The Gator Blast

December 14, 2025

Brought to you by the Davidsonville Elementary School (DES) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Information From Your PTO

🐊 Gator Blast Update! 🐊

This weekend's Gator Blast will be our last Blast of the year since winter break is two weeks long this year.

Wishing all of our DES families a wonderful holiday season filled with rest, joy, and special time with your loved ones. 💚✨

We'll be back in business on Sunday, January 4, with a fresh new Gator Blast. See you in 2026, gators!

❄️This Week: Our Annual Winter Concerts 🎶

The DES Music Department is thrilled to invite you to our annual Winter Concerts, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of our student musicians!

Band & Chorus will perform Monday, December 15 at 6 p.m.
Strings will perform Tuesday, December 16 at 6 p.m.

Yoga mat donations needed

Our music department is reaching out to our amazing DES community in search of 15 gently used yoga mats that you may be willing to part with that will be used for a special activity.

If you are able to donate, please contact Mrs. Norris at eznorris@aacps.org

Yearbook Cover Contest for Fifth Graders

DES 5th Graders: do you love to draw and design? We need your help to design the cover for this year's DES yearbook! One student's drawing will be chosen as the cover; Mrs. Wuest must receive entries by January 5, 2026.

Click here or on the flyer image for additional important details about the design rules.

Events

DES Family Movie Night

Kick off the new year with a cozy night at school! Families are invited to join us on Friday, January 9, 2026, for the next Movie Night hosted by the DES PTO. Bring your comfiest blankets and settle in for a fun evening together. Mark your calendar and RSVP to join us!

Fundraising

Ticket Drawing Winners

Our first ticket drawing was a smashing success! Thank you to everyone who entered. The following have won packages and have been notified. Reach out to Alison Moser with any questions.

Annapolis Blues Package: Kels Crockett
Erin Link Photography Package: Benita Stentiford
Thrive Gym Package: Antonio Moreno
Yoga Factory Package: Chelsey Hockler
Mathnasium Package: Melissa Jakubik
Alloy Training Package: Jillian Rosato
VIP parking spot for DES events (2026-2027 school year): Kelly Yancey
Principal for the Day: Katie Nugent
Lunch on the Roof: Alexia Geary
Announcements Co-Host for a Week: Oliver Kurgansky
Afternoon Announcement Caller in the Office: Pravina Raghavan
Classroom Captain for the Day: Alex Kurgansky
Art Experience: Kristen Archambault
PE Assistant for Kindergarten: Kristen Zak

Dining Out Success

Thanks to everyone who grabbed a bite to eat at Chick-fil-A for our second Dining Out for DES! We raised a total of $465.05 that will go back directly to our school community. Another big thanks to Jaymie Minor for organizing the event.

Clubs

Yoga Club Winter Session

Robin Countryman with Whole Kids Yoga is returning for Winter Yoga Club at DES! The club is open to students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade. The club meets on Mondays from January 5th-March 9th.

Click the flyer for more information!

Space is limited; Sign up here!

Chess Club Winter Session

Silver Knights Chess Academy will return for a Spring 2026 Chess Club at DES! Click on the flyer to learn more.

If you are a parent who has completed a fingerprint supported background check through AACPS (or is willing to!) and able to volunteer weekly at the club, your child can receive a free registration. This opportunity is available for up to two parent volunteers.

Reach out to Brooke for more information.

Volunteering

DES Volunteer Spotlight

As we wrap up the year, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate our incredible volunteers. Your time, energy, and dedication have made a meaningful impact on our school community, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you to everyone who has made copies, donated items, helped with set up and clean up of events, and so much more! We look forward to seeing you in 2026!

The PTO would like to give a special shoutout to the volunteers who made the 2025 Holiday Shoppe possible.

A HUGE thank you to Sophia Celino, Kristen Dixon, and Ashley Shoelkopf who planned and executed the special event. The time and care you put into ordering presents, organizing gift wrappers, finding volunteers, and running the event made for a special night for all!

Thank you to Laura Korba and Nicole Szabo who trained and managed over 50 fifth grade elves (no small task)!

Thank you all for making the Holiday Shoppe a night the students will remember!

International Night Awaits!

Grab your (imaginary) passport and join our global journey! Sign up to host a cultural table at our International Night on Friday, February 27, 2026, and share a country or culture with food, crafts, music, decorations, or anything meaningful to your family.

Add your name here, and include the country/culture you’re sharing. There’s always room at our table — let’s help the event take flight!

Reach out to Ange Beegle with any questions.

En español

¡Toma su pasaporte (imaginario) y únase a nuestro viaje global! Inscríbase para organizar una mesa cultural en nuestra Noche Internacional, el viernes 27 de febrero de 2026, y comparta un país o una cultura con comida, artesanías, música, decoraciones o cualquier cosa significativa para su familia.

Añada su nombre aquí e incluya el país o la cultura que compartirá. Siempre hay espacio en nuestra mesa. ¡Ayudemos a que el evento sea un éxito!

Si tiene alguna pregunta, póngase en contacto con Ange Beegle.

From the Desks at AACPS

2026–27 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education approved the 2026-2027 calendar at its last meeting. You can see the approved calendar here.

From the Community

DAA Lacrosse

Calling all girls ages K-5th! DAA girls lacrosse registration will be open Jan. 5 through Feb. 17 (with early bird pricing until Jan. 24!) and we'd love to see you out on the lacrosse field this spring!!

Pee Wee (3rd/4th), Middie (5th/6th) and Juniors (7th/8th)
- $170 early bird, $180 regular
Sticklettes (K-2nd)
- $150 early bird, $160 regular
If you plan to coach, please reach out to us ahead of time at girlslax@daagators.org to receive a discount code prior to registration.

We hope to see you out there this spring!!

Looking Ahead

Monday, December 15

6:00p Winter Concert: Band & Chorus

Tuesday, December 16

6:00p Winter Concert: Strings

Thursday, December 18

2:30p Chess Club

Friday, December 19

Polar Express Day

Monday, December 22

Winter break - No school