GRASS VALLEY
ELEMENTARY NEWS
April 3, 2015
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Dear Grass Valley School Community,
We hope you have a relaxing and fun Spring Break with your families! This is a great time to
recharge and return to school ready for the home stretch! Returning from Spring Break is a good time
to hit the “reset button” and review our school rules and expectations in order to help foster a healthy
and positive learning environment.
During a recent attendance review, our data showed that we have had a total of 977 tardies in
131 days of school. This is equal to three hours of lost instruction time at minimum. Tardies are a
major disruption to the start of the school day, as teachers have to stop their instruction and help
students get checked in. Students in the classroom lose their engagement, and tardy students miss
valuable instruction. Office staff is also detoured from incoming phone calls and visiting/volunteering
parents as they check in students coming late. As a reminder, school starts daily at 9:00, and students
not in class by 9:05 are considered tardy. Each and every second is valuable.
Please help support our efforts in reaching our mission of High Levels of Learning for All by
ensuring your child is at school every day and on time! We thank you for your continued
partnership! Enjoy the week!
Sincerely, T. Sean McMillan
Grass Valley Fifth Graders Make Their Mark at Math Competition! On Friday, March 20, Grass Valley fifth graders competed in a regional Math is Cool competition at Skyview High School in Vancouver. They came in 5th out of 60 teams. Jake D. received individual high score for Grass Valley. We are so proud of our awesome team, and so thankful to have Mrs. Jackie Graue leading the charge for excellence in math! Top Center: Mrs. Jackie Graue
Back Row: Hannah F, Grant V, Owen W, Ashley B. Front Row: Jeremy M , Ryen H, Arnav P, Jake D, Kevin K, Olivia V. Grass Valley Elementary ● 3000 NW Grass Valley Drive ● Camas, WA 98607
Phone (360) 833-5710 ● Fax (360) 833-5711
Website http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/grassvalley
APRIL 2015
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23 24 YEARBOOK ORDERS DUE! APRIL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Lunchtime, GVE Cafeteria Dine Around @ Five Guys & Menchie’s 30 1 Movie Night 101 Dalmatians Doors Open 6 p.m. Movie Starts 6:30 p.m. The Annual Silent Auction & Carnival are
FRIDAY, MAY 15
April is National Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) We will soon be receiving a limited number of our annual JAM posters featuring Billy Strayhorn, a pianist and composer of tunes including “Take the A Train,” from the Smithsonian Institute. Check out their cool information at www.smithsonianjazz.org and look forward to some great jazz education here at Grass Valley!
Are you looking for some Spring Break Music Activities for your children? Now is a great time to check out www.quavermusic.com, which is full of music games, activities, and opportunities for your child to compose music and hear it played! This free website is connected to the video curriculum often used in music class. Ask your child about “Quaver,” and I am sure you will hear some rave reviews! With an email address, your student can sign up for an individual account, although activities may be used without it. Check it out and have some fun creating and learning music together! For the last few weeks we have all been learning about instruments. Students have identified the families, learned specific things about them, and heard how many of them sound. Fourth and fifth graders have also been p laying recorders and are doing a great job! •
Order your
yearbook today!
$10
Sales will end April 24.
Books will be distributed to
students the last week of
school. Extra copies may
not be available after preorders end, so order yours
today!
Student Name
Teacher Name
Grade
Student Name
Teacher Name
Grade
Student Name
Teacher Name
Grade
Parent Name
Contact # or email
Qty
Total $
Cash or check accepted. Make check out to Grass Valley PTA.
Double Dine Around
Fundraiser
Coming April 24!
Grass Valley PTA
Grass Valley Elementary
http://grassvalleypta3665.weebly.com/
http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/grassvalley/
Like Grass Valley PTA on Facebook Camas School District
http://www.camas.wednet.edu/
Our Evening of Grass
Valley Art & Literature…
Was totally awesome!
During Art Night on Wednesday, March 25, more than 1500 pieces of art from every class at the
school were displayed in the cafeteria and gym. THANK YOU, all, for your Fun Run donations
each year, which help make our Art Discovery program possible! In Year 3, we’re going strong.
Across the school at the Book Fair, our incredible team sold nearly 1800 books. Here’s looking
forward to a Spring Break spent reading! Your continued support of our book fairs helps ensure
our library is full of wonderful choices and our birthday book cart is stocked with a book for every
Grass Valley student.
Your 2015-16 PTA Board
During the General Membership Meeting on April 2, the following
individuals were elected to next year’s PTA Board of Directors:
üPresident, Kristin Licklider OUR GRASS VALLEY LEADERS ROCK! üVP, Shannon Dammer-Smith
üTreasurer, Shannon Frost
üSecretary, Carrie Davis
The positions of Newsletter Editor, Volunteer Coordinator, Membership Chairperson, and Fundraising
Coordinator are appointed positions and will be announced at a later date. If you are interested in taking on
one of these rolls, please contact Maria Mansfield at [email protected].
***
THANK YOU * * *
Ø Melanie Johnson, Alicia Brazington & ALL THE AMAZING parents
who helped put on, set up, and tear down Art Night.
Ø Librarian Ruth Woodruff, along with Rebecca Stallbaumer, Mimi
Mello & Carrie Davis, for putting on the Book Fair.
Ø GV mom Jen Allpress, of Simply Sweets by Jen, for your generous
325-cupcake donation to Art Night.
Ø Karen Gibson, Danielle Marshall & Trisha Brotherton, for designing,
contracting, and organizing (yet another!) Grass Valley yearbook.
Ø Kristin Licklider, Shannon Dammer-Smith, Carrie Davis & Shannon
Frost, for giving of your time and talents to next year’s PTA Board.
Ø All Who Joined Us, for the PTA Meeting & Elections on April 2.
Ø Debra Thomas & Teresa McClaren for hosting the March birthday
celebration and book cart.
Ø Sheila Wallace, for organizing our upcoming double dine around.
Ø Trisha Brotherton, for organizing Skate Night.
Ø Tina Nelson, Lost & Found Coordinator, and her helpers for
organizing and maintaining the Lost & Found area.
Silent Auction Update:
We are STILL collecting gift cards to
enhance the “Teacher Experiences”
section of our auction. Donate today!
A Grass Valley tradition, we offer students the opportunity to bid on the chance to
spend some special time with their favorite staff and teachers. Past experiences
have included outings, sleepovers, pedicures, and tea parties. So that our wonderful
staff and teachers may again offer these opportunities, we’re gathering gift cards.
PLEASE DONATE A $8–$20 GIFT CARD AT
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0A4EA8A62BA75-silent
Here’s What Experiences (For Multiple Kids) We Have So Far:
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Basketball Shoot-Around with Principal McMillan
Nachos & Nintendo with Mr. Causey
Cupcake Decorating with Mrs. Bloodworth
Breakfast with the whole K Team (Miss Bell, Mrs. Keller & Mrs. Giammo)
Roller Skating or Ice Skating with Mrs. Land
Nail Salon Trip with Mrs. Lange & Mrs. Greene
Lunch at a local restaurant with Mrs. Lange
Lunch at a local restaurant with Mrs. Sanchez
Lunch at Grass Valley with the whole Fifth Grade Team
Park & Pizza Play Date with Mrs. Busby, Mrs. Curtin & Their Little Ones
Gardening & Take-Home Planter with Mrs. DellaValle
Hike at Round Lake & Lunch with Mr. McCoy
Musical Jam Session with Mrs. Wilson
Movie outing with Miss Chan
If you have an idea for your teacher & would be willing to bid on it, please let him/her (or us) know!
If you would like to volunteer or donate in general, please contact chairperson
Shannon Smith at [email protected] or 320-493-2783.
We are looking for a handmade zebra-themed quilt or blanket to raffle in May’s Silent Auction, as this item is a big hit
every year. Can you make one to donate? Or, have a gift card lying around? Contact Shannon! (Contact info above.)
Camas Community Education – Spring Classes Visit www.camascommunityed.org or Call (360) 833-‐5544 or for more information Lego Engineering and Lego Junior Grades K-‐5 Wednesdays, May 6-‐June 10 1:20-‐2:50 PM Fee: Engineering: $65, Junior $60 YMCA Instructors At Prune Hill, Grass Valley and Dorothy Fox Elementary Schools SEW FUN! Level 1 Ages 10-‐14 Learn how to sew in this fun, supportive environment. Complete projects as you learn the basics of sewing & how to use the tools of the trade. Sewing machines provided. Purchasing fabric & thread required. Tuesdays, May 12 -‐ June 02 4:00-‐5:30 PM Fee: $48 Camas District Office JDZ (bussing available to class) Lara Harker, instructor Safe on My Own Class Ages: 8-‐11 An informational, interactive class that will give children the skills they need to feel more confident about taking care of themselves when they are home alone. Bring snack to class.
Wednesday, May 20 2:00-‐4:00 PM Fee: $35 Camas District Office JDZ (bussing available to class) Instructor: Staci Firl Art Van Go Drawing Grades: K-‐5 Drawing with charcoal, pen/ink, & oil pastels. Perspective & shading that make drawings go from flat to fantastic!
Wednesdays, April 22-‐May 13 Wednesdays, May 20-‐June 10 2:00-‐4:00 PM Fee: $85 Camas District Office JDZ (bussing available to class) Artist: Elida Field Art Van Go Paints Grades: K-‐5 Learn basics of acrylic & mixed media painting. Layer a canvas, blend, shade, & highlight. Take home projects ready for display.
Prune Hill: Mondays, April 20-‐May 11 Dorothy Fox: Tuesdays, April 21-‐May12 Camas District Office JDZ: Thursdays, April 23-‐May 14 (bussing available to class) Fee: $110 Artist: Elida Field