SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

CMS PTO Newsletter October 11, 2013

Issue 2 DATES TO REMEMBER: In this Issue: 10/11 Last day to purchase tickets for LAF’s Casino Night

10/14 School Closed 10/16 6th Grade Happening forms due House Tour 10/18 LAF Casino Night 6th Grade Halloween Happening 10/23 Board of Education Meeting Club News 10/23 Rachel’s Challenge, Parent Presentation, 7p.m. at CMS “Future-Focused Education” th 10/25 8 Grade baby pictures and patron ads for Yearbook due Community: 10/25 6th Grade Halloween Happening LAF Casino Night 10/28 “Future-Focused Education” with Dr. Michael LaSusa Rachel’s Challenge 11/2 LAF Rummage Sale 11/2 Chatham Education Foundation Night LAF Rummage Sale 11/12 (EM)POWER Hour, 9:30 a.m. (EM)POWER Hour 11/13 Board of Education Meeting CEF Trivia Night 11/14 Home is Where the Heart is House Tour, 10am-2pm 11/19 CMS PTO Meeting 12/6 6th Grade Open Gym at Corpus Christi

12/10 (EM)POWER Hour, 9:30 a.m.

1/10 CMS Winter Wonderland Dance, 7-9p.m., snow date 1/24 2/1 Harlem Wizards Community Night – Save the date!

Please continue to visit the CMS PTO web page, located on the CMS website at www.chatham-nj.org, for pertinent information and community events.

Double check your Honeywell account (or create one if you are new to the school district) so you don’t miss out on critical communications!

Have you paid your dues? Your generous support is much appreciated and permits us to fund all our various programs to benefit our students and school. Other than the PTO Dues, the CMS holds only one major each year (The House Tour). We truly thank you for your continued support!

We encourage all CMS parents to go online at Community Pass and make a contribution of $20 per student. We thank you for helping to make the CMS PTO such a success and look forward to working with you this school year.

"Home Is Where the Heart Is" House Tour Thursday, November 14th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

This event is the ONE major fund-raiser of our PTO; all proceeds benefit educational programs at CMS. The "Home Is Where the Heart Is" House Tour celebrates family and traditions -- the heart of our homes. Enjoy your community and strolling through neighborhoods...visit seven lovely Chatham houses each staged with a unique theme...take a chance at the raffle...maybe you'll be a lucky winner of a door prize! These stunning properties include: amazing renovations, various architectural styles/sizes, unique interior design/staging, and those rich in history. The Red Brick Schoolhouse Museum will also be open to visitors during The Tour. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.chathamhousetour.com

At least 70 parent volunteers are needed to be "docents" in the houses. These positions are necessary for the safety of the visitors as well as the security for the homeowners. Volunteers will advise visitors on the traffic flow through the house and as appropriate, comment on specific details related to your location (simple and complete instructions provided to all volunteers). Two shifts: 10:00-12:00 or 12:00-2:00. Please sign-up to volunteer through Community Pass (https://register.communitypass.net/chatham) or contact Samantha Ekert at [email protected]. Thank you!

SIXTH GRADE HALLOWEEN HAPPENING Join the 6th graders for a Live DJ, , games, photo booth and more!

Where: Chatham Middle School Gymnasium

Date: Friday, October 25th, 2013

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 CHECKS ONLY, NO CASH (payable to CMS PTO)

Food: Pizza and water are included in the admission price.

The admission fee must be paid prior to the event. A signed permission slip is required with your payment. Checks are required and should be made out to CMS PTO. A Halloween Happening box will be set up in the CMS Front Office. Please have your student drop off his/her permission slip with check in the box in the CMS Front Office on October 15th or 16th.

Drop off and pick up will be at the CMS Gym entrance. Please enter the gym to pick up your child. Students are NOT allowed to walk home without an adult after the event.

PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UNTIL YOU READ THE FOLLOWING: Students are under school jurisdiction during the entire event and are expected to comply with state laws and school regulations. Briefly, these are, respect for public and private property, submission to the authority of the teacher or chaperone, courtesy in actions and language, appropriate attire, remaining with the group, and being alert and purposeful.

This function is for Sixth Grade students at Chatham Middle School ONLY.

I hereby give ______my permission to attend the Halloween Happening on Friday, October 25th, 2013 at the Chatham Middle School.

______Home Phone:______Parent/Guardian Signature Cell Phone: ______

We need volunteers! Please email [email protected] if you can help, or give your email address below:

Questions? Contact a 6th Grade Coordinator: Margaret Dempsey ([email protected]), Dana Nall ([email protected]), Stephanie Davenport ([email protected]) and Krista Caracciolo ([email protected]). CMS Club News

The Science Club will be meeting every other Thursday this year (alternating Thursdays with Mrs. Cooperman's builders club as best we can). Our next meeting is October 24th.

WAAG, We're All Animal Guardians, is meeting on the 15th and 29th this month. WAAG is for students who love animals and we raise funds for local animal shelters. We have animal visitors, take trips to local shelters, plan and follow through with great fundraiser's to raise funds for our cause, and many more fun events! We are selling WAAG T-Shirts where proceeds go to local animal shelters. Forms need to be returned to Stephanie Brunner or Nicole Kashetta in the office by the 29th of October.

Running Club for 7th and 8th graders meets after school every Thursday in the Fall and Spring. A permission slip is needed to attend. Please contact Coach Ullmeyer for more information.

Yearbook Club for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders meets every other Wednesday. Please contact Coach Ullmeyer for more information.

8th grade baby pictures and patron ads for the 2014 Yearbook are due by October 25th. Contact Coach Ullmeyer if you need a form.

Hey Gamers! The CMS Games Club kicked off another school year on Thursday, October 10. The club meets every other Thursday in the media center from 2:45 - 3:30. Consult the Games Club announcement board outside Room 100. For your convenience, the late bus is available should you have transportation needs after school.

The Games Club is a great opportunity to socialize with old friends and make some new friends. There are plenty of board games, checks and chess sets, and access to the computers for Internet games as well. We also have a special gaming console this year, or bring your own gaming device and play with others. Hone your chess skills for our annual school-wide chess tournament in the spring. Awards are presented to the top player in each grade and we also crown an overall school champion. Games Club members meet up with Builder's Club at our annual Bowlathon at the end of the year. And we close out our club year out with a pizza party in June. Stop by and check out Games Club. For more information, please see Mrs. Zack or Ms. Brunner.

The CMS Student Council is continuing the "Take Charge of Education" program at Target Stores and the "A+ School Rewards" program at Stop and Shop. Last year, we received a total of almost $1,000 from the stores combined. Please see the instructions below for how to sign up! Thanks for your support!

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Lafayette School Rummage Sale returns for a Fifth Year

The Lafayette School PTO will be hosting its fifth annual “Kids Stuff” rummage sale fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 2nd at the school gym located at 221 Lafayette Avenue in Chatham. The sale offers anything and everything for children from birth through teenage years. We also offer adult clothing and shoes.

To everyone who has donated and shopped at our sales over the past few years, we Thank You. Through your generosity we raised thousands of dollars which directly benefits the students at Lafayette School through various PTO programs and gifts.

Start cleaning out your closets, garage and basement and bring your gently used items in clean, saleable condition to the school gym on Friday November 1 from 9:30am-2:00pm or 4:00- 8:00pm. Donations such as strollers, toys, electronics, DVDs, puzzles, video games, baby gear, bicycles, books, sports equipment, clothing, shoes and games are all welcome.

For those who wish to donate items but are unable to drop off on November 1st, we will gladly accept early donations from now until October 31st at 575 Shunpike Ave in Chatham (located next to Castle Park). Items can be left on the back porch.

Please no infant/toddler car seats. We are unable to sell these. If you are unsure about an item, please email us first.

The PTO of the Chathams Inc is a registered non-profit organization so your donations may be tax deductible. For more information, contact Andrea Papamandjaris at [email protected]. . (EM)POWER HOUR – for Chatham Community Parents

A series of open discussions where we share ideas / challenges / successes helping our kids navigate their growth

thru pre-teen / teen years.

A venue for informal / small group topic based discussions and sharing.

Who?

A grass roots initiative (supported by the Municipal Alliance of the Chathams aka MACC). Any parent / caretaker is invited. A local therapist focusing on family dynamics and youth, facilitates discussions.

When?

The 2nd Tuesday of every month from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. { Nov 12, Dec 10, Jan 14 2014, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, June 10}

What?

Nov 12 – ‘How can I be popular and still make good choices?’ – helping kids navigate through the dynamics of peer pressure

Dec 10 – “I am having limited success setting limits”: discussion about limits which make sense and how to stick to them

Where?

Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township (PCCT) – in the “New Parlor”

RSVP to Jill Perrin at [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013