For Your Information (FYI)
10.14.21
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*Upcoming Dates
10.15 - Last day of Merion Merch Sale 10.19 - Responding Early to Executive Function Challenges: Tools and Tips for Elementary School (Zoom) 10.21 - Pumpkin & Mum Pick-Ups & Bake Sale 10.26 - Merion HSA General Meeting (7-8 p.m. on Zoom) 10.26 - Parent Education Series: Supporting Adolescent Mental Health (10/26 on Zoom) 10.27 - LMSD CARE Committee Meeting (4-5:30 p.m., LMHS Library) 10.29 - Half Day (12:25 p.m.) - No Lunch or PM Kindergarten More Dates Merion Merch Sale Ends Friday The Merion Merchandise Online store is open for a limited time only. All orders must be placed by TOMORROW (FRIDAY 10/15) and will be delivered to your student’s classroom a few weeks after the store closes. Don’t miss the new tie dye tees along with favorites from last year! All proceeds benefit Merion's HSA. Thanks for your support! Merion Pumpkin/Mum Pick-Ups and Bake Sale (10/21) Thank you for supporting the graduating 4th and 5th grade classes at Merion with our pumpkin and mum fundraiser! The sale is now closed. If you placed an order, this is a reminder that order pick-ups are scheduled for Thursday, October 21st between 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. in front of Merion Elementary. If you are unavailable, please make arrangements for a friend/family member to pick-up your order. We will not be able to store orders that are not picked up by 6 p.m. *A reminder that no pumpkins or mums will be available for sale on pick-up day. Also, pick-ups cannot interfere with the carline in any way, so please do not leave your car while in the carline to pick-up your order. Bake Sale: The 4th and 5th grade committees are also hosting a bake sale that day from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Each item will be $1 (cash only). Come enjoy some treats as you pick up your pumpkins! First General HSA Meeting (10/26 on Zoom) The Merion Elementary HSA is excited to welcome our school community to the 1st General HSA Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 26th from 7-8 PM. We look forward to meeting and engaging with everyone who is able to attend. The Agenda includes the opportunity to meet your Executive Board Members, discuss planned events, committees and fundraising for the upcoming year. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. To attend this meeting you must be a parent or guardian of a Merion Elementary student. Registration is required. We look forward to seeing everyone on October 26th! To register in advance for this meeting, please click on the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcOyprjkiHdNdapbU1nsinj5wQ6U_Fljl After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Merion Directory Is Updated for 2021-2022 Looking to contact another parent in your child's class? Has your child asked for a playdate with a new classmate? Visit the Merion online directory,* now updated for 2021-2022 school year and make sure your information is correct. A big thanks to the Merion parent volunteers who make this happen. *You will be prompted to register or log in to Membership Toolkit. Once registered, you can access the online directory for free and access content only for Merion families. Volunteer Openings - We Need Your Help! We are looking to fill a number of open positions on the HSA. If you are interested or have questions about any of these positions, please email merionhsa@gmail.com. Graduation Receptions Organizer (1 person who does not have a student from a graduating class) In 2021-2022, there will be two graduating classes from Merion. Traditionally there is a small reception for the graduating students and their families following graduation. The graduations reception organizer will be responsible for ordering food and coordinating any needed volunteers to staff receptions for the 4th grade and 5th grade graduations. Homeroom Parent Coordinator (1 person) The Homeroom Parent Coordinator solicits volunteers from applicable classrooms to serve as primary liaisons for teachers throughout the year. The coordinator also provides the room assistants with duty responsibilities from both the HSA and the teachers. Timing: Solicitation and coordination of volunteers occurs in September/October of each school year. Linvilla Pie Fundraiser (1 person) Each year we partner with Linvilla Orchards to do a pre-sale pie fundraiser at Merion. Distribution dates of the presale are the days immediately preceding Thanksgiving. We have one person committed to this event and are seeking one additional person to assist. MLK Day of Service (2 people) LMSD holds an annual Martin Luther King Afternoon of Service in which HSAs and other groups organize hands-on community service projects and activities that embody the message of Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings. Each school sets up a table with an activity or organizes a community service project. The in person event takes place at Harriton High School. The chairs plan the activity or project, gather any needed supplies, and staff the event. If the event is virtual, the chairs plan and execute the virtual event. Parent Social (2 people) The Parent Social Committee plans the annual social outing for Merion parents, which typically takes place in the spring. In the past, when we could join each other in person, it has been a fun night of music, food, drinks and fundraising with our silent auction. We recognize the uncertainty of gathering in person this year, and as such we are looking for committee volunteers to plan either a permitted in person event or a remote alternative. We currently have one person committed to assisting with the event. We are looking for two volunteers, one to chair the committee and one additional person to assist. Spring Fair (2 people) Merion’s Spring Fair is an annual tradition that takes place in late May/early June each year. The fair brings Merion families together for games, activities, food and prizes. At this time we are uncertain if we can have an in-person fair, but we would like to staff the committee nonetheless. We have three people, including a chair, committed to this event. We are seeking out two additional people to assist. Thanks for the Costumes! Big thanks to the Merion community! Even in a pandemic, you come through. The Merion Community Service Committee sent 55 donated Halloween costumes to Halloween Helpers. Great work! Around LMSD Executive Function - A Two-Part Education Program for Families & Educators (10/19 & 11/9) Executive skills – task initiation, organization, planning and goal-directed persistence – are critical to school success. While some students seem to acquire these skills naturally, others struggle with them. Without the proper support, school can be challenging. The Committee for Special Education and the Interschool Council welcomes you to learn more about Executive Function at a two-part series open to families and educators. In October, CSE President and licensed occupational therapist Jaime Bassman will discuss the early signs of executive function challenges and simple strategies to help support elementary-aged children and beyond. In November, Dr. Peg Dawson, co-author of Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens, will describe how to help teens acquire the critical skills they need to be successful students. Responding Early to Executive Function Challenges: Tools and Tips for Elementary School Tuesday, Oct. 19 @ 7 p.m. Smart but Scattered: Strategies for Managing Executive Functioning in Teens Tuesday, Nov. 9 @ 7 p.m. Both on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9166515454#success Parent Education Series: Supporting Adolescent Mental Health (10/26) The ISC & LMSD Student Services Department present: Supporting Adolescent Mental Health: How and When to Check In With Your Middle and High Schoolers Oct. 26 @ 7 p.m. https://zoom.us/j/8750564118 COVID-19 has brought about many changes in our adolescents' lives. How do we, as caregivers, assess whether our children are doing okay? How do we manage emotional pushback from them in these times while also respecting their needs for autonomy? What are the things to look for that would indicate our children require additional support and where do we find that? This program will be led by Dr. Brad Norford, Licensed Psychologist and current president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, who will address these questions and help parents/guardians understand effective ways to identify and support mental health needs. Additionally, LMSD Student Services Team members (Theresa Davidson - School Social Worker; Lauren Meekins - Elementary Counselor; Elizabeth Cooke - Middle School Counselor; Dr. Lynne Malara - High School Psychologist) will highlight key social-emotional and mental health supports available to LMSD students for the 2021- 2022 school year. Harriton Rams Lacrosse Election Day Clinic (11/2) RAMLAX Election Day Clinic Kindergarten – 8th grade - All levels welcome Tuesday, Nov. 2: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Harriton Turf Field Harriton High School, 600 N. Ithan Ave., Rosemont What to bring: Stick, goggles, mouth guard, water $45 early registration or $50 at the field Questions? Email Coach Brooke Fritz at fritzb@lmsd.org See more info here Lower Merion Cheerleading Soap Fundraiser Lower Merion Cheerleading wants you to keep your hands and FACES clean … So please, support our fundraiser by purchasing this awesome Lower Merion High School Soap! The perfect holiday gift made by a Lower Merion mom! Soaps are $10 each and are on sale now until Nov. 14, 2021 at www.pinkcloudsoap.com. Community Events Made on the Main Line 2021 The Harriton High School Student Council presents its annual Made on the Mainline festival: Saturday, October 23, 3-9 p.m. Gazebo at Narberth Park, 80 Windsor Ave., Narberth
Wynnewood Valley Park Fall Volunteer Day From the Friends of Wynnewood Valley Park: Wynnewood Valley Park Fall Volunteer Day Sunday October 24th Volunteer shifts - 1-2:30 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Sign up at https://dsnp.co/zgz97y Work will be focused on the new tree grove area and spring planting area. Activities will include:
If possible, please bring pruners and gloves as we will have a limited supply. The park is located at 1505 Remington Road in Wynnewood. All volunteers should sign in upon arrival at the registration area near the new pavilion (near playground). Mental Health & Wellness Events for K-12 and Adults (10/24 and 11/17) Conshohocken United Methodist Church invites families to participate in a series of free mental health seminars on October 24th and November 17th. The series is geared at addressing issues that K-12 students, their parents, caregivers, teachers, and young adults are experiencing dealing with the pandemic. We ask that everyone register for the events using the registration link or QR Code on the attached flyer. All events will take place at Conshohocken United Methodist, 20 W. 6th Ave., Conshohocken, PA 19428. They will also be live-streamed. Questions? Contact us at (610) 828 1250 or admin@conshyunited.com. For Your Information Volunteer Clearances While the Lower Merion School District is not allowing parent volunteers into the school just yet, we all hope it will happen this year. In preparation for this, please be sure to obtain your "clearances" and submit them via the Raptor system. You can learn more here: https://www.lmsd.org/community/volunteer-clearance Notes From the Nurse's Office
The FYI is a weekly bulletin put out by the Merion Home & School Association (HSA), the Merion Elementary parent-teacher association. If you have questions or would like to submit an item, please email MerionFYI@gmail.com. Are you on Facebook? Join the private Merion Elementary School Parents group to stay up to date on Merion happenings and connect with other parents. LMSD social accounts: Merion Home and School Association, 549 S. Bowman Ave, Merion, PA 19066 |
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