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Originally delivered on 3/10/2024 8:18 pm

SUBJECT: Week of March 10 - 16, 2024

The DES PTO Gator Blast
The DES PTO Gator Blast

Week of March 10 - 16, 2024

What's Happening This Week
Friday, March 15
Book Fair Begins & Social
AACPS Summer Programs 2024 applications ends
The News
*** The March PTO General Membership Meeting is being rescheduled. ***

The date of the next meeting has yet to be decided and will be advertised in the next Gator Blast.

Teacher Luncheon

The PTO will host a Teacher Luncheon on Tuesday, 3/19. If you would like to volunteer your time or donate items, please see the sign-up here. 


The Gator Gallop is coming!

On Saturday, May 4, join us for a fun morning at DAA Park with the entire family! 

Support DES while completing:

  • 5K
  • 1 Mile (kids only)
  • 100-yard Gallop (kids only)

 Enjoy the pre-race warm-up, spirit sign-making, mascot chase, & post-race snacks! 

Click here to sign up today!

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, APRIL 5 

Book Fair and Family Social

Join us this Friday, March 15, from 5-8 pm! Families can shop our book fair, enjoy activities and sweet treats at our family social, Blast Off to Reading, and admire the creativity of our student Science Fair in the media center. Scroll down for more details!

Blast Off to the Book Fair!
DES' Annual Book Drive
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.

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
Fundraising Poll - closes at midnight tonight!

We have such a wonderful, generous community here at DES and are fortunate to be able to raise funds each year to support our children and faculty in meaningful ways. The PTO cannot do what we do without fundraising. We want to ensure we are doing it right and hosting fundraisers that people want to get involved with. 

Please take a few minutes to complete this poll so we can do more of what you like and less of what you don’t.

Book Fair

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way!

Here’s what you need to know:  

  • The book fair will be open 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. *Sign-in at the main office is required.
  • During the evening of Fri 3/15, from 5-8 pm, parents will have the chance to shop WITH their little bookworms while also enjoying activities and sweet treats at our family social, Blast Off to Reading, and admiring the creativity of our student Science Fair in the media center.
  • Please enter through the DES gymnasium doors on the bus side of the school.

We need volunteers to help pull off this huge event (*especially during our Fri evening social!), so please consider helping if you can. No experience is necessary. Sign up here!

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. 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. (*Please note MD state taxes will be added to every purchase, so please consider this if setting up an eWallet account)

Online Book Fair shopping is also available, shipping directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.  

Setting up eWallet and online shopping can be accessed on our DES Book Fair website here.

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.


  • Science Fair judges needed! We need 9 people to judge the Science Fair (ISEC) projects our 3rd-5th graders worked so hard on! Judges will need to report to the school on March 12th at 2:30 pm. 

Click here to sign up if you are interested in being a judge! No previous experience is needed. 

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!

Community
Job/career Fair - Southern High School

The Southern Anne Arundel Community is invited to attend the upcoming Job/Career Fair at Southern High School on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, from 4-6 pm, held in the Tom Albright GYM. Community members seeking jobs or careers are welcome to attend this public event. Registration is requested but not required. We have about 35 local businesses and organizations ready to interview and hire!

During the school day, Southern High School students will be attending this event to learn soft skills, ask questions about careers, and seek employment opportunities.

Both of these programs are sponsored by Southern High School Business & Community Advisory Board (BCAB), Southern High Signature Department, Southern High School Internship Program, Southern High College and Career Center, and Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC) Leap Into Career Success program.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Julia Howes at 410-867-3129.

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
Friday, March 15
Book Fair Begins & Social
AACPS Summer Programs 2024 applications ends
Tuesday, March 19
Two-hour early dismissal - Project Unity Day
Friday, March 22
12:00a Book Fair Ends
Monday, March 25
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Tuesday, March 26
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Wednesday, March 27
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Thursday, March 28
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Friday, March 29
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Saturday, March 30
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Sunday, March 31
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Monday, April 1
Schools & Central Offices closed. Easter/Spring Break.
Friday, April 5
5:00p Skate Night #4 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.

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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