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Originally delivered on 4/26/2026 12:00 pm

SUBJECT: The Gator Blast: April 26, 2026

The Gator Blast

April 26, 2026

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

The DES PTO Gator Blast
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

This year we will be celebrating our amazing DES teachers and staff with a rock and roll theme.

📅 Week ofMay 4th - 8th

🎶🎸Our DES Teachers and Staff Rock!🎸🎶

We have lots of special things planned for our amazing DES teachers and staff and we need your help!  

Click on the flyer for the different ways you can join in the fun of celebrating our teachers and staff throughout the week. 

🌟The first way your student can participate is to have your student complete THIS COLORING PAGE for a teacher or staff member (or feel free to complete more than one!) and return to the school by Monday, May 4th.  A hard copy of the coloring page will also be distributed in the students' Wednesday folders this week. These will be displayed in the school throughout the week and given to the teachers and staff after the week concludes! 

Thank you for helping us to show our amazing teachers and staff appreciation for all they do for our school community!

Volunteering
Book Fair Volunteers Needed

Our school Book Fair starts on Friday THIS WEEK and we need volunteers to make it a huge success. If you are able to, please consider lending a hand for a shift (or 2 or 3!😉). SIGN UP HERE!

Opportunities to assist include:

Lend a table • Fair set up • Helping student shoppers • Social Night • Checkout • Fair clean up 

Contact your Book Fair Chairperson, Nicole Desrochers, with any questions.

Events
Join Us NEXT Monday!!!

Just one more week until our Book Fair Social!!! 

Join us Monday, May 4th, from 5:30–7:30 PM in the gym & bus-side parking lot for FREE Melvo snow cones for the kids, outdoor games, book fair shopping, and celebrating the love of reading together.  

Bring the whole family for a fun evening of books, friends, and community! 

Fundraising
Book Fair Opens THIS WEEK!

Our annual Scholastic Book Fair opens this Friday!  

Students with money or an eWallet may visit the Fair during their recess period and shop all of Scholastic's wonderful choices from May 1 - May 8.  Find more information HERE or in the flyers sent home in last week's Wednesday folders.

eWallet is the convenient, secure digital payment option for the Fair. It's the easy way for kids to shop independently for books they want to read, and easy for others to contribute funds. You can set up an eWallet from our DES Fair homepage.

Gator Gear Flash Sale – 25% Off for 2 Weeks Only!

Don’t miss our Gator Gear Flash Sale — happening for 2 weeks only! Take 25% off all items with a special promo code until May 10.

It’s the perfect chance to grab spirit wear for summer, size up for next year, or snag a few extras for family members who love to show their Gator pride. From t-shirts to hoodies, once these items are gone, they’re gone!

🛒 Use promo code: SPRING25 at checkout
📦 Limited inventory! Shop early for the best selection! 

May 18: Eat at Chick-fil-A & Earn for DES

Mark your calendars for our next Dining Out for DES fundraiser! Join us on Monday, May 18 (open–close) at Chick-fil-A Edgewater for a delicious way to support our school. A portion of all sales will be donated back to the DES PTO — every meal makes a difference!

How to participate:

  • Dine in or Drive Thru: Be sure to mention the DES fundraiser before you pay.
  • Mobile Orders: Enter code GATORS and opt into our Spirit Night before checkout.

Bring your family, invite friends, and enjoy a night off from cooking — all while giving back to DES. We hope to see you there!

Information from your PTO
Helped Wanted!

The PTO has purchased two outdoor sheds that will be used to store outdoor toys and other items.  They will be delivered next week and we are looking for a volunteer (or two) to put them together next weekend (May 2nd or 3rd). 

Reach out to Mary Boese asttreasurer.pto.des@gmail.com for more information.  

Mark Your Calendar

Our next PTO General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 p.m. in the DES Media Center. Come hear more about our end of year events and planning for the 2026-2027 school year.

There is no need to register; you can just show up! We hope you are able to join us! 

From the Community
Blue Line BBQ Brawl and Touch A Truck

The Anne Arundel County Police Department's Southern District is hosting thier 4th annual Blue Line BBQ Brawl and Touch A Truck event on May 23rd at the Field of Grace, located at 198 Mt. Zion Marlboro Road in Lothian.

Click on the flyer for more details.

They are currently seeking additional BBQ competitors.  Ribs and chicken will be provided for the competition. Each competitor is responsible for providing a specialty dish for the People's Choice award. This can be any dish of thier choice, provided there is enough to serve small samples to approximately 150 people.

Looking Ahead
Monday, April 27
2:30p Yoga Club
Tuesday, April 28
2:30p Lego Club - Grades 3-5
Wednesday, April 29
2:30p Spanish Club
2:30p Lego Club - Grades K-2
Thursday, April 30
2:30p Chess Club
Friday, May 1
Book Fair
Monday, May 4
Teacher Appreciation Week
Book Fair
5:30p Book Fair Family Social
Tuesday, May 5
Teacher Appreciation Week
Book Fair
2:30p Lego Club - Grades 3-5
Wednesday, May 6
Teacher Appreciation Week
Book Fair
2:30p Lego Club - Grades K-2
Thursday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Week
Book Fair
2:30p Chess Club
Friday, May 8
Teacher Appreciation Week
Book Fair
Monday, May 11
2:30p Yoga Club
Tuesday, May 12
2:30p Lego Club - Grades 3-5
7:00p PTO General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 13
2:30p Lego Club - Grades K-2
Friday, May 15
Field Day
Monday, May 18
Dining Out for DES @ Chick-fil-A
2:30p Yoga Club
Thursday, May 21
9:00a Kindergarten/New Student Orientation
Monday, May 25
No school - Memorial 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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