PTA General – Page 3

Oct. 1 Dragoneer Updates

If you’ve been part of the Douglas family for a little while, you may remember our monthly enewsletter called The Dragoneer. Due to volunteer constraints and communication reorganization school-wide, we were discontinued that publication in the 2022-23 school year. Instead, we began to incorporate weekly announcements in Principal Faison-Bullock’s Sunday email as well as update the PTA community via our Facebook page. Knowing that not everyone is on Facebook, this year we’re taking a blog-first approach to communicating our updates. If there is something new to report, we’ll still incorporate updates in Principal Faison-Bullock’s weekly email and on Facebook — but we’ll be utilizing this space more than we have in previous years. The best way to stay informed of PTA happenings is by subscribing to our blog at douglaspta.com! On the upper right corner of our website, enter your email address and you’ll receive notifications of new PTA blog posts via your inbox or the Reader app.

With that said, here’s a summary of what’s headed your way from the PTA!

PTA General Meeting Slideshow

In case you missed the PTA General Meeting at the Back-to-School Open House, here’s a link to our slideshow. It’s never too late to join the PTA (it’s only $12 per family for the year and there are no volunteer requirements of members!). Membership simply shows your support and keeps you in the loop for volunteer opportunities, if you’re interested! Click here to join the PTA.

October 9-15: Quail Ridge Book Fair

Support Douglas Elementary October 9-15 at Quail Ridge Books! Just mention “Douglas Elementary School Book Fair” at checkout or use the coupon code “DOUGLAS1023” at online checkout. Quail Ridge Books will donate a portion of the sale to our wonderful school!

United Arts Artists in Schools Grant Awarded to Douglas, Plus Oct. 11 Didgeridoo Down Under Performance!

The United Arts Council awards noncompetitive grants to Wake County schools to help provide the Artists in Schools programs for staff and students. The funds support performances, writer residencies, and workshops that are geared towards school curriculum. Douglas has been awarded $1800 in grant funds, with our PTA funding the balance of the costs to bring in several artists.

Our first scheduled artist is Didgeridoo Down Under, a fusion of Australian music, culture, comedy, character building, anti-bullying, storytelling and audience participation. There will be two performances on October 11 for staff and students to enjoy!

There will be an additional performance, a writer residency for the third grade classes, and a fifth grade art project — all scheduled after January.

PTA Membership, Budget and Positions

We’re entering the third week of the school 2023-34 calendar year and your PTA Board is rolling up our sleeves to:

Support children’s health, well-being, and educational success
Build strong parent, family and community involvement
Provide funds for teacher and classroom resources
Support school volunteers
Support our school’s Cultural Arts programs
and so much more — but we can’t do it without you! We pay for these initiatives and programs through membership fees and fundraisers.

Action Item #1: Join the PTA

First and foremost, if you haven’t already, please join the PTA! (There are no volunteer requirements of members. Membership simply shows your support, and keeps you in the loop for volunteer opportunities, if interested.) PTA membership supports vital programs at Douglas that enrich your child’s education and help our talented teachers deliver the best classroom experiences possible. We are dedicated to creating the kind of school community where children can thrive and teachers and administrators can do their best work. Just by paying your $12 membership fee (tip: you must renew every year!), you can make a difference. We understand that money can be an issue, and we don’t want this to be a barrier to joining the PTA. Please reach out to your child’s teacher and let them know that you are still interested in joining.

Action Item #2: Vote at the First PTA General Meeting

Secondly, we are ready to present our proposed budget for this school year to meet the needs and ambitions of the PTA’s planned programs and activities. You can view the proposed budget here. In addition, we also have a proposed slate of 2023-24 PTA Executive Board positions that will fill current vacancies. Scroll down further in that link and you’ll also see other committee and open role needs that we need your help with. We will formally present both the budget and proposed executive board slate on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Open House Night and PTA General Meeting. We’ll need PTA members (see action item #1!) to vote on both of these items.

With your membership and support, our school can thrive. We’re looking forward to getting started together!

The Variety Show & Morning Show Auditions

Does your Dragon have a talent in singing, dancing, playing an instrument, telling jokes, reading poetry or something else? Sign up to audition to be in the Douglas Elementary School Annual Variety Show! This show is open to all students PreK-fifth grade. If you are in fifth grade and have a passion to host a live show, then we are also looking for you! You must audition as well. Please be prepared with at least two jokes to tell the judges. The Variety Show will take place on May 18 during school hours, as well as on the evening of May 19. A live stream will also be available for the night of May 19. If you are in fifth grade and have interest in photography and/or videography, please indicate on the form. We are also looking for two students to run the live stream on the night of May 19 and someone to take pictures.

We will also be auditioning for our new talent show called The Daily Dragon Performances. Students who are selected to perform in The Daily Dragon performances will only perform on the morning announcement on the days that will be selected.

All students that would like to participate in auditions must turn in a permission form by Friday, April 14. Paper forms that we sent home in folders can be dropped off to the folder by Ms. Hailey’s classroom or simply fill out this Google form. Once registered, each student will be assigned a time that they will come to the cafeteria to audition. Auditions will take place on April 18 from 1:40-3 p.m. and April 19 from 1:40-3 p.m.

But that’s not all. We need volunteers to help pull off this amazing event! Please consider volunteering to help us make auditions run smoothly and efficiently and most of all FUN! Sign up here to be an audition helper.

Please email any questions to des.dragonevents@gmail.com.

Douglas Magnet Elementary Named Magnet Schools of America 2023 School of Distinction

Douglas Creative Arts & Science Magnet Elementary School has earned recognition from Magnet Schools of America (MSA) for their academic excellence, commitment to diversity and community engagement. Douglas Magnet Elementary School was named a 2023 National Magnet School of Distinction by MSA, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools.

MSA national merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement. To be considered for a merit award, member schools must submit an application that is scored by a panel of educators.

MSA is a nonprofit organization that provides support and assistance to magnet schools across the nation and represents approximately 4,300 magnet and theme-based schools nationwide.

Way to go, Dragons!

Thanksgiving Pies for Teachers

Any way you slice it, we’re thankful for our Douglas teachers and staff! Show your gratitude to them this Thanksgiving and gift a Douglas teacher or staff member a delicious pie.

Pies are $11 and sales support our neighbors at Sanderson High School’s Academy of Finance. The specific flavor of pie will be determined by the PTA. Pies will be delivered directly to the school on Nov. 21. You do not need to do anything after finalizing your purchase! Easy peasy!

We have close to 85 employees and we’d love to show our thanks each and every amazing Douglas staff member with a pie. Please purchase your pies by the end of the day, Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Thank you for supporting our awesome teachers and staff!

Dragon Fire is Here!

Dragon Fire — Douglas Elementary’s annual no-fuss fundraiser — starts today! Dragon Fire is one of our two main fundraisers for Douglas, and it raises money for programs, equipment and other needs that benefit our children and school. 100% of the funds raised go to Douglas. No selling stuff to friends and family!

Your gift matters. Any amount you’re able to contribute makes a difference. The PTA pools these funds together to make a bigger impact than any of us can do alone. Increase your impact by asking your employer if they’ll match your donation (our tax ID is 56-1644792)!

Our goal is to raise $16,000 in the 16 school days of November.

The $16,000 will allow PTA to fund: