August 24, 2025

🎉 Gator Giving is LIVE! 🎉

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is back—and we’re so excited to kick things off! Head over to mybooster.com to create your student's account!

Last year was a huge success—have you seen the brand-new marquee out front? That’s all thanks to the generous support from our amazing community!

This year, we’re teaming up with Booster again to make Gator Giving even better. Just like last year, each student will have their own fundraising page to share with family and friends.

🎁Students receive a prize just for signing up! We will have other rewards/prizes throughout the event. The first prize will be a opportunity drawing for anyone who signs up by Monday at noon! We will announce the winner on Tuesday! (Different from last year- prizes will not be awarded individually as each goal is reached. Students who reach a goal by a certain date will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!)

🗓️The fundraiser runs for one month, with a special Character-Building & Incentive Week in the middle.
🎉We’ll wrap it all up with a Recess Extravaganza to celebrate our success!

💚Our goal is $20,000

Funds raised will go toward:

Classroom supplies
Student projects
Supporting an enriching and engaging learning environment

💥How You Can Help:

Sign up today at mybooster.com
Share your student’s page with family and friends
Give a donation—every dollar counts and brings us closer to our goal!

Thank you for supporting our school, students, and teachers. Let’s make this the best Gator Giving yet! 🐊💚

Batter Up For A New School Year!

SPIRIT NIGHT WITH THE FLYING SQUIRRELS —WED, SEPT 10th! See the flyer below for all the details. Scan the QR code on the flyer or use the link below to buy your tickets today —

https://www.gofevo.com/event/Gaytonelementaryq3f9c4cj9a

LUNCH HELPERS NEEDED!

Volunteers are needed to help our students in the cafeteria by opening containers, getting utensils, picking up trash, etc. Simply pick a 45 minute shift on a day that works best for you. Sign in at the office with your ID, then head to the cafeteria.

As a reminder, you must have a HCPS volunteer form on file at least two days in advance of your volunteer day. This form must be renewed every school year. Thank you for considering helping our gators!

LUNCH HELPER SIGN UPS: https://gaytonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/sign_ups

VOLUNTEER FORM: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTQ4ODplbi1VUw==

✨ Room Parent Interest Form Update ✨

Thank you to everyone who submitted a Room Parent Interest Form! 💙 We are so grateful for your willingness to support your child’s class this year.

📌 For classes that did not receive at least 3 forms, families in those classes will receive additional communication directly if more volunteers are needed.

✅ Everyone who filled out the form will be contacted by the end of this week with next steps.

Thank you again for your enthusiasm and support!🐊❤️

🛝☀️ Gayton Schoolwide PTA Play date 🍩🐊

We will have a whole school PTA Playdate from 9-11am on Saturday, September 6th. See flyer about pre-ordering Krispy Kreme Donuts for your family HERE! We will have a visit from the Katerco coffee truck too!

25-26 PTA Budget

The 2025-2026 budget has been posted to Membership Toolkit for review in advance of the vote at Back to School Night. If you have any questions, please contact Rebcca Wooten at gaytonptatreasurer@gmail.com or Jessica Dodson at gaytonptapresident@gmail.com. View the budget here.

25-26 Grade Level T-Shirts!

Gators Go Beyond the Reef!

The Gayton PTA provides a free grade level t-shirt for every student and staff member displaying the school’s theme for the year and celebrating our PTA sponsors. Students and staff wear their shirts to school events, Gator Rallies, field trips and other special days. PLACE YOUR ORDER HERE - 2025-2026 Grade Level T-Shirts (If you have multiple Gayton students, there will be a link in the PTA Store for each student in your MTK account)

Grade-level shirts are provided to all Gayton students and staff. Parents and other family members are encouraged to show their Gator spirit by purchasing spirit wear (check out our new designs below!!)

*If your student loses or damages their free shirt, additional grade level shirts can be purchased mid-year. Watch Gator Bites in January for that information.

As a reminder, each grade level receives a different color shirt!

Kindergarten - Aquatic Blue, 1st Grade - Neon Green, 2nd Grade - Neon Orange, 3rd Grade - Bright Aqua, 4th Grade - Neon Yellow, 5th Grade - Neon Pink

NEW GATOR SPIRIT WEAR IS HERE!

With the new school year beginning, we've got your spirit wear needs covered! Some of our most sought after designs from the past are BACK and better than ever!

Online orders are OPEN on MTK. Youth AND Adult sizes available. Sales will close Thursday, August 28th. Do not miss out on your opportunity to get some re-released Gayton gear! Click the link below and place your order today!

https://gaytonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/30138

Early Bird Yearbook Prices available NOW!

School hasn't started yet, but you can already order your 25-26 yearbook for a discounted price! Order yours here - Gayton Yearbook 2025-2026

Early Bird: Order before December 31, 2025 for $21
Regular Price: Order on or after January 1, 2026 for $25
Give a Yearbook: Anonymously purchase a yearbook for another student who is unable to purchase one for $21

We recommend one PER CHILD. Yearbooks are typically delivered during school within the final weeks of school so kids can have their classmates and friends sign them. More information to come. Purchase now and save!

Fall 2025 Spirit Rock Dates!

RESERVATIONS FOR AUGUST-DECEMBER, 2025.

Click on the link below for more information!

https://gaytonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/spiritrock

The GES Rock is a Gayton Community Builder, a tool to promote PTA or school/SCA events, and a PTA fundraiser. The Gayton Spirit Rock is for current Gayton families only.

**Please note: the PTA has blocked off dates to use the Spirit Rock to support Gayton & PTA Programs and Events. Thank you in advance for your understanding and for being flexible! We can't wait to see your SPIRIT ROCK designs!

Become a 25-26 Gayton PTA Community Sponsor!

Do you own a local business? Or work for a local company that sponsors organizations in RVA?

Gayton Elementary staff and families love the community surrounding our school, and want to continue to strengthen our ties. Our PTA relies on local businesses to support our school - you can directly impact Gayton students and teachers by making a tax-deductible gift for this upcoming academic year. Sponsors reach a highly sought-after market of more than 500 Short Pump families – and support the educational enrichment of more than 700 local children.

With your support, the Gayton Elementary PTA continues our much-loved school traditions, including movie nights, social events and a spring carnival. We also help ensure teachers have the instructional resources and supplies they need to create engaging lessons and welcoming classrooms. There are several options for and levels of Sponsorships; learn more about the various opportunities and benefits here.

Questions? Contact Melissa Andrews, Gayton PTA sponsorships chair, at sponsorships.gaytonpta@gmail.com.

Gayton PTA Committee Chair Interest!

We would love help with any of the PTA Committee Chair openings listed below!

If you're interested in a position, please complete the Google Form here. We will reach out to you soon! Email Jessica Dodson with any questions - gaytonptapresident@gmail.com.

**Please note, per our bylaws, you must be a paid PTA member to chair or co-chair a committee. There will be opportunities to join committees as well!

*There is also an option to select- — “I’d like to get involved, please contact me” in case you are not sure about any of the open positions or committing to a position.

PTA Calendar of Events (Coming Soon!)

Coming Soon: 2025-2026 Sponsors!

Quick Links

SUBJECT: August 24, 2025

💥How You Can Help: