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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Global Day of Play is Coming!
This movement is designed to bring awareness and promote the importance of regular, unstructured play in the healthy development of children.
December 17th for VES (Already Transpired, VES Afternoon of Mindfulness and Play)
December 23rd for OHES (this week!)
Please share with the yearbook committee your creative and quarantine-style unstructured, screen-free Day of Play photos. Please be careful when uploading photos from your phones, the touchscreen may be too sensitive and you also select photos you don’t intend to share.
For VES:
ENJOY PLAYING!
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A Little Bit can go a Long Way!
"Friends of Montgomery" need your help!
Please consider helping Montgomery students and families facing extreme financial hardships due to COVID!
For as little as $5.00 dollars, you can help with: Shelter, Food, Clothes, Basic transportation or Utilities...A little goes a long way. With your help we can provide ALL of the above with a small contribution from you.
Visit and help your fellow neighbors at our GoFundMe page found here:
Thank you so much in advance for your support.
WE ARE MONTGOMERY STRONG!
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THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT STORYBOOK SESSIONS!
NEXT SESSION COMING
IN FEBRUARY!
The first Storybook Sessions event is in the books! Some 37 families with Kindergarten, Pre-K and special needs students registered for the December 17 event featuring excellent storytelling from our high school friends with Interact! Special thanks to Mrs. Sharon Baller, OHES Librarian, for book selections that included:
- Monster Trucks!
- 3 Snow Bears
- 7 Blind Mice
- 7 Hungry Babies
- Rhyming Dust Bunnies
If you'd like to learn more about Interact and their FREE tutoring offerings, please visit their site by clicking here.
A Storybook Sessions post-event survey was sent to all attendees (please reply by 12/23) as one lucky respondent will be selected for a holiday prize pack! And finally, a HUGE thank you to...
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Our friends at Alfonso's!
Their generous 20% donation of all proceeds from our event resulted in
$125 back to the MES PTA.
Call Alfonso's anytime for take-out at 609-924-8351 or visit them at 1225 State Road. Learn more about Alfonso's by clicking here.
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Our MONTY GIVES TOGETHER CHALLENGE is now wrapped up! And...
WE DID IT!
Thank you, Montgomery, for Giving Together this season! Your donations exceeded $2,000 for our Elementary Schools, and earned MES PTA a $2,000 match for a total of just over $4,800 toward student enrichment and teacher support!
This unprecedented campaign was so very well received! Thank you for your donations, your kindness, and your willingness to #PTAYourWay!
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Thermoses filled with hot cocoa
marshmallows also near...
Grab "The List" and hit the road!
It's That Time of Year!!!
Dates: NOW through January 3
Time: 5 - 8 pm each night
The MES PTA is pleased to offer "The List" of area homes that 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!
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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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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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.
OHES Virtual pajamas photo for the yearbook can be shared here:
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 Kathy Sinclair, one of our Health and Physical Education teachers at OHES. Kathy has been with OHES for 21 years, and she is a favorite amongst our kids!
Kathy shares her key to perspective: "I use positive self-talk to boost my spirits back up, and I focus on something I am looking forward to doing instead of thinking about the negative things that are going on in this world right now!"
Please read our entire visit with Kathy 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
- NOW through January 3 - MES PTA "That Time of Year" Holiday Houses on Display (voting deadline 1/4)
- 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 - JANUARY 19, 2021
To join MSEPTA and support teachers and students in Special Education, please click here.
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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.
Our next SEPAG meeting is scheduled on January 7th at 7:00pm via Zoom. Meeting link and other information will be distributed as the meeting day approaches.
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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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