March 4, 2024 – Dolphin Digest TPES PTA Weekly Newsletter

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In this issue: 

  1. PTA Meeting: TOMORROW Tuesday, March 5, 7-8 pm
  2. STEM Night @ TPES: Thursday, March 7, 7-8 pm
  3. The 2024 TPES Read-a-thon is here
  4. Lost and found items in the Atrium must be claimed by Thursday night, 3/
  5. The 2024 TPES Read-a-thon is here
  6. Book Fair Committee Volunteers Needed
  7. Takoma Park Children’s Business Fair Applications Open March 1-15
  8. Cheer on D.C. United and Support TPES PTA: April 27, 7:30pm 
  9. Volunteers for First Grade Media Class Needed
  10. Donate Cardboard Tubes
  11. Cleaning Supply Donations Needed for PreK
  12. Seeking Volunteers to Join Teacher Appreciation Committee 
  13. Upcoming TPES Events 
  1. PTA Meeting: TOMORROW Tuesday, March 5, 7-8 pm

Please join us for our next joint-PTA meeting between TPES and PBES PTAs. Ms. Sue Anderson, TPES Library Media Specialist, will discuss keeping children safe online, including built-in safeguards on MCPS-issued Chromebooks. Zoom link will be emailed the day of the meeting.

  1. STEM Night @ TPES: Thursday, March 7, 7-8 pm

Please save the date for this community-favorite event at TPES! More information will be coming but expect fun, hands-on activities throughout the school for this special evening!

  1. Lost and found items in the Atrium must be claimed by Thursday night, 3/7

Please take some time to peruse the lost and found items in the atrium, which will be available at STEM Night this Thursday. Any items remaining after STEM Night, will be donated.

  1. The 2024 TPES Read-a-thon is here!

Please continue to read and record your minutes. Reading logs for week 3 are due on Friday. Find more information on the Readathon (including extra reading logs) here.

  1. Book Fair Committee Volunteers Needed

Our PTA is planning our first-ever Bookworm Central on-site book fair (a local Northern Virginia-based book fair company) for the week of April 15 (Preview Day on April 12), and there is much to do to ensure it is a successful and fun event for all. Our coordinators need help on the Book Fair Committee to assist with the following in the lead-up to the on-site Fair:

  • Recruiting volunteers for Book Fair shifts
  • Organizing food truck / evening social event the week of the on-site Fair
  • Setting up and breaking down the Book Fair
  • Hanging up pre-fair marketing signs
  • Helping with collecting and disbursing the financial gains from the Fair

The Book Fair is always a fun event for the kids and a great opportunity to raise funds for the school.  Please consider joining us!  Please email Claire at clairecdean@gmail.com or our Book Fair account at bookfair@tpespta.net if you have any ability to help (however small!).

Also, as a reminder, our online book fair is still accessible with loads of books for all ages at:  https://www.bookwormcentral.com/TakomaPark  You can purchase books and 15 percent of the proceeds come back to our school.  You can also purchase books for the Media Center directly at the bottom of the page (“Book Drive”).

  1. Takoma Park Children’s Business Fair Applications Open March 1-15
    Takoma Park Children’s Business Fair is a one-day marketplace that allows children to develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, then showcase to the community.This event is hosted by local parents, the majority of funding is sponsored by Takoma Park business owners, and the generous support of our community volunteers.  We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.

    WHO: Children Age 6-14
    How many booths / children will be participating this year: 50 booths and up to 150 children!
    WHEN: Saturday May 4th between 10am – 2pm (Rain date: May 11th)
    WHERE: Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD

Applications will be accepted online from 3/1 through 3/15.

  1. Cheer on D.C. United and Support TPES PTA: April 27, 7:30pm 

Come cheer on D.C. United on MCPS Night as they take on the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30pm.  Takoma Park Elementary School will have its own section. A portion of the ticket sales go to support the TPES PTA so we can continue to offer support to the school. Tickets for the TPES section can be purchased here:  https://fevo-enterprise.com/Takomapark5  Go D.C. United and TPES Dolphins!

  1. Volunteers forFirst Grade Media Class Needed

First graders are making science journals in the library media class. Students will use them in quarter 4 science lessons. We would appreciate help supporting students with handing out supplies, collating the pages and simple sewing. Please check this schedule at and email Ms. Anderson (Susan_g_anderson@mcpsmd.org) if you can help.

  1. Donate Cardboard Tubes

Send or bring in your cardboard tubes: toilet paper, paper towel, wrapping paper, etc…) for our maker room at STEM Night! Collection box is in the atrium. Thank you!

  1. Cleaning Supply Donations Needed for PreK

Our Prekindergarten classes are in need of cleaning supplies. In particular, classrooms need Clorox wipes, Lysol wipes and Spic and Span spray. Donations can be dropped off in the office. Please let the office staff know that your donation is for PreK. Many thanks in advance.

  1. Seeking Volunteers to Join Teacher Appreciation Committee 

Our PTA is in need of a co-chair and/or volunteers to help plan and implement Teacher Appreciation Week which will be the first full week of May (May 6 -10). Detailed notes from last year’s committee are available so you don’t need to start from scratch! Thanks to parent, Betsy Garcete, for chairing this committee this year, but she can’t plan Teacher Appreciation Week on her own! Please reach out to Betsy with interest and questions! esthergarcete@gmail.com

  1. Upcoming TPES Events 

February 19-March 15: TPES Read-a-thon
March 5: PTA Meeting, 7-8pm
March 7: STEM Night @ TPES, 7-8pm
March 7: Lost and Found Clean Out
March 25 – April 1: Spring Break

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