Cougar Chat
Educating Lifelong Learners
August 20, 2023
Upcoming
Monday, August 21
First Day of School
Tuesday, August 29
PTO's Cookies and Cream Fundraiser 5:00-8:00pm
Friday, September 1 and Monday, September 4
NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
Friday, September 15
NO SCHOOL - Holiday
Monday, September 25
NO SCHOOL - Holiday
Thursday, September 28
Back to School Night
Principal's Chat
Welcome to another terrific year of learning at Mountain View! Our teachers and staff have been working hard to make sure we are ready for an excellent first week for all of our students.
Please note that for safety reasons, parents/families are not allowed to accompany students into the building on the first day. Neither are parents allowed on the bus loop to take pictures of students getting off of the bus. I realize this may be disappointing, but we work very hard to keep our building secure for our students and staff.
Dismissal on the first days of school is VERY important! We work hard to make sure we send every child home the correct way. A physical note from you will help tremendously! It is also important that your child is able to tell the teacher how they are getting home and that these two pieces of information match.
Bus Arrival - When students get off of the bus in the morning, we will write the bus number on their hand. I recognize this is an "old school" method, but it is the best we have found to help ensure that students get back on the correct bus at the end of the day.
In the morning, teachers will ask each student how they are getting home. This information should match the note that you send in. If the child is uncertain or we do not have a note from a parent, we have a system in place to call parents to verify.
At the end of the day, we dismiss AlphaBest students and Kiss and Ride students first. We verify those students are in the correct place. Our kindergarten teachers will walk their students to the bus and ensure that the driver knows each child and that they are on the correct bus. First grade teachers will also walk their students to the bus.
We will then call bus numbers and have 2nd-5th grade students exit the building and walk to the bus loop and board their bus. There will be extra adults on the loop, checking bus numbers to make sure students get on their correct bus.
Please know that the first days of school, this process takes quite a bit of time. I will not send busses until I am confident that all of our students are on the correct bus. Expect busses to be late the first week of school. We will send an email and text message letting parents know when the busses are leaving MVES so that you will know when they are on the road.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
~Ms. Harrison
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival
Students arrive to school either on a bus or through the Kiss & Ride lane. Please do not park in the parking lot and attempt to have your student walk across the car lane. If you are using the K&R lane, your child will need to be able to unbuckle and exit the vehicle independently. Parents should not get out of the driver's seat while in the lane. Please review the K&R procedures linked below.
Standing Dismissal
We need to know how your child will be dismissed on a daily basis. This will be the standing dismissal procedure for your child. We ask that you send this information in a note with your child on the first day of school. If there are changes to this "normal" we ask that you send a note or email the teacher and the front office at mves-attendance@pwcs.edu.
Changes to Dismissal
If you need to change the way your child is to go home, please send a note with your child or email the teacher and the front office at mves-attendance@pwcs.edu. We need to know about changes to dismissal by 12:00pm.
Busses
Download and us the Here Comes the Bus™ App to get information on your child's bus.
https://herecomesthebus.com/ The school code is 76348
Kiss & Ride for Dismissal
You will need a Kiss & Ride number and tag to go through the lane at the end of the school day. Contact Mrs. Ally Pauli for this information. Please do not block the bus entrance or exits as you are waiting in the K&R lane. Also, please do not stop along the grass by the brick Mountain View sign, as that does not allow enough room for the busses to get by safely. At the end of the day, students are dismissed to the gym, where they will wait for their K&R number to be called. They will then proceed outside and walk down the sidewalk to their vehicle.
Day Care Van
Van riders will be dismissed to the gym at the end of the day. Since the day care vans come through the Kiss & Ride lane, students will follow the same procedures as K&R.
AlphaBest (School Aged Childcare)
Students will be dismissed to the cafeteria at the end of the day. Parents will use Door 8 to bring and pick up their children from AlphaBest.
Bell Times
School Hours
9:10 AM – Arrival Bell Rings
9:20 AM – Tardy Bell Rings (students must be signed in at the office after 9:20)
4:00 PM – Dismissal Bell Rings
Supply Lists
The supply lists can be found in the document linked below or on the MVES webpage.
Device Insurance
Cougar Cafe Chat
PWCS Nutrition Meal Benefits, Menus and More!
Students who attend a school that falls under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) will receive meals free of charge. Please visit the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department’s website, www.pwcsnutrition.com, to view a list of the CEP schools.
Families of students not attending a CEP school are encouraged to complete a Free Meal Benefits Application. Free meals are available to students whose households qualify under federal standards. The Meal Benefits Application is available in English and Spanish on the PWCS Meal Benefits Application webpage. After your 2023-24 Meal Benefits Application is processed, you will be notified by e-mail or US mail of your child's status. Until you are notified, you must provide your child with meals or money for meals. If your child was eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the 2022-23 school year, they will receive free breakfast and lunch until October 5, 2023.
Meal prices for the 2023-24 school year are listed below. You can pay for meals online via www.MySchoolBucks.com.
Our breakfast and lunch menus are available online at www.pwcsnutrition.com. You can sign up to have the menu emailed to you monthly and download our free menu app for your smart phone! Contact the Food and Nutrition Department at 703-791-7314 with questions, or visit our website, www.pwcsnutrition.com, for more information. We are looking forward to serving your students again this year!
MVES Webpage
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Mountain View
Cougars are:
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As we Grow, we are Accountable for what we do and are Respectful to all in order to be Successful.
Email: harrisay@pwcs.edu
Website: https://mountainviewes.pwcs.edu/
Location: 5600 McLeod Way, Haymarket, VA, USA
Phone: 703-754-4161
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