The Hawkeye
Dear Prairie View Families,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful Spring Break. It was such a joy to see all of our students’ smiling faces back in the building today—there is truly nothing better than having our Hawks back together!
This week, we are also celebrating Staff Appreciation Week, and I want to extend a HUGE thank you to our incredible PTO for the time, creativity, and care they have put into making this week so special for our Prairie View staff. We are so grateful for your continued support and partnership!
It’s hard to believe, but we have just 44 days of school left! Time flies when you are having FUN! Summer is right around the corner! As we head into this final stretch, one of the signs that we are nearing the end of the school year is the start of state and standardized testing. These assessments provide valuable insight into your child’s growth and learning and help guide our instruction to best support each student moving forward.
Below is a quick overview of the assessments your child may participate in:
SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment) – Grades 3–5
ELA (English Language Arts): Measures reading, writing, listening, and research skills through both adaptive questions and a performance task.
Math: Assesses problem-solving, reasoning, and understanding of math concepts. The test adapts to your child’s responses to provide an accurate picture of their learning.
WCAS (Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science) – Grade 5
This assessment measures student understanding of science concepts, including life science, physical science, and earth & space science.
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) – Grades 1–5
These are adaptive reading and math assessments we take multiple times throughout the year to track growth. Our Hawks have already shown wonderful growth from fall to winter, and we are excited to see that growth continue this spring!
How You Can Support Your Hawk:
Encourage a Positive Mindset
Remind your child that these assessments are simply an opportunity to show what they know. Doing their best is all that matters—they are more than enough!
Stick to Routines
A consistent bedtime and morning routine will help your child feel rested, calm, and ready to do their best.
Fuel Up for Success
A healthy breakfast makes a big difference! Foods like whole grains, yogurt, and fruit provide lasting energy. And yes—snacks help too! 😊
Keep It Positive
Your encouragement means everything. A calm and positive attitude at home helps your child feel confident and supported.
Unplug & Recharge
Limiting screen time in the evenings and encouraging activities like reading, playing, or spending time outdoors can help reduce stress and support better sleep.
We understand that testing can sometimes feel stressful—for both students and families. Please know that we are here to support your child every step of the way.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or to me directly.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support! We are so grateful for you!
Our Hawks are flying high! The learning continues, the excitement is contagious, and the finish line is right around the corner!
Most Sincerely,
Rachel Schuerman
Proud Principal | Prairie View Elementary
- April 1 - Late Start
- April 5 - Easter Sunday
- April 6-10 - Spring Break, No School
- April 14 - PTO Meeting @ 4
- April 15 - Late Start
- April 22 - Late Start
- April 23 - Class Picture Day
- April 23 - PTO Restaurant Night @ Texas Roadhouse (3-10pm)
- April 29 - Late Start
- April 29 - 4th Grade "Farm Fair" Field Trip (9:45-2pm)
- April 30 - PACE Awards Ceremonies at lunch @ 11-1pm
- April 30 5th Grade "Mobius" Field Trip (9:30-2pm)
We are continuing to implement PACE Character Traits through the entirety of the school year! We have already had several wonderful lunch celebrations, where families were invited to join us as we honored our PACE recipients. It has been such a joy to see students recognized for the kindness, leadership, and positive choices they demonstrate every day. We are so proud of our Hawks!
At Prairie View, we believe that character counts. We are committed to nurturing the qualities that help students grow into kind, capable, and future-ready citizens. Each month, we highlight a PACE Character Trait, such as respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty. Teachers and students nominate individuals who consistently model the trait of the month, and we come together to celebrate them during our special lunchtime celebrations. These moments allow us to build community, reinforce positive behavior, and remind our students that who they are matters — not just what they learn.
We cannot wait to continue celebrating our Hawks as they soar with character through the year!
The character trait for the month of April is - TRUSTWORTHINESS! Trustworthiness means being a person others can count on, believe in, and trust with their feelings or belongings. It involves telling the truth, keeping promises, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. A trustworthy person is honest, reliable, and loyal.
PACE Awards
It was so fun to celebrate our March PACE Award winners! We are so proud of you for demonstrating March's character trait - DILIGENCE! 👏
K/ 1st Grade
2nd/3rd Grade
4th/5th Grade
🎉 Show Your School Spirit Every Friday! 🎉
Fridays just got a whole lot more fun! Students are invited to rock their school spirit wear every Friday to celebrate our community pride. Whether it’s a favorite school hoodie, T-shirt, or anything decked out in our colors, we want to see that spirit shine! Let’s fill the halls with energy, excitement, and LOTS of school pride—one Friday at a time. Need some PV swag to add to your closet? We've got you covered. scan the QR code or click on the picture, it's that easy
If you prefer a direct link...HERE you go!
Helping Our Kids Manage Testing Anxiety
Spring is here and SBA testing for our 3rd-5th graders is approaching quickly. Here are some tips for managing testing anxiety!
- M, T, Th, F - 9:00am-3:20pm
- W - 9:40-3:20pm
- Grades K, 1 and 2 - 3:15pm
- Grades 3, 4 and 5 - 3:20pm
PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILDREN OFF BEFORE 8:50AM (8:45 if they are having breakfast) AS WE DO NOT HAVE SUPERVISION FOR THEM. If you need before school care, we have the YMCA on site and you can register through them at YMCA or they can be reached by phone at (509) 777-9622
Hello from the Prairie View PTO
Did you know?
If you're a parent or guardian of a Prairie View student, you’re automatically a voting member of the PTO! The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) supports our amazing students and staff through fun events, fundraising, and volunteer efforts. The PTO Board is a small team of parent volunteers who help keep things running but we can’t do it without YOU!
You're Invited to PTO Meetings!
We typically meet the first Monday of each month either at 4:30pm or 6:00pm, we switch times every week to help accomodate schedules. Everyone is welcome!
🔸Free babysitting
🔸Tasty snacks (because meetings are better with treats!)
🔸We keep it to about one hour
At meetings, we review grant requests from PV staff and plan upcoming events. Want to see how fundraising dollars are used? Or just stay in the loop? Please join us. We’d love to have you!
Want to Help But Can’t Attend?
No problem! Sign up for volunteer emails to get notified of upcoming opportunities.You choose when and how to help. No pressure and no automatic sign-ups. To sign up for the volunteer emails click here!
Just Want Updates?
Sign up for communication emails and stay informed on:
🔸 SignUpGenius links 🔸Event setup & cleanup 🔸Food donations 🔸 Popcorn popping
🔸 Decorating 🔸School event shifts ...and more! You pick what works for your schedule. To sign up for the communication emails click here!
Already Signed Up Last Year?
We start fresh each fall, so make sure to sign up again! Thanks for being part of the Prairie View community. We’re so excited to team up with you for an awesome year!
Stay Connected
Instagram: @pv_pto
Facebook: @pvhawksPTO
Your 2025–26 PTO Board,
Ana Espindola, President
Holly Dehlbom, Vice President
Becky Senescall & Shasta Boucher, Co-Treasurers
Katie Shannon, Secretary
Gretchen Shrewsbury, Volunteer Coordinator
Amanda Dikes & Jessica Green, Co-Fundraising Coordinators