VFMS PTO Blast!



October 12th, 2014
Monday is Day 5
VFMS Parent Social!
Saturday October 18th, 7-11pm
Tailgate and Chili Cookoff            

at Historic Tivoli Farm

 

  
LAST CALL for the ADULT SOCIAL!! 

The extended forecast for this Saturday's Adult Social Tailgate looks great! Perfect fall weather to get out and socialize with friends old and new.  

If you haven't registered yet, please do so NOW so we can get accurate numbers to the caterer. (Great past week for registrations, thanks to all those that registered!) 

In case you haven't heard, the venue is awesome- such a cool barn on North Valley Road in Malvern belonging to a gracious VFMS family.  Cap't Dick's BBQ out of Malvern will be there with all you can eat pulled pork, ribs, and beef brisket all smoked on site. (Food options for vegetarians will be available as well.) Of course meal includes sides and dessert barBeer, wine, and soda also included in the ticket price, no cash bar as in previous years. 

 

Let's not forget the entertainment...the evening wouldn't be complete without the fabulous tunes of our local Common Bond!  Additionally, the mechanical bull is being fed extra well this week to ensure a smooth ride. ;) Can we entice you to challenge a fellow parent to a friendly game of horseshoes or corn-hole


 

 

Dig out your best and tastiest Chili recipe if you want to reap big rewards! Cash prize of $200 for First Place, $100 for Second, and $50 for Third, not to mention bragging rights!  Everyone in attendance can vote once for their favorite chili. 

 

There's still a chance to win something even if you can't cook chili! A $100 Nectar gift card could be yours just for attending!

  

In closing, where else can you get ALL THIS but the VFMS ADULT SOCIAL??!!!  Please join us THIS SATURDAY from 7-11, you won't be disappointed! 

 

See you soon!    

PS.  Rally your friends!  

Principal Meet and Greets - Last Call for RSVP's for 6th and 7th grades!

 

Please RSVP no later than 10:00am on Monday, October 13th if you are planning to attend one of the 6th or 7th grade Principal Meet and Greets on Tuesday 10/14 or Thursday

10/16. Information on RSVP contacts can be found here

 

  

For both grades, please also check to ensure that if you volunteer(ed) to bring a refreshment that you ALSO clicked on the separate link to register to attend the event, so that we can ensure that we are not missing your RSVP.

 

We appreciate your support!  Please contact  [email protected] with any questions. 

 

   
VFMS "Think Pink" MonthThink Pink
  
The VFMS Student Council encourages you to help us raise awareness for an important cause. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Valley Forge shows our support by thinking pink. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, until October 24th, the Student Council will be selling VFMS Thinks Pink T-Shirts. Shirts cost $10.00, and can be purchased in the morning before school in the Student Council Corner. Friday, October 24th will be the school wide Pink Out. Join the cause. Buy a new shirt, or replace your old one. All proceeds will benefit a local charity that helps raise awareness of the this disease that continues to affect so many families. Thank you for your support.
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 golden appleForge 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.

 

To learn more, click here. Interested in suggesting a recipient of a Golden Apple Grant? Check out the guidelines and application form to make your idea a reality! 

The VFMS CARE Team

 

Who We Are...   

The CARE Team is part of a state-wide Student Assistance Program. There are SAP teams in operation in all of Pennsylvania's middle schools.

 

Our Mission Statement...

The VFMS CARE Team is a certified group of teachers, administrators, school & community counselors who are trained to help remove the barriers that impede a student's academic success. 

 

Barriers may include: self-esteem, family problems, appearing sad, use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs, issues with eating, problems with peers, etc. CARE Team members do not diagnose, treat, or refer students for treatment, but they may refer a student for a parent approved assessment.

 

Warning Signs - Why a Student May be Referred

 

 Dramatic attention-getting behavior

 Drop in grades

 Changing group of friends

 Loss of interest/eligibility in sports

 Appears sad

 Puffiness around eyes

 Bloodshot eyes that appear glassy

 Change in sleeping/eating habits

 

Parental Involvement:

The CARE Team recognizes that you as a parent have a major role and responsibility in making decisions regarding your child.  The team will make every effort to involve parents in every step of the process.

 

 

All information collected through the CARE
process is confidential.

 

GO EAGLES!spiritwear

We are extending our fundraiser to Wednesday 10/15/14. Please help support the PTO by buying spirit wear during our fall fundraiser. The PTO makes 25% of sales during this fundraiser instead of the 10% on web orders.

Attached are order forms that can be completed and sent in to school marked spirit wear. Please see all items through the PTO website and click on the spirit wear link.

           -Orders are due NO LATER than 10/15/14.
-

 
 Walk To School Day
 
Join VFMS families as we participate in Walk To School Day! This event takes place on Thursday October 16th. Live a little too far to walk? Park nearby and enjoy a short walk! More information can be found here.
 
Volunteer
Open PTO Positions

Please consider taking on one of these positions and becoming more involved in your children's school!

*Executive Vice President - Work alongside the President to oversee the workings of the PTO Board with a view to taking over the position of President the next school year. A great way to get your feet wet before full immersion!

*BUILD Coordinator - BUILD stands for Better Understanding of Individuals with Learning Differences and is a group of parents and professionals of TE School District who have formed a support group for parents of children with learning differences.
The coordinator helps spread the word about Build meetings, forwards meeting announcements to LD teachers/counselors at VFMS and puts announcements into the VFMS Blast.

*Audit Review Committee - Once a year review the expenditure of the PTO and verify expenses tally with receipts. This is not an official audit per se and does not require accounting experience.

Please contact Sarah Culbert at [email protected] if you are interested in any of the above positions.

VFMS Parent's Network LUNCH at Black Powder Tavern
 
Please join VFMS Parents' Network for LUNCH and Conversation on October 22, noon at Black Powder Tavern located at1164 Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA 19087. It is a fun and informal way to discuss concerns and idea of raising middle school kids!
 
Shop Amazon / Support the PTO!
  
If you love to shop on Amazon, we have a fantastic way for you to help VFMS at the same time.  On the VFMS PTO homepage, you will see an Amazon.com graphic.  When you want to shop on Amazon, we are asking that you
simply use this link which will send you directly to the regular Amazon.com home-page.  
However, it will mark that your order is associated with our school and Amazon will donate a certain percent of your sale to VFMS!  It is that simple and takes just one extra step! You do not need to sign up or register with the program and if you are already an Amazon Prime member, you will still receive all of your Prime benefits.  VFMS has already earned roughly $650 with just a few parents participating and we bet there are more Amazon shoppers out there!  Think how much more we can earn by just one extra click!

In This Issue
Parent Social
Think Pink Month
Golden Apple Grants
VFMS CARE Team
Spiritwear
Walk To School Day
Open PTO positions
Parents' Network Lunch
Box Tops for Education!
VFMS PTO Logo

This Week at VFMS

 

Wednesday 10/15:
Fall Sports Picture Day  
 
Thursday 10/16:
Walk To School Day
 
Gratitude Corner
Thank you to all of those who helped us proofread the student directory! We appreciate your help!

Maite Iriondo
Karen Noll
Rita Gosnear
Debbie Riener
Laura Sclafani
Carla Connor
Monica Staniz
Dana Dienno
Heather Bittenbender
Patti McGaughan
Roopa Aditi
Wendy McPhee
Nancy Margolis

 Thank You
PTO Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities are still available at the Middle SVolunteer chool level! Please contact us and let us know how you'd like to stay involved. All information is here on our website. Looking forward to working with you! 
 
Directories Arriving
Directories will be in next week, so please look for yours coming home with your child by the end of the week. If it hasn't, you might want to inquire where it is!

Congratulations to Maggie Clancy for her winning design for the Student Directory cover!
Hillside 5KRun/1Mile Walk
Get the family out on November 2nd for Hillside E.S.'s first Fun Run! Day-of registration is  available or register on Hillside PTO's website. The run takes place at Wilson Farm Park and is a great way to start out a Fall Sunday morning! Download the registration form here or contact Lisa Nishikawa.
Conestoga Cavalcade
Come out on November 1st to hear wonderful music from 'Stoga's Cavalcade! Check out more information about this event here. null

 
Distracted Driving Seminar
  Radnor Area School District has opened its doors to an assembly that it is hosting on October 13th which will foccar-front-icon.gifus on a push to "End Distracted Driving." A hot topic in our modern day society, all are welcome to come learn how to reduce the effects of this dangerous habit. For more information, check out this flyer.
CHS Girls' Basketball Clinic

A Girls Youth Basketball Clinic will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 (10am-Noon) at VF Middle School for girls in grades 2 - 8.  Pre-registration is encouraged. Information can be found here

basketball_macro.jpg

 

Parent Seminar
Interested in protecting childhood and family relationships in the digital age? Come to the BIG DISCONNECT seminar on November 11th hosted at The Agnes Irwin School. Space is limited so click here  for information on registering.

  Trash Vocal Performance
Delta is sponsoring a fabulous performance that you won't want to miss! Described as a cross between
"Glee" and "Stomp" this
green-minded ensemble entertains with a unique type of "Urban Broadway!"
Takes place on Friday, November 14th. Click here for more information or check out Delta's website.
 
Box Tops for Education!
Boxtops
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!

 

If you have any questions, contact 

 

Way to Keep in Touch!
Puzzle

 
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

Blast Submissions

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, Lori Benedict, at [email protected] by 4PM the preceding Friday afternoon. Blast will go out each Sunday afternoon.