VFMS PTO Blast!

April 26th, 2015
Monday is Day 1
Handel's Ice Cream VFMS Spirit Day

Come out to support VFMS, and eat a sweet treat while you're at it! 

Wednesday April 29th
4pm-7pm Rain or Shine

You must present these Handel's vouchers for VFMS to receive 20% of the proceeds!!!

Vouchers will be handed out in book bags, at lunch and will be found on the PTO homepage as well as in the office. We cannot distribute the vouchers at Handel's, so please remember to bring them with you on Wednesday! 
  Hershey Park Tickets Extended!

 
 
 
You snooze you lose? Not this time! Due to many requests, the deadline for Hersheypark tickets has been extended to May 7th!  Discounted Hersheypark tickets can be ordered online or by order form/check by clicking here.  

Spring has finally sprung and summer will be here before we know it!  Why not include a sweet trip to Hersheypark this season for great fun and memories?  So many reasons why:

*More than 70 rides and attractions including 13 roller coasters. 
*Voted one of the cleanest and greenest theme parks in America.
*Plenty of good 'ol fashioned family-oriented fun.
*Admission included to Hershey's Chocolate World and the free Great American Chocolate Tour ride.
*Admission included to The Boardwalk water park featuring 14 water attractions including lazy river and wave pool.
*Admission included to ZooAmerica, their 11 acre walk through zoo.
*Can be used anytime during the 2015 season ending Septerber 27, 2015.
*Greatly discounted tickets with a portion of the sale coming back to VFMS!

Want even more fun?!  Organize a day for friends and family to join you and your kids!  There's no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase!  

Last year's Hersheypark ticket sale was a HUGE success! Please help us make this year's sale a success too!  
 
Any questions, please contact Trish McFillin. 
Thank you in advance for your support!
8th Grade Parents CHS Invite

Attention Parents of 8th Grade Students!!! You are cordially invited to attend a coffee for the parents of incoming ninth grade Conestoga students.  Dr. Amy Meisinger, Principal, and other members of the Administrative and Guidance staff will be there to tell you about Conestoga and to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
 
Mark your calendars for April 30th, and read full info here.

 

   Upcoming Parent Social Info.

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! * *   

 

 

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.

 

Save the Date--VFMS Book Fair!


Save the date! Summer required reading titles will be announced and copies will be available just in time for the Spring Book Fair at Barnes and Noble. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th.  Look for other exciting book fair events to be announced soon!  

 

  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.

Please read the most updated information on obtaining these clearances here.

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.

VFMS 2015 Senior Citizen's Prom  

  

The VFMS 2015 Senior Citizen's Prom is almost here!

 

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to our fundraising efforts through the Pretzel Sales, Gift Card Sales,

Pie-in-the-Face, and DSLL Opening Day!

  

We are able to offer this special evening to folks FREE OF CHARGE as a result of your support!!

 

Please spread the word and invite your friends and family who might like to attend:

 

 

VALLEY FORGE MIDDLE SCHOOL  

SENIOR CITIZEN'S PROM 2015

                                   

 

Be our guests for dinner, dancing, games, and more!

Please join us for a Patriotic themed prom on May 9th, 2015.

 

WHO: Anyone 60 years of age and up

WHEN: Saturday, May 9th

TIME: 5pm-8pm

WHERE: Valley Forge Middle School

 105 West Walker Road

 Wayne, PA 19087

 

RSVP: Irene Clemmer at 610.240.1300 or clemmeri@tesd.net

 

lunch
Parents' Network Lunch  

Join Valley Forge Parents' Network for  Lunch at McKenzie Brew House
in Berwyn (324 W Swedesford Rd)! 

* When: April 27, Noon!

*Bring all questions regarding raising middle school     kids!

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

 
In This Issue
Handel's Ice Cream Spirit Day
Hershey Park Tickets
Article Headline
Parent Social
PTO Open Board Positions
VFMS Book Fair
Volunteer Clearances
VFMS Senior Citizen Prom
Parents' Network Lunch
Gift Cards On Sale
VFMS PTO Logo

This Week at VFMS
Tues Apr 28th-Wed Apr 29th: PSSA Science testing Gr. 8

Wed Apr 29th:
-Handel's Spirit Day 4-7
-Rising 5th Grade Parent   Math Night 6-7:30

Thurs Apr 30th: Gr. 7 Rock Gym Field Trip


Marching Band
All 8th graders are invited to the preseason marching band rehearsals coming up in May for next fall's halftime show. Read full information here!
parade-band.jpg

Jazz Concert
Come out for this free Jazz concert on April 29th featuring musicians from the T/E school district! Full details here.
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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.