The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of February 11 - 17, 2024

What's Happening This Week

Tuesday, February 13

7:00p PTO General Meeting - Rescheduled from January

The News

Order your yearbook today!

Don’t miss out on this year’s school memories, and get your order in today! This year’s yearbook cover was designed by one of our very own creative 5th-grade students, to be revealed when the yearbooks are distributed!

We are always looking for photos to include in the yearbook. If you have photos you think would be perfect for this year’s yearbook, you can submit them here. We are currently looking for photos from the following:

Winter music concert
Holiday Shoppe
Social Events
Grade-specific candid photos
5th Grade Sentiment Photos

The 2024 application window for summer camp and learning enhancement programs opened on Friday, February 9, and will stay open through March 15.

Studentscano apply for programs based on their current grade level for the 2023-2024 school year. For more information, click here to access the AACPS summer programs page.

Click here to view the 2024 Summer Programs Catalog.

Click here to access the Summer Program Application Portal.

Printer Cartridge Needs

The school needs toner for their color printers, which require genuine HP cartridges. If you, your business, or someone you know would like to donate a toner, please give/ship it to Amy Luckett in the main office. If you have any questions or want to donate toward purchasing a cartridge so the PTO can purchase it tax-free, please get in touch with Lisa Frid at treasurer.pto.des@gmail.com. While you could purchase anywhere that sells genuine cartridges, we recently purchased through the direct links found here and know they work well!

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.

Fundraising

Skate Night - Thank you!

Thank you to all the families who came out to our third Skate Night on Friday!

We had a fantastic turnout and raised $2,390!

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

Please join the PTO on February 23 for Candy Bar Bingo! RSVP here to let us know how many people in your party will attend. You can also pre-order a large cheese pizza to enjoy at the event and take away the stress of planning dinner that night!

We are in need of donations of snacks, drinks, and candy bars to make this event a blast! Check out the signup genius to see how you can help!

Donate items for Candy Bar Bingo Here!

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

Lego Club

Spring Lego Club sign-ups are now open for first-timers! Returning students will have a chance to sign up next week. :)

Please note we are only taking kindergarten through 2nd grade for the spring season. We are looking forward to seeing all the creative builds the kids will come up with this spring!

We kindly ask that parents volunteer for at least one session, if possible (encouraged but not required) - please see the sign-up link below.

K-2 student register here.

Volunteers sign up here.

Registration open for Martial Arts Club

The club will meet on Mondays starting April 15; see the flyer for details.

Click here to register!

Spanish Club Registration is open

Do you have a student in 3rd - 5th grade interested in learning some español? ¡Excelente! The Spanish club is back!

Click here to register.

Green Club

Green Club would like to share an excellent opportunity to cut down on plastic bags, simplify lunch packing, and support a local company!

With the recent AACO ban on plastic grocery bags, this is the perfect time to keep those practices going in these and other areas.

See the flyer for a special discount code just for DES Families!

To order, click here!

Running Club

We have a lot of students interested in participating in the Run Club this spring, but we are still looking for 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

Girls Lacrosse Early Bird Registration until February 15!

Calling all girls ages K-5- we would love to see you out on the lacrosse field this spring! Below is an outline of some key dates and information for the 2024 spring season.

Registration will be open from January 8th through February 29th. Early bird pricing will be available until February 15th- all registrations after February 15th will not receive the early bird discount.

Pee Wee (3rd/4th), Middie (5th/6th) and Juniors (7th/8th) will start the week of March 11th with games starting the weekend of March 23rd. Cost: $160 early bird, $180 regular
Sticklette (K-2nd) season will start the week of April 1st with games starting the weekend of April 20th. Cost: $140 early bird, $160 regular

The season end date for all leagues is final games the weekend of May 18th.

Registration Link : https://daagators.org/

We hope to see you out there this spring!! Please email girlslax@daagators.org with any questions!

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, February 13

7:00p PTO General Meeting - Rescheduled from January

Monday, February 19

Schools and Central Offices Closed - President's Day

Friday, February 23

Candy Bar Bingo

Wednesday, February 28

DES' Annual Talent Show

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.

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.

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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SUBJECT: Week of February 11 - 17, 2024