Polar Bear Post

Hello PLV Families!

One more week!! We are beyond excited to welcome our students back to school. Our staff is in the building this week for professional development, gearing up to create a warm, joyful, and inspiring learning environment for your children.

We can't wait to see your family soon! Please join us for our Back to School Night and BBQ this Thursday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. It’s a wonderful chance to find your child's classroom, build relationships, and kick off the year together as a community. Check out the flyer below for all the details!

Enjoy these final days of summer, and get ready for a fantastic school year!

Mrs. Nowell

August 27: Back to School Night, 4-6pm

August 31: First day of school for kindergarten only

September 1: First day of school for all students in grades 1-5 plus kindergarten

September 10: Picture Day

September 10: Open House- 5:30-7:00

Class/homeroom Information was communicated to guardians on August 20. Families with students in grades 2-5 received an email while families with students in kindergarten and 1st grade received a hard copy in the mail and an email.

You also received information about transportation on August 20th and will again receive an addition transportation update on August 27th. This information will have your child's bus number, bus stop location and pick up/drop off times.

If you did not receive this information please complete the communication form that is linked lower in this update.

• Morning/Arrival car line begins at 8:45am.

• Afternoon/Dismissal car line begins at 3:40 PM.

• Only Buses are allowed to drive and park in the front of the building during arrival and dismissal.

• Cars may start to enter the Car Rider Lot at 3:00 PM. Cars must wait at the orange cones until all students are inside.

• Car riders will be dismissed from the right side of the building. Cars must stay to the right and make two parallel lines (see attached photo). Parents are to remain inside the car. Each car will be given a PLV Car Tag at Back to School Night with a specific number that is linked to your child/ren. Please have this clearly displayed on your rearview mirror with the number facing out.

• Staff will call Car Riders, in groups of about 16-20 (first 8-10 cars in each row). Once all students are safely inside the vehicles, a staff member will dismiss the first 16 cars, one row at a time. Once all cars are stopped, we will repeat the loading process. Cars must exit through the PLV parking lot and follow the predictable flow of traffic and exit out of Doncaster Dr.

• In short, we will have staff stationed along the entire route. They will be guiding and directing traffic.

• Please pay attention, follow staff directions and refrain from being on your phone as student safety is top priority.

In previous years, homerooms were assigned a specific exploratory (gym, art, music, technology) to a specific day of the week. We found that classes missed their Monday/Friday exploratory many more times than other days due to holidays and professional development days. In order to avoid these inequities, we have revamped our exploratory schedule.

This year, we will rotate through a 4-day cycle. Exploratories will not be assigned a specific day of the week. Exploratories will instead be assigned a rotation day. Each day will be a cycle day. Each class will be assigned an exploratory specific to each cycle day. This will ensure that every class is able to attend all exploratories and rotate through the days that they attend. All band and chorus classes will take place on Day 4. For example, a class may have the following:

School doors open at 8:45am. Students are marked late after 9:00am

Dismissal begins at 3:40pm. Early dismissals need to be completed no later than 3:00pm.

We are hearing that some people may not be receiving some important school-related communications. Please make sure to opt in to school messages!

Stay connected with your child’s school!

Opt in to important text messages, emails, and phone calls about school updates, helpful reminders, weather-related notices, emergencies, and more.

Back to School Night AKA Back to School BBQ will take place on August 27th from 4:00-6:00pm. Come out and see your classroom, enjoy a light dinner and get excited for the new school year! The following community partners will also be here: PTA, Prevailing Church, YMCA and the Nemours School Based Wellness Center.

We are excited to officially launch the Colonial School District 2026–2031 Strategic Plan—a roadmap that will guide our work and help shape the future of Colonial over the next five years.

This plan is truly a reflection of the Power of WE. Developed through a yearlong collaborative process involving students, staff, families, community members, and more than 75 stakeholders, it represents the voices, priorities, and aspirations of Colonial Nation.

At the heart of the plan are the principles that define who WE are: WE are Bold. WE are Inclusive. WE are Authentic.

Our work over the next five years will center around three key priority areas:

• Literacy and Learning — ensuring every student can read, write, think critically, and communicate effectively.
• Wellness — building a culture where students and adults feel healthy, supported, connected, and safe.
• Operational Excellence — strengthening the systems and services that create the conditions for students and staff to succeed.

🎥 Watch the Strategic Plan Launch Video:
https://youtu.be/gM-8i8mUlu8

🌐 Explore the 2026–2031 Strategic Plan:
https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/about/strategic-plan

The Strategic Plan is more than a document. It is our shared direction and our commitment to what comes next for Colonial Nation. Every school, every area, every employee, every family, and every student has a role in making this vision a reality.

At Pleasantville Elementary, we strive to create a safe, equitable, happy and welcoming school where everyone feels valued and included. We are committed to teaching strong academics, leading with kindness, respect, responsibility, and empathy.

With the support of teachers, families, and friends, we collectively build a school environment where students can take risks and celebrate differences as they grow into curious, capable, and confident learners and resilient problem-solvers, prepared to make a positive difference in the world.