Mountain Lion Minute
Montgomery Elementary School
6/6/24: Message from the Principal, Dr. Kim
Can you believe the end of the year is almost here?!? Students participated in Move Up Day on Tuesday and were able to meet the teachers who are currently instructing their next grade and learn a little bit of what they can expect next school year. Today and tomorrow, students will enjoy their end of year celebrations; thank you to our Room Parents who have helped plan for and organize all the parties this year!
The LAST STUDENT DAY is Tuesday, June 11th and it is an EARLY DISMISSAL. Students may purchase Grab-and-Go lunches to take home after early dismissal. SCHOOL ENDS AT 12:35PM on TUESDAY, JUNE 11TH.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE: In preparation for your child’s last day of school, we are requesting that you make arrangements for getting their medication home safely from school. Please note that ALL medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian. Any medication not picked up by June 11th will be disposed of that day unless special arrangements have been made with the nurses office (215-853-1553). Thank you!
If your child is NOT planning to attend Montgomery Elementary School next school year, please complete the Student Withdrawal Information form and provide as much information as possible. Return the form to Mrs. Faia at faiaea@npenn.org. If your child attended Montgomery this year on a Transfer of Attendance, you must submit another Transfer of Attendance form to the Educational Services Center for the 2024-2025 school year.
**Please make sure to carefully review our Mountain Lion Minute and our Home and School's weekly newsletters so you don't miss important information about upcoming events.
Facebook Montgomery's Home and School
Twitter @MontgomeryNPSD
(Pictures of past events are posted on Facebook and/or Twitter.)
Pictures
Congratulations to Advanced Orchestra!
Montgomery/Gwyn Nor Advanced Orchestra received a “Superior” rating (the highest rating you can get) and won 1st place for Elementary String Orchestras at the Music in the Parks Festival at Kutztown University.
Important Dates Coming Up
Please note: H&S stands for Home and School, our parent-teacher organization.
June 6: Family Engagement Series (see information below)
June 10: NPHS Seniors who were former MG students visit (picture at 3pm in front of building)
June 10: Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers Social, 6:15-7:45pm @ESC
June 11: Last Day of School and Spirit Day (see flyer below)
June 11: K-6 Awards Assembly, 6th Grade Promotion Parade/Party
School Store Schedule
Event Flyers and Information
NP Family Engagement Series
Managing Challenging Behaviors & Home-School Communication (Part 1 Grades K-5): June 6, 6-7 PM Via Zoom
Please join us for our final Spring Family Engagement Series event for the 2023-2024 school year! Part 1 of this two-part webinar, presented by The Center for Effective Schools, is designed to support parents and caregivers in navigating challenging behaviors at home and fostering positive communication with elementary schools. Strategies to support their children’s emotional and behavioral needs will be shared.
- Zoom Webinar: https://bit.ly/NPK5Behaviors
- Meeting ID: 948 7162 3913
- Passcode: 975070
Managing Challenging Behaviors & Home-School Communication (Part 2 Grades 6-12): June 6, 7-8 PM Via Zoom
Please join us for our final Spring Family Engagement Series event for the 2023-2024 school year! Part 2 of this two-part webinar, presented by The Center for Effective Schools, is designed to support parents and caregivers in navigating challenging behaviors at home and fostering positive communication with middle and high schools. Strategies to support their children’s emotional and behavioral needs will be shared.
- Zoom Webinar: https://bit.ly/NPYouthBehaviors
- Meeting ID: 962 9167 9096
- Passcode: 599077
With any questions about any Family Engagement events, please contact Dr. Neil Broxterman at broxtnm@npenn.org.
School Supplies for NEXT YEAR
To prepare for next school year, Home & School is working together with Educational Products Inc. (EPI) for 2024-2025 School Supplies! Our EPI school supply packs will contain most of the items requested by our grade level teachers. Not only is this convenient for you, but a small portion will go towards our Home and School.
It's easy to order! Supplies will be prepackaged, labeled & will come with a sheet of sticker labels with your child's name to put on all supply items if requested by teachers. Supplies will be mailed to school end of July, and there will be a date first week in August for families to pick up your supplies. If you are not available for pick up on that specific date, there will be other times in August available for pick up during summer hours.
Montgomery Elementary School Supply List - 2024-2025
*Specific teacher requested items, school bag, lunch box, water bottles, headphones are not included in the package and will need to be purchased separately*
HOW TO ORDER:
• To order, visit www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks
• Enter the School ID:
MON234 (3 letters, 3 numbers)
• Click on your child(ren) grade level for 2024-2025 school year:
• Make sure to enter the Students name (First, Last)
All orders are due by June 23
Please email Montgomeryhands@gmail.com with any questions.
Donate to NPSD Educational Foundation
As the end of the school year approaches, please consider making a donation to the NPSD Educational Foundation in the name of a staff member who has made a difference in the life of your child. By recognizing your favorite staff member with a donation to the foundation in their name, you're providing additional opportunities to students through classroom grants submitted by staff. Please visit www.npennedfoundation.org/stafftribute to donate online.
Grab a MEAL! June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
North Penn SD School Nutrition Services is providing daily lunch starting Monday, June 17th at four North Penn community locations with our SNS meal van! Daily lunch includes an entrée, fruits, vegetables and milk. Lunch is FREE for any child 18 years old and younger*.
Times & Locations:
- Hatfield Park (Dog Park Parking Lot), 1950 School Road, Hatfield, Daily: 10:45-11:15AM
- A.M. Kulp Elementary School, 801 Cowpath Road, Hatfield, Daily: 11:30-12 Noon
- Oak Park Elementary School, 500 Squirrel Ln, Lansdale, Daily: 12:15-12:45PM
- Inglewood Elementary School, 1313 Allentown Road, Lansdale, Daily: 1:00-1:30PM
Children need to be present to receive a free meal. Limit one lunch per child, per day. Please consume meals on-site at pick up location. Fresh produce pick up offered when available
Alternate Daily Meal Locations:
North Wales Library
233 South Swartley St, North Wales
Lunch: 11:15 AM -12:45 PM
Snack: 2:00 - 3:30 PM
*Children 18 and younger may receive free meals at any open SFSP site (those listed above). Meals are also available through SFSP to persons with disabilities who are over age 18 and participate in school programs for people with mental or physical disabilities (example NP post 12 program).
To locate Summer meals:
Communities can use any of the following resources below to locate sites that serve free meals to children during the summer:
Call: 211 or 1.866.348.6479 (for English) or 1.877.842.6273 (for Spanish)
Text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 304-304 *during summer months
Use the website: www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
No Place for Hate
We have earned another No Place for Hate (NPFH) banner for participating in at least 3 schoolwide projects this school year that addressed the following NPFH themes: celebrating diversity; promoting respect for differences; and challenging bias and/or bullying. Our schoolwide NPFH projects for the 2023-2024 school year were: (1) our September PBIS kickoff assembly; (2) the Red Ribbon Spirit Week and “Corey’s Anti-Bullying” assembly; and (3) the African-American Read-In.
Heritage Awareness
The first documented U.S. gay rights organization, The Society for Human Rights (SHR), was founded in 1924 by Henry Gerber, a German immigrant. America’s first lesbian rights organization, The Daughters of Bilitis, was formed in San Francisco on September 21, 1955.
Approximately 5%–10% of the general population is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
On February 12, 2004, the first same-sex marriage in the United States happened in San Francisco, California. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon become the first gay couple to marry and receive official recognition after being together for 50 years. It is important to note that there is documentation that prior to European colonization, same sex unions occurred.
Every color in the LGBTQIA+flag has a meaning:
Red-Life
Orange-Healing
Yellow- Sunlight
Green- Nature
Blue- Harmony
Violet-Spirit
Multicultural News
Multicultural Committee is looking for families (parent/kids) interested in sharing a little bit of their heritage whether it is a holiday celebrated, a recipe (cooking video), a book, activities, or decorating a bulletin. If you are interested or would like to share any ideas please sign up with your child. More info will be provided once you sign up! Please contact Stacey Lancaster staceyecottlancaster@gmail.com or Mrs. Chevoor chevord@npenn.org.
H&S: Home and School Association
2024-2025 Board members are...
President: Katie Gallagher
Co-1st Vice President: Hurley Li
Co-1st Vice President: Holly Flanagan
2nd Vice President: Rebekah Kelly
Vice President Ways & Means: Stephanie Tsolakis
Vice President of Inclusion: Kalia Adibe
Treasurer: Lisa Gavin
Secretary: Toni Natale
Health and Counseling
Important Message from the Nurse’s Office
In preparation for your child’s last day of school, we are requesting that you make arrangements for getting their medication home safely from school. Please note that ALL medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian. Any medication not picked up by June 11th will be disposed of that day unless special arrangements have been made with the nurses office (215-853-1553). Thank you!
Each year, the state requires a physical or dental exam for specific grade levels. See below for the exams that your child may need completed in the following year. Exams must be dated after July 1st to meet this mandate. These reports can be downloaded by going to the North Penn School District Website - For Families - Frequently Used Forms - Health Services Forms - Private Physical Exam Form and or Private Dental Exam Form.
- Kindergarten: Physical and Dental Exams
- Third Grade: Dental Exam
- Sixth Grade: Physical, TdaP and MCV4 (required for 7th grade)
Counselor’s Corner - Ms. Merrill
In my lessons, we have been focusing on the importance of understanding our emotions and how to effectively manage them. I have been teaching our students how to recognize big emotions within themselves and providing strategies for dealing with them in a healthy way. It is my hope that through these lessons, our students are learning that understanding our feelings is the foundation of being our best selves. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of our students, I would like to recommend a podcast episode that I came across recently. The episode is called "Big Bird Has Big Feelings" from "The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos." It provides valuable insights into understanding and managing emotions, and I believe it could be beneficial for both you and your child. You can find the episode at the following link The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am here to support you and your child in any way I can.
**If any family is in need of any bookbags or school supplies, please reach out to me.
Calendars
RoaRS
Montgomery RoaRS better together!
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a program that focuses on acknowledging students for consistent positive behavior.
At Montgomery, we will teach our students our consistent school rules/expectations—RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, and SAFETY—using the acronym RoaRS.
Students are instructed the expected behaviors many times during the school year.
Everyone uses the same language. (example: “Remember to show RoaRS behavior!”)
Students are rewarded for positive behaviors. At Montgomery, students will be recognized through the Principal’s 200 Club and the Monthly Monty Award.
Students who demonstrate problem behaviors and will receive consistent consequences that focus on re-teaching the expected behaviors. Sometimes, Mr. DeSimone, our School Climate Coordinator, talks to the students about RoaRS behaviors.
Parents are an important part of RoaRS. We ask parents to support us, use the same language and expectations that the school teaches, and help us celebrate our students for showing RoaRS behavior!
Montgomery Arrival/Dismissal
Arrival / Dismissal
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Breakfast, Snack, and Lunch
SNACK- Students should bring a snack daily. Please note that we have an increasing number of students with potential life-threatening allergies. In an effort to promote a safe environment for all students, this list of approved snacks has been developed to provide families with a guide on selecting snacks that students may safely eat in the classroom. PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR CLASSROOMS PEANUT-FREE. (Please note: peanut products may be consumed in designated areas in the cafeteria.)
LUNCH- Students may bring a packed lunch or buy lunch in the Cafeteria. The School Nutrition Services' lunch prices can be found here. Parents/guardians may add money to and monitor their child's lunch account via School Cafe. Families may also apply online for free/reduced meals. (Each year families must reapply for meal benefits.)
- 11:00am - 11:30am Kindergarten
- 11:05am - 11:35am Grade 3
- 11:35am - 12:05pm Grade 2
- 11:40am - 12:10pm Grade 4
- 12:35pm - 1:05pm Grade 5
- 12:55pm - 1:25pm Grade 1
- 1:10pm - 1:40pm Grade 6
CELEBRATIONS- Please remember we do not permit any edible birthday treats in school due to the increasing number of students with potential life-threatening allergies. A limited number of treats are allowed at approved classroom parties.
Montgomery and NPSD Resources
MTSS
Our Core Team assists classroom teachers, students, and parents in providing appropriate interventions in the classroom. The team meets weekly to review and analyze all curriculum-based assessments in academic, behavioral, or attendance/tardiness concerns. Using all available data, the Core Team determines the students in need of remediation and/or enrichment. Core Team members include the Principal, School Counselor, Supervisor of Special Education, School Psychologist, Reading Specialists, and Inclusion Facilitator. The team assesses specific needs and develops an action plan with strategies that capitalize on the child’s strengths while developing his/her areas of specific need—all for the purpose of creating Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
Infinite Campus Online Verification through the Parent Portal
At the beginning of each school year, parents/guardians need to verify and update their contact and emergency information through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Keeping contact information up to date is important in the event of a school emergency. In addition, there are additional items that need attention on Infinite Campus, including providing updated health information and reviewing and acknowledging district policies.
Reminder about Electronics
Please remember that cell phones should be in silent mode or turned off and stored in bookbags throughout the day. Smartwatches should not be used to make calls, send messages, or take photos/videos during the school day. Also, note the school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal electronic devices. Teachers will be reminding our students of these expectations regarding personal devices. We thank all of our families for their continued support and cooperation in limiting disruptions to the classroom.
Montgomery Elementary is a site for Pre-K Counts
The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit delivers high-quality pre-kindergarten programs to age-appropriate children at no cost to income eligible families in Montgomery County. North Penn has two site locations for PreK Counts: Montgomery Elementary and Bridle Path Elementary. For more information, to see if your family is eligible, or to complete an application, please visit the PreK Counts website.
CONTACT US
Montgomery's Parent Communication Chart (includes a link to Teacher Emails)
Ms. Merrill, Counselor
Mr. DeSimone, School Climate Coordinator
Ms. Weinberg, Supervisor of Special Education
Ms. Green, Nurse
Ms. Oliver, Principal's Secretary
Ms. Faia, Building Secretary
Montgomery's Home and School Association (H&S)
Email: kimms2@npenn.org
Website: https://montgomery.npenn.org/
Location: 1221 Stump Road, North Wales, PA, USA
Phone: 215-368-6614
Twitter: @MontgomeryNPSD
Dr. Kim: Principal
Ms. Merrill: School Counselor
Mr. DeSimone: School Climate Coordinator