Newsletter from VFES PTO

The Falcon
Valley Forge Elementary School's PTO Newsletter

Issue 6
November 13, 2015

Message from the PTO President

Dear VFES Families:

I hope you have had a good couple of weeks! The Cultural Arts Committee, Emily Brunner and Jamie Lynch, brought in Cello Fury to VFES for an

assembly and the children loved it! Thank you, Emily and Jamie! The show is open to public today and I hope you have already bought your ticket and are very excited to watch the show. If you haven't, please

check out the PTO website for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Holidays!

Rujuta Mandelia

School News

Math in Focus Open House - Grades 3-4

Please join the T/E Elementary Math Specialties for an open house designed to provide information about Math in Focus concepts and skills.

Wednesday, December 16th from 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Valley Forge Elementary Science Rooms

Learn about the visualization strategies for solving problems, how to promote flexible thinking with numbers, how to help with homework and how to access and use ThinkCentral.

Math in Focus Grades 3-4

Calling all Music Lovers

Volunteers are needed to help record the children singing during their music classes. Training is provided and detailed written instructions are available.

Please click here to sign up for this great volunteer opportunity. Thank you in advance for your help! www.vfespto.org

VFES Technology News

To make technology more accessible in the classroom and at home, VFES has a new section on its webpage under the "For Students" section called Student Websites. This page is designed to allow students to easily navigate to sites used in the classroom. The page is formatted by grade and special areas and is automatically uploaded when students log in using Internet Explorer.

Included on this webpage is a section titled "Coding." As part of the district coding initiative, students will be exploring these sites during the "Hour of Code" which will occur in December. Be sure to check this website out at home for valuable resources. To navigate to this site, click on this web link http://www.tesd.net/domain/1392 .

After School Sports

Its that time again - Valley Forge's after-school sports program will begin Tuesday November 17, 2015 from 3:25pm - 4:25pm.

During the school year the program will be offered to grades 2nd - 4th. For full schedule information and necessary forms, please see the attached flier.

After School Sports Information/Sign-up

Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Anne Riley

Who does not remember their kindergarten experience fondly? I still remember my kindergarten teacher. This week's Teacher Spotlight is on Mrs. Anne Riley. Mrs. Riley is the Team Facilitator for Kindergarten and there is definitely a lot to facilitate. Her day is more than just planning Bear Hunt Day and Earth Day, she and the other kindergarten teachers are responsible for that "first taste" of school, they make it fun for the kids and encourage their love of learning. This is what Mrs. Riley had to say...

Mrs. Riley Teacher Spotlight

Community News

Rachel's Helping Hands 5K Run

Rachel Paster was a devoted 2^nd grade teacher at Hillside Elementary School for 10 years. Diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2013, she passed away from complications on June 18, 2015 at the age of 34. She left behind a loving husband and beautiful 3.5 year old son.

Please visit: www.rachelshelpinghands.org to learn more about the foundation created in her memory to help offset medical bills, copays, and prescription costs to patients undergoing active cancer treatment.

Please join us in support of our inaugural fundraiser! The Rachel's Helping Hands 5k Run and Family Fun Walk begins at 7:15am on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at Wilson Farm Park, Wayne, PA.

To Register: www.runtheday.com/race/rachelshelpinghands

Please contact Lauren Carreon at [email protected] with any questions.

Rachel's Helping Hands Flier

T&E Care Holiday Drive

Once again the holidays are looming and some people right in our communities struggle to afford gifts for the kids or the food needed for a special holiday meal. T redyffrin & Easttown Care is a local non-profit that helps local families throughout the year with emergency situations, as well as at the holidays.

The T&E Care annual Holiday Drive runs from November 16-December 5. Drop-offs should come to St. John's Presbyterian Church in Devon on either December 6 or 7. Donations of gifts, food baskets, cleaning supplies, gift cards, and other items are needed.

Please check the wish lists on our website, www.tecare.org. This is truly a neighbor helping neighbor event!

T&E Care Holiday Drive Flier

Nurses Corner

Auvi-Q® Recall

Sanofi US is voluntarily recalling all Auvi-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP). The recall involves all Auvi-Q currently on the market and includes both the 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg strengths for hospitals, retailers and consumers. This includes lot number 2299596 through 3037230, which expire March 2016 through December 2016. The products have been found to potentially have inaccurate dosage delivery.

Customers with questions regarding this recall can go to www.Auvi-Q.com or call (866) 726-6340 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET for information about how to return their Auvi-Q devices. Customers may also email [email protected]. Sanofi US will provide reimbursement for out of pocket costs incurred for the purchase of new epinephrine auto-injectors with proof of purchase.

For more information regarding the Auvi-Q® Recall

Gratitude Corner

Thank you to Laura May for organizing the Great Playground Pickup on October 31st with the Girl Scouts. Volunteers from Girl Scout Troops 41471 and 4147 spent Halloween afternoon hunting the VFES playground and school property and picking up all the trash they could find. Armed with gloves and grocery bags, the girls picked up A LOT of trash from lunch trays, pencils, food wrappers and even game pieces! Thanks for helping to clean up the school.

Many thanks to Tiffany Long and Sally Selim for organizing our box top collection this Fall. We also thank all the parents that sent in the box tops.