November Updates

by | Nov 6, 2019

Please go here to read updates en Español.

Recent PTA activities
Our main Hyattsville Elementary PTA fundraiser – the Hyattsville Zombie Run – was a HUGE success! We had 690 participants this year, which was nearly 200 more than previous years. This would not have been possible without 50 sponsors and over 100 volunteers. Sixteen schools also participated in the individual school fundraising efforts. Thanks to all of this hard work, HES PTA has raised over $20,000 that we can utilize to support your neighborhood school and hardworking staff. Many thanks to everyone, especially the race organizers and HES parents Kevin and Christine Blackerby.

During the first quarter, the PTA has also supported the school in MANY ways! We have been providing supplies to many teachers and the school nurse, purchased new carpets for classrooms and fun furniture for the special education resources room, purchased all of the art supplies for the year, purchased outdoor recess equipment, sold many of our new HES t-shirts and car magnets to help spread Lion Pride in our community, advocated for school needs at PGCPS, and provided food and supplies for the HES Hispanic Heritage Night and ESOL orientation. We are looking forward to a great second quarter!

Upcoming Events – mark your calendars!!!

  • Fall Picture Day (wear uniform): November 8
  • Blacktop painting and update: Nov 8 and 9. (See below for more details and volunteer needs)
  • **PTA Meeting: November 8, 8:00–9:00 am, HES cafeteria**
  • Parent Teacher Conferences: November 11th. Supervision for children in the gym from 8-2, sponsored by PTA.
  • PTA Game Night: November 15, 6:00–8:00 pm, HES cafeteria (see below for volunteer needs)
  • PTA Meeting: December 3, 6:30–7:30 pm, HES media center
  • Franklin’s Fundraiser: November 16, all day
  • Check here for up to date PTA News and Events

Upcoming Volunteer Needs
Friday November 8, 2 – 4pm: Prep the blacktop surface for painting on Saturday. Bring a cordless leaf blower, push brooms, and dustpans if you have them.
Saturday November 9 11am- 4pm: Help paint designs on the blacktop that have already been laid out. No kids please. Stop by for an hour or more – anything would be helpful! Email hyattsvilleespta@gmail.com if interested, or just show up.
Friday November 15: PTA Game night! Sign up to volunteer: https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/sign-up-to-volunteer/?sheet_id=25
Help the HES Library: Volunteers are always needed to help with shelving, check out etc. Contact Ms. Woodley at soni.woodley@pgcps.org.
Volunteer in the school: Lots of opportunities and needs! High priority need is to help from 10:30 to 11:30 am (1st grade lunch and recess time) and from 12:30 to 1:30 pm (Kindergarten lunch and recess time). Contact Mr. Durkin at duff.durkin@pgcps.org.
Ongoing PTA volunteer needs are posted here: https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/sign-up-to-volunteer/

Reminder of Great Resources!
Want to help with classroom needs? Visit the ‘Teacher Wish Lists’!!!! https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/teacher-wish-lists/
School related concerns? Visit the PTA Advocacy and Outreach page for additional guidance.
Early Holiday shopping? Please remember to support HES PTA through the Amazon Smile program by using this Amazon Smile link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-6072388
Missed our last PTA meeting? Notes are found here: https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/2019/09/september-24th-2019-pta-meeting-minutes/

PTA Committee Updates

Beautification Committee
After successfully finishing the front office and painting the temps, we are focusing on the blacktop/recess area. Parent Kat Schooley is leading a very exciting project with her architecture firm to re-imagine the paved play area with painted games, murals, and learning activities. To take advantage of the plentiful paved area, volunteers will be able to create an imaginative playscape that encourages movement, helps to designate various activity areas, and offers learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Volunteers are needed on Friday November 8th and Saturday November 9th (see above). Please help if you can! Coming up – we will also be working on cleaning up the water retention garden on the blacktop.

Social Events Committee
We are busy planning the 2nd annual PTA Game Night on November 15th. Volunteers are needed on November 15th to help out during this fun event! We are also starting to plan Spring events.

Communication and Outreach Committee
We are looking for someone to manage the PTA’s Instagram account, maintain the front PTA board, and help with Spanish translation needs . If you’re interested, please reach out to PTA secretary Jen Hanna–jenniferhanna9@yahoo.com

Advocacy Committee
A priority for public education is to ensure that the Maryland Assembly to pass the ‘Kirwan Recommendations’. Follow Strong School Maryland (https://www.strongschoolsmaryland.org/) for more information and to find out how you can help.

Teacher Appreciation Committee
Last month we recognized the Kindergarten team for all of their hard work so far this school year.

Stay engaged and support your PTA!
Follow us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HyattsvilleESPTA/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyattsvillepta/
Membership is only $5 per person, each year. Make sure you renew each year! Sign up at PTA meetings or online here (https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/join-pta-2/)
Sign up for updates on our website: https://hyattsvillees-pta.org/
Questions or suggestions? Contact the HES PTA at hyattsvilleespta@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed Friday and Saturday – Nov. 8th and 9th

by | Nov 4, 2019

HES parent Kat Schooley is leading a very exciting project with her architecture firm to re-imagine the paved play area with painted games, murals, and learning activities. Volunteers are needed to come AFTER SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY from 2-4 to help prepare the blacktop surface. Please bring a push broom, dust pan or cordless leaf blower if you have one.

Volunteers are also needed this SATURDAY, November 9th, from 11am-4pm to help Grimm and Parker Architects with painting designs on the blacktop that have already been laid out. No kids please. Stop by for an hour or more – anything would be helpful! Email hyattsvilleespta@gmail.com if interested, or just show up. Volunteers may also be needed an hour prior to the start of painting for additional sweeping and clearing of debris.

PTA Meeting – Friday November 8th, 8 am

by | Oct 30, 2019

Please join us at our next PTA meeting on Friday November 8th from 8:00 until 9:00 am. This will include time to meet in committee groups, summary of Zombie Run, and updates on the PTA-led blacktop project. More details coming soon.

The Zombies are Coming! October 5th

by | Sep 8, 2019

Mark your calendar for October 5, 2019, for the fourth Hyattsville Zombie Run 5K. The Halloween themed 5K race is USATF certified and timed, and the 1 Mile Kids’ Challenge and 1K Family Fun Run are opportunities for everyone to participate. Dress up as a zombie or any Halloween costume to add to the fun! All races will start and finish at Magruder Park.

This event is hosted by the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA and proceeds will support HES, including the purchase of art supplies, musical instruments, coats for students, field trips, teacher professional development, and more. This is the PTA’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

How can you be a part of this fun event?
—Run in the race!
—Volunteer to help!
—Make a donation!
—Sponsor a kid!

Become an individual fundraiser and help HES even more!

When your child registers to run in the Hyattsville Zombie Run, you can also set up a fundraising page that allows your friends and family to sponsor your child. Every dollar raised through this fundraising page goes directly to the HES PTA.

For every $10 your child raises by noon on October 4th, your child’s name will be entered into a raffle to be held on race day.

Prizes:
1st prize is a bike from Arrow Bicycle, valued up to $500! (prize is non-transferable)
Several other prizes will be awarded as well!

Special thanks to Arrow Bicycle for their generous support of this project to help all local Hyattsville schools.

How to do it:
—Sign up for the Zombie Run now here.
—When you register, it will ask if you would like to become a “Fundraiser”. Click on the Fundraiser banner.
—Follow the directions to complete the online form, making sure that you select Hyattsville Elementary School from the dropdown box under “Fundraiser Type.”
—Please include a personal message about why this is important to you and that the money raised will go to your school’s PTA. Upload a picture if you can!
—After you complete registration, you will receive an email with your unique website. Share this link with everyone you know and start training for race day!

NEIGHBORS—YOU MAY BE AFFECTED BY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON RACE DAY

Some roads will be closed and parking will be restricted along the race route on the morning of the race, from 6:00 to 11:00 am. To see which streets are affected, visit here.

The race day schedule is:

8:45   1K Family Fun Run
9:05   1 Mile Kids’ Challenge Run
9:30   5K Zombie Run

Questions about the Hyattsville Zombie Run? Visit our website or email Race Director Kevin Blackerby at hyattsville5k@gmail.com .