Middle Gate Elementary School
schoolhouse-pic
7 Cold Spring Road, Newtown, CT 06470
Middle Gate Minute
A Bi-Weekly eNewsletter
Edition: Dec 4, 2017

Parent Teacher Association 
PTA Comments or Suggestions?  
Important Notes: Notes
Holiday Boutique Dec 4, 5, 7 (Skip Dec 6)
Reflections Projects due Dec 8
(some dates are tentative and subject to change)

Dec 4, 5, 7
Holiday Boutique (skip Dec 6) 
 
Dec 6  
Restaurant Night - Burrito Shack
 
Dec 8
Reflections Submissions Due
 
Dec 15
4th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest submissions due 
 
Jan 11 
4th Grade Chorus Concert  
 
Jan 18  
General PTA Meeting  
 
Feb (TBD)
Box Tops Due 
 
Mar 2
Sock Hop 
 
Apr 10
General PTA Meeting  
 
May 7
4th Grade Chorus Concert  
 
 
Downloads:
(updated every newsletter) 
 
Quick Links  QuickLinks 
Contact us :
PTA Phone: (860) 532-0464
 
2017/18 PTA Board of Directors
President:  
Vice President: 
Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
1st Treasurer:
Emily Howard
2nd Treasurer:
Stacy Liparidis
Assistant Treasurer
Meredith Britton  
Yearbook Chair:
REFLECTIONS PROJECTS - DUE FRI DEC 8 Reflections
  Reflections Projects Deadline Dec 8 image

If you are unfamiliar with this project, it is a way for students to express themselves in words, pictures, photography, dance, video and music that isn't generally part of the school curriculum.
 
It is OPTIONAL!   If your child wants to submit a project they will need your help. The deadline is December 8th.  
 
Go to the PTA page off of the Parents tab on the MGS website for detailed instructions PTA Reflections Page.   Please contact Melanie Raslan [email protected] or Corina Michalchik-Renak [email protected] with any questions.
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE - DEC 4, 5, 7Holiday 
Middle Gate Holiday Boutique - Dec 4, 5, 7 (Skip Dec 6) image

Shopping and boutique hours are:
Monday Dec. 4: from 10:45 am - 3:30 pm
Tuesday Dec 5: from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Wednesday boutique closed - early dismissal

Thursday Dec 7:9:00 am - 6:00 pm 
 
Any questions, please contact me. 
Extra envelopes are available in the office and also at boutique.
You can add as many family members to your list, as necessary but please just make sure legible for elves to assist kids. 
 
If your child misses his/her shopping day with class, they can come back during free time or as teacher allows, in addition to Thursday evening open hours, however, we cannot hold anything aside.
We can only accept cash or checks. Everything will be between $1.00 to a maximum of $5.00.  
 
If you would like to sign up to volunteer as a helper you can go to the Signup Genius link here:
 There are a few slots where we need some helper elves  
 
Thank you for your support.
 Kathleen Shope [email protected] 
RESTAURANT NIGHT - WED DEC 6Restaruant 
BURRITO SHACK - RESTAURANT NIGHT
4th GR REMINDERS: YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST & BABY PICS FourthGrade
 FOURTH GRADERS - SUBMIT BABY PICTURES!!!!
 
Yearbook is now in full swing. We are collecting 4th Grade Baby Pictures for a special layout planned for our "graduating" kids and need your help to complete the project! This will be a lot of fun for the kids, so we need 100% participation.

It will be great to guess who's who and to see how far the kids have all come! (There will be a key provided at the end of the section)
  • Please submit ONE photo fo your 4th grader
  • Your child age 0 - 2
  • Clear view of the face, close-ups work well
  • The photo should ideally not have other people in it, so we can feature only your child.
  • Email photo to [email protected]  (preferred) with your child's name in the subject line:
    (note there was a type on the flyer for this email address)
  • OR
  • Send a copy of your child's photo to the PTA's mailbox in an evenlope marked "Yearbook Baby Photos" and with your child's name*
  • PLEASE SEND IN THE PICTURE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

*Hard copies of photos will be returned via your child's classroom teacher as soon as they are scanned.

 

Any questions, please feel free to contact Kelley Michael - 203-770-1276  
FOURTH GRADE YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST! DUE DEC 15
 
Dear Fourth Graders,
Here is your chance to leave your lasting mark on Middle Gate history! You are being asked to draw a picture that might be chosen to be the cover of this year's yearbook!
  GROWING TO GREATNESS
 Please check each of the following to make sure you follow all of the rules for your entry: 
  • 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper
  • Vertical orientation
  • The picture should features this year's theme: Growing to Greatness
  • All entries must include the year 2017-2018 in the picture as well as our school name
  • Make sure you put your name on the drawing
  • Use your neatest drawing and writing
  • Use only crayons, pencils, markers, or colored pens
  • Be creative and have fun!

All entries will be voted on and judged by the teachers and PTA

The winner will have his or her drawing featured as the COVER of the  2017-2018 yearbooks.

All other entries will be used throughout the yearbook as well, if possible.

 

Any questions, please contact Kelley Michael [email protected] 

 

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY BY DECEMBER 15, 2017 
PROGRESS REPORTSProgress 

PROGRESS REPORTS CAN BE FOUND ON POWERSCHOOL

 

Progress reports are accessed electronically via PowerSchool and will not be sent home in students' backpacks. Your child's progress report will be available for viewing on Wednesday, December 6 using the PowerSchool Portal (link below).  Progress Reports will be available only through the portal unless a parent or guardian makes a written request to the Main Office to receive a paper copy.  Also below is a document outlining the steps to access the progress reports in PowerSchool.    

   

If your child has an IEP, your child will receive a print copy of his/her progress from his/her case manager.  The IEP progress notes will be sent home in a sealed envelope via backpacks on Wednesday afternoon.  If you would like this report mailed home instead, please let your child's case manager know immediately.

 
VOLUNTEERS FOR TEACHER BREAKFAST - DEC 14Dec14 

TEACHER BREAKFAST ON DEC 14 - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 

 

On December 14, we are planning to hold a breakfast for the teachers again.  We will be asking for donations of breakfast type items and baked goods.  More info on this will be posted soon.  If you are not on facebook and would like to help, please contact Jennifer Atherton at [email protected]. 
BOX TOPS DUE IN FEB - KEEP SAVINGBoxTop

KEEP SAVING THOSE BOX TOPS!  

 

We will be doing another box tops collection in February - so keep saving them. More information will follow in January.
WINTER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULEWinterPerform 
Newtown Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts  
2017-18 Winter Performance and Exhibit Schedule
VISION AND HEARING TESTSVision 

A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE 

 

Dear Middle Gate Parents,

 

The nurses will begin conducting vision and hearing screening, for students in kindergarten (who have not been tested by their doctor) and all students in grades 1, 3, and 4.  If your child wears glasses for distance he/she will be tested with their glasses in place.  The screening program will take place during the school day.  If any issues are identified you will be notified and asked to take your child to your physician for further evaluation.  If there are no hearing or vision issues you will not hear from us.  No news is good news. 

 

This is just a screening and does not rule out all hearing or visual issues so please contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

Trish McDonald, RN

School Nurse
SHUTTERFLY / TINY PRINTS FUNDRAISERShutterfly
Shutterfly / Tiny Prints Fundraiser image
 
It's that time of year again when people are printing holiday cards, or looking for gifts for friends, family, and teachers. Why not do what you are already doing, and give back 13% of your purchase to Middle Gate?

 

It's easy, just click through from the Middle Gate storefront link: 

 MGS.ShutterflyStorefront.com

 

Shutterfly deals
But you have to request your code from [email protected]

On Tiny Prints:
But you have to request your code from [email protected]

 

Here are some other codes:


Deal: 25% off Your Order @ Tiny Prints
Promo Code: GET254U Valid thru: 12/31/2017

Deal: Exclusive Offer - Get one FREE bookmark at Shutterfly
Promo Code: HAPPYREADING Valid thru: 11/30/2017

Deal: Exclusive offer - One FREE Calendar for NEW Shutterfly customers
Promo Code: FREECALAFF Valid thru: 12/31/2017

Deal: 25% off Your Order @ Shutterfly
Promo Code: SFLY25OFF Valid thru: 12/31/2017

Deal: Free 8x8 Photo Book for New Shutterfly Customers
Promo Code: AFFPHOTOBK Valid thru: 12/31/2017 
YEARBOOK PHOTOSYearbook 
Send Yearbook Photos To: Kelley Michael

PICTAVO IS BACK UP AND RUNNING FOR iOS!
Please upload any pics you'd like to see in the yearbook!
-first day of school
-ice cream social
-fall celebrations/Halloween
- Veterans Day
-movie nights
-sports
-scouts
-etc
***4th Grade parents*** you can upload your child's baby pic there too! Use the 4th Grade Baby Pics folder.

image



















Or send pictures for the Year book to Kelley Michael:
SubmitNewsletter
How to submit something for the Middle Gate Minute:

Do you want to advertise a MG event or program or are you looking for volunteers for a MG event or program? Then send us your information for submission in the Middle Gate Minute. The Middle Gate Minute is a Bi-Weekly publication. Please include a 1-3 sentence description and contact information for all submissions. If you want to attach a flyer or other document, it is best to send as .doc or .pdf

MG Weekly editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. All submissions due the Thursday before the next newsletter publication date.
Send your request to  Liz Van Sickle  (Subject: Middle Gate Minute) .

SUBMISSIONS DUE: Dec 14
NEXT ISSUE IS: Dec 18  
Parent Teacher Association | | [email protected] |
7 Cold Spring Rd
Newtown, CT 06470
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