2/28/22

Hello Countryside Families!!

Big thanks goes out to our newest confirmed Community Partner- More Power Electric! With their generous gold level sponsorship, plus some other pending sponsors, we are closing in on our goal to fund all Fun Run T-shirts!

Do you have your own business? We want to partner with you! This is a great way to get some exposure for your company AND support your child’s school at the same time! Win-win! Please contact me at CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com if you would like to help out! The funds raised through our Community Partners will 100% be used to fund the T-Shirts that will be provided to the children so that they receive them at no cost. It is important to us that all of our students get to participate in this fun event regardless of financial status and whether or not they are able to fundraise. Please see the document attached to learn more about our sponsor levels, and reach out with any questions.

We could also use your help in canvasing our community for sponsors! If you would like to be a part of this project, please contact me at CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com.

Our Gertrude Hawke candy sale is underway and off to a great start! Paper order sales end Monday, 3/7/22, with order forms due to the school by 3/8/22. You can purchase online with ship to home until 4/3/22!

We're excited to announce two more upcoming family events! On Monday, 3/21/22, we will be hosting a Welcome Spring- Book Fair Kick Off outside at the school. And, join us Friday, 4/8/22 from 6-8pm for a night of ice skating! We are excited to have the Igloo in Mount Laurel all to ourselves for another fun Countryside family event! Click here to purchase your tickets!

What else is in this newsletter? Below, find information on:

• Upcoming dates to remember

• It’s time to get those yearbooks purchased! Deadline for purchasing is 4/13/22.

• Please upload your favorite school year pictures to Treering!

• Become a member of the PTO at any time!

• Kindergarten registration

• Preschool applications

• Plus other volunteer opportunities

Any questions? Email me at CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com.

Have a great week!

Megan

*NEW! Community Partners- Fun Run 2022:

We can’t do what we do without support! Thanks to these amazing locally owned companies, we are one step closer to being able to fund Fun Run TShirts for EACH of our students! The best way for us as a community to say “Thank you” is by supporting their business!(Get your business name here!)

Gold Sponsor:

More Power Electric

Silver Sponsor:

Legacy Treatment Services

Clyde Sponsor:

Sara Bakes

Please stay in touch with the PTO! Be sure to visit us frequently on Facebook and Twitter by turning on ALL notifications and changing your settings to “See First” so you don’t miss a post. Remember, we are here to support you in any way we can, so please do not hesitate to reach out if we can be of service.

Coming up this week:

2/28/22

Spring Picture Day

2/28/22- 3/4/22

Read Across America Week/Dr. Seuss’ Birthday (see attached flyer for spirit days!)

See below for more detailed information about upcoming events and fundraisers!

Gertrude Hawke Candy Sale:

We are pleased to offer Gertrude Hawk Chocolates as part of our Fundraising program this year. We are holding a Spring Chocolate Sale.It’s easy to participate! You can shop the catalog OR shop online. Online orders placed within the sale dates can choose to have their orders delivered for free with the main shipment. Out of town friends and family can choose to send their orders directly to their home (shipping fees apply).

Simply set up an account and share a link so friends and family can shop our Spring Catalog virtually. All web orders require credit card payment, that’s money YOU DON’T HAVE TO COLLECT! If you are submitting a paper order form, keep the bottom copy and brochure for your records. Paper order forms should NOT include any online sales. Total dollars sent in should equal Grand Total Amount on order form. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Countryside PTO. Final paper order forms should be sent into school by 3/8/22. Online orders that are being shipped to a home can be placed up until 04/03/22.

Sell and earn prizes! Every student who sells at least ONE ITEM will receive a PRIZE! Levels are based on total sales. If you submit a brochure order and also sell online, your child’s name must match exactly to earn their prize.

Here’s how to get started

• Go to fundraising.gertrudehawkchocolates.com

• In the “I am a Parent” block, click “SEE MY OPTIONS”

• Click “START ADDING A SELLER” (You’ll be prompted to create an account or login) If you do not have a Gertrude Hawk Chocolates account you must create one to add a seller

• Click “MY SELLERS” in the left side column

• ADD your seller

• SAVE your seller

• Share the ORGANIZATION ID (703633) and SELLER NAME with family and friends

Fun Run Community Partner/Business Sponsor:

Countryside PTO is so excited to launch our new Shirt Sponsorship program! Through this program, we will be able to provide an item of spirit wear to EVERY student in our school, while also raising needed funds for our students, staff, and programs this year.

The primary component of our Shirt Sponsorship program is our Event Shirts. We are hoping to partner with local businesses to help sponsor these shirts. Their logo or name will be displayed on the back of the shirt, and worn by every student in our school. Not only will their support be incredibly helpful to Countryside, but it will enable us to support them as a community!

If you know of, or are part of, a business that would be interested in becoming a Countryside Elementary Shirt Sponsor, please see the attached Sponsorship Form for more information.

We need a commitment from all Sponsors by Monday, March 7th in order to supply all our students with a shirt.

Thank you in advance for supporting our school! If you have any questions, please contact me at CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com.

Welcome Spring- Book Fair Kick Off Family Event; Monday 3/21/22, 5:30- 7:30pm:

Join us on Monday, 3/21/22 from 5:30-7:30pm to welcome spring! This will be a fun outdoor event with opportunities to play, shop the book fair, and get some Kona Ice! All attendees will receive a raffle ticket for one of our Scholastic Bag of Books (additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase.)

Restaurant Day- Passareillo’s; Thursday, 3/31/22, 9am-10pm:

Join us at Passariello’s at 13 West Main St, Moorestown, on 3/31/22, from 9am-10pm for Restaurant Day! Be sure to present the flyer or mention Countryside when ordering, and a portion of your sale will be donated back to the PTO!

Family Ice Skating- Friday, 4/8/22, 6-8pm:

Join us for 2 hours of skating at the Igloo, 3033 Fostertown Rd, Mount Laurel. Tickets are $15/skater which covers skate rental. Click hereto purchase your tickets! Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Yearbook:

You won’t want your student to forget this awesome school year! To order, head to Treering, Passcode 1015379701861794

*We also need your photos for the yearbook! Don’t forget to upload them into the shared files on TreeRing. It couldn’t be easier using the App!

PTO Membership:

Head to our PTO membership to become a member! The PTO is working hard each year to enrich our children’s school experience. We provide the funds for after school activities, school supplies for our teachers, assemblies, field trip bussing (assemblies and field trips are pending approval for the 2021-2022 school year), staff appreciation, and so much more each year! You can join the PTO at any time!

New this year is our “Opt Out” membership. We have found that we spend approximately $100 per student for all the great things we do to enrich the school year… if you’re the type that hates fundraisers and would rather just contribute the money and be done with it- this is the option for you!!

2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration:

Do you have a child entering Kindergarten next year? Registration is now open!

http://www.mtlaurelschools.org/Parents/Central-Registration-Process/index.html

2022-2023 Pre-K Registration:

Applications are due by 4/15/22. The 2022-2023 Preschool Inclusion Program is available for a limited number of four to five year olds Mount Laurel children who will learn beside their preschool peers with disabilities in order to provide public school opportunities. Selection for the program will be by lottery. Click here for the application.

Ongoing Fundraisers:

Below is a list of our ongoing fundraisers - please be sure to support these programs every time you shop, all year long!

Box Tops: You can now earn Box Tops using your digital receipts. To sign up, please visit https://www.boxtops4education.com/. Don’t forget to link your Shoprite Card to the Box Tops app!

AmazonSmile: AmazonSmile is now available on both Android and iPhones as well as your computer. Please visit https://smile.amazon.com/ and select “Countryside School PTO” (Mount Laurel, NJ) to get started.

Looking Ahead (Mark Your Calendars):

3/9/22- 3/10/22

Early Dismissal; Conferences

3/11/22

Early Dismissal; Teacher In-Service (please note this is a change from the original district calendar.)

3/14/22- 3/18/22

All For Books Coin Drive

3/21/22

Welcome Spring- Book Fair Kick Off Family Event; 5:30- 7:30pm

3/21/22- 3/25/22

Spring Book Fair

3/22/22

Board of Education Meeting; Harrington Middle School; 7pm

3/24/22

One School, One Book Celebration- virtual

3/31/22

Restaurant Day- Passareillo’s, Moorestown; 9am- 10pm

• Half-day snacks pick up and delivery: If you are able to volunteer some time- either by picking up the soft pretzels or helping to organize the snacks for classroom delivery, please sign-up here.

• Tuesday Folders: We are looking for volunteers to help with filling Tuesday folders for the rest of the year. Please check out our sign-up genius to help out!

• We have many volunteer opportunities for this school year. Whether you have a specific event you want to help out with, can only volunteer if it’s something you can do from home, or want to help plan one of our events, we have a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you! Help give back to your child’s school! Check out this google form for more information about what we have available and reach out if you have any questions!

• Grant Writers: There are many grants and sponsorships available to organizations like ours, and we could use your help applying for them! This is a perfect volunteer opportunity that you can fit into your own schedule and do at home. If interested, please contact Megan at CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com.

• Yearbook Co-Editor: Create a yearbook filled with memories of a wonderful school year! Editor responsibilities will be shared and include gathering photos, designing page layouts, acquiring school portraits from Lifetouch, obtaining principal’s letter and retiree information, working with our teacher liaison, adhering to Treering’s production schedule, and promoting yearbook sales. If you are interested in the position, please email CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com

**Please note, per the Governor’s mandates, all volunteers who enter the school will be required to wear a mask. In addition, all school volunteers will be required to show proof of vaccination.**

Stay Connected to the PTO!

Here’s how to reach us and stay up to date on the latest Countryside PTO news:

Email: CountrysidePTOPresident@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountrysideElementary/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Countryside_PTO

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/countryside-pto-news/

Remind: Text to 81010 with the grade-appropriate message:

• 4th grade: @clyde2030

• 3rd grade: @clyde2031

• 2nd grade: @clyde2032

• 1st grade: @clyde2033

• Kindergarten: @clyde2034

• Pre-Kindergarten: @clyde2035

• Mrs Harris-Greene’s Class: @clydethg

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Get involved. Attend PTO meetings. Offer up new ideas.

Give feedback. Reach out. Join a committee.

Volunteer. Ask how you can help.

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