Valley West Elementary

Extra Curricular Activities

Basketball Cheerleading Math Club
Music Science Club Science Fair
Spelling Bee   Student Council

All Students participating in an Extra Curricular Activity must have PASSING grades and either an E or S in School Conduct.  These activities offer students an excellent opportunity to bond with other students and gain some leadership skills.

Basketball: Mr. McCain

Valley West has a Basketball Team.  The team consists of Fourth and Fifth grade boys and girls.  The fighting Manatees participate in the Southwest District Basketball League.  Games are played on six consecutive Saturdays at Westbury High School during January and February.

Congratulations to the RUNNIN' MANATEES!!!  The Valley West Basketball team won 3rd place trophy in district play. 

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Cheerleading: Ms. Dollahon & Ms. Jenkins

Cheerleading at Valley West is to promote self-esteem and leadership qualities in our students. It teaches healthy competition.   Cheerleaders act as role models for the school. 

Tryouts are held at the beginning of each school year.  Judges look for school spirit and ability to cooperate with other students.  Participants must maintain an E or S in conduct and passing grades.

Students cheer at PTA meetings and special events such as the Bond Rally, Winter and Spring programs. The cheerleaders set the spirit for fund raising activities by creating cheers for the school. .

 

Valley West Cheerleaders performing at the Student Council Campaign Speech Pep Rally.  The Cheerleaders  perform at various school functions as well as getting the crowds involved when the District Basketball League begins in January.

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Math Club: Mr. Roswell

The Math club will begin following the Winter Holiday.  This club will be limited to 3rd through 5th grade students.  The students will learn various games, (chess, dominos, checkers, etc...) as well as creating their own Math Games.  I will only be able to take 15-20 students.  Club meets every Tuesday from 3:00-4:30pm unless communicated.  Cancelled meeting on Tuesday, March 8th & 22nd.  Please make arrangements to pick your child up on these two dates.

A mini Chess Tournament will be held on Tuesday, March 15 during club meeting time.

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Music: Ms. Jenkins

NEW TO VALLEY WEST THIS FALL...
 
Introducing the "MIDI FOR KIDS AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM". Through this program, 1st through 5th grade beginning Piano students will be able to take part in this tuition-based, after-school group piano program. MIDI For Kids offers on site after-school lessons, certified and trained teachers, one (1) 45 minute lesson per week, and a FUN and innovative curriculum that teaches students more about music through learning how to play the piano. MIDI For Kids teaches piano through group lessons. Each child has there own piano that allows them to all to part of the learning experience. MIDI for Kids exists to help children become fluent with the language of music. We endeavor to foster in children a love of music through development of instrumental performance skills, creative interaction with musical concepts using technology, and connecting those concepts across curricular boundaries. MIDI for Kids desires to impact the future of music education by helping educators combine music and technology in order to lead children to become independent musicians and thinkers.
 
    We look forward to an exciting NEW year with MIDI for Kids. Look forward to many exciting things coming your way!

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Science Club: Ms. Washington

We are in the process of collecting the necessary resources to make the Science Club at Valley West first rate.  If you can donate items please contact Ms. Washington.  We plan to have the Science Club running in the Spring 2005.  If you wish to Volunteer, please see Ms. Washington and Ms. Duffey.

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Science Fair: Mrs. Parker

Dear Parents and Students: 

It is time to start working on our school's science fair! The schedule below is a timeline outlining the due dates for each step of the projects  Students will be bringing home an information packet within the next month which will include  project ideas, timelines, helpful websites, and the necessary forms to enter the school fair.

 Students will be able to order Display Boards from Showboard Inc. to eliminate the hassle of looking for boards at the last minute.  A letter will be sent home in January outlying the ordering information. 

More Science Fair information will be available in the upcoming months.

Let's Get Ready for Science Fair!            Chemistry lab - Click image to download.

Working Plan

Due Date

Date Completed

Parent Signature

Teacher Signature

1.  Select Topic/ 1st Science Log entry

12/8/04

 

 

 

2. Choose a problem statement

12/13/04

 

 

 

3.  Explore Resources

12/15/04

 

 

 

4.  Form Hypothesis

1/6/05

 

 

 

5.  Find Materials

1/11/05

 

 

 

6.  Experimentation- Take Photographs of Experiment

1/14/05

 

 

 

7.  Order Display Board from Mrs. Parker

1/19/05

 

 

 

9.   Prepare - Results/ Summary/Conclusion

2/23/05

 

 

 

10.  Plan/ Construct Display Board

3/1/05

 

 

 

11.  Projects Due to Teacher

3/10/05

 

 

 

12.  Science Fair Judging

3/15/05

 

 

 

                         Science Fair Ideas    Weird science - Click image to download.

http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/

http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

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Soccer Club: Mr. Roswell & Mr. Contreras

Our goal is to create a soccer league with other schools in the Southwest District.  We are in the process of finding interest level with other schools.  If there is little interest from neighboring schools in our district, Mr. Contreras and Mr. Roswell will create a mini-league at the school level.  The soccer league will start mid-January and run through March.  More information will follow.

Cancelled practice for Wednesday, March 9th & 23rd.  Please make arrangements to pick your child up.

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Spelling Bee: Ms. Gillum

Students that wish to participate in the school's Spelling Bee in January will meet three times a week to practice the words in their book.  Students are also given spelling tips to help them learn the words.  The winner of the Valley West's Spelling Bee will go on to compete at the district level.

Spelling Bee contestants are hopeful that they will become the last student standing when the "Final Word" is called.

Congratulations to CLAUDIA RAMIREZ, Valley West 4th grade student, for representing Valley West at the Southwest District Spelling Bee which was held at Gross Elementary School on February 11.  Claudia was presented a trophy by Mr. Devin Beringer from the Southwest District Office.  We are all very proud of Claudia.

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Student Council: Ms. Pierce

The Student Council of Valley West is composed of all children in grades first through fifth.  The Student Council meets once a month or more to:
Two Representatives are elected from each homeroom.  He/She represents his/her homeroom.  Fourth and fifth grade may campaign of the offices of President and Vice-President.  The President presides over the meetings, helps make sure all projects and activities are carried out, and works closely with the sponsor.
The Vice-President runs the meetings when the president is absent and helps with projects. Third, fourth, and fifth graders may campaign for the office of Secretary.  The Secretary writes the minutes, calls the roll, and gives the time and date of the next meeting.  Third, fourth, and fifth graders may campaign for the office of Treasurer.. The Treasurer keeps records of all the money spent and receives money coming in.  Two Representatives are elected from each homeroom.   He/She represents his/her homeroom at the meetings.  Each representative carries ideas from their classmates to the meetings and also reports back to the homeroom what has taken place in the meeting.  Students who are campaigning for an office make election posters and display them on the walls in the hall.  Then, the candidates give an election speech to the student body at a Student Council Election Rally.  A school wide election is held on the first Tuesday of November.
 
The Student Council plans fundraisers and service projects during the year.  Some of the projects that have been conducted are:
We thank all the students for participating in our student council election.  This is a valuable lesson for them to begin learning about the election process.  Hopefully, this experience will encourage some students to campaign for a student council position in middle or high school, or one day campaign in a city, state, or national election.
 

Unlike the United States Presidential election, students only had a week to campaign and a deliver a convincing speech before the entire school.  Some students even took notes to remember key issues before they voted on Tuesday, November 2, 2004.

     

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