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Meet Teacher of the Week Pat Gately
Pat Gately has recently re-joined VFMS as Assistant
Principal after having been a gifted support teacher here and coaching 7th Grade soccer for two years. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in English and completed his M.Edat Shippensburg University. He has also taught at various schools in this area, notably T/E Middle School, Conestoga High School and the Haverford School. He is married to Karen, who teaches English at Conestoga, and they have two children at elementary school. In an interview with the PTO, Mr. Gately shared the following information.
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| Pick up & Drop off Procedures!
A kind reminder to parents: please remember that no cars should be in the bus circle after 7:00 a.m. Buses start arriving a little after 7:15 a.m. and cars cause chaos in the bus circle. Drop off should either be at the 5th Grade 700 wing entrance or in the parking lot in a safe spot.
Also please ensure that you arrange a rendezvous point with your children for pick up at the end of the day, whether it be immediately after school has ended or after music rehearsals or sports practices. This will save a lot of headaches for both you and your children.
The safety and security of all our children is our first priority.
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RSVP for Principal Meet & Greets!
The PTO will host fall parent coffees for 5th through 7th grade parents as follows:
5th Grade - Wednesday, September 25th @ 1:00 p.m. Hostess: Silvia Manoukian
Click here to RSVP!
5th Grade - Tuesday, October 1st @ 1:00 p.m.
Hostess: Tiffany Sellig
Click here to RSVP!
6th Grade - Thursday, October 10th @ 9:00 a.m.
Hostess: Tracy Amendola
Click here to RSVP!
7th Grade - Thursday, October 3rd @ 1:30 p.m.
Hostess: Julia Bartosh
Click here to RSVP!
8th Grade - Winter 2014 TBD
Hostess: Jean Kane
Each parent coffee will be graciously hosted at the home of one of our VFMS families. Parents in each respective grade are invited to attend the coffee which will last about an hour and will include remarks from our school administrators and grade level teachers regarding the curriculum and activities that your child(ren) will participate in during the fall semester. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and meet fellow parents in your child's grade.
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Student Directory Cover Designs
Each year, students at VFMS design the covers for
 the Student Directory. All students are invited to participate. Click here for details & form. All entries are due to an art teacher by Friday, September 20th. Happy Designing! |
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New Spirit Wear for VFMS!!!
Have you see our NEW Spirit Wear? It made its debut two weeks ago and is already a hit! There are two ways you can purchase items. At both curriculum nights, we will have a table set-up with items on hand for immediate purchase. This is a great way to see the fantastic quality first hand and judge sizing. Stop by early though because we sold out quickly during 5th grade schedule pick-up and new family tours!
The second way is by going on the seller's website where you can purchase items directly. This can be done anytime during the year.
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Golden Apple Grants
Do you know what a Golden Apple Grant is? Ever heard of them? Well, here is your chance to find out! The Valley Forge Middle School PTO has created a fund to support outstanding and innovative programs, ideas and/or purchases which will enrich the educational experience at VFMS. The standard  Golden Apple Grant is $200 and typically up to 10 grants will be made available during each school year.
Do you have an idea we can support? We are accepting grant applications now for the 2013-14 school year. Any member of the VFMS community is welcome to apply including teachers, staff, administrators, parents and of course students. The PTO Board will review submitted applications and grant recipients will be notified and receive funds on a 'first come, first served' basis until all budgeted funds have been allocated.
Application forms and guidelines are available here and also on our website. Please send completed applications to Sarah Culbert by email or by hardcopy to the PTO mailbox in the VFMS main office. Questions? Please contact Sarah by email or phone 610-783-1255.
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Middle School for Dummies!
The VFMS PTO Board is pleased to be hosting its second annual MS for Dummies on Wednesday, October 2nd in the Audion from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Aimed at parents new to the school but open to anybody who would like to hear more about how VFMS works, we will aim to demystify life
 in Middle School. In order to ensure we cover the areas of greatest concern and/or bewilderment, we would love to receive any questions and issues prior to the meeting. Kindly email them to Sarah Culbert, noting MS for Dummies in the subject line, and we will do our best to answer these in the session. As well as some 'old-time' parents, we will have Jacquie Hickey, Assistant Principal, on hand to answer questions about attendance and athletics. Please sign up here if you wish to attend.
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The Children's Dental Clinic
For those who have not heard of the clinic, we are a non-profit community clinic housed in the T/E Middle School. We are open solely to benefit the children of the T/E and Great Valley School Districts. (Eligibility is determined through the  federal free and reduced lunch program.) Our clinic is a one room, one-chair office staffed by a paid professional dentist and a nominally paid supervisor. Volunteers serve as dental assistants, drivers, board members and school representatives. The board is currently in need of a co-treasurer, and will be seeking a chair in the near future. This is truly a rare and wonderful community service. If you are able to help transport students to the clinic on Thursdays and/or have any questions, please contact VFMS School Representatives Caroline Sweeney, 610-688-0250; or Bernie Logan, 610-408-0997. Thank you! |
Paoli Wildcats Youth Basketball
Sign-up Information
When: September 28th at 9:00
Where: TEMS Front Gym
Who: All new players to the league
What You Need: Check the website for the forms you  should bring.
NEW THIS YEAR: Your child's division will be based on their current grade in school. Click here for Grade specific information.
Boys: Junior Division (4th and 5th grade)
Senior Division (6th and 7th grade)
Girls: Junior Division (4th and 5th grade)
Senior Division (6th, 7th and 8th grade)
**Birth certificates are not needed. Proof of grade may be requested.
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New VFES Falcon 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Kids' Fun Run! 
Sign Up Now For The New VFES Falcon 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Kids' Fun Run!
Sunday, November 3rd, 2013 in Wilson Farm Park.
Registration is OPEN for the new VFES Falcon 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids' Fun Run in Wilson Farm Park. There will be music, prizes for the winners in each age category and more. To register you can download a registration form, or you can register online, under "Events" and then "Race Calendar." Help support VFES with this new, healthy, family-oriented fundraiser!
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D E L T A
(Districts Educating and Learning Through the Arts)
presents two amazing shows:
Harris III, Master Illusionist 
Friday, November 1st, 2013
7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Valley Forge Middle School
Tickets: $10 per person at the door
Grand Derangement
Friday, February 21st, 2014
7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Radnor High School
Tickets: $10 per person at the door
Exciting music and a visual feast! Defies audiences to sit still!
The bow fires up the fiddle and the sparks fly!
Discount available for season ticket. For ticket information for both shows, click here.
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Upcoming Events!
9/24 - Grade 7-8 Curriculum Night 6:50PM
9/25 - Grade 6 Blue Team USTC Team Building Trip
9/26 - Grade 6 Gold Team USTC Team Building Trip
10/3 - Gr. 5 Cherry Crest Farm Trip
10/4 - Pink Friday
10/15 - Gal Chorale Gr. 6-8
10/29 - Picture Retake Day
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7th & 8th Grade
Welcome Back Dance!
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7th & 8th Grade Welcome Back Dance Friday, September 20th 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 On Sale (Tuesday - Friday) here at school. Tickets will not be available at the door.
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| This Week @ VFMS | |
Monday
Fall Sports Parent Meeting 4:30 p.m. in cafeteria
Tuesday
School Picture Day
Fall Sports Picture Day
Grade 5-6 Curriculum Night 6:50 p.m.
Friday
Grade 7 & 8
Welcome Back Dance
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
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| VFMS PTO Donations | |
The VFMS PTO
respectfully requests
that you consider making a
tax-deductible annual family contribution of $50.
Of course, any amount is appreciated, but with your $50 donation, our PTO will be more equipped to meet our objective of supporting the education of our children and strengthening the community at VFMS.
There are two ways to make your donation:
mail in your donation
(form attached),
or
Click on the PayPal
'Donate' button below.
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| DIRECTORY ORDERS HERE!!! | |
The VFMS 2013-14 Directory is available for pre-order by filling in this form.
Directories are
$10 for one,
$15 for two
and
$20 for three.
They will be in homerooms by October 4th, 2013.
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| Box Tops for Education! | |
Box Tops for Education
are an easy way to help raise money for VFMS.
Just clip Box Tops
and drop them in the collection box located in the main office.
Help us reach
our goal this year.
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| ARCH CARES! | |
DON'T MISS...
Sleepover, Parties
& Waiting Up for Them
Wednesday, Sept.18, 2013
9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Located at the T/E Administrative Offices (TEAO)
940 West Valley Rd, Suite 1700
Wayne, PA 19087
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| Important Numbers | |
VFMS Main Office:
610-240-1300
Attendance Line:
610-240-1330
T/E Transportation:
610-240-1680
T/E District Office:
610-240-1900
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Blast Submissions
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If you have school news you want to have published in the Blast, please write it up exactly how you want it to appear and send it in email to the editor, at
sydneyruth@me.com by the preceding Friday afternoon. Blast will go out each Sunday afternoon.
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