The PTA sponsors and funds numerous events and activities throughout the school year.  Some of those events and activities include:

1.     Otterfest  This is the PTA's annual fall festival, held this year on the last Saturday in September. It is a fundraiser, but also a day of fun for the families in our community.  We have inflatable rides, a climbing wall, many carnival type games, lots of food, a bake sale, a cake auction, and a silent auction featuring many desirable items donated by local businesses.  It is a great start to our school  year and a good way for parents to get involved in the school and have fun with their children. 

2.     Math Carnival  Held in early November, this event is held in cooperation with the AES Title One teaching staff. The PTA provides a light dinner and volunteers, and the teachers provide activities and games which enhance math concepts and skills.  Approximately 100 students and parents attended this event last year.

3.     Gingerbread Shop  In December each year, the PTA sponsors this three-day event to allow the children to purchase inexpensive gifts for the special adults in their lives. Parent and grandparent volunteers help the students choose and wrap gifts.

4.     Reading is Right Night   Similar to Math Carnival, this event, which takes place in February, during Reading Month, emphasizes activities to enhance reading ability and comprehension.

5.     Assemblies  A major focus of the PTA is to fund assemblies which expose students to the theatre and arts.  In the 2007-2008 school year, the PTA funded five theater or other performance-type assemblies for the students including two productions by Theatre IV (Jack and the Beanstalk and Huck and Tom’s Big Adventure) and three productions by the Bureau of Lectures (African Acrobats, Alborado and Egyptian Animals).  Five exciting new programs are planned for the 2008-2009 school year, including the Boy Who Cried Wolf, Hugs and Kisses, Outback Adventures, Simple Machines, and Energy Show/Life in Space.

6.     Teacher and Staff Appreciation  The PTA recognizes and gives gifts to the teachers and other staff members. We also sponsor a very popular luncheon for the teachers in May, with the food provided by parents.

7.     Otter Awards  The PTA provides refreshments after the awards assembly held every nine-week quarter  marking period.  Awards are given by the teachers for academic achievement and citizenship.

8.  Reflections This annual PTA  program is one of the best hands-on activities of the National PTA and is for every child.  Every child in the school is encouraged to produce an original, artistic entry via literature, music composition, photography, visual art, dance choreography or film/video production. The most imaginative interpretation of a theme through any one of these mediums is the object of the program (the National PTA selects the theme each year).  Reflections is a recognition program, not a competition.  Judges select three entries from each age division and category which in their judgment show great quality of work. From these three entries, Judges then select the entry which best interprets the current year theme. This "Outstanding Interpretation" entry is then forwarded to the National competition on behalf of the Virginia Reflections Program. The other two entries receive an "Award of Excellence". Judges may then select up to five entries in each division and category to receive an "Award of Merit". All other entries received a "Certificate of Participation".   For more information regarding the Reflections program, please go to the Virginia PTA web site at http://www.vapta.org

9.  Other Programs and Activities The PTA also contributes money and volunteers for the following programs and activities:  Sock Hop, AES participation in the All County Chorus, AES Basketball and Cheerleading, and Field Day.

    Send mail to information@aespta.net with questions or comments about this web site.
   

    Last modified: 09/04/07