MVES Newsletter

November

21- Spelling Bee 9:00

23-25- NO SCHOOL

29-30- 4th & 5th Grade FLE

30- Mobile Dentist

Thanks to everyone who was able to participate in parent-conference day earlier this week. We love partnering with you to educate your child! For most folks, we were a little overwhelmed by the “Student Reading Data One-Pager” that was shared on Monday and I want to provide some more context to that data; especially if your child was considered “well below” or “below.”

Since we are only in our second year of implementation, it’s not surprising that many students in the upper grades would be considered “behind.” Those students have only had this intensive reading program for one year. When our current first graders are fifth graders (and have had 6 years of specific phonics and comprehension instruction), we can anticipate that many of those students will be fairly advanced readers. With only one year and three months of this instruction so far, many students still face challenges with some skills. Other skills will be developed through direct instruction later in the school year. Our classroom teachers, reading specialists, Special Education teachers, and English Language teachers are working together to accelerate progress for all students.

Because the data for the one-pager was taken the third week of school, you should have seen significant growth and confidence in your child by this point in the school year. The best way you can help your child become a lifelong reader is to read to them and with them nightly. Ask them to show you how they tap out sounds and words and also ask them questions about what you are reading together. I have found it’s a sweet time as a father.

Dear RCPS Community,

As we have progressed through the fall semester, the number of students getting sick with the flu or other illnesses has predictably increased. In order to reduce the likelihood of transmission at school, we ask that you please review the following information from our school nurses. We have seen numerous cases of students coming to school sick, even with a fever (or on fever-reducing medicine.) We do understand that having a sick child at home can be difficult, but we ask that you adhere to the "How Sick is Stay-Home-From School Sick" portion of the document. Please also understand that students are not permitted to bring their own medicine to school. The information below contains a clear explanation of the rules regarding prescription and over the counter medicine. We hope that we can keep our students, staff, and community healthier through these efforts.

Sincerely,

Oskar Scheikl
RCPS Superintendent

Emergency Forms: Please update your emergency forms if you have any phone or address changes. It is very difficult to call home for a sick child when the phone numbers are incorrect.

Medication at School: Medication must be brought to school by a parent or guardian in the original container with a proper pharmacy label. A medication administration form and a consent form must be filled out. Over the counter medications must be brought to school as well by a parent or guardian, again, in the original container. Any over the counter medications given for more than five (5) consecutive days will require a doctor’s note. Please do not send any medications, to include cough drops, tums, or other mild medication to school with students!

Lice Policy: If your child has lice, please make your school nurse aware. Students in close contact may need to be assessed as lice spreads rapidly. Upon your child’s return to school following at home treatment, the nurse will conduct an assessment before granting the student access to class. They will need to be lice free to return to school.

How Sick is Stay-Home-From School Sick?

• Students need to stay home for 24 hours when their temperature is 100 degrees or higher. Do not send your student to school following morning administration of Tylenol or Motrin. In order to return to school, students need to be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
• Students that are vomiting or have diarrhea (3 or more loose stools) the night before school, they should stay home for 24 hours from the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Students with persistent yellow/green nasal drainage and have no known allergies or medical history of drainage need to stay home.
• Students with a heavy, persistent cough with sputum present need to stay home until symptoms resolve.
• Students with skin eruptions or undiagnosed skin rashes need to stay home.
• Students that have redness of the eye lining or an irritation of the eyes accompanied by swelling and drainage need to stay home. Students diagnosed with pink eye must stay home until 24 hours of antibiotics have been administered.
• Students prescribed antibiotics must stay home for 24 hours after the first dose is given.
• Students need to stay home if they display any coronavirus symptoms like; fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, headache, runny/stuffy nose, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body/muscle aches, loss of taste or smell.

Fourth and Fifth grade sensitive Family Life Education materials will be taught in PE classes on November 29 & 30 and December 6 & 7. Boys and girls will be separated for this instruction and this year FLE is an OPT OUT program. Fourth and Fifth parents will be receiving an email today from Kim Wisman directed to the email address used to register their child for school this year. The email will include the FLE standards and an opt out google form. If you do not want your child to receive the Family Life Education instruction, parents will need to fill out the Opt Out google form by November 22. If you want your child to participate, you don’t need to do anything. All students will be receiving the information unless a parent fills out and electronically returns the Opt Out Google form.

This December we will be bringing back the Holiday Eagle Buck Store! All students will have the opportunity to shop for gifts during their Art class the week of December 6-13. We will be taking donations between now and December 1. Items can be sent in by your child or you may drop them off in the office. As you're cleaning out your toy bins and seasonal items please consider donating. Ideas of donations are lightly used games, puzzles, small toys, holiday items and decor, unopened lotions, etc. We will also need lots of winter/holiday wrapping paper and tape. If you would like to volunteer to help in the store and with wrapping gifts please call the office.

Books will be sent home with students on November 15 to sell!

Are you looking for a rewarding career working with students?

Rockingham County Public Schools is looking for enthusiastic and motivated people to work as substitute teachers!

Are you looking for a job that is flexible with your schedule?

You can determine your own schedule! Pick the days you are available, and fit subbing into your life.

Do you want to work in your own community?

There are 25 schools in Rockingham County. Substitute teachers have the flexibility of choosing where they would like to teach!

• Daily substitute teacher and substitute LPN rate $105 per day

• Retired teacher substitute teacher rate $120 per day

• Long-term substitute teacher rate $130 per day (licensed substitutes preferred for long-term assignments)

Working as a sub is immensely rewarding. Please contact Kristeen Laatz at 540-564-1330 with any questions.

Must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or a GED, and possess good moral character. It is the policy of the Rockingham County School Board to comply with all applicable state and federal laws regarding non-discrimination in employment and educational programs and services. It is an equal opportunity employer and educational agency.

Forms have been sent home with each student for the Mobile Dentist. The mobile dentist will be at MVES on November 30. If you are interested in your child receiving dental care please fill out the form and return to the office as soon as possible or you may sign-up at https://www.myschooldentist.com/MWRCVA_schsrm. Please call our school nurse at 540-438-1965 if you have any questions.

We are glad to have parents join their children for lunch; however you must contact the school or your child’s teacher before you come. There is limited seating and we want to make sure there is enough room. Currently we are only able to accommodate 1 parent per class and seating is available in our cafeteria courtyard.

If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the office at 540-438-1965 or email mvesattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us. If you are planning to take a vacation or your child will be out of school for an extended period of time, please contact the office. Thank you!

The parent portal is an online portal accessible anywhere on the web that parents can log in to and see all of their children in one place, their grades, assignments, scores, attendance, schedules, and teacher comments for each school your children attend.

Parents need to contact the school to get access information to create an account in PowerSchool.

Free and Reduced Meal Applications are now available for the 21-22 school year. Although all children are currently eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals during the school day, completing a meal application is still recommended if you believe you qualify. The qualification letter that is sent back to the household can be used for proof of eligibility for other program benefits and discounts, such as the Emergency Broadband Benefit. To apply, please complete the online meal application at www.myschoolapps.com, or fill out the attached application and return to your child's school or mail to: Food and Nutrition Services, 1210 N. Liberty St., Harrisonburg, VA, 22802.