Welcome to Back to School Night

Flower Valley Elementary School

2012

Mission and Vision Statements

Mission

We are a diverse team of students, staff and parents committed to creating a peaceful academic environment. We achieve this by respecting differences and encouraging individuals to be active participants in the learning process. We work together as a community by utilizing research based strategies to foster academic excellence and equitable practices.

Vision

We inspire children to become critical thinkers who are imaginative, adaptable, and collaborative. We strive to cultivate peaceful, life-long learners who thrive in a global society.

Office Staff

• Principal, Ms. Gay Melnick

• Assistant Principal, Ms. Cinthea Thurman

• Administrative Secretary, Ms. Helen Velez

• School Secretary, Ms. Becky Winters

Specialists

• Staff Development Teacher, Ms. Theresa Robinson

• School Counselor, Ms. Magdalena Stoica

• Reading Specialist, Ms. Cathy Hagan

• Media Specialist, Ms. Connie Goodrich

• ESOL Teachers

• Ms. Epatia Peters

• Ms. Beth Lauriat

• Academic Support Teacher, Ms. Eileen Benavides

Special Area Teachers

• Art, Ms. Celia Choi

• Music, Ms. Theresa Kormann

• Physical Education, Mr. Scott Taubman

• Instrumental Music, Mr. John Hart

Primary GradesKindergarten

Ms. Dawn AudibertMs. Amie CoganMs. Stephanie Hawkins

First Grade Ms. Emily Alcroft

Ms. Stacey Hurney Ms. Akossiwa Lawrence

Second GradeMs. Meagan MarazzoMs. Samantha ReisburgMr. Bryan RoothsMs. Eva Zuras

Intermediate GradesThird Grade

Ms. Liz CollinsMs. Auda CottrellMs. Mary Catherine Kohler

Fourth Grade Ms. April Longest

Ms. Margie O’BrienMs. Fariba Ahdoot

Fifth GradeMs. Treasure AlikeMr. Richard RoseMs. Britney Jung

Special Education

• Resource Teacher, Ms. Kathy Kvarda• Speech/Language Pathologist, Ms. Fran Friedman• Emotional Disabilities Program

• Ms. Anna Weichbrod

• Mr. Jason Lechner

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program• Ms. Jane Smith

• Ms. Grace Consacro

• Ms. Anne Hauprich

• Ms. Joslyn Stewart

• Ms. Margaret Broe

Building Services

• Manager, Mr. Jeffery Powell

• Assistant Manager, Mr. Hector Padilla

• Worker, Ms. Maria Hernandez

• Worker, Mr. Daryl Hawkins

Health Room

• Nurse, Ms. Alice Reggia

• Health Technician, Ms. Barbara Soltesz

Cafeteria• Ms. Sandy Bonanno• Ms. Adelaide Monday

Instructional Data Analyst

• Ms. Parivash Biglarbeigi

Transliterators

• Ms. Betty Bettinger

• Ms. Katie Miller

• Ms. Janet Blanton

• Ms. Mary Ann Day

• Ms. Alison Candela

• Ms. Barbara Smith

• Ms. Donna Ednock

Paraeducators

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program•Ms. Judy Berg•Ms. Christine Harmon•Ms. Sarah Segal

Emotional Disabilities Program•Ms. Ilda Bolat •Ms. Katie Kuipers•Ms. Beth Rykoskey•Ms. Karen Wilcox

General Education Students•Ms. Erika Kim•Ms. Ginny Wahl

Lunch and Playground Assistants

• Ms. Laura Gonzalez

• Ms. Louise Salzberg

• Ms. Ginny Wahl

• Ms. Virginia Flores

• Ms. Erika Kim

• Ms. Bonnie Turner

Enrollment

•K-5 enrollment is currently 469 students.•There are 22-29 students in each class.•We have 35 new students this year.

Organization

• 3 Kindergarten Classes

• 3 First Grade Classes

• 4 Second Grade Classes

• 3 Third Grade Classes

• 3 Fourth Grade Classes

• 2 Fifth Grade Classes

• 1 Grade 4/5 Combination Class

New This Year at Flower Valley Peace Tokens

Fine Lines

Silver Spoons

Increased supervision in the lunch room and on the playground

Technology Modernization

Drop Off Table

No dismissal changes after 2:15pm

Friday Folders

Birthday policy changes

The Peace and Friendship Program

• Focuses on teaching students the skills needed to behave in a peaceful and friendly manner.• Students are encouraged to solve their own problems in a peaceful and friendly manner.• The PEACE pledge is recited every morning.• Peaceful and friendly behavior will be acknowledged with Peace Tokens.

Our Flower Valley Peace Pledge

We the students of Flower Valley Elementary School promise to respect

each other. We will keep our hands feet and things to ourselves. We pledge to

work out any problems that may happen with our peers in a peaceful way.

How to Help Us Keep Your Children Safe

Check in at the office each time you visit.

Wear a visitor sticker at all times. Use the traffic circle and follow the

Traffic Circle Guidelines. Drop off after 8:30. Pick up before 3:15. Send in a note when changes in

transportation are necessary before 2:15.

Traffic Circle Safety Guidelines

• Utilize the car rider circle rather than parking. Cars backing in and out is very dangerous. 

• Please follow the directions of our staff and parent volunteers. 

• Please form a single line.

• Please pull up as far as possible in a single file line but not passed the designated loading/unloading zone. It is never safe to allow a child to walk between cars even if they are parked.

Traffic Circle Safety Guidelines• Please put your car in park before allowing your

child to disembark.• Please instruct your child to wait until your car

comes to a complete stop before getting in or out of the car.

• Students should enter and exit the vehicle on the side closest to the curb. 

• Students should enter and exit the vehicle on the side closest to the curb. 

• Please drive slowly and cautiously, checking the area around your car very carefully.

• Please remain IN your vehicle. If you need to leave your vehicle, please move your car to a parking spot.  

We Value Communication

• Every Sunday night you will receive a “Seven O'clock Sunday” telephone message with important information about the upcoming school week. The telephone message is followed by an email message containing the same information.

• All staff will respond to emails and phone calls within 24 hours.

• Monthly newsletters will be sent home.• Our school website is constantly being updated.• Parent coffees will be held.

Make a Difference.

Join the

PTA!

Reminders for Tonight

•Sign-up for CONFERENCES.•Sign up to VOLUNTEER in whatever way you can.• JOIN the PTA.•Tonight is NOT an individual conference night. •Please put your QUESTIONS in the boxes.•Have a GREAT time!