VFMS PTO Blast


December 13th, 2015
Monday is Day 2
Direct Donation Campaign iPod

We are off to a great start with our Direct Donation Campaign!  We've had 83 generous families donate roughly $6700!  This means we are 22% towards our goal of $30,000 to fund our next iPad purchase.  We are very thankful to those 83 families who have shown their support and we are hopeful there are many more of you out there who can lend a hand! 

Don't forgot, your donation is tax deductible and if you want claim it as a deduction this year, your donation must be made no later than 12/31/15

There are two easy ways donate:  send a check made payable to the VFMS PTO into the VFMS office marked "VFMS PTO Direct Donation Campaign" or click on this link
to take you to the VFMS PTO website where you can make a donation through Paypal. 

Thank you for your generosity!

Panera Fundraiser

Please come on out to PANERA in Gateway on Tuesday, Dec. 15th between 4 pm and 8 pm! Click here for full info. 

Plan to share a meal with family or friends, or take home a meal or some baked goods. Members of the VFMS 8th Grade Leadership Seminar will be there to collect your receipts - Panera will donote 20% of your pre-tax bill to help us pay for the Senior Citizen's Prom we host in May. This is a great way to have an easy meal during the busy holiday season AND support a worthy cause. THANK YOU!!

Principal Meet & Greets!
 
Attention 8th Grade Parents
Eighth grade graduation will be here before you know 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 8th Grade Meet & Greet has been scheduled for Friday, February 5th, at 8:00 a.m.  Thank you to the Castleman family for graciously hosting this event which will be held at 495 School House Lane.
Please RSVP in advance here
 
Please check our website for RSVP information.  In addition, we need volunteers to bring some continental breakfast items. If you can help, please click here, and let us know what you will bring.  
 
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on February 5th!  

5th, 6th and 7th Grade Meet and Greets

The PTO is hosting three Meet & Greets in February to give parents an opportunity to chat with Principal Matt Gibson and teachers and staff from their child's grade.  Each Meet & Greet will feature a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, including an update on the curriculum as we approach mid-year as well as specific events and activities coming up for each grade level.      
 
  • The 5th Grade Meet & Greet will be
    hosted by Linda Schubert on Thursday, February 11th at 1:00pm (1579 Salomon Ln, Chesterbrook)
  • The 6th Grade Meet & Greet will be held Wednesday, February 3rd at 9:00 a.m. at the home of Susan Moyer (688 Thomas Jefferson Rd, Wayne)
  • The 7th Grade Meet & Greet will be held on February 8th at 10:30 a.m. at VFMS and co-hosted by Karen Vadner and Nikki Serafim
The Meet & Greets are hosted by PTO volunteers, and we are in need of volunteers to bring some light refreshments to each meet & greet.  If you can help, please check the PTO website under the volunteer tab and let us know what you will bring.
 
Filling the Holiday Stockings

Here is a list of suggested holiday toys/gifts for Stockings for Kids by age: (Also, please ensure all gifts are new and unwrapped).

Age 0-1 (Boy or Girl)
Teethers, Rattles, Bibs, Baby Wipes, Lotions, Shampoo, Brushes, Soft Toys, Stuffed Animals, Bath Toys, Soc
ks, Hats, T-Shirts and Sleepers.

Age 2-3 (Boy or Girl)
Dolls, Beanie Babies, Boats, Cars, Books, Little People, Lego Sets, Bath Toys, Socks, Mittens, Caps, T-Shirts and Educational Aid Toys.

Age 4-7 (Girl)
 Ink Pads, Stamps, Crayons, Clay, Lego Sets, Jump Ropes, Jacks, Stickers, Hats, Gloves, Beanie Babies, Doll Clothes, Scrunchies, and Barrettes.

Age 4-7 (Boy)
Fun Pad, DVDs, Crayons, Coloring Books, Hand-Held Games, Puzzles, Lego Sets, Action Figures and Baseball Cards.

Age 8-10 (Girl)
School Supplies, DVDs, Puzzles, Books, Scarves, Hats, Gloves, Jewelry, Stuffed Animals, Barbie Dolls, Clothes, Paint Sets, Markers, Colored Pencils, Legos.

Age 8-10 (Boy)
School Supplies, Hand-Held Electronic Games, Hats, Gloves, Airplane Kits, Action Figures, Puzzles, Dominoes, Nerf Footballs and Legos.

Age 11+ (Girl)
DVDs, CD's, Radios, Books, Card Games, Fast Food Certificates, School Supplies, Calculators, Brushes, Combs, Soaps, Lotions and MP3 Players.

Age 11+ (Boy)

DVDs, iTunes Cards, CD's, Electronic Games, Calculators, Books, Card Games, Fast Food Certificates, School Supplies, Baseball Caps and Gloves and MP3 Players.

Thank you to those who have already donated!  
Gift Cards Sale

Do you like to give GIFT CARDS for the holidays?  Order gift cards from us, and you will be helping support the Senior Citizen's Prom the 8th Grade Leadership Seminar hosts in May. You pay face value for the cards, and we receive a percentage to help cover prom costs (the Senior Citizen's come for free!).  Click on this order form link to see over 20 different cards you can order.  Instructions are on the form. We will place an order on Wednesday, Dec. 9  and Tuesday Dec. 15.  The gift cards should be delivered to school before Dec. 23, our last school day before break.
 
Upcoming ARCH Events

ARCH offering programs for parents...
 
PARENTING IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Monday, December 14, 2015 (morning and evening presentations)

ARCH invites parents to a Screening of Being13: Inside the Secret World of Teens, followed by strategies for navigating this topic with children; the digital citizenship curriculum in T/E and Q&A.  Full info here  .

Interested in CELL PHONE BOUNDARIES for your kids? Check out Arch's Cell Phone Contract Info! 
Flite Tributes 

Thinking about teacher gifts for the holidays? Consider a FLITE Staff Tribute! Tributes can be made online at
www.flite-pa.org or via mail. Read full information here
T&E CARE Lost and Found

Attention T&E Care Holiday Drive Donators:
 
FOUND:  Sunglasses
 
We believe that two people who donated items to the T&E Care Holiday drive from VFMS lost pairs of sunglasses.  While sorting out items from the drive, we came across two pairs of sunglasses that were accidentally put in with the donations.  If you think they are yours, please e-mail Karen Ridder and let her know.
 
Thanks again for you donations - the drive was a huge success again this year.   
 
Beautification Collaboration Project with Penn Charter Friends School

Randy Granger and his design class at Penn Charter are in the process of creating a proposal to enhance the covered pick up structure and area at Valley Forge Middle with easily-maintained sculpture, decoration and/or plantings. 

The Beautification Project, chaired by Gerry Morgan and Kristin Courtney, with support and funding from the PTO,  and guidance and support from Dr. Hickey have been working with Randy Granger since last year on this exciting collaborative project.  Dr. Hickey will be spearheading VFMS's student and staff involvement in this creative and collaborative project.  

The project will be implemented in phases due to financial constraints.  Our budget for the first phase is $2,000.  If you would like to provide financial support for this exciting project please see the VFMS website for more information.

If you would like to get involved with the project directly please contact either Gerry Morgan (610 304 5624),
or Kristin Courtney (
610 220 1251).

Let's work together to make a difference . . . and to support our students learning about stewardship of their own environment!!!!
 
 
In This Issue
Direct Donation Campaign
Panera Fundraiser
8th Grade Meet and Greets
5th-7th Grade Meet and Greets
Holiday Stocking Donations
Gift Cards Sale
ARCH Events
Flite Tributes
T&E Care Lost and Found
Beautification Project
VFMS PTO Logo

THIS WEEK AT VFMS
Mon, Dec. 14th:
ARCH presentation, "Parenting in the Age of Social Media" at VFMS, 9am & 7-8:30pm  

Tues, Dec. 15th:
Gr. 8 TCHS visit, 8-10am

Wed, Dec. 16th:
Gr. 5/6 Winter Concert Dress Rehearsal, 1-2:30pm

Thurs, Dec. 17th:  Gr. 5/6 Winter Concert 9-10:30am & 7-9pm

Fri, Dec. 18th:
HERO meeting, 8am
PTO Board Meetings

Please be advised that we have changed our meetings to the third Tuesday of every month. Meetings are
held in the conference room in the main office at 12 noon and all are welcome to attend. We do not meet in December, so our next meeting will be Tuesday January 19th 2016.

Tredyffrin Library 50th Anniversary
The Tredyffrin Public Library is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016, 
and as a longtime partner with the TE schools, is reaching out to families to become more involved with 
the Library, and benefit from all it has to offer!

Five Below is working to support our Library by donating 10% of the purchases made
12/9-12/19/15, by folks who use the attached flyer. Thanks in advance for helping out while shopping!

Traffic Committee Meeting
Tredyffrin Township invites parents and other community members to attend the Traffic Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 16th at 7:30 a.m. at the Township Building. You will have the opportunity to describe any traffic problems and concerns in more detail, ask your questions, and hear the Committee's suggestions.

The discussion can include whether traffic studies, designs, or the like are necessary under the circumstances or whether other approaches to addressing the traffic issues may be more suitable and effective. The Township and TESD would like to cooperate to implement an appropriate traffic plan for improvement.

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!
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.