UNION TOWNSHIP SCHOOL PTA NEWSLETTER

O c t 2 013

Dear PTA,

I feel that we’ve already seen a great start to the 2013-14 school year!I am amazed that as of September 19th, we had 303 PTA members (andcounting!), comprised of parents, teachers and school staff. If you have not joined the PTA, you can do so via our website, http://www.utspta.org/.I know there have been a lot of emails with information from the PTA atthe start of the year; it’s all being done in an effort to keep you informed.However, after this newsletter, you will no longer receive the informationunless you are a PTA member, so please join so you don’t miss out!The PTA website is constantly being updated with new information. Ifthere are items that you wish we were sharing with you in the newsletteror on the website, please let me know via email.As many of you already know, parent volunteers who go into the classroomsnow need to attend Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) training.This was a new requirement of our volunteers this year and I was thrilledto see our UTS community work to get the HIB training done quickly.Thanks goes to Mrs. Nahama and Mrs. Pezzino for making these trainingsessions as convenient as possible for our parent volunteers. If you havenot gotten your HIB training and still need it, reach out to us on the HIBsignup page of the PTA website.I am thrilled with all of the volunteerism at our school and am impressedthat parents have found ways to volunteer, even if they have a full-timejob. I am a flight attendant and can be away overnight while I am ‘flyingthe friendly skies’, so I know how hard it can be to squeeze anything extrainto an already busy schedule. Thank you for finding the time to supportour children and teachers.I hope to see you all at the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event later thismonth! Even though we no longer have a 'little one' in the elementaryschool, my husband and I will be there with our giant pig-decorated truckto enjoy a great evening out with the Union Township community. Pleasestop by and say ‘Hi’!

Thank you,Casie FarielloPTA president

www.utspta.or gwww.utspta.or g

Our next PTA Meeting

will be November 19th

at 9:15 AM, UTMS

Cafeteria.

Join Today!

Visit the New UTS PTA Website!Visit the New UTS PTA Website!

Same address, new look, improved paperless volunteering,and the added convenience of paying through PayPal!

• You must be registered inorder to volunteer for PTA functions and receive theschool directory.

• Join the PTA by registering on our home page and paythrough the PayPal button.

• Support the Direct Appeal via PayPal button on www.utspta.org.

• Email chairpersons and volunteer directly for eventsand activities.

page 2Thank You Volunteers!Thank You Volunteers!

PTA Homeroom Parent Volunteers 2013-2014

U N I O N T O W N S H I P E L E M E N T A R YTeacher Grade/Section Homeroom Parent Email

Wingler Pre-K 3yr Carrie Minsavage carrieski@yahoo.comWIngler Pre-K 4yr Sue Henn suepietohenn@gmail.comTucker KA – am Noelle DeTorres noelle_boyd@hotmail.comTucker KA – pm Cate Proulx cateproulx@yahoo.comKastrud KB – am Basia Rochelle mybabies.mc@gmail.comDeRites 1A Robin Patton rlpatton@yahoo.comHomay 1B Erica Nichols ericakellyr@yahoo.comSalamone 1C Katie Wilson kmwilson16@yahoo.comWolfe 2A Debra Jimenez debraminzolajimenez@yahoo.comNovis 2B Mary Ann Jensen bigwu3@msn.comPence 2C Anna Shustack anna.shustack71@gmail.comMayer 3A Laura Joiner lkjoiner@yahoo.comPevorous 3B Elisabeth Black black.elisabeth@gmail.comCarvatt 3C Kim Thurber kc.thurber@gmail.comTomasheski 4A Lisa Diederich lgd_rhd@hotmail.comRussionello 4B Tracy Todaro jttodaro@comcast.netMorey 4C Susan Schuyler gotappy@gmail.com

U N I O N T O W N S H I P M I D D L E S C H O O LTeacher Grade/Section Homeroom Parent Email

Knoble 5A Lisa Pagano lisapagano@comcast.netLoPiccolo 5B Michelle Young mtoth007@yahoo.comPlumstead 5C Lauren Nenna spoiliedoilies@yahoo.comPipes 6A Mary Jo Haggerty celticstamper@gmail.comRichards 6B Jo Twohy jotwohy@gmail.comBarrett 6C Casie Fariello fariellofive@gmail.comWiklund 7A Lauren Nenna/ spoiliedoilies@yahoo.com/

Tracy Todaro jttodaro@comcast.netKilyk 7B Michelle Teipel mteipel@yahoo.comFenn 7C Angel DaSilva dasilvafamily95@comcast.netHollerieth 8A Tina Horun gbkhorun@embarqmail.comKnoble 8B Sara Mithcell biggobsara@yahoo.comFischer 8C Patty Meeker pmeeker1@gmail.com

page 3

Market DayMarket Day is an important fundraiserfor the PTA. Every purchase you makewill earn 10-20% profit for our school,and every product is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee—so you cantrust the quality and value of MarketDay’s grocery items. Since 1975, MarketDay has been helping organizationslike ours raise funds for important educational resources.With Market Day you can help raisefunds for our school while buying food that your family needs every day. Market Day requires no door-to-doorselling and supports our school everymonth. Orders and pick-up aremonthly, so you can participate anytime during the school year. Simplyorder online at marketday.com.

• Order at www.marketday.com(School Code:11763)

• Market Day On-line Order Due:10/17/13

• Market Day Order Pick-up:10/23/13 5-6 PM @ UTMS Café

If you have any questions, please feelfree to call Michelle Young, Market DayChairperson, at 908-730-6980.

FundraisingFundraising

Box Tops for Education and Campbell's LabelsHere's a quick list of our upcoming contests:October: Halloween Contest. Entries due by October 18th. See attachedflyer to enter.

November: Annual Basket Raffle on November 19th and 20th at parent-teacherconferences. Basket donations are welcome! Please email Laurie Smythe atlsmythe64@gmail.com if you would like to donate a basket.December: Celebrate the First Day of Winter Contest. Entries due by December 20th.

TIP OF THE MONTH: When clipping Campbell's Labels please make sure to clip the point value andthe full UPC code. We do not get credit when we submit incomplete labels.

• Pick up Market

Day order 10/23

• Box Tops/

Campbell’s Labels

contests and

extra points

EARN EXTRA POINTS FOR OUR SCHOOL EVERY TIME YOU SHOP AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS. IT'S SO EASY TO DO!

Electronically collect 1 point for each participating Labels for Education®product purchased using your shopper card at participating retailers. You can still clip and redeem UPCs to earn the face value of the Labels for Education points, so it’s easier than ever to earn more for your school.

1. REGISTER. Create your profile, enter your shopper card numberfrom a participating retailer, and then select theschool(s) you would like to support. Sign up now.

2. SHOP. SWIPE. EARN.Each participating product that you purchase from your favorite partici-pating retailer will earn 1 point that will be credited to your school’s Labels for Education account automatically.

3. REDEEM.Your school can redeem points for FREE educational merchandise.UPCs with face values higher than 1 point will only be counted as 1point with the eLabels for EducationSM program. Remember, eLabels for Education supplements the regular Labels for Education program, so you can still clip and redeem participating product UPCs to earn the face value of the Labels for Education points. The website is: http://www.elabelsforeducation.com/Sites/Campbells_eLabels/Page/HomePage

Keep Clipping! Every label or box top provides funds for assemblies,mini-grants and recess equipment. Thank you for making this program a success!

Scholastic Book Fair at the Middle SchoolThe first Middle School Book Fair of the year will be held October14th - 17th. Students can shop for and purchase books duringtheir Language Arts classes, and a Family Nightwill be held on October 15th from 6-8 PM.The next book fair isn't until the spring, sostock up now for fireside reading on thosecold winter nights!

Red, White and BrewWe are pleased to announce an exciting, new PTA fundraising event called the Red, White and Brew! This event will be held on November 1st at the GrandColonial from 7-11 PM. Tickets are $50 for a single ticket, or you can buy two for $90. Each ticket comes

with one Tier 1 Tricky Tray sheet. Tickets and additional trickytray sheets are now available for purchase on the PTA website

using PayPal, or you may send in a check through 'backpackmail' (please be sure to write: "Red, White and Brew" on the envelope). Your ticket price also includes wine, beer and bourbontastings, live music, as well as excellent food from the

chefs at the Grand Colonial. The PTA will be running atricky tray and a 50/50 drawing, just to keep things fun!

We have some exciting items to win, including: Four (4) Disney "Park-Hopper"tickets, a Hawk Pointe golf package, signed Jets memorabilia, gift cards to variousrestaurants, a Ski Basket, and more! The Red, White and Brew is sure to be a fun 'date night' with your spouse ornight out with friends, so book your babysitter now! We're looking forward toseeing you there!

Rosata's for the ArtsWho wouldn't want a delicious HOT meal that they didn't have to prepare? Families will have an opportunity to pre-order Family Style meals to be pickedup at UTES on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 19th and 20th from 4-6 PM.Order forms will be sent home via student backpacks during the week of October28th, and will be available online at www.utspta.org. For $25 you will be able topre-order a meal that serves 4+, including a main dish, bread and a side salad!Place one order or order many, but take advantageof this great opportunity to enjoy a tastymeal while supporting the Art Programsof UTS. All proceeds from the Rosata'sfundraiser will be used to support the FineArts programs. Look for order forms cominghome soon!

Display My Art It's time for the students of UnionTownship to show their creativity and design beautiful artwork! In theupcoming weeks, children at the Elementary school will begin theirGallery Time programming and createan original artwork piece that will betransformed into a cherished keepsake.

Students will completetheir masterpiecesearly in October andfamilies will have an

opportunity to view theircompleted design earlyin November. For thosefamilies new to Display

My Art, countless personalized itemscan be ordered online, giving you thechance to cherish your childrens' work for years to come! All purchaseditems will be available for pick-up atthe Santa Breakfast on 12/14, or can be delivered via homerooms. EXCITING NEWS: Display My Art is coming back to the Middle School!We are excited to give our 5th-8thgraders an opportunity to showcasetheir artistic and creative abilities. Don't forget to consider all the greatgift-giving options Display My Art provides for the upcoming holiday season!

page 4Fundraising (continued)Fundraising (continued)

• Oct. 15, 6-8 pmUTMS Book FairFamily Night• Buy Red, White &Brew tickets• Look for Rosata’sorder form• Display My Art

PTA meetingsWe held our first PTA meeting onSeptember 24th. During the meeting,we approved the 2013-14 PTA budgetwith the PTA members who attended.We also had a large group of parentsattend the HIB training required tovolunteer in the school system. We will be holding our meetingsevery other month. The next meetingwill be held November19th at 9:15 AM in theUTMS cafeteria. Thiswill be a half day withParent-Teacher confer-ences. See you then!

School Calendar InformationConverting calendar information from theschool website to yoursmart phone or electronic calendar is easier now than ever before! Follow these step-by-step directions:

– Go to www.uniontwpschool.org– Click on the Calendar icon at the

top right corner– Look at the top right corner

of the calendar– Click on the green

iCal button– Instructions appear

that will walk you through the steps of downloading the calendar on your• iOS device (iPhone, iPod, iPad)• Android Devices• Google Calendar• Microsoft Outlook• Other calendar programs

page 5For Your InformationFor Your Information

Trunk or TreatCalling all ghosts and goblins for some Halloween fun! Pre-school through 4th grade children at UTES are invited to join us for a Halloween Party andTrunk-or-Treat event! Everyone is welcome to come in costume!

When: October 19thTime: 6 PM - 8 PMWhere: Union Township Elementary School Gym

and CafeteriaSign up: Online registration formCost: $3 per child (maximum $9 per family—under 2 yrs.and parents are free) if registered in advance online, or pay $5 at the door without registering.The PTA will provide spooky games and activities in thegym and cafeteria starting at 6 PM, all participating childrenwill then parade at 7:15 PM, and transition to the parkinglot for trunk-or-treating.PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a drop-off event! All childrenmust be registered/paid and must be accompanied by a

responsible adult.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CARS: • Decorate your trunk for Halloween, and kids will "trunk-or-treat" from

car to car. (Great ideas to decorate your car can be found with a quick online search.)

• Please be parked in the back parking area (where teachers and staff typicallypark) between 5:15 and 5:45 PM.

• Please plan on bringing 200 pieces of candy with a nut-free option for the trunk-or-treat.

All participating vehicles MUST STAY PARKED UNTIL THE EVENT HASCOMPLETELY ENDED, for the safety of the children as the parking lot will be

filled with children walking from car to car.

7th and 8th Grade DanceWho's ready for a Spooktacular DJ Party??

The 7th and 8th graders are! Please put on your best costume and join us for a Not-So-Scary-But-Oh-So-Fun DJ Party on Friday, October 25th from 7-9 PM in the UTMS gym. Please keep an eerie eye out

for more information!

• PTA Meeting

Nov. 19, 9:15 am

• Download school

calendar

• Trunk or Treat

Oct. 19, 6-8 pm

• 7/8 Grade Dance

Oct. 25, 7-9 pm

page 6For Your Information (continued)For Your Information (continued)

Casie’s CornerCasie’s Corner

This dish is so easy and it's a favorite in my family. It was passed down from mymother-in-law, and is my 'go-to recipe' when I share a meal with a family in need.Enjoy!Casie

Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events

Date Event ContactOctober 14-18 UTMS Scholastic Book Fair Fran Suchovic

October 19 Trunk or Treat JP LaBelle

October 26 7th/8th Grade Dance Sue DePalma

November 1 Red, White and Brew Casie Fariello

November 19 & 20 Rosata’s for the Arts Leah Hummer

December 14 Breakfast with Santa Anna Shustack

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Brown meat in olive oil. Add onion and cook over medium heat until onion is tender. Stir in seasonings, tomatoes, soup, rice and mozzarella. Simmer for 5 minutes, stir occasionally. Spoon into 9 x 13 baking dish. Top withAmerican cheese and top with olives if using (or put olives on top of only half like we do in our house!).Bake about 30 minutes or until bubbly and a little browned on top.

Cherokee Casserole:1 lb ground chicken1 Tbsp olive oil3/4 cup chopped onion1 1/2 tsp saltDash of pepper1/8 tsp garlic powder1/8 tsp thyme1/8 tsp oregano

1/2 small bay leaf28 oz fire roasted canned tomatoes1 cup Minute Rice1 can of cream of chicken soup1/2 cup of mozzarella2 - 3 slices of American cheese,

cut into strips1 can of black olives halved (optional)

DirectoryWe are working very diligently to finish the school's Directory of Students.Upon receipt of the Directory, please be sure to check your information.Any changes can be made by using the directory change form located onthe UTS PTA website, www.utspta.org. PLEASE BE ADVISED: A Directory Change Form does NOT changeyour information in the school database. You must enter your changes in the Parent Portal to update your profile in the school's database.

• Check Directoryinformation

• Important dates• New recipe