PATRIOT PRESS
Here's what's inside this week:
- Late start Wednesdays in Oct. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
- Wednesday Oct. 29th NOT late start, 8:10 - 11:40
- Fall conferences EARLY RELEASE Oct. 28th - 31st, 8:10 - 11:40 (no after school activities this week)
- Upcoming events, dates/times
- After school band practices and activities
- Principal Appreciation Month
- Principals' greeting
- Spirit Wear - Orders due by Oct. 14th! LAST CHANCE (only order of the year)
- Scholastic book fair, Oct. 27th - 31st, VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
- Parent Teacher conferences Oct. 28th - 31st
Unexcused absence notifications
- Girls Who Code after school club, limited to 20 6th - 8th grade girls
- PV PTA Winter Bazaar & Festival - call for vendors
- ASB Costume contest Oct. 31st
- College and Career Fair, Nov. 3rd - PHS commons 5-7 pm. Open to all
- Mental health support and training - free class Oct. 18th
- Aspire highly capable program referral window ends Dec. 5th
- The importance of regular attendance
- Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month, October
- Register to Vote
- Employee Recognition Award
- Counselor's Corner
- Notes from the Nurse
- Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) information
- Free technology monitoring tool for parents
- First View Bus App - get updates for construction delays etc
- Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services
- Report incidents anonymously with Vector Solutions reporting system
- PTA - information
- Family Resource Center information
- Sept. and Oct. Menus
- 25/26 Calendars, meal info., BGPS information links, contact info, hours, handbooks etc.
October - Principal Appreciation Month
Oct. 14th - last day to submit Spirit Wear Apparel orders online
Oct. 20th - Poe/Rush tree planting field trip
Oct. 21st - 8th grade CASEE field trip
Oct. 23rd - Gannon/Reed tree planting field trip
Oct. 24th - Picture Retakes Day
Oct. 28th - 31st - Fall conferences EARLY RELEASE 8:10 - 11:40 (primary school early release Oct. 27th - 31st, 9:10 - 12:40).
Oct. 31st - ASB Halloween Costume Contest
Nov. 2nd - Daylight Savings Ends - set clocks back one hour
Nov. 15th - PTA Winter Bazaar & Festival 10-3 PVM gym
Principal Appreciation Month is celebrated every October to honor the leadership and dedication of school principals. This month-long event recognizes principals for their crucial role in setting the academic tone, vision, and overall success of a school community. The celebration encourages students, staff, and communities to show gratitude for principals' hard work and commitment.
We want to thank our principal, Austin Brothers, and assistant principal, Erin Thompson, for the hard work and care that they put in, collaborating with staff to ensure students, families and staff all feel supported, receive what they need to be successful, making sure our campus is safe and that students/staff feel safe, and preparing in advance for future needs we will have at PVM. Their efforts guide PVM, forging an inviting, caring and safe place for children to have the most success learning and building relationships with each other and our staff.
Please be sure to let Mr. Brothers and Ms. Thompson know this month how much their dedication is appreciated. A kind word or message is always uplifting.
Are you registered to vote in the upcoming general election? If not, you can pick up a printed voter registration form in any Battle Ground school or district office, register to vote online by Oct. 24 or register in person at the Clark County elections office by Nov. 4. Learn more.
Voter registration forms and voter's pamphlets are located in the PVM office on the visitor sign in table.
SOS (Signs of Suicide) lessons for grades 6, 7 and 8 to begin Sept. 2nd.
Dear Parent / Caregiver,
This year school staff are working to teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.
SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.
Through the program, students learn:
that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
who they can turn to at school for help
Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. At the end of class, students will complete an exit slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. Additionally the slip will ask if the student has a trusted adult that works at the school. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Mrs. Friesen. You can reach me by phone at 360-885-5550 or email at friesen.jerolyn@battlegroundps.org
Care Solace: Your link to mental health support
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Battle Ground Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help students and/or their immediate family members quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of insurance or circumstance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 in any language).
Visit www.caresolace.com/battlegroundps and either search on your own or select “Book appointment” for assistance by video chat, email or phone.
Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services
Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433
Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431
The exclusion date for students still needing a TDaP booster or other vaccinations is coming up in October. Those out of compliance for vaccinations should be receiving communication from the nurse. If your student has just entered 7th grade, please be sure their TDaP vaccination is up to date; this is usually when this booster becomes due.
Updating contact and health information
Parents/guardians please make sure you are updating the School Health Form in Skyward each year so that we have correct and current information regarding your child/ren (complete the "Update" in Skyward Family Access. Update opens August 1st each year to update school forms.). Skyward does not pull information forward each school year. There are many School Health Forms that have not been updated for 2-4 years. We need current information and this is how we most often know if your child has a Life threatening health condition. We want to keep your child/ren safe while at school and we can't do our job if we do not have correct and updated information.
Thank you for your time in this important matter.
WA immunization requirements
Life threatening health condition/allergy
If your student has a life threatening medical condition/allergy, we must have updated health information each year as well as medication at school forms for any rescue medications that need to be kept at the nurse's office at school. Parents and nurses work together to create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for what to do for your child in the case of a medical emergency. Please contact our nurses if your student has a life threatening medical condition/allergy and you have not already alerted the school and had an EAP created. Students and parents will need to meet with nurses before a student may self-carry any rescue medications.
Office Phone: 360-885-5500
younge-barnes.diane@battlegroundps.orgPVM LPN info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
Health and safety resources
See health and safety resources from the Washington state Dept. of Health.
Staying healthy
Clark County Public Health recommends that people take the following actions to prevent colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Stay home if running a fever or experiencing other symptoms of illness. See our guidelines for keeping children home from school for more information.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
If you need to email our nurses:
PVM RN younge-barnes.diane@battlegroundps.orgPVM LPN info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
School office 360-885-5500
Additional information:
Report, don’t repost
If you see or hear of a possible threat, please report it to law enforcement directly and/or to school staff. This is the best and most helpful action because it begins an investigation and helps to limit the potential for misinformation to spread.
Reposting or sharing a threat on social media in an attempt to warn others spreads the threat farther from its original source and may cause unnecessary alarm and fear.
You can report bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats and safety concerns using our anonymous reporting system. Emergencies should always be reported to 911.
Pleasant Valley PTA supports students and teachers at Pleasant Valley by providing programs, activities, and events that help them grow socially and academically. We work closely with school administrators and teachers to determine the needs of our schools and advocate for our students.
We all care about our students. Some of us just don’t know how we can make a difference or don’t have the time to volunteer because of other obligations. Pleasant Valley PTA and Washington State PTA can be your voice and can help make a difference in the lives of ALL our students. As a large organized body we can impact decisions at the National and State levels that affect our students at Pleasant Valley.
By joining Pleasant Valley PTA and exercising your right to vote, you have a voice in your students education. Become a member and stay connected with important issues and information about our school.
What Membership is:
Support for students & staff
Our legislative voice! (Membership count affects our number of votes at Convention & Legislative Assembly)
Funding for student programs & activties
What Membership is NOT:
A commitment to volunteer. The PTA will never require your participation in fundraising or volunteering.
What your Membership includes:
Access to resources
Discounts from State and National PTA
- NEW PTA WEBSITE: PleasantValleyPTA.org,
- Sign up here to receive info on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities: https://pleasantvalleypta.org/volunteer
PLEASANT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Office: 360-885-5500
Fax: 360-885-5510
Absence reporting: 360-885-5512
District office switchboard: 360-885-5300
Principal: Austin Brothers
Asst. Principal: Erin Thompson
Mailing address:
PO Box 200
Battle Ground, WA 98604
Email: info.pvm@battlegroundps.org
Website: https://pvm.battlegroundps.org/
Location: 14320 NE 50th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98686 Mail to: Pleasant Valley Middle, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360-885-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVMiddle/
