Dear South Valley Middle School Families,

We are excited to share the latest updates, reminders, and celebrations happening this month at SVMS!

Parent-Teacher Conferences – October 15 & 17 (4:00-7:30 PM)

A quick reminder to sign up for parent-teacher conferences, taking place on October 15 and 17 from 4:00 to 7:30 PM. We would love to see all families attend these important meetings. Translators will be available upon request. This is a valuable time to discuss your child's progress and work together for their success. Please sign up here.

End of Quarter 1/Report Cards

The first quarter ends on Friday, October 4, and report cards will be sent out on October 9. If you have questions regarding your child's grades, please contact the respective teacher as the first step to resolving any concerns.

Big Achievement! A Drop in Ds & Fs

We’re thrilled to celebrate a major accomplishment this school year! In the 2023-24 school year, we ended the first quarter with 423 Ds or Fs. This year, in the 2024-25 school year, we’ve seen a remarkable improvement with only 190 Ds or Fs. Great job, students and staff!

Congratulations to Our Band & Choir

A huge shout-out to our band and choir students for an outstanding performance on October 3! We’re proud of the hard work and dedication you've shown.

Pumpkin Carving Contest – October 17

Get ready for some spooky fun! Our annual Pumpkin Carving Contest will take place on October 17. Students can bring in their entries, and voting for the best carvings will be held, with winners announced on October 18. First place will receive 4 passes to Fritzler’s Farm Park, second place will receive tickets to The Rush, and third place will receive a candy/snack basket.

Viking House Selection Assembly – October 4

On October 4, we will hold our Viking House Selection Assembly. Ask your kids which Viking House they belong to and what their house shield will look like! The Viking Houses will engage in positive competitions focused on behaviors like best attendance rate, highest GPA, fewest tardies, and community service projects such as canned food drives, toy drives, book drives, and hygiene product collections. Winning houses will earn rewards like pizza parties, ice cream socials, and more!

Valley High School Football Games Reminder

Please remember that elementary and middle school students are not allowed to attend Valley High School football games without a parent or guardian. Students must sit with their parent or guardian for the entire game. The remaining home games are on October 11 against Berthoud and October 26 against Eaton.

Halloween Dance

Save the date for our Halloween Dance on November 1 from 6:00-8:00 PM!

Halloween Costumes at School – October 31

Students may dress up for Halloween on October 31 at school, but please ensure that costumes meet the following guidelines:

● No face paint or masks

● No props (swords, wands, weapons, etc.)

● Costumes must allow students to participate in class activities without disrupting the learning environment.

PTO Meeting – November 6 (4:30 PM)

Our next PTO meeting will be held on November 6 at 4:30 PM. During the last meeting, fundraising for school events was discussed, and students will receive more information about upcoming fundraisers in November.

Office Phone Issues

If you’ve experienced frustrations with unanswered phone calls to the school, please make sure you are calling our correct number: 970-350-4201. We recently discovered an outdated number listed in Google as 970-785-2205, which is not connected to our school. Additionally, the fax number on the district website (970-785-2271) has caused some confusion. We appreciate your patience as we work through this issue.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We’re looking forward to a great October with lots of exciting events and accomplishments to celebrate!

Sincerely,

Scott Hodgson

Principal

South Valley Middle School

Dear South Valley Middle School Families, We hope this message finds you well as we head into the fall season. Below are some important updates and reminders for the coming weeks: 

The Importance of Attendance

We cannot stress enough how crucial regular attendance is to your child’s academic success. Students who attend school regularly are more engaged, participate more in class, and build better relationships with their peers and teachers. We appreciate your partnership in ensuring your child is present and ready to learn every day.

Colorado October Count: Key Dates for Attendance

Mark your calendars for September 27, October 1, and October 2. These dates are part of Colorado’s October Count, which is directly tied to school funding. Accurate student attendance on these days ensures our school receives appropriate funding to continue offering quality programs and services to your child. Please help us by ensuring your child is present on these important days!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

We are excited to meet with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 15 and 17 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child's progress and goals for the year. **Interpreters will be available** to assist families as needed. We look forward to your participation! 

ZAP (Zeroes Aren't Permitted)

Is your student missing assignments? ZAP is a fantastic program designed to help students get back on track! It runs every Wednesday and Thursday after school from 3:45-4:30 PM. This is an excellent time for students to complete any missing or late assignments and improve their grades before the quarter ends.

WIN (What I Need) Friday - September 27

WIN Day on Friday, September 27 is a special opportunity for students to catch up on their work and get their grades in order before the end of the quarter on October 8. Students will have dedicated time to focus on what they need to succeed.

Honor Roll Recognition

We are proud to announce that Honor Roll Breakfast invitations will soon be sent out for students who have earned a spot on the Superintendent's and Principal's Honor Roll. Please be on the lookout for this exciting news!

Viking House Selection for Quarter 2

As we head into the second quarter, we’ll kick off our Viking House Competitions. These houses, which consist of one 6th, one 7th, and one 8th grade Viking Time group, will compete in various events to encourage positive behavior and school spirit. The goal is to promote teamwork, respect, and a positive school culture.

PBIS Focus for Quarter 2

In Quarter 2, we will continue to focus on Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). This will help clarify our behavior expectations and encourage students to follow them. Some common areas we are working on improving include:

• Tardies: We are seeing too many students arriving late to class throughout the day, despite our new attendance scanning system.

• Cell Phones: All cell phones should remain in lockers during the school day.
• Litter: We need students to be mindful of picking up trash, especially outside and in the cafeteria.

• Dress Code: Pajama pants and shirts with drug or alcohol references are not allowed and will be addressed.Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home!

Homecoming Football Game Tonight!

A reminder for students attending the Homecoming football game tonight at 7:00 PM against Manitou Springs: Students must sit in the stands during the game. Let’s show our Viking pride and support our team responsibly!

Upcoming PTO Meeting

Join us for the PTO Meeting on October 2. We will be discussing and seeking feedback on the Unified Improvement Plan (UIP), as well as planning for the Family Fall Bash. Your input is valuable, and we’d love to see you there!

We appreciate your support and involvement in making South Valley Middle School a great place to learn and grow. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

 Scott Hodgson

Principal

South Valley Middle School

M.E.S.A USA is the National Association of Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement programs.  Students will explore a different math, engineering, or science activity at each M.E.S.A. meeting.  Activities range from bridge-building challenges to science experiments.Students must have a signed permission slip to participate in M.E.S.A.  Please see the office or Miss Maines for your permission slip! M.E.S.A. meetings are on the third Thursday of the month from 3:40 - 4:30 in room 112.  2024- 2025 MESA dates:

Thursday, September 19

Thursday, October 24

Thursday, November 21

Thursday, December 19

Thursday, January 16

Thursday, February 13

Thursday, March 13Thursday, April 17, Thursday, May 15

Dear South Valley Families,

We hope this newsletter finds you well! We wanted to share some important updates and news with you about our school’s progress and upcoming events.

School Performance Framework Update

We are proud to announce that our School Performance Framework results are in, and South Valley Middle School has been rated at the Improvement level under the Colorado Rating System. While this is not yet where we ultimately want to be, it reflects the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our amazing teaching staff, students, and the entire Platteville community. Given the challenges we've faced throughout the year, this is a great accomplishment. We are optimistic that by continuing to focus on closing achievement and growth gaps, we can achieve a Performance rating next year.

PTO Meeting - October 2

We would love to see you at our next Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting on October 2. We will be discussing the school's Unified Improvement Plan and how we plan to address key areas for growth. Your input and support are vital to our success, so please join us!

Student Handbooks Update

The 2024-2025 student handbooks have been updated on our website in both English and Spanish. Please take some time to review them with your student, paying special attention to the following updated policies: Cell Phone Policy

• Tardy Policy
• Dress Code Policy - It’s important to have these conversations with your child to ensure they are clear on expectations for the school year.

Homecoming – September 20

We are excited for Homecoming on September 20! Our 8th-grade students will be transported to attend the Homecoming Parade to celebrate with the community. Additionally, we encourage all families to join us for the Homecoming Tailgate BBQ—see the attached flyer for more details.

To build school spirit, we will also be having Homecoming Dress-Up Days during the week. Here’s the schedule:

• Tuesday – Favorite Movie Character

• Wednesday – Color Day:
• • 6th grade: Blue or White
  • 7th grade: Purple or Yellow
  • 8th grade: Pink or Black
• Thursday – Cowboy vs. Cowgirl
• Friday – Viking Day (Show your school spirit!)****We hope everyone will participate and show their school pride!

Attendance and Tardiness

We are currently piloting a new attendance system, and while there are adjustments being made, it is important to note that the new system alone is not the cause of student tardiness. Some students may need assistance in developing strategies to manage their time more effectively, such as using an AM binder and PM binder to reduce locker stops between classes.

High School Football Games

For families attending high school football games, please note that students will now be required to sit in the stands with their families. Hanging out behind the stands will no longer be permitted due to recent incidents involving inappropriate behavior. We appreciate your cooperation in helping maintain a positive environment at school events.

Behavior Expectations and PBIS

In my first few weeks as principal at South Valley, I’ve seen the potential of both our staff and students. However, we will be working hard to fine-tune our behavior expectations through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), discipline, and routine building to address some of the minor off-task behaviors we’ve been noticing. More updates on our progress in this area will be coming soon.

Youth Connections and Activities

Exciting events are on the horizon! Be on the lookout for more information on our Youth Connections activities, including Viking Houses, our Back to School Bash, and other fun activities.

Vision and Hearing Screenings – September 11

A reminder that vision and hearing screenings will take place on September 11 for 7th-grade students, new students, and students with IEPs. Letters will be sent home with your child today. If you wish to opt out of the screenings, please sign and return the form to the school as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support,

Scott Hodgson

Principal

South Valley Middle School

Please click the link below for the invitation details!

Retirement Invite.docx