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Important Notes:
LAST WEEK TO ORDER YEARBOOKS! DON'T MISS OUT
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Table of Contents (Click the links)
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(some dates are tentative and subject to change)
April 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Used Book Sale
April 3, 4 and 6, (7)
Muffins with Mom
April 5:
General PTA Meeting
April 22:
Parent's Night Out with
Silent Auction
April 25:
PTA Awards Dinner
May 8:
4th Grade Spring Concert
Middle Gate Madness
June 2
Fourth Grade Celebration
June 15
Last Day of School
Downloads:
(updated every newsletter)
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Quick Links
2016/17 PTA Board of Directors
Vice President:
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LAST CHANCE TO ORDER YEARBOOKS!!!!
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This is the last week to order Yearbooks! On-Line Order Only.
no order forms will be distributed.
Soft Cover $27
password:
middlegate
We will not be ordering many extras this year, so if you do not order a year book this week, your child may not get one. This is a great opportunity for kids to remember their friends and fun events at Middle Gate.
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IMPORTANT THIS WEEK - 2 IMPORTANT MEETINGS - 3/29
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Wednesday, 3/29 has two important meetings
1) SEND AN EMAIL!! To the Legislative Council BEFORE their
3/29 at 7:30 pm
meeting
at the Municipal Center to give your input to the Education Budget. The LC Education Sub-Committee met last week and have proposed the following reductions to be voted on during
Wednesday's meeting:
$265k Surplus
$272k Delayed Repairs
$35k Delay Play to Pay phase out
$173k Medical Self Insurance
$55k Delayed Pension
A TOTAL of $800k!!
A member of the LC has said that he will ask for additional cuts at the meeting
on Wednesday. Please email the LC and share your input, comments and/or support of the Education Budget before more cuts are made. Now is the time to let YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!
2) Community Forum on School Start Times - Also
Wednesday, 3/29 at 7pm at the HS Lecture Hall.
The committee has just started meeting and NO recommendations have been made so now is the time to share how changing school start times will impact your family (the good and the bad). The committee will bring recommendations to the BOE in June and IF changes are made, they will be effective in September (for 2017-2018 school year)! If you cannot attend but would like to share your thoughts, you may email
erardij@newtown.k12.ct.us and
newtownboe@newtown.k12.ct.us.
Thank you!
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GENERAL PTA MEETING - KID'S PAINTING BEN'S BELLS - 4/5
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Middle Gate PTA General Meeting
7 p.m.
Painting the Ben's Bells Mural pieces for MG 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bring your children to paint the ceramic pieces for MG's Ben's Bells Mural while you attend the PTA General Meeting at
7 p.m. We have asked people to speak about the April Budget Referendum as this year it is even more complicated. We want to be sure we are all well informed of what is happening with the Town Budget/Education Budget. Then after the meeting you can paint too if you would like! There will be people there to help the children paint and you can pick them up after the meeting.
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PENNIES FOR PATIENTS - STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER
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Send in your pennies starting April 3
The Student Council will be raising money for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Pennies for Patients" Campaign.
Starting April 3rd, students will be asked to bring in pennies to fill up their respective classroom's jars. Please consider making online donations at:
All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your assistance in finding a cure!
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REMINDERS FROM MR. GEISSLER
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Dear Members of the Middle Gate Family,
I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. While we have a full week of school ahead, I did want to note that there will be a delayed opening for professional development next week (Wednesday, April 5). School will begin at 11:05am and end at 3:37pm (lunch is served). Below are a few more important notes:
Progress Reports
:
As a reminder, progress reports are available electronically via PowerSchool. These reports went "live" on Tuesday, March 14 and remain available for viewing. If you have not already accessed this report, please click on 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.
Principal's Coffee
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There will be a Principal's Coffee this Thursday (March 30) beginning at 9:15am (Library/Media Center). Our Main topics will be mean behavior and the purpose of a Safe School Climate Committee. We are pleased that Joann Frieberg (Educational Consultant for the CT Department of Education) will be our lead presenter. The Coffee will include opportunities for Q&A and possibly a budget update. We hope that you can join us on Thursday and are open to your suggestions. If you have other topics you wish to be considered for future Principal's Coffee sessions, please feel free to send them to me.
School Supply Drive
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The Future Teachers of America Club at Newtown High School is conducting a school supply drive and they need your help! The club is gathering new and gently used school supplies to donate to the Wish D Middle School in Hartford, Connecticut. Any school items (backpacks, pencil cases, binders, notebooks, etc.) will be greatly appreciated! The drive will run from March 27th-April 21st and all items can be left in a collection box in the lobby. Thank you for your participation!
Thank you for your continued involvement and support.
~Chris
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USED BOOK SALE COLLECTION - THROUGH MAR 31
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Dear Parents,
It is spring time...which also means it is collection time for the annual Middle Gate Used Book Sale. This year the Used Book Sale is scheduled for April 3rd through April 6, 2017. As with all fundraising events, the most difficult task is collecting the items, sorting and organizing before the selling process even begins.
So isn't now a great time for spring cleaning those bedrooms, closets and especially those bookshelves, which have more dust than fingerprints on them? A donation bin will be located right outside of your child's classroom, so please start sending in those used books, children's magazines and DVD's you no longer want or watch.
Collection time will run until March 31, 2017.
Each week the books collected will be tallied and the classroom totals will be posted in the cafeteria. There will be rewards for the classes who collect the most books at the end of collection time.
In addition to your donations, and volunteers to work the sales event, the PTA is looking for parent volunteers to help pick up the books from each classroom, count and help sort according to genre in the bins located in the cafeteria. This effort is the most critical and time consuming in order to make the book sale a success. If we can get volunteers to do this regularly, we will not be inundated with books left to sort on the last few days.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact the UBS chair, Kim Marks at
kim.marks@charter.net
, or UBS co-chair, Kathleen Shope at
katbdaly@aol.com
, at your earliest convenience. Any help with this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for your support in this effort.
Warmest Regards,
Kim Marks
Kathleen Shope
Used Book Sale 2017
Book collection flyer
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USED BOOK SALE / MUFFINS WITH MOM - APR 3-7
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Celebrate Mom with Muffins!
We will be having our annual Muffins with Mom on
April 3, April 4, April 6 and if needed April 7
(skipping April 5 due to a staff development day and delayed opening)
Monday is now at capacity, so if you still plan to attend and your last name starts with A-H, please choose Tuesday or Thursday instead. Looking forward to a great event!
Also the Used Book Sale is happening April 3 through April 7
After you enjoy a muffin - browse through the books to find something interesting.
Additional times for the books sale will follow
Here is the link to sign up for the Used Book Sale that is the first week of April! We need all the help we can get to make this successful! The teachers are all listed on the sign up as to when they will be visiting the sale! We have also paired up with Muffins with Mom for set up next Friday night and will provide pizza for all volunteers! Next week is also the last week to send in those used books! The top three classes will win a prize! As of today these are the classes in the lead:
1-MASSET
2-PARNIAWSKI
3-CONNORS
****THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!****
Sign up to Volunteer for the Used Book Sale:
https://signup.com/client/invitation/6775657374/1826612/false#!1826612/false/false
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PTA BOARD AND COMMITTEES
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Calling all Volunteers! 
We are looking for people to
shadow chair people this year for next year's events and committees. Most events/committees do not take a big investment in time but give a lot back. Things like Box Top Chairperson/Chair people can be done mostly at home. Cultural Arts Chair can be done from home. I have chaired that by myself for 4 years. 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.
There will also be openings for several PTA Executive Board positions for next year. We have someone interested in the PTA President and VP Positions. We have openings for 2nd VP, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. 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
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DAISY TROOP 50239 TOY DRIVE
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Yale New Have Children's Hospital Toy Closet Program
"A hospital stay can be scary and lonely for a child. The goal of the Toy Closet Program is to provide pediatric patients with comfort, enjoyment and support while they are receiving care at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. Toys are given out 365 days a year."
The girls from
Middle Gate Daisy Troop 50239 will be taking part of their earned cookie money to purchase toys for these children. In addition we will be having a toy drive to help support the Toy Closet as well. If you would like to donate donations can be brought into school,
there will be a collection box in the office. These toys are
 placed in small closets throughout the children's wing for the children to pick.
- Infant to age 3
- School age children 4-12
- Teens
The drive will run from
March 13th to April 7th
All Toys must be new and unopened
No stuffed animals are allowed.
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT - APR 22
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Parent's Night Out Ticket Order Form
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT - SILENT AUCTION - APRIL 22
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Seeking Donations for Silent Auction for Parents' Night Out 
Middle Gate Elementary School's PTA will be hosting a
Silent Auction at our "Parent's Night Out" fundraiser on
April 22, 2017.
This fundraiser, held at
Rock Ridge Country Club in Newtown, will support our PTA. Our PTA funds such programs as school assemblies, grade enrichment, and cultural arts programs.
We also purchase much needed items for MG. We have purchased a lot this year for the school and have some additional purchases needed. The school needs another swing set and we would like to purchase shade tarps to go with the picnic tables that were purchased last year for outdoor class time on hot days. We had sound panels installed in the cafeteria and really need them in the gym.
We are currently seeking donations of items and services to be auctioned off at the event. If you are able to donate please let us know. It doesn't matter how big or how small, all donations are gladly accepted and greatly appreciated. Do you or someone you know have timeshare weeks you aren't using that you can donate? Are you crafty/artistic and want to make something to be auctioned off? Do you want to put together a basket with some friends with gift cards and a theme to donate from your families? Please let us know! Thank you!
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SILENT AUCTION GRADE BASKET REMINDER - MAR 31
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As you know, Middle Gate Elementary School's PTA will be hosting a Silent Auction at our "Parent's Night Out" fundraiser on April 22, 2017.
We are asking each grade to create a themed basket to be auctioned as part of this event.
Below you will find the themes and links to the flyer to see donation ideas that could be donated to go in the basket.
Please have donations at school by Friday, March 31 If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Kelley Michael kelleymmichael@charter.net or 203-770- 1276.
We thank you for your consideration and your generosity.
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MIDDLE GATE MADNESS - MAY 19
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LOOKING FOR ACTS FOR THE TALENT SHOW
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!
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SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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Did you know Middle Gate PTA offers Scholarship to graduating Seniors?
Hi Everyone! I am seeking volunteers to participate on the
Middle Gate PTA Scholarship Committee. This year, the PTA has decided to add an additional award and we will be selecting two former Middle Gate students who are graduating from Newtown High School in June. We need about 5-10 people who would be interested in reading application packets and providing feedback by completing an online rating form for each candidate. If the decision is too close to call, there may need to be one meeting in person to discuss the candidates.
The work begins at the end of March and the decision will be made by the beginning of May. Please let me know if you have any questions, or are interested in participating on this committee.
Bonnie Voegeli
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IMPORTANT BUDGET INFORMATION
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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
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BUDGET SEASON SCHEDULE
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Budget Season is here!
Mr. Geissler's budget was submitted to the Superintendent and the Superintendent's budget was submitted to the Board of Education. We need parents to be involved in this process to avoid more cuts in the budget. We will provide updates periodically regarding meetings, voting, etc. Here are a few dates to keep in mind:
3/22- Legislative Council PUBLIC HEARING
4/5 - Legislative Council ADOPTS THE BUDGET
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