A Note From the PTO
Welcome to 2015! We hope the first week back after the holidays has been easy despite the  frigid temperatures. We have received a number of delightful thank you notes from faculty and administrative staff for the PTO gifts we gave them just before the holidays, a few of which are quoted below. It is thanks to the generosity of our VFMS parents that we are able to recognize the staff in this way. We are also happy to report that the 60 iPads purchased last year with PTO funds are making their way into classrooms and we will share more about this with you in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the PTO is about to purchase a MacBook Air to support the iPads by enabling the roll out of apps onto the devices. If you have any questions about the work of the PTO or would like to become more involved, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our website www.vfmspto.org is a great resource and contains a lot of useful information. "Thank you for your generous monetary gift! I want you to know that those funds will be put toward resources I can use in my groups. I appreciate your thoughtfulness!" School Counselor
"Thank you for your generous check - it will certainly be put to good use in our classrooms. We appreciate you thinking of this and at this time." The Fifth Grade Teachers
"What a wonderful surprise on receiving your check in my mailbox today. So unexpected but greatly appreciated! We are so lucky to have such an involved and supportive parent group at VFMS." Mental Health Specialist
We also received a lovely thank you from Susan Smith and Susan Crocker: "Thank you so much for your help in coordinating the refreshments for 5th grade Math Night. You definitely played an important role in making it a fun and successful event. Thank you again for your support!" The VFMS PTO also received a letter from Arthur J McDonnell, Business Manager/Board Secretary for the TE School District, thanking us for our generous donation of Golden Apple Grants to the Odyssey of the Mind club and the Health Cooking Club.
Happy start to 2015!
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A Note From the School
1. Please would parents kindly refrain from using the bus circle in the mornings before 8am and after 2pm, as  this is when the buses are arriving to drop off and pick up our children, and it is both unsafe and a hindrance to the arrival/dismissal process if parents' cars are in the circle. 2. Pl  ease think twice before letting your sick child come to school even if it means they will miss a test or not be able to hand in a piece of work. This will help our entire school community plus parents and siblings to remain as healthy as possible during this tough time of year.
Thank you on both counts!
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Drama Info, Grades 5/6
5/6 Drama Cast Members and Parents,
The attached letter provides you with useful information regarding the play. Page two outlines important dates and times. Please return the signed letter to Mrs. Sparano ASAP so that the casts can be assigned.
Thank you for your support of this production.
Celeste D. Sparano
Fifth Grade Blue Team
Producer and Director
Room 703
610.240.2614
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ESL FAMILY NIGHT
Come out to meet the ESL teachers & families throughout our district that are in, or have been in, the ESL program. When: Thursday, January 15, 6:30-8:00 Where: Conestoga High School 200 Irish Road, Berwyn, PA 19312 What: ESL Family Party! See old friends, make new friends! Refreshments: Please bring a favorite dessert from your country to share with other ESL families (not required) {please include a list of ingredients to inform those with special dietary concerns} *You may choose to wear traditional clothing from your country if you would like. *Sponsored by the CHS Multi-Culture Club*
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5th/6th Grade Bowling Party
Join us on January 28 from 3-4:30 pm at Devon Lanes for some after school fun!
Info for students: Tickets will be $10 and will be given once you've returned your permission slip, which you can get during your lunch period. There also will be bus transportation to Devon Lanes, but please arrange for a ride home. All detailed information can be found here.Info for parents:
We'll need a few parent volunteers to help things run smoothly and efficiently. There will be 3 buses available t  o transport children to Devon Lanes, leaving from VFMS at 2:40pm. However, we need 1 parent volunteer per bus to ride with the children to Devon Lanes.
We also need:
- 1 parent volunteer to drive the parent bus riders back to their car at VFMS
- 5 parent volunteers to help check in the kids when they arrive at the lanes.
(Parent volunteers are welcome to both
ride the bus to Devon Lanes and help check-in children).
Please sign up here by January 20. Any questions can be directed to Cecilia Cole by email or at 610.580.8559.
Thanks, in advance, for making
another VFMS activity successful!
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Attention 8th Grade Parents
Principal Meet & Greet!
Eighth grade graduation will be here before you k now it. Over the next few months, both parents and students will have the opportunity to learn about what to expect at Conestoga and the transition to high school. More information and a time line of events will be shared in the coming weeks.
The first of these events for parents is the very important 8th Grade Principal Meet & Greet. Principal Matt Gibson, along with the 8th grade counselors and faculty, will discuss how the school is preparing your child for the transition to Conestoga. In addition, several of the Conestoga High School counselors will be there to answer any of your questions about the course selection process and what you can expect once your child is a student at Conestoga.
The Meet & Greet has been scheduled for Thursday, February 12th, at 8:00 a.m. Thank you to the Tomasicchio family for graciously hosting this event which will be held at 342 Old State Road, Berwyn.
Please check our website this week to RSVP. In addition, we need volunteers to bring some continental breakfast items. If you can help, please check the website volunteer tab, and let us know what you will bring.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on February 12th!
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Wellness Week
Wellness plays a more vital role in our children's
healthy lifestyles than we realize. Wellness is about the whole being and learning how to manage any and all stress that impacts our lives. On the week of January 26th
thru January 30th, a Parent-Sponsored Wellness Week will help promote ideas for our children to learn about wellness through nutrition, exercise, community involvement, stress techniques, and creative arts. Many members of the community will help to make this unique and creative event a huge success including: Trader Joe's, Upper Main Line Y, Fit Fire Studios, Police and Fire Department, and more. Please see the full details here, and if you can offer any time to volunteer, please contact Missi Vanover or Missy Farkouh at mlfarkouh76@gmail.com.
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Public Awareness Event With Chris Nowinski
Concussion 101: For Families, Professionals and Our Community  -Sponsored by Chester County BrainSTEPS
When: January 13th, 2015, 6:00-8:00pm
Place: Technical College High School - CCIU
Brandywine Campus - Cafeteria- Entrance B
455 Boot Road
Downingtown, PA 19335Details:Chris Nowinski, a former Harvard football player and WWE professional wrestler, is dedicated to the sports concussion crisis. Chris was forced to retire after a series of concussions, and his challenging recovery led him to write the book Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis. Read more details about Chris and this event here, and plan to attend what will surely be an informative evening!
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| This Week at VFMS | |
Tuesday, Jan 13: Science Fair
Wednesday, Jan 14:
Spelling Bee
Stay Warm!
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MLK Day of Service
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On the kids' day off for MLK Day on January 19th, how about joining in some community service activities! Great opportunities for great causes Check out more info here.
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Wizards Game
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Save the date for this awesome community event - FLITE vs. Harlem Wizards March 20th and 21st, 2015! Find information about the evening here.
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Shop Amazon/Help PTO
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Support the VFMS PTO every time you shop-at no cost to you - when you shop Amazon through AmazonSmiles.
Choose "Valley Forge Middle School Parent Teacher Organization" as your charity, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the VFMS PTO.
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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!
If you have any questions, contact
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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, Lori Benedict, at lori.mb@gmail.com by NOON the preceding Friday afternoon. Blast will go out each Sunday afternoon.
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