#PTAYourWay
E-News/January 10, 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.**

If this e-news was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe
to this weekly newsletter, please contact montymesptanews@gmail.com
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WHAT'S IMPORTANT THIS WEEK
(VIRTUAL) MES PTA MEETING
THIS WEDNESDAY!

Mark your calendars and please join us
Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30 pm
to hear about our latest plans 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!

ROOM PARENT UPDATE - JANUARY

Happy New Year, MES PTA Room Parents! For January, please follow up with your classroom parents and let them know the final outcome of your group's holiday thank you to your class teacher(s). 

Next on the horizon in February is Valentine's Day/Sharing and Caring Day. More direction will be provided when it is decided on the role room parents will have for this day. Feel free to start brainstorming ideas in preparation for this theme that is promoted and encouraged at both OHES and VES.

As always, valuable Room Parent resources can be found by clicking here.
MES PTA NEWS
Share Your Photos from
your Day of Play!

Please share with the MES PTA yearbook committee your creative and quarantine-style unstructured, screen-free Day of Play photos from December.


For VES:
 
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.
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 Lauren Fornal, one of our counselors at VES. Lauren has been with MTSD for 15 years, and we welcome the opportunity to visit with her!

Lauren shares: "We absolutely still care about academic growth but we are mindful of how we approach these learning gains."

Please read our entire visit with Lauren in her "Profile in Resilience" by clicking here.

If you would like to suggest an individual to be interviewed, please contact us at montymesptanews@gmail.com.

Please read our archive listings of "Profiles in Resilience" by clicking here.
That Time of Year House Winners!

Special thanks to all families that volunteered their homes as part of the MES PTA "That Time of Year!" House List. Voting has closed, and we are pleased to announce the winners:

Best Light Display - TIE (101 Castleton Road and 101 Montfort Drive)
Silliest Decorations - 86 Cairns Place
Biggest Surprise Factor - TIE (66 Sycamore Lane and 91 Adams Drive)
Best Use of Color - 68 Fieldstone Road
Most Spirited of the Season - 237 Opossum Road
Best Inflatables - 15 Reid Avenue
Most Creative - 14 Blackhorse Run
Most Kid Friendly - 18 Wellington Court
Best Use of Yard Space - 315 Spring Hill Road
Grand Prize: Decorate Again Next Year, Please! - 10 Laurel Avenue

The MES PTA also extends its gratitude to all the families that toured "The List" safely throughout the holiday season. Many thanks and Happy Holidays to All!

#PTAYourWay
MES PTA
CALENDAR/INFO/RESOURCES
Upcoming Events/Meetings & Related Dates/Deadlines
  • January 13 - MES PTA Meeting
  • January 18 - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Schools Closed
  • January 19 - Hybrid Model Restarts
  • January 24 - Self Care/Mindfulness Session
  • February 12-15 - 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.
All The Ways to Follow MES PTA:

Visit the MES PTA Website

Tag us on Instagram @montyes_pta

Tweet at us on Twitter @MontyesPta

Post to our profile on Facebook @MES PTA
  • For a listing of our MES PTA Board Members click here.
  • MES PTA Room Parent Corner can be accessed here.


  • To view our MES PTA E-News archive, please click here.

  • To view previous MES PTA meeting minutes, please click here.

If you have any PTA questions, concerns or suggestions, please email mesptapresidents@gmail.com.
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OHES LINKS, INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES
VES LINKS, INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES
Montgomery Special Education PTA (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 MSEPTA MEETING - JANUARY 19, 2021
To join MSEPTA and support teachers and students in Special Education, please click here.
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.

For more information on SEPAG, please click here.
Please Donate your gently used handbags to MSEPTA!

All gently used brands of purses, totes, handbags, clutches, key/card holders, etc. will be accepted (higher-end bags are accepted in any condition). All profits support MSEPTA teacher grants, scholarships and programming.

Please email MontySEPTAHandbags@gmail.com for drop-off/pick-up arrangements or questions. Follow/like the MSEPTA Poshmark closet at: @msepta.
Community News


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.

Montgomery Township News

Below are links to current News, Events and Recreation Information. Check it out!

Click Here for Borough of Rocky Hill News.
MTSD Information
Click here to stay on top of what is happening in our school district!

Below are some important links
to have at your fingertips:

Click Here for the COVID-19 Dashboard
Click here for the 2020-2021 Calendar
Click here for Board of Education Mtg Schedule
Click here for Genesis Parent Access
Click here for Safety Protocols - MTSD Visitors

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.