The Falcon 
Valley Forge Elementary School's PTO Newsletter 
Issue 11
February 26 , 2017  
Message from the PTO President
Dear VFES Families:

Hope you enjoyed the beautiful warm weather this week! I personally miss the snow and I can't believe I am actually saying that.

We have really cool stuff lined up in March. First we have our Bowling Social on March 2nd. Please don't forget to send in your forms. Our children enjoy it very much!

I am very excited that this year we are hosting a Parents' Night Out on March 25th from 7pm - 11pm at St. Issac's Church in Wayne. It will be an adult-only event with a DJ and Trivia Night. We will soon have an online payment for this event setup on our website. This is NOT a fundraiser for the PTO, but a token of our appreciation for all the hard work that you put in through your volunteering as well as your unwavering support. We will charge $15 per person that includes finger food, DJ and Trivia. It is a BYOB event.

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.

Our March PTO meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 10th at 9am in the Large Group Room . I hope some of you can make it to the meeting.

As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected] .

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.
Bowling Social
Thursday, March 2 3:30 - 5:30

bowling_pins2.jpg The VFES PTO is pleased to announce the details of the 2017 Bowling Social.  Information is as follows: 
   - $13 per bowler includes shoes, bowling, 2 slices of pizza,         and a drink! 
   - $15 per  walk-in  on day of event

Playdrome Devon Lanes is located at 300 W. Lancaster Ave Devon, PA. 

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.
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.
Elementary School Conferences
Elementary conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, March 1st - Friday, March 3rd (8:35-11:55, Kindergarten only; 1:15-3:35, K-4).  Parents will have the opportunity to schedule a conference with their child's Core or Math teacher.  Special Area teachers will be available for drop-in conferences.
 
Conferences can be scheduled online using Home Access Center (https://hac.tesd.net/).  While HAC remains open throughout the school year, online conference scheduling will only be available from Friday, February 10th (10:00AM) through Friday, February 17th (11:59PM).  Please call the school's main office if there are no available conference times for the teacher that you prefer to meet with or if you would like to make any changes after the scheduling window closes.
 
Instructions for accessing the scheduling system can be found here.  If you have forgotten your HAC username or password, please follow the link on the HAC homepage to recover your login information.  Parents who do not have internet access or who prefer not to schedule online will still have the option of scheduling by phone by contacting the school's main office. 

Community News 
Conestoga Baseball Youth Clinic
March 19th
For details, please click here.


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
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]
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.
Devon Strafford Little League Registration Still Open

Devon Strafford Little League (DSLL) is continuing it's on-
line  registration  for their Spring 2017 Tee Ball and Coach Pitch seasons.   R egistration for 4 , 5 and 6 year olds is open through 2/28.  All registrants new to DSLL mus t include proof of age documents  with their registration.   Additional information as well as the online registration forms can be found at this  link .

In This Issue
Message from PTO President
Calling on Business Owners
Bowling Social
Spring Fair Chair Positions Still Available
Important Legislative Alert
School Conferences
T&E Care Kids Clothing Drive
T/E FLITE Crew vs. the Harlem Wizards
Kids and Technology- Parent Event
Devon Strafford Litte League Registration
Upcoming Events 

3/1-3/3 - School Conferences

3/2 - Bowling Social

3/7 - Class Picture Day

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

Add/Change Email
  
  
Falcon Publishing Dates

See schedule here

 

Valley Forge Elementary School                          

99 Walker Road, Wayne, PA 19087                       

(610) 240-1600                               

Fax (610) 240-1615                                

Absentee Calling # (610) 240-1600 ext 5