VFMS PTO Blast!

March 29th, 2015
Tuesday April 7th is Day 5
  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 be on sale only until April 3rd 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

 

Volunteer 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.
volunteer
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.
Calling All 6th and 7th Graders
sports

Is your child interested in playing sports for VFMS next year? All 7th and 8th grade students are welcome to participate in interscholastic sports for the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Please read the athletics website here for more information about how to prepare for the next school year.
Parenting Seminar for Elementary and Middle School Parents
family

Tuesday, April 28th

7:00 pm @Devon Elementary School


Parents are invited to join ARCH for a presentation by Tricia Ferrara, the author of "Parenting 2.0," followed by an open discussion.  The evening will focus on practical strategies that can be established with younger children and will become even more significant as those children head into adolescence. More information here.

 

 

Craft and Flea Market--Vendors Welcome!

Register now (by April 1st) for April 11th's Craft and Flea Market! More information here.
Gift Cards on Sale!
gift card

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

 

Register Your Tartet RedCard
 
Reminder - Register Your Target REDcard!
Making purchases at Target to spruce up your patio this Spring?  Maybe getting some Lilly Pulitzer for Target items?  Don't forget to register your Target REDcard (debit or credit card) to support VFMS!  This super simple program is an easy fundraiser for the school.  You still get your usual REDcard perks, and the school gets up to 1% of your purchases.  Register your card here. Happy Spring!
In This Issue
Hershey Park Tickets
Spring Parent Social
PTO Open Board Positions
Volunteer Clearances
Next Year's Sports
Parenting Seminar
Craft and Flea Market
Gift Cards On Sale
Target REDCard
VFMS PTO Logo

This Week at VFMS
Wed Apr 8: Spring Sports Pictures

Wed Apr 8: Pre-Algebra Preview Night, 7-8:30

Fri Apr 10: Hero Meeting, 8am

Fri Apr 10: End of MP3

Next PTO Meeting:
Thursday 9th April at 12 noon in the conference room off the main office
All are welcome to attend!
Gratitude Corner
Thank You
Just a quick thank you from T&E Care for the amazing donations from VFMS.  Our school came through by donating over 40 big bags of clothes!  Overall the event was a huge success again this year, and we wanted to thank all the families that helped make this happen.  
Karen Ridder and Rita Gosnear

 

Shop Amazon/Help PTO

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.

 You can also click this link:  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2936863

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 lori.mb@gmail.com by NOON the preceding Friday afternoon. Blast will go out each Sunday afternoon.