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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First (VIRTUAL) MES PTA Meeting Oct 13 |
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Meet our Board, learn about our goals, and help us figure out how to accomplish them!
Our FIRST MEETING is scheduled for OCTOBER 13 at 10 AM via Zoom!
NOTE: Members, please review our NJ PTA General By Laws and our Proposed Standing Rules as we will receive questions before the membership votes to adopt them. Check our website for links to these documents.
Meeting will take place virtually by ZOOM
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First Day of School Pictures Wanted |
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We are ready for your first day of school pictures! Thank you for being patient. Use the links below to upload them for the yearbook. Deadline is 10/20/2021.
USER ID for OHES is 416755955
USER ID for VES is 416725958
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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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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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OHES hosts Picture Days THIS WEEK on Thursday, October 14 and Friday, October 15. 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 OHES 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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OHES Pic Days, Need a few more Volunteers! |
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OHES hosts Picture Days THIS WEEK
on Thursday, October 14 & Friday, October 15
Just a few more MES PTA Member volunteers are needed to help keep Picture Day running smoothly. Volunteers will help direct students and staff on where to go, and help ensure everyone has applicable paperwork for their picture.
Please note that we are unable to have individual time slots for each class as in years past. Time slots will run for roughly one (1) hour and include multiple classes during each time slot. Due to COVID restrictions, we must limit how many volunteers enter the building.
EACH AND EVERY volunteer must be:
- a current MES PTA member,
- HIB trained with a completed quiz on file,
- FULLY Vaccinated (complete Code of Conduct form), 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 review HIB training information and complete the HIB quiz, visit:
To sign up as a OHES Picture Day volunteer, click here:
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UPDATED! October Spirit Days - OHES & 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!
See below for Updated OHES & VES Oct Spirit Days:
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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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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) should have made contact with all respondents by today. Submitting a form does not guarantee selection, so please be advised. The MES PTA uses a lottery system to determine assignments.
Thanks to all that expressed 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
- Oct 14 & 15 - OHES Picture Days
- Oct 13 (10 am) - MES PTA General Meeting via Zoom
- 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, constituents were allowed to submit questions anonymously by the Oct. 8 deadline. This Virtual Event will be held on Friday, Oct 22nd at 7:00 pm.
Meeting ID: 812 6690 6105
Passcode: 942108
SPAN Education Meeting - choose October 18 or October 20
This is an opportunity for parents, Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) members, school and district staff, and community members to come together to network and exchange tips, tools, and strategies to build collaborative partnerships that benefit students and their families. Simultaneous interpretation into Spanish is available.
October 18th at 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
and/or
October 20th at 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
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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Montgomery Interact, a Montgomery High School Club, is offering free tutoring for students in grades 1-8.
Your student will be matched up with a high school student and sessions can take place both in person or virtually. To sign up, please complete this form:
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Do you have one hour a week to spare?
Share My Meals is helping feed over 30 food insecure families in MONTY right now, and our numbers are growing. But we need your help to deliver these meals. Please go to sharemymeals.org to sign up to volunteer. Get involved 🙂
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Math in Games, Strategy and Invention takes place on Saturday, October 16, from 10:30 am to 12 pm at Veterans Park.
Prof. Po-Shen Loh is hosting this fun and interactive math event for students who are in Grades 5–8, together with their families. Click here for more info.
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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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