WELCOME, DRAGONS

George Mason Elementary PTA

Happy 2026 Dragons!

PTA Announcements:

GMES PTA CALENDAR RECAP :

Friday, Jan. 23 - NO SCHOOL, Professional Learning Day
Monday, Jan. 26 - NO SCHOOL, Teacher Work Day
Tuesday, Jan. 27-Friday, Jan. 30 - Lunch with your child in the Cafeteria

DRAGON NEWS:

💘 SPREAD THE LOVE WITH DRAGON VAL-O-GRAMS! 🐉

Make Valentine’s Day extra sweet with a Dragon Val-o-Gram! From January 19–February 9, families can purchase a Val-o-Gram for $10 to be delivered straight to classrooms on February 13.

Each Val-o-Gram includes a fun, nut-free candy surprise and a personalized message—perfect for your child, a favorite teacher, or a special staff member. Want to spread even more love? You can also “donate one” to ensure a student who might not otherwise receive a Valentine gets one too 💝!

✔️ All candy is nut-free (Smarties, Tootsie Roll pop, and Hershey kisses!)

📦 Delivered directly to classrooms

📲 Easy ordering by following this link

Help us make Valentine’s Day joyful for our whole school community—one Val-o-Gram at a time!

PTA REFLECTIONS CONTEST UPDATE!

More good news about our George Mason artists! This year five George Mason students placed or received honorable mentions at the Reflections Art Competition Alexandria City-wide PTAC level! Fifth grader Elias Hampton won first place in the Film Production- Intermediate category and will advance to the Virginia state-level competition. Fifth grader Ora Scott won third place in the Music Composition- Intermediate category. Each of the students listed below will be recognized at the PTAC Reflections Awards Ceremony to take place later this spring. A big congratulations to all of our amazing George Mason artists: Holden, Olivia, Emily, Elias, and Ora! Please click on the links to see each of the submissions.

Visual Arts

Primary Level (K-2) Honorable Mention- Holden Rahn, "Feathers, Gold, and Rainbows in Jamaica"
Intermediate Level (3-5) Honorable Mention- Olivia Narod, "The Bloom Within"

Literature

Intermediate Level (3-5) Honorable Mention- Emily Kent, "Puzzle Pieces"

Film Production

Intermediate Level (3-5) Winner Outstanding Interpretation- Elias Hampton, "Time Goes Fast When You Belong" (Advances to Virginia state competition)

Music Composition

Intermediate Level (3-5) Third Place- Ora Scott, "One World for Everyone"

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 around the country create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This year's theme was "I Belong." This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM NIGHT

📚 Curriculum Night for Rising 6th Graders - January 28, 5:30-7PM
Families of rising 6th graders are invited to join us for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 28, an informative evening focused on the transition from elementary to middle school.
This event will highlight what students can expect academically in 6th grade, including curriculum overviews, instructional priorities, and how learning shifts as students enter middle school. Families will also gain helpful insight into how to support their child during this exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking!) transition.
📅 Date: Wednesday, January 28, 5:30-7PM
📍 George Washington Middle School
Whether you’re feeling ready or a little unsure, this is a great opportunity to ask questions, hear directly from educators, and prepare for the next chapter in your child’s academic journey.

GMES TALENT SHOW - CALLING ALL TALENT!

It’s time for our Dragons to shine—our second annual “Dragon’s Got Talent” show is just around the corner!
We’re looking for students who are excited to share their talents with our school community. Performers can participate solo or team up with a group of friends. Students are welcome to sing, dance, play an instrument, tell jokes, act out a skit, or showcase any special talent they’re proud of. All talents are welcome, and everyone is encouraged to audition!
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, February 11th and Thursday, February 12th. If your child has a conflict on those dates, they may submit a video audition instead.

ALSO, the Talent Show Team will also be accepting submissions of art to include as a part of a talent show gallery walk outside the gym! We know we have so many talented young artists at GM, and we want to give them a chance to shine along with our talented musicians, comedians, and dancers!
Students may bring their completed artwork to our wonderful Art teacher, Ms. Dykhuis, or our (behind-the-scenes Talent Show Wizard and) masterful Music teacher, Mr. Donohue, to be included in our gallery walk! Art should be turned in no later than Friday, February 20th, to be included in the art gallery.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!!!! LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES!!!

📘 Volunteer Opportunity: Yearbook Assistant / Future Yearbook Producer

Are you creative, detail-oriented, or just love capturing school memories? We’re looking for a parent volunteer to assist with the GMES Yearbook this year and next as a train-to-take-over opportunity.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys organizing photos, telling our school’s story, and working behind the scenes on a keepsake families treasure for years. You’ll work alongside our current Yearbook Producer, Katie Goode, learning the full process - from collecting photos and designing pages to coordinating deadlines - before taking the lead in a future year.

✨ Why this is a great role:

Built-in training and support (no experience required!)
Flexible work you can mostly do on your own schedule
A meaningful way to contribute to the school community
Perfect for creative minds, planners, or memory-keepers

If you’ve ever thought, “I could do that!” - or want to learn how - this is a wonderful opportunity. Interested volunteers can reach out to georgemasonpta@gmail.com to learn more.

🐉 Volunteer Opportunity: Help Make Dragon Week Amazing!

Planning is officially underway for Dragon Week—our largest fundraising week of the spring, and we’re looking for parent volunteers to help bring it all to life!

We’re grateful to the amazing team already leading the charge. Now we’d love to grow that team! Whether you enjoy planning events, reaching out to local businesses, helping behind the scenes, or jumping in where needed, there’s a role for everyone.

✨ Why volunteer for Dragon Week?

Flexible involvement—you choose how much (or little) you take on
Work alongside a fun, supportive team
Make a big impact during one of our most exciting weeks of the year
Great option for first-time volunteers or seasoned PTA helpers

If you’re interested in helping with any or all parts of Dragon Week, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at georgemasonpta@gmail.com to get involved.

Your involvement is what you make it—and we truly have a spot for every skill set and every lift 💙🐲

🎨 Volunteer Opportunity: PTA Reflections Contest Chair

Do you believe in the power of student creativity? The PTA is looking for a parent volunteer for next school year to serve as the Reflections Contest Chair, a rewarding role supporting a national arts program with over 50 years of history.

The PTA Reflections Program invites students in Pre-K through Grade 12 to create original works of art inspired by a student-selected theme. Each year, more than 300,000 students nationwide participate—building confidence, artistic literacy, and a lifelong love of learning through creative expression.

This is a well-supported, turn-key role. Our outgoing chair has created a detailed step-by-step primer and is leaving behind three years of templates and resources, so the next volunteer will be set up for success from day one. No arts background is required—just an interest in supporting students and following a clear process.

✨ Why this is a great role:

Clear guidance, templates, and institutional knowledge provided
Flexible, mostly at-home volunteer work
A meaningful way to uplift student voices and creativity
A chance to connect with families and celebrate student achievements

If you’re organized, encouraging, and excited to help students share their ideas through art, this is a wonderful opportunity to get involved. Interested volunteers can reach out to georgemasonpta@gmail.com to learn more.

📣 Volunteer Opportunity: VP of Memberships & PR (PTA Executive Board)

Do you love connecting people, spreading the word, and making things look great? The George Mason PTA is seeking a VP of Memberships & PR to join our Executive Board for the remainder of the year.

This role plays a key part in strengthening our school community by keeping families informed, engaged, and excited about what’s happening at GMES. If you enjoy communication, creativity, and collaboration, this is a fantastic way to make a meaningful impact.

✨ What this role involves:

Managing PTA social media accounts and website
Creating eye-catching posts, flyers, and graphics using tools like Canva
Sharing school and PTA news early and often to boost engagement and participation
Working closely with other board members and school leadership

✨ Why this is a great role: