Hello Valhalla Community,
Dear Viking Community,
I am very excited and proud to begin my fourth year as your Principal at Valhalla! During the previous three years, I have gotten to know this radiant community and built relationships with so many of our families and students, staff and teachers. Valhalla is a special place surrounded with caring and talented teachers and staff, amazing parents, and wonderful students! I appreciate that we are all working together, supporting each other to grow and nurture our students.
As I begin my twenty third year in education, I would like to share my educational journey. I began my teaching career in 2001 teaching high school government, economics and history. I then transitioned to middle school where I taught 7/8th grade study skills and was an assistant principal for 6 years. I joined the MDUSD team 14 years ago and served as a Vice Principal at various middle school sites throughout the district. In 2018, I transitioned to elementary school and was honored to serve as the Vice Principal at Cambridge Elementary School, which was an extremely enriching experience, and ultimately prepared me for my role as principal. I have found my true heart and passion in elementary school working with our youngest learners, their teachers and families!
I grew up in the City of Berkeley, where I still live and enjoy Tilden Park, and the vast cultural diversity.
My parents were both born in Greece and I have spent many summers enjoying the sea, crisp mountain air and reconnecting with my family and friends! This summer, after a wild 33 hours and 4 flights to get to Athens, I swam the beaches of Mykonos, hosted the Papadimitropoulos family reunion and relaxed in my mountain village of Kalavryta! I love visiting my brother (he works for the Raiders), sister-in-law (she is also an elementary principal), and my tiny niece in Las Vegas! Orange County is another favorite weekend trip to visit my cousin (a HS English and ELL teacher!) and my aunt (retired after 40 years of science teaching and school counseling). I come from a long line of teachers and administrators. My grandfather and great aunt were teachers in Greece and now my cousins are teachers in Greece and Ireland. I have other family members who are educators in the U.S. as well.
I am committed to continue working closely with our students, parents, teachers, staff, and community to grow, support and challenge all Valhalla Vikings! Thank you for continuing to greet me during pickups and drop offs, and when you are on campus volunteering. I enjoy seeing all the community and relationship building that is taking place. Please continue to offer me feedback. I look forward to seeing all the learning that is taking place. I’m excited for incredible school events that are a deep part of Valhalla's culture for our school spirit and connection. I am thrilled to continue to build relationships and gain more perspective within our incredible community!
Respectfully yours,
Theodora 🖤😎
Miss Pappas
August Calendar
25- Welcome Dinner Dance 6pm-8pm on the blacktop!
25- Fire Drill @ 9am
29 - Fall Picture Day - Thor Hall all day
Growing Healthy Kids! 💧🌿🌱☘🌵💦
We are excited to be starting garden education classes and want to make sure that students are comfortable and prepared on their garden class day. Your garden class will be on a regular day and time, so just like PE, please have students dress appropriately when it is their garden day. We recommend closed-toed shoes, clothes students do not mind getting dirty, a hat and sunscreen in warm weather, and a sweater in cool weather.
Students will be doing hands-on explorations as well as tasting new and healthy foods from the garden. If any of your students have allergies, it’s a good idea to tell your garden educator at the beginning of class. This is especially helpful during winter cooking lessons when students will be trying a variety of new foods.
Our program focuses on NGSS and nutrition in the garden. To help coordinate our lessons with concepts you are already teaching, please see here for our 24 week core curriculum. The hands-on aspect of garden education is meant to deepen academic concepts learned in the classroom and to promote overall engagement in learning. We welcome any questions or suggestions you have about the Growing Healthy Kids curriculum so we can provide the best possible learning experience for students!
Any questions, contact Eva Solis at solis.eva.maria@gmail.com.
Please contact your class teacher to volunteer after you have been cleared through MDUSD.
School Site Council (Site Position)
I am encouraging parents who are interested in the budget of our school to run for a two year term. This group consists of 3 teachers, 4 parents, and myself meetings will take place via zoom, on the second Monday of the month from 3-3:45PM (Our meetings will be Mondays, 9/11, 10/23, 11/6, 12/11, 1/22, 2/12 & 3/18).
Thank you so much! Theodora
Welcome Dinner Dance! 🎶🎙🎵 Friday, August 25, 6:00 - 8:00 pm!
Mark your calendar and dust off your dancing shoes! This year the 5th grade families will be hosting our Annual Welcome back dinner dance on Friday August 25th from 6-8pm. 5th grade will be selling pizza, treats, and glow sticks to help raise money for Outdoor Ed. Venmo and cash will be accepted. This event is for the whole family! Hope to see you all there!
Picture Day - Tuesday, August 29th
Dress to impress for picture day on Tuesday, August 29th with Shoob!
You can order here: https://www.shoobphoto.com/
Please contact Lana Egan eganl@mdusd.org to volunteer after you have been cleared through MDUSD. We really need your help! Thank you!
City of Pleasant Hill Community Service Day 2023 - Saturday, September 23, 9am- noon @ Valhalla
Valhalla Elementary Campus Spruce Up-
All Ages - Help clean out area and put together items for the new outdoor classroom. Will need some strong backs for lifting. Work clothes, gardening tools requested.
Any questions - email Project Lead vpfacorrespondingsecretary@gmail.com
Outdoor Ed - Walker Creek Ranch!
Outdoor Ed is an immersive science and nature experience for 5th grade students. They spend 3 nights and 4 days in nature and learning about life science and biology. This year the dates are March 18th - March 21st.
- click here for more info about Walker Creek Ranch! 🌞
- click here to donate! 🏕
- click here for the presentation from 8/29/2023
- click here for letter and FAQs 💌
Thank you for helping us get all of our 5th graders to camp this year!
Please see link for contributions to Outdoor Ed - this can be sent to family members and friends to contribute as well. Checks can also be dropped in the office made out to Valhalla with a memo of Outdoor Ed.
THANK YOU! 🙏👕💙💛
A huge THANK YOU to Valhalla parent, Patrick Vaughn, at Doozer Screen Printing, for making all of our new Spirit Wear shirts! If you are looking for shirts for any event reach out to Doozer Screen printing at 510-393-0162, info@doozerscreenprinting.com or www.doozerscreenprinting.com
Donors Choose:
Please consider making a grant to our teacher's projects:
Ms. Fairbanks- TK Please Sit-Down -
Help me give my students a place to seat of their very own. Click here to donate and for more info.
Mrs. Hollander - TK Cozy and Calm in TK -
Help me give my students a calming colors carpet for warmth and noise reduction. Click here to donate and for more info.
Mrs. Motta: Kindergarten - Learning Tables
Help me give my students proper table space to learn, grow and explore during their station and learning time. Click here to donate and more info.
Mrs. O'Leary: Kindergarten: If You Give A Kinder A Computer Desk Help me give my students a comfortable place to do their computer station activities. Click here to donate and for more info.
Amazon supply/wish list:
Tamara Robinette, second grade, click here for her Amazon supply/wish list.
Kerry Phillips, fifth grade, click here for her Amazon supply/wish list.
Scarlett Fivey, fifth grade, click here for her Amazon supply/wish list.
Breakfast & lunch info: 2023/24 MEALS AT NO CHARGE!
Thank you to Miss Anna and Mr. Marco for always making us delicious and healthy meals and snacks!
Click here for MDUSD's Food and Nutrition Services Department.
Click here to learn more about California Universal Meals: This includes background, policy, provisions, webinars, resources, FAQs, and contacts regarding California’s Universal Meals Program.
MDUSD 5th grade Elementary Instrumental Music Program
5th grade students are invited to enroll in optional Band and Orchestra instrument classes!! Your child's teacher, Mrs. Bromley, talked to them about the program and demonstrated the instruments.
Instruction is during the school day, free, and prior experience is not required. Thank you!
For more information and to register for music classes, please visit our website:
https://sites.google.com/mdusd.org/mdusdeim/home
Any ?s ask Mrs. Bromley bromleyj@mdusd.org
How to help out at Valhalla!
MDUSD has approved parent volunteers inside and outside the classroom. Volunteers must have a valid TB test, fingerprints on file, & proof of vaccination. Please reach out to Mrs. Stephanie Ortiz, our secretary, ortizs@mdusd.org. Please reach out to your teacher for further information regarding helping in the classroom or sign up on Konstella to volunteer at lunch. (Link to sign up coming soon!)
Click here to apply to be a volunteer on campus including lunch duty, PE, classroom parents, the library, reading lab, the garden or to help at future field trips.
Please check out these positions here at Valhalla for the school year 2023-24:
Noon Duty Supervisor - start date August 10, 2023 click here for more info Hours are 11:30am - 1pm. What a great way to help at school and get to know our amazing students!
Crosswalk duty: morning and/or after school. Please call the office. 925-687-1700
Substitutes:
*Teacher: Substitute Teacher EdJoin Job Posting (Pay is $230/)
*Special Education Assistant Substitute (SEA SUB) -
Special Education Assistant Substitute (SEA SUB) click here to apply and for further information.
*Substitute Secretarial/Clerical: Click here to apply for secretary substitute and for further info!
*Noon Supervisor Substitute: Click here to apply for noon supervisor substitute and for further info!
Any ?s please see Miss Pappas! Thank you for your consideration!
Covid-19 Updated Procedures:
MDUSD is following the county guidance, which can be found by clicking here.
Resources:
Valhalla home page (Under construction, coming soon).
2023-24 MDUSD academic calendar
Our vision & theme for 23-24:
Valhalla Elementary School strives to provide a safe and orderly environment conducive to learning which supports all members of its community, both educationally and socially.
We strive to prepare students to be successful life-long learners and to be happy, kind, and contributing adults in a global society.
We strive to foster mutual respect, appreciation of diversity, and high individual self-esteem.
We strive to accomplish our goals by cultivating high levels of achievement and commitment on the part of students, parents, staff, and the broader community.
🌟 Our theme for this year is "Reach for the Stars!" 🌟
Follow us on Twitter
Email: PappasT@mdusd.org
Website: https://ves-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 530 Kiki Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Phone: (925)687-1700
Twitter: @VikingPridePH