MES Weekly Update
Hello Media Elementary Families!
Welcome to your first MES Weekly Update for the 2026-2027 school year! Each Friday evening, you will receive this communication that will contain upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and keep you informed about what is happening in our school.
We are excited to welcome our new and returning families for a successful year full of learning, student and family events, and watching the academic and social growth of your children.
Enjoy this last month of summer before we kick off our new school year! Here are a few important events to note...
- Wednesday, August 19 look for your Welcome Letter (email) from your child's classroom teacher.
- Tuesday, August 25, we welcome KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES to Penncrest High School (10:00-11:00 AM) for our First Time Riders Program - please RSVP HERE by August 12.
- Thursday, August 27 is our Media Elementary Open House (please see schedule below).
- Monday, August 31 is our FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
As we are preparing for another fun year of student, family and teacher events, our PTG is seeking parent volunteers to chair, co-chair or just lend a hand to our events. If you're looking to become more involved in our school community, please fill out our 2026-2027 PTG Chair/Co-Chairs & Volunteers Interest Survey.
See you on Monday, August 31 for our 1st day of school!!
If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Stoddard at lstoddard@rtmsd.org or 610-627-6800.
Mustang Pride!
Mrs. Stoddard
August 19: Families will receive your classroom assignment via a Teacher Welcome Letter after 3:00pm
August 22: Kindergarten First Time Bus Riders - Penncrest High School 10:00-11:00 am RSVP HERE
August 27: Kindergarten, New & Returning Families Open House (see schedule below)
August 31: First Day of School for Students (arrival begins at 8:40 AM; school day begins at 8:50 AM)
September 3: Kindergarten Fun Run at Penncrest High School 7:00 PM (more info below)
September 4: No School
September 7: No School
September 8: PTG General Membership Meeting via Zoom 7:00-8:00 PM
September 9:
- Picture Day
- Back to School Night
September 14: August Birthday Lunches
September 23: No School
September 25: PTG Back to School Block Party on Barrall Field 5:00-7:00 PM
September 28: September Birthday Lunches
2026-2027 SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
If you did not purchase a school supply kit, please click on the K-5 School Supply List button below to see what supplies your child needs for the school year.
MES OPEN HOUSE
9:00-9:55 - Welcome AM Kindergarten Families
Families should enter our Front St. entrance
“Welcome Presentation” in the auditorium with Mrs. Stoddard, Mrs. Connell and Mrs. Kirchgasser.
Staff and fifth grade students will take families on a tour of our building, which will include the Library, Counselors’ offices, Nurse’s office, Main office.
The tour will conclude with a walk through our kindergarten classrooms and exiting to our kindergarten playground for popsicles & play!
9:55-10:55 - Welcome PM Kindergarten Families
Families should enter our Front St. entrance
“Welcome Presentation” in the auditorium with Mrs. Stoddard, Mrs. Connell and Mrs. Kirchgasser.
Staff and fifth grade students will take families on a tour of our building, which will include the Library, Counselors’ offices, Nurse’s office, Main office.
The tour will conclude with a walk through our kindergarten classrooms and exiting to our kindergarten playground for popsicles & play!
12:20-1:00 - Welcome New Mustang Families (Grades 1-5)
Families should enter our Front St. entrance
“Welcome Presentation” in the auditorium with Mrs. Stoddard, Mr. Murphy, Mr. McMonagle, Mrs. Scheivert
Staff and fifth grade students will take families on a tour of our building which will conclude at the student’s classroom.
1:00-2:40 - Welcome Returning Families (Grades 1-5)
Families should enter our Front St. entrance
Visit your child(ren)’s classroom and say hello to their teacher
Drop-in to the auditorium for a “Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!” session with Mrs. Stoddard at 1:00, 1:20, 1:40, 2:00 or 2:20.
RTM KINDERGARTEN DASH
All Kindergarten students are invited to join us for our annual "KINDERGARTEN DASH". Sponsored by the Penncrest Athletic Boosters, this is our way to welcome our Future Penncrest Lions to the RTMSD... they will be the Class of 2039!
Kindergarten participants will line up together and run the length of the turf field together before our 7 pm home football game on Thursday September 3rd vs. Strath Haven! All Kindergarten participants will receive a "Future LION" t-shirt they can wear for the event.
Kindergarten families should arrive at 6:15 pm and meet on the track at 6:30 pm (near the scoreboard end of the field). The dash will be held at 6:40 pm. Students will be asked to quickly leave the field after the run, to allow the football team time to warm up. This is NOT a drop-off event. We ask only one parent/guardian on the field with your kindergarten student (no siblings).
Football game admission is $5/adult (ages 12 and older). Cash only -- please try to have exact change. Note: Referred to as the "Media Bowl", this game typically draws a large crowd so please plan to arrive early as parking may be limited. (Due to the holiday weekend, there will be NO SCHOOL on Friday September 4th.)
SUMMER LEARNING PACKETS
There is still time to complete your summer learning packets!!
CAPITAL PROJECTS
If you have driven by Media Elementary, you have seen that our building has been busy with summer construction projects. We are looking forward to our new air condition that will keep our building cool during our warmer days. In addition, our skylight was replaced which now adds bright sunlight to our atrium. When visiting our playground, you may have noticed the new curbing in areas where mulch would be washed away by rain. AND you may remember a few years ago, one of our trees plunged through our Front St. awning...we have now replaced it to beautify our entrance.
These are a few of several projects taking place at MES this summer!
New atrium skylight
New curbing on playground
Duct work is in for our new HVAC
STAFFING UPDATES
Let’s welcome our newest team members to our MES family and our veteran staff who will be taking on a new journey this school year...🥳
Miss Hannah Atlas - Music
Miss Alexa Bushey - School Psychologist
Mr. Brian DeMarco - Facility Foreman
Miss Danielle Heller - Grade 3
Miss Shamika Jacobs - 1st shift Custodian
Mrs. Katie Karasek - Grade 5
Mr. Mike McMonagle - 1.0 School Counselor
Ms. Lauren Porter - Certified Nurse
Mr. Denny Smyth - AGP
Mr. Terence Stroman - 2nd shift Custodian
Mrs. Kaylee Viscuso - Grade 3
And we say "see you soon" to staff who have moved on from MES...😒
Mr. Steve Collins - 1st shift Custodian PHS
Mrs. Trish Elmer - Grade 4 RTE
Mr. Ryan Maffei - Facility Foreman PHS
Miss Amy Matijasich - School Psychologist
Ms. Carolyn McDonald - Health Room Nurse RTM
Mr. Ian O'Malley - Title I Math SSII GES/ILES
Mrs. Lora Rigatti - AGP GES/ILES
Mrs. Jeanette Verdeur - Retired
Miss Heather Wooding - Title I Math GES/ILES
2026-2027 PTG EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESIDENT: Nader Ali-Hassan
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: Megan Moore
SECRETARY: Kortney Hyslop
TREASURER: Josh Young
Our Parent Teacher Group (PTG) is an integral part of our school made up of parent volunteers who support our students, staff and families. We meet each month to discuss upcoming events, fundraisers, and school happenings. All families are invited to attend to learn more about volunteer opportunities, better understand how the PTG supports MES and have open discussions.
2026-2027 PRINCIPAL ADVISORY BOARD (P.A.B.)
*REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
Our P.A.B. is made up of seven parent volunteers and two teachers who meet four times a year with Mrs. Stoddard to discuss topics brought up by parents on how to support and improve Media Elementary. Prior to each meeting, a parent input survey will be shared in the MES Weekly Update for parents add agenda items for discussion.
MES 2026-2027 PTG VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We, the PTG, are looking for volunteers to chair, co-chair or volunteer for events at Media Elementary. This is a great way to get more involved with events and activities happening at MES! These events happen all year long which require different levels of commitments. We need your help in order to make this year a success. Take a look at this form to volunteer for one or more opportunities to become involved with your child's school!
Happy Summer! Here are a few reminders from, Mrs. Lauren Porter, our new school nurse:
3rd grade families: The Pennsylvania School Health Regulations require that all 3rd grade students receive a dental examination. Thank you to all the families who have already returned their child’s dental examination form. If you have an upcoming exam, please ask the dentist to complete this Family Dental Report. Examinations must have been performed after September 1, 2025 and can be sent to Mrs. Porter via US mail or dropped off at MES by Friday, September 11, 2026.
If your child has any prescribed emergency medication (Epinephrine, Albuterol inhaler, seizure medication), please ask your child’s primary care provider to complete the blank action plan that went home from school on the last day with your child’s emergency medication. The completed paperwork and medication can be brought into school during open house in August or during the first week of school.
Contact Mrs. Porter 610-627-6805 with any questions.
Have a safe and fun summer with your children!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lauren Porter
FOOD SERVICE
School Meals Information – 2026–2027
Breakfast: Free for all elementary students (begins Monday, August 31, 2026)
Lunch: $3.55 per meal
Free/Reduced Meals: Families may apply online through the district website. Students receiving Direct Certification do not need to apply.
Menus: Available on the district homepage under the Meals tab
Meal Accounts: Funds can be added through MySchoolBucks.com, or by sending cash/checks to school (change is added back to the student’s account).
For complete details, please see the attached letter from Food Service Supervisor Jenni Lee.
VOLUNTEERING AT MES
In order to volunteer at any school events, all volunteers at MES must have clearances on file with the district. All clearances must be updated every 5 years. Once you receive all three clearances, copies can be dropped off at the main office.
- PA Criminal Background Clearance
- PDE FBI Clearance
- Child Abuse Clearance
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Boyer at 610-627-6802 or email dboyer@rtmsd.org.
LEADING EDGE
Leading Edge provides before and after school care for the students of the Rose Tree Media school District. Media Elementary's Leading Edge program is located in our cafeteria.
More information can be found on this Leading Edge Kids page.
What is PBIS?
- PBIS is our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system to promote our school wide expectations.
- We use direct instruction to explicitly teach students the expectations in all areas of the school.
- Happy Horseshoes are given to students who exhibit our 3 R's (Ready, Respectful and Responsible). AND this year we are practicing a 4th R - RESILIENT!
- Golden Horseshoes are given for our monthly focus areas.
- Each grade works toward a goal of earning a specific number of Happy Horseshoes which leads to our school earning a whole school reward. Grade levels vote on their grade reward when they reach their goal. The whole school votes on a school wide reward when we reach our school goal.
- Media Elementary PBIS Matrix - review this document to learn more about our school expectations.
SCHOOL HOURS
Grades 1-5
Student Arrival: 8:40 - 8:50 AM (**Any student arriving after 8:50 must enter through Front Street doors and will be considered tardy.)
Student Dismissal: 3:30 PM
AM Kindergarten
Student Arrival: 8:40 - 8:50 AM (**Any student arriving after 8:50 must enter through Front Street doors and will be considered tardy.)
Student Dismissal: 11:25 AM
PM Kindergarten
Student arrival: 12:55 PM
Student Dismissal: 3:30 PM
Media Elementary School
Principal: Mrs. Lisa Stoddard
Email: lstoddard@rtmsd.org
Website: Media Elementary School
Address: 120 E. Front Street Media, PA 19063
Phone: 610-627-6800