DRAGONBITES
Welsh Valley Middle School
Home and School Association
Weekly Newsletter
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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Thursday, October 31
- Early Dismissal 11:55 am, No lunch served
- Staff Development Day
Monday, November 4
Tuesday, November 5
- No School for Students (Election Day)
- Staff Development Day
Wednesday, November 6
Thursday, November 7
Friday, November 8
Tuesday, November 12
- General ISC Meeting 9:30 am (Academy Bldg)
Tuesday, November 19
- Staff Appreciation Breakfast 7 am
- 6th Grade Choral Concert 7 pm
Friday, November 20
Monday, November 25
- Winter Sports Begin, CIPPE forms due
Wednesday, November 27
- Early Dismissal 11:55 am, No Lunch Served
- Staff Development Day
Thursday, November 28
- All Schools Closed (Thanksgiving)
Friday, November 29
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HSA Needs Your Help
The HSA is looking for a Welsh Valley representative for the Committee for Special Education (CSE) which is a parent-led volunteer organization serving families of children with IEPs, GIEPs, and/or 504 Service Agreements in Lower Merion School District If you are interested, please contact Nanette Taraya-Vonk at ntarayavonk@comcast.net . We also have various school events that need volunteers. Please go to www.SignUpGenius.Com to signup to help.
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Principal Advisory Committee
The Principal Advisory Committee is looking for a new parent volunteer to serve as a representative on behalf of parents with children from Penn Valley Elementary School. Principal Advisory Committee members will meet monthly with Mr. Hall and a group of faculty representatives from 3:15-4:15pm. If you are interested, please contact Mary Ann Fusaro at fusarom@lmsd.org by Thursday, October 24th.
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 Welsh Valley Scholastic Book Fair 11/4-11/8
Teacher Preview: Monday, Nov. 4, 7:00-8:00 am
The Welsh Valley Book Fair, located in the library, will be held Mon., Nov. 4 through Fri., Nov. 8. The Fair will be open from 7 am-3 pm. If you would like to order books online, just click on the link below to place an order. http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/welshvalley. Online Orders will be delivered to Welsh Valley one week after the completion of the online sale and then distributed to the students. Volunteers are still needed for the morning shift, 8:00-11:00. If you would like to help out with the book fair, please contact Pam Schommer Pschommer1823@gmail.com
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Staff Appreciation Breakfast Coming Up on Tuesday, 11/19 - Donations Needed!
Please help us say "Thank You" to the amazing staff and faculty at Welsh Valley! The staff appreciation breakfast is right around the corner and we are still in need of food contributions to make the breakfast a success. The date is Tuesday, November 19th from 7:15 - 8:15 AM. Please go to SignUp!Genius to sign up for food contributions and/or set up/clean up. Let's show how much we appreciate their handwork and dedication!! Contact Allison Billingsley at peypiper@gmail.com if you have any questions.
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School Supplies Collection to Help Philadelphia School in Need, Oct. 21 - Nov. 8
Here at Welsh Valley we are very fortunate. But, there are some schools in Philadelphia that are not as fortunate. The Andrew Jackson School in Philadelphia is in dire need of school supplies for their students. The students in this school are in Kindergarden to 8th grade. We would love to help this school by donating supplies. Some of the things that they need are: Gently used books (K-8) Folders with pockets Large labels for the folders Loose leaf Copy paper Electric pencil sharpeners Colored pencils Photo paper to print pictures Winter Gloves!! Winter Hats!! Scissors Gluesticks Bookmarks USB sticks copy books pencils. Band aids Hand sanitizer Neosporin To get enough of these supplies, we'll need your help. So please Welsh Valley, let's help. Help kids in need who don't have what we have. Collection boxes are placed in every homeroom and in the main office. We need you, and they need us. Come on Welsh Valley what do you say? The collection will run from October 21st until November 8th. Please check out the Sign Up Genius! developed by one Mrs. Wisser's sixth grade challenge class students, and consider making a donation as a family.
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 UPenn professor guides students to the Rose City of Petra Recently, Welsh Valley's ARTiFACTS class hosted Bala Cynwyd's eVolve class as they listened to a lecture and visual presentation by Dr. Stephen Phillips from the Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Dr. Phillips spoke to the students about archaeology and one of his excavations in Jordan at the Rose City of Petra. Read more. |
Drama Club
Due to the elementary and junior high song fests this month, the drama club will meet only two days in November. The drama club will meet on Friday, November 8 and Friday, November 22 3:15 - 5:15 pm in the chorus room. Mrs. Vaughan will explain and play music from Once on This Island. Students may attend one or both of these gatherings.
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TSA Engineering team officially begins in November
The TSA Engineering team officially begins after-school meetings for ALL students in November. Preparations for Washington, DC will begin with the series of meetings that are listed below. Students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based competitions should report according to the following schedule: * Monday, October 28th - Homeroom - TV26 will begin showing information about TSA on the morning announcements * Wednesday, November 6th - Period 10 Homeroom - ALL interested students - in the tech ed rooms (only for picking up permission forms) * Thursday, November 7th - 3:10 to 4:30 - Returning Members ONLY - in the tech ed rooms * Tuesday, November 12th - 3:10 to 4:30 - New Members ONLY - in the auditorium Any student interested in joining the team this year should visit Mr. Weaver's eBoard for more information and to obtain a permission form. Forms must be returned before attending afterschool meetings. TSA typically meets afterschool on Tuesday and Thursday until 4:30. Please visit the TSA website for a description of each event.
Coaches: Mr. Weaver, Mr. Brockman, Mr. Birch, Mrs. Morris
2013 Leadership Conferences:
Regionals - February 8, 2014 - Quakertown, PA (Snow Makeup - February 22, 2014) States - April 9 - 12, 2014 - Champion, PA Nationals - June 27 - July 1, 2014 - Washington, DC
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PowerSchool Parent Portal Single Sign-On Account Creation InstructionsFamilies should have received an email from the district with information about a "single sign-on" feature for parents with multiple children. Click here to see the instructions.
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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 October 21st:
8th Grade
Jon Weinstock commended by Mr. Byrd
Charlie Veasay commended by Mr. Byrd
Simra Ansar commended by Mrs. Morris
Ryan Kreiser commended by Mrs. Morris
Meg Willcox commended by Mrs. Morris
Madelyn Finger commended by Mrs. Morris
CJ Scott commended by Mrs. Moris
Jane Andres commended by Mrs. Morris
6th Grade
Sophia Hood commended by Mrs. Wisser
Shaina Ginsberg commended by Mrs. Wisser
Sam Catania commended by Mrs. Wisser
Noah Salmason commended by Mrs. Wisser
Julia Greenawalt commended by Mrs. Wisser
Tiffany Lee commended by Ms. Kauffman
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Welsh Valley Athletics - Go Dragons
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Sports - 7th & 8th Grade
Please review the Transportation Policy for home and away games and practices. Please contact Megan Kiczek, athletic director, if you have further questions.
Athletics Schedules
Welsh Valley Middle School uses DigitalSports.com to share all important information related to our athletic teams. http://wvdragons.digitalsports.com is where you can see all upcoming events, sign up to receive email alerts of any schedule changes, and access complete team schedules. For more information, visit the link above or see the documents linked below.
DigitalSports.com Guide
Athletic Director: Megan Kiczek KiczekM@lmsd.org
Link to WV Athletics
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 Harriton, Lower Merion earn LEED Gold certification Lower Merion School District marked the certification of Harriton and Lower Merion high schools as LEED Gold facilities at a ceremony on Thursday, October 24th in the Harriton High School lobby. Principal Scott Eveslage opened the ceremony welcoming students, staff, school officials, architects, representatives from local green building organizations, and community members to the event before discussing the importance of learning and working in a green, sustainable environment. Read more. |
Understanding and Reducing Anxiety in Children - Tues., Nov. 5 at 7pm, LMHS Aud
Join us for an evening with Dr. Paul Foxman, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Center for Anxiety
Disorders in Vermont and author of The Worried Child and Dancing with Fear. See flyer for more information.
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Ice Hockey & Food Drive at Harriton vs. Lower Merion Game - Thurs., Nov. 7, 7-8 pm
Support your School AND your Community! Come scream for your team at the Harriton vs. Lower Merion Ice Hockey Game at The Skatium, 1002 Darby Road in Haverford. Please bring non perishable food items, sundries (shampoo, soap, dish detergent) and monetary donations to benefit the Ardmore
Food Pantry ( http://www.stmarysardmore.org/content.cfm?id=330) and Narberth Community Food Bank ( http://narberthcommunityfoodbank.org/). Click here to view flyer.
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Register now for EFLM's Annual Trivia Night! - Sat.,11/9
at 7:30 pm at The Cynwyd Club
It's time to register! We're hoping you will join us on Saturday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m., for the Education Foundation of Lower Merion's fourth annual Trivia Night!
It's a fun and festive evening, with great food, an open beer and wine bar, a silent auction, and a highly entertaining trivia contest.
Recruit a super-team, reserve a table, and come ready to show off your knowledge ... or just come and join a team at the event! Either way, you'll show your smarts by supporting EFLM's mission of enhancing the excellence of Lower Merion's public schools.
Click here to register or for more information.
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C-MITES Weekend Workshops - Sat., 11/9
C-MITES is once again offering Weekend Workshops at Lower Merion High School this Fall. Classes include Marine Biology, Funky Science, Rockets - Action and Reaction, Chemistry Chaos, LEGO Pneumatics, Science of Harry Potter and Stellar Geometric Stellations.
These challenging, hands-on classes are designed for academically-talented students in grades K-8. Classes meet from 9am-noon or 1-4pm on Saturday, November 9th. Parent sessions will also be offered - The ABC's of Gifted Education and Social and Emotional Experiences of Gifted Students. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.cmu.edu/cmites/weekend_workshops.html. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and financial aid is available.
C-MITES (Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students), based at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, has offered challenging and fun classes for gifted students for more than 20 years. Link to Informational Post Card
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ISC Hot Button Topic for November: Ins and Outs of Academic Testing
We all know that our kids are taking more and more standardized tests, but how is all that testing used? Is it really helpful to our kids and our district? What changes might be in store in the coming years? These topics and more will be presented at our next Interschool Council Meeting on Tuesday, 11/12/13, 9:30- 11:00 am at the District Administration Building (adjacent to Lower Merion HS) in Room 264. Joining us to discuss this subject will be Mr. Richard Marta, LMSD Supervisor K-12 Counseling, Testing and Holistic Supports, and Ms. Tina Viletto, Esq., Director of Legislative Services and Grants Development for the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. All parents and guardians are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Parking: please note that parking at the District Administration Building is limited. Once the "Visitor" spots adjacent to the building are filled, several other options include "Visitor" spots behind Lower Merion HS (continue right out of first parking area and proceed straight ahead to these spots in the first row) and street parking where posted for up to two hours.
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Speak Up! event hosted by Harriton - Wed., 11/13, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Harrtion HS Aud
This program provides youth, educators, and parents the skills, opportunity, and support to "speak up" on the critical issues of today. The program also enables youth to make positive life choices as they navigate the journey to become happy, confident adults. Please join us for an event to be held at Harriton High School on November 13. Registration begins at 6:30 and the program starts at 7 pm. The "Breakout Topics" that will be discussed are: Pressure, "How Do You Party?" Drugs & Alcohol, Creating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships, Understanding Depression, and Self Acceptance
Youth, educators and parents are invited to participate. Read more.
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Harriton Girls Basketball Clinic - Sun. Nov. 17, 1-3 pm for grades 4-8
This Harriton Girls Basketball clinic is run by Harriton High School and will feature many of the same kids you see now at the clinics. Not only will you get high quality instruction, you will get the chance to use one of the top facilities in the area. The best part though, parents you don't need to just wait around you can take a Zumba class (see flyer here) during the same time!! It's a great way to kill two birds with one stone! Please see the basketball clinic registration form here and for more information please contact Monica Tabasso at mmtabasso@hotmail.com. Don't miss out!!!
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Sign up now for Lower Merion Basketball Academy's fall clinics
Learn from the state champs! Registration is now open for Lower Merion Basketball Academy's fall clinics. Sessions will be held Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 pm and Saturday, November 16 at 1 pm at Lower Merion High School's Bryant Gymnasium. Join 3-time PA Coach of the Year Gregg Downer, current Aces players, NCAA alumni, professional players, and some of the area's best instructors for 90 minutes of action packed skill development and fun. Cost is $30 per session. All participants receive an Aces Basketball poster. Click here to register today! Click here to view flyer.
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buildOn Fundraiser through 11/24 with Whole Foods MarketLower Merion High School is having a huge fundraiser for buildOn at the Wynnewood Whole Foods Market. buildOn is a charitable foundation committed to breaking the cycle of poverty. This year, Lower Merion's buildOn chapter is raising funds to build a school in Nepal. From now until November 24th, Whole Foods Market will donate 5 cents to buildOn for every reusable bag used. When you checkout, ask the cashier for your nickels to go to buildOn. Please spread the word to your friends and family!
View the flyer here.
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PVJSA Registration Open for the 2014 Basketball Season
For boys in grades 2 - 8. Registration deadline is Dec. 1, 2013. For information on PVJSA, the regular season schedule, and commitment, please refer for www.pvjsa.net for all information and frequently asked questions. Click here for more information and registration form.
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100 Year Celebration of Cynwyd Elementary School
The Cynwyd 100 Year Committee is looking for Alum of Cynwyd Elementary. Did you attend Cynwyd Elementary School or know someone who did? We're looking for alumni to help celebrate Cynwyd's 100-year anniversary with a series of events that start in early 2014. We want to hear your stories, record your memories and bring generations of Cynwyd alumni together with today's school families. The Centennial Committee is also seeking Cynwyd Elementary memorabilia to borrow for a history exhibit.
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Coffee and Conversations on Gifted Education
Following in the success of last year's series of parent workshops, the Lower Merion School District in Collaboration with Chester County Intermediate Unit is offering informational sessions for parents on Gifted Education for 2013-2014. Each Session will be presented with a choice of a morning OR an evening time. For a list of dates and topics, click here.
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Lower Merion School Board
Update to LMSD Families Regarding Enrollment Growth Planning - 9/12/13, information available on lmsd.org, click here.
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Special Education: Know Your Child's Rights
Concerned Black Parents' Special Education Buddies program is hosting a seminar series with Sonja Kerr of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP). Attend "live" seminars with PILCOP or join Concerned Black Parents for webinars at the Ludington Library. Topics include: psychological testing, children with autism, transition services and children with emotional needs. For more information, see flyer here.
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Lower Merion Youth Wresting Club - Parents Orientation, Mon. 11/4 at 7pm, LMHS Caf
The Lower Merion Youth Wrestling Club is open to children in grades K through 6th. See flyer for more information.
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Main Line Girls Basketball Association (MLGBA) 2014 Season - Registration Open!
Online registration is now available for the upcoming season. For more details, click here.
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The Ardmore Library needs your used books!
Not sure what to do with all those already-read books spilling from your shelves and closets? The Ardmore Library Used Bookshop welcomes your book donations of clean, undamaged, and current fiction and non-fiction; hardcover and softcover; adult, young adult and children's books. Please, no textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines or VHS tapes. All proceeds from the sale of used books benefit library acquisitions and programs for the community. Please bring donations to the front desk at the Ardmore Library, 108 Ardmore Avenue during regular business hours (M, T, Th 10am-8pm, Wed. 1pm-8pm, and Fri., Sat. 10am-5pm). Thank you!
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LM Parks & Recreation Dept. along with Young Rembrandts presents Art Classes for ages 3-1/2 to 12 years old
Click here for more information.
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"The Hills Are Alive" - Belmont Hills Library Fall Fundraiser, Sat., 11/9, 7:30-11 pm
Come enjoy great food, drinks and dancing and auction with great prizes. Tickets can be purchased at the Library for $30 ($35 at the door) or through the following link: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8414507017. If you have any questions, or wish to donate any food or auction items, please contact danjamie@hotmail.com. The event will take place at the Belmont Hills Fire Company, 4. S. Washington Avenue, Bala Cynwyd. Must be 21 or older to attend.
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RESOURCES: Contact information and links
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School Hours: 8:20 am - 3:05 pm
Early Dismissal: 8:20 am - 11:5 am Welsh Valley Administration
| MAIN OFFICE | | 610-658-3920 | | PRINCIPAL | Mr. Christopher Hall | | | ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS | Ms. Sarah Stout | | | | Mr. Scott Weinstein | | | COUNSELORS | | | | 6th Grade | Mr. Josh Gansky | | | 7th Grade | Mrs. Beth Cooke | | | 8th Grade | Mr. Boris Oden | | | SCHOOL NURSE | Kathy Bromley | | ABSENTEE, LATENESS &
ARRIVAL HOTLINE | | 610-658-3946 | | DAILY ACTIVITIES HOTLINE | | 610-658-3901 | | SCHOOL CLOSING NUMBER | | 302 | | WELSH VALLEY OFFICE | | | | Principal's Secretary | Mrs. Mary Ann Fusaro | | | Attendance | Mrs. Cheryl Campbell | | | Guidance | Mrs. Sherri Pitts | | | Athletics | Mrs. Kim Petty | | | Scheduling Secretary | Mrs. Lori Davies | | | TRANSPORTATION | | 610-645-1940 |
Reminder: WV is not permitted to issue bus passes to students. This is a transportation policy, which is written in the WV student handbook. Please know that this policy is in place for safety reasons and is in the best interest of all students. WVMS Home and School Association (HSA) 2013-14
Co-Presidents: Lynn Hertzfeld & Nanette Taraya-Vonk
Co-Vice Presidents: Ellen Finn & Rebecca Segall
Secretary: Yaz Rosner
Co-Treasurers: Bill Cook & Aliza Remer
President Emeritus/Member at Large: Kiki McKendrick
Helpful Links
WELSH VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL:
DISTRICT INFORMATION:
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Listserv Information
Dragonbites is published every Thursday during the school year. New submissions should be emailed by noon on Tuesday to WVDragobites@gmail.com in order to be included in Thursday's email edition. Dragonbites is intended to publish news and announcements related to Welsh Valley Middle School and the Lower Merion School District. An Archive of past Dragonbites is available by using the link in the Resource section of this issue or go to the WV page of the LMSD website under Parents/HSA.
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