I love the first day of school! Lots of smiles from teachers, students, and parents! We look forward to welcoming our Kinders next Tuesday, September 3.

Dear MVE Families,

Welcome Back! Our team at Methow Valley Elementary is excited to see everyone. The elementary school is a quiet place currently as our teaching staff returns to work next Monday, August 19. Prior to their return I’d like to send out a few dates to put on your calendar to help us get ready for the school year. Attending the following events will help your student get off to a great start!

August 22 at 4:00pm: Your child’s teacher will be sending you an email on Thursday, August 22 at 4:00pm welcoming you to their classroom community and inviting you to the Meet and Greet the following day. Additionally, class lists will be posted in the front window of the main entrance to the school at the same time. Kindergarten families will have already been contacted by their child's teacher earlier that week.

Friday, August 23, between 11am-12pm: Please come to school on Friday, August 23, between 11am-12pm for our Meet and Greet, so that you and your child can find their classroom, and say hi to their teacher! This is an open house format so feel free to drop by anytime between 11am-12pm. Please note the day of this event, Friday, as it is a change from previous years. We made this change to accommodate a number of scheduling conflicts.

Tuesday, August 27: The first day of school for grades 1-5 is Tuesday, August 27. This is a regular school day; school starts at 8:30, and dismissal is at 3:10.

Tuesday, September 3 is the first Day of Kindergarten: Super exciting! School starts at 8:30, and school is dismissed at 3:10. Teachers will cover drop off and pick up specifics at the Family Conference. As you drop off your Kinder in the morning, don’t forget to stop by our Kindergarten Tea and Tissues in the Library. You’ll have a chance to learn more about our school, meet a few additional staff members, and get any additional questions answered.

I know the first day of school comes with excitement, and anxiousness as we adjust to new routines. If I can do anything to help with the transition back to school, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Paul Gutzler

Methow Valley Elementary

Principal

Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,

As the new school year approaches, we’re often reminded of the financial pressures that can come with it, including various fees for supplies, activities, and other expenses. Many families face these challenges, with some paying substantial amounts just to cover the cost of education.

Over a decade ago, a friend shared a screenshot with me showing the staggering $1,250 in fees she had to pay for her four children for just one semester. Sadly, this situation remains common in many communities due to inadequate funding for basic education.

Despite these challenges, the Methow Valley School District (MVSD) remains dedicated to its mission of "Equity and Excellence for All." Our budget is designed to ensure that every student has access to a free and appropriate public education.

How do we achieve this? As former MVSD Board Director Mary Anne Quigley wisely said, “We can’t do this alone. We can do it together!” Our ability to offer high-quality education and resources is largely thanks to the support from our local levies and our wonderful educational partners.

For those who enjoy the tradition of back-to-school shopping, we invite you to consider a new tradition: supporting our educational partners. Your donations can make a significant difference. Here are some of the many organizations that support our students:

Public School Funding Alliance (PSFA)

Methow Arts

Little Star School

Methow Valley Riding Unlimited

Classroom in Bloom

TwispWorks

Liberty Bell Booster Club

Winthrop Kiwanis Club

Methow Recycles

Pipestone School of Music

Methow Conservancy

North Central Regional Libraries

Winthrop Rink

Methow Trails

Methow Housing Trust

Room One

We look forward to a great school year ahead and thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Tom Venable

Superintendent, Methow Valley School District

Our 5th graders are at Mountain School at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center and having a blast! Thanks to everyone for making this trip happen, particularly our 5th grade teaching staff, and parent chaperones, who are with our students for this 3 day/2 night field trip.

Come to the Winthrop Library on Thursday May 30th at 5:30 pm if you are a parent of children ages 5-8, see flyer for details!

Today we had our friends from Little Star visit our school! These students will make up part of the Kindergarten class of 2024-25.

These upcoming Kinders got to ride a school bus, and enjoy visits to the cafeteria, library, Kinder classrooms, the playground and the school garden!

Our Reading Specialist at Methow Valley Elementary is hosting two events: Raising Readers.

Learn about the typical stages we see in children as they become readers and how caregivers can support them. Explore engaging literacy resources for summer. This presentation is based on the science of reading and will be led by Reading Specialist, Cara Christensen.

Two sessions:

May 22- Parents of children 0-5 at 5:30

May 30- Parents of children 5-8 at 5:30

Save the Date! Wednesday, May 29 at 5:00 pm

5th Graders from Methow Valley Elementary are preparing to take action to make our community an even better place!

This is part of 5th grade Exhibition, the capstone event of the elementary school years!