PTA

 

Patches’ Press - January 18, 2022
GFS PTA Weekly Update

NEW!! GFS PTA Virtual Auction & Prize Drawing!

Reminder: Please label your child’s belongings… We cannot return coats, hats, etc. from the Lost & Found if they are not labeled.

There’s a lot going on at GFS!! Continue reading for all the details…

What’s Happening This Week:
*Monday, January 17 - MLK Day - NO SCHOOL
*Tuesday, January 18 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 PM (SHS Cafe) (Click HERE for Agenda). To view the meeting: click HERE for live streaming or watch on Optimum Government Access Channel 78 / Frontier Channel 6021.
*Thursday, January 20 - SpEd Sip ‘N’ Chat @ 10:00 AM (Westport Library)
*Friday, January 21 - GFS Ice-Skating Party @ Longshore PAL Rink

Upcoming Dates:
*Monday, January 24 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 PM (SHS Cafeteria)
*Wednesday, January 26 - 4th Grade Orchestra and 5th Grade Band Concert - POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBD
*Monday, January 31 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 PM
*Friday, February 18 - Professional Development (NO SCHOOL)
*Monday, February 21 - Friday, February 25 - Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

Pass ‘Bye’ the Pick-Up Line
Congratulations to our January Winners!! Please be on the lookout for the purple GFS car flags at pick-up!

January Lunch Menu
Click HERE to view the lunch menu for January. 

GFS PTA Virtual Auction & Patches’ Prize Drawing 2022
Would you love to have reserved parking at school for the 2022 - 23 school year?  How about treating your child’s class to extra water slide time on Field Day, an extra recess, or a pizza party?  

Click HERE to access the GFS PTA Auction Catalog and Patches’s Prizes 2022!! 

Bidding closes on Thursday, January 20 at 8 pm and tickets for Patches’s Prizes can be purchased via PayPal thru Friday, January 21 until 7:30 pm (Live drawing will occur at the GFS Ice-Skating Party.  You do not need to be present to win).  Click HERE to view top bids! (This document will be updated frequently so check back for updates!)  luck to everyone! If you have any questions, please email the GFS PTA Auction Co-Chairs, Michelle Vitulich and Alexandra Boenicke, at gfs.patchesauction@gmail.com
 

Volunteers Needed for the GFS Ice-Skating Party!!
If you are attending the GFS Ice-Skating Party on Friday and would like to volunteer to help, please email Laura Gitto (lauraagitto@gmail.com) or  Elena Doom (Elenadoom@gmail.com).

Special Education News & Sip ‘N’ Chats - Thursday, January 20 @ 10:00 - 11:30 (Westport Library)
Join us, Michelle Vitulich and Liz Scafaro, your SpEd PTA reps, at the Westport Library for our monthly Sip ‘N’ Chat, an opportunity to chat, exchange ideas and ask questions with other parents of special education students. Click HERE for flyer. 

GFS PTA Members can now follow Patches on Instagram. 
It’s never too late to join the GFS PTA! Click HERE to join!

 

SHOUT-OUTS! This week’s praise goes to…
- Mr. Seek for an engaging presentation on Digital Citizenship!! If you were not able to join us for the GFS PTA General Board Meeting and would like to view Mr. Seek’s informative presentation, click HERE.

 

Never hesitate to reach out to us… 

- Jenny Sydor & Wendy McConaghy (GFS PTA Co-Presidents)

 

UPDATED: 2021-22 School Year Volunteers in School Policy*

The Westport Schools District’s current policy requires Covid-19 vaccines in schools for employees and visitors/volunteers during school hours. The Westport PTA Council, therefore, will also require that all volunteers for PTA-sponsored or run events held on school grounds be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.   We will require evidence of a negative Covid test within 72 hours prior to visiting our schools for unvaccinated visiting parents and caregivers.    Please also follow any additional Covid-19 mitigation measures required by each individual school.

 

We ask that parents take this policy under advisement as they consider volunteering for events at their children’s school(s).  The Westport PTA Council’s primary concern is for the health, well-being and safety of all members of our school community.  We respect our parent body and trust that they will respect this policy when signing up to work at one of our events this school year.

 

*The above represents the PTAs policy as of today’s date. Like the District, we continue to monitor the overall situation, and will revise our policy as needed.  Additionally, to read the Board of Education Policy regarding volunteers in school, click HERE.
 

SUPPORT GFS
ON-GOING GFS FUNDRAISERS
Questions about any of our on-going fundraisers?  Please contact Melanie Heiser (melanie.s.heiser@gmail.com) or Kate Grijns (kategrijns@yahoo.com)

Minted -  It is never too early to think about designing your holiday card! Support GFS even more by ordering your holiday cards and gifts through Minted at www.minted.com. Check out using code FUNDRAISEGREENS for a 20% discount on your order.  Minted will donate 15% of your order back to our school.  This fundraiser will run year round. Please feel free to share the code with family and friends!

Shopping for Back-to-School gear? Please consider supporting the GFS PTA when you shop on Amazon and label all of your child’s belongings using Mabel’s Labels.  Click here to learn more...

Amazon Smile - Link your Amazon account to GFS! Every time you shop on Amazon a donation is made to GFS. Link to Support GFS

Mabel’s Labels - Ready to order?  Visit Mabel's Labels: Kids Labels, Name Stickers & Clothing Labels.  Click on "Support a Fundraiser" at the top right of the page and type "Greens Farms Elementary School" in the search window to find and select our fundraiser!  

COMMUNITY NEWS

Westport PAL Girls & Boys Lacrosse
SPRING 2022 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Westport Girls & Boys Spring Lacrosse registration is now open! Open to all girls and boys in K-8th! Lacrosse is a fun, growing sport and no previous experience is necessary! The Westport PAL strives to create a nurturing and positive environment where children can learn the sport and excel based upon their skill level and commitment to pursuing higher levels of play if interested.  Towards this goal, we offer both house and travel programs for grades K-8. General program information can be found on our website, www.westportpal.org/ or by emailing westportpalgirlslax@gmail.com or westportboyslacrosse@gmail.com
GO WESTPORT!!!! - Westport PAL Lacrosse Board

Father's Forums Return to Toquet Hall
Father's Forums return to Toquet Hall on Saturdays January 22nd and February 26th at 8am: The Forums are a collaboration between Westport Together and Causeway Collaborative to provide an opportunity for fathers to connect and discuss some of the parenting challenges of 2022. Past forums have touched on topics ranging from gaming/technology, dating, and managing the emerging independence of tweens and teens. Facilitated by Vince Benevento, LPC and Founder/Director of Causeway Collaborative. A licensed professional counselor, he holds a BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University and an MA in School Counseling from Fairfield University. Register at: Father's Forums w/ Causeway Collaborative
Click HERE for flyer and more information.
Toquethall.org Westportyouthcommission.org

Westport Continuing Education Winter 2022 Programs
Registration is now open for Westport Continuing Education’s Winter After School programs for grades K-12 with a diverse array of programs in the arts, creativity, culinary, STEM, sports, and more! Look for programs for kids in grades K-8 in the WCE interactive flyer here. New middle school programs include Bedford After School, Chess Club, and Culinary Arts, find out more information here. 

Westport Public Art Collections
WestPAC is looking for volunteers to be school and town site captains and reps. Our dedicated group oversees over 2,000 works of art, shown in rotating displays in our school and town buildings. Our volunteers share an enthusiastic interest in art, but an art history background or expertise is not required, as we provide training and direction.Want to volunteer or learn more? We need you! Please email us at westpac@westportps.org or click to complete this Volunteer Interest Form

WakemanTown Farm Classes for Kids
It's not too late to sign up for Fall programming at WTF! Our Creative Nature: Parent plus Preschooler class still has spots open for youngsters to spend time outdoors sampling what is ripe on the vines, seeing whether there are eggs in our nesting boxes, and visiting with our favorite furry and feathered farm friends. Our Jr. Farm Apprentice program is also open for 11-14 year olds to rotate through various aspects of farm life, from animal care, visits, and feeding through maintenance of our vegetable beds and farming. To view upcoming classes, visit: https://www.wakemantownfarm.org/jr-farm-club

Westport Public Library Events
The Westport Library is holding tutoring sessions for students in grades 2-5 every Tuesday, from 6-7pm. There will be a certified teacher on site who can help with their homework.  If they can’t get to the library, they can log in over Zoom and get help. CLICK HERE for details on the program, including the link to register to get the login information for remote help.