Middle Gate Elementary School
schoolhouse-pic
7 Cold Spring Road, Newtown, CT 06470
Middle Gate Minute
A Bi-Weekly eNewsletter
Edition: January 07, 2016

Parent Teacher Association 
PTA Comments or Suggestions?  
Important Notes: Notes 
Please see below information about the School of Excellence Survey your feedback is important to us. Link to survey below - Responses are due by January 16.
(some dates are tentative and subject to change)
 
Jan 12:
4th Grade Winter Concert
(Jan 17 snow date)
 
Jan 16: 
School of Excellence Survey Due

Feb 2: 
Student Council Fundraiser
at Rockin' Jump

Feb 8: 
PTA General Meeting 7pm

Feb 27 & 28: 
Pizza with Dad

Mar 3 (TBD):
Sock Hop

April 22 (TBD): 
Parent's Night Out with
Silent Auction

May 19 (TBD): 
Middle Gate Madness 
 
 
Downloads:
(updated every newsletter) 
 
Quick Links  QuickLinks 

Contact us
:
PTA Phone: (860) 532-0464
 
2016/17 PTA Board of Directors
President:  
Vice President
Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
Assistant Treasurer:
Yearbook Photos:
HOT TOPICS
MESSAGE FROM THE PTA PRESIDENTPresMsg 
A Message from Debbie:  

We hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and the break from school! Happy 2017! 

One important project we are working on is the completion of the process for Middle Gate to be recognized as a "School of Excellence" by the CT PTA. Part of that process is having parents/guardians/PTA Members fill out a survey to let the CT PTA know what we are doing well and what we might need to improve on. Please click on the link below  in the School of Excellence section to complete the survey. We really appreciate your quick response to this survey as we have a certain timeline we are required to report back on.

Here are just some of the purchases/improvements your PTA has provided to the school in the last month or so:
  • The Shed was delivered for the Phys Ed department to move the athletic equipment into. They are very excited.
  • The new Sound System for the gym/auditorium was ordered and delivered to Mr. Geissler. They are very grateful for this gift. It also allows for the prior sound system to be used in the cafeteria or for classroom events that require this.
  • Thirty-two seating balls were ordered and delivered to Middle Gate School. These are alternate seating options that are being done as a test. So far the feedback has been good. We are open to ordering more for the school if this continues to be successful for students and teachers.
  • We have ordered the sound proofing panels for the cafeteria so those will be going up likely sometime the end of January, beginning of February. We think that will really contribute positively to the lunch time for the students. With less background noise and echoing, we are hopeful that conversations can happen comfortably and that it will be a more relaxing time for all.

We have many events happening this semester at Middle Gate and we are looking forward to lots of fun and learning with our Middle Gate Family. Thank you for your support of the Middle Gate PTA. As you can see, there are many great things happening as a result of your support!

Thank you!
Sincerely,

Debbie DeBlasi
PTA President
 
FOURTH GRADE WINTER CONCERT - JAN 12Chorus 
January 12 7:00pm Reed School 
 
Happy almost New Year, everyone!  We are busy as bees in the music room and our 4th graders are very excited about their  Winter Chorus  Concert wh ich will take place at REED School. 

Concert
 Date: Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m.  with a snowdate of January 17
Concert
 attire:  White top/black bottoms (skirts or pants) and clean shoes. 

Any questions please feel free to email me:  jonest@newtown.k12.ct.us

"Sing"-cerely,
Tina Jones
SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE SURVEYsurvey 
January 7, 2017 

Dear Families,

The Middle Gate PTA knows that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders, and community at-large is important for the success of our students and school. That's why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which celebrates partnerships between PTA and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. 

At a National PTA School of Excellence, families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner for continuous school improvement. We feel Middle Gate and Middle Gate PTA can achieve that together - and the result will be national, state and community-wide visibility for the positive impact we are making together at Middle Gate.

We need your help! As part of the process, National PTA requests feedback from families at two points in the school year - the beginning and end. Your feedback in the beginning of the program will help to generate a customized Roadmap to Excellence, which will provide specific recommendations for improving our family-school partnership and achieving excellence.

Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at this school and complete the survey. Choose the answer that most accurately expresses how you feel about your experience. This survey is completely anonymous. Please respond to this survey by January 16.

Does this sound like a PTA program you'd really like to help with? Join us! Contact Debbie DeBlasi to learn more!

Link to Survey

Sincerely,

Debbie DeBlasi - Middle Gate PTA President           
LOST AND FOUND IS OVERFLOWINGLostFound
Lost and Found Notice from the Office:
 
Our Lost & Found area is overflowing! Please come in and take a look for any
items your children may have misplaced. The Lost and Found is
located in the cafeteria, next to the entry doors.
Thank you.

Please remember to put your child's name on outerwear, gloves, and  hats.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MG SCHOOL NURSENurse 
Hearing and Vision Testing:
 
Hearing and Vision Testing has begun. Please do not worry if you do not hear from me.  Each student is tested and if they do not do well, they are retested. Sometimes children have an off day so we give them a second chance.  If a student does not pass the test, you will receive a letter home.  If the student does pass the test, you will not hear from me. So no news means they passed.. 

If you have any questions or concerns I may be reached during school hours. 

Have a wonderful New Year.
Trish McDonald, RN
A SPECIAL THANK YOUHolidayThx 
We couldn't do these events without your support
 
To everyone that helped the Holiday Shopping Boutique be such a huge success. This would NOT have happened if you all had not answered the call to assist. Many people came for a morning shift and stayed to help for way more hours than they signed up for. We had wrappers who sat there for hours patiently wrapping dog bones and figurines and everything in between! People who donated things, created crafts, shopped, took boxes and boxes of gifts home to wrap them for the kids so they will get them delivered to their classes on Monday/Tuesday.

We sold thousands of gifts and almost every child requested wrapping (even for the gifts they purchased for themselves. So cute!) The Middle Gate Elves proved again that kindness and giving of your time really makes a difference in the world. I think the happy students and the recipients of their gifts would agree!

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart
- Debbie
SAVE THE DATESSaveDates
Don't miss out on all the fun!

 

Middle Gate SOCK HOP is back: Friday, March 3rd at the Reed Intermediate School.
This was a fan favorite for sure. Hope to see you there!

 
We will be hosting our second annual Parent's Night Out and Silent Auction again this year on April 22nd at Rock Ridge Country Club. We are looking for donations of auction items.
  • Do you have  time share weeks that you aren't using? Can they be donated?
  • Does your company donate items for charitable contributions?
  • Do you own a company and are willing to donate some type of service that people can bid on?
  • Are you artistic/crafty and want to donate a hand-made or one of a kind item?
These are all wonderful ways to fundraise for Middle Gate School!
Please contact Debbie DeBlasi deborahadeblasi@gmail.com or Kelley Michael kelleymmichael@charter.net
if you have something you would like to donate. Thank you in advance!


The Pizza with Dad event is being held on February 27 and February 28 at MG Cafeteria. Lorena Jackson is the chairperson again this year. Thank you Lorena!!!
 


Muffins with Mom/Used Book Sale: We should have the date available by next week.
Mr. Geissler is checking on the availability of the gym for hopefully a little earlier than May
since we have lots going on in May already!
BUDGET SEASON SCHEDULEBudgetSched
Budget Season is here!

Mr. Geissler's budget was submitted to the Superintendent and the Superintendent's budget was submitted to the Board of Education. We need parents to be involved in this process to avoid more cuts in the budget. We will provide updates periodically regarding meetings, voting, etc. Here are a few dates to keep in mind:

1/31 - Board of Education PUBLIC HEARING
2/2  - Board of Education ADOPTS THE BUDGET
2/16- Board of Finance PUBLIC HEARING
3/8 -  Board of Finance TO Legislative Council
3/22- Legislative Council PUBLIC HEARING
4/5 -  Legislative Council ADOPTS THE BUDGET
HAVE A ROCKIN' GOOD TIME FEB 2RockJump
Save the Date!! Thursday February 2: 6pm - 8pm

4th Grade Student Council is sponsoring a fundraiser @ Rockin' Jump

Student council will be selling 1-hour jump time passes for $15 (make checks out to MGS) until Wed Feb 1. (Socks can be purchased at Rockin' Jump).  Skip the line and fill out the waiver ONLINE HERE.

Thanks for supporting the 4th Grade Student Council!!
A SWEET DEAL FOR YOUR VALENTINEShutterfly 
Shutterfly only through 2/15 image

Here's another sweet deal from Shutterfly that gives back 13% of your purchase to Middle Gate!

Now through 2/15/17, if you order a ceramic mug you can get 40% off AND get FREE chocolate! All you have to do is click on the link below, make your purchase (don't forget to enter the promo code) and Middle Gate will receive a 13% of the sale. We thank you for continued support!
 
We are just about $83 away from reaching our goal of $500 - just for sharing your memories!!

Here are the details: image

CODE: MUG2017
PROMO: 40% off Mugs and Get FREE Chocolate
END DATE: 02/15/2017

You MUST click through from this website:

http://mgs.shutterflystorefront.com/ 

(note the landing page does not show up well in Firefox)
CONTINUED NEWS
YEARBOOKS NOW ON SALEYearbook
Order Yearbooks!  On-Line Order Only. image
 
All orders must be placed on their website, www.coffeepond.com  no order forms will be distributed.

Hard Cover $30
password: middlegate2017

Soft Cover $27
 
password: middlegate

Please remember to upload your photos from events and activities at Middle Gate. The kids love looking through the yearbook at the end of the year and remembering all the fun times with friends. If you haven't already uploaded the APP, it's easy and convenient. The Pictavo Community APP and the school id is 63963. Any questions, please contact kelleymmichael@charter.net