| WV Calendar |
FEBRUARY Thursday, February 28 - BC/WV - Schuylkill Valley Band Rehearsal at Valley Forge MS 12 pm
MARCH Saturday, March 2 - WV - Play Tech Rehearsal 10 am
Tuesday, March 5 - WV - 5th to 6th Grade Parent Transition Meeting 9 am
Thursday, March 7 - WV - School Play - Music Man 7 pm
Friday, March 8 - WV - School Play - Music Man 7 pm
Saturday, March 9 - WV - School Play - Music Man 2 pm
Monday, March 11 - Spring Sports begin - CIPPE Forms Due
Tuesday, March 12 - ISC General Meeting 9:30 am (Academy Bldg)
Friday, March 15 Monday, March 25 - All Schools CLOSED Spring Break - Admin Offices Open
Tuesday, March 26 - All Schools CLOSED Spring Break - Admin Offices Open
Wednesday, March 27 - All Schools CLOSED Spring Break - Admin Offices Open
Thursday, March 28 - All Schools CLOSED Spring Break - Admin Offices Open
Friday, March 29 - All Schools CLOSED Spring Break - Admin Offices Closed
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Dragon Pride Commendations
Random Acts of Kindness
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Weekly Dragon Pride Student Commendations
We are pleased to recognize our Dragon Pride Commendation award winners. The following students were recognized by our staff for demonstrating Random Acts of Kindness or Contributing to the Welsh Valley Community. We encourage all students to do the right thing for the sake of it being the right thing to do. We want to recognize students for good deeds, sometimes with a smile or thank you, other times with a commendation. But our overall goal is for our staff with the commendation program is to acknowledge students for doing the right thing in the most genuine sense. The Character and Citizenship Committee and WVMS faculty would like to thank these students for helping make Welsh Valley a better place.
Congratulations to the following students for receiving a "DRAGON PRIDE" commendation for the Week of February 18th.
8th grade
Jack Turner Caroline Bluestein 7th grade Lexi Lamprou Ethan Conover Lauren Dymek Anna Spade 6th grade Grace Copeland
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Counselor's Corner - Internet Safety
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We wanted to share with you a few of the latest social media websites and apps that we are hearing about around school. It is important to know what your kids are accessing online. Although these sites may not be intended to do harm, we know that when misused, bullying and other negative consequences can occur.
Snapchat is an app for the iPhone that many students are using. It allows you to send an image to another person that has a "self-destruct" timer attached so that the image will be deleted after a certain amount of time. This can give the sender a false sense that the image sent cannot be captured and saved by the recipient. This article gives a good summary and warning about this app:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/josephsteinberg/2013/02/11/a-warning-about-snapchat-teenagers-and-online-photo-sharing/
Instagram is also something that is quite popular amongst our students at this time. This is a site that you can post your own pictures to your account and others can comment on them, which can lead to negative and hurtful comments.
Spillit.me is another website that allows people to post anonymously about one another. It says to "join spillit to find out what others think about you". We have already had some students report that this is being used to express inappropriate and negative thoughts about others. It has also been reported that you can write about anyone even if that person does not have an account.
Other sites to continue to monitor facebook, tumblr, twitter and youtube
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Welsh Valley Dragons Exceed Goals At 2013 TSA Regional Conference
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On February 23, 2013 the Welsh Valley Technology Student Association (TSA) team competed at the Pennsylvania Region 5 TSA Leadership Conference. The Dragon's exceeded their own expectations while earning over 67 "Top Ten" wins. Among those wins were 33 "Top Three" finishes including 15 first place awards. These totals were more than any other school earned at the conference. The second and third place teams at the competition combined for 40 "Top Three" wins with only 10 first place awards.
Fifty-five Welsh Valley students were among the 1,200 students from the 50 eastern Pennsylvania middle and high schools that competed in hopes of qualifying for the next level of competition. With this success, the Dragons will advance to the PA-TSA State Conference to be held in April in Champion, Pennsylvania.
Welsh Valley's Event Results
Agriculture & Biotechnology - Auggie Gerike, Sean Yoon, Joyce Gu, Rishika Reddy, Asher Johnson, Tm Delleville, Nick Wert - 1st
CAD Design - Maxwell Koerner - 1st
CAD Design - Evan Hassman - 2nd
CAD Design - Asher Johnson - 3rd
CAD Design - Harper Lyon - 4th
Calculator Robots - Zach Masterman - 3rd
Calculator Robots - Matthew Pearl - 5th
Calculator Robots - Octavio Kim - 6th
Career Prep - Josie Blumencwejg - 2nd
Career Prep - Anna Swider - 3rd
Career Prep - Ariana Bhatia - 4th
Chapter Team Written - Ryan Kreiser - 1st
Chapter Team Written - Etan Ginsberg - 3rd
Chapter Team Written - Anila Ghosh - 7th
Communications - Francis Chalissery - 7th
Communications - Ryan Kreiser - 8th
Digital Photography - Melanie Metz - 1st
Digital Photography - Josie Blumencwejg - 2nd
Digital Photography - Katie Lee - 3rd
Digital Photography - Johanna Doherty - 6th
Digital Photography - Emma Smith - 8th
Dragster - Evan Hassman - 5th
Electrical Applications - Etan Ginsberg - 2nd
Electrical Applications - Ben Siderowf - 4th
Electrical Applications - Kevin Aspesi - 6th
Electrical Applications - Graham Dixon - 7th
Engineering Math - Catherine Liu - 4th
Engineering Math - Mason Jiang - 5th
Exhibition Problem Solving - Filip Barun, Tim Dellerville, Helen Cahn von Seelen, Rowan Hassman - 1st
Flight Challenge - Mason Jiang - 4th
Flight Challenge - Adam Judkowski - 5th
Go Green Manufacturing - Colin Scholler, Harper Lyon, Ishan Bhatia, Sophie Rebbeck, Sindu Soundararajan, Kiran Khurana - 1st
Go Green Manufacturing - Jordyn Schwartz, Rishika Reddy, Octavio Kim, Colin Flanagan, Zeke Millrood, Asher Johnson - 5th
Go Green Manufacturing - Ariana Bhatia, Katie Lee, Josie Blumencwejg, Johanna Doherty, Melanie Metz, Emma Smith - 7th
Leadership - Anila Ghosh, Melanie Metz, Elizabeth Wong, Sophia Sassoli - 1st
Leadership - Katie Lee, Catherine Liu, Sophie Rebbeck - 5th
Medical Technology Issues - Joyce Gu, Anna Swider, Sindu Soundararajan, Sophie Rebbeck, Kiran Khurana, Ron Nafshi - 1st
Medical Technology Issues - Auggie Gerike, Rishika Reddy, Samarth Gowda, Jordyn Schwartz, Sophia Sassoli, Jacob Feingold - 2nd
Prepared Speech - Anna Swider - 1st
Prepared Speech - Sindu Soundararajan - 4th
Problem Solving - Melanie Metz, Ben Abt - 1st
Problem Solving - Sophie Rebbeck, Johanna Doherty - 6th
Promotional Design - Katie Lee - 1st
Promotional Design - Melanie Metz - 6th
Robotics - Adam Judkowski, Mason Jiang, Evan Hassman, Andrew Aspesi - 1st
Robotics - Sophia Sassoli, Ben Abt, Ron Nafshi, Filip Barun - 2nd
Snapshot Photography - Max Schnoll - 1st
Snapshot Photography - Sindu Soundararajan - 5th
Snapshot Photography - Melanie Metz - 9th
Snapshot Photography - Katie Lee - 10th
Structural Engineering - Elizabeth Wong, Emma Smith, Anila Ghosh - 2nd
Structural Engineering - Yohann Rurange, Maxwell Koerner - 4th
Structural Engineering - Anna Swider, Ishan Bhatia - 7th
Structural Engineering - Kareem Majid, Ryan Kreiser - 8th
Tech Bowl Written - Etan Ginsberg - 1st
Tech Bowl Written - Ryan Kreiser - 2nd
Tech Bowl Written - Graham Dixon - 3rd
Tech Bowl Written - Maxwell Koerner - 5th
Techno Talk - Colin Scholler, Joyce Gu - 2nd
Techno Talk - Ben Abt, Zeke Millrood - 3rd
Techno Talk - Ishan Bhatia, Ariana Bhatia - 4th
Transportation Systems - Rowan Hassman - 5th
Transportation Systems - Evan Hassman - 6th
Transportation Systems - Maxwell Koerner - 7th
Website Design - Kevin Aspesi, Anna Swider, Josie Blumencwejg, Andrew Aspesi, Ariana Bhatia, Rowan Hassman - 1st
Website Design - Etan Ginsberg, Colin Scholler, Ishan Bhatia, Francis Chalissery, Yohann Rurange, Jake Waldman, Zach Masterman - 5th
Coaches - Katy Morris, Matt Birch, Tim Brockman, Chris Weaver
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"Music Man" Information
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"Welsh Valley Middle School will be performing "The Music Man" on March 7th and 8th at 7pm and March 9th at 2pm. Tickets are $5 dollars and can be purchased at the door- there is no reserved seating. We will also be selling tickets at the cafeteria next week, Monday - Thursday during the lunch hours. Stop by and buy your tickets before they're all gone.
If your child is participating in The Music Man, cast members need their costumes by Saturday, March 2 for our very important tech and dress rehearsal. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Keeney or Mrs. Eichman.
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Chorus Permission Slips Due February 28
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Permission slips and money are due today (February 28) for chorus students going to Dorney Park (All 8th Graders and 7th Grade Advanced). You can find the permission slip on Mrs. Vaughan's eBoard.
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5th to 6th Grade Transition Information
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LMSD Wellness Council Needs a Logo Contest
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Who: LMSD Middle School Students
When: Submissions due by March 8, 2013
Where: Send submissions to Kathy Bromley,
Welsh Valley Middle School Nurse
Why: Winning Logo and its creator will be featured on the LMSD
Wellness Council Website and a prize will be awarded
How: Submit your name and Logo in black ink on a piece of
white, 8.5" X 11" paper OR
email submissions to bromlek@lmsd.org
Here is some information about the LMSD Wellness Council to help you with your design for the logo:
- Formerly called the School Health Advisory Council
- Composed of parents, students, staff and community members who are interested in the health of students
- Meet regularly to address issues affecting the health of students and to promote healthful behaviors and activities
- Work to reduce risk factors that affect students (injuries, poor nutrition, substance abuse, physical inactivity etc.)
- Share information about programs and activities in the district and in the community
- See the E-Board: www.nutrition.lmsd.site.eboard.com
Email bromlek@lmsd.org with questions.
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Collecting Donations for School in Need
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The 6th grade Challenge students would like to collect donations for the Andrew Jackson School in South Philadelphia. They are in desperate need of supplies for their students. This is a K-8 school that is in need of the following materials:
Pencils
Paper- copy paper or art paper
Electric pencil sharpeners
Folders
Dividers with tabs
Marble composition books
Any basic school supplies
Backpacks
Gloves/mittens
New or gently used non fiction books
This will run from Monday, February 11th until Friday, March 1st. Boxes will be placed in each homeroom and in the main office for your donations. Thank you!!!!!
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WV Directories
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Due to great popularity, we have run a second printing of the WV Directories. If you need additional copies - or you have lost your copy - they are available in the office for $10.00, while the supplies last.
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Summer School Brochure Now Available
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The District offers a six-week summer school program that provides opportunities for advanced credit or make up credit. During the second semester of the regular school year, a full list of summer school offerings are shared in the District's summer school brochure. Registration for Summer School runs from March 1-March 22 at each secondary school.
Please know that this year we will be offering online pay with a credit card. However, parents must still complete the triplicate registration form and get appropriate counselor signatures.
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For 8th Grade students:
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If you plan on playing golf in high school this is something you should attend. We have a great opportunity for you!
The Rules of Golf Seminar being held at Rolling Green Golf Club on Saturday, March 9th.
Start Time: 1:00 PM End Time: 3:00 PM cost $10.00
Master Professional, Tom Carpus who is the Head Professional at Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, and who is also on the National Rules Committee for the PGA of America, will be teaching the most common ruling errors by junior golfers.
This is a great chance to go get an update on the rules of golf and talk to a PGA a professional. If interested please contact: Larry Hirsh Cell (717) 648-4653 Email larry@golfpro.com
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8th Grade Families: IMPORTANT
Lower Merion and Harriton High School Transition Dates and Information
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Harriton High School
Lower Merion High School
8/9 Transition
for 2013-2014 school year
May 23, 2013:
Harriton and Lower Merion High Schools - 10:00 AM
"Move up Day" June 1, 2013:
Students will receive copies of the summer assignments in both English and Math. June 18, 2013:
A list of summer transition activities will be published. Note:
While it is hard to believe, the course selection process for 8th graders transitioning to the high schools is beginning. Parents and students are encouraged to review this process which is outlined on page 15 of the student handbook (http://www.lmsd.org/documents/schools/wvms/handbook.pdf). Also, please consider reviewing the transition dates and/or the presentation which were included in the September 19th 8th grade parent meeting. The presentation and relevant transition dates are located on the website and can be viewed here (https://www.lmsd.org/harritonhs/student-services/transition/index.aspx )
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Parent Volunteer Opportunities for 2013-2014
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We are looking for parent volunteers to join our HSA Board. We will have 3 board positions available for next year: two Co-Vice Presidents and one secretary position. If being a chair and organizing single events is what you prefer, such as the All School Dance, Fall BBQ, Thanksgiving Luncheon, Staff Appreciation Breakfast/Dinner, Book Fair or Movie Night (to name a few), we could definitely use your help. We are looking for parents who have enjoyed volunteering in the past, parents new to the area or parents that would like to start getting involved. Please contact Nanette Taraya-Vonk at ntarayavonk@comcast.net if you have any questions.
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Before & After School Activities
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Click on the link below for a calendar of the upcoming March dates and times clubs will be meeting at Welsh Valley.
 March Activities Calendar - Use link for larger version March Intramural and Activities Calendar Click here for more information about WV Student Activities. Always check the Welsh Valley Hotline for up-to-date information regarding before and after school program cancellations or changes. Hotline: 610-658-3901 Back to Top
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Spring Athletics - 7th & 8th Grade
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Spring Sports Begin in March:
Boys 7th & 8th Grade
Baseball
Lacrosse
Tennis
Track & Field
Girls 7th & 8th Grade
Lacrosse
Softball
Track & Field
The following are important dates related to spring sports:
March 5th: 10th period (homeroom) Spring athletic informational team meetings.
March 7th: PIAA physical forms must be turned in to Kim Petty in the WV main office. Procedures for PIAA physicals can be found on www.wvathletics.org
* INITIAL EVALUATION: Prior to any student participating in Practices, Inter-School Practices, Scrimmages, and/or Contests, at any PIAA member school in any school year, the student is required to (1) complete a Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (CIPPE); and (2) have the appropriate person(s) complete the first five Sections of the CIPPE Form. Upon completion of Sections 1 and 2 by the parent/guardian; Sections 3, 4, and 5 by the student and parent/guardian; and Section 6 by an Authorized Medical Examiner (AME), those Sections must be turned in to the Principal, or the Principal's designee, of the student's school for retention by the school. The CIPPE may not be performed earlier than June 1st and shall be effective, regardless of when performed during a school year, until the next May 31st.
* SUBSEQUENT SPORT(S) IN THE SAME SCHOOL YEAR: Following completion of a CIPPE, the same student seeking to participate in Practices, Inter-School Practices, Scrimmages, and/or Contests in subsequent sport(s) in the same school year, must complete Section 7 of this form and must turn in that Section to the Principal, or Principal's designee, of his or her school. The Principal, or the Principal's designee, will then determine whether Section 8 need be completed.
March 11th: First day of Spring sports, practice and try-outs begin
Please check the website: www.wvathletics.org for the most current information. The site provides parents and student athletes with information regarding Welsh Valley Athletics. Take advantage of the ability to receive "email blasts" regarding your student's athletic teams and events.
If you have any photos taken at WV games and would like to share them on the website, you can submit them through www.wvathletics.org.
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Families Helping Families
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The WV HSA would like you to know that a group of volunteers is available to help parents and guardians get to WV or a WV event at another LMSD school. If you are in need of a ride for any WV event or meeting, please feel free to contact Amanda Cunningham ( mandeebill@gmail.com or 917-560-9849). If anyone would like to help and be on our volunteer list - please contact me.
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Assistance Statement
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Assistance is gladly offered to all Welsh Valley families to participate in school-wide events. For information or help, please contact your school counselor. Every student is welcome at all school events.
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No Bus Passes Permitted
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Reminder: We are not permitted to issue bus passes to students. This is a transportation policy, which is written in our handbook. Please know that this policy is in place for safety reasons and is in the best interest of all students.
We appreciate your understanding.
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District to Present Update on Construction at Welsh Valley and Penn Valley
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The District will host an informational public meeting on proposed classroom expansion at Welsh Valley and Penn Valley on Thursday, February 28 at 7 PM in the Welsh Valley Middle School auditorium. This is an opportunity for the community to hear the latest about the projects, including design considerations and costs.
The LMSD Board of School Directors recently authorized the administration to proceed with planned expansion projects, which include a four-classroom addition at Penn Valley and a 12-classroom addition at Welsh Valley.
To view the proposals voted on by the board and for more information, visit the " Planning for Enrollment Growth" section of the District website. Student enrollment has steadily increased in the District since 1989, and has increased more rapidly in the last five years. Enrollment grew nearly 13% in the period 2008-2012 and is projected to increase another 18% in the next ten years. As a result, several schools are at or nearing capacity and need additional classroom space to accommodate students.
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Policy Committee Meeting to Include Discussion of Policy 206 (Assignment of Students) - March 4
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A new Policy Committee meeting has been added on Monday, March 4, starting at 7:30 PM in the Board Room.The first agenda item to be discussed will be Policy/Administrative Regulations 206, Assignment of Pupils Within The District. This discussion will include a summary of enrollment projections, school building capacities, and attendance boundaries.This meeting has been scheduled in order allow optimal opportunity for attendance from parents and community members.
Time permitting, the Policy Committee will move forward with discussing other agenda items that may include Policy/Administrative Regulations 217, Promotion and Graduation. If all agenda items that need discussion in March are covered on March 4, then the Policy Committee Meeting scheduled for March 8 will be cancelled and the next meeting will occur, as scheduled, on April 5 starting at 8:30 AM. The decision regarding the March 8 meeting will be made and posted on March 5.
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Film and Facilitated Conversation about Reading and the Brain, Hosted by CSE
March 5
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The Committee for Special Education of Lower Merion School District a parent-led volunteer organization serving families of students with an IEP, GIEP, and/or 504 Service Agreement invites you to a film and facilitated conversation about Reading and the Brain.
When: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Where: Harriton High School, Large Group Instruction Room
7:30pm How the brain processes written language, a primer by Olga Chuntonov and Meltem Izzetoglu
8:00pm The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia, a film by James Redford
Though up to 20% of students are dyslexic, many pass through school unidentified, misunderstood and performing below their potential. Paradoxically, these disorders are often found in highly intelligent, creative minds, and can also be seen as a gift, because many people with dyslexia naturally think outside the box and see the big picture, finding alternative solutions to problems that others might not see.This movie is recommended for any parent of a child with a learning difference because it emphasizes both the strengths and challenges that come from learning differences. Director-producer James Redford hopes that the documentary will promote "a broader and better understanding of dyslexia and will help make the world a better place" for those affected. While the study and treatment of dyslexia has become more widespread, there remains much to be done in dispelling the myths surrounding it, as well as diagnosing and treating those in need.
THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA had its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. http://thebigpicturemovie.com/
9:00pm Discussion/question and answer period For additional information about this event or the CSE please contact: Vicki Peetros at vpeetros@comcast.net or
Sheila Kineke at skineke@yahoo.com
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ISC Meeting - March 12
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Our next ISC General meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., at the Academy Building (next to Bala Cynwyd Middle School). The topic will be Guidance Counseling, and the speakers will include Rich Marta, Supervisor of School Counseling, Holistic Supports and Testing, as well as an elementary, middles and high school counselor. All parents and guardians are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
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buildOn Benefit
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The Jones Family Talent Show
to Benefit buildOn Trek to Haiti
The Buoniconti Fund
March 15, 2013
Lower Merion High School Auditorium
7:00-9:00 pm
Tickets: $10/person
Or $30 for a family of four
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C-MITES - April 27 - Time to Register
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C-MITES, a program based at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, provides Weekend Workshops for academically talented students in kindergarten through 9th grade. The next session is Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Lower Merion High School. C-MITES will be offering 12 classes at this location. Classes include: American Math Idol, Bug-bots, Bubbleology, Chess for Beginners, Intermediate Chess, Extreme Weather, Eye on the Sky, Fossil Dig, Money Matters, Physics and Our World, The Mysterious Human Heart and The Physics of Toys.
The brochure listing the classes and descriptions is available at http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/weekend_workshops.html . You may register online or fax or print and mail the registration form. Register soon because classes fill quickly! Registrations is on a first-come, first-served basis. Financial aid is available.
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Community Links - Activities & Events
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For additional information and links for more information, go to:
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Listserv Information
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Please Note:
The weekly deadline for submissions to WV Dragonbites is by noon each Tuesday. Please email information to WVDragonbites@gmail.comAn Archive of past Dragonbites is available by using the link in this issue or go to the WV page of the LMSD website under Parents/HSA. Publication is on Thursday of each week. This weekly e-newsletter is for school-related news and announcements. We regret that we are unable to include articles from organizations that are not directly related to Welsh Valley Middle School. To unsubscribe to Dragonbites, click on the "SafeUnsubscribe" link below. To update your information and/or to sign up for other HSA listservs, click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link below.
To forward this email to another WV parent who may not be receiving our weekly newsletter, please click on the "Forward email" link below. If you are having any difficulty viewing Dragonbites please contact Laurie Koziol at WVDragonbites@gmail.com. Thank you! If you have any questions about WV school activities please contact the individual listed or call the Welsh Valley office at 610.658.3920. |
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Welsh Valley
Middle School
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Dr. Orathia T. Bradley
Principal
Ms. Beth Persofsky
Assistant Principal
Mr. Jon Fadely
Interim Assistant Principal
Welsh Valley Middle School 325 Tower Lane
Narberth, PA 19072 Phone Number: 610-658-3920 Absentee, Lateness & Safe Arrival Hotline: 610-658-3946
Daily Activities Hotline: 610-658-3901
School Closing Number: 302
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School Counselors
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6th Grade
Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Beth Cooke
610.-658-3942 Room D117
7th Grade Guidance Counselor
Mr. Boris Oden
610-658-3943
Room D116
8th Grade Guidance CounselorMr. Josh Gansky
610-658-3941 Room D115
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| Welsh Valley Office |
Mrs. Mary Ann Fusaro
Principals Secretary
Mrs. Cheryl Campbell
Attendance
Mrs. Sherri Pitts
Guidance
Mrs. Kim Petty
Athletics
Mrs. Lori Davies
Scheduling Secretary
School Hours
8:20 am - 3:05 pm
Early Dismissal
8:20 am - 11:55 am
for absentee procedures, permission slips and current WV calendar
Link for daily schedule, daily before and after school programs and announcements.
Link for the athletic website with information about the sports at WV.
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Welsh Valley
Home & School Association
2012-2013 Board
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President
Kiki McKendrick
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Community Information
| COMMUNITY INFORMATION
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Archived Dragonbites
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Past Dragonbites can be viewed by clicking on the link above.
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