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

Parent Teacher Association 
PTA Comments or Suggestions?  
Important Notes: Notes
LAST WEEK TO ORDER TICKETS FOR PARENT'S NIGHT OUT!
(some dates are tentative and subject to change)
 
April 22:
Parent's Night Out with
Silent Auction

April 25:
PTA Awards Dinner

May 8:
4th Grade Spring Concert

May 8-12:
Teacher Appreciation Week

May 19 (rain or shine):
Middle Gate Madness
First Talent Show!

June 2 
Fourth Grade Celebration

June 15  
Last Day of School
  
 
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
LAST CHANCE FOR TICKETS - PARENTS NIGHT OUT - APR 22Tkts
Parent's Night Out Ticket Order Form 
 
SPRING EVENT CALENDARVisCal 
Visual and Performing Arts Spring Event Calendar

Here is a link to the Newtown Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts Department Exhibit and Performance Calendar for Spring 2017
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE - BUDGET REFERENDUM - APR 25Vote
Budget Referendum - APR 25 - Newtown Middle School

Please remember to vote for the Budget Referendum on April 25th at Newtown Middle School. This year is especially critical due to the tax implications from Governor Malloy's cuts to the towns.

Every vote counts.

Bring a friend to vote and then go have breakfast. Or bring your children to vote and then take them to breakfast before school. Some quality family time as well as helping your community. What a great way to start out the day!
PRINCIPAL GEISSLER DAY - MAY 1MrGDay 
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the First of May has been declared "Principal Geissler Day!

We are declaring May 1st Principal Geissler Day at Middle Gate Elementary School. We will be arranging for some of his favorite things, we will be sharing beautiful letters that parents and children have written for him.

If you would like to add a letter to this collection for Mr. Geissler or if your child would like to draw a picture to be added to the celebration, please email me at deborahadeblasi@gmail.com

Let's show Mr. Geissler how appreciated he is. Especially for those of us moving on to Reed. We are really going to miss him and feel that he should know how much we have appreciated his help, support and kindness towards us and our children. (We will be letting him know in advance about this special day since we have plans for him and he will be suspicious when his calendar is booked and he doesn't know why!)
 
Thank you.
Debbie DeBlasi

4TH GRADE SPRING CHORUS CONCERTChorus
4th Grade Spring Chorus Concert
Reed School: Monday May 8 at 7:00pm

Our 4th graders are very excited about their Spring Chorus Concert which will take place at REED School. Concert Date: Monday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Spring Concert attire is a little different this time: SOLID colored top/black bottoms(t-shirt is fine and skirts or pants) and clean shoes. Any color is fine, as long as it is a solid color. Any questions please feel free to email me: jonest@newtown.k12.ct.us

"Sing"-cerely,

Tina Jones
TEACHER APPRECIATE WEEK - MAY 8 -12TeacherWeek 
Volunteers needed to help show how appreciated Middle Gate teachers are!

Teacher Appreciation week is coming up fast, May 8th - 12th!

Over the next week or so we will be looking for help with a few events for that week.
We plan on doing a breakfast, flowers, lunch, and some treats for teachers and staff.
If you have any questions, please contact Melanie Raslan on the MG PTA Facebook site, or email mgspta@gmail.com

More details to follow!
THE ROOSTER'S CANVASRooster
The Rooster's Canvas - Newtown Student Museum of Creativity

 

 
We are excited to introduce to you the Rooster's Canvas. The Rooster's Canvas website was developed as part of an independent senior project by Kate Luongo at Newtown High School with the goal of encouraging and celebrating the creativity in Newtown's students. The online museum features "exhibits" submitted by teachers of students' creative work. All work will be reviewed by Mrs. Ragaini of the career center before being uploaded by Kate.
 
For teacher's interested in submitting work, please email theroosterscanvas@gmail.com.
 
Parents and students can view their unique creations at http://theroosterscanvas.com/ or by using the link on the Newtown Public Schools website.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PTA BOARD AND COMMITTEESPTAVolunteers 
 
Thank you to the people who already stepped up to volunteer committees for next year and those that have expressed interest in being on the PTA Executive Board for next year!
image

Here are the candidates we have so far:
 
President: Amy Habboush
Vice President: Jessica Sachs
Treasurer: TBD
Assistant Treasurer: Meredith Campbell Britton
Secretary: TBD
Corresponding Secretary: Jen Doyle 
 
If you are currently chairing a committee or event, please PM deborahadeblasi@gmail.com to let me know if you will continue on next year in that role, or if we need to find someone for that position. I tried to list the committees I knew people expressed willingness to run and people who indicated they would stay on for next year. 
So far we have:
  • Kindergarten Bus Run/Bus Buddy Program - Jessica Sachs
  • Trunk or Treat - Nadia Comstock 
    • (need additional people for this committee for 2017 - 2018)
  • Holiday Boutique  Committee: Frances Sorger Wengart. Tammy Figueroa, Michelle Haley, Donna Petersen (Logan Butler's Grandma), Kathleen Shope.
  • Square One Art: Christine Tisi
  • Middle Gate Madness: Jennifer Sinapi and Christine Tisi. 
    • We would really like more volunteers for this committee so you can shadow it this year and help on the committee 2017-2018. 
  • Library Volunteer List: Lauren Pickard
  • Diversity Day: Jennifer Chaudhary 
  • Sock Hop: Cale McCausland
  • Spirit Wear: Roxann Monaghan (We need someone to shadow Roxann for the 2017-2018 school year)
  • Muffins with Mom:  Lindsay Knauf, Emily Howard
  • Used Book Sale: Kim Marks and Kathleen Shope
  • Teacher Appreciation Week: Melanie Raslan
  • Middle Gate Yearbook: Kelley Michael
  • Parents Night Out and Silent Auction: Kelley Michael 
    • (we need someone else on this committee for the 2017-2018 school year)
  • Kindergarten Registration: Jen Chaudhary 
    • (We need someone else on this committee for the 2017-2018 School Year)
  • Publishing Center: Jen Chaudhary 
    • (We need someone else on this committee for the 2017-2018 school year)
  • Box Tops for Education: This can be done from home. We need new chair people for  2017-2018
  • Room Parent Coordinator: Beth Guerrera
  • Cultural Arts (Assembly reservations) -  can be done from home - We need new chair people for 2017-2018
  • Scholastic Book Fairs (Fall and end of school year) - We need a new chairperson/chair people for 2017-2018
Most events/committees do not take a big investment in time but give a lot back. We have all the information you need to be successful and make it an easy volunteer spot to take over. You are never alone on any volunteer events, there are plenty of people to help or to give you helpful hints and ideas.
 
You can make a big difference in the educational experience of your child and all the students and staff at Middle Gate by being involved as much or as little as you want. There are so many ways to help.

I am working hard to fill all the positions for next year for the new PTA President. This way they do not have to spend their first months in office trying to set all this up. It will hopefully allow them a smooth transition with as much already in place as possible.

Thank you.
Debbie DeBlasi

MIDDLE GATE MADNESS - MAY 19Madness
LOOKING FOR ACTS FOR THE TALENT SHOW image

Middle Gate Madness is May 19th and in addition to all the events you love, the entertainment will be YOU! Yes, you heard that right. We will be having a "Talent" portion of Middle Gate Madness. If you/your child are interested, start practicing now. A form will come home at a later date but we wanted to give you plenty of time to practice. We have many talented people at MG and this will be a fun way to showcase their talents for all to enjoy!
SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATIONSummer  
Summer is quickly approaching!!

If your child has been recommended for summer support, don't forget to register him/her.

If you need additional information feel free to contact us at Newtown Summer Schools/Newtown Continuing Education, 203-426-1787  or continuinged@newtown.k12.ct.us
CONTINUED NEWS....
IMPORTANT BUDGET INFORMATIONBudget
Your voice can have powerful results when our town boards are determining whether or not they will support a budget or issue.
 
The next step in the school budget process is with review by the Board of Finance. Click here to see the BoE's proposed budget.
 
Tuesday, April 25 Town Budget Referendum, 6a-8p, Newtown Middle School