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Originally delivered on 10/29/2023 5:01 pm

SUBJECT: Week of October 29 - November 4, 2023

The DES PTO Gator Blast
The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of October 29 - November 4, 2023

What's Happening This Week
Monday, October 30
Two-hour early dismissal - End of first marking period
Tuesday, October 31
Two-hour early dismissal - End of first marking period
8:30a Halloween Parade
Wednesday, November 1
Schools closed for elementary and middle school ONLY
Friday, November 3
5:00p Skate Night #2 of 4
The News
Halloween Parade

The students will parade around the outside of the school at 8:30 a.m. Families are welcome to join in outside during this time. No check-in is required as this is an outside activity. Please remember there are no pets allowed on school property and no smoking

As an end to our Harvest for the Hungry food drive, we ask that parents bring a canned good, and we will have a wagon rolling around picking up donations.

World of Kindness Event

DES PTO will be hosting an evening event on Nov. 9 from 6-8 p.m., where students are invited to participate in random acts of kindness in partnership with our Raise Craze fundraiser. 

Activities include a candy drop off to be sent to our troops currently deployed (perfect time to get rid of the last of your Halloween candy and put a smile on someone else's face), painting kindness rocks, a gratitude corner for students to engage led by Robin Countryman from our yoga club, coloring bookmarks to be distributed by Edgewater Public Library, coffee cup holders to be handed out at Black Market Bakers, and more! 

Our goal with this event is to empower students and their families to show our community just how kind Davidsonville Elementary is. 

This will be an event for students and their families, and, as such, this is NOT a drop-off event. 

To see all of the ways you can help out at this event, click here

Attention DES 5th Graders!

Do you love to draw? We need your help to design the cover for this year’s yearbook! One drawing will be chosen as the cover for our 2023-2024 yearbook! 

Entries must be received by November 27th! See the attached flyer for more details!  

DES 2023 Toy Drive

This toy collection will support an organization called The Sharing Foundation. It is run by volunteers, and they help the working needy in Anne Arundel County. DES has supported this organization for years by holding a toy drive. Additionally, this organization has helped and will continue to support some of our DES families. 

Employer Giving Incentives

Please check with your employer on employee giving and corporate donation program opportunities. The PTO is a nonprofit (EIN 52-2358390), and many employers offer incentives resulting in contributions. Some offer matching of what the employee gives, a monetary donation from an employer for every hour the employee donates to the PTO, and allowing donations to come out of paychecks pre-tax. Based on what our DES families have arranged with their employers, we already have incoming donations from Nationwide and Microsoft! Do you have questions or need help? Contact Lisa at treasurer.pto.des@gmail.com.

Fundraising
Skate Night

Come roll with us at our second Skate Night of the year! 

We can't wait to see our gators having a rolling good time!

Get your tickets here and skip the line!

Raise Craze - Fundraising for Kindness is an event in which students will fundraise in exchange for performing random acts of kindness over a two-week period, November 6-17. Two in-person events will support Raise Craze, World of Kindness, and Wrap-Up Clean Up. Look for more information in take-home folders, on Facebook, and right here in the Gator Blast to kick off this FUN fundraiser and continue our year of kindness at DES.

We are looking for volunteers to support this fundraiser - please review and register for opportunities here.

And don’t forget about our Spirit Days to get the students excited!

Tuesday, 11/7: Mr. Rogers Day (wear red!)

Thursday, 11/9: Peace, Love, and Kindness Day (wear tie-dye!)

Tuesday, 11/14: Character Kindness Day (dress as your favorite kind character!)

Thursday, 11/16: Taylor Swift Day (wear all things Swiftie!)

Volunteer

To get involved, please check out the General SignUp Genius for the current volunteering opportunities. Be sure to navigate through the tabs to see all the current options!

Volunteer Info

We have a bunch of new volunteer opportunities coming up! More information about each can be found by clicking the hyperlinks and reading the descriptions below the table.

Daytime Volunteer Opportunities
Weekend/Evening Volunteer Opportunities

* Kindness Kickoff Parent Tunnel

* Teacher’s Elves

Tues/Fri Morning Media Help

Fall School Yard Cleanup

A World of Kindness Event

Become part of the Kindness Crew! Help us prepare for our Raise Craze fundraiser and World of Kindness Event by joining our Kindness Crew

Library Help: Ms.Kaiser needs help in the media center on Tuesday and Friday mornings to check in books. If you can help, please get in touch with Ms. Kaiser directly at ckaiser@aacps.org.

Teacher's Elves

If you would like to volunteer by making copies for teachers, sign up here! Please call before going into the school to make sure there are copies to be made that day!

Fingerprinting Event

DES will host a fingerprint event on November 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The fingerprint-supported background check allows you to volunteer on multiple levels and lasts your child's entire school career at AACPS! 

Go to DES Fingerprint Event for more information!

Clubs
Spelling Club

Students in grades 3 through 5 are invited to join our brand new Spelling Club for games and interactive exercises as we explore spelling skills! Register here!

Community
AACPS - Strategic Plan Survey

As the first formal step toward drafting a five-year plan that is reflective of the community, Anne Arundel County Public Schools invites all members of the community to participate in a survey.

Facilitated by Insight Education Group, the survey and strategic plan development process will capture various perspectives from students, staff, families, organizations, businesses, and other partners to coordinate a comprehensive plan that promotes the best outcomes for students.

The survey can be accessed at www.aacps.org/strategicplansurvey, and feedback will be accepted through noon on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

Cleaning out closets?

While cleaning out your closets in the upcoming weeks, please set aside new and gently used coats for our annual coat drive. More information about the collection will be shared soon!

Looking Ahead
Monday, October 30
Two-hour early dismissal - End of first marking period
Tuesday, October 31
Two-hour early dismissal - End of first marking period
8:30a Halloween Parade
Wednesday, November 1
Schools closed for elementary and middle school ONLY
Friday, November 3
5:00p Skate Night #2 of 4
Monday, November 6
Raise Craze Fundraiser - Fundraising Through Kindness Begins
Thursday, November 9
6:00p World of Kindness Event
Tuesday, November 14
5:30p Fingerprinting Event
7:00p PTO General Meeting
Thursday, November 16
DES Toy Drive Starts
Friday, November 17
Raise Craze Fundraiser - Fundraising Through Kindness Ends
Saturday, November 18
Fall Schoolyard Cleanup
Monday, November 20
Schools closed for all students - Parent/teacher conferences
Tuesday, November 21
Schools closed for all students - Parent/teacher conferences
Wednesday, November 22
Schools and Central Offices Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, November 23
Schools and Central Offices Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24
Schools and Central Offices Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday, November 27
8:00a Yearbook Cover Contest Ends
Haven't joined the PTO yet?

What are you waiting for?! 🤔

Thank you to all the families that have already paid their dues! In addition to supporting our students and staff, these families have access to our Family Directory and voting rights at our PTO General Membership meetings.

Click here to join the PTO and help support our mission.

Family membership forms can be accessed by going to 

"My Account">"My Forms/Paperwork">"PTO Membership 2023-24"

For any questions about updating your information, completing the membership form, or signing up for the blast, please email Sam Rhinehardt at vpcomms.pto.des@gmail.com.

PTO Executive Board 2023/2024:

President – Robyn Davis
VP Communications – 
Samantha Rhinehardt
VP Volunteer Coordinator – 
Brooke Zingler
VP Fundraising – 
Mary Boese
Secretary – 
Amy Forney
Treasurer – 
Lisa Frid
Asst. Treasurer – 
Brenna Raines

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