-Reading Revolution Winners, Step Up Youth Challenge, PTO Event Tomorrow Night
May 13, 2016
SVA News & Notes
What's Happening at SVA?
 

May 9-20 -- CAASPP Testing

May 14 -- PTO Spring Auction Fundraiser

May 17 -- Explorer Band Spring Show

May 25 -- Open House

May 27 -- Middle School Dance 6-9PM

May 30 -- Memorial Day Holiday, No School

June 1 -- 8th Grade Graduation

June 3 -- Last Day of School! 
Minimum Day 12:15 Dismissal
Reading Revolution

SVA sent four teams to TCOE's 2016 Reading Revolution competitions.  Reading Revolution (formerly Battle of the Books) is a fun reading competition designed to promote literacy and the joy of reading for students in grades 4-8. Students experience a variety of quality literature and nonfiction, while increasing reading comprehension and promoting collaboration and teamwork. Teams of four students read 15 books selected by TCOE. They discuss the books and practice quizzing each other in preparation for the actual competition, during which students will answer questions in a variety of formats and with varying levels of difficulty. All teams performed very well and we are so proud of how they represent our school in the community. 

The middle school team (Karlee Lowe, Teaguen Camp, Karen Davila, and Fayelynn Lewis) placed 2nd in Convincing Characters, 2nd in Heads Together and 3rd overall. 

Elementary team, Readers for Life (Maddy Papanickolas, Caroloine Cantelmi, Divivity Isaacs, and Karson Lowe), performed very well in the competition. 

Elementary team, The Explorers (Harper Dutton, Tynan Hetherington, Sarah Plummer, and Qutinton Vedenoff), took 3rd place in Heads Together and 1st place in Full Circle. 

Elementary team, The Brilliant Bookworms (Roxy Bahr, Kaity de Lemos, Fern Moore, and Jillian Reng), were 2nd place in Heads Together, 1st place in Convincing Characters, and took home the trophy for 1st place overall!

Congratulations Reading Revolution teams, nice work! 


Step Up Youth Challenge

The Tulare County Gang Prevention Task Force's Step Up Challenge takes place over the course of the school year. Teams of middle and high school students from around the county create service learning projects that will have long-term positive effects at their schools and their communities. The teams complete their projects and submit a project summary documenting its success. This year's participants were honored at a red carpet event at the LJ Williams Theater. 

Mr. Bigler's Be the Change class was runner-up in the Meeting the Need Award category. Their student-led project consisted of research on water conservation and development of a plan for the school to make better use of water resources.

Elective Selection 

All students entering grades 5-8 next year must complete an Elective Selection form by Friday, May 27. 

Mark Your Calendars 

Wednesday, May 25, 6-7:30PM

Plan to bring the whole family and spend the evening at SVA, we'll have dinner available for purchase from Tacos Galacticos and Planing Mill Pizza (a portion of the proceeds comes back to SVA), and plenty to see and do. Classroom visits begin at 6:00PM. 

Spring Band Performance


The SVA bands, directed by Ms. Barcellos, will perform their annual Spring Show on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:00PM in the cafeteria. 
National Anthem Auditions

Student instrumentalists and vocalists are invited to audition to perform the Star Spangled Banner at our 8th grade graduation on June 1. 

We are looking for talented, enthusiastic performers who can convey pride for our great nation on graduation day. Complete details about performance requirements and a permission slip were sent home with your child this week and can be downloaded through the link below. 
Found Object Art Contest

Entries due Tuesday, May 24

Students are invited to reduce, reuse and recycle while exercising your creativity! 

Encourage your child to start thinking about what they can do with milk cartons, newspaper, egg cartons, cans, shampoo bottles or wrappers instead of throwing them away. Make something amazing from what you'd normally toss into the garbage or recycle bin.
 

Entries will be on display at Open House. Judging will be in several categories and by age group. For complete rules and more information, please download the flyer. 

Contact Mrs. Johnson with questions in room 8 or at
cjohnson@sycamorevalleyacademy.org
State Testing Continues Next Week

Our CAASPP testing window is May 9-20. Keep an eye out for your classroom newsletter which will highlight the exact dates your child's class will be testing. 

It is especially important that students are in attendance and arrive on time on testing days. Please schedule appointments outside of the testing window. 

Please take care to ensure your children have a good night's rest and a nourishing breakfast before they come to school. 

Talk to your child's teacher if you'd like to donate a healthy snack to share with the class on testing days.  

We are so proud of our student's performance on these exams last year. Encourage them to keep up the good work! 

Thanks, parents, for your help in ensuring our test administration runs smoothly! 
SVA's 4th Annual 
Student Talent Show 

Hosted by SVA Student Council, the event will be held Tuesday, May 31st.

Bring your talent to us! 


Students may apply as individuals or with a group, no more than 5 participants per group. Maximum time to showcase talent is a firm 2 minutes. 

Auditions will be held Monday, May 16th at 3:40 in the cafeteria.

Students must bring a completed application and signed permission slip to the audition. Please read all information in attached packet carefully.

No late entries will be accepted. 


Contact Jennifer Denham with questions, jdenham@sycamorevalleyacademy.org
Buy your tickets here. 

 Staff Appreciation Week

We will be showing our gratitude the staff that serves our kids with a variety of events during the week of May 9-13.  We need your participation to make it special! 


Tuesday May 10 -- Bring a flower to your teacher 
Buy one, pick one, or make one! A vase will be in the classroom to make a bouquet. 

Friday, May 13 -- Make your teacher a card
Show your gratitude and your creativity! 
 
If you are interested in helping with Staff Appreciation Week please contact Suzy Plummer at 303-0160 or suzydenham23@yahoo.com for more information. 
8th Grade Graduation Information

We have a special evening planned for our 2016 graduates. We have moved the event to the Wyndham Hotel located at 9000 W. Plaza Drive. The ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30PM on Wednesday, June 1. 
A dessert reception will follow.  

The occasion is special, but not formal. Regular guidelines for appropriate dress as stated in the SVA Family Handbook must be observed. Appropriate attire for graduating boys is a long sleeved dress shirt and tie and dress slacks. Appropriate attire for girls is a nice dress or a skirt/slacks and blouse.  Shoes must not have a heel over 1 inch. No spaghetti straps, miniskirts, t-shirts, or low-cut tops are allowed. If you have a question about a specific item of clothing, please bring the item or a photograph of the item to the office for Ms. Dutton's approval prior to the event. 

Questions about graduation may be directed to Claudia Van Groningen. 
Middle School Admission Info 

Our innovative, student-centered middle school program is growing for the 2016-17 year. Currently, there are only a couple of openings remaining for new students.
 
We'll have new electives available next year along with other exciting changes such as daily PE and Spanish. 

If you know someone who is looking for an excellent option and a small family-like middle school experience, please share our application for 2016-17 admission, linked here, and forward them our recent email (subject line Changes Coming in 2016-17) that includes detailed information about our program. 
We're Hiring 

Please help us spread the word that SVA is seeking highly qualified individuals to fill several positions. Share the SVA Staff Recruitment Brochure with someone who might be right for SVA! 


Principal 
With growth on the horizon, Ms. Dutton's dual role of Principal/Superintendent will be divided. Ms. Dutton will become a full time Superintendent, and SVA will gain a new full time Principal beginning July 1. If you know someone who might be the perfect candidate to fill this role at SVA, please send them our way.  View the job posting on EdJoin. 

After School Program Coordinator 
A part time position for the 2016-17 academic year. View the EdJoin posting here. 

Instructional Aide
An excellent opportunity to join the SVA team in 2016-17. This position is part time, approximately 32 hours/week. Apply here. 

Substitute Teachers and Instructional Aides 
We pay substitute teachers $116/day. 
Substitute Instructional Aides earn $10.30-14.42/hr (depending on education & experience). Must have Tulare County fingerprint clearance. For more information on qualifications and requirements, contact office@sycamorevalleyacademy.org. 
Attention Parents

Kindergarten oral health screenings must be completed and turned in by May 31. 

Tulare County is hosting TDap vaccination clinics at Visalia elementary schools. All students entering 7th grade must show proof of TDap vaccination. 

All clinics are held 3:00-4:00PM at the locations/dates listed below. 


  • May 10 - Manuel Hernandez School 
  • May 16 - Mineral King School
  • May 31 - Mt. View School

There is no cost for Medi-Cal recipients, $62 for those with private insurance.
Provide your Input on our Community Survey

California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) requires schools to solicit stakeholder input in developing their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP). Please take a few moments to complete the brief survey linked here. 
2016-17 Academic Calendar 

Check out the calendar for next year so that you and your family can make your summer plans accordingly. 



Awards Assembly May 27
DE Logo
Current DE Session - 
May 9-20

Destination: Warriors

Many periods in history have had their class of warriors with clothing, weapons, and lifestyles that fit their time. Learn about ninjas, samurai, knights, and centurions. Imagine a warrior fighting for your most important causes. 
Let's hear your battle cry!
Lunch Menu

Monday -  5/16 Pepperoni Pizza
Tuesday - 5/17 Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce
Wednesday - 5/18 Hamburger
Thursday - 5/19 Chicken Taquitos
Friday - 5/20 Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Engaging Your Children in an Election Year
 

From now through Election Day on November 8, 2016 we will share information and ideas for engaging your children in conversation about the upcoming elections. 

We encourage you to start the conversation, to get involved, and to exercise your right to vote.  

Why should people vote?

Raise a future voter by teaching children about the importance of making their voices heard. Tell them that despite the struggle to extend the vote to all American citizens over 18, only 57.5 percent of U.S. citizens age 18 and over voted in the 2012 presidential election. Explain that because a surprising number of elections are determined by small margins, it's important for all eligible voters to participate at the local and national level.

Honoring Student Achievement

We accept nominations for student recognition on an ongoing basis, so be sure to let us know when something great happens! If you would like to nominate a student for their extra curricular accomplishments, complete this form. 
SVA PTO NEWS
Next PTO Meeting

Monday, 
May 9, 6:00PM

Round Table Pizza
4035 S. Mooney Blvd.
Sycamore Valley Academy | 559.622.3236 | office@sycamorevalleyacademy.org
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