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.**
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WHAT'S IMPORTANT THIS WEEK |
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(VIRTUAL) MES PTA MEETING
THIS WEDNESDAY!
Mark your calendars and please join us
Wednesday, December 9 at 6:30 pm
to hear about our current programs and the many ways, "You can PTA!"
You need not be a member to attend this meeting, but we certainly welcome you to consider membership!
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Our MONTY GIVES TOGETHER CHALLENGE is up and running thanks to you! We currently sit at $1,400, headed into the last week of our campaign! But we only have until December 15th to generate $2,000 in donations to receive a matching $2,000!
by December 15th to do your part.
Many thanks from your MES PTA!
#PTAYourWay
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We Need Your Feedback on Yearbooks!
Help Us with our Survey!
The yearbook committee is surveying both OHES and VES families about your interest in purchasing a yearbook this school year despite classes and events being held virtually (for the most part).
There are logistic and financial constraints that the MES PTA faces in undertaking the creation of a yearbook for each campus, so your input is important in informing our decision on how to proceed.
Please review, complete and submit your survey no later than Wednesday, December 16. Your feedback is essential in allowing us to make the best decision for everyone, so thank you in advance for your assistance!
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Find a moment, maybe two
With seat belts, to be clear...
"The List" is out! It's Time to Shout!
It's That Time of Year!!!
You asked for it, and our community answered! Coming off a most successful Halloween House Tour, the MES PTA is pleased to release "The List" of area homes that have graciously agreed to decorate with lights and holiday spirit. By allowing our little ones to tour and enjoy, we all get a bit of wonder, a moment of inspiration, and a reminder that hope is always a good thing!
Dates: Roughly December 6 through January 3.
See "The List" for more details.
Time: 5 - 8 pm each night
Please remember that observers are to visit ONLY during these hours,
and must remain in their cars at all times.
Here is the link to access the list:
Have fun touring! And remember, just as each family chose to share
their home and good tidings with you, so too can you share!
Give your time, your energy, your smile to another neighbor
- or a friend in need! We could all use a bit more light!
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ROOM PARENT CORNER
December Update
Thank you once more to all our volunteer MES PTA Room Parents! We are off to a fast start, and all room parents should be working on four key items this month:
2. Reach out to your classroom teacher(s) to see how best to support them for the holiday season.
3. Make a second attempt to collect parent email addresses for classroom notifications.
4. Use said email addresses to establish contact with classroom parents and advise them of holiday plans AND thank you opportunities for the classroom teacher(s). Be sure to pursue virtual or e-based solutions for your appreciation gestures.
MES PTA Room Parent resources are available on the Room Parent Corner page of our website, which can be found by clicking here.
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Our MES PTA Fundraisers feature probably TWO of the most used gift options this holiday season - Gift Cards and AMAZON! Peruse all our offerings, find something special, and support your kids (and all our kids) in the process!
AMAZON SMILE
BOON SUPPLY-CONSCIOUS LIVING AND GIVING
BOX TOPS FOR KIDS
MABEL'S LABELS
NORTH EAST RESTAURANT DIRECT
SHOPWITHSCRIP GIFT CARDS
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Appreciation throughout the Year!
MES PTA has worked in close consultation and coordination with OHES and VES teacher liaisons to procure Scholastic books. These new additions will be for use in individual teacher classroom libraries. The books, all too often found in your child's "Book Baggie," come from libraries personally curated over the years by our hardworking teachers and staff. MES PTA is pleased to help grow these invaluable libraries especially during such a critical time. These efforts are another example of how your support (via initiatives like the Monty Gives Together Challenge noted above) makes the difference!
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STORYBOOK SESSIONS ARE HERE!
JOIN US FOR YET ANOTHER NEW AND VIRTUAL EVENT!
In partnership with the Interact club of Montgomery High School, MES PTA will launch a series of virtual dramatized read-aloud FREE events (four to be exact) taking place in December, February, April and June. Each event will offer roughly 40-60 minutes featuring creative, high-school-aged Interact volunteers. These young community leaders will create pre-recorded content of themselves providing entertaining re-enactments, lively reading and special-effects driven versions of existing library books from Orchard Hill Elementary.
The first Storybook Sessions event is being geared toward our Kindergarten, Pre-K and special needs students, currently slated for Thursday, December 17 at 6 pm. Book selection has and will continue to be provided by Mrs. Sharon Baller, OHES Librarian.
You must pre-register for Storybook Sessions to receive Zoom credentials and registration will close on MONDAY, December 14 or earlier should we reach our Zoom capacity. There is no fee to participate but you must register in advance!
SPECIAL OFFER! Our friends at Alfonso's will offer 20% of all proceeds back to the MES PTA on the night of the Storybook Sessions (12/17). All customers need only mention either the PTA, the Storybook Sessions event, or show a copy of the flier linked below. In one night, you can enjoy some great family entertainment while supporting a local business AND give back to the MES PTA (and those monies go right back into programs for all children in our district).
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On Friday, December 4th, the OHES students and staff participated in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Pajama Day! It was a chance to spend the day in our most comfortable jammies, all while supporting kids who rely on Children’s Hospital for care, cures and hope.
So, how did it work? OHES students and staff members wore their pajamas to virtual school on Friday, December 4th. Families also helped contribute by making a donation, big or small, to The Children's Fund at CHOP. The OHES Staff set a goal to raise $1,000 for the Children’s Fund! And they sure did do it! The OHES staff’s personal donation page can be found here: https://chop.donordrive.com/index.cfm...
Share your virtual school day in pajamas photo for the yearbook!
For OHES:
Although the pajama day fundraiser was only for OHES, if your child is in VES, please submit your yearbook pajama day photos to:
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MES PTA is a community made up of parents, guardians, teachers and staff whose goal is to enrich the experience of our students at Orchard Hill Elementary School and Village Elementary School.
MES PTA is supported by the generous donations of time, finances and love from our community. Last academic year (2019- 2020), MES PTA raised and provided more than $40,000 of funding for the students for Educational Programs (ex. Character Education, Assemblies), grants for teachers and staff, facility renovations, appreciation events for teachers/staff, etc.
* NOTE: If your family is eligible for free/reduced lunch, please contact your school’s secretary to inquire about a membership fee waiver.
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PROFILES IN RESILIENCE
Once more, as part of our initiative to foster more communication, each week the MES PTA will interview a member of our community with questions specific to these unprecedented times.
This week we interview Pamela Schrum, BSN, RN, CSN, and our OHES Nurse. Pamela has been with OHES since October of 2007 and we are so happy to visit with her!
Pamela shares, "Let’s stay strong, stay the course as directed by the medical experts and we will get through this one day at a time!"
Please read our entire visit with Pamela in her "Profile in Resilience" by clicking here.
Please read our archive listings of "Profiles in Resilience" by clicking here.
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MES PTA
CALENDAR/INFO/RESOURCES
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Upcoming Events/Meetings & Related Dates/Deadlines
- December 6 through January 3 - MES PTA "That Time of Year" Holiday Houses on Display (voting deadline 1/4)
- December 9 - MES PTA General Meeting
- December 14 - MES PTA Deadline: Storybook Session Registration Closes
- December 15 - MES PTA Deadline: "Monty Gives Together Challenge" ends
- December 16 - MES PTA Deadline: Yearbook Survey due
- December 17 - MES PTA Event: Storybook Session, 6 pm
- December 23 - Early Dismissal
- December 24-January 1 - Winter Recess (Schools Closed)
For a calendar of 2020-2021 MES PTA Meetings and Events, please visit our website by clicking here.
For the 2020-2021 MTSD District Calendar, click here.
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All The Ways to Follow MES PTA: |
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Post to our profile on Facebook @MES PTA
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For a listing of our MES PTA Board Members click here.
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MES PTA Room Parent Corner can be accessed here.
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To view our MES PTA E-News archive, please click here.
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To view previous MES PTA meeting minutes, please click here.
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OHES LINKS, INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES
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VES LINKS, INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES
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Montgomery Special Education PTA (MSEPTA) |
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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.
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NEXT MSEPTA MEETING - DECEMBER 15, 2020
To join MSEPTA and support teachers and students in Special Education, please click here.
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Gingerbread House Decorating Kit $15.00
Support MSEPTA and Show off your creativity.
We will be selling complete kits to create and decorate a mini gingerbread house. The basic materials will be supplied and individually wrapped but you can add more to make it unique.
Send us a photo of the final product and we will display a slide show to the community.
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FREE Workshop for Parents of Children
Receiving Special Education
"Overview of Basic Rights" on Tuesday, 12/15 at 6:30 pm
For more information please download the flyer provided here.
To attend the meeting, please register via this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduurqjorGNS6VXUamHhf1REVctMouit3
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Montgomery Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)
is a parent-led group that gives parents and community members the opportunity to share input directly to the school district regarding policies, services and practices that impact students with disabilities and their families. SEPAG’s success depends on YOUR input.
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MONTGOMERY GIRL SCOUTS
The Montgomery Girl Scouts are currently forming new troops and recruiting new members for their service unit.
If you would like to learn more about the Girl Scouts please click on the image to the left to download a Girl Scouts flier.
Additionally, you can also send an email to montygirlscoutsrecruitment@gmail.com to automatically receive a link that adds your daughter(s) to a wait list and follow up for any questions. Thank you for your interest in Montgomery Girl Scouts!
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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
Below are links to current News, Events and Recreation Information. Check it out!
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Click here to stay on top of what is happening in our school district!
Below are some important links
to have at your fingertips:
UPDATE: Lunch is being provided to eligible students. The lunches are being made in South Brunswick, picked up by our transportation department and then delivered directly to students’ homes. Please click here to view the menu of the day.
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