Pictures in the Park

We are so lucky to have photographer Lisa Kelly back again this year, donating her time for Pictures in the Park on October 19th and 20th! This is a great chance to snap some family portraits. And this year, we’ll be in the Lynch Park Rose Garden.

$50 Includes a 20-minute photo session and 1 edited digital download. Additional photos may be purchased through Lisa for $10 each or $150 for all images. Lisa donates her time for this event and all proceeds go straight to the Ayers PTO, so we highly encourage tipping the photographer.

Sign up for your 20-minute spot here: https://signup.com/go/eTTNuHk

Mom Ball

in News/by Chrissy Melo

The Momball tournament is one of our biggest fundraisers for all of the Beverly School PTO’s and it’s also one of the funnest! Ayers is hoping to have 2 teams this year. We are still looking for a few more players. If you are interested please Email ayersmomball@gmail for more info or to sign up!

Ryal Side Day

in News/by Chrissy Melo

Ring in the new school year at Ryal Side Day! The PTO is cosponsoring this fun end-of-summer event along with the Ryal Side Civic Association. This will take the place of our back-to-school picnic. Join us for a day of fun!

Help us make Ryal Side Day a success by volunteering at the PTO table or at the RSCA table or just help out with the event in general.

Tasks include very basic face painting at the PTO table, monitoring the giant slip-and-slide, helping at the food tables, setup, cleanup–whatever you might want to help with, we have a job for you!

To help at the PTO table: https://signup.com/go/mvKBWwg

To help with Ryal Side Day in general or RSCA table: https://signup.com/go/zpqMgPD

Robert King Memorial Playground is finished!

in News/by Chrissy Melo

The new playground is ready!! This beautiful ship-themed structure features 2 slides, rock climbing, lots of fun climbing activities, plus a separate climbing structure, swings, and a communication board. We’ve moved four picnic tables from the front of the building to the back so students who don’t feel like playing have a place to sit, work on bead bracelets, or just hang out with friends. We gave some of the benches that were there a fresh coat of paint with plans to replace them soon.

We ran into a few snags with the patio; however, we are hoping that project will get underway this week. It will be worked on outside of school hours and should be completed in the coming weeks.

Thank you to all who helped with the playground: planning fundraisers; donating money, time, raffle prizes, or shoes; brainstorming ideas or putting plans into action; applying for grants; showing up to help with whatever the task of the day was. A special thank you to our playground committee, which did hours of behind-the-scenes work to make this happen.

It was a long road and we asked a lot from families last year–including families whose students would be moving on from Ayers after and wouldn’t get to use the structure every day. Know you are always welcome to play at Ayers and enjoy the structure you helped build.

Thank you again for bearing with us and for helping in any way you were able to last year.

Upcoming PTO Meeting

in News/by Chrissy Melo

The first PTO meeting of the 2024-2025 school year will be on Monday September 9th at 7:30pm in the Ayers library and on zoom.

Absolutely everyone is welcome (and we promise it won’t be more than an hour). Agenda items include:

* Ryal Side Day

* Trunk or Treat

* Fundraising ideas

* And whatever goals YOU have this year!

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89882795881?pwd=NjtkT0NWy38ksOGSgLdOlOaxKKkAI0.1

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89882795881?pwd=NjtkT0NWy38ksOGSgLdOlOaxKKkAI0.1

Acting for Young Stars

in News/by Chrissy Melo

It’s back! After a successful first year at Ayers, Acting for Young Stars with Jape Payette is back this year.

Meeting Notes – 8/19/24 PTO Meeting

in News/by Chrissy Melo

Agenda/Notes

Spirit Wear

Will keep all prices the same for repeat/redesigned items.

Bracelets will be 1 for $3 or 2 for $5.

Playground update

Playground is in!

4 picnic tables from front of building have been moved to perimeter of playground.

Patio update

Benches: Presented 5 options. 3 unanimous votes were made:

Get rid of yellow benches but keep blue benches for now and replace them in the near future as we raise funds.

We will paint the blue benches for a facelift and to better match playground.

New benches will not have arms.

Benches will go in-ground around perimeter of patio.

Patio: Presented 2 design options. 2 unanimous votes were made:

Selected design for a smaller semi-circle patio with benches around the edge and an 8-foot buffer between playground edge and patio.

PTO will purchase a rock with The Robert King Memorial Playground engraved as a placeholder until the new benches are ordered with a plaque/engraving.

Vote

Orientation events

Sign up for Grades 1 to 4 spirit wear and slush: https://signup.com/go/tjPBUKN

Sign up for Kindergarten spirit wear and slush: https://signup.com/go/PyRxeOP

Ryal Side Day

Signup for entire event setup: to come soon

Signup for PTO table: https://signup.com/go/mvKBWwg

Ideas for table (swag, games, giveaways)

We decided to have spirit wear for sale, giveaways, face paint, giant Connect Four.

4th grade end of year

Presentation of ideas and new bylaw:

The PTO will contribute $2500 toward 4th grade end-of-year activities and will further support end-of-year activities by designating one spring catalog fundraiser toward 4th grade. Separately, the 4th grade will also run a direct donation drive and will independently fundraise to reach their goal.

Vote

Voted unanimously that PTO will contribute $2500 to 4th grade end-of-year.

Voted unanimously that PTO will designate the spring catalog fundraiser to 4th grade end-of-year.

Voted unanimously to pass bylaw as written.

Meeting Day/Time

PTO meetings will be held at the Ayers library on the 1st Monday each month at 7:30 pm. The first meeting, however, will be September 9.

1st day lounge stockup–We will stock the lounge on September 3

Comedy night

$1000 to $2500 for 2 to 3 comedians, plus an opener, plus walk-around magic at beginning

Would need to rent a venue

They recommend selling tix for $45, so need to sell 25 to 55 to break even.

The board expressed interest in holding this event. Jenny Cummings offered to reach out to Off Cabot about a date in the fall. We will reevaluate and discuss ticket prices once she hears back.

Event calendar

Ryal Side Day: September 14

Momball: September 20-22

Pictures in Park: October 19 + 20

Trunk or Treat: October 25

Election Day Bake Sale: November 5

Someone Special Dance: January 25

Stuffie Sleepover: February 7

Family Bingo: March 7

Yard Sale: April 5/6

Fundraisers

Fall catalog: Michele Meltzer will reach out to same company.

Cookie dough: Jenny Cummings will reach out to same company.

Superbowl Squares

Spring catalog

We also discussed a Read-a-Thon and weighed whether to hold one as a fundraiser or hold one not related to fundraising. Meredith to follow up with Mrs. Hart. (Follow-up: If there is a read-a-thon, the Ayers staff will coordinate it not as a fundraiser.)