1. Welcome to Back to School Night Flower Valley Elementary School 2012

2. 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.

3. Office Staff Principal, Ms. Gay Melnick Assistant Principal, Ms. Cinthea Thurman Administrative Secretary, Ms. Helen Velez School Secretary, Ms. Becky Winters

4. 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

5. Special Area Teachers Art, Ms. Celia Choi Music, Ms. Theresa Kormann Physical Education, Mr. Scott Taubman Instrumental Music, Mr. John Hart

6. Primary Grades Kindergarten Ms. Dawn Audibert Ms. Amie Cogan Ms. Stephanie Hawkins First Grade Ms. Emily Alcroft Ms. Stacey Hurney Ms. Akossiwa Lawrence Second Grade Ms. Meagan Marazzo Ms. Samantha Reisburg Mr. Bryan Rooths Ms. Eva Zuras

7. Intermediate Grades Third Grade Ms. Liz Collins Ms. Auda Cottrell Ms. Mary Catherine Kohler Fourth Grade Ms. April Longest Ms. Margie O’Brien Ms. Fariba Ahdoot Fifth Grade Ms. Treasure Alike Mr. Richard Rose Ms. Britney Jung

8. 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

9. Building Services Manager, Mr. Jeffery Powell Assistant Manager, Mr. Hector Padilla Worker, Ms. Maria Hernandez Worker, Mr. Daryl Hawkins

10. Health Room Nurse, Ms. Alice Reggia Health Technician, Ms. Barbara Soltesz Cafeteria Ms. Sandy Bonanno Ms. Adelaide Monday Instructional Data Analyst Ms. Parivash Biglarbeigi

11. Transliterators Ms. Betty Bettinger Ms. Katie Miller Ms. Janet Blanton Ms. Mary Ann Day Ms. Alison Candela Ms. Barbara Smith Ms. Donna Ednock

12. 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

13. Lunch and Playground Assistants Ms. Laura Gonzalez Ms. Louise Salzberg Ms. Ginny Wahl Ms. Virginia Flores Ms. Erika Kim Ms. Bonnie Turner

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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. 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.

22. 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.

23. Make a Difference. Join the PTA!

24. 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!