Dec. 10 Dragoneer Updates

Fall Festival

A big shoutout to our wonderful teachers, staff and volunteers that made this year’s Fall Festival a fun success! Thank you! 🎉

Dragon Fire Update

Drum roll please…. This year’s Dragon Fire no-fuss fundraiser raised over $10,200! Thank you to everyone who donated. All of your contributions go directly toward supporting our school. It’s never too late to give. You can contribute by giving cash, check (made payable to Douglas PTA, Paypal, or PTA Givebacks Site (formerly called Memberhub). Your continued support is truly appreciated!

Pie a Teacher

As part of our Dragon Fire campaign, students participated on this year’s spin of our annual Coin Wars. Students could place their coins in the buckets of teachers they wanted to see get a pie in the face! This year’s “winners” were Ms. Faison-Bullock, Mr. Steltenpohl, Ms. Bache-Wiig, and Mr. McDonald. Thank you for being great sports!

Art Competition Douglas Yearbook Cover Contest

Ms.. Edgerly will be hosting a yearbook cover contest for the 2023-2024 school year. Students are encouraged to create an original piece of art that represents this year’s theme: Diary of a Dragon. All grades are encouraged to participate. If your child is interested, please click on this link. 

Carpool Casanova

Douglas was nominated and chosen to have Mix 101.5 Carpool Casanova visit our carpool this past Friday. Bryan Lord from MIX Mornings transformed into the “Carpool Casanova” and entertained our students, staff, and families in the carpool line with his silky vocal notes of perfection! Members of the PTA decorated the entrance and students, staff and parents showed support by dressing in every shade of pink. You can watch a recording of the event on the Mix 101.5 Facebook page.

2023-24 Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Ms. Saleh, Douglas’ Teacher of the Year, and to Mrs. Hagemann, Douglas’ Teacher Assistant of the

Spirit Night

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A last week. We raised a total of $72.09! Save the date for our next Spirit Night on Monday, Dec. 18 at Salt and Lime Cabo Grill in the North Ridge Shopping Center located on Falls of the Neuse Road. More details coming!

Winter Concert Performed by the Douglas Elementary Creative Arts & Science Magnet School Chorus

Finally, a huge round of applause to our very own Douglas Elementary Creative Arts & Science Magnet School Chorus, who performed their Winter Concert at the Cardinal Senior Center Thursday night, as well as two performances on Friday for our students and staff. The Douglas Elementary Chorus winter concert celebrated December holidays as they sung about special preparations for the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the miracle and lights of Hanukkah, the festive atmosphere of Las Posadas, and the traditional music of Christmas. The songs shared the universal messages of peace, hope, and goodwill in our school and community. You can find the complete program here. Many thanks to our Chorus Director, Ms. Zelasky, and Douglas parent, Kevin Johnson, for accompanying on piano!

Fall in Love with Douglas Fall Festival

We’re gearing up for our Fall Festival on Thursday, November 30 from 5:30-7 p.m.  Douglas families can expect a coat swap, popcorn, cotton candy, photos, activities, games, a cake walk, and Kona Ice. We look forward to seeing you there!

We Need Help!

Can you help us make the fall festival a huge success? Here’s what we need:

• Cake Walk supplies: Donate a cake, pie, cupcakes, cookies, and other baked goods to our Cake Walk here.

• Volunteers are needed: Help at the Fall Festival popping popcorn, distributing cotton candy, and selling spirit wear. Sign up here. 

• Coats and Winter Wear Donations: For our Coat Swap, drop off clean, gently-used coats and winter wear at school— or hand them to any of the staff in carpool. Find a new-to-you coat to take home! All are welcome – you don’t need to give a coat to take a coat!

If you can’t help this time, Douglas Elementary’s PTA offers many opportunities for families to get involved. We are grateful for any time that you are able to volunteer. Click here to pitch in!  

Thanksgiving Pies for Teachers

Update: We reached our goal of 85 pies! Thank you for supporting our wonderful teachers and staff!

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 $12 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. 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. This is a quick campaign — don’t delay! Please purchase your pies by the end of the day, Monday, Nov. 6.

Thank you for supporting our awesome teachers and staff!

Dragon Fire Starts Nov. 1

Dragon Fire — Douglas Elementary PTA’s annual no-fuss fundraiser — runs this year from Nov. 1-30 and we’ve got our sights on raising $17,500! Your donations will go toward: maintaining our teacher grants, ongoing staff appreciation efforts, support for cultural arts programs, family nights, campus beautification, and new equipment and materials for our specials teachers.

And the best part is, since Dragon Fire is a no–fuss fundraiser, 100% of money raised goes right back to Douglas; no kids or parents selling coupon books, wrapping paper, raffle tickets, or magazines to family and friends.

How Can I Contribute? 

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)!

Thank you in advance for supporting our mission of enhancing the educational experience of each and every student at Douglas Magnet Elementary!

Oct. 23 Dragoneer Updates

Here’s a summary of what’s headed your way from the school — and the PTA!

It’s Spirit Week!

October marks Bullying Prevention Month. So far throughout October, Douglas has been not only raising awareness about bullying — but has also placed a strong emphasis on cultivating positive behaviors. In support of bully prevention, students can participate in a spirit week from October 23- 27.

Kilwins Spirit Night on Wednesday

Don’t forget: Head to Kilwins Raleigh between 4-9 p.m. on Wednesday for a sweet treat! Here are some tips:

🍦Usually there’s a big crew of Douglas kids who head over right after school for a sweet treat and a hangout by the amphitheater.

🍫 Take a treat to-go for your child’s teacher(s).

🍬 Mention Douglas at checkout!

Also on Wednesday: Walk or Roll to School Day!

Have your walking shoes and helmets ready for Wednesday, October 25. Find a starting point in the neighborhood that works for you or join one of the two meet-ups happening:

Lakemont Pool: Meet at 8:25 a.m. and begin walking/rolling at 8:35 a.m. There will be a couple parent volunteers at the pool and stationed along the route. It’s approximately 0.6 mile walk with sidewalks the whole way.

Quail Hollow Pool: At 8:35 a.m., another parent volunteer will lead a group in a walk/roll to school.

Parents are encouraged to walk/roll with their children, if possible. If you’d like to volunteer to help support students along the way, please email Bette.

There will be a Pedestrian Safety Bingo page going home in folders this week. Students may return their completed Bingo to the office for a small prize or sticker (while supplies last)!

Need a little safety inspiration from our beloved Ms. Teressa? Watch her being interviewed in this Spectrum News 1 news piece from a few weeks ago!

Halloween Storytime with ‘Artists in Schools’ Local Author

The following event is not sponsored by the PTA, however, we would like to support a future Douglas Magnet Elementary Artists in Schools author.

Michael Beadle is a poet, author, and writer-in-residence living in Raleigh. Since 1999, he’s taught thousands of students in poetry and creative writing workshops and performed poetry at schools, churches, and festivals throughout North Carolina. A former journalist and English teacher, he is the author of 11 books, including the poetry collections What Makes a Giraffe Laugh?. January 8-12, Michael will come to Douglas Magnet Elementary School as part of an Artists in Schools poet residency for the third grade — funded in part by the PTA!

You can catch Michael sooner than that this coming Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m. at Quail Ridge Books for a special, spooky Saturday morning storytime of Does Your Goblin Have a Problem?. You’ll take a trip with hungry mummies, glamorous ghosts, and mischievous monsters in this Halloween-inspired collection of rhyming poems written by Michael Beadle and illustrated by Arianne Hemlein. Meet Skeleton Jones, Cemetery Larry, the Shoeless Horseman and a cast of devilishly delightful characters who share thrills, chills and silly skills. These tales from the grave and beyond are sure to tingle the spine and tickle the funny bone for children of all ages.

Halloween costumes are encouraged and spooky treats will be provided. Books will be available for purchase at the reading. Click here to register for the free event.