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Originally delivered on 1/11/2026 3:00 pm

SUBJECT: The Gator Blast: January 11, 2026

The Gator Blast

January 11, 2026

Brought to you by the Davidsonville Elementary School (DES) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

The DES PTO Gator Blast
Information From Your PTO
Movie Night Success!

A big thank you to everyone who helped make Friday’s movie night a success, and to everyone who came out to enjoy it!  We really appreciate all the support.

And a special shout-out to La Sierra for generously providing a great door prize and helping make the night even more fun.  

PTO General Membership Meeting

Join us for our PTO General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, February 3, at 7:00 p.m.


All families are welcome — come hear quick updates, learn about volunteer opportunities, and bring your questions and ideas. We’d love your voice at the table! 

Yearbook Photo Contributions Needed

The Yearbook Committee needs your help to make this school year's yearbook great! We need as many photos as possible and having our parents, teachers, and staff contribute photos is the best way to ensure that our students are well represented in the yearbook. Throughout the year, we will be asking for photos of various events.

We’d like to start by collecting photos from the fall events listed below  Click on the link for each specific event to upload photos for that event. The password to upload photos is Davidsonville26! 

 If you have any questions, please email desgatorsyearbook@gmail.com.

Fundraising
Feb. 5 Skate Night
Join Us for Skate Night

Mark your calendar for Thursday, Febuary 5 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for our third skate night! Admission is $5 per person (non-skaters included) and $5 for each skate rental. Wear pink for a prize at the door! 

Get your tickets here. They can be purchased up to 24 hours in advance or you can pay at the door. Can't wait to see you there!

Dining Out at The Greene Turtle

Enjoy a night off from cooking while supporting our DES community on Thursday, February 19! Join your friends at The Greene Turtle in Edgewater for our next Dining Out. Mention the fundraiser all day while dining in or carrying out (phone orders only), and they will donate 20% of sales to the DES PTO. See you there!

Events
2026 DES International Night
International Night — Be Part of the Adventure!

Grab your (imaginary) passport — we’re setting the itinerary for International Night at Davidsonville Elementary School on Friday, February 27! Join us for an evening full of celebration, community, connection, and curiosity as we explore cultures from around the world.

Let’s make this a joyful night of discovery and connection — we can’t wait to explore the world together! RSVP for this free event here.

Clubs
Winter & Spring Clubs Summary

Exciting new clubs are on their way for 2026!  

Click the flyer to the right to see a brief summary of all of the winter and spring clubs. Continue to the posts below for more information on those clubs starting in the next few weeks. Additional info on the others, coming soon!

All clubs meet from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at DES. We ask all families to volunteer for at least one session to make the club possible.

Financial assistance is available for ALL clubs. Please reach out to our guidance counselor Jaime Superczynski atjsupercszynski@aacps.orgfor more information.

Winter & Spring Clubs
Martial Arts
Martial Arts Winter Session

The DES Martial Arts Club is back for a new session starting Feb. 4! 

Open to all grades, students will learn the basics of self-defense through TaeKwonDo,Jiu-Jitsu, and Bullyproof. At the end of the 5-week session, students will be invited to the ECMA studio for a white belt and pizza party. 

Register here to join us this session.

Chess Club Winter Session

Silver Knights Chess Academy will return for a new 2026 Chess Club at DES! Click on the flyer to learn more

If you are a parent who has completed a fingerprint-supported background check through AACPS (or is willing to!) and is able to volunteer weekly at the club, your child can receive a free registration. This opportunity is available for up to two parent volunteers. 

Reach out to Brooke for more information. Register here!

Winter 2026 Chess
Volunteering
Host a Table at International Night

We're still accepting volunteers for Inernational Night! Sign up to host a cultural table on Friday, February 27. Add your name hereand include the country/culture you’re sharing. There’s always room at our table — let’s help the event take flight! 

Reach out to Ange Beegle with any questions.

En español

¡Toma su pasaporte (imaginario) y únase a nuestro viaje global! Inscríbase para organizar una mesa cultural en nuestra Noche Internacional, el viernes 27 de febrero de 2026, y comparta un país o una cultura con comida, artesanías, música, decoraciones o cualquier cosa significativa para su familia.

Añada su nombre aquí e incluya el país o la cultura que compartirá. Siempre hay espacio en nuestra mesa. ¡Ayudemos a que el evento sea un éxito!

Si tiene alguna pregunta, póngase en contacto con Ange Beegle.

From the Community
DoArt Workshop
Collage Coasters or Boxes

January 25, 2026

Davidsonville Family Rec Center 

1:00–3:30 PM

Come to our next Muddy Creek Artists Guild DoART event and make a collage on either a small box or set of coasters.  No prior art experience is necessary.  All ages are welcome.  All supplies needed for the workshop are provided in the cost of your registration. 

Don't delay! Register now. The DoART workshops are limited to 30 seats and sell out quickly.

Cost is $35 per person - click on this link to register >  DoArt Workshops | Muddy Creek Artists

DAA Lacrosse

Calling all girls ages K-5th! DAA girls lacrosse registration will be open Jan. 5 through Feb. 17 (with early bird pricing until Jan. 24!) and we'd love to see you out on the lacrosse field this spring!! 

  • Pee Wee (3rd/4th), Middie (5th/6th) and Juniors (7th/8th) 

    • $170 early bird, $180 regular

  • Sticklettes (K-2nd) 

    • $150 early bird, $160 regular

  • If you plan to coach, please reach out to us ahead of time at girlslax@daagators.org to receive a discount code prior to registration.

DAA Soccer
DAA Youth Development Soccer

Friday night soccer is back!  Youth Development Soccer is only held on Friday nights in the Spring which allows families to try something new without the multi-day commitment, as well as the flexibility to double sport.  Join your entire community at DAA on Friday nights, everyone will be there! 

  • Registration is OPEN! Register HERE
  • Season starts tentatively April 10th and runs for 8 weeks
  • Early Bird Registration accepted through January 31st $100, Regular Registration ends March 7th $125
  • U4 and U5 will play Friday 5:15pm-6:15pm (30m practice followed by a game)
  • U6 and U7 will play Friday 6:15pm-7:30pm (30m practice followed by a game)
  • If you plan to coach, please reach out ahead of time to youthdevelopment@daagators.org to receive a discount code/credit prior to registration.
Looking Ahead
Monday, January 12
2:30p Yoga Club
Thursday, January 15
End of second marking period
Friday, January 16
No school
Monday, January 19
No school
Tuesday, January 20
No school
Monday, January 26
2:30p Yoga Club
Monday, February 2
2:30p Yoga Club
Tuesday, February 3
7:00p PTO General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, February 4
2:30p Martial Arts Club
Thursday, February 5
2:30p Chess Club
4:30p Skate Night
Monday, February 9
2:30p Yoga Club
Tuesday, February 10
DES 2-hour early dismissal
Unity Day
PTO Executive Board 2025-2026

President: Amy Forney
VP Communications:
Samantha Rhinehardt & Nicole Desrochers
VP Volunteer Coordinator: Brooke Zingler
VP Fundraising: Alison Moser
Secretary: Brenna Raines
Treasurer: Jill Rosato
Assistant Treasurer: 
Mary Boese

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