Eagle Times - DRES PTA Newsletter
Durant Road Elementary School (DRES) PTA, August 2020
A message from our Principal - welcome to a new year!
Durant Road Elementary School is excited to welcome our students to the 2020-2021 school year. Our amazing teachers and staff have planned a wonderful beginning for you, even during these uncertain times.
It is our hope and desire to reassure you and your child or children, that we are all in this together. We will provide the best virtual learning environment possible. Please stay informed of updates and new information through the DRES website, weekly emails (through School Messenger), Class Dojo and our @DurantEagles Twitter feed. If you aren't receiving our weekly school emails, contact the school today!
Our DRES PTA also has a series of social media accounts that you can follow as well.
Janet Kehoe
Principal, Durant Road Elementary
jkehoe@wcpss.net
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! A welcome message from your PTA President
Welcome DRES families to our new school year! We know this year will be unpredictable and crazy, but we have a lot to look forward to. And while we know it’s been said at least one thousand times, we can’t help but reiterate the message, we are in this together. We might not all be in the same boat, but we’re navigating these waters with you. Don’t forget the PTA is not only a resource to the school and teachers, but to parents and families as well.
PTA membership is one of the best ways to support our school! We would love to have 100% participation in the PTA this year – PTA membership not only helps provide funds to support teachers and students, but it is also a huge means of advocacy for the education, health, and success of all children. This year we are raffling off a new Chromebook and a $50 VISA gift card to everyone who joins the PTA. We will enter all members who join on or before September 28 into the raffle, and the drawing will be held on September 30. What better way to support your school and teachers than to join the PTA?
Your PTA is committed to finding and helping to cultivate joy and normalcy in our students lives during these unprecedented times. On that note, we will still be hosting many events this year – although they will be virtual for the time being. Our first and biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up in a few weeks – the Apex Fundraiser. This year we will be doing the “REMIX” program – where our Apex Athletes will take students through a fun, upbeat mix of fitness moves and exercises. Be on the lookout for information and packets at material pick up day!
This year will also include Spirit Nights, Bedford Book Fair, Display My Art and Teacher Appreciation Events. We are also working on creating additional new and exciting opportunities to make this year as fun and fulfilling for our students and families as possible!
Stay tuned to PTA communications, Facebook, Twitter and Dojo for information throughout the year. And, be sure to visit our DRES PTA website, and bookmark it! Thank you for your continued support.
Jenn Autry, PTA President, dresptapresident@gmail.com
Win a Chromebook or $50 VISA gift card - join the PTA today!
Join the DRES PTA and show your commitment to our teachers, staff and students. The greater our membership numbers, the stronger our voice at the school, district and state levels.
Annual memberships are $10 per person or $15 per family. Join online today! A small online service fee applies (total including fees: $10.40/person and $15.63/family).
Join the PTA and you're entered to win a Chromebook or a $50 VISA gift card!
We invite each parent, grandparent, and any community members to join our PTA. We are committed to making our school a place where every student and teacher can succeed.
Follow us on social media
Our PTA uses social media to communicate with parents and the community. The result is a higher level of engagement and interest in PTA efforts and you can stay informed! Follow us on Twitter @DRESPTA, and like/follow our Facebook page @DurantRoadElementarySchoolPTA, and check out our website: http://durantroadpta.weebly.com and you’ll have all the pertinent information at your fingertips!
Take a deep breath and enjoy the year ahead — and feel free to reach out to any PTA board member or committee chair if there’s something we can do to help!
Donate to your children's school today! No fuss fundraising!
Maybe you want to help DRES but you don’t want to sell or buy anything, fill out any forms, track anything, call, text or email anyone to ask for money on your kid’s behalf?
If that’s the case, then donate to the DRES PTA today! 100% of your donation stays at DRES and it is tax deductible. Online donations accepted via our DRES site (scroll to the middle section of the site). Thank you for supporting Durant Road Elementary School!
Join us for our first Spirit Night - Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza on Aug. 27
Join us for our first spirit night on Thursday, August 27 at Papa Murphy's at 6106 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh. All purchases from 1 to 8 p.m. are eligible, and 25% of purchases go back to the DRES PTA!
Pick up dinner for Thursday night or even the weekend and 25% of your purchase goes back to the students and school. Check out the great menu options! No flier required, just buy pizza and raise money!
Get your 2019/2020 yearbook before they're all gone!
Spirit Wear available for purchase!
Durant Road Spirit Wear is available for purchase! T-shirts, sweatshirts and zipper hoodies are a great way to show your school spirit. More details are available online.
Upcoming events
August
8/24 - PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
8/26 - Material pick up for Prek to 2nd grade
8/27 - Material pick up for 3rd to 5th grade
8/27 - Spirit Night at Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza
8/27 - KidzArt Zoom Art Class fundraiser, more info online
8/28 - Material pick up for students who weren't able to attend earlier in the week
September
9/7 - No school, Labor Day
9/8 to 9/18 - Apex Remix fundraiser
9/17 - Apex Remix event day
9/18 - Apex prize collection day
October
10/1 to 10/18 - Track out, no school
10/19 - Track in, back to school
November
11/3 - Election Day
11/11 - No School, Veteran’s Day
11/16 - Boundless Bedford Book Fair begins
11/25 to 27 – No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
December
12/18 - Last day for Boundless Book Fair
Looking for the school calendar?
Interested in connecting with other DRES parents and families?
Join the Durant Road Elementary School Parents Facebook page! The group is a place to connect with other parents, share ideas and support our school, our students, our teachers and staff.
The group is not sponsored by the DRES PTA, but we encourage you to join to meet other parents and families!
Food drive - support DRES families in need
With the move to online only classes, many local organizations have had to change their schedules, including Backpack Buddies. To help support DRES families in need, we are hosting a Friends of DRES food drive to help our families that face food insecurity. We need donations of shelf-stable food including pasta, rice, soup, canned and dried fruit, canned vegetables, breakfast items and more! See the PDF below for more information, and check out our Amazon wish list!
Food collected will be used to create meal boxes for DRES families in need.
Interested in helping? Donate via our Amazon wish list; or drop off you donations at one of the addresses listed in the document below.
Our Virtual Apex fundraiser event is coming soon!
Our annual Apex Fun Run school fundraiser is coming up next month! This is our biggest fundraiser to support our school by raising funds by participating in fitness and character lessons.
Last year we raised enough money to purchase and install indoor water fountains and two outdoor water fountains. The indoor fountains have been purchased and installed and we are currently in the process of getting the outdoor water fountains. Money raised this year will be used to provide instructional enhancement, literacy and technology support; and to boost school morale through teacher appreciation events. This Apex event also directly impacts your class and teacher through extra incentives, so we are hoping for great participation!
This year will be a virtual event September 8-18, where your children will participate in fun physical activities and character lessons at home. Pledge kits and more information will be included when you pick up class materials at school.
Join the Teacher Appreciation committee
Interested in showering our teachers/staff with appreciation? Events are held throughout the year and we would love your help. Join our committee by sending an email to Jenn.
We're also searching for a committee chair to manage Teacher Appreciation this year; we have an active committee, just looking for a chair to help manage the initiatives. Interested? Email Jenn today!
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Teacher Appreciation Welcome Back Breakfast!
Painters needed! Help us paint a few classrooms
Over the summer, a number of our classrooms were updated with large smart TVs! But, the install left some of our classrooms with blank walls. We're looking for volunteers to help us paint a few classroom walls.
Interested in helping? Contact Travis at goodetravis@gmail.com
Please note: all participants will have to pass entry screening requirements. Masks must be worn while on campus at all times.
Family Academy offers digital assistance for families and students
The WCPSS Family Academy program provides families with the necessary academic tools to support the success of their child’s education and to bring schools, parents/guardians, families, and community organizations together as equal partners.
Courses include Navigating WCPSS, Parent Advocacy, How to Motivate your Child to Thrive in School and more. A complete listing of activities is online.
Learn more about our PTA
Learn more about what the PTA has planned for the 2020-2021 school year online. We are excited to kick off this year. Remember that the PTA is here for you and your students.
Easy, no fuss ways to earn money for DRES!
Together in education with Harris Teeter
DRES participates in Harris Teeter’s Together in Education program to help raise funds for our school.
It’s easy and it’s free! Simply give the cashier our school code "1489" and your VIC card when you check out and your card will be linked for the entire school year. Or, email your VIC number or phone number along with the last name associated with the VIC card to dresptanofuss@gmail.com and we will link it for you. Once your card is linked, our school will receive a percentage of your Harris Teeter purchases.
This program does not interfere with your VIC savings or cost you any money. Last year, DRES received $1,400 from Harris Teeter through this program. Learn more about the program online.
Shop on Amazon?
Box Tops for Education, scan and earn!
Box Tops are available on a variety of items, such as General Mills cereals, Lysol products, Nature Valley snacks, etc. For a complete list of participating brands, visit boxtops4education.com.
Every valid Box Tops is worth $0.10 for our school! Box Tops are transitioning to becoming digital. Download and use the Box Tops app to scan your receipt. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to our school’s earnings online.
Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza
Order online at PapaMurphys.com and enter the code SHARE at checkout and DRES PTA receives 25% of your total purchase.
Papa Murphy's will donate 25% of your online purchases to the PTA when you use the code SHARE at checkout.
Shop, send a photo of your receipt to RCityRocks
DRES is a participant in “RCityRocks,” a community program where community businesses donate money to the DRES PTA when you text a receipt photo to drespta@rcityrocks.com. Text JOIN to drespta@rcityrocks.com to start using it. Last year, we received over $600 from RCityRocks! Learn more online.
Visit RCityRocks for a list of participating businesses including Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken, The Butcher's Market, The Learning Express, Supper Meals, Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza, Papa Johns Pizza and more!
Teach Me Store - shop and earn
Mention DRES at checkout and 10% of all purchases made will be donated to a DRES account for classroom supplies.
The Teach Me Store is a great, local store that has educational "playthings" for parents, teachers, children and educators. Visit them today
Lowe's grocery store
Thank you to our volunteers
Thank you to all our DRES Board Members and committee chairs, we greatly appreciate your time and commitment to Durant Road Elementary School!
Interested in becoming a Board Member or committee chair? Contact Jenn Autry today at dresptapresident@gmail.com
Thank you to our generous PTA sponsors
Want an easy way to advertise your business and support our school? We are looking for sponsors for the 2020/2021 school year!
If you own a business or work in an industry that would like to partner with DRES, contact Ashley Johnson, dresptafundraising@gmail.com, for more info. Funds will help support our school and our teachers!