VES Back to School Bluebird
August/September 2022
The First Day of School Will Be Tuesday, September 6th!
Summer Greetings
Dear Village School Families,
We hope you are enjoying the remaining days of summer and looking forward to all the excitement that a new school year brings! Our team is ready to welcome you to our VES family and home of Blazer the Bluebird! If you are returning to VES, welcome back! If you are new to our school community, we look forward to meeting you!
Getting to know your children and all that makes them unique brings us great pride. It is our honor to provide all students with the best learning experiences possible within a culturally responsive and caring environment.
The Montgomery Elementary School PTA co-presidents, Mrs. Unnati Patel and Mrs. Christine Hoffman and their team of volunteers are assisting us in planning for a terrific school year. Please visit the PTA link on our website for more information and ways to get involved.
On our first few days of school, our staff and PTA volunteers will help guide students to classrooms in the morning and their buses during dismissal. Color coded maps at each entrance will also help students navigate the building. Please join us for the Open House on September 2nd for a building preview!
Please review this issue of the Bluebird for important dates and links. Most importantly, take some time to review our updated 2022-2023 school handbook which includes detailed information about VES as well as the VES website and Twitter feed to stay updated and informed throughout the year!
We look forward to seeing you!
Ms. Susan Lacy, Principal
Mrs. Lia Camuto, Assistant Principal
Join Us for the VES Open House on Friday, September 2nd!
- Your child's Bus Tag will be available in your child's classroom. If you are unable to attend they will be given to students on the first day of school.
- Any medications and forms will be accepted in the VES Health Office during the Open House.
Our PTA volunteers will be at the school to greet and direct you. They will also have school spirit wear and other items available for purchase. We look forward to your visit and welcoming students to VES!
Open House Schedule:
- 3rd Grade: 1:20-2:00
- 4th Grade: 2:20-3:00
Placement and Supply List Information
Friday, August 26th after 5 PM, class lists and teacher welcome letters will be available on Parent Resources. Click here to find the general grade level supply lists that were shared in our May/June newsletter and MTSD eblasts. Teacher welcome letters may include a request for supplies in addition to those listed on our general grade level supply lists. Masks continue to be optional at this time. Keep in mind that teacher websites may continue to be updated until school begins.
Please note that you will only be able to access class list and teacher welcome letters once all required forms are completed. Please click here to read the letter regarding required forms from Mrs. Corie Gaylord, Director of Student Academic and Counseling Services that was eblasted on August 5th. A mandated HIB Policy acknowledgment is also included and must be completed.
As noted in our June edition, 4th graders may happen to be placed in classes where they will have one teacher for language arts and another teacher for mathematics/science/social studies. Students will travel as a homeroom class between the two teachers. The two classroom teachers will work collaboratively as a team.
We have worked diligently to place your child in the best possible setting. Please know that at this time we will not be able to accommodate any requests for classroom changes. Thank you for understanding.
To View Student Placement Information:
1) Visit https://parents.mtsd.k12.nj.us
2) Enter your username, which is your email address, and your password. If you forget your password, use the "Forgot My Password" link. Your password will then be sent by email. If you are unable to log in or do not have an account, please contact genesissupport@mtsd.us
3) Click on documents and view the teacher's welcome letter".
Back to School with Maschio's
Snacks and Food Allergies
A Note From the Health Office
If your child requires medication at school either administered daily or as needed for an emergency (this includes Epi Pens), please make sure that all medication is brought into the Health Office before the first day of school and that all required medical forms are completed for administration of the medication. The forms are found on the VES website under Health forms and include: the Allergy Action Plan, Asthma Treatment Plans and Medication Administration form.
Medications and forms will be accepted in the Health Office during the Open House on September 2nd.
If your child is new to the school district, please provide the Health Office with a current physical exam completed by his or her physician and a copy of your child's immunization record before the first day of school. Please have the physician complete the Child Health Form also found on the VES website under forms. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to call the Health Office.
Busing, Parent Pickup and Drop Off
Students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school. Specific information about your child’s bus route and number can be found on your Parent Resources account. Bus tags with important identification and bus route information will be provided during our Open House. Please attach this tag to your child’s backpack. Please review the bus rules in our Handbook with your child or visit the Transportation website for more information.
Should you need to transport your child, please review these drop off and pick up procedures carefully to help us create a safe and smooth process.
Before School Drop Off: If you need to drive your child to school, please use the driveway on the right side of the school to travel to the rear entrance. This entrance will be open from 9:25 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. Please do not drop your child off early as the doors will be locked until 9:25, and there is no supervision. Upon arriving at the rear of the school please follow the guidelines below.
Travel as far forward as possible along the sidewalk on your left.
Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the sidewalk.
Stop your vehicle next to the school sidewalk.
Your child may exit on his or her own on the driver’s side of the car, along any part of the sidewalk. Children are not permitted to exit from the passenger side without assistance from an adult.
Two doors will be open and supervised for your child’s convenience and to assist with the flow of traffic.
Please remain in the line of cars in front of you and wait for traffic to move. Do not dart around any cars to avoid colliding with those exiting at the front of the line. Should you need to pass another car to exit, please do so with extreme caution!
DO NOT park in the Fire Lane for any reason.
Please do not drop students off in the front of Village School at any time, except for before school programs. After 9:35 a.m., park in our front visitors’ lot and walk your child into the building. An adult must sign children in.
After School Pickup : Please send a note to your child’s teacher if you plan on picking up your child in the afternoons. Include in the note, the name of the person picking up your child. If your child is to be picked up by someone other than you, they must be identified by name in your note to the teacher. The person picking up your child will be asked to produce identification (valid driver’s license) when they come to pick your child up.
All parents/designees should be prepared to produce identification at any given time, upon request, and they must sign children out before leaving the school building. Teachers will send their students to the parent pickup waiting area in the cafeteria with their pick up note. Without a note, children will be sent to their buses.
Parent Pick Up Dismissal Times:
- Parent pick up doors will open at 3:45
- Students will be dismissed to parent pick up at 3:50
Parent Pickup Driving Directions
When picking up your child up at the end of the school day, please use the driveway on the right side of the school to travel to the rear entrance of the school. Turn left into the first entrance of the large parking lot. Park in the designated spaces and enter through the cafeteria doors. All parents must enter through the rear cafeteria doors and parents must sign children out in the cafeteria.
Please exit the parking lot using the exit at the far/opposite end side of the lot and turn left.
Please review our school handbook for additional details regarding our midday drop off and pick up procedures and the best way to communicate same day changes to your dismissal needs. Your assistance in following these guidelines will help us and help you, keep all children and visitors safe. Thank you for your cooperation!
School Counselor Offerings
Our counselors, Mrs. Fornal and Mrs. Schantz, are both excited to start the school year. They provide social, emotional and academic support to any VES student in need. Throughout the school year, they offer individual and small group counseling to students who would benefit from additional support. To begin the year, they will be hosting groups to support our newcomers so they can acclimate and develop friendships within our learning community.
Feel free to reach out to them with any questions. Mrs. Fornal will be the third grade counselor and can be reached at lfornal@mtsd.us. Mrs. Schantz will be the fourth grade counselor and can be reached at jschantz@msd.us. You may also call 609-466-7606 and press 5 for the counseling office. If you have any questions or concerns that require an immediate attention, please contact the main office. Our counselors will be available for assistance once school resumes in September.
YMCA After School Program at VES
The YMCA of Princeton provides childcare before and after school for children who attend VES. The YMCA tailors its hours to accommodate working families, and offers children diverse and enriching activities in a safe and nurturing environment.
Registration packets will be available in the main office. For more information, you may visit our website at:
www.princetonymca.org or call the YMCA After School Program Office at: 609-497-9622. Please clearly state your name, your child’s name, and a phone number where we can return your phone call.