back to newsletters

Originally delivered on 1/7/2024 5:00 pm

SUBJECT: Week of January 7 - 13, 2024

The DES PTO Gator Blast
The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of January 7 - 13, 2024

What's Happening This Week
Tuesday, January 9
7:00p PTO General Meeting
The News
PTO General Membership Meeting

Our PTO General Membership meeting is this Tuesday, January 9, at 7 p.m. We would love to see new faces and familiar faces, too. Free childcare will be provided in the cafeteria by South River HS students during the meeting. from 7-8 p.m. for school-age children. Please click here to sign up so that we make sure we have enough childcare providers.

Fifth Grade Sentiments for Yearbook

Attention all Fifth Grade Parents! The Yearbook Committee needs your help to ensure your fifth-grade student is recognized in the DES Yearbook. For each fifth-grade student, please submit a baby picture and a 20-word sentiment of praise or encouragement to be published in the yearbook. Please keep your sentiment to 20 words so your message will fit in the available space. You may upload the baby picture and sentiment at the link below. When you upload your picture, please follow these instructions:

  • Click here to upload your baby picture and select that you are uploading a candid photo.
  • Upload your chosen photo, and when asked if you wish to upload more photos, select no.
  • Enter your student's first and last name as the photo's Caption.
  • Enter your sentiment of no more than 20 words in the Notes section of the photo.

The picture and sentiment are due no later than March 1, 2024. If you have questions or difficulty uploading your photos, please email desgatorsyearbook@gmail.com.

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

Our third Skate Night of the year is February 2!

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

Get your tickets here and skip the line!

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!

Candy Bar Bingo

Save the date! Candy Bar Bingo is coming on the evening of February 23! Check out the signup genius to help out with this event!

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!

Clubs
Last Call for Yoga Club!

Only a handful of spots are available. Registration closes tonight!

Click here to register.

Chess Club

To maximize the impact of instruction, we will have two chess club sessions this spring. One group will meet on Tuesdays and one on Wednesdays. Please check out the flyer for registration information. There are 30 spots in each session, so register as soon as possible to secure your spot! Registration will close on Sunday, January 28th, 2024.

Coming Soon

This spring, we will offer Lego Club (Kindergarten-2nd Grade), Spanish Club, Outdoors Club,  and Martial Arts Club! More information will be shared soon!


We have a lot of students interested in participating in the Run Club this spring, but we need two parent volunteers to lead the club! If you are interested in co-chairing the Run Club, please reach out to Brooke Zingler at vpvolunteers.pto.des@gmail.com 

Community
Family Link - January

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 January edition of Family Link here.  

Looking Ahead
Tuesday, January 9
7:00p PTO General Meeting
Friday, February 2
5:00p Skate Night #3 of 4
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

Quick Links
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -