The South Spotlight

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/

Dear Families,

We are officially entering the home stretch of the 23-24 school year! Schedules (both on the school and home fronts) are packed for the remaining weeks, so please review the information below carefully and let us know of any questions.

Looking ahead to planning for the solar eclipse on Monday - please review the information shared by Dr. Russell in her message to the community sent April 3rd (PV Superintendent Message 4/3/24). If you intend to pick your child up from school early, please notify the school (your child's teacher AND soattendance@pvsd.org) by 10:00 AM on Monday so that we can plan for pickups accordingly, and please also plan to pick up your child before 2:30 PM to avoid the regular dismissal rush. Protective eyewear will be distributed to all students prior to the start of the eclipse event on Monday afternoon to help ensure a safe dismissal.

Spotlight Updates for 04/05/24:

• Important Dates - April and May (*note: there is no school for students on April 10th and 23rd for staff inservice)
• Beginning Band Concert Date Change
• 23-24 Yearbook Ordering Deadlines
• Take Your Child to Work Day - Thursday, April 25th
• 23-24 PSSA Information/Reminders (3rd -5th)
• 24-25 Kindergarten Registration Remains OPEN
• South Art Show Information
• April 3rd 200 Club Winners
• 24-25 Class Placement Information
• April & May South Calendar
• Updated District Calendar (*revised 03/11/24)

Just a reminder that the last day of school is Tuesday, June 11th - the revised district calendar is posted below for your reference.

Again, let us know of any questions, have a great weekend!

Dave D'Andrea

Principal, South Elementary

APRIL:

April 4th - 12th - Book Fair, Open 5-8 during Art Show

Monday, April 8th - Home & School Meeting, 7PM

Tuesday, April 9th - Beginning Strings Concert @ Middle School West, 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 10th - NO SCHOOL, In-Service Day

Friday, April 12th - Art Show & Book Fair, 5-8PM

Saturday, April 13th - H & S Skate Night @ Center Oaks 3:45-5:15

Friday, April 19th - 5th Grade Chorus Concert @ South APR, 5:00 - 5:30 PM

April 22th, 24th, & 26th - ELA PSSAs, Grades 3-5

Tuesday, April 23rd - NO SCHOOL, In-Service Day

Wednesday, April 24th - Beginning Band Concert @ Middle School West, 6:30-7:00 (*rescheduled from Tuesday, April 16th)

Thursday, April 25th - Take Your Child to Work Day

April 29th & 30th - Math PSSAs, Grades 3-5

MAY:

May 1st & 2nd - Science PSSAs, 4th grade only

May 1st - PVSD Special Olympics

Monday, May 6th - Home and School Meeting, South Library 7:30 PM

May 6th - 10th - Teacher Appreciation Week

Friday, May 17th - Colonial Fair, 5th Grade

Wednesday, May 22nd - District Wide Band/Orchestra Concert, MSE 6:00

Friday, May 24th - Half Day, 12:15 Dismissal

Monday, May 27th - NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day

Friday, May 31st - Fun Fair/Field Day (Rain Date 06/30)

Please note that the Beginning Band Concert that was scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 24th. 6:30 @ Middle School West.

Please note that ordering deadlines for the 23-24 South yearbook are rapidly approaching - see below for important ordering information!

The purchase link is: http://tinyurl.com/Buy-South-Yearbook

We can accept credit/debit cards, an online banking account, or PayPal through the link. Also, a 3 payment installment plan is available without fees or interest.

Hard cover purchase deadline: April 4, 2024

Soft cover purchase deadline: April 19, 2024

A limited number of soft cover yearbooks will be available for purchase after April 19th. Please email pvsouthyearbook@gmail.com with any questions.

Take Your Child to Work Day is Thursday, April 25th. If you are taking your child to work with you that day, please remember to submit a PVSD educational trip form OR your company’s own request form to ensure the absence is marked excused.

Students in grades three, four, and five in our elementary schools will participate in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) during late April and early May. The PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) is made up of three separate tests that assess to what degree our students have become proficient in English Language Arts (reading and writing), Mathematics, and Science.

The table below indicates the testing grades and dates for each assessment. If your child is enrolled in Algebra, he/she will also participate in the state Keystone Exam. Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments to determine proficiency in identified subjects. All testing takes approximately one to two hours each day.

• English Language Arts (3rd-5th) - April 22, 24, 26, 2024
• Mathematics (3rd -5th) - April 29 & 30, 2024
• Science (4th only) - May 1 & 2, 2024

The PSSA and Keystone Exams are examples of assessments that provide achievement and growth data that assist schools in developing educational plans in support of successful school experiences for students. The tests will be scored by the State and results are expected to be returned to the school district during the summer. Parent reports, which identify the results for your child and how to assist him/her in improving, are expected to be available in the fall of the upcoming school year. We ask that during this assessment period, you encourage your child to do his/her best and to be sure he/she takes time to obtain a good night’s sleep and to eat a nourishing breakfast. The PSSA Parent FAQs (Spanish) and Electronic Device Letter (Spanish) serve to address questions you may have, however, do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal if you have additional ones.

On March 20th, we hit 10 names in a row on the South 200 Club Board for the 6th time this year! Every day, we are reminded how responsible, respectful, safe, and kind our students are here at South. Thanks for reinforcing these expectations at home as well! Our focus through the end of the school year continues to be on showing RESPECT and KINDNESS to others. Ask your child how they can earn a class-wide green 200 club ticket when a substitute is in the classroom!

In the final weeks of the school year, South will begin the scheduling process for the 24-25 school year. We consider class placement to be one of our most important tasks, and for that reason I would like to share the process with you. Student placement is determined and reviewed by a core team of educators at South; each child’s academic, social and emotional growth, peer relations, and overall needs are carefully considered and discussed. We strive to create classrooms that are heterogeneous, function as cohesive groups, and provide each child with a teacher whose style will best meet his or her needs. We feel our time is well spent exploring all of these factors because we also share a personal responsibility for each child.

If you have any information you wish to share regarding your child that will be helpful in class placement discussions, please send me a direct email (ddandrea@pvsd.org) by Friday, May 24th.

While we will carefully consider the type of teacher and qualities of an educator you think will best serve your child, I respectfully ask that you refrain from making specific teacher requests. Thank you for your support in this process.

• 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.