The Falcon 
Valley Forge Elementary School's PTO Newsletter 
Issue 12
March 12 , 2017  
Message from the PTO President
Dear VFES Families:

Thank you for attending the PTO meeting this Friday. It is always very heartwarming to see so many parents involved in different ways at the school.

In keeping with our appreciation for your support and hard work, the PTO Board is hosting a Parents' Night Out on March 25 th at 7pm. Please join us in celebrating you with trivia, DJ and food. You can RSVP at http://www.vfespto.org/parents-night-out-march-25/.

We are also calling on business owners and are seeking silent auction items - all proceeds to benefit the PTO during Parents Night Out. In return for your donation, your business will be advertised in our Falcon newsletter and at the event itself. From jewelry and skin care to design and teaching services, we know our community is full of wonderful businesses that we would like to spotlight and encourage our VFES parents to utilize.

We are looking to fill our Spring Fair committee. Please let us know if you can help. Spring Fair is one of our largest fundraisers of the year, which allows us to buy gifts to school and contribute to cultural arts. 
As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Much love,
Rujuta Mandelia
PTO News
Calling on Business Owners!
March 25th

On Saturday, March 25, the PTO is hosting a Parents' Night Out and are seeking silent auction items - all proceeds to benefit the PTO.  In return for your donation, your business will be advertised in our Falcon newsletter and at the event itself.  From jewelry and skin care to design and teaching services, we know our community is full of wonderful businesses that we would like to spotlight and encourage our VFES parents to utilize.

Please contact Heather McConnell ([email protected])  by March 1 to reserve your auction spot or for more information.
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Deadline - March 31

Once again, the VFES PTO will be offering a full-color yearbook with 
ma ny pages of great pictures from this year at Valley
Forge Elementary!  Orders and payment, $21 per copy, can be made at this link .  No checks or cash payments will be accepted.  Please note that t he PTO is generously giving each 4 th grader a yearbook as a gift at the end of the year.  If you have a 4 th grader, there is no need to make the payment online.  However, if you need additional copies, please order them and pay online. 

Spring Fair Chair Positions Still Available!
May 2017

There are still a number of opportunities to help plan the Spring Fair this year.  We are in need of chairs (or co-chairs) for the following:  Dinner, Entertainment, Games, Parking, Setup/Breakdown.  Please come join in.  Your kids will think it you are awesome for helping with the Fair (and so will we)!  To learn more, please contact Alison Murray at [email protected].  

Falcon Fun Camp "Spring Break Camps"
April 11th - April 13th

Spring Break Camp at Valley Forge Elementary with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Diamond
 
The Valley Forge Elementary PTO will be conducting a three day camp on Tuesday, April 11th, Wednesday, April 12th, and Thursday, April 13th from 1pm to 4pm with 2nd grade teacher, Matt Diamond, and Phys. Ed teacher, Alex Johnson, for any child who currently attends VFE in grades Kindergarten through Fourth Grade.

Registration forms may be returned starting Wednesday, Feb 22nd , 2017.  The deadline/cut-off date for sign up is Friday, April,  7th 2017.   Families are encouraged to sign up AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  There will be a maximum number of 60 students allowed to attend camp.  Falcon Fun Camp Registration Forms with Signed Permission Slip and payment in full can be turned into Falcon Fun Camp drop-off box, in the main office, in an envelope marked "Falcon Fun Camp".  Space is limited and strictly a "first come first serve" basis. Mr. Diamond (610-240-2411/ [email protected]), Mr. Johnson (610 240 2687/ [email protected]

For details, please click Registration Forms.  
Almanac Dance Circus Theater
All School Assembly & Community Show
Friday, March 24th at 7:00pm

The PTO Cultural Arts committee has invited Almanac Dance Circus Theater to perform for the entire school on Monday, March 13th!  Almanac Dance Circus Theatre performs with acrobatics, storytelling, and daring physicality. It's dance because it's about the body and rhythm and music; it's circus because it's daring; it's theater because they tell a story to which the audience can relate. The Almanac ensemble explores the unconventional ways that these daring feats can be used in service of storytelling Students will understand how the character concepts of trust, teamwork and support demonstrated between members of the ensemble, and honed daily, allow these risks.

Almanac Dance Circus Theater will also perform live for the community at Valley Forge Middle School on Friday, March 24th at 7:00 PM.  Tickets for this DELTA sponsored performance are $10 and on sale at www.artsdelta.net or at the door.  To inquire about reduced rates and
reserved seating available to groups of 10 or more, email  [email protected].

For more information on DELTA, please visit www.artsdelta.net. For more information on Almanac Dance Circus Theater, please visit www.thealmanac.us.

School News
Important Legislative Alert - Please Read!
The Tredyffrin-Easttown School District asked that we notify you of legislation currently being considered in the state legislature that, if passed, will impact our district. The proposed legislation would largely eliminate school property taxes to fund schools and replace those funds with income and sales taxes.  Very similar legislation was considered in 2015 and only failed by one vote.  The TE School Board recently passed a resolution opposing this legislation, which states in part:  

"The shift from the property tax to the income tax and sales tax will have a harmful effect on the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District. Many of our District's top quality programs result from careful planning and funding at the local level with a strategic focus on providing our students what they need to succeed in tomorrow's world. This legislation will strip TESD of the ability to function independently, effectively making local authorities dependent upon Harrisburg. Funding will flow through the state, eliminating financial discretion for local districts. High quality programs that exceed state mandates and minimum standards require funding currently provided locally."  

PLEASE READ   the District's statement on this proposed legislation here and consider contacting the governor and your state legislators if you oppose these changes in school funding.
Community News 
CHS Key Club Mini-Thon Movie Night
March 17th, 6PM
Tredyffrin Public Library

movie-tickets2.jpg
The Conestoga High School Key Club is hosting a Mini-Thon movie night at the Tredyffrin Public Library on Friday March 17 from 6-8 PM. Th e mo vie is a popular G-rated Disney movie.  Online registration can completed via this 
link . A $3 donation will collected at the door, with all proceeds going to the CHS Mini-Thon.  
Conestoga Baseball Youth Clinic
March 19th

Conestoga High School Baseball is hosting a Baseball Clin ic  for Little Leagu ers. Help your little ball player get ready for the upcoming sea son b yregistering him/her for the clinic at  http://www.conestogabaseball.net/clubs/1758/pages/117757

Kids and Technology- Parent Event
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - 7-8:30pm 
Hillside Elementary School

ARCH invites parents and care-givers to this timely presentation a bout Kids and their Tech Dependency.  The discussion will focus on paren ting children in grades K-6 and address the following topics:  rules for app-driven  devices; exploring our connected culture reality; defining "Generation Z"; as well as reinforcing the TESD Digita l Citizenship curriculum at home.   As always, all families and faculty are encouraged to attend.   A flyer   is attached.
T/E FLITE Crew vs. the Harlem Wizards 
Friday, March 31, 2017  7:00 pm 
Conestoga High School Gym opens at 6:00 pm 

Foundation for Learning in Tredyffrin/Easttown (FLITE) presents ...   T/E FLITE Crew vs. the Harlem Wizards... for o ne night only of trick h oops and alley-oops!

The Foundation for Learning In Tredyffrin/Easttown (FLITE) has invited the Harlem Wizards to return to play a team of T/E teachers, administrators, and students. This popular community basketball event raises money to support FLITE-funded programs in our School District.  See flyer here.

To purchase tickets, follow these directions:
1. Go to www.flite-pa.org .
2. Click on the FLITE vs. Harlem Wizards button.
3. Follow the ticket purchasing directions posted.
4. After making a purchase, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with a
PDF file containing your tickets. Please be sure to print your tickets and bring them with you to the game!

If you have questions, visit FLITE's website at  www.flite-pa.org  or by sending an e-mail to  [email protected]
T&E Care Kids Clothing Drive
3/31 and 4/1

As you organize and clean-out in the New Year, please remember to save your excellent and very good condition children's clothing and shoes for the upcoming annual T&E Care Kid's Clothing Drive!  This year the collection dates at VFES will be March 15-24 and the Kid's Clothing Grab Bag event will take place on 3/31 and 4/1 at St. Matthew's Church on Walker Road. Thank you for your help! See more information at  www.tecare.org
Literacy and STEM Kindergarten Enrichment Program

Registration is now OPEN for "Little Ones for Literacy's" NEW '5 Day Literacy and STEM' Kindergarten Enrichment program for the 2017- 2018 school year!  Highly individualized and engaging instruction in unique, small class sizes will continue to be offered at a NEW Devon location. Daily lunch bunch will be available for both PM and AM kindergartners.   Early bird discount ends May 1st (spots are limited!)!   Program and registration information can be found at http://littleones4literacy.com/enrichment-program/
Gratitude Corner
Special Thanks to  Erica Griffel  and Christine Miller for another fabulous  bowling party at Devon Lanes.   Their hard work putting this together helped make a half day of school even  more fun!

In This Issue
Message from PTO President
Calling on Business Owners
Spring Fair Chair Positions Still Available
Spring Fair Chair Positions Still Available
Falcon Fun Camps
Almanac Dance Circus Theater
Important Legislative Alert
CHS Key Club Mini-Thon Movie Night
CHS Baseball Clinic
Kids and Technology- Parent Event
T/E FLITE Crew vs. the Harlem Wizards
T&E Care Kids Clothing Drive
Literacy and STEM Enrichment Program
Gratitude Corner
Upcoming Events 

3/17 - CHS Key Club Mini-Thon Movie Night

3/19 - CHS Baseball Clinic

3/24 - Almanac Dance Circus Theater

3/25 - Parents Night Out

3/29 - Kids & Technology

3/31 - Harlem Wizards

3/31-4/1 - T&E Cares Clothing Drive

4/11-4/13 - Spring Falcon Camp
Useful Links

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Falcon Publishing Dates

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Valley Forge Elementary School                          

99 Walker Road, Wayne, PA 19087                       

(610) 240-1600                               

Fax (610) 240-1615                                

Absentee Calling # (610) 240-1600 ext 5