with a "WELCOME TO PLEASANT VALLEY" sign.

1st Graders Making and Sharing Applesauce

A line of young students and staff members wait indoors in a brightly lit school hallway or office area.
A person in a gray hoodie holds a tray of small cups in a brightly lit school office.

Preschool Pumpkin Day

A collage shows children enjoying outdoor activities and classroom crafts with small pumpkins.
A group of young children proudly hold small pumpkins in a brightly decorated classroom.

Preschool Read-a-thon Popsicle Party

A collage of five photos shows diverse groups of young children sitting at tables in a classroom, engaged in activities with craft materials and water bottles.

2nd Grade Fire Safety

A collage of photos shows children participating in a fire safety educational program with a firefighter.
A collage of four photos shows children visiting a fire station and interacting with a firefighter.

Classroom Parties

A teacher and diverse students sit around a table in a bright classroom, working with apples and playdough.
Four children smile and hold pumpkins outside on a sunny day, with some wearing leaf-decorated crowns.
A woman and a young child examine a pumpkin together on the lawn beside a large glass building.
A group of children gather around a curved table in a classroom to decorate pumpkins with craft supplies.

End of Day Dance Party

Two people stand behind a reception desk in a brightly lit office with large windows.
A banner with the text 'EVENTS' in orange, decorated with autumn leaves and acorns.
A digital event calendar for Pleasant Valley covering Tuesday, Nov 3 to Thursday, Nov 5, featuring school schedules.
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 for a Fall Fest & Movie Night event on Friday, 10/30, featuring a Trunk or Treat.
Trunk or Treat Sign Up
 
A colorful poster advertising Family STEM and Math Night at Pleasant Valley Elementary School on Thursday, November 5th, 2026.
 
A flyer titled 'Pleasant Valley Family Hike' for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at West Hartford Reservoir.
 

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.
An autumn-themed banner with fall leaves, acorns, and mushrooms framing the text "THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE AT PV".

The Portrait of a Graduate Begins at PV! 🐾

Over the past two months, our Panthers have been exploring what it means to be Engaged learners! Through morning announcements and weekly challenges, students practiced active participation, exploring their interests, managing distractions and staying focused, setting goals and taking ownership of their learning, using creativity and imagination, and working together to encourage and support their classmates. We have loved seeing our Panthers put engagement into action in so many ways!

During the months of November and December, we will turn our attention to our next Portrait of a Graduate pillar: Socially Conscious! Being socially conscious means recognizing that our words and actions affect others and understanding the importance of being kind, respectful, fair, and thoughtful members of our school community. Students will explore ways to recognize others' feelings and perspectives, show empathy, make positive choices, and contribute to a welcoming and caring environment where everyone feels they belong.

As we enter a season often associated with gratitude, generosity, and giving, we have a wonderful opportunity to connect this learning to the world around us. Through everyday acts of kindness, thoughtful choices, and opportunities to support others, our Panthers will begin to see how even small actions can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around them.
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.