MES Weekly Update
Hello Media Elementary Families!
The countdown is on! Teachers returned this week to begin setting up their classrooms and growing in their professional learning. After months of construction, our incredible custodial staff from MES and across the district have been doing an amazing job getting our building ready to welcome our students back for another exciting school year. The patience, teamwork and grace of our staff is what makes Media Elementary a great place!
We are excited to welcome families on August 27 for our annual Open House. There was an error in the afternoon times, so please be sure you update your calendar with the Open House information below!
This past Wednesday, you should have received an email from your child's classroom teacher welcoming them to the 2026-2027 school year! If you did not receive this communication, please check your spam folder or contact Mrs. Stoddard.
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.
If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Stoddard at lstoddard@rtmsd.org or 610-627-6800.
Mustang Pride!
Mrs. Stoddard
August 25: 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 15: August Birthday Lunches
September 21: 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!
12:20-1:30 - 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.
1:30-2:30 - Welcome Returning Families (Grades 1-5) **please note time adjustment!
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.
Come on out to Edgmont St & Barrall Field for our annual PTG Back to School Block Party & Harvest Fair on Friday, September 25 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Get ready for dancing, games & food trucks!
Hope to see you there!
PICTURE DAY
Active Image will be at Media Elementary on Wednesday, September 9 to capture all the smiles!
Shortly before picture day you will receive an email from Active Image Media with your child's personal link to pre-order school pictures. Pre-ordering offers the best value since all pre-orders are collected and the photos are returned to school to be distributed.
Each student will receive their OWN link (via email) specifically assigned to place your orders online.
If you do not receive this email, please check your junk mail before notifying Active Image at support@activeimagemedia.com.
Please read the attached letter below for more information.
MES BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
You are invited to our Back to School Night to learn more about child's school day and the wonderful year they will have at Media Elementary!
You only need to attend one session for your child's homeroom.
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.)
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.)
KINDERGARTEN: Allison Porter
GRADE 1: Brittany Leight
GRADE 2: Ivan Carter
GRADE 3: Jen Reinert (also SAB rep)
GRADE 4: Emily Link
GRADE 5: Lydia Jeffress (also SAB rep)
TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES: Mrs. Connell & Mrs. Amoroso
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!
MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT
Here are a few reminders from, Mrs. Lauren Porter, our new school nurse:
The RTMSD Contact and Nurse Form is now available online. Please complete the form by August 31, 2026. Completing it is essential so our nursing staff can provide appropriate care for your child and the school has current contact information in case of an emergency.
Please carefully review all phone numbers. A primary phone number is now required for every contact.
How to Complete the Form
Choose one of the following options:
- Option 1: Use your personalized snapcode link. You will be asked to sign in to an Enrollment Online account. If you have not previously created one, you will need to create an account using your email address or cell phone number.
- Option 2: Access the form through HAC - A Home Access Center (HAC) account is required. Newly enrolled students will receive HAC credentials during the first week of school.
Log in to your HAC account.
Select the Registration icon from the menu.
Select the Update Enrollment tab.
Click Start next to the Contact and Nurse Form.
Verify The Bobcat’s date of birth to access the form.
MEDICATIONS: 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.
ATTENTION 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.
Contact Mrs. Porter 610-627-6805 or lporter@rtmsd.org with any questions.
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