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Originally delivered on 2/25/2024 6:01 pm

SUBJECT: Week of February 25 - March 2, 2024

The DES PTO Gator Blast
The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of February 25 - March 2, 2024

What's Happening This Week
Wednesday, February 28
DES' Annual Talent Show
The News
LAST CALL! - 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.

The DES Talent Show is this Wednesday!
Gator Gear

Check out the new website and get your gear today. 

Gator Gear online shop website!

We will also have gator gear for sale at Candy Bar Bingo. All inventory we have on hand will be sold at discounted rates.

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!

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
Fundraising
Candy Bar Bingo - Thank you!

Thank you so much to all the families who came out to play bingo! We had a full house, and everyone had a blast!

Book Fair

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school. To make the Fair run smoothly, we are powered by parent volunteers. Please consider volunteering for a shift or 2 (or more!) 

●     Friday, 3/15 through Friday, 3/22, during student recess hours        (parents are welcome to join their student during their recess period to shop if desired)

●     Fri 3/15, from 5-8 pm, the book fair will be accompanied by a fun student/parent social with sweet treats that will take place in conjunction with the student Science Fair set up in the school media center

●     Please enter through the DES gymnasium doors

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the book fair begins, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

If you can’t make it to the Fair, shop online!  All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. 

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping.

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 Opportunities

We will hold another Fingerprint Event on March 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Getting fingerprinted through AACPS allows you to volunteer at all levels (read to your child's class, volunteer at holiday parties, chaperone field trips, run an after-school club, etc.) and last your child's entire school career at AACPS. Click here to learn more about fingerprint-supported events and sign up for a timeslot to get fingerprinted.

Clubs
Registration open for Martial Arts Club


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

Click here to register!

Chess Club Scholarship Opportunity

Magnus Chess Club Academy is willing to offer a full scholarship to a student whose parent is able to volunteer weekly with the Wednesday Chess Club. The parent must also be fingerprinted (or willing to get fingerprinted through AACPS). Please reach out to Brooke Zingler at vpvolunteers.pto.des@gmail.com if you would like to hear more about this opportunity. 

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!

Community
AACPL -March
AACPD - Southern District

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

Students can 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 access the Summer Program Application Portal.

Looking Ahead
Wednesday, February 28
DES' Annual Talent Show
Tuesday, March 12
7:00p PTO General Meeting
Friday, March 15
Book Fair Begins & Social
AACPS Summer Programs 2024 applications ends
Friday, March 22
12:00a Book Fair 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.

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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