DRAGONBITES
Welsh Valley Middle School
Home and School Association
Weekly Newsletter
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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Thursday, November 28
- All Schools Closed (Thanksgiving)
Friday, November 29
Tuesday, December 3
- CSE Meeting 7:30 pm, LM Academy Bldg (Just south of main entrance to BCMS)
Tuesday, December 10
- ISC General Meeting 9:30 am (more details below)
- 7/8 Grade Instrumental Concert
Wednesday, December 11
- 6th Grade Instrumental Concert 7 pm
Friday, December 20
- Last Day of School in 2013
Thursday, January 2
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Message From The Principal
Throughout the month of December, you and your children will be invited to help our leadership team gain a greater understanding of the culture/climate of our school by completing a Comprehensive School Climate Inventory. More information about the survey will be forwarded via USPS mail. The information collected through the survey will be used to help our school assess needs in our efforts to continually augment our school program. Participation in the survey is completely confidential and voluntary; no individual is required to fill out the survey. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. Parents/guardians may complete the parent survey by clicking on the following link: http://www.schoolclimate.net?l=e&t=p&v=4&c=1132021
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Christopher Hall
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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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Not up for Black Friday Madness? Skip the Mall and Have a Ball!
Welsh Valley Cafeteria Tuesday Dec 3rd 3-7 pm
Support Welsh Valley TSA by purchasing beautiful Silpada Sterling Silver Jewelry
Great for the holidays, birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and other special occasions.
Parents, faculty, friends, and neighbors are invited to attend. Children welcome with supervision. credit cards or cash gratefully accepted Prefer to shop on line? Use this link to make your purchase, and TSA will still get credit!
ALL proceeds go to TSA. Thank you for your support!
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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 November 18th: 8th Grade Isabel Lutz commended by Mrs. Morris Ethan Rodgers commended by Mrs. Morris Alex Chang commended by Mrs. Morris Ahmad Amin commended by Mrs. Morris 7th Grade Anya Silbert commended by Mr. Wyatt 6th Grade Reilly Williamson commended by Mr. Gari Maya Cantu commended by Mr. Gari
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Welsh Valley Athletics - Go Dragons
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Winter Sports - 7th & 8th Grade
Winter sports include Boys & Girls 7th and 8th grade basketball and Boys wrestling.
All students must have CIPPE forms turned in to Ms Petty in the main office prior to participating in tryouts or practices.
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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Looking for a Great Way to Honor and Thank Your Child's Teachers in December?
Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund Recognition Cards are the perfect, district-approved way to show your gratitude to teachers, administrators and staff at the holidays!
Your purchase will help fund need-based grants to graduates of Lower Merion and Harriton High Schools who are going on to college or vocational school. In the last ten years, the Scholarship Fund has given a total of approximately $100,000 - $120,000 each year to an average of 120 students! Last year, 58 students who received scholarship dollars had been students of Welsh Valley Middle School!
Cards cost $15 apiece (or 3 for $40) and can be purchased in the following ways:
Checks should be payable to LMTSF.
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4th Annual Fox's Fight 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Day - 11/30
Please join the Fox Family on November 30, 2013 at Harriton High School for the 4th Annual Fox's Fight 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Day as we honor the memory of Andrew Fox and raise much needed funds for the Andrew J. Fox Melanoma Research and Patient Care Fund at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Andrew battled melanoma for 13 months and lost his fight in 2007 at the age of 43. Andrew was a graduate of Harriton High School, class of 1982. Read more.
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Financial Planning for College - Tues., 12/3, 7:00-8:30 pm, LMHS, LGI Room
Attention Parents! Are you thinking about the cost of college and what that may look like in the coming years? If you are wondering about affordability and planning for college, even though it may seem like a long time away, we have the program for you! Please join us for important information and conversation about the cost of higher education and how to plan for the future!
Link to flyer for more information.
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CSE Presents:
Special Needs Trusts, Power of Attorney, and Guardianship - Tues, 12/3, 7:30 pm
@ Academy Building
The Committee for Special Education of Lower Merion School District invites you a talk on Special Needs Trusts, Power of Attorney, and Guardianship led by Alissa B. Gorman, JD, of McAndrews Law Offices. The event takes place on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the LM Academy Building (adjacent to main entrance at Bala Cynwyd Middle School) located at 510 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. The Committee for Special Education (CSE) is a parent-led volunteer organization serving families of students with an IEP, GIEP, and/or 504 Service Agreement. For additional information about this event or the CSE, please contact Karin Fox at klrenard@aol.com.
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ISC HOT TOPIC: Getting Beyond Survival Mode - How to Parent in the Teen Years - Tues., 12/10, 9:30 am @ Academy Building
The teen/preteen years are a time of rapid change for kids, and it can be hard for parents to keep pace with the everchanging landscape of their child's life. Join the Interschool Council on Tuesday, 12/10 at 9:30 AM at The Academy Building (adjacent to BCMS), for an interactive discussion on how to best support your teen. LMSD psychologists Craig Cosden (BCMS) and Andrea Fina (Harriton) will cover a broad array of topics including:
- Adolescent development - understanding the "normal" of mood swings, evolving cognitive skills and desire for independence.
- Setting priorities and boundaries - deciding when to step in and when to back off and let them learn from their own experiences.
- Building self esteem - learn strategies that support good self-esteem and how to effectively encourage students to do their best.
All parents and guardians in the LMSD are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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Are you looking for a few hours of "adult time"? Just drop your children off at Lower Merion High School on Saturday, December 14 at 6:00 pm. Please refer to the flyer for the cost and what is included in the fun filled night.
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RAMS Baseball "Coach the Coach" and Player Clinic - December 28 for grades 1st - 8th
For Grades 1st-8th - this clinic is for players and their parents. It will be held at Harriton High School. The Rams Baseball "Coach the Coach" and Coach the Player clinic is a great way for both the parent and player to learn together. If you want to learn more about the sport of baseball and have quality time learning and playing baseball with your child this clinic is a must. View flyer here.
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LMSD named to College Board's 4th Annual AP District Honor Roll
 The College Board recently announced Lower Merion School District has been named to the 4th Annual AP District Honor Roll - a distinction awarded to districts that have opened the AP classroom doors to a significantly broader pool of students while improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher. Last year, 85% of students taking AP exams at Harriton and Lower Merion scored either a 3, 4, or 5. Read more.
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The Ardmore Library will host its third annual Lego Festival - Fri., 11/28 & Sat.,11/29
from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Don't miss the 3rd Annual Lego Festival taking place at the Ardmore Library on Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30, 2013. Come to make fantastical creations with Legos, Bionicles, Duplos or Giant Lego Bricks. Cool prizes will be raffled off (FREE!) and Lego snacks will be served. The event will be on - going all day long so stop by when you can anytime from 10 am to 4 pm on both days. This is a great event where the library offers a celebration of all things Lego, with endless Lego -building opportunities.
The Ardmore Library
108 Ardmore Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-642-5187
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Narberth Rugby Club New Player & Parent Informational Night - Dec. 4 (@ HHS); Jan. 13( @ LMHS)
Join Narberth's Rugby Coaches, current players and other prospective players and parents for an informational evening as we prepare for our 7th great season. December 4, 2013 - 7 PM at Harriton High School-LGI room; January 13, 2014 - 7 PM at Lower Merion High School - LGI room. Please join us - both meetings will take place in the Large Group Instruction (LGI) rooms. We will cover all age groups: U11, U13, U15 & U19. All returning club members should join us and bring your friends! For more details go to www.narberthrugby.org. Click here to view flyer.
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59 LMSD students to play their part in Wolf PAC's fall productions. There are several students from each of the 10 LMSD schools performing. Read more
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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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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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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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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.
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.
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