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Originally delivered on 12/3/2023 5:01 pm

SUBJECT: Week of December 3 - 9, 2023

The DES PTO Gator Blast
The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of December 3 - 9, 2023

What's Happening This Week
Tuesday, December 5
Two-hour early dismissal - Project Unity Day
4:00p Holiday Shoppe
The News
Unity Day is this Tuesday!

Wear your orange to show your support and celebration of Unity Day!

Please note this is a two-hour early dismissal day!

Holiday Shoppe

The Holiday Shoppe is finally here! Come shop on Tuesday, December 5th, from 4-8 pm for unique, wrapped gifts for your family and friends. Fifth-grade elves will help students shop in the gym while their parents check out the bake sale, ornament sale, and mystery bag fundraiser in the cafeteria. This is a cash-only event. All items are $6 or less, so small bills are preferred. Don't forget a reusable tote bag to bring home your gifts. See you there!

2024 DES Ornament

The 2023-24 DES Ornament will be sold at the Holiday Shoppe on December 5th.  If you would like to reserve your ornament and pay by credit card, you can CLICK HERE to pre-order now! 

Ornaments are $5 each and will be sold for cash only at the Holiday Shoppe.

Bake Sale

The Holiday Shoppe Bake Sale is back!  

We need your help to make it a success. Please consider signing up to donate baked goods/treats/snacks for the event.

Click here for the Bake Sale Sign up!

This year, we will be raising money for a reusable bag initiative led by some of our fifth graders.

Mystery Bags Fundraiser

There will be a Mystery Bag Fundraiser at this year’s Holiday Shoppe. Each Mystery Bag is $20, with contents ranging from gift cards between $25-$100, DES spirit gear, and fun school prizes such as Silly String the Principal and extra recess for your class.

BUY ONE TODAY and pick out your bag in the cafeteria at the Holiday Shoppe.  Bags will be available for purchase in the cafeteria at the Holiday Shoppe but will be cash only at that time. Limited Quantity.

Gift cards have been donated from Prime IV, Chesapeake Car Wash, Killarney House, Green Turtle, Safeway, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bayside Bull, Fleet Feet, and  Blondie’s Donuts. Many thanks to our corporate donors!

DES Faculty Favorites

The PTO compiled a list of some of the school's faculty favorite things. We wanted to share it with you as the holiday season is fast approaching! Click here to access the Faculty Favorites List.

You can access the list anytime on our PTO website under the "DES Information" tab.

**Please note this list only has information from the staff members who shared it; it does not include all staff members.

2023 Coat Drive ends Tuesday

Our 2023 Coat Drive will begin on November 27 through the Holiday Shoppe event on December 5. You can drop your donation in the "gift-wrapped" collection boxes that will be in the main office!

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
Evening Volunteer Opportunity

* Teacher’s Elves

Tues/Fri Morning Media Help

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.

Holiday Shoppe - Parent Helpers

We are looking for volunteers to help with setup, work the actual event, and clean up. Please feel free to sign up for multiple time slots if you have the time to give. Click here to sign up to help at the Holiday Shoppe! Thank you. 

Coat Drive - Washing Volunteers

We are in need of a few parent volunteers to wash our gently used coats to prep them for donation. Please sign up if you're willing/able to wash 10-12 coats between December 6th and 9th! Thank you in advance for your generosity during this busy time!

Community
Family Link - December

Family Link is a monthly newsletter published by the AACPS Office of School & Family Partnerships. It includes helpful information about family engagement, ensuring a successful partnership with your child's teachers and school, dates to remember, and events happening around the county. Check out the December edition of Family Link here.   

AACPL - December Edgewater Library Happenings
The DES 2023 Toy Drive is accepting new toys!

Bring new toys and drop them off in the bin in the school's vestibule! This toy collection will support The Sharing Foundation. It is run by volunteers who help families in need in Anne Arundel County.

Looking Ahead
Tuesday, December 5
Two-hour early dismissal - Project Unity Day
4:00p Holiday Shoppe
Saturday, December 16
DES Toy Drive Ends
Monday, December 25
Schools & Central Offices closed - Winter Break
Tuesday, December 26
Schools & Central Offices closed - Winter Break
Wednesday, December 27
Schools & Central Offices closed - Winter Break
Thursday, December 28
Schools & Central Offices closed - Winter Break
Friday, December 29
Schools & Central Offices closed - Winter Break
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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