Middle Gate Elementary School
schoolhouse-pic
7 Cold Spring Road, Newtown, CT 06470
Middle Gate Minute
A Bi-Weekly eNewsletter
Edition: October 17, 2016

Parent Teacher Association 
PTA Comments or Suggestions?  
Important Notes:  Notes 
Original Works Art and Orders Due Today - Mon Oct 17!! 
(some dates are tentative and subject to change)
 
Oct 17:
Original Works Art Due Today!

Oct 17:
General PTA Meeting (9:15 am)

Oct 21:
Box Tops Due

Oct 22:
Trunk or Treat
(rain date Oct 29) 

Oct 24, 25, 26, 27:
Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct 24, 25, 26, 27:
Scholastic Book Fair
 
Nov 1: 
SOHO Pizza Fundraiser

Nov 11:

Veteran's Day Celebration
(yes, we have school)
 
Week of Dec 5:
Holiday Boutique
(dates to be confirmed)
 
Dec 9: 
Reflections Submissions Due

Mar 3 (TBD):
Sock Hop
 
 
Downloads:
(updated every newsletter) 
 
Quick Links  QuickLinks 

Contact us
:
PTA Phone: (860) 532-0464
 
2016/17 PTA Board of Directors
President:  
Vice President
Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
Assistant Treasurer:
Yearbook Photos:
HOT TOPICS
ORIGINAL WORKS ART DUE TODAY - MON OCT 17OrigArt
image-02A reminder that Original Works Art project is due on TODAY Monday Oct 17.   

Mrs. Walter is unable to have students do the project in class at this late date due to other projects being worked on with students (we totally understand).

In the meantime, we are up to 99 submissions/orders. Which is great. I saw some of the artwork and it is really exceptional. In the interest of allowing everyone to participate that wanted to, we have extended the deadline until Monday, October 17th. If we do not rec
eive the packets with the art, check and order form by the end of that day, they will not be included in the order.

PLEASE send them in well before that to avoid disappointment. Thank you to everyone who already submitted theirs. If your child is interested in submitting another picture/order for other relatives/friends, they are welcome to.  
TRUNK OR TREAT - Oct 22 AT REEDTrunkTreat
Saturday, October 22nd (rain date 10/29) image-trunktreat
Reed Intermediate School Parking Lot
 

Please join us for a ghoulish good time- a costume parade, prizes for best costume, best decorated car, and more! spots are limited!!

CALLING ALL CARS!!! we need more decorated cars to make this event the success it was last year  
Decorate a Car - set up at 1:00 pm:
Enter a decorated car for $5 (includes 2 wristbands!). please anticipate supplying a few bags of candy per car- we will email when we have the total number of attendees.

Enjoy the Event - Starts at 2:00 pm:
Just in it for Trunk or Treat? Wristbands are $5 (kids 12 and under). candy bag donations are welcome and appreciated.

If you dare to join us please pre-register at

MGtrunkortreat@gmail.com with number of children attending and tell us if you will decorate your car.

If you can't make it, but would like to help out, you can donate candy to support MG. There will be a bin in the front lobby to collect candy. Or if you are planning to attend the Trunk or Treat, you can certainly bring candy donations that day and we will have a bin there as well.

Trunk or Treat Flyer
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION - DUE FRIDAY OCT 21BoxTops
Send in your Box Tops by Oct 21!
image-boxtops
 
Box Tops are a great way to raise money for the school by simply buying and using products you already enjoy. Simply clip Box Tops from your package, tape them to a piece of paper, and send them in with your child with their name/teacher's name on the paper. Here is the Flyer with a list of participating brands: Flyer

The contest will have the winning classes in grades K-2 and 3-4 and the winning classes receive both an extra recess and the coveted Box Top trophies!!

Use this Box Top Sheet to hand in your Box Tops - don't forget to include your child's name and teacher name:  Box Top Collection Sheet.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - OCT 24 - 27Conferences
image  
Please confirm meeting times with the teacher(s) 

Just a reminder that Parent/Teacher conferences are happening from Monday Oct 24 through Thursday Oct 27.

The teacher's should be sending home confirmation slips for your meeting times
 
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR - OCT 24 - OCT 27BookFair
Calling all Book Fair enthusiasts!!!image-file  

We need you!! We need many hands to help make this fair a success and run smoothly! The fair is Oct 24- Oct 27.

Just a reminder that these are early dismissal days for the school due to conferences!

Sign up to help kids shop for books and /or help at the register. This is a fun event for both kids and parents, and helps earn books for our school! Please help if you can!

Sign up for Scholastic Book Fair ( http://signup.com/go/vHoHPe ) on @SignUpdotcom today!
RESTAURANT NIGHT AT SOHO PIZZA - NOV 1SOHOPizza 
Enjoy a great meal while giving back to the school!    image

On Tues Nov 1, bring the flyer from this newsletter to SOHO Pizza and feed your family while you give back 20% of your purchase to Middle Gate! We make it so easy for you to raise money for great PTA programs when you shop and eat at places you already use. This is a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family - and a few great opportunity for year book shots to remember them! 

Soho Pizza Night Flyer 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATIONVeterans
Veteran's Day Celebration is Fri Nov 11 image  

With Veteran's Day fast approaching, we are putting together a committee to help Mrs. Baron.

For those that are new to MG, Mrs. Baron has been running this program for many years. It is a great learning experience for all. The children benefit so much from this. MG PTA has agreed to provide some breakfast items for our honored guests that day.

There will be approximately 22 people there for the breakfast. We need volunteers to make: 
  • Egg casserole type dishes (maybe two people can do this -one with meat and one without),
  • Someone to bring bagels and cream cheese and butter
  • Muffins
  • Fruit

Please email Debbie DeBlasi if you are willing to make something or help Mrs. Baron put up all the beautiful veteran's bios/pictures that the children do for their family and friends that have served.  

 

We are also looking for memorabilia to put in the front showcase to honor Veteran's Day. There is a lock that will be placed on the showcase while these items are there for safekeeping. Please let me know if you can lend a hand.

 

The pictures will need to go up November 1st and will start around 9:15. 

STOP AND SHOP A+ REWARDSAPlus
Start Earning Points for your School  image-aplusrewards

If you are new to Middle Gate and haven't signed up yet, register your Stop & Shop card and get A+ School Rewards points with each purchase where the Stop & Shop Card is used.

All you need to do is register your card.

Here are instructions on how to get enrolled.
School ID: 05945

No. You DO NOT need to re-register your card if your school selection(s) remains the same. If you signed up last your, points have already started to accrue!
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPHolidayBoutique
This is a great event for the kids to feel independent - but we need helpers!  image

The Middle Gate Holiday Boutique is an event that allows kids to shop and purchase gifts for friends/family and loved ones for low prices. It allows the kids to experience a true shopping environment buy purchasing new items.

The funds raised go back to our wonderful MG family to help support future events and school needs.

There is a SignUp account (previously known as Volunteer Spot) to help manage the volunteer spots.

We are still working on solidifyin g dates but should have an answer next week. It will be the week of Dec 5 (just trying to figure out logistics with a delayed start day that week).

Sign up for Middle Gate Holiday Shopping Boutique ( http://signup.com/go/2MVGix ) today!

Please feel free to sign up for a specific role or just add your name to the general volunteer list. The information will help us communicate to the group as the event nears.
PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM - SUBMISSION DUE DEC 9Reflections
  image

Submissions Due Dec 9
8:30 am - 10:00am
MGS Cafeteria 






We are pleased to announce that once again your child will have the opportunity to participate in Reflections, a nationally sponsored PTA arts program!  All children at Middle Gate School from kindergarten through 4th grade are eligible to submit an entry based on the theme " What Is Your Story? " in any or all of these categories:  visual arts (drawing, collage, painting, etc.),  musical composition, photography,  literature (story, poem, essay, etc.),  dance choreography, or film production.

 

 This is a unique opportunity for self-expression and "reflection". ALL participants receive a Middle Gate certificate, and will have their work displayed at the school. First-Place winners (per division) continue on to the state level, and if chosen, could go on to the national level!

 

For more information or to print out an entry form and rules go to Parents - PTA - Reflections on the Middle Gate website.

 

Any questions please contact Jill Baimel (203)364-1979, Kris Powers (203)426-8665 or Melanie Raslan (203) 561-1479.

 

Have fun and good luck!!

 

Please visit the PTA Reflections Webpage for more information and to download the entry forms and guidelines.

 

There is also a Theme Search Contest for a children to submit their ideas for a future Reflections Theme. Visit the MGS PTA Reflections webpage and look for the Theme Search Contest box for forms. Submission for the Theme Search Contest are due Nov 18 

CONTINUED NEWS
NEW VOLUNTEER PROCEDURESVolProcedure 
A letter from the Director of Security: 

Dear Parents:

To better serve our students and staff, we have finalized the new procedures and required forms (available at schools and on the district website) related to school volunteers for the 2016-2017 school year.
Recognizing our responsibility to safeguard our students and staff, all parents and/or relatives wanting to volunteer in our schools and on school field trips must submit to a criminal background investigation, and complete a Volunteer Information Form and Waiver of Liability Form each school year.  Volunteers who will be working with students without direct sight-line supervision will also be required to submit fingerprints.   
Volunteer Procedures in the Newtown Public Schools

1.  Each school year all volunteers must submit to a criminal background investigation and complete the aforementioned forms well in advance of the activity they wish to attend.

2.  As mentioned above, volunteers without direct sight-line supervision will also be required to submit fingerprints.

3. The Director of Security will conduct the background investigations, with fingerprints (when applicable) to be analyzed by the CT State Police  (SPBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

4.  On the day of the event, prior to engaging in any volunteer activities, each volunteer previously approved to volunteer will present their driver's license to the respective school security officer for scanning in the Raptor System (sex-offender registry).
 
Thank you.
 
Respectfully,
Mark Pompano
Director of Security

Download the form 
SEND PICTURES TO THE YEARBOOKsendpics
Remember all the fun times throughout the year 

All through the year, there will be different events and activities at Middle Gate school. The best way to preserve those memories is to submit them to the yearbook.

All during the year you can send pictures from the first day of school, the ice cream social, book fairs, movie nights, restaurant nights and more! You and your kids will love looking through the yearbook at the end of the year and remembering all these fun times together with friends!

We are using a different yearbook company this school year!! We are very excited to be working with https://www.coffeepond.com! The best part is they have an APP to upload pictures right from you phone or devise!!!!! Pictavo Comminity APP!

Download Pictavo Community
School ID: 63963
 
Any questions, contact: kelleymmichael@charter.net
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESVolunteer

Volunteers and Committee Chair-people needed for lower grades:

We will be needing volunteers and chair-people to start learning some of the events and activities that the PTA hosts. While we are excited that our children grow, and sad to see them move on to the upper schools, those families who have been our great support system move along as well.

This is the perfect time if your child is just entering Middle Gate in Kindergarten - or if you are new to the school - to get involved and learn from the veterans who have been doing it in the past.

If you are interested in volunteering or being a chair-person please reach out to Debbie DeBlasi at deborahadeblasi@gmail.com