Dear Valley Families:

We will be hosting our annual open house cookout on Tuesday, October 10th this year. We hope you’ll join us at Valley from 5:00PM to 5:30PM to tour the building and meet your child’s teachers, and then from 5:30PM to 7PM for a cookout with burgers, chicken, and hot dogs at no charge. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Jim Tyler

Weekly Lunch Menu

As part of the graduation requirements for Valley High school, students are required to complete 40 hours of community service.  In an effort to help our students meet those goals we are reaching out to the community to help meet their needs!  If you know of any community members, senior citizens, community groups, churches, etc., who might need some help throughout the year, please reach out to us and let us know what those needs are.  We can connect with our students and see who might be able to help!   You can contact Cory at the main office (672-3300) Or Mr Nevins at the same number and extension 107. You can also email Mr Nevins at Edward.nevins@sad13.org

Thanks!

I am writing to let you know about two changes at Valley that may impact your students. The first is that our arrival time for parent drop-off and students who transport themselves has changed to 7:30AM. Please know that doors are not open to students until this time.

The second change is that teachers at Valley will be adhering strictly to the school’s policy on the use of cellular phones. Our policy states that phones must be turned off during class and school activities, and that if this policy is violated, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the school day. We will adhere to this policy, and students who use their phones in our building should expect to have them confiscated.

Early in the summer, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on the impact social media is having on the mental health of teenagers, pointing to studies that show teens who are connected social media for three hours per day double their risk of anxiety and depression. Cell phones are the main way teens stay connected to social media. We recognize that cellular phones are a substantial investment and important tool for communicating with your students, and students may have their phones in school and request to go to the office to use them any time they need to; however, we expect them to be turned off and put away at all other times in school.

Please reach out with any questions.

James Tyler, Principal

(207)672-3300

I am writing about three subjects that can affect children’s health in school: pests, pesticides, and your right to know. S.A.D. #13 has an integrated pest management plan in place.

Pest Control

Because pesticides pose risks, the school uses an alternative approach to merely applying pesticides. Control of insects, rodents, and weeds at our school focuses on making the school buildings and grounds an unfavorable place for pests to live and breed. Through maintenance and cleaning, we will reduce or eliminate available food and water sources and hiding places for the pests. We will also routinely monitor the school area to detect pest problems and prevent the pests from becoming established. Some techniques we will use include pest monitoring, sanitation, pest exclusion, proper food storage, pest removal and—as a last resort—pesticides. This holistic approach is often called Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Pesticide Use

Sometimes pesticide use may be necessary to control a pest problem. When that happens, the school will use the lowest risk products available. If high risk pesticides must be used, notices will be posted at application sites and parents, guardians, and staff have a right to know.

Your Right to Know

Parents, legal guardians, and school staff will be notified of specific pesticide applications made at the school. Notification will be given at least five days before planned pesticide applications. Pesticide application notices will also be posted in school and on school grounds. Notification need not be given for pesticide applications recognized by law to pose little or no risk of exposure to children or staff. Persons wanting to know about specific applications may request, and be notified in advance.

The school also keeps records of prior pesticide applications and information about the pesticides used. You may review these records as well as a copy of the Pesticides in Schools Regulation (CMR 01-026 Chapter 27) by contacting our IPM Coordinator, Gordon Hartwell, at the Moscow Elementary School, 672-5572.

If you have any questions, please contact Gordon Hartwell at 672-5572. For further information about pests, pesticides and your right to know, call the Board of Pesticides Control at 207-287-2731 or visit the Maine School IPM website at www.thinkfirstspraylast.org/schoolipm.

Sincerely,

Sandra MacArthur

Superintendent of Schools