E-News - October 31, 2021
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!
CLICK on any UNDERLINED ITEM for more information!
**All dates are subject to change.**

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If you'd like to contact us, please reach us at mespta@mtsd.us.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT THIS WEEK
This Week's Schedule - PLEASE READ!
MON, NOV 1 - Regular School Day

TUES, NOV 2 - Staff Inservice, Early Dismissal for Students

WED, NOV 3 - Staff Inservice, Early Dismissal for Students

THUR, NOV 4 - Schools Closed

FRI, NOV 5 - Schools Closed

IMPORTANT: Daylight Saving Time ends the first Sunday in November. We will “fall back” one hour and return to Standard Time on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at 2 a.m. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday, November 6th!
But What About the Buses?
GENESIS does not update bus drop off times to reflect Early Dismissal days. Simply use the general timeframes of your regular school day to figure out your Early Dismissal drop-off times.

Example: A bus usually arrives 22 minutes after the end of school to drop off your student. Then add 22 minutes to the early dismissal end time and that's the anticipated bus drop time.
MES PTA presents our MINTED Fundraiser!
We can’t believe it either, but the holidays are right around the corner!

This holiday season, MES PTA is partnering with Minted to help us fundraise for YOUR student's school enrichment, and we need your help!

Using our unique code FUNDRAISEMONTGOMERYPTA, you can get 20% OFF all your Minted holiday card & gift purchases—and for every order placed, Minted will donate 15% back to our organization.

With high-quality products designed by independent artists, like custom photo gifts, holiday cards, tote bags, stationery, and more, Minted has meaningful gifts for every special occasion.

To participate, simply visit minted.com/holiday to start your holiday shopping. Apply code FUNDRAISEMONTGOMERYPTA at checkout to claim your 20% discount. It’s that easy!

Minted will track every purchase made using our code, and MES PTA will get 15% of the proceeds donated back for OHES/VES student events and activities.

Please feel free to forward this promo code to friends and extended family—the more people shop Minted using our code, the more our students stand to gain! But hurry, deadline is 12/31 at midnight!
FALL-O-WEEN Wraps Up!
Emma, VES 4th grader, enjoys some Hot Chocolate from her Treat Bag after painting her pumpkin! Her family headed out to enjoy the Halloween House Tour and voted for their favorites as well!

Special thanks to Sweet Gourmet, Princeton Playspace, and especially YaYa Noodles in helping us create a most Spooktacular FALL-O-WEEN Season!

We hope all participants found something fun to enjoy with our activities and contests. Speaking of contests...Congrats to all various WINNERS from the MES PTA! Here they are by event:

Decorated/Carved Pumpkin Winners:
OHES
Most Creative - Ranveer D. (Pre-K)
Most Interesting - Zeynep A. (1st grade)
Most Funny - Brynn L. (1st grade)
Most Scary - Teddy P. (2nd Grade)

VES
Most Creative - Asato M. (4th grade)
Most Funny - Karanveer D. (3rd grade)
Most Scary - Martha C. (3rd grade)
Most Interesting - Valentina G. (4th grade)
Honorable Mention - Emma Z. (4th grade)

Thanks to our Art Teachers at OHES (Mrs. Evans & Mr. Cuffie) and VES (Mrs. O’Connor) for being our judges. They all had this to say: Those were some really great pumpkins that were submitted. Everyone did a great job! Congratulations to the winners!

Ghoulish Giveaway Winners:
Two Princeton PlaySpace Open Play Passes - Brynn L. (1st Grade)
Sweet Gourmet Cookie Decorating Kit Voucher - Martha C. (3rd Grade)
$25 YaYa Gift Card - Asato M. (4th grade)

Thanks to all houses that volunteered for our 2nd Annual Halloween House Tour! Voting for your favorites closed at 6 pm today and Superlative Winners will be announced tomorrow!

Finally, we are finishing up plans for our Holiday House Tour, but we need your feedback! Our goal is to present this tour in December, so please complete our Halloween House Tour Wrap Up Survey by clicking here.

Here's to everyone having a safe and satisfying Halloween!
November Spirit Days - OHES and VES
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!

See below for OHES & VES November Spirit Days:
OHES November Spirit Days
VES November Spirit Days
OHES Pillars: what’s the new color this month?
This month you’ll see PURPLE ribbons adorning our OHES pillars. Your MES PTA, in collaboration with the school’s “Pillars of Character” will put up color themed ribbons every month, from October to March.

So what theme does the color purple stand for? This month, the theme is CITIZENSHIP. Throughout the month, the OHES Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) team will be showing our kids what it takes to be a good citizen. Our little cougars will learn amazing things like how to manage their emotions when they don’t get their way (Yay!!), being a good neighbor, encouraging others to be a good citizen to name a few. Be on the lookout for spirit days…and don’t forget to set a great example at home yourself…Vote on Nov 2!!

Please email Muneera.shabbir@gmail.com to help place OHES ribbons in future months. 
VES Pillar of Character for November
As mentioned in Ms. Lacy's last newsletter to families, VES invites students to focus on Citizenship this month:
"November we shine a light on Indigenous People and Voting Equity in support of our Pillar of Character, Citizenship."

Being a good citizen can be represented in so many ways, and through in-class discussions and those units mentioned above, our VES students will have many takeaways to discuss with you at home.

Here's to VES student Kieran (pictured in the OHES ribbons photo above) who, along with his father, volunteered to help install this month's purple ribbons at OHES. As a VES Bluebird Kieran knows, it's always the right time to do the right thing. Thanks, Kieran!
MES PTA NEWS
Calling all Halloween Pictures!
Send the PTA pictures of your students in their Halloween BEST for the yearbook by using the links below. Deadline to submit these photos will be 6 pm on 11/20. 

Few things to keep in mind:
  • Pictures can only have students from their respective schools (OHES students and VES students cannot be in the same submitted picture).
  • Adult Volunteers/Parents/Siblings cannot be in the picture.
  • Be sure to review which pictures you are submitting when uploading from your phone to avoid "accidental" pictures being added. 
  • Send both posed and candid pictures but be sure they are clear! 
  • Direct all questions to mespta@mtsd.us


USER ID for OHES is 416755955
USER ID for VES is 416725958
Huge Thanks to Our Nurses ...
Warm sentiments can make a difference...especially for those working non-stop!
Then an idea comes together...
And OHES and VES Nurses are gifted a little bit of relaxation! Thanks to all our Nurses!
The world has changed, but their dedication has not! OHES and VES Nurses work tirelessly to keep our schools healthy for learning! These self-care bundles from your MES PTA hopefully gave some well-deserved relaxation!
October Volunteers Stepped Up!
Special thanks to our AMAZING October volunteers who kept the momentum going strong for Picture Days, Nurse Appreciation, Pillar Ribbons, and FALL-O-WEEN! You remind us all there is no "one way" to PTA!
Ameet Doshi
Sol Van Der Heiden
Alessandra Kikuchi
Jackie Merritt
Ruchi Chaudhary
Lisa Ricco
Shiva Pandey
Ayisha Jones
Karen Jeffers
Sara Kestner
Jessica McDonnell
Sue Englert
Mary Chodakowski
Amy Lee
Denise Bonder
Vera Miao
Dominka Kruszynska
Emily Stahlin
Lauren Arlen
Elana Stein
Ewa Bialobrzeski
Danielle O’Connor
Basabdatta Chatterjee
Mala Vora
Sayani Bhaumik
Dhivya Sanjay
Danielle Roman - Horvath
Nardeen Rizkalla
Linda Bishop
Arianna Scott
Kara Doyle
Esther Budanitsky Park
Sowjanya Kaza
Christina Harris
Vanessa Diaz
Urvi Jatania
Sarah Yi
And an extra special thank you to all the ROOM PARENTS and their special helpers for creating wonderful Halloween Parties for the various classrooms. There are too many to list here, so look for an extra special mention down the road! Thanks to all for your creativity, resilience and invaluable efforts!

To all our readers: Click here to learn more about volunteering! Thanks!
Room Parents - November Update
Congrats on getting through October! But November is a Wonky Month with various early dismissals, parent teacher conferences, etc. It will race by... So here's a few reminders!

1. Help your fellow Room Parent! Visit the SHARED IDEAS DOCUMENT on our website and add in the activities and games the students enjoyed for their Halloween classroom party.

2. Brainstorm on activities NOW! Figure out a general game plan and get after it! Remember that supplies and staffing vary from store to store - so do your leg work now and talk to your classroom teacher(s) to come up with a plan for December's Holiday Party!

3. December is also the the time for the first of two Teacher(s) Gifts from the class! Before you decide on what to give, survey your teacher(s). Have them fill out a quick questionnaire on their favorite color, hobby, etc. You can still collect from families for a general gift card, or work with families to come up with something original. Make it a genuine gesture and give these hardworking teacher(s) something that speaks of appreciation.

DON'T FORGET TO ORGANIZE HALLOWEEN PARTY PICTURES FOR THE YEARBOOK! PLAN TO DO THE SAME FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES!
Join or Renew YOUR PTA Membership!
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...

  • MEMBERSHIP is the primary source of our funding
  • Our goal is one membership per family (hint, hint)
  • SIGN UP TODAY BY CLICKING HERE
  • FUNDRAISING doesn't hurt either
  • We aim for fewer but hopefully hugely successful fundraisers
  • We welcome (safe) social connectedness along the way
  • 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 -

MES PTA
CALENDAR/LINKS/INFO
Upcoming Events/Meetings & Related Dates/Deadlines
  • Nov 1 - House Tour Superlatives Announced, Regular School Day
  • Nov 2 - Staff Inservice, Early Dismissal for Students
  • Nov 3 - Staff Inservice, Early Dismissal for Students
  • Nov 4 - Schools Closed
  • Nov 5 - Schools Closed
  • Nov 18-19, 22-23 - Early Dismissal (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
  • Nov 20 - Halloween Yearbook Photos Deadline
  • Nov 24 - Early Dismissal
  • Nov 25-26 - Fall Recess (Schools Closed)
  • Dec 31 - MINTED Fundraiser Orders Deadline

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.
MES PTA - Quick Links/Info:
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OHES LINKS
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
VES LINKS
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
MSEPTA
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)

MSEPAG
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.

M-SEPAG’s success depends on YOUR input. Join us:
Community News
Mary Jacobs Library (branch) is NOW OPEN!

Thank you for your patience and understanding during the temporary closure. For more information, visit SCLSNJ.org or email Branch Manager Lesley Koble.
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!

Click Here for Borough of Rocky Hill News.
MTSD Links/Info