Jones FTO: April Update
News & Reminders for Jones Families!
Spring Dance-a-thon Fundraiser, Read Together Day, Spring Fling and more!
CAN YOU HELP US MAKE OUR GOAL?
Thank you to Blue Ridge Orthodontics for sponsoring the 2024 Tropical Jones Jam!
WHAT: The Tropical Jones Jam Dance-a-thon, our Ira B. Jones 2024 Spring Fundraiser! Break out those Hawaiian shirts, bright colored ’fits, and your best dancing shoes (flip flops?), and catch a wave, dancing with your fellow Global Scholars and DJ Molly Parti in the gym on April 26!
WHEN & WHERE: Friday, April 26, for 20 minutes during the school day at Jones.
GOAL: To raise $12,000 by 4.26.24
WHO: This dance-a-thon is for everyone! Students are encouraged to ask family and friends to support our school by making pledges in exchange for the number of songs their student dances to. However, ALL Jones students will be able to participate regardless of any donations secured – no contribution is required. It is a Jones FTO priority to keep our events inclusive and fun for all students.
WHY: Each year, our FTO hosts two fundraisers: the Jones Heroes Campaign in the fall semester, and our dance-a-thon in the spring. The money we raise creates the budget for everything the FTO sponsors throughout the school year, including classroom supplies, instructors for our afterschool program, teacher projects and classroom needs, playground equipment, our Americorps staff, outings and on-site chair massages for teachers and staff, our annual musical performance (this year, The Lion King! Stay tuned for next year's selection...it's gonna be a good one!), community dinners and socials, the Jones Spring Fling, and more!
HOW: Read our quick instructions for locating and sharing your student’s pledge page, then visit 99Pledges to donate! We suggest a pledge of $10 per song or $75 flat, for those who are able, but pledges can be for any amount. Larger contributions are always welcome
WE HAVE JUST 10 DAYS TO GO! PLEDGE TODAY!
WHAT: Our annual Spring Fling carnival is back and better than ever! You’ll find fun activities, food trucks, live entertainment, and carnival-style games in booths created by our classroom teachers. Event entry and some activities are free; game tokens are just 50 cents each and may be purchased either on-site or online in advance (see further details at the bottom of this page).
WHO: This event is open to the community – bring your family, friends, and neighbors!
WHEN: Friday, May 10, from 5-7:30 pm.
WHERE: In the Grades 3-5 Field and Staff Parking Lot behind Ira B. Jones Elementary, off Kimberly Avenue. (In the event of rain, we’ll move activities into our gym and cafeteria to continue the event indoors.)
PARKING: Guests may park in the lot in front of the school or utilize nearby street parking (including along Kimberly Avenue), where permitted. Note there will be NO parking in the Jones staff and faculty lot closest to the Spring Fling field, behind the cafeteria. This area will be part of the event footprint for our food vendors and dunking tank.
TO EAT: Food available for purchase will include dinner and dessert options from Jamaican Flavors, Cream Works, Chick-fil-A and Pelican's SnoBalls. The Jones FTO will also sell popcorn.
TO DO & SEE: Games and activities include dunk tank, Plinko, temporary tattoos, face-painting, and much more! Entertainment includes Professor Whizzpop, Ballet Conservatory of Asheville and a naturalist expert who will have rescue wildlife (a groundhog, vulture, reptiles, possum, and others) for guests to meet and greet. Stop by the gym for our famous cake walk!
GAME TOKENS: Most carnival games and activities cost between 1 and 3 tokens. Game tokens are 50 cents each and can be purchased at the event with cash or Venmo @irabjonesFTO (CASH IS PREFERRED). You can also buy tokens online in advance and pick them up at the Will Call tent at the event, under the buyer’s last name.
JOIN THE JONES COMMUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT THE SPRING FLING ON MAY 10!
Sign up below for any of the positions listed! We also need help volunteering in each classroom teacher or grade level's booth, set up and clean up, or lending supplies like 10x10 Tents!
...Also, make sure to check in with your child's homeroom teacher and/or room parent to see how you can volunteer in your grade level's themed booths (things like Cake Walk, carnival games, bake sale, and much more!)
Read Together Day is This Thursday April 18
Jones students are encouraged to wear their PJs! Thank you to our community sponsor for Read Together Day 2024, Pine Gate Renewables. Pine Gate Renewables is a developer and operator of utility scale solar energy storage projects, dedicated to the innovative deployment of clean energy. Thank you PGR, for supporting our school library; your donation supports the Jones media center to replenish books and reading resources to benefit all our Jones readers!
Stay tuned for a Sign-Up Genius link which will come out from room parents and FTO leadership! We will need some Jones community members to help us with food service before classroom visits. The event aims to help prepare students for the next grade level by providing a grade-level overview of expectations, the curriculum, and skills to practice over the summer and answer student and parent questions.