Ames Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6! We are going to Taco ‘Bout Our Awesome Staff all week long. It is a great opportunity to show our teacher how much we love them.  The PTA needs your help to make Teacher Appreciation Week special. There are a variety of ways to help:

• Please write a note to your teacher and/or favorite staff for Monday delivery.  The note can come from your student, you or the whole family. Feel free to use the following templates:
  • Thank you note template 1
  • Thank you note template 2
• Click Here to help support two popular events at the Teacher Appreciation luncheon:
  • The Raffle: All staff is entered to win exciting prize baskets donated by families. Create your own basket or team up with friends.
  • Dessert: Lunch is being catered but we need a few Ames bakers to donate dessert.  Bake or buy your favorite treats.
• Donate here to support purchasing treats, coffee, gift cards for staff, and more. Please donate by Friday, April 29.
• Join the teacher appreciation team to help execute this fun week by contacting Susan Wolfe at swolfe447@gmail.com to volunteer.

The Ames School Talent Show is BACK LIVE! Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 11. There will be afternoon and evening performances.

To audition, complete the Google form by Friday, April 1. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpJhwLOhB8IF4eHwqYnTetA8knBoAEfvLNDph_Aq-iCbJsyQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Students choose from the following options: Performer (all ages), Announcer (3rd/4th/5th), Stage Crew (5th only)

Students cannot do more than 1 act.  (This does NOT include a Teacher Organized Act).

Dance routines, gymnastic routines, skits, instrumental acts, comedy routines, poetry readings, karate routines (without weapons), singing, magic acts are all examples of acceptable performances.  Lip-synching is not permitted.  If you have questions about the appropriateness of an act, please contact Tia Sherman at tsherman13@gmail.com.

If music is required for an act, it will need to be edited to 1 minute and 30 seconds.  All music is due on the day of the audition. Music can be emailed to Tia Sherman or you may bring a device to plug in to play.

When auditioning, acts should be well-prepared. Acts may not be changed at dress rehearsal and/or the night of the performance.  The auditioned act is the act that is performed in the talent show.

When auditioning, students will need to describe their costume.  All costumes should be appropriate for school. Costumes need not be worn to audition.

When auditioning, students will need to describe any equipment and/or props needed for their act.

Important Dates

Friday, April: Tryout Registration Google Form due

Wednesday, April 6: Talent Show Auditions- Ames gym at 3:00pm

Monday, May 9: Dress Rehearsal- Ames gym at 3:00pm

Wednesday, May 11: Afternoon Show- 1:15pm/Evening Show- 6:30pm (arrive at 6pm)

Parent Volunteers: Parent help is needed in order to run the show. Help is needed with auditions, dress rehearsals, performance day/night and creating the program. Please email Tia Sherman if you are interested in volunteering.

Questions? Contact Tia Sherman at tsherman13@gmail.com.

Drop the kids for a fun (and hopefully exhausting) open gym night at Flipside in North Riverside from 5:30-7:30pm on Friday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 11. Participants will have the opportunity to use all the equipment at Flipside, including vaults, cargo nets, rope ladders, warped wall, balance beam, tumbling track, monkey bars, 20 foot climbing wall, floating stairs, globe grasp and more. Staff will be on hand for supervision and safety and to answer any questions.

Spots are limited. Cost is $20 a child.

Sign Up for February 4– Grades K-2nd – Deadline to Register is Feb. 2

Sign Up for February 11 – Grades 3rd-5th – Deadline to Register is Feb. 9

The Ames PTA is excited to announce the launch of One Book, One School, an all-school book club that will take place over the course of the next several weeks. Each Ames student and staff member have received a copy of the book, “A Boy Called Bat,” by Elana K. Arnold, and will be asked to read one chapter a night at home aloud with their family. 

“A Boy Called Bat” is a wonderful story about an autistic boy named Bat who learns that he loves skunks. Along the way, we learn to see things from different points of view, how to make friends, and how to go for what you want and what you believe in. We hope you enjoy this book!

This program will help prepare your child to be an effective reader, spark conversations, increase learning comprehension, build vocabularies, and foster positive feelings about reading and writing. It will also be fun! In school, there will be daily trivia questions about the previous nights’ reading, and weekly drawings for fun prizes will be awarded. We will also be doing a school spirit week based on the book in March. At the conclusion of the book, author Elana K. Arnold will virtually visit our school! 

A Boy Called Bat Reading Calendar

Listen to the Book

Join us for a spooky afternoon of trunk-or-treating, music, and treats after school and kick off Halloween weekend! 

Who: Ames students, parents, and community

When: Friday, October 29 from 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Where: Andrew Toman Grove Parking Lot on Des Plaines Ave 

We encourage you to pick up your child up after school and walk to the parking lot, but there will also be a crossing guard present to help children cross Des Plaines at 27th Street.

Want to decorate your trunk and pass out candy?

Sign up for a parking spot. Spots are limited and half have already been claimed!

Click here to sign up.

Download the flyer for more information.

Don’t miss your opportunity to knock out your holiday shopping early with Charleston Wrap. Charleston Wrap offers home goods, gift wrap, gourmet foods, cookware, and more. To help support our school even more, we encourage you to get your family and friends involved.

1. Please click here to register today! Use our ORGANIZATION ID 12469 to register! One registration per family.
2. Send 10 unique and valid shopping email invites to your friends & family using our invite tool at registration.
3. Shop! With over 2,500 gift ideas, you can check-off your holiday gift-list and support our important cause, too.

All orders will come directly to your home (making it even more convenient). Happy Shopping!

Show your Ames Dolphin pride with spirit wear! T-shirts, sweatshirts, pajama pants, and more are available in both child and adults sizes. Orders are due by September 24, 2021, and will be delivered to Ames on October 4.

Order Now.