The Gator Gazette

We have quite a few calendar updates this week. Please read on for more details!

September is Attendance Awareness Month. All through the month of September, we will be directing our attention to the benefits of consistent attendance and punctuality. As part of our awareness campaign, we're excited to announce a little friendly competition. All students who have no tardies for the month of September will be eligible for a gift card raffle. In addition, all students who have zero tardies will be eligible for a tardy party hosted by the principal and assistant principal at the end of the month.

Here are a few reminders about the school day at Spring Valley Elementary. Your attention to these details will help our procedures run quickly and smoothly.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL: It is extremely important that you have your pick up tag available. This is one way we can quickly ensure that we are matching students with the correct adults. If multiple adults need to pick up students we need you to do two important things.

1. Be sure the person is listed as an emergency contact on Focus.
2. Be sure the person has a pick up tag. Additional tags can be picked up in the office.
3. Students must be picked up in the same manner every day. We cannot accommodate multiple changes to the pickup method.

WALKERS: We have a new procedure for walking students.

Who is a walker? In addition to student who walk home by themselves, any student who is not picked up by a car in our car line considered a walker.

Here is our new procedure. Beginning on Wednesday, August 16, walkers will exit through the C Hall door facing the front drive. This is the door nearest the staff parking lot at the corner of Knollwood and Spring Grove. You will present your carpool pick up tag at the door. We are using this new procedure to ensure student safety.

Going forward, please be sure your teacher knows that your child will be a walker. Call the front office with any questions. Thank you, and we appreciate your cooperation.

CAFETERIA: The cafeteria is no longer using Paypams for cafeteria payments. The new system is a user-friendly app called Schoolcafe. You can download the app to your phone from any app store. Scroll down for more information about Schoolcafe.

For the first few weeks of school, we will not have parents in for lunch as we establish cafeteria rules and procedures. When the schedule for parent lunches is set, the information will be sent weekly in The Gator Gazette.

IMPORTANT! voly.org is available for you to fill out your background checks in advance. Please log on and complete your background check now if you plan to chaperone a field trip or volunteer in any capacity. Interested in volunteering? Here are some of the opportunities available at Spring Valley:

• PTA board or president role (IMMEDIATE OPENING)
• Dad's club (coming this fall)
• Cafeteria monitor or front office greeter
• Take home assembly (cutting laminated items and assembling activities for teachers)
• Morning drive assistance

Other information:

Spring Valley Elementary's "The Gator Gazette" is our WEEKLY school newsletter created for SVE families. Within this newsletter, you will find important information regarding our school and upcoming events for students and families. This newsletter is sent home electronically each week. Please make sure we have your current email addresses and phone numbers on file. We would hate for you to miss out on important information. Any changes must be made by the parent, on your "Parent Portal." Not sure how to access the parent portal? Scroll down for information about your FOCUS account.

If you need assistance updating your contact information, please call the office. Office hours during the school year are from 8:00- 3:30 daily. You can reach the office at 469-593-4600.

You can also find information pertaining to our school on our School Website: https://schools.risd.org/springvalleyes

School doors open at 7:30 a.m. each day during the school year. Students should be in their seats and ready to learn no later than 7:50. The end of the school day is 3:10 p.m. Please be sure to call the school to report if your child will be absent or if you will need to sign your student out early. For afternoon sign outs, students cannot be signed out after 2:40 p.m. On early release days, students will be dismissed at 1:10 p.m.

The Campus Equity and Family Engagement Team would like to hear from you! Please complete our survey so that we can plan for your needs.

If you have a tablet or a computer at home and would like your child to access RISD’s ebooks, click this link to see how to login and what resources are available! Happy Reading!

Accessing RISD Ebooks at home

We will host our first Coffee with the Principals on September 14, 8:15-9:15 a.m. We are excited to invite families to meet with us and learn more about how to get involved at Spring Valley, what is means to be a Title 1 campus, the importance of consistent attendance, and how to set goals with your child. Other dates planned for Coffee with the Principals include December 14th and May 9th. Save the dates!

Our fall open house will be held the evening of September 21, 5-7 p.m. This important event will inform you about the work our PTA is doing, Title 1 information, schoolwide information and classroom orientation. After open house, plan to attend the RHS football game for elementary night. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to welcome back our families to eat lunch on Fridays. As a reminder, below are the procedures for parents and guardians visiting our campus to eat lunch with a student.

All visitors MUST have an ID to visit.

When you are here, we ask that you respect the following lunch visitor expectations:

• Sit at the designated tables on the stage.
• This is a special time between you and your child. No other classmates will be able to join you.
• Supervise younger children and keep them at the lunch table for safety.
• No pictures or videos should be taken while in the building. This is for the safety and privacy of our students and staff.
• Ensure that your child is finished eating on time and ready to join their class once their lunchtime is over.
• Clean up after yourself and leave the table tidy for the next family.

Here are the first three Friday Family Lunches:

September 15 - Pre-K (10:40-11:10), 2nd Grade (11:10-11:40), 4th Grade (11:40-12:10)

September 22 - Kindergarten (10:55-11:25), 3rd Grade (11:35-12:05), 6th Grade (12:10-12:40)

September 29 - 1st Grade (11:20-11:50), 5th Grade (11:50-12:20)

We are so happy to celebrate our gators' birthdays! However, birthday treats do have the potential to disrupt the learning environment. When your child has a birthday, please remember the following guidelines:

• Food or non-food items (stickers, pencils, etc.) for birthday celebrations will only be shared with the student's classmates. All birthday celebration food treats need to be individually wrapped. Food items must include a complete ingredients list attached to each package. No homemade items will be allowed. Any food items without a complete ingredients list and those that are not individually wrapped/packaged will not be distributed.
• Food items that contain an allergen for any student in the class will not be shared with the class.
• Items will be checked in the front office and held until the end of the day for distribution at dismissal.
• You may drop off a birthday lunch for your student only, however, we cannot accommodate lunch deliveries to an entire class or allow parents to deliver into the cafeteria.
• We cannot accommodate third party deliveries for students such as DoorDash or Uber Eats.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have a special circumstance you'd like to discuss, please feel free to contact the front office with questions.

Make plans to have dinner at Cici's on September 25th! Cici's will donate 20% of proceeds to Spring Valley for all customers. Be sure to let their staff know you are there supporting Spring Valley Elementary.

Families of SVE students are invited to attend our first Town Hall event of the year on October 12 at 8:30 a.m. This event will be a pot luck to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Please bring a breakfast or brunch dish to share. During the Town Hall, we will discuss our school's accountability rating, MAP Growth testing, and how to set goals with your kids. We'll also provide an overview of the new Eureka math curriculum and let you know how you can help your child at home. Please make plans to attend!

Here's an update from our librarian, Lauren Dean:

Hello Parents! This year, through the library, 3rd through 6th grade students have the opportunity to participate in a 20 Book Reading Challenge! Each child received a 2-sided yellow sheet of paper from the library where they can check off and write down the books they are reading this year. The idea is to get the students to read more and to try different genres as well. If they complete this and turn it in by Friday, April 26th, they will receive a gift certificate to spend at the Scholastic BOGO Book fair starting April 29th. There will also be other prizes and incentives along the way!

Families, we are noticing that not all of our drivers on campus may be aware of traffic laws and procedures in school zones.

1. Cell phone use is prohibited in school zones. Please put your phone away so that you can be aware of your surroundings.
2. No parking signs are clearly visible around the school. Parking in these areas is illegal.
3. When lining up for dismissal off of Knollwood, be courteous and take turns with other drive.
4. There may be no sign displayed, but Knollwood is a school zone as well. Please stay under 20 mph during school zone hours and keep an eye out for students who walk.
5. When staff members are on duty, watch for their directions and speak courteously when you are directed to move your vehicle.

If you'd like to assist us with safety procedures during morning and afternoon dismissal, we are looking for volunteers! Please sign up on voly.org and contact Martha Rosales (martha.rosales.risd.org). Thank you for your assistance!

Many of you have been asking about the structure that has been installed on the school's front porch. We're excited to let you know that our Little Free Pantry is ready for use!

The Little Free Pantry is in response to survey answers from our community. It is a resource for immediate food and hygiene needs. The rules are simple: take only what you need and give when you can. The pantry is open and unlocked daily and you do not need an appointment to take what you need.

You can find non-perishable foods and basic hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and deodorant in the pantry. It is open for you to visit any time. We'd like to thank the Spring Valley PTA and neighbors from Wilshire Baptist Church for providing the funds and manpower to launch this new resource.

We hope this, along with our uniform closet, will be another way our Spring Valley community continues to show care for one another and that these resources make it easier for students to be ready to learn each day.

Many of our youngest students miss 10 percent of the school year—about 18 days a year or just two days every month. Chronic absenteeism in kindergarten, and even preK, can predict lower test scores, poor attendance and retention in later grades, especially if the problem persists for more than a year. Do you know how many young children are chronically absent in your school or community?

If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Preliminary data from a California study found that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.

Spring Valley Elementary is a Title 1 school. Spring Valley Elementary is composed of a diverse student population of approximately 330 PK – 6th students. About 81% of our students are Economically Disadvantaged.

What is Title I?

Title I is one of the nation’s largest federal programs through which school districts receive federal funding to provide supplemental instruction for students based upon academic need. The goal is to increase performance and academic achievement in the areas of language arts and/or mathematics. Schools are identified as Title 1 based on the economic level of the families who attend. The number of students receiving free and reduced lunch qualify a school to receive Title 1 funding.

Purpose of Title I:

✓ Help every child receive a high quality education

✓ Build capacity for parent involvement

✓ Provide professional development for building staff Eligibility Requirements

A variety of factors are used to determine student eligibility, including but not limited to: standardized tests, classroom-based assessments and performance, as well as teacher recommendations.

RISD & Title I

If the free and reduced lunch population at a school is greater than 40%, that campus qualifies us for school-wide Title 1 status.

∙ Funding is used to benefit ALL students in the school.

∙ RISD uses Title 1 funds to purchase technology, academic resources, host parent meetings and activities, staff salaries, and provide collaborative planning and professional development for teachers.

Working together, we can set our students up for success. The Title 1 Compact explains our collective agreements to one another. This was sent home in Wednesday folders this week. Please sign and return to your child's teacher.

2023-24 Compact

PARENT

As a parent of a student at Spring Valley Elementary, I take the following responsibility for my child’s learning:

• I will have my child ready to be successful by having him/her rested each day, dressed appropriately, and prepared with needed supplies.

• I will provide at least fifteen minutes daily quiet time in our home for my child to read and study.

• I will make sure my child is at school and on time each day, in seats and ready to learn at 7:50.

• I will be the teacher’s partner and celebrate my child's successes at school.

• I will attend at least one parent/teacher conference for my child.

________________________Date _____________________________Parent Signature

TEACHER

As a teacher at Spring Valley Elementary, I take the following responsibility for my students’ learning:

• I will communicate with parents frequently through notes, emails, folders, phone calls, and conferences.

• I will honor the diversity of cultures represented at Spring Valley Elementary.

• I will be the parent’s partner in celebrating the student's efforts and successes.

• I will appreciate open communication and welcome parent visits.

• I will suggest ways that will help parents work with the children at home.

________________________Date _____________________________Teacher Signature

STUDENT

As a student at Spring Valley Elementary, I take the following responsibility for my own learning:

• I will follow the teachers directions at all times

• I will honor the diversity of cultures represented at Spring Valley Elementary

• I will keep my hands, feet, books, and objects to myself.

• I will behave in a way that does not interfere with the learning or safety of others. I will be at school on time every day and ready to learn by 7:50 a.m.

• I will have the supplies I need everyday

________________________Date _____________________________Student Signature

Richardson ISD has switched from Paypams to School Cafe for all prepayments and meal benefit applications. Any existing student balances will be transferred to the new system.

On School Cafe you can:

• Apply for free and reduced meals
• Manage account balances
• View purchases on your lunch account
• Get low balance alerts

Create an account today!

Applications for the 2023-2024 school year began on July 1, 2023. Go to schoolcafe.com to create an account and apply.

If you need assistance to apply, please visit the front office to access our kiosk or receive a paper application.

Join the SVE PTA and back your child's future! Membership is only $10. Join today at joinpta.org

Our PTA will have school supply kits and spirit shirts for sale this Friday on a first come, first served basis. See below for school supply kit pricing:

We also wanted to let you know about a couple of items for the upcoming school year regarding dress code. Beginning in 2023-24, hooded jackets, sweatshirts, and other tops with hoods will be considered outerwear and cannot be worn during the school day in the building. All outerwear must be stored in lockers during the school day. Clear backpacks are not required for the 2023-2024 school year.

We will continue to be a uniform school as adopted by Spring Valley Elementary parents and the Site-Based Decision Making Committee. Uniform dress choices for shirts are navy blue, dark green or a white polo style. For bottoms students may wear pants, skirts, jumpers or shorts that are khaki or navy blue. On Fridays, students may wear the Spring Valley Gator Spirit shirts and jeans.

In addition, the following standards should be adhered to:

• Shoes must be worn at all times. Cleats, shoes with rollers in them, or bare feet are not permitted. Please wear shoes appropriate for recess and playing on the playground. Always wear sneakers on P.E. days.
• Shorts may be worn by students in all grades if they fit appropriately. They must be no higher than the end of the child’s fingertips when his/her arms are resting at the sides.
• A shirt should be long enough to cover the waistband of the pants and be tucked in if necessary. Sleeveless tops must have straps at least 2 inches wide. Undergarments should not be visible through clothes.
• Pants will be worn at the natural waist, NO sagging. Staff will use zip ties through belt loops to keep pants at the natural waist. Pajama pants should only be worn on spirit days set aside for wearing pajamas.
• Hats or the hoods of sweaters or jackets are not to be worn at school. Shirts and jackets with hoods will be considered outerwear and cannot be worn in the building. The only exception for hats is a spirit day when a hat can be worn. On very hot days, students may wear hats during outside recess but must take them off in the building.
• Hairstyles, hair coloring, designs, make-up, body piercing, or jewelry that are distracting to the learning environment are not permitted.
• Students are not allowed to wear or carry bandanas, heavy chains, or other items that could be considered gang related to school.

Please remember that due to limited parking, there is no parent parking or drop off in the staff parking lots. Be a good neighbor and refrain from blocking in cars or driveways.

• The tardy bell rings at 7:50. Students need to be in their classrooms no later than 7:50 to avoid being counted tardy.
• The side parking lot along Knollwood is not to be used for student drop off. That parking lot is for staff only.
• Pull all the way forward in the drop off and pick up lines so we can move the cars quickly and efficiently.
• For afternoon pickup, last names A-L will be in the front and M-Z will be in the back. You will be given a temporary carpool card for the first few weeks of school. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CARPOOL TAG PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED FOR STAFF WHO ARE CALLING NAMES. If you do not have a carpool tag, contact your child's teacher.
• After Labor Day, you will be assigned a carpool number for student safety. More information will be provided after the start of school about the new system.
• We ask that you do not park cars on the street and walk up to pick up students who are waiting in carpool. Please remain in the carpool line. It really does move pretty quickly when everyone does their part!
• Walking Up If you are walking with your child, present your pickup tag at the C Hall door at the corner of Knollwood and Spring Grove.
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DISMISSAL: Please make a note of the carpool lane pathway in the diagram below. Proceed in the carpool lane as indicated below for everyone's safety. Be sure to have your carpool cards out and clearly visible to staff so that we can move you through the line as quickly as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.
  

RISD Library Services offers an updated Select Title Opt-Out option to provide RISD parents with an opportunity to identify specific titles to opt out of library checkout for their child. RISD recognizes that families and students are unique, and different parents may have varying expectations regarding their students’ reading lives and choices. This year, parents of elementary students may sign-up to have their child(ren) placed on an “opt-out” list for Epic. Epic is a free reading platform for elementary educators to use as a reading resource in their classrooms during the school day. Students that opt-out of Epic will have the app removed from their iPad and the website blocked.

If you signed up your student(s) for the Opt-Out program in the past, you will need to submit a new form for each child for the 23-24 school year. Parents who would like to opt their student(s) out from access to specific titles and/or Epic can do so by contacting their school Library Information Technology Educator (LITE) or going to https://s.risd.org/elemlibraryoptout. Visit https://s.risd.org/RISDoptout for more information or to sign up.

Spring Valley Elementary Library Online Catalog

Focus Parent Portal is free!

Parents of enrolled RISD students are encouraged to sign up for an account or add a student to an existing account by visiting www.risd.org/focus.

Student Info at Your Fingertips

• Class schedule

• Upcoming assignments

• Current grades

• Transcript grades

• Attendance and absences

• Report cards

• Assessment results

• Online absence note submission

• More!

Focus Parent Portal is accessible through any web browser, the Focus App, or the RISD Mobile Parent App.

Have a question? Let us know: FocusParent@g.risd.org or 469-593-0811

The new RISD Mobile Parent App is now live for our school and available to parents of enrolled students. Created through RISD’s Blackboard system, this app allows parents of enrolled students to easily view important information related to your student’s education, like classes, assignment grades, attendance, cafeteria balance, bus stop info, an archive of messages sent from the school or district, and more. Use of this app is optional, and parents who have tested it have found it to be a useful and convenient way to keep track of their student’s information.

RISD parents were sent an emailed message that included login information and instructions to download the app and view information about enrolled student(s) within the app. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

For more information and a QR code to download the app, please see the flyer here, or visit the RISD website here. Parents of enrolled students who did not receive a message with login information, or who need support viewing student information within the app, may contact the RISD Technology Support Center at 469-593-4357.

If you are interested in becoming an RISD volunteer, please sign up through risd.voly.org.

Each year, all volunteers must make sure their contact information is up to date or create a new account if they have never signed up. The process takes about five minutes, and you will be able to customize your volunteer opportunities based on interest and school. All volunteers must complete a background check through the VOLY system.

Volunteer opportunities are available at some schools in classroom support, office support, and cafeteria support.

Needs at each school can change each day, and schools will confirm with volunteers if they are needed on that campus in that area on the day chosen. Please do not go to a school unless you have received a confirmation message from the campus or another RISD representative. If your campus of choice does not need a volunteer in your area of interest, please consider volunteering at a campus with greater needs.

September 4 - Labor Day

September 12 - Boy Scout Night

September 14 - Coffee with the Principals

September 15 - Friday Family Lunch (PK, 2nd, 4th)

September 20 - Early Release

September 21 - Open House & PTA Meeting

September 22 - Friday Family Lunch (K, 3rd, 6th)

September 25 - Cici's Spirit Night

September 29 - (1st, 5th)

October 4 - National Walk or Bike to School Day

October 6 - Student Holiday

October 9 - Fair Day

October 12 - Spring Valley Town Hall Meeting

October 13 - RHS Homecoming

October 17 - 3rd Grade Symphony Field Trip

October 19 - 1st Quarter Swamp Rally

October 25 - Early Release

October 27 - Fall Carnival