VES Bluebird
March & April 2020
Happy Spring, VES Families!
As always, we have many exciting upcoming events. Our fourth graders will be touring LMS, traveling to UMS to see their production of Cinderella, and exploring the Old Barracks Museum. Third graders will be celebrating Arbor Day and taking a tour of Montgomery to learn about local history. Both grades will have visits from published authors and a chance to enjoy Experiential Theater. The Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to VES, as well. Fourth graders are also looking forward to their upcoming art show which is always a fantastic event!
We'll have Spring Break, Parent/Teacher Conferences and Teacher Appreciation Week, to name a few. There is a lot to look forward to! Check us out on Twitter - @Monty_VES. If you're not on Twitter, you can view our posts on the VES website (scroll down the right hand side).
Please Note that March 16th will be an Early Dismissal Day
Please see email dated March 9th from Acting Superintendent, Mary McLoughlin for more information.
Day of Play
The day received such rave reviews from teachers, students, and administrators! VES is excited to announce monthly opportunities for students to engage in unstructured play. The upcoming dates are as follows: March 27th, April 23rd, May 21st, and June 18th.
Your child's teacher will send home details about the days of play, but in the meantime check out the Global School Play Day website for more information: https://www.globalschoolplayday.com/
Parent-Teacher Communication
Indoor Recess Supplies Needed
We are still in need of gently used games to increase our supply. If you come across any gently used games while Spring cleaning, we would appreciate any donations. Games should have all of their pieces and be able to be played in about 20 minutes (chess, checkers, UNO, Connect 4, etc).
Students can bring any donations to the main office.
The Book Fair is Here and Family Night Too!
Please plan to attend the Book Fair Family Night Wednesday, April 2nd from 6-8. It's an open house, so come and browse with your child. The 4th Grade Art Show will also take place this evening! Please come out to pieces your child created in Mrs. O'Connor's art class.
Join Us for the Fourth Grade Art Show!
Art will be on display in the main foyer, in the main hallway and by some fourth grade classrooms. Join us for an evening in our 4th grade art gallery.
Please come out and see the fabulous creations your children made in Mrs. O'Connor's Class!
All are welcome and encouraged to attend during your visit to the Book Fair Family Night on April 2, 6-8 pm.
Arbor Day at VES - Calling all Third and Fourth Graders!
If your child is a current fourth grader, who planted the Tulip Poplar tree last year, take a picture and email it with your child's first name to Mr. Dolan at jdolan@mtsd.us. We would love to share it on the VES news so everyone can see how your tree is growing. If your child is in the picture, please give us permission to post it on the morning news/website/Twitter.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Please note that April 3, 4, 7 and 8th are early dismissal days. Parent pickup will begin at 1:15, followed by bus dismissal at 1:30.
Montgomery Township Schools' Spring Break Dates Will Be April 9th through April 17th
April 23rd is Take Your Child to Work Day
Please notify the school if your child will be absent due to his or her participation.
Health Office Notes: Seasonal Allergies
IT IS TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT SPRING ALLERGIES….APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS ALONG WITH SNEEZES, A RUNNY NOSE AND ITCHY, RED EYES….
Unfortunately, this is no real cure for season allergies; however it is possible to relieve your child’s symptoms. Reducing or eliminating exposure to allergens is the first step. During the months your child suffers from seasonal allergies keep windows closed, use air conditioning if possible, and stay indoors when pollen counts are high. Children should wash their hands and face if possible or shower after playing outside. At times reducing exposure is not possible or is ineffective; there are medications which will ease their symptoms.
During the next several months we will see an influx of students suffering from seasonal allergies. The classic triggers of seasonal allergies this time of year are trees (early spring) and grasses (late spring and early summer). The classic allergy symptoms and signs associated with allergic rhinitis can include:
Runny nose with clear discharge
Stuffy nose (congestion)
Sneezing
Itchy nose
Red eyes with tearing and itchy
Dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners)
A crease near the bottom of the nose (allergic crease)
Frequent nose rubbing (allergic salute)
The trend in the Health Office this time of year is numerous students with swollen, red, itchy eyes! When we see a child for this we have them wash their hands with soap and water, then rinse their face with cool water. We gently wash the eyelids and lashes with a “no more tears baby bath”. This washing helps remove the pollen from the lashes and eye area. They rest with a cool compress to their eyes for several minutes.
If you know or suspect that your child suffers from seasonal allergies please be proactive and contact the doctor to begin a regime to minimize their discomfort before the season is in full bloom. You may bring in an allergy relief eye drop to be kept in the Health Office; this must be accompanied with your written permission for the medication to be administered in school. A Medication Administration form can be found on the web site. If the medication is an over the counter product it must be new and in the original packaging.
Practices for Staying Healthy & Handwashing Protocols
Our district leadership is working closely with the local health department, the county and the state to make decisions and establish protocols to keep all students and staff safe. As a school, our nurses and teachers are reinforcing healthy practices and hand washing protocols with students and our custodial team is implementing disinfecting routines. Parents are encouraged to replenish their child's supply of hand wipes/sanitizer to be used before lunch to supplement what the school has available.
VES Students Will be Participating in NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment) Testing May 11-15th
More information and details will be shared prior to the assessment.
Do You Have Old Ear Buds at Home?
Each student needs a set of 3.5 mm earbuds or headphones. If you have an old iPhone set, or something similar, and your child does not have headphones in school, please send them in. See picture below for reference. They should be sent in a zipper bag with your child's name written on it.
Book Fair Family Night & 4th Grade Art Show
Thursday, Apr 2, 2020, 06:00 PM
Village Elementary School, Main Boulevard, Skillman, NJ, USA
Fifth Grade Parent Orientation for Fourth Grade Parents
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2020, 06:30 PM
Montgomery Lower Middle School
District Visual Arts Show
Wednesday, Apr 29, 2020, 07:00 PM
Montgomery High School, Skillman, NJ, USA
Third Grade Parent Orientation for Second Grade Parents
Thursday, May 7, 2020, 06:30 PM
Village Elementary School, Main Boulevard, Skillman, NJ, USA
3rd Grade Concert & Art Show
Thursday, May 28, 2020, 06:30 PM
Village Elementary School, Main Boulevard, Skillman, NJ, USA
Moving Up Party at LMS
Friday, May 29, 2020, 06:30 PM
Montgomery Lower Middle School
A Thank You from Young Scholars Institute
I write to wish you a Happy New Year and to thank you for supporting our Holiday Gifts and Food giveaway in December. The Holiday Gifts and Food Giveaway was tremendously successful. Others learned about your effort and donated clothing after the event. The families appreciated the gift of food and presents, which made their holidays much brighter.
I am still touched by the sentiment. We are thankful for your kindness. Have a wonderful 2020.
Sincerely,
Jerri L. Morrison
Executive Director
Souper Bowl Thank You
On behalf of the Hillsborough Community Assistance Network and the families that we serve, we would like to thank you for the generous donation of food. The items which you donated will be used to support the programs which are administred through the Hillsborough Community Assistance Network.
Cathy Faerber
Assistant Director of Social Services