WELCOME, DRAGONS

GMES PTA CALENDAR RECAP :​​​

• DRAGON WEEK & Lunch with your child in the Cafeteria - Mon-Fri., Apr. 27 - May 1

• GMES Kindergarten Open House - Thurs., Apr. 30 (11:30am)

• PARTY ON THE PATIO - Sat., May 2, 6-9pm

• TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - Mon., May 4-8

• Career Day - Fri., May 8, 9-11:30am

• PTA General Membership Meeting - Mon., May 11, 7pm

• Spring Walking Wednesday - Wed., May 13, 8:45am

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DRAGON NEWS:

• GRATITUDE

SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK FROM THIS PAST WEEK! OUR VOLUNTEERS ROCK!!!!

Thank you to Anna Marie Vanblarcum and Julia Newton for all of the work they did on Spring2ACTion! We had a goal of $1,000 - and we not only hit that number, we SURPASSED IT! This represents so much of what I love about our community. Thank you for your commitment to making sure all of our students are prepared at the start of the 2026-2027 school year!
Thank you to all of the teachers/staff who stayed after school on Wednesday to make STEM Day an incredible event for our students (you all know who you are, and we are incredibly grateful for the extra time you put in)! Special thanks to Ms. Moquin for organizing and making sure things went off without a hitch! What a special core-memory for our kiddos and their families! 
Thank you to Abby Horrell and Allison Fraser for all of the work they put into our Outdoor Movie Night on Friday. Despite the weather's unpredictability, the event had a wonderful attendance and the show DID go on! We're grateful to all of you who stuck it out and kicked off Dragon Week with a celebration that will hopefully be an event that we can add to our repertoire for years to come!

 

• 🐉 THE DRAGON WEEK 2026 AUCTION IS OPEN! 🐉
  The wait is over - our Dragon Week Online Auction is officially live! 🎉 Now’s your chance to browse, bid, and score some amazing items while supporting our school community.
  From one-of-a-kind experiences and local business offerings to teacher treats and family fun packages, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you're looking to plan a night out, treat your kids to something special, or snag a unique gift, you won’t want to miss what’s up for grabs.
  ✨ Start bidding now HERE
  The auction will be open until 8:50pm on Saturday, May 2 (during Party on the Patio), so check back often! New bids are coming in quickly, and you won’t want to miss out on your favorites!
  Thank you for supporting our school and helping make Dragon Week such a success. Happy bidding! 🐲

 

• LUNCH WITH YOUR CHILD IN THE CAFETERIA ALL WEEK

You can join your child for lunch all this week in the cafeteria! 

Lunch times are as follows:

Kindergarten: 10:30-11:00

2nd Grade: 11:00-11:30

1st Grade: 11:30-12:00

5th Grade: 12:00-12:30

3rd Grade: 12:15-12:45

4th Grade: 12:30-1:00

 

• PARTY ON THE PATIO 2026 - THIS SATURDAY, MAY 2!!!!!

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to resurrect your early 2000s alter ego, this is it.
Party on the Patio: Y2K Edition is not just a fundraiser. It’s your chance to live out your peak AIM-away-message era dreams, but with better snacks and significantly earlier bedtimes.

When & Where:
🗓 Saturday, May 2
⏰ 6:00-9:00 PM
📍 409 Monticello Blvd - right here in the GMES neighborhood

Let’s talk logistics (and priorities):
The Dress Code:
Y2K, obviously. Think denim-on-denim, cargo pants, chunky highlights, trucker hats, or your most convincing “I was in a girl group/boy band” look. ***Important note: this is a patio (and really, it's several patios on a hill), not a Vegas nightclub - no heels. Wedges if you must, but truly, this is your moment to thrive in cute sneakers and call it fashion.***

The Vibe:
We’re bringing in a DJ for a legit house-party feel - so yes, you will hear songs that instantly transport you back to high school dances, college basements, and the exact moment you burned your first CD. Side effects may include yelling “THIS IS MY SONG” multiple times.

The Extras:
🗳️ An in-person auction (come for the fun, stay for the competitive spirit you didn’t know you had - must be present to win!)

🍷 A wine wall raffle (buy a chance for $20 and pick a bottle at random - everyone wins!)
🍔 Food + drinks included with your ticket (because we are grown now and refuse to party on an empty stomach)

🎟 Pricing:

• $60 - Singles

• $100 - Couples

📍 Visit the website here to get your tickets! We can't wait to party with you!

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And behind all the fun, this night fuels the magic at George Mason, supporting everything from field trips and assemblies to teacher appreciation, student programs, and more. So text your friends, line up the babysitter, and prepare for a night that feels like a throwback, but with way better taste in everything.
Adults only. Big vibes. No heels. Don’t miss it.

AND WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP WITH ONE SMALL, TEENSY, LITTLE THING:

We're looking for wine bottle donations for our wine wall! This can be any type of wine/bubbly donations valued at $20 or more. Donations can be delivered directly to Jess Dvorak at 2429 Ridge Road Drive by Friday, May 1, or contact me, georgemasonpta@gmail.com for pickup!

 

• UPCOMING KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE FOR 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR

Mark Your Calendars:
We’re excited to welcome new and incoming families to George Mason Elementary!
GMES will be hosting our annual Kindergarten Open House THIS Thursday, April 30 at 11:30am at the Swing Space. Children are welcome to attend!

Please spread the word to any incoming Kindergarten families (including redistricted Kindergarten families!). For any questions, please reach out to Principal Finan at christopher.finan@acps.k12.va.us

 

• 🍎 TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK IS MAY 4–8! 🍎

We’re excited to celebrate our incredible teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4-8! Our Hospitality Committee has been hard at work planning a fun and thoughtful week to recognize the dedication, creativity, and care our educators bring to our school every single day.

 

But we know the most meaningful appreciation comes from our community 💛 We encourage all families to take a moment next week to reach out - not just to your child’s current teacher, but to past teachers as well. A quick note, email, or message of thanks can go a long way in reminding them how much their impact is felt and remembered.

 

Teaching is heart work, and our teachers show up for our students day in and day out. Let’s show up for them and make this a week full of gratitude and appreciation! Stay tuned for more details on how we’ll be celebrating them all week long!

 

• HELP OUT WITH CAREER DAY AT GMES!

Calling All Amazing Parents & Community Members! ✨

We’re gearing up for an exciting Career Day at our school, and we need YOU!

📅 Friday, May 8

⏰ 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

 

Come inspire our students by sharing what you do! Whether you’re a doctor, artist, engineer, entrepreneur, or anything in between—your story matters and can spark big dreams in our learners 💡

 

🎤 What you’ll do:

- Give a short, student-friendly presentation about your career

- Share what a typical day looks like

- Talk about skills, education, and what you love about your job

 

🎉 Bonus Points:

Bring something hands-on or interactive! (Tools, demos, activities, artifacts—kids LOVE to see and try real-world connections!)

 

Our students are curious, creative, and full of questions—this is your chance to make learning come alive and maybe even inspire a future career path!

 

📩 Interested in participating?

Please email elizabeth.moquin@acps.k12.va.us by May 1 to volunteer or for more information. Spots are limited!

💙 “The future belongs to those who see possibilities today.”

 

• GMES SPRING WALKING WEDNESDAY - VOLUNTEERS REQUESTED

Get ready for a Spring Walking Wednesday celebration! 

May 13 students will take a walk around the block to celebrate spring and stretch after all the testing!  
VOLUNTEERS please sign up to help keep kids safe on the walk and hand out prizes and raffle tickets (8:30 - 9:30 AM). 

Sign up:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545ABA62CA5FC1-63732168-spring

 

• PTA BOARD AND COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!

Ever Wonder How the PTA Makes It All Happen? 🤔
From restaurant nights and movie nights to Dragon Week and everything in between, it’s all powered by our amazing volunteers!
Now’s your chance to be part of the magic ✨
We’re officially accepting nominations for PTA Board and Committee positions for next school year, and we’d love to have you on the team. Whether you’ve got big ideas or just want to lend a helping hand, there’s a role for you.
👉 Throw your hat in the ring (or nominate a friend!) HERE.

As part of the process, all open positions are listed in the form. Take a peek and see what might be a good fit. Come help us keep the fun (and the snacks, events, and extras) going strong next year!

 

• HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - ANASTASIA

Anastasia: The Musical is about discovering who you are and defining who you're meant to be. Anastasia: The Musical transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. Book by Terrence McNally, Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. 
Don't miss this opportunity to bring the whole family to see some of Alexandria's most talented young performers. You can purchase tickets here or at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/achs-theater-boosters/69b06cfad5c1a95fb02ef54d/ for the following performances all at Alexandria City High School's King Street campus: 

• Fri. Apr 24th 2026, 7:30 pm

• Sun. Apr 26th 2026, 2:30 pm

• Thu. Apr 30th 2026, 7:30 pm

• Fri. May 1st 2026, 7:30 pm

• Sat. May 2nd 2026, 7:30 pm