Hershey Park Tickets On Sale
Back by popular demand, HERSHEY PARK TICKETS FOR SALE FOR THE 2015 season!
Once again we will be offering Hersheypark tickets at a substantial savings to you, while also raising money for VFMS!
Last year we were able to raise in excess of $3100 aiding in the purchase of iPads for classroom use! Additionally we were able to earn free tickets allowing us to give tickets to the families of TE Cares! These reasons alone, in addition to the most discounted rate around, should make you not want to purchase tickets anywhere else!
Don't delay, tickets will only be on sale for 3 more weeks so get them now! They will be delivered before the start of the season in May.
They can be ordered via this flyer or online. Any questions contact Trish McFillin. Thank you in advance for your support! |
 Just how much FUN did you have at the Fall Parent Social Tailgate? VFMS Parents - We NEED you! Did you have fun at the Fall Parent Social? Or wish that you had bought tickets before they were sold out? Do you live on a large property and would like to host, or have an idea for a spectacular venue that you are willing to secure? * * Consider helping us to plan our Fall 2015 event! * * We will be holding a kick off committee meeting in early April, following spring break, and we'd love for you to join our team! Please check a box (or boxes) via the attached link to let us know how you would like to help, then fill in your contact information and click "submit."
We look forward to hearing from you!
Trish McFillin, Parent Social Chairperson |
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Drama Info, Grades 5/6
Dear 5/6 Drama Participants and Supporters,
The reviews are in. The 5/6 drama production was a big hit. All your hard work - practicing, preparing, rehearsing, shuttling, and supporting - produced an excellent production of Folk Tales for Fun.
Thank you for your role in the production. It was a great experience!
Celeste D. Sparano
Producer/Director
Fifth Grade Blue Team
Social Studies
Room 703
610.240.2614
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 Spring Sports Information
All spring athletes should come prepared to practice outdoors Monday. Practice details will be decided Monday after evaluating field and weather conditions. Please check twitter at @VFMS_Athletics or visit www.twitter.com/VFMS_Athletics for the most up-to-date practice information. -Find the full spring game schedule online. -The spring sports parents meeting is Tuesday, March 24, at 4:30 in the cafeteria. -Team pictures will be taken on Tuesday, April 7. You can receive daily practice and game updates by following @VFMS_Athletics on twitter. Please contact the athletic office at 610-240-1311 or martoranom@tesd.net if you have any additional questions. SPRING REALLY IS COMING!!! |
 Join Valley Forge Middle School's PTO Board!
We would love you to join us! The VFMS PTO is seeking enthusiastic and creative and individuals to join the board. We are in particular need of:
- a VP of Communications and Volunteers who would be responsible for maintaining the website with our professional external provider
- an Executive VP to shadow the President with a view to taking over the Presidency in 2016
- a Treasurer to shadow the current incumbents prior to resuming the roles during the 2016-2017 school year
- VP Fundraising to shadow the current incumbents prior to resuming the roles during the 2016-2017 school year
- VP Socials to shadow the current incumbents prior to resuming the roles during the 2016-2017 school year.
A lot of the work involved in these positions can be done from home at times convenient for you.
We hold monthly PTO meetings which it is useful to attend and we try to schedule these to accommodate as many board members as possible. An added advantage is that the meetings are typically attended by the Principal, Matt Gibson, so it is a great opportunity to get a feel for what is going on at the school. Joining the board is a fantastic way to get involved in the life of Valley Forge Middle School and to help shape PTO events and activities for our children. If you would like to find out more, please contact Sarah Culbert at 610-608-8501. |
Volunteer Clearances
By now many if not all of you will have heard about the new Pennsylvania state wide requirement to obtain background clearances in order to be able to volunteer in TESD schools.  This is a process which has long been required in neighboring school districts and undoubtedly many of you involved in scouts, coaching and other activities connected with children have already had experience of this. The VFMS PTO Board wants to assure you that the procedure is not as onerous as it sounds!
At least two of the PTO Board members have submitted applications and received instant clearance via email. The third, who has lived overseas and needed to be fingerprinted, received two out of the three clearances within a week and is now awaiting the results of the third. If you have any questions, please refer to the information on the TESD website or feel free to contact Sarah Culbert at 610-608-8501. |
 Valley Forge Parents' Network Coffee Morning
Grab a Coffee and join us for a chat at Starbucks in Gateway Shopping Center on March 24,Tuesday at 8:30 AM!
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Gift Cards on Sale!
GIFT CARDS are back and better than ever!! We have been able to add a number of new retailers to our list of available gift cards. Aeropostale, American Eagle, Bertucci's, Chili's, Chipotle, Regal Cinemas, Zappo's .... Just to name a few. We will be collecting orders from now through the first week in June, and sending them in to be filled every other week. Please check out the new order form to see all the options. We are able to raise funds for the Senior Citizen's Prom in May from the rebates we receive from the Gift Cards you order. So you pay $25 for a $25 card or $10 for a $10 card, no more, no less. We receive from 7 to 10 % of the price of each card in rebates to help fund this great event!! Thanks for your support!!! 8th grade Leadership Seminar at VFMS |
Wizards vs. Teachers Is Coming Soon!
Tickets available online for FLITE vs. the Harlem Wizards, March 20 & 21, 7PM!
The Foundation for Learning In Tredyffrin/Easttown (FLITE) has invited the Harlem Wizards to return to play a team of T/E teachers, administrators and students. You won't want to miss this fun night of trick hoops and alley-oops! This popular community basketball event raises money to support FLITE-funded programs in our School District, and it has sold out games in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with the Conestoga High School gym filled to its capacity.
Tickets are available online. Visit the FLITE website to learn about purchasing tickets or sponsorship opportunities.
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KIDS CLOTHING GRAB BAG
Don't miss out on the 4th annual Kids Clothing Grab Bag on March 20 (2-7pm) or March 21 (9am-noon) at St. Matthew'
s United Methodist Church on Walker Road in Wayne.
 New this year is a girls teen Pop-up Shop. Teen girls are encouraged to come and get some "new"clothes! This fundraiser for T&E Care was very successful last year, with LOTS of high quality clothes for infants through teens available for your selection. Everyone in the community is invited to come and fill bags with kids clothing of your choice. The suggested donation amount is $10 per bag.
Tell your neighbors and friends to come and "shop"! Please go to www.tecare.org for more information about this event, to sign up to receive the T&E Care blast e-mail, and/or other ways you can get involved with this important LOCAL non-profit! Questions, please send a note to clothes@tecare.org.
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 A Community Conversation about our Teens' Emotional Health Wednesday, March 18th 7:00 PM Conestoga High School 200 Irish Road, Berwyn Join us for a conversation about the emotional well-being of teens in our community. We hope to help parents better understand the warning signs of depression and anxiety, as well as provide useful coping strategies and ideas for communicating with our kids on this topic. TESD Youth Survey results pertaining to depression and self-worth will be shared. The discussion will be led by Karen Moon, LCSW. Karen has over 25 years of experience in crisis counseling with an emphasis on grief & loss, parenting, and adolescent issues. This event is free and open to the community. It is hosted by ARCH and Tredyffrin Easttown schools. |
 Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States? On Friday, March 27, Cruisin' Smart™ will be doing a presentation for our 8th grade students. Cruisin' Smart™, a community education initiative of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, is a unique program that brings people face to face with the consequences of driving impaired or distracted by using true-life tragedies to instruct and change attitudes. Young speakers who are survivors of life-altering injuries warn their audiences that being impaired or distracted while driving can often result in a fate worse than death. This is a very powerful and important message we will be bringing to the student body. As part of the program, our students will be receiving 2 brochures. 1. "Student Safety Tips" - This brochure will include statistical information and facts/myths about the dangers of distracted driving. There will also be a reminder of how to develop a safety plan. 2. "Parent/Guardian Talking Guide" - This brochure is for you. It includes statistical information about distractive driving as well, but more importantly there are tips for you on how to have a conversation with your teen about the dangers of driving impaired and/or distracted. For your convenience, there is also a contract for you and your teen to develop. Please ask your teen about these brochures and review the information together.
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Save the Date and Start Growing Your Hair for Locks of Love!
I am Katie Ridder, a 7th grade student at Valley Forge Middle School, and I am organizing a Locks of Love hair drive within our school district. Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that makes custom wigs, from real hair, for financially disadvantaged children who have long-term medical hair loss. I am running this hair drive for my Girl Scout Silver Award because, like Locks of Love, I believe that no child should have to feel self-conscious about losing their hair. While the drive won't take place until March 2016 (more details to follow), I'm letting people know to start growing their hair out now so they can plan to participate, as the minimum hair donation is 10 inches. If you have any immediate questions or would like to participate in the drive please contact me at LOLhairdrive@Gmail.com. Thanks for your support and consideration! |
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| This Week at VFMS |
Mon March 16: Model UN Temple Field Trip Tues March 17: GR.8 PMEA District 12 Chorus Fest (Happy St. Patty's Day!) Wed March 18: Title 1 Parent Workshop Fri March 20: Hero Meeting Next PTO Meeting:
Thursday 9th April at 12 noon in the conference room off the main office
All are welcome to attend!
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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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