Email: ddandrea@pvsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/south-elementary-school/
Location: 200 East 3rd Avenue, Trappe, PA, USA
Phone: 610-489-2991
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVSouth/
Twitter: @pvsouth_eled

Dear South Families,

Welcome to the 23-24 school year! While the first day of school is still 3+ weeks away, we will officially kick off the 23-24 school year with Kindergarten Orientation on August 21st (session times listed below) and our annual Open House event on Thursday, August 24th - during the morning session of the Open House, students and families can visit classrooms, say hello to teachers and staff, and take unguided tours of the building. We look forward to seeing many of you at South for the Open House on August 24th.

Just a reminder that you can access your child's schedule/teacher assignment in ParentVUE at noon on Monday, August 7th - families will also receive a South "Welcome Back" letter from your child's teacher via email following the release of schedules. STA will post transportation info in ParentVUE on Monday, August 21st. *IMPORTANT NOTE: before you can access your child's schedule on the 7th, you must complete the online verification process in ParentVUE (see below for more information).

Additional important "Back to School" information and procedures for families to be aware of are included below - please review carefully and let me know of any questions you might have. This update will address the following topics:

• Important Dates - August/September, 2023
• Online Verification (OLV) in ParentVUE
• 23-24 School Supply Lists (general)
• Free/Reduced Lunch Application
• Updates from the Nurse's Office & Mrs. Keaveney
• Before/Aftercare Transportation Request Form
• YMCA Before/Aftercare @ South
• Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Parent Guide, 23-24
• Technology Updates
• Morning Drop Off Procedures
• Parent Pick Up / Early Dismissal Procedures
• Reporting Student Absences / Submitting Excuse Notes
• South Home & School Updates - August
• August / September South Calendar

Wishing all a great first day of school and a rewarding school year.

In partnership,

Dave D'Andrea

Principal, South Elementary

Kindergarten Orientation - Monday, August 21st, South All Purpose Room

• AM-K: 9:30 - 10:15 am
• PM-K: 10:15 - 11:00 am
• *a full agenda/overview of the Kindergarten Orientation program will be shared with K families the week of Aug. 14th.

Open House - Thursday, August 24th, 9:00 - 10:00 AM (with teachers present and access to classrooms); 4:30 - 6:30 PM (without teachers present, no access to classrooms)

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - Monday, August 28th

NO SCHOOL, Labor Day Weekend - Friday, Sept. 1st & Monday, Sept. 4th

Home & School Welcome Back Event - Wednesday, Sept. 6th (5:00-7:00 PM) *more details to follow

Home and School Meeting - Monday, Sept. 11th (7:00 - 8:00 PM)

Meet the Teacher Night - Thursday, Sept. 21st (7:00 - 8:30 PM) *more details to follow

NO SCHOOL, Holiday - Monday, Sept. 25th

Per the District Community Message shared via email on 07/19/23:

The annual Online Verification (OLV) process is now accessible via ParentVUE for families of students in grades 1-12. The primary purpose of OLV is to ensure that our student information system maintains accurate and up-to-date information, including demographic details, health-related information, and family contacts. We value the importance of keeping records up to date, and your cooperation in completing this process is greatly appreciated.

Another benefit of OLV is that it is a completely PAPERLESS process, eliminating the need for distributing physical flyers and forms during the first days of school. Instead, families can conveniently access the information directly through OLV in ParentVUE.

We kindly request all families to complete the OLV process prior to the week of August 7 when class assignments and student schedules will be released in ParentVUE (see schedule below). It is essential to note that only families who have completed OLV will have access to their child(ren)'s class assignments and schedules in ParentVUE.

Important Notes:

• Class assignments and schedules for the upcoming school year will be released during the week of August 7, as per the following schedule:
• Monday, August 7: Elementary
• Tuesday, August 8: Middle School
• Wednesday, August 9: High School
• OLV must be completed for each child (grade 1-12) currently enrolled in our schools.
• OLV only needs to be completed by one parent or guardian. Meaning, if both parents have a ParentVUE account, only one needs to complete the OLV process for their child(ren).

TO BEGIN OLV:
Login to ParentVUE (the OLV process will begin automatically)
and follow the on screen prompts.

For assistance, visit the links below or contact the PV HelpDesk (helpdesk@pvsd.org)

• Online Verification Information - web page
• Intro to Online Verification Process - video

Your participation in this process is highly appreciated, and we thank you in advance for promptly completing the annual OLV process for your child(ren).

For additional back-to-school dates and important information, visit Back to School 23-24 School Year.

*See below for a list of general recommended school supplies. Your child's teachers may provide additional guidance.

Federal Government Lunch Program - as of the start of the 2022-23 school year, the Federal Government no longer provides free meals for all students. Please remember to send a lunch with your child or add money to their lunch account. If your family is in financial hardship, you may apply for the Free and Reduced Meal Program. For more information, click HERE.

You can apply online at www.schoolcafe.com. Financial situations have changed for many families in our district and, it you qualify, the benefits of the program will continue through the entire school year. Participation in our Free & Reduced Meal Program affects many areas of school funding including Activity Fees, Computer Network Fees, Testing Fees, College App Fees and of course, School Meals!

Applications will be submitted electronically to the Food Service Department for processing. You may apply for free or reduced meals at any time throughout the school year. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the Food Service Department at (610) 489-8506, ext 1109 for a paper application.

Welcome to South Elementary School to our new families, and welcome back to our returning families. I look forward to working with you and your child this school year. A few reminders before the first day of school.

Kindergarten parents:

Immunizations are due before the first day of school. These can be emailed to me at kkeaveney@pvsd.org. Physical and dental forms are also due this school year. These exams can be dated after 7/1/22. The forms are found under the PVSD website.

Third grade parents:

Dental forms are due this year. These can be dated after 7/1/22. Please upload the form from the PVSD website and have your dentist complete it and return to me.

It is always good practice for our youngest students (grades K through 1 or 2) to have a change of clothes in their backpack. We do not provide a change of clothes in the event of an “accident”, and this will save time and allow your child to change and quickly return to class. In the event your child doesn’t have a change of clothes, they will wait in the nurse’s office until a parent can arrive.

Medication:

Any child that takes a daily medication at school needs to have a new form filled out every school year. These forms are also on our PVSD website. Our policy states that parents must deliver the medication to the nurse at the beginning of the school year. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I am available every day from 8-3:30 to assist students and answer parent questions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with you to keep your child healthy and safe at school.

Kristin Keaveney, M.Ed, RN, CSN

kkeaveney@pvsd.org

610-489-2991 Option 2

If your child will require before/aftercare AT A LOCATION OTHER THAN YOUR HOME each day, please complete the Before/Aftercare form linked below. A before/aftercare form is also required if your child is attending the YMCA before/aftercare program onsite at South.

Before/Aftercare Transportation Request Form

For students participating in the YMCA Before/Aftercare program - this will run ONSITE at South to start the school year. Please plan to drop off and pick up students at the gymnasium entrance on the side of the building (accessible from the main parking lot side entrance).

Any and all questions should be directed to the YMCA regarding their before/aftercare program at Kjulian@philaymca.org

Please visit the Technology Page on the PVSD website for information and FAQs for help with any technology related questions you might have.

Note that during the first week of school, all Kindergarten students will receive their school-issued devices; all 5th grade students will exchange their current devices for new ones; and students new to PVSD will also receive their school-issued devices.

For returning families with any tech related issues, please continue to submit tickets to helpdesk@pvsd.org.

• Please drop off in the BACK of the building (access from the lower 2nd driveway off Rt. 113). The main entrance bus loop is reserved for bus parking in the morning.

• AM parent drop off begins at 8:30; students are considered late after 8:40.

• Please pull up as close as possible to the car ahead of you in the drop off line, which will extend in a clearly painted and coned loop around the recess lot. Please wait patiently for a staff member to indicate your child is safe to exit the car, and do not attempt to pull out of the line to jump ahead.

• Remain in you car when you pull up to the entrance; the goal is drop and go! You can prepare for drop-off ahead of time by making sure your child’s backpack is ready with your child and goodbyes are addressed while waiting in line.

Thank you for your consideration with these procedures, it is greatly appreciated!

• END OF THE DAY: please call the main office or email soattendance@pvsd.org (also copy your child’s classroom teacher and Kim Jones at kajones@pvsd.org) no later than 2:00 PM if you plan to pick up your child from school at the end of the school day. Otherwise, a note sent to school with your student in the morning is acceptable.

• Parent pick up is located in the same location as parent drop off in the morning (the back recess lot - use the lower 2nd driveway that leads to the recess lot)

• End of day parent pick-ups will be dismissed at 3:10 PM.

• Please write your child's name, grade, and teacher in large print on a piece of paper and display in the car window/windshield.

• EARLY DISMISSAL: the office must be notified of early dismissals as soon as possible with a note sent in with the child or a phone call made to the South office.

• *When picking up your child for an early dismissal, please park in the visitor parking lot and sign your child out in the main office. Please do not park your car in front of the main entrance pavilion.

• *PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON TEACHER EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE SAME-DAY EARLY DISMISSALS OR PARENT PICK-UPS AT THE END OF THE DAY. Elementary teachers have limited access to email during the school day and chances are good they will not receive your message until the end of the day.

• If your child will be absent from school, please contact the main office prior to 8:30 AM at 610-489-2291 OR submit an email to soattendance@pvsd.org.

• A written absence note is required within three school days of the student's return to school - please email South Attendance at soattendance@pvsd.org.

• Failure to submit an absence note within the 3-day time frame will result in a permanent unexcused absence per state law.

For a full explanation of attendance policies, including a list of what is considered an excused absence, click below:

Policies: Pupils - 204 Attendance

South Home and School Needs YOU!

The South H&S Association is looking for parents interested in supporting as "Homeroom Parents" for the 2023-2024 school year. "Homeroom Parents" attend monthly H&S meetings, send H&S communications to parents in their child's classroom (communications will be provided by H&S), assist teachers with classroom events, and organize the Art Show raffle basket.

If you are interested in supporting your child's classroom in this way during the 23-24 school year, keep an eye out for an interest form that we will share with families following the opening of ParentVUE on August 7th. We are also looking for volunteers to take pictures for the 23-24 yearbook.

General South Home & School Information:

South H&S Webpage

Email: pvsohs@pvsd.org

First General Assembly Meeting - Monday, September 11th, 7:00 PM @ South Library

*CLEARANCES - contact Kim Jones (kajones@pvsd.org) to make sure your clearances are on file and updated OR to learn more about clearances required to volunteer at South if you are a new volunteer.

• Education Trip Forms - please remember to submit education trip forms for any extended travel plans, regardless of your child's instructional model. You can find educational trip forms here.
• Attendance Notes - please submit absence notes to the South attendance email (soattendance@pvsd.org) for any unplanned or unexpected absence due to illness or well visits.