The Montgomery Elementary Schools (MES) PTA E-news
is published weekly and provides PTA updates and information related to Orchard Hill
and Village Elementary Schools of the Montgomery Township School District.
Just keep scrolling....you don't want to miss anything!
**All dates are subject to change.**
If you'd like to subscribe to this newsletter, please CLICK HERE.
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WHAT'S IMPORTANT THIS WEEK |
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CLICK HERE to view the RECENTLY REVISED OFFICIAL 2021-2022 District Calendar
CLICK HERE for a RECENTLY REVISED Day 1-6 Calendar for OHES and VES
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October plans to be a most SPOOKTACULAR month for MES PTA! Get ready for some fun-filled activities that please every spirit!
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FIRST THINGS FIRST! Decorating your residence for Halloween? Know a neighbor that always does the "scary season" up right? Then CLICK HERE to get the NAV-friendly Address placed on our Second Annual Halloween House Tour List. Sign Up Deadline 10/15! Must Display 10/26-10/30 from 5-8 pm nightly.
- Decorated/Carved Pumpkins can result in some choice prizes! A virtual competition like no other! Sign up and show your talents to win amongst our categories and with general giveaways!
- EXTRA Sweet Treats! Part of your sign-up gets you a goody bag filled with family-friendly fun! Perfect timing to prepare and bring for the ride...
- What Ride? The Ride of the Season! Our Second Annual MES PTA Halloween House Tour! Signing Up gets you EARLY ACCESS to the list! But the list will be released for FREE to all on 10/24
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What's Up With Those Ribbons at OHES? |
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Have you seen those pretty yellow ribbons adorning the pillars at the main entrance of OHES? What do they mean and how does this matter to students?
Your MES PTA decorates the six pillars at OHES to align with the six color themed “Pillars of Character” in the OHES Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. The school incorporates these pillars to instill a positive school culture and a safe environment for the students to learn. The color of these six ribbons will change every month, for six months, starting in October. This month's color is Yellow, which stands for Respect!
Be on the lookout for information from the school about the Week of Respect! The SEL team will plan activities at OHES throughout October, starting with the Week of Respect, to help instill respect amongst our young cougars. Students will practice how to be a "bucket filler" and how to show respect to everyone even if they are different from us.
Guess what color theme is November? Stay tuned to the PTA E-News to find out!
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VES is all about the Pillars, too! |
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DID YOU KNOW our VES students celebrated their first Pillar of Character in September with the theme of RESPONSIBILITY? Whether it's actively listening, learning routines, or treating others as one wishes to be treated, all VES students learned daily tips via the VES News and in-classroom discussions.
Ask your VES Bluebird about some of these suggestions:
- Pushing your chair in when you get up from your desk
- Checking your desk and work area for items to clean up
- Treating Library Books with care and returning them where they were found
- Taking turns, playing fair, and lining up when hearing the whistle at recess
- Thinking before posting online
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Or watch the VES News with your student by clicking here
These daily, practical examples help all VES Students celebrate the school year's theme of "Back and Better than Ever!" as well as the school motto to, "Be Your Best at VES".
In October, VES will join OHES to feature the Pillar of Character of RESPECT! The week of October 4-8 will also be Respect Week at VES. Please review the VES Spirit Day calendar attached below.
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VES hosts Picture Days THIS WEEK on Wednesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 7. We've received a few questions and, while the school coordinates this effort, we wanted to share some information that helps us all prepare.
Forms - If you intend to purchase ANY package for your student, you must send in a completed form (or fill one out online). If you've misplaced the form, you can download them here:
Why are they selling a Classroom Photo? How is this possible? - Milan Rose is offering a COMPOSITE CLASSROOM PHOTO where each student's individual photo is placed side-by-side in a thumbnail size. See example below:
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An Example of a Composite Photo |
Each student's INDIVIDUAL photo is placed side-by-side. At no point will students stand or sit together for the entire class to be photographed as a whole.
Teacher name, grade level, and school will be listed on the composite photo. All students will be featured with their first names only.
We hope this clarifies what a COMPOSITE photo entails so you can make the best decision for your potential photo package purchase.
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Does Every Student Get Their Photo Taken? - Yes! Every student will have their photo taken so they can appear in the annual VES yearbook. Please remember to dress your student accordingly:
- Avoid WHITE for clothing choices (warmer colors are better than brighter colors)
- Eyeglasses are Amazing! Photographers know all the tricks to reduce glare!
- RELAX! The best smile is a natural one! Have your student look in a mirror and find that beautiful, wonderful, natural smile that they already have ready and waiting!
PLEASE REMEMBER: You can direct all questions about pictures and Picture Day to your teacher(s) or school administration.
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VES Picture Days - We Still Need Volunteers! |
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A FEW VOLUNTEER SPOTS REMAIN as
VES hosts Picture Days THIS WEEK
on Wednesday, October 6 & Thursday, October 7
A few MES PTA Member volunteers are still needed to help direct students and staff on where to go, and help ensure everyone has applicable paperwork for their picture.
Every volunteer must be a current MES PTA member, HIB trained with a completed quiz, vaccinated, and wearing a mask at all times while on site. Volunteers will receive a lanyard to wear upon arrival, and will then return the lanyard before leaving.
To sign up as a VES Picture Day volunteer, click here:
P.S. OHES Picture Day Volunteer Info and Sign Up Sheet
will be announced in a future E-News and Facebook
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October Spirit Days - OHES and VES |
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SPIRIT DAYS are announced monthly by both OHES and VES, and reminders are sent out through school communications as well as MES PTA social platforms. Special thanks to both schools for allowing students to dress according to these themed days of celebration!
October Spirit Days for BOTH OHES and VES:
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Speaking of Spirit Days...
Does your student have a Spirit Wear Shirt? Did they move up in a size over the summer?
Visit our Memberhub store! Shop for youth shirts, sweatshirts (and MES PTA Memberships - hint, hint) by clicking on this link:
HURRY! ONLY WHILE CURRENT SUPPLY LASTS!
And thanks to everyone for showing your spirit EVERY DAY!
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Good Things for Good People! |
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We see the hard work, and we try our best to say THANK YOU!
Here are some of the results of YOUR MES PTA (on behalf of all our students) reaching out and showing appreciation this past week:
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Staff Snack Surprise at OHES |
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Staff Snack Surprise at VES |
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Custodian Appreciation Day |
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A very special THANK YOU to the many families that donated snacks, and students that created art. Your well wishes make these initiatives possible, and we are truly grateful for your time and support! |
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Thanks to Our Awesome Volunteers! |
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Special thanks to the generous volunteers that got us off to a great start with Open House, Welcome Week, Staff Snack Surprise, and Custodian Appreciation Day. Your support shows all our members that there is no "one way" to PTA! |
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Hima Shubhra
Uma Addagalla
Mala Vora
Purvi Shah
Christine Hoffman
Ewa Bialobrzeski
Lisa Ricco
Nilam Patel
Lindsay Murray
Jayshree Srikanth
Urvi Jatania
Dhivya Sanjay
Mugdha John
Shirley Lin
Mukti Patel
Heather DeBruin
Nilam Patel
Jennifer Lafaman
Unnati Patel
Jennifer Harris
Muneera Dahodwala
Rebecca Chen
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Sol Van Der Heiden-Montes
Mae Fitzpatrick Potts
Lauren Ash
Lauren Arlen
Rebecca Sutton
Maria Ryan
Jennifer Volfson
Shiva Pandey
Yuna Kim
Shirley Lin
Alexis Poplawski
Sofia Diaz
Hetal Soni
Asma Ahmed
Banu Visweswaran
Sonia Grover
Rose Ann Sands
Zuzana Maziarz
Jennifer Grimes
Christina Harris
Vera Miao
Chirag Patel
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Thanks to all of you for your creativity, resilience and invaluable efforts!
To all our readers: Click here to learn more about volunteering! Thanks!
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Call for OHES and VES Yearbook Volunteers! |
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Do you enjoy the creative process? Are you interested in capturing school memories for our students? Then join the OHES and VES Yearbook Committee!
We are looking for 1-2 people to design and layout the OHES yearbook, as well as a team of volunteers to take pictures at OHES and VES school events.
Prior experience is NOT necessary, just interest and an openness to learn. This is a great opportunity to volunteer your time for our students, so please join us!
Please contact Yuna Kim or Unnati Patel at mespta@mtsd.us with questions or to volunteer. Thanks for your consideration!
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Thanks to everyone that expressed interest in serving as a MES PTA Room Parent for your student's classroom. Room Parents organize fun activities and events, and assist our teachers to make it a great year for all students!
As reference, you can still review the expectations, information, and resources as found here.
The deadline to express interest was October 1. An MES PTA Room Parent Coordinator (either for OHES or VES) will be in contact with all respondents very soon (no later than October 10). Submitting a form does not guarantee selection, so please be advised. The MES PTA uses a lottery system to determine assignments.
Thanks for your consideration and interest!
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That’s right, our popular fundraiser
is back and up and running!
YOUR PTA provides enrichment opportunities for our students through funds raised via membership dues and fundraisers. So we need YOUR HELP to get off to a great start!
Our first fundraiser for the year, the Charleston Wrap Fundraiser, allows you to shop from over 2,500 gift ideas for others (or maybe yourself) including holiday favorites like:
- gift wrap and accessories for all occasions
- exclusive kitchen and home items
- tasty gourmet goodies
- and more!
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Look in your student's COMMUNICATION FOLDER for our flyers and catalog, and be sure to register online to help us reach our goal. Follow the directions to add a participant (your student) - it's very simple to navigate the online process! Here's how:
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Simply scan the QR code provided here or visit registercw.com
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Fill out the registration form to sign up and become a participant! Be sure to use our Organization ID: 11663
- Start ordering all your gift giving needs!
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Email/text shopping links to friends and family so they can support as well! YOUR STUDENT WILL WIN A PRIZE WHEN YOU SEND OUT 10 SHARES!
Remember, our Organization ID is: 11663!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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Join or Renew YOUR PTA Membership! |
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HOW do we as a PTA provide the financial support and assistance to create more enrichment for the schools and our students?!?! Author visits, assemblies, volunteer hours, special moments of celebration - They don't just happen...YOU determine our reach and success...
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MEMBERSHIP is the primary source of our funding
- Our goal is one membership per family (hint, hint)
- SIGN UP TODAY BY CLICKING HERE
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FUNDRAISING doesn't hurt either
- We aim for fewer but hopefully hugely successful fundraisers
- We welcome (safe) social connectedness along the way
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VALUE IN KIND makes the world go round!
- Where possible, we ask your help to secure items of need!
- We show appreciation and reinforce support to teachers, custodial staff, and other invaluable groups
- Amazon Wish Lists help immensely in this regard
So help us get off to a great start! For $15 you can join the MES PTA and make a difference in every student's experience at OHES and VES. Please, it's a simple gesture with a huge impact -
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MES PTA
CALENDAR/LINKS/INFO
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Upcoming Events/Meetings & Related Dates/Deadlines
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Oct 4-8 - OHES and VES Week of Respect
- Oct 6 & 7 - VES Picture Days
- Oct 14 & 15 - OHES Picture Days
- Oct 13 (10 am) - MES PTA General Meeting
- Oct 24-25 - Fall-O-Ween Treat Bags Distributed
- Oct 26-30 - 2nd Annual MES PTA Halloween House Tour
- Oct 27 - MES PTA Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest Submissions Deadline, Ghoulish Giveaway Winners Announced
- October 29 - Eat at YaYa's, Give Back to MES PTA
- November 1 - House Tour Superlatives Announced
For a calendar of MES PTA Meetings and Events, please visit our website by clicking here.
For MTSD 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Calendars, please click here.
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MES PTA - Quick Links/Info:
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OHES LINKS
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
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VES LINKS
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
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The Montgomery Special Education PTA (MSEPTA) is a district-wide organization designed to build strong partnerships amongst teachers, parents, administration, existing PTA’s, and the community so that children receiving special education services of any kind will be better understood, integrated and embraced by our school and community.
NEXT MEETING: 11/17 at 6:30pm at UMS (Media Center)
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The Montgomery Special Education Parent Advisory Group (M-SEPAG) is a state-mandated*, district-level, parent-driven group charged with providing input to the local school district on system-level challenges in special education and related services. It exists to ensure that special education students and their parents have the opportunity to share input directly to the Montgomery Township School District regarding the policies, services, and practices that impact students with disabilities and their families.
Q & A with new BOE members
MSEPAG will be hosting a forum with the four new BOE members with a focus on Special Education. In preparation for the Q & A, we are asking our constituents for questions and concerns they would like to share. Please fill out this form, to send us your questions anonymously (for privacy, please do not refer to a specific teacher or use your child's name). Deadline to submit questions is Oct. 8, 2021.
This Virtual Event will be held on Friday, Oct 22nd at 7:00 pm.
Meeting ID: 812 6690 6105
Passcode: 942108
M-SEPAG’s success depends on YOUR input. Join us:
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Pacific Southern Railroad Train Show Fundraiser is back! This year they have graciously partnered with the Montgomery Schools PTAs & PTO to donate $1 for every ticket sold when the attendee mentions Montgomery PTA. If you go, please remember to mention MES PTA! |
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Click here to learn about all the exciting things happening at the Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill and the entire Somerset County Library System.
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Montgomery Township News Would you like to receive Montgomery municipal notices, weather closings, and much more? It’s free and easy to sign up!
Go to the Montgomery Township website at twp.montgomery.nj.us and add your address in the white and green “Sign-up for Ebulletins” box at the right.
Or you can text “InMontgomeryNJ” to 22828 on your phone to provide the e-mail address you would like added to the township E-bulletins system.
Below are links to current News, Events and Recreation Information. Check it out!
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