VFMS PTO Blast


November 1st, 2015
Monday is Day 1
NOTE: VFMS picture retake day will be on Friday, December 8th.

 VFMS Bookfair--Mark Your Calendars!
 
Save the date! Visit the VFMS Fall Book Fair at Barnes and Noble to stock up on gifts for this holiday season.  Or, buy some books for yourself to read by the fire this winter! 

Mark your calendar now for November 14th and 15th.  Click here for more information.
 
5th Grade Math Night

Please join us for the popular, fun anmathd social 5th Grade Math Night!  
This event will be held on Thursday, November 12th from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the VFMS Cafeteria. Please click here to read full information! 
Basketball Tryouts 
basketball_macro.jpg
Interested in playing basketball this year? Mark your calendars with the following tryout dates! 

7th grade basketball tryouts - November 16-18
8th grade basketball tryouts - November 19, 20, 23

All winter practices begin Tuesday, December 1.

VFMS Parents' Network

Hi all VFMS parents!
Please join us for Brunch at Black Cat Caf� on November 12 at 11 AM! Black Cat Caf� is a cozy cafe serving soups, salads, sandwiches and breakfast all day to raise money for pet rescue efforts.

It is located at 42 Berkeley Road, Devon, PA 19333! We hope you can make it!

VFMS Parents Network Organization.
RSVP needed to Angelica Riley at [email protected] or 510-681-6330
VFMS Volleyball Game

Game: Thursday November 12th  3:00pm-4:00pm
Please arrange for a ride home by 4:15pm!!!!

In keeping with tradition, the 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Team is challenging the faculty of VFMS to show them our bumps, sets,  and spikes in the annual Student vs. Faculty Volleyball Game.
 
We will be running a FOOD DRIVE to benefit the People's Pantry in Malvern on Church Rd. (a local pantry supported by the Chester County Food Bank) in conjunction with the game.  The price of admission is:  A donation to the Food Drive (VFMS main lobby before school on Monday November 9th -Thursday November 12th OR at the door before the game.).
 
Please come out and support the 8th Grade Volleyball team as they take on the Faculty!
 
Support the efforts of the team as well as student council---make a donation to the food drive for a good cause whether or not you plan to attend the game! Donations will be accepted all week in the main lobby before school!  You can send donations in with your child to be dropped off in the lobby each morning.
   
 
Cello Fury All-School Assembly!
 
Cello Fury will perform for the entire school on the afternoon of Monday, November 9th A cello rock powerhouse featuring three cellists and a drummer, Cello Fury's original music combines the emotive and symphonic sounds of the cello with driving rock beats to create a cinematic, progressive rock sound.  This PTO funded cultural arts assembly will highlight to our children that traditional classical instruments can play many different styles of music!
 
Cello Fury will also perform live for the community at Valley Forge Middle School on Friday November 13th at 7:00 PM.  Tickets for this DELTA sponsored performance are $10 and on sale at  www.artsdelta.net or at the door. 

To inquire about reduced rates and reserved seating available to groups of 10 or more, e-mail [email protected].

For more information on DELTA, please visit www.artsdelta.net. For more information on Cello Fury, please visit www.cellofury.com.
 
Locks of Love Drive
 
My name is Katie Ridder, and I am an 8th grade student at Valley Forge Middle School. On March 5, 2016 I am holding a Locks of Love hair drive for a Girl Scout project. I am trying to reach out in the community and get the word out to as many groups as possible.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit
organization that makes custom wigs, from real hair, for financially disadvantaged children with long term or permanent medical hair loss.I am trying to get as many people as possible to donate to this worthy cause, attached is a flyer with my contact information, as well as
more information on my project. Thank you for any support you can give! 
 T&E Care Fall Fest--Under the Harvest Moon


Once again it's time for the T&E Care annual fundraiser.  This year's Fall Fest will be on Saturday, November 7 at
St. Davids Golf Club from 6:30-11
.  Everyone is invited to attend, and RSVPs can be made right on the website, www.tecare.org.  

T&E Care is a non-profit that lends assistance to families in the T/ESD who might be struggling due to any number of reasons. Referrals come from the schools, local churches, or other sources.  All requests are confirmed and confidentiality is key, as these are our neighbors. This all-volunteer organization is not supported with any government funds - only local donations and a few grants.  This fund raiser is key to helping it have the funds to cover requests as they come in during the balance of 2015 and all of 2016.  Please check the website for more information, to buy raffle tickets (you do not need to be present to win the raffles), or to RSVP.

T&E Care Holiday Drive 2015

Last year our holiday drive list included almost 100 local families who needed help getting presents, gift cards, warm clothes and food for the holidays.  We expect the same this year as times continue to be difficult for many!  Each school in the district has graciously offered to collect a specific need for this event.  At VFMS, we are again in charge of new hats, gloves, socks and blankets. Items don't need to be wrapped, but please only new items for this drive.  There will be a bin in front of the office for your donations.  Collection dates are November 2 - 13. 
                              
     5th grade: Hats
            6th grade: gloves
            7th grade: socks
            8th grade: blankets

Thank you so much for your help!

For your information, the larger T&E Care Holiday Drive will begin on Monday, November 16.  Their website will post the wish lists of all the families they will be   supporting.  We are going to need a lot of community members to help out in order to make this drive a success. Please consider helping in any way you can. If you want to volunteer for the Holiday Drive sorting day (Dec. 9 or 10) or get  involved in any other way, that would be great - contact them at [email protected].
 
In This Issue
VFMS Bookfair
5th Grade Math Night
Basketball Tryouts
VFMS Parents' Network
Girls' Volleyball Game
Cello Fury Assembly
Locks of Love
T&E Care Fall Fest
T&E Care Holiday Drive
VFMS PTO Logo

THIS WEEK AT VFMS
Tues, Nov. 3rd: 
NO SCHOOL,
Teacher Inservice

Fri, Nov. 6th:
End of MP1 
Hillside ES Fun Run
Come out to support Hillside Elementary School's annual Fun Run! The run takes place in Wilson Farm Park on November 8th. Read full information here to sign up!
Fun Run

 
Girls' Basketball Clinic
A Girls Youth Basketball Clinic will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2015
(9:30-11:30am) at VF Middle School for girls in grades 2 - 8.
Pre-registration is encouraged.

Read more info. here!
 
Winter Squash
Interested in playing squash this Winter? Berwyn Squash offers programs for 5th-8th graders! Check out full info here.

 
CHS Boys' Basketball Clinic
Mark your calendars for November 22nd....CHS is running a boy's basketball clinic! Find full info here.
Basketball
 
CHS Performs The Taming of the Shrew
Come out to Conestoga for their Fall production!

SHOW DATES are listed below and full information can be found here:

Thursday, Nov 19, 7pm
Friday, Nov 20, 7pm
Saturday Nov 21, 2pm and 7pm

Conestoga High School
Hobson C. Wagner Auditorium
 
FLITE AND WHOLE FOODS TEAMING UP
FLITE is Whole Foods Nickels for Non-profit beneficiary from September 28th through January 17th. Whole Foods in Devon will donate a nickel for every reusable bag. This is a wonderful and easy fundraiser for FLITE. Click here for full details and how to help!
Girls' Volleyball Team
Calling all girls ages 12-18....tryout for a traveling Volleyball Team! Tryouts this Thursday, November 5th. Full information here.

 
Shop Amazon/Help PTO

There is nothing you can't find on Amazon and we know many of you use this site frequently.   

 

But, did you know that by making a slight adjustment to the way you access their website, you could be benefiting the VFMS PTO?

 

When you shop at AmazonSmile (www.smile.amazon.com), rather than the regular Amazon site, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Valley Forge Middle School Parent Teacher Organization. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2936863 and support us every time you shop. 

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 NOON the preceding Friday afternoon. Blast will go out each Sunday afternoon.