December 2023

 

Important Dates!!

December 15th – Meeting; Holiday Party
December 26th-29th – Holiday Lights Community Service
January 2nd – Cookie Sale Starts
January 5th – Meeting
January 19th – Meeting
January 26th – Paper Cookie Orders Due

Dues

Don’t forget, each girl has $75 troop dues that support the troop. At this time all dues should have been paid. Reminders will be sent home in January, as dues must be paid before

cookie orders are turned in. Troop dues cover the cost of books, other supplies, snacks and parties. 

 

Dues were payable in 3 installments of $25.00 each. The first dues payment was payable on Friday, October 6th, the second payment was due on November 3rd and the final payment was due on December 1st.  Reminders will be sent home at the first meeting in January. The easiest way to pay your dues is electronically; you can pay your daughter’s dues by CashApp, Venmo or PayPal.        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Winter Accessory Drive

We’re in the midst of our annual community service project - our winter accessory drive! While homeless children and families frequently get donated coats, they don't always get accessories. So for the remainder of the school year, we'll be collecting hats, scarves and gloves to give to children and adults who are less fortunate. The last time we were able, we collected a large bag of accessories and even 1 coat!  Just notify Dr. Holman, and I will pick up all donations from classrooms. 

Holiday Lights Community Service

We’re celebrating the season of giving by helping Turtle Back Zoo collect donations of non-perishable food, new toys and gently used coats during the Holiday Lights Spectacular. Sign-up to volunteer from December 26-29. All volunteers will get free admission to the Holiday Lights, either before or after their 2.5 hour shift, and a voucher for a free hot chocolate. You’ll be able to stroll through Turtle Back Zoo and view over 50 sparkling light displays. This is an outdoor volunteering event, so be sure to dress warmly. The zoo has asked us to limit participation to 6 children and 2 adults per shift. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0544ADAF2DAAF85-46894841-volunteer

Cookie Sale 2024

Cookie time is almost here! The Cookie Sale kicks off Tuesday, January 2nd. Please make sure to complete the product sale permission slip at  https://girlscoutsusa.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RpqJ8jm6qm8T0a.

The 2024 cookie mascot is the Axolotl, a salamander native to Mexico. The Axolotl is endangered because its habitat, the waters near Mexico City, is being contaminated. You can find out more about this interesting amphibian here. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/facts/mexican-axolotl

Because we won’t have a meeting until the end of that week, we’re sending home cookie information now. Girls are on their honor not to take orders before January 2nd.  We have a new cookie vendor, so there will be some different names and new cookies this year.  All cookies will sell for $6.00/box.
 
All parents MUST register for Digital Cookie. You will receive an email to register for Digital Cookie in late December. With Digital Cookie, parents can post links to the cookie sale on their personal social media sites to publicize the sale and take online cookie sales. Please email me at charter_girlscouts@yahoo.com, if you don’t receive your welcome email from GSUSA by December 23rd.

All paper and digital orders are due on January 26th, in order to count towards initial order rewards. You can place your order online and pay through Digital Cookie using a debit or credit card. You will also be able to complete the order form link and pay with PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or CashApp. More information will follow on how to submit your order.

Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus
The circus is back, with awe-inspiring acts featuring 75 performers, from 18 different countries including aerial, acrobatics, world dance, music, comedy, and jaw-dropping thrills! We’ve got a limited number of tickets to see Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Prudential Center in Newark on Friday, March 1st at 7p. (We’ll be leaving right after the meeting). Tickets are $28 per person for this family event, and all are welcome to attend. As always, we will have transportation, but only for the first 50 people who request it. Payment is due until January 19th. Our tickets usually go fast. If you haven’t completed the form, get on the list and reserve your tickets by completing the survey here.
https://forms.gle/Z4EEY1BpRViwYR8a6  

Uniforms

Our troops uniform consists of a girl scout polo, vest and khaki skirt or pants. The vest, along with the council patch tab and numbers, can be purchased at the council shop starting at $44.00 depending on the agel level. Exact prices are listed below. Although it is not necessary to buy them, check out the new uniform choices for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors. The colors may be the same, but everything is updated for today’s girl! https://www.girlscoutshop.com/HEART-OF-NEW-JERSEY-COUNCIL.

Girls can wear either their school uniform or the girl scout uniform. Please note, you MUST have a vest to be considered in uniform. Wearing the girl scout colors is NOT sufficient nor are graphic T-shirts. In addition, only age level badges go on the front of the uniform, Nut, Cookie and other fun patches must be placed on the back.

Check out the link on the left for uniform specifics, troop numbers & levels. Use the pictures as a guide to know where iron-on/sew everything. 

Dr. Holman makes monthly trips to the Westfield shop and can pick up the vest (with everything to iron on), as well as other accessories, for anyone who finds it difficult to get to the shop. Simply forward payment and size. 

The Daisy vest is $44

The Brownie vest is $45

The Junior vest is $46

The OG regular vest is $51; OG Cargo vest is $59

Camping Update

We had a great time camping at Hoover! Everyone came back safely, but everyone didn’t get their belongings. I have a bag of clothing and other items, including a sleeping bag, that were left behind. All items have been washed and cleaned. If they are not claimed by the first meeting in January, they will be donated. 

We had so much fun that we are planning another trip in May. More details will follow. However, please remember, our camping trips are a time to enjoy nature and leave technology behind. There were WAY too many electronics at camp, which caused distractions. Girls missed a lot while texting during hikes or watching TikTok videos during other activities. Phones dropped in woods were hard to locate under leaves. 

Don’t forget that troop leader contact information is listed on the permission slip, should you need to reach any of us. You also gave us your emergency information, should we need to reach you. Therefore we’re giving you a heads up, in the future, electronics will be collected during the day and returned to your daughter in the evening. We will not be responsible for electronics that are broken or lost while in your daughter’s possession. 

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