DRAGONBITES
Welsh Valley Middle School
Home and School Association
Weekly Newsletter
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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Friday, December 20
- Last Day of School in 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013 to Wednesday, January 1
Thursday, January 2
Tuesday, January 7
- District Transition Mtg for 8th Grade Parents of Students Receiving Spec. Ed. Services (HH LGI) 9 am
Wednesday, January 8
- 8th Grade (Walk-Zone Students) to Visit LM (LM Aud) 10 am
Thursday, January 9
- District Transition Meeting for All Parents of 8th Grade Students who will be Attending either LM or HH (HH Aud) 7 pm
- 8th Grade Studets to visit HH (HH Aud) 10 am
Friday, January 10
- Family Spaghetti Dinner at WV (rescheduled for Friday, Feb 21st)
Friday, January 17
- Early Dismissal at 11:55 am, No Lunch Served
Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King Day)
- All Schools Closed
- Administration Offices Closed
Saturday, January 25
- Schuykill Valley Area Band Rehearsal at Great Valley MS
Tuesday, January 28
- Schuykill Valley Area Band Rehearsal at Great Valley MS
Thursday, January 30
- Schuykill Valley Area Band Rehearsal at Great Valley MS
Friday, January 31
- Schuykill Valley Area Band Concert at Great Valley MS 8 pm
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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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 Welsh Valley's Thanksgiving Luncheon - Thank You!
The Welsh Valley Middle School HSA parent volunteers organized a special Thanksgiving luncheon as a culmination of American Education Week celebrations and as an early segway into the holiday season. Students, parents, and staff took the opportunity to enjoy a delicious lunch together which featured all the usual Thanksgiving fixings - turkey and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes (both sweet and mashed), green beans, an assortment of desserts, and more. Those in attendance were also included in a special raffle for an assortment of holiday-themed prizes. Thank you to the HSA and WV community for putting together such a wonderful event. |
HSA Needs Volunteers
We have various school events that need volunteers. Please go to www.SignUpGenius.Com to signup to help. Attention Parents with a Green ThumbWe are looking for volunteers to join our Campus Beautification Committee and help organize, design and plant flowers in our new planters and throughout the school. If you are interested, please contact Nanette Taraya-Vonk at ntarayavonk@comcast.net or click the following link: www.SignUpGenius.Com
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Dress up Week at Welsh Valley - through Fri., Dec. 20
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"Once on this Island" Cast List
Congratulations to ALL students who auditioned for Once on this Island. Remember, everyone who auditioned made the play! This cast list is organized alphabetically by last name. We are very proud of all the students. If your child's name is spelled incorrectly or if you do not see your child's name and they auditioned, please let Mrs. Vaughan know as soon as possible. Parents, please see Mrs. Vaughan's eBoard for play updates and rehearsals. Rehearsals will start the first day we get back from winter break. Thank you, Mrs. Vaughan and Mrs. Hunt Link to Cast List
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 Welsh Valley Hosts Winter Choral Concerts
Welsh Valley Middle School kicked off the Lower Merion School District's winter choral season with three nights of performances featuring the 6th, 7th and 8th grade ensembles under the direction of Mrs. Lachele Vaughan with accompaniment from Christopher Kehoe. The first performance took place on November 19th and featured such selections as "Oh How Lovely is the Evening," "Frosty Winter Snow," "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah," "A Hanukkah Remembrance," "Carol of the Bells," "True Colors," "White Christmas," and "Shalom Chaverim." Click here to see a video with excerpts from throughout the evening. |
POV Parents, Guardians, Siblings, Grandparents, and Families: SAVE THE DATE!
You are cordially invited to join us as POV students read their original poetry and enjoy jazzy music, coffee, tea, hot cocoa and desserts galore at the POV Poetry Cafe! POV Poetry Cafe Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Welsh Valley Cafeteria First Act: Students arrive 6pm, Cafe runs from 6:15 - 7:15pm Students in period 2, 3 and part of 4 (Ask your child) Second Act: Students arrive 7:15pm, Cafe runs 7:30 - 8:30pm Students in period 5, 8, and part of 4 (Ask your child) Please have your student wear all black! We kindly request you bring a dessert that feeds 20 and/or bottled water. This is a REQUIRED event for all POV students. Please email Ms. Schwartz with any questions: schward@lmsd.org We are looking forward to seeing you there!
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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 December 9th:
6th Grade Ben Bushnell Lance Chestnut Elliot Brown commended by Mrs. Wisser Sarina Petit commended by Mr. Marrone "Chip" Hockeimer commended by Mrs. Lawrence Maddie Henderson commended by Mrs. Oakes 7th Grade Curtis Williams commended by Mr. Callahan Christina Brown Leah Coulter commended by Mrs. Cooke Mason Coburn-Weigand commended by the 7B Team Anne Kelekolio commended by the 7B Team Shannon Trainor commended by the 7B Team Ty Bookstaver commended by Mr. Callahan Matthew Stein commended by Mr. Callahan Kai Tramoglie commended by Mr. Callahan Francis Chaliserry commended by Mr. Callahan 8th Grade Nick Bugbee commended by Mrs. Morris MaryGrace Ling commended by Mrs. Morris Marissa Left Graham Dixon commended by Mrs. Morris Emma Johnson commended by Mrs. Morris Eli Gubernick commended by Mrs. Morris Bruce Sacchetta commended by Mrs. Morris Annabella Horton commended by Mrs. Morris Anna Swider commended by Mrs. Morris Anna Spade commended by Mrs. Morris
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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.
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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Upcoming InterSchool Council ("ISC") Meetings--Open to all district parents & guardians
Save the Date - January 14th, 11 am to 1 pm, Leadership Training Opportunity
This is a unique opportunity to learn The Bigger Game™. Evan Marcus, Co-Founder of Dillon Marcus Executive Retreats, will teach us to use this dynamic and intuitive framework designed to challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and invent the life you want. For more information about this free program for all LMSD parents and guardians, please visit www.TheBiggerGame.com.
Any questions, please feel free to contact ISC Co presidents Amy Norr (norrmetz@verizon.net) or Deb Rocco (DRocco@roccolaw.com). If you would like to attend, please rsvp (space may be limited) to Ellen Keefe (keefeisc@gmail.com) by Friday, January 10th. Location tba
December Interschool Council Meeting Rescheduled Feb 11th, 9:30-11 am @ Academy Bldg
The December 10th ISC meeting, cancelled due to snow, has been rescheduled for Feb 11th, 9:30 -11 am, at the Academy Buidling (adjacent to BCMS). The topic will be "Getting Beyond Survival Mode: How to Parent in the Teen Years"; LMSD psychologists Craig Cosden (BCMS) and Andrea Fina (Harriton) will lead an interactive discussion
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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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Harriton Girl's Basketball Clinic - Sun., 12/22, 9:00 am -12:00 pm
This clinic is run by Harriton High School Girls Basketball Team. 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 is it's a perfect time to drop your kids off and get the last part of your holiday shopping done! Come up your game on Sunday, 12/22 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Click here to see the flyer and registration form. For more information please contact Monica Tabasso at mmtabasso@hotmail.com. Don't miss out!!!!
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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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Cynwyd Elementary is turning 100 in 2014!
We cordially invite all alumni 18 and older to our Alumni & Community Reception on Tuesday, February 11 from 7:30-9:30pm. Take a tour of the school, view the premier of our commemorative video, and connect with neighbors and alumni. We hope you can celebrate this momentous occasion with us! Heavy hors d'oeuvres, "mocktails," and birthday cake will be served! Buy tickets online to get advance pricing. Click here to buy tickets online.
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The Coalition for Youth of Lower Merion and Narberth is offering its first newsletter for parents, "Spotlight on Parenting"
The newsletter will be published 4-5 times each year and includes parenting tips, news items pertaining to youth, and community events for youth and/or their families. Link to the coalition website.
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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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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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