Happy Holidays from the Middle High School PTA!  2015 has been an incredibly successful year for our organization and we cannot wait to continue with our mission to support our fantastic staff and students in 2016.

What is planned for 2016?  MORE MEMBERSHIPS!!  Believe it or not, we still have memberships coming in.  It's not too late to help support our goal in raising funds to provide teacher grants.  MORE TEACHER GRANTS!  We've already started this process.  We'd love to honor more in 2016.  In February, look for our Sweet Bread and Dough sale that will have delivery the week before Easter!  Help ease your Easter Brunch cooking while supporting the PTA.  In April, plan on attending the PTA sponsored Middle School play, "Beauty and the Beast, Jr.."  With a record setting number of students in the cast, it is sure to be a hit!  

Happy Holidays from the West Boylston Middle High School PTA.  Have a safe and relaxing vacation.

Still looking for that perfect holiday gift??????  The MHS PTA is still selling the Entertainment Digital Membership app codes and the fleece WB Lions logo blankets.  The cost for each is $20.  We have a very limited supply of blankets left and once they are gone, we will not be able to get any more.    The app codes make a very unique gift for those that live in other parts of the country as it is not by region like the actual Entertainment Books.  Please email wbmhspta@wbschools.com if you would like to buy one of these items.

Middle School play auditions for "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."  were held on December 8 with a record number of students coming out for it!  In total, between actors and those interested in stage crew, we had just shy of 40 students!  AMAZING!  The cast list was posted earlier this week at the school.  I have attached it here for those that might have missed it.  The excitement is definitely building for this production.  Rehearsals begin after the holiday break and the play is scheduled for early April.  If your child is participating and you have not turned in your activity form and fee, please do so at your earliest convenience.  Students will not be allowed to take home their scripts until their activity fee is paid.  In addition, even though the cast has already been selected, we are still accepting students that may wish to participate with props, etc.  They will still be required to fill out the registration form and pay the activity fee.  Any parents interested in helping out with props, etc are also welcome.  Please contact Tammy Bourque at ptjmbourque@yahoo.com with any questions regarding the play.

"Beauty and the Beast, Jr." is coming the West Boylston Middle School!!

Middle School Play auditions are next Tuesday December 8, 2015 in the MHS Auditorium at 6:30 pm.  All interested students must be currently enrolled at WB Middle High School and in grades 6-8.  All of those that audition will get a part.  The audition process is to help the show Director, Musical Director, and Choreographer get an understanding of each student's ablilities and comfort levels.  We are also looking for those students that may not want to be on stage, but are looking for roles behind the curtain helping with props, curtain, etc.  ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS (ACTORS AND STAGE HANDS) MUST ATTEND THE AUDITION NIGHT WITH AT LEAST ONE PARENT.  There will be a mandatory meeting of all parents whose child(ren) wish to participate in some capacity in the play.

The activity fee for the play is $45 for PTA members and $55 for non-members. However, if your child(ren) receive reduced or free lunch, they are eligible for a waiver of the activity fee.  Financial assistance may also be available.  Please contact Principal Chris Fournier for more information on these matters.  All information is kept confidential.  Please use the PTA membership form on the school website if you wish to join the PTA to lower your child's activity fee.

Rehearsals will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning at 6:00pm.  We may have some Wednesday rehearsals to make up for snow days or for those scenes requiring extra time.  January 5, 2016 is the first rehearsal.  THIS REHEARSAL WILL GO UNTIL 8:30 as it is the first reading of the script and assigning of roles.  From January 7 until February vacation we will have one hour rehearsals.  After February vacation, all rehearsals will move to two hours in length.  

For those students that want to be part of the backstage crew, attendance at rehearsals is not mandatory.  We will contact you closer to the production when we are starting to assemble props, etc. and we are begining to need our stage hands.

We understand that many of the students have other outside commitments to sports, dance, gymanstics, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc. on one of our rehearsal days.  (for example, he/she has dance every Tuesday).  THIS IS OKAY!!!!  If your child still wants to participate we are totally willing to work with their schedule.  Our only request is that we know this conflict up front on audition night.  This being said, all students MUST ATTEND ALL TECH WEEK REHEARSALS.  Please be aware that this may or may not affect the type of role your child gets as they will be only attending half of our rehearsals.

Tech Week - the week of the production - will see rehearsals EVERY NIGHT until 9 or 10pm.  ALL STUDENTS (ACTORS AND STAGE HANDS) ARE REQUIRED TO BE AT EVERY REHEARSAL DURING TECH WEEK.  These rehearsals are full dress rehearsals where we many times have theater guests in attendence to give feedback.

Attached please find the student and parent contract that must be signed by both parties and handed in with activity fee at next week's auditions.  Also attached is the rehearsal schedule.  Please contact Tammy Bourque at ptjmbourque@yahoo.com or (508) 835-3555 with any questions.

Looking for that perfect holiday gift????  The West Boylston Middle High School PTA has two options.  

First we have West Boylston Lions Logo Fleece Blankets.  The blankets come rolled with a re-useable strap.  Perfect for car trunks to use in case of emergency or those outside events like football/soccer games or early season baseball/softball games.  Heck, you can use it to cuddle up on a cold winter night while you are watching your favorite holiday movie!!  Attached is a photo of the blanket.  We have VERY FEW left and once we sell out, we will not be able to get any more.  The cost per blanket is $20.  SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTO.

Second, we have the Entertainment Digital Savings Membership app codes.  Check out this short YouTube video explaining this electronic membership to the Entertainment Book. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6c3dtVYamc   The code is good for 1 year from activation.  You can buy the codes from the PTA  now and activate it at the time of purchase for savings on your holiday purchases OR give the code as a gift.  The recipient can activate it after the holidays and use it for one year from when they activate it.  What about that extra Yankee Swap gift that you always seem to forget?  How about that hard to shop for boss?  What about those parents that are downsizing and really don't need anymore "stuff?"  This is the perfect solution for those hard to buy for people on your shopping list.

Here is how it works.  You buy the card containing the activation code from the PTA.  You download the app from your device's respective app store.  Enter the code that you bought from us and start saving!  Unlike the actual Entertainment Book, the Digital Savings membership IS NOT PER REGION.  This means that you can buy it for grandma that lives in Florida!  It also means that you can use it when you take that vacation to to a much warmer climate during February vacation!!  The Entertainment Digital Savings Membership codes are also $20.

Please contact the MHS PTA at wbmhspta@wbschools.com if you wish to purchase either of these items.

Thanksgiving will be upon us in just over a week.  During this time of year, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year and we count the blessings that have come our way.  The Middle High School PTA is also counting our blessings this year.  First, we are part of an amazing school district that has an incredible and supportive administration and faculty that really care about the education of our children.  Secondly, we are thankful that we have an amazing amount of supporters and members this year.  Our number of memberships have grown since last year and they still continue to grow!  Next, the PTA has been humbled by the generosity of our supporters that have taken part in our fundraisers.  Our fleece blankets are almost sold out, the Lyman's Pie fundraiser saw us with record orders and our wreath & kissing ball sale, similar to years past, has had nearly 100 items ordered!  Lastly, we are thankful that we are able, for the first time in many years, to provide teacher grants that help our fantastic staff to enhance the education of the students in our school.

REMINDERS - The Lyman's Pie and Sweet Crumbs Cookie Dough Pick - Up is THIS FRIDAY (November 20)  from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm.  Audition posters for the Middle School Play will be going up around school within the next week.

On behalf of the West Boylston Middle High School PTA, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE JOINED THE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL PTA THIS SCHOOL YEAR!   To date we officially have more members than last year!   We continue to accept memberships throughout the school year.  Your support helps us to honor teacher requests and support our students.

We have officially honored our first teacher request for the 2015-2016 academic year.  One of our Academic Support faculty members made a request, and the PTA approved it at last night's meeting.  It is our hope that this is the first of many opportunities for us to support our great staff here at the Middle High School.

Due to a "technicality" with not being able to obtain the rights to "Lion King, Jr.," the Middle School play has been switched to another Disney favorite - "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."  The PTA would like to thank teacher Carolyn Somma for her time and effort in getting us the rights and materials for this amazing production.  Mrs. Somma has been, and continues to be, a huge supporter of the PTA and the Middle School play.  Thank you Mrs. Somma!

The PTA continues with it's annual Wreath and Kissing Ball Sale.  The wreaths are $12 and the kissing balls are $25.  See the attached flyer and order form.  In addition, we continue to sell the Lions logo fleece blankets (see attached image).  Our stock is very limited at this time and once we sell out, they will no longer be available.  Get yours while we still have some.  Lastly, the Entertainment Book app codes are for sale.  These have been a very popular item lately as people begin gearing up for holiday shopping.  People are buying them for both themselves and as gifts.  The cost for both the blankets and app codes are $20.

As always, any questions, comments, or concerns can be directed to wbmhspta@wbschools.com.

Happy Halloween from the West Boylston Middle High School PTA!  We still continue to receive memberships and we appreciate all of those that have joined the PTA.  Thank you for helping us to support the students and staff at the Middle High School.

As we enter November and the holiday season, please remember that the PTA is taking orders for holiday wreaths and kissing balls through November 10.  They are both made with real Maine Balsam fir.  Wreaths are standard door size and come with choice of two bow colors.  They are $12 each.  The Kissing Balls are decorated with ornaments, steamers and a bow.  They are $25 each and come with a choice of three bow colors.  Pick-up for all orders will be at Whitetail Greenery, 294 Prospect St, West Boylston, on Saturday, November 28, 2015 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am.  Completed order forms and payment may be dropped off at West Boylston Middle High School or mailed to Ann Mercier, 5 Idalla Ave, Worcester, MA 01606.  For questions, contact Ann Mercier at (774) 670-8581 or amercier1000@gmail.com.

The PTA also continues to sell fleece Lions blankets.  Because they come rolled and clasped, the blankets make a great addition to your -or your new driver's - car winter safety kit.  Also, we are selling Entertainment Book app codes.  The app is good for one year from activation and allows access to hundreds of money saving coupons for restaurants and retailers.  Because the app is not contained to a particular region, unlike the actual Entertainment Book, you can use the app to access money saving deals during your holiday travels or even your holiday shopping..  Both the blankets and app codes are $20 each and make great holiday gifts. 

As a reminder, our next bi-monthly PTA meeting is next Tuesday, November 3 at 6:30 pm in the MHS Media Center/Library.

Have a happy and safe Halloween and DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK THIS WEEKEND!

A HUGE Thank You to all that participated in the Lyman's Pies and Sweet Crumbs Cookie Dough Fundraiser!  It was a huge success!  We have never done this fall fundraiser from Lyman's before, and we are very pleased with the amount of participation.  We ended up selling 131 pies and 58 containers of cookie dough.  Proceeds from this will help us to support our staff and students at the Middle High School!  For those that enjoyed us helping with your Thanksgiving baking, be on the lookout for our annual Butter Braids and Sweet Breads fundraiser in the spring....delivery is the week before Easter!  Perfect for your Easter morning brunch!!!!

Do you know of a local business or homeowner that decorates for the holidays?  Orders are now being taken for our annual Wreath/Kissing Ball sale in conjunction with Whitetail Greenery.  These are high quality products made of real Balsam Fir.  Wreaths are standard door size and have 2 color options for the bow.  The kissing balls come decorated with ornaments, streamers and bows.  There are 3 color options for the kissing ball bows.  The cost is $12 for the wreaths and $25 for the kissing balls.  Order forms are available on the PTA page of the school website.  It is also posted with the blog post.  For more information contact Ann Mercier at amercier1000@gmail.com or (774) 670-8581.

Now that fall is in full swing and  you begin your holiday shopping, please keep in mind that the Middle High School PTA has two year round fundraisers.   We sell the royal blue Lions blankets year round.  They come rolled and clasped - perfect for the winter safety kit in your car trunk!  We also sell the Entertainment app codes.  The codes, once activated, are good for one year and allow you to access hundreds of money saving coupons for retailers and restaurants across the United States.  The app is NOT REGIONAL.   As you travel for the holidays you can access coupons in that area right from your mobile device.  You can use the retail coupons for your holiday shopping OR, better yet, give one of the codes for a holiday gift!!!  Both the blankets and app codes are $20 each.

Now that the Middle School Play, "Lion King, Jr.," has been announced, we have had many questions regarding participation in this great PTA sponsored middle school tradition.  The play is open to all students in grades 6-8, HOWEVER, in order to participate, students must be enrolled at West Boylston MHS.  Secondly, we understand that many of our students have other commitments to sports, dance, boy and girl scouts, etc.  Due to these commitments, we realize that participants may be only able to attend one of the two weekly rehearsals.  THIS IS OKAY!  We just want to know about these commitments up front for rehearsal planning purposes.  This being said, all participants must understand that attendance at all rehearsals during Tech Week (the week before our performances) and all performances is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY.  It is our goal to be flexible with student schedules and commitments, but they do have a commitment to the play as well.  Next, all students that audition will receive a part.  Auditions are an opportunity to see the students perform so that the Directors can decide what part is best for that student's voice, comfort level, etc.  Lastly, auditions for the play, even though the title has been announced, are not until after the Thanksgiving holiday.  Posters will be around school advertising the audition date and time.

Our next bi-monthly meeting is November 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm in the MHS Media Center.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for the PTA?  Ideas for programs?  Email us at wbmhspta@wbschools.com!  Like us on Facebook for all the latest and up to date information!

The leaves are finally starting to change, but the West Boylston Middle/High School PTA is looking toward the holidays for it's Annual Christmas Wreath & Kissing Ball Sale!  The MHS PTA is now taking orders for this annual event that they have been running, in conjunction with Whitetail Greenery, for many years.  

The Maine Balsam Wreaths are standard door size and they come with two bow color choices.  The Holiday Kissing Balls are Balsam fir and come decorated with ornaments, streamers, and a bow.  The Kissing Balls have 3 bow color options and are $25.  

The order form is attached and must be used in order to purchase the wreaths.  Orders must be placed no later than November 10.  Pick up of all wreaths and kissing balls will be at Whitetail Greenery (294 Prospect Street, West Boylston) on Saturday, November 28 from 10:00 - 11:30 am.  Completed order forms may be dropped off at West Boylston Middle/High School or mailed to Ann Mercier at 5 Idalla Ave, Worcester, MA 01606.

If you have any questions contact Ann Mercier at amercier1000@gmail.com or (774) 670-8581.

The Middle/High School PTA has lots of news to share this week!  Career Day a huge success last week, but we have even more exciting news for this week.

First, and foremost, the Lyman's Pie and Sweet Crumbs Cookie Dough fundraiser ends tomorrow (October 15).  If you haven't done so already, please drop off your order form, including all money, to the main office.  You can also send it in with your child.  Thank you in advance for participating in this fundraiser.  This will help us with this year's mission to fund more teacher requests.

Secondly, our membership drive continues and we'd like to encourage even more people to join the PTA.  YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO VOLUNTEER!  Your $20 membership fee helps us to fund important programs in our school like last week's Career Day for the High School students.  We currently have 59 families and 12 teachers as members.  Considering the size of our school, these are relatively low numbers.  Please help us enhance the education of our MHS students by joining today.  The membership form is under the PTA tab on the school website.  

Next up is Fall Fest!  A special thank you to all that braved the morning drizzle and came out to say hi!  We had an overwhelming success with our Textile Drive through Millbury Textiles.  We earn money based on the weight of textiles collected.  We collected 690 lbs. of textiles!!!!  Our earnings haven't been calculated yet, but we will hopefully get that information soon.  A huge shout out to those members of the Senior Class for helping us out with the textile drive in the rainy weather.  As a result of their hard work, the PTA will be donating a portion of our proceeds to the Class of 2016!

Lastly, huge drum role please...  It was announced this week that the PTA sponsored Middle School Play for 2016 will be "The Lion King, Jr."  This play is open to all students in grades 6-8.  All students that audition get roles and we also look for students that want to work behind the scenes.  Look for audition notices in late November and early December.  Rehearsals will be twice a week beginning after the New Year.  Performances are currently scheduled for April.

As always, visit the West Boylston Middle/High School PTA page on Facebook for the latest information.  You can email us with any questions a wbmhspta@wbschools.com.