HGF PTA NEW WEBSITE

We have a new website up and running!

Check it out for all the information and updates you need. You can now become a member of the PTA right from the website.  Another cool new feature is the Volunteer page.  Sign up on the website to volunteer.

Go check it out for yourself!

www.hgf-pta.org

Calling All Vendors!

HGF PTA will be hosting a Holiday Fair on November 19, 2016 from 10am-2pm.  We are looking for

If you sell products through a home based business. such as Pampered Chef, Thirty-One, essential oils, Lia Sophia or hand crafted items, we'd love for you to join us! If you would like to set up a table and sell your products, please complete the registration form.  Products/Services must be family-friendly.

The fee is $20 per table.  We also ask that you donate one prize ($10 minimum) to a gift basket that will be raffled off during the event. Vendor tables will need to be set up by 9:30am. 

Please note, in the event of duplicate products, vendors will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

DEADLINE for registration is October 1st

If you have any questions, please contact Katie Jolicoeur at Katie_vanzant@comcast.net OR Angela Paris at jugglingactmama@gmail.com

The Holiday Fair will also include kids crafts, bake sale, food and drinks, and raffles. HGF Spirit Wear will also be on sale.

SIGN UP HERE

PTA for 2016-17 and Membership

PTA is excited for a new school year - yes, we know it's early, but it will sneak up on us!  As a reminder, here are your 2016-17 board and coordinators:

EXECUTIVE BOARD:
President: Ang Paris
Vice Presidents: Heidi Rivard
Vice President: Melanie White
Treasurer: Kristen Ricker
Secretary: Karly Gaudette

COORDINATORS
Box Tops: Michelle Friggo
Bake Sale: Tom Morrison
Popcorn: Karly Gaudette
Membership: Amanda LaPorte
Restaurant: Kim Tobey
Volunteer: Stacey Greenberg
Yearbook: Leah Hall
Events: Katie Joliquor
Donations: Maria Brown


If you would like to renew your PTA membership, or join for the first time, you may do so by filling out the form here:

ONLINE PTA MEMBERSHIP FORM

Membership is $6 per person and can be paid online, or sent in with your child once school starts.  If you have any questions about membership, please contact Amanda LaPorte or Angela Paris.

Kindergarten Play Date

Attention incoming Kindergarten families! Please join us a play date on August 30th from 2-3pm hosted by the HGF PTA.  Come meet new friends and play for an hour on the HGF play ground!

2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR INFO

IMPORTANT SEPTEMBER DATES
Please save these important dates:

• 9/6: School begins for grades 1-5 
• 9/6-8: Final Kindergarten Registration and Testing of Students 
• 9/7: Open House 6:00-7:30 
• 9/9: Kindergarten Orientation & "Boo Hoo" Breakfast 
• 9/12: Kindergarten Open House during the school day 
• 9/13: Teacher Workshop Day (no school)
• 9/14: Pre-Schoolers and Kindergarteners Begin School
• 9/21: PTA meeting at 6:30pm in the Library

OFFICE HOURS
The office will be open again on August 22.

CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS
Classroom assignments for grades 1-5 will be posted on the front door on  August 30.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Grade specific school supply lists can be found HERE. Please do not forget our specialist teachers… tissues, disinfectant wipes are always appreciated, as well as pencils and construction paper.

CAR PATROL INFORMATION
Numbers for car patrol will be handed out on the first day of school.

START AND END TIMES FOR 2016-17

	Arrival	Instruction Begins	Dismissal
Elementary School	8:30 AM	8:45 PM	2:50 PM
Morning Preschool	9:05 AM	9:15 AM	11:45 PM
Afternoon Preschool	12:35 PM	12:45 PM	3:15 PM
Full-Day Preschool	8:45 AM	9:00 AM	2:00 PM
Middle School	7:20 AM	7:35 AM	2:20 PM
High School	7:38 AM	7:45 AM	2:53 PM

HGF Apparel for 2016-17 School Year Survey

We will be offering apparel with the HGF logo in September. In order to narrow down the offerings, please let us know your preferences.

CORRECTED LINK:
TAKE THE 3-QUESTION SURVEY

Redistricting Survey from MSD for Parents/Guardians is Open

A message from the Superintendent of Schools:

As you may know, the Manchester School District is currently planning to redistrict at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. A special committee of the Board of School Committee has been appointed to alleviate overcrowding in some of our schools.

What does this mean for your family and child(ren)? The special committee’s goal is to finalize a redistricting plan by October 1, 2016. We don’t know yet how many students or schools will be affected. Right now the committee is gathering facts and community input.

The special committee is committed to keeping the public informed about the process and welcomes your input. Information is available at our website www.mansd.org under the Redistricting tab at the top of the page.

We also invite you to participate in a survey. It is available on our website. If you do not have access to a computer, you may ask for a paper survey from your child’s school office. The paper surveys must be returned to the school office by June 9th . The results of the survey will help the committee make better decisions about redistricting and will be available on-line.

Debra Livingston, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Yearbooks are In!

If you haven't already ordered your 2016-17 yearbook, there's still time.

DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM

New PTA Officers & Other News

New PTA Officers for 2016-17 have been elected:

• President: Ang Paris
•  Co-Vice Presidents: Melanie White and Heidi Rivard
• Treasurer: Kristin Ricker
• Secretary: Karly Gaudette

Elections will be held again in May 2017 for Vice President and Treasurer positions, in accordance to our HGF PTA bylaws. (President and Secretary elections are held in even years).

The measure to give $2,500 to the school to help purchase the Envisions Math Program was passed at the May 25th meeting as well.  This will go toward supporting the materials required for 4th and 5th grades.

Coordinator positions for 2016-17 that are currently filled include:

• Bake Sale: Tom Morrison
• Yearbook: Leah Hall
• Popcorn: Karly Gaudette 
• Membership: Amanda Norton Laporte
• Box Tops: Michelle Frigo
• Volunteer: Stacey Greenberg
• Restaurant Night: Kim Tobey

We are in need of a Fundraising Chairperson to help organize our fundraising efforts. This person will work with the executive board to plan events and activities, and recruit volunteers for individual fundraising opportunities. If you are interested, please email Ang Paris.

Thank you to all who support HGF through our PTA. We look forward to another awesome year!

Reminders for the end of this year:

• Yearbooks are on sale now - get yours ASAP, download the flier!
• 3rd Grade Field Trip is tomorrow, June 1st.
• Field Day is this Thursday, June 2nd (raindate is Monday the 6th)
• Big thank you to Charles Mears for donating the freeze pops!
  
• Run Club will meet for the last time Monday, June 6th
• 5th Grade Student Celebration at 3:15pm on June 8th
• 5th Grade Parents are invited to the Moving to Middle School Recognition Celebration & Parent Clap out at 1:30pm on June 9th.
• Join us at Texas Roadhouse for one last Restaurant Night Fundraiser from 3:30-9:30pm! Download the flier.
• June 9th is the last day of school, this is a full day

Last Blast Restaurant Night, June 9th

Join us to celebrate the last day of school, and earn a little money for the HGF PTA on June 9th at Texas Roadhouse. Hope to see you there!

DOWNLOAD THE FLIER

 

PTA Meeting & Elections

Reminder: our last PTA meeting for the year will be Wednesday, May 25th at 6:30pm.  We will be holding PTA elections at that time as well.

A Quorum of 10 paid members is required to hold elections. All officer positions are open.  If you are interested in running for the PTA Board (President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary), please email Stacey Weigler with a brief bio.

Please see Duties of Officers for more information on the positions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QCAFl1BcmXs4Mvo97nmTZ9NyNjDaKakuDvgpYSo0e0s/edit?usp=sharing

Additional openings for 2016-17 include the following:

• Membership Chair
• Fundraising Chair
• Popcorn Coordinator & Helpers
• Bake Sale Helpers 

Hope to see you there!

PTA Mtg/Elections Date Change

Please note the date change for the May PTA Meeting and PTA Elections. 

We will now meet on Wednesday, May 25th at 6:30pm in the Library.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

Margarita's Fundraiser, May 11

Our next restaurant fundraiser night will be Wednesday, May 11 at Margarita's on Elm Street.  Be sure to bring the flier with you!

DOWNLOAD THE FLIER HERE

2016 Field Day Volunteer Sign Up

Field Day is Thursday, June 2nd.  Rain Date is Monday, June 6th.

(Please note the date change from the calendar that was sent home last week)

This event is only successful if we have a LARGE number of volunteers to help coordinate the activities.

Parent volunteers will be assigned to a specific activity and will assist the students as they rotate through the various events.  It is helpful for each volunteer to understand the rules of the game they will oversee and how the day will be organized so it is important to arrive on time, as indicated below.

SIGN UP HERE

Teacher and Staff Appreciation BBQ, May 6

Our faculty and staff is the BEST!  As many of you already know, May 2-6 is Teacher Appreciation Week.

HGF Families, we need your help to make the 2016 Teacher and Staff Appreciation BBQ a special event! Please consider donating the following items.  (We have 65 faculty and staff members.)

Tossed salad and dinner rolls have generously been donated  by Texas Roadhouse.  Drinks have been generously donated by Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

We are asking families to provide the following:

• Students in Grade K, 2, 4 - Dessert items and hamburger and hot dog rolls.

• Students in 1, 3, 5 - Salads (ie macaroni or potato salad, side dishes, condiments, and chips.

Please look for a green flier in Thursday's communication folder with a sign up form.  All forms should be returned by May 4th.  All items should be at school by 10am on Friday, May 6th.

Thank you!

PTA Officer Elections, May 18

PTA Officer Elections will be held during our regular May PTA meeting on May 18, at 6:30pm.  A Quorum of 10 paid members is required to hold elections.

All officer positions are open to anyone in the Highland Goffe's Falls Elementary School community, including teachers and staff.  If you are interested in running for the PTA Board (President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary), please fill out this form, or email Stacey Weigler with a brief biography no later than May 4, 2016.

Please see Duties of Officers for more information on the positions.

Help Wanted!

We are in need of some volunteers this week. If you are able to help even for 30 minutes, we would much appreciate it!

KINDERGARTEN LIBRARY HELPERS
Mr. Lamy is in need of some volunteers this week to help out the kindergarteners during book fair. We need 2 volunteers for each time slot:

• Tuesday: 10:25am for Mrs. Demer's class
• Friday: 10:25am for Ms. Cookson's class

Please email Ang if you are available.

BAKE SALE HELPERS
We need a few volunteers for Wednesday's bake sale to help set up, collect money, etc. Please email Ang if you are available.

HGF PTA Event and Fundraising Survey

Please take a moment to complete the HGF PTA Event and Fundraising Survey so that the PTA may better understand the preferences of our families.

TAKE THE SURVEY

 

We appreciate all your feedback.  Many hands make light work, and volunteers are critical to the success of any events/programs the PTA undertakes.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY BY APRIL 30, 2016.

 

Bake Sale, April 20th to Benefit 1, 2, and 3 Graders

Our next bake sale will be Wednesday, April 20th. Proceeds of each month’s bake sale benefit the grades that are baking.  

This month the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades will receive all of the money raised during the bake sale to help offset the cost of field trips.

To earn as much as possible, it is important to have a wide variety and large number of baked goods so please consider donating something either purchased or home-made.  Your participation is greatly appreciated!

 ALL ITEMS $.25 each

You may bake or bring fruit rolls, smart food, snacks, baked goods, etc...  All items, with the exception of cupcakes, should be individually wrapped.  Items can be dropped off the morning of the bake sale.

SAVE THE DATE: PTA Meeting & MSD Budget Discussion

This month’s PTA meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20th at 6:00pm (note time change) in the gym.
We will outline upcoming PTA events.

At 6:30 we will be joined by Assistant Superintendent Christine Martin. She will be on hand to discuss the administration’s budget request and answer any questions you may have.

PTA Newsletter

National Volunteer Week

This is National Volunteer Week! Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers who work on behalf of the students and teachers at Highland-Goffe's Falls School. From bake sale bakers, classroom helpers, to popcorn poppers and everything in between, your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Purple Up on April 15th!

Support our military kids by wearing purple this Friday, April 15th.

LEGOLAND Raffle Extended to April 19th

The LEGOLAND Raffle has been extended until April 19th so that families may purchase tickets during the Celebration of Learning event April 19th from 6-7pm. Cash and check are accepted.  The winner will be chosen on April 20th.  Download a form here.

PTA Meeting, April 20, 6pm

There will be a PTA meeting in the gym at 6pm on April 20th (please note the time change).  At 6:30pm, we will be joined by Assistant Superintendent Christine Martin. She will be on hand to discuss the administration’s budget request and answer any questions you may have.

April Bake Sale, April 20

The April Bake Sale will benefit grades 1, 2, and 3 and we ask everyone who is able to send something in whether store bought or homemade.  All items are 25-cents.

Fluency Friends Volunteers Needed
Our Reading Specialist, Mrs. Rivard, is in need of 1-3 volunteers to help with Kindergarten Fluency.  Volunteers will work with kindergartners on site word flash cards to help improve their fluency.  If you are available on a weekly basis, or even just occasionally, please contact Mrs. Rivard.

Reading Challenge Fisher Cats Tickets

If you have not yet received your Fisher Cats tickets from the reading challenge, please contact them directly at 603-641-2005

Donor's Choose
Donor's Choose is a site where educators can request items that they need, and donors can make a safe contribution. Our own HGF educators have some requests, please check them out. Learn more.

Ward 8 Sounding Board

Manchester School Board Representative Erika Connors is looking for a few parents to be part of a sounding board for Ward 8. Please see the notice below:

As your elected Manchester School Board representative, I have been charged with representing the community and families of Ward 8.  It is my job, as your representative, to look out for our students, make decisions about school programs and policies, and ensure that our children are getting the best education possible for the tax dollars spent.

The Ward 8 community consists of individuals and families with a broad spectrum of ideas and beliefs.  In order to develop a more collaborative approach and a stronger community, I am looking to create a sounding board.  This board will consist of students and parents from Ward 8 and the 7 schools within our ward:  Memorial, Manchester School of Technology, Southside, McLaughlin, Green Acres, Jewett, and Highland Goffe’s Falls.  

The purpose of this sounding board is to discuss and evaluate ideas, programs, and policies.  This sounding board will be solution based and will help in providing me, and our School Board, with a variety of perspectives and ideas.  This will be done through email communications, as this is a confidential, accessible, and efficient method of communication.

If you would like to be added as a member of this sounding board, please send me an email at boscward8@mansd.org.  Please be sure to include the following:

1. Your name
2. Your email address
3. Your Ward 8 address
4. The name of the school your child attends.

April Birthdays
A few very special birthdays are coming up - Mrs. V's birthday is the 17th, Mrs. Allen's birthday is the 18th, Mrs. Matthews birthday is the 24th.  Be sure to send them best wishes!

Upcoming PTA Events:

• PTA Meeting, April 20, 6pm
• Bake Sale (1,2,3), April 20
• Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6
• Teacher Appreciation BBQ, May 6
• Restaurant Night, May 11 at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant

Upcoming School Events and Other Info:

• Scholastic Book Fair, April 18-22
• Celebration of Learning, April 19th, 6-7pm
• Science Technology & Engineering Calendar Raffle, April 11-May 8
• Running Club Sign Ups Open
• Drama Club presents.... Robin Hood! April 21 & 22, 6:30pm
• April Vacation, April 25-29
• STEAM Education Night, May 20, 5-7pm

Purple Up! Suport our Military Kids!

Show your support for Military Kids on April 15th by wearing purple!

Let's all be part of the Department of Defense Education Activity schools (DoDEA) world-wide celebrate Purple Up! For Military Kids.

Military families can get FREE Fischer Cats tickets, while they last. Learn more here.

Save the Date! May Restaurant Night Fundraiser

Our May Fundraiser Night will take place on the 11th at Margarita's Mexican Restaurant downtown.  Watch for details next month.

HGF PTA will receive 20% of pre-tax proceeds that night (with the flier, coming soon). These funds will go toward field trips.

See you then!

LEGOLAND Raffle - Tickets Now on Sale

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston has generously donated a family 4-pack of tickets for the HGF PTA to raffle off!

Tickets are $1 each, or 5 for $6.  Please look for fliers coming home this week, or download one here.

Forms are due back no later than April 14th.  The winner will be drawn and notified on April 15th.

This Raffle has been extended until April 19th.

Learn more about LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston here.

Thank you for supporting your HGF PTA!

Fluency Friend Volunteers Needed

Our Reading Specialist, Mrs. Rivard, is in need of 1-3 volunteers to help with Kindergarten Fluency.  Volunteers will work with kindergartners on site word flash cards to help improve their fluency.

If you are available on a weekly basis, or even just occasionally, please contact Mrs. Rivard.

HGF Donor's Choose

Donor's Choose is a site where educators can request items that they need, and donors can make a safe contribution.

Our own HGF educators have some requests, please check them out.  Click the links below to learn more about the request.

Full Speed Ahead with Robotics & STEM! 
Teacher: Mr. Lamy (Library)
This program has a corporate match, so every donation you make will be doubled!

Let's Teach More Students About Electronics!
Teacher: Mr. Lamy (Library)

With the Right Seat, We Won't Miss a Beat!
Teacher: Mrs. Donovan (Pre-K)

Technology Ready for the 21st Century
Teacher: Mrs. Chase (4th Grade)

All Materials Need A Place
Teacher: Mrs. Chauvette (Pre-K)

Let's Laminate and Save Our Important Work
Teacher: Mrs. Chauvette (Pre-K)

Pictures Help Us To Communicate
Teacher: Mrs. Chauvette (Pre-K)

Let Your Imagination Soar
Teacher: Mrs. Chauvette (Pre-K)

BEE Books and Folders for Communication and Organization
Teacher: Mrs. Chase (4th Grade)
 
A Picture Says It All!
Teacher: Mrs. Chauvette (Pre-K)

Please also share this with any corporation that might like to support our school in this way.

Student Council St. Patrick's Day Carnations

Student Council is selling green carnations again this year.  Look for the flier, or download here.

BINGO NIGHT DETAILS

Save the Date for BINGO NIGHT - Friday, March 18th

Doors open at 6:15pm, BINGO begins at 6:45pm

BINGO Cards (9 games) $1.00 each

BINGO Daubers $2.00 each

We have special guest BINGO callers again this year. HGF teachers will be on stage calling out the numbers while you race to fill in your cards and win your choice from the prize table!

Bake Sale Items will be available for 25-cents each - BAKERS ARE NEEDED!

Cheese Pizza is available for pre-order for $2/slice, or $9 for a whole pizza.

Please return the Pizza Order / Bake Sale form no later than March 16th to your child's teacher.

DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE

Teacher Spotlight: Dr. Julia Glennon, 3rd Grade Teacher

Name: Dr. Julia Glennon
Position: 3rd Grade Teacher
Birthdate: June 24th
Hometown City/State: Charleston, WV
College(s) Attended: New England College, Notre Dame
Family:
Barry Glennon, husband 
Alexander Glennon, son (worked as an aid at HGF, now in the private sector)
Zachary Glennon, son (3rd grade teacher at the Ellis School in Freemont)

What I Like Best About HGF: 
Wonderful students and their supporting families. The faculty and administration are a truly a caring group of professionals with whom I am proud to be associated.

Favorite Snack: 
Anything chocolate!
 
Favorite Season:
Fall

Fun Fact: 
I have two cats and two dogs - - all of my animals were either adopted from animal shelters or found in the woods. My most recent dog, Daisy Mae, was rescued from a shelter in Arkansas. She was transported by volunteers in a huge van for over 48 hours. I met the van in Connecticut and it was love at first sight - - for both of us.

Favorite Quote:
Whatever you are be a good one - - Abraham Lincoln

Wish List:
Colored paper - construction and copier paper.
My students love working with colors and so do I :)