Amanda Bodine – Downing PTA

DMS PTA News August 2022

Welcome Back Diamondbacks! Your Downing PTA is so excited to be back in the swing of things and enjoyed our Kick off, Back To School Bash, bad weather and all! Your DMS PTA loves being able to host functions and activities like this for the kids and staff throughout the year and we can not do it without you! So if you are a parent, teacher, grandparent, guardian, or even a community member, we invite you to join our PTA to support us!

We already have some fun events in the works like the 6th and 7th Grade Socials as well as a new Dodge Ball Tournament! In addition, we have already started spoiling the DMS Staff with a Welcome Back breakfast and some snacks to get them through all the work days and the first week of school. The PTA will show our love to the teachers by funding teacher requests for classroom enhancements throughout the year. For our students, we are focused on helping them through our outreach program with motivational speakers and food and school supply assistance. We are also working on bringing back our Binder Hospital to help select students with their organizational needs!

We would love for you to be a part of the Downing PTA to help us do all we can to serve the students and staff this year! You can join by going to the Downing PTA website and selecting “Join Now”! We have 3 different membership options for you to choose from. Don’t forget that if your student joins the PTA they get a FREE LATE HOMEWORK PASS! This will allow your student to turn in one homework assignment late and not be penalized for it. All they have to do is tell the teacher they would like to use their pass and the teachers will verify their membership and confirm it has not been used. Simple as that!

Thank you for your continued support and for joining the Downing PTA!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 31st – Downing Dines Out Night- Dairy Queen on FM 407
September 2nd – Student Early Release
September 5th – Labor Day- School Holiday
September 12th – Damon West presentation (author of The Coffee Bean)
October 7th – Dodging Diamondbacks Dodgeball Tournament 12:00pm (see below)
October 19th – 7th Grade Social 4:10-6:00pm

Mark your calendars for the First Downing Dodgeball Tournament!

Friday, October 7th starting at noon.
(this is an early release day)
Sign-ups coming soon!
Start forming your team of six and thinking of an awesome team name!

If you didn’t order Spirit Wear in July, Round 2 ordering is open now through September 5th at 10pm. We’ve ordered a few new hoodie and color options, so check them out at downingpta.org

The 6th grade social was a smashing success! Thank you to Brittany Harmon, Lane McDaniel and Elise Brown for planning and executing such a fun event for our new Diamondbacks!

Downing students are kind, responsible, & respectful! This year, local businesses are helping thank our students for their Amazing Acts of Kindness! Students caught being kind will have a chance to win a gift card at the end of every 9 weeks. Downing PTA would like to give a big shout out to the wonderful sponsors below who have supported our DMS Kindness Initiative!

If you need to contact us, please email Bevin Jacobs, PTA President at
downingptapresident@gmail.com

DMS PTA News April 2022

YOUR FUNDRAISER $$ AT WORK

We raised over $4,000 with our Color Run, and along with budgeted funds for Campus Requests we were able to provide Downing Middle School departments across the school with funding to assist in the terrific work they do every day.
The Downing PTA is pleased to announce that we have awarded $5,631.97 in Campus Request grants to Downing teachers and staff.
Thank you to our 440+ PTA members and the greater Downing community for your support.

HOSPITALITY

Downing PTA Hospitality had two events this month.

First, we provided an assortment of snacks and beverages to teachers during the Color Run on March 4th.

Then, we were preparing to make treats for Rangers Opening Day, but our plans were changed due to the MLB lockout. Instead, we provided a Texas BBQ that included brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and smoked sausage with potato salad, coleslaw, caesar salad, bread, chips, dessert, and beverages.

At our next event, we’ll be serving breakfast for lunch in the “Downing Diner” on April 20th.

As always, we thank you for your generosity!

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Downing’s Lifetime PTA Member award winners were able to enjoy a lovely Founder’s Day Dinner with LISD dignitaries at the Hilton Garden Inn Lewisville on March 24, after COVID and ice-storm delays. Kim Phan, Laura Garen, Bevin Jacobs and Tish Raymond received lifetime PTA service awards. Thank you for your support of Downing Middle School!

6th GRADE SOCIAL

One hundred sixth graders enjoyed an afternoon of fun, food and frolicking at the 6th Grade Social after-school on Thursday, March 24. Thanks to DJ Principal Martin for providing the tunes and high-energy antics, as well as our illustrious 6th Grade Social Chair Amanda Hall and her army of enthusiastic volunteers. The kids had a blast!

DOWNING DINE OUT

Our next Downing Dine Out Night is April 13th from 5–9pm at Chipotle.
Please be sure to tell them you are supporting Downing PTA so we will receive money back!

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Getting comfy with a new school takes time, and the Downing PTA aims to make it an inviting, low-stress proposition. Amanda Hall walked into Downing with a ton of PTA experience and did not hesitate. We are happy beneficiaries of her can-do attitude and willingness to help in all facets of PTA life—reviewing meeting minutes, handing out Spirit Wear, setting up for the Color Run, selling at the Book Fair and finally getting to embrace her actual position as 6th Grade Social Chair. Amanda is a joy to work with, makes us laugh and is now a Downing PTA stalwart. We love sixth grade parents, and we love Amanda!

7th GRADE SOCIAL

Planning is underway for the 7th grade social, to be held on Thursday, April 28 after school. Keep an eye out for volunteer/donation sign ups and ticket sales, which will be announced closer to the event.

8th GRADE SOCIALS

The 8th Grade Social will be held on Friday May 6, 2022 from 7 to 9 p.m. This year’s theme is “Let’s Glow,” and the dress code is neon and white colors.

We chose a dress code that would allow for dressy attire or casual, depending on your student’s preference (or yours… we know some of you want to see your kids get spiffed up!). This event is designed to be a fun, age-appropriate event for our graduating middle schoolers. Think 8th grade — no need for dates, tuxedos, prom-posals… just fun with school friends.
Our social chairs Cecilia Goeke and Jamie Klubben are hard at work on preparations. Stay tuned for sign ups for chaperones and donations closer to the event.

DIAMOND PACKS

A huge THANK YOU for providing items for the Diamond Packs – we have enough to finish the year from all the generosity shown they the Amazon Wish list.

LEGACY GARDEN
Are you looking for a great way to contribute to our school and leave a lasting legacy for your student? Ordering a personalized brick for our Legacy Garden is only $25. After placing your order, you’ll be contacted to provide up to 3 lines (13 characters each) to be engraved on a brick for the Legacy Garden.
Click HERE to order.

APRIL GENERAL MEETING

The PTA will hold its annual General Meeting concerning 2022-23 school-year elections on Wednesday, April 20 at noon in the Downing Library. This will serve as official notice of the elections meeting.

DMS PTA News March 2022

We can’t wait for our Color Run this Friday, March 4 from 1:30 to dismissal.
• Students who purchased a Deluxe package will get their T-shirt, bandana and a wristband for snack-table access BEFORE SCHOOL Friday. We don’t want those shirts getting lost!
• $5 Color Bombs for Mr. Martin’s solo lap are available for purchase HERE and will be for sale the day of the event. The Color Bomb lap will be the grand finale of the Color Run event at 4 p.m.
• We will sell $1 + $2 snack and drink items at our concession stand to students who did not pre-purchase the deluxe package.
• We need volunteers, please sign up HERE.
• Questions, please email the PTA President HERE.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

We are excited to announce the most recent Texas PTA Honorary Life Membership Awards for the school year 2021-2022!! Please congratulate LAURA GAREN and TISH RAYMOND for this wonderful achievement!! They each have gone above and beyond to serve our school, students and teachers. If you see them, please congratulate them on this fantastic achievement!! Well done!!

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

Dory Holzapfel and Caprice Payne take care of our needy Diamondbacks—providing weekend foodstuffs and meeting toiletry/clothing needs as part of their Community Outreach committee. This year the dynamic duo have innovated with an Amazon wishlist (check it out HERE) and Walmart wishlist (check it out HERE) that has kept items rolling in throughout the school year — and during a particularly difficult February 2022 that included many surprise school closures and last-minute LovePACs for students. Thank you to these wonderful, compassionate volunteers!

DOWNING DINE OUT
We are offering TWO Downing Dine Out Nights!
Marco’s Pizza all day on March 3 from 10:30am-10pm and Handel’s on March 31 from 5-9pm. Please be sure to tell them you are supporting Downing PTA so we will receive money back!

SWEET TOOTH BAKERY

Downing’s student-run Sweet Tooth Bakery will operate on March 7th & March 8th during the day and the evening of March 8th at Downing’s Open House.
Please help support our Troops by purchasing a delicious treat! We will be selling items in the cafeteria — visit with your families and friends while enjoying a treat in our student-run bistro.

LEF SCHOLARSHIPS

Thank you to all who applied for the Downing PTA alumni scholarship, being administered by LEF. An army of LEF scholarship readers are currently reviewing submissions and scholarship awards will be announced at an evening in-person ceremony on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Lewisville High School’s Stuver Auditorium.

HOSPITALITY

This year’s “Souper Bowl” is now complete.

– 8 qts of ham and potato soup,
– 8 qts of turkey chili,
– 8 qts of pork meatball and egg noodle soup,
– 8 qts of beef and barley soup,
– 6 qts chicken tortilla soup, and
– 4 qts of vegan roasted tomato and basil soup.

Lots of desserts and extras to complement the soups for our “Souper” Downing teachers and staff!

COVID-19 RECOVERY PRESENTATION
The Downing PTA is a proud co-sponsor of an event that will focus on the social/emotional and mental-health aspects of the pandemic disruption in students and how to help them cope. Our 8th graders will join other feeder schools for a morning presentation at Marcus High School. Parents of all students are invited to the companion evening program to be held at the MAC arena on the Marcus campus.
New Date and Time TBD (rescheduled due to weather).

DIAMONDBACK COMMUNITY HERO AWARD

At our general meeting last month, we proudly awarded Heidy Williams our Diamondback Community Hero award. Heidy enlisted the help of local families and businesses to completely overhaul our Legacy Garden near Downing’s front entrance on Bridlewood Blvd, clearing away years of overgrowth and restoring the garden to its tranquil origins. Thank you to Heidy and congratulations to her for earning the rank of Eagle Scout as a result of her efforts!

2022-23 NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Our 2022-2023 Nominating Committee is on the lookout for great candidates for our Executive Board. Thank you to volunteers Amanda Bodine, Amanda Hall and Kylene Seele for spearheading our Nominating Committee. If you are interested in an executive board position, please click HERE.

LEGACY GARDEN

Are you looking for a great way to contribute to our school and leave a lasting legacy for your student? Ordering a personalized brick for our Legacy Garden is only $25. After placing your order, you’ll be contacted to provide up to 3 lines (13 characters each) to be engraved on a brick for the Legacy Garden.
Click HERE to order.

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News February 2022

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

LEF SCHOLARSHIPS

HOSPITALITY

LEGACY GARDEN

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News January 2022

NATIONAL PTA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

We feel so fortunate to be a part of a supportive community dedicated to the education of our kids!

Do you know someone on the Downing PTA you feel deserves recognition for all their efforts to better our school, staff and students? Perhaps this person who is doing their part to make a difference is a parent or a teacher. Please take a quick minute to nominate a deserving PTA member for this honor! Let’s kick off 2022 with hope and gratitude towards others.
All Downing MS PTA members are eligible for nominations.

Please complete the online Google Form HERE by Friday, January 14th, 2022.

Thank you for starting this year by speaking life into others!

LISD COUNCIL
Superintendent news: as previously announced, LISD Superintendent Dr. Kevin Rogers is stepping down this month. The LISD Board of Trustees has appointed an interim superintendent — Mr. Gary Patterson, a retired San Antonio-area superintendent who has served in the interim role for several school districts since his retirement in 2014. LISD conducted community Town Hall meetings in December to gather feedback; in January they expect to interview candidates; they plan to announce a finalist in February and vote in the new superintendent in March per state mandates. The new superintendent would start in the spring/summer of 2022.

SENIOR ALUM SCHOLARSHIP

Last call for Downing alumni who are high-school seniors to apply for the Downing MS PTA’s $500 scholarship. Please visit LEF’s scholarship application HERE to be considered for our award. Applications must be turned in by 4:30 p.m. January 7, 2022.

HOSPITALITY

Thanks to your generosity, a great time was had by all at the Holly Jolly Holiday Party on December 14th. Teachers and staff enjoyed eggrolls and wontons, meat and cheese platters, hummus, peanut butter, salad, veggies, chips, bread, crackers, and an assortment of desserts. Every staff member also chose a $25 gift card from our gift card trees, and a few lucky people received door prizes, too.

We’ll resume our monthly hospitality events on Tuesday, January 11th with hot beverages and snacks.

Hope y’all had a Holly Jolly Holiday, too!

FALL RECYCLING FUNDRAISER

Thank you to the Downing community for contributing to our Recycling Event. The PTA raised over $500 from your donations. We are thankful to our NJHS volunteers for unloading cars and to Sherry Trout for organizing a successful event!

HOLIDAY HOODIES
Holiday Hoodies arrived before the break! If you ordered a hoodie but have not yet picked it up, swing by the office! (Reminder: last names are based on orderer’s information.)

BYLAWS & STANDING RULES

This will serve as an official notice that the Downing PTA will announce amendments/edits to its bylaws and standing rules (as required by the Texas PTA once every three years) at the Feb. 22 General Meeting to be held via Zoom at 7 p.m.

COLOR RUN IS ON!!!!

Billowing clouds of color, smiling faces and happy kids… who could ask for more?! The Downing PTA will be hosting an in-school Color Run for all grades on March 4, 2022.

BIRTHDAY GRAM

Celebrate your child and help Downing PTA all in one with a BirthdayGram—a birthday note, special candy delivery and lunchtime announcement for $15.
Click HERE to purchase a Birthday Gram

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News December 2021

NATIONAL PTA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

We feel so fortunate to be a part of a supportive community dedicated to the education of our kids! The DMS PTA has the full support of the Downing teachers and staff and has signed up over 400 students, family and community members. We would like to express our sincere gratitude and let you know in return, we are working hard every day to ensure each student at Downing has the best education possible.

December is the month we get to start thinking about who you would like to honor with the National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award! Do you know of someone in the PTA that goes above and beyond for Downing, the students, parents and teachers? Please consider taking a minute to fill out this form and speak life into them through your nomination! All Downing Middle School PTA members are eligible for nomination.

Please complete the online Google Form HERE by Friday, January 8th, 2022.

Thanks again for all your support of our Downing Middle School PTA!

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

When the Downing PTA needed to take a “blah” conference room and turn it into an inviting, festive Hospitality luncheon locale, Cecilia Goeke was our go-to volunteer. With her whimsical eye and artistic flair, Cecilia converted white walls in a Halloween pumpkin-scape, a Thanksgiving fall festival, and will soon unveil her Winter Wonderland for our holiday luncheon. When we needed a hand, Cecilia jumped in to help without reservation, and her efforts are playful and large-scale, helping convey how much we value the Downing MS teachers and staff. Thanks to Cecilia for stepping up and lending her creative flair to our Hospitality efforts!

DOWNING DINE OUT

The next Downing Dine Out Night will be all day on December 9th. Please be sure to tell them you are supporting Downing PTA so we will receive 10% back!

LISD COUNCIL

Lewisville ISD PTA leaders heralded the efforts of Superintendent Dr. Kevin Rogers at its November meeting. Dr. Rogers will be stepping down after 36 years of service to the District and six years as superintendent; his final day will be January 31, 2022. The LISD School Board has contracted a search firm to consider replacement candidates. We will miss you, Dr. Rogers!

SENIOR ALUM SCHOLARSHIP

The Downing PTA is proud to offer a $500 scholarship for a senior high-school student who is a current PTA member and Downing alum. Please visit LEF’s scholarship application HERE to be considered for our award. Applications must be turned in by 4:30 p.m. January 7, 2022.

DRESSED TO LEARN

This month, Lewisville ISD’s Dressed to Learn team is collecting new shoes for LISD students in need. All sizes needed from Kids 11- Adult Size 12 for boys/girls/women/men. They are also collecting joggers and leggings. Contact Erica Erlinger for drop-off locations and times at 817-507-5204. or dressedtolearn@lisdpta.org.

HOSPITALITY

Downing PTA Hospitality is thankful for so many people this month.

We are thankful for Cecilia Goeke. Her artistry and decorations continue to delight and amaze us.

We are thankful for Lily Higginbotham who volunteered her time to make cheese and cracker turkeys for every staff member.

We are thankful for the army of PTA members who without hesitation helped carry in and set up crockpots, trays, and baskets of food.

We are thankful for all those who donated fruits, veggies, bread, beverages, desserts and money that made this meal possible. (Special shout out to Beth Currey. Your homemade chocolate pies were declared the most delicious dessert.)

But most of all, we are thankful for our teachers who have dedicated their lives to the education of our children.

Our next event will be a “Holly Jolly Holiday Party” on Tuesday, December 14th. Click HERE to sign up for items to bring.

FALL RECYCLING FUNDRAISER

Lose the clutter and earn cash for your school — Downing PTA will be holding its fall recycling event on December 4 from 9 a.m. – noon in the South Parking Lot (by the track). Our recycling partners have an extensive list of items they’ll take — clothing to household goods to electronics. Clear out those closets before Christmas and help the Downing PTA!
For more information about what items are acceptable, individuals can click HERE.

HOLIDAY HOODIES
Thanks for all your Holiday Hoodies purchases! Our order has been placed and we will reach out for delivery before the holiday break.

BYLAWS & STANDING RULES

COLOR RUN IS ON!!!!

Billowing clouds of color, smiling faces and happy kids… who could ask for more?! The Downing PTA will be hosting an in-school Color Run for all grades on March 4, 2022. We are looking for two volunteers to help organize the event, which was a big hit in its inaugural year prior to the pandemic. Please contact Tish Raymond at downingptapresident@gmail.com for more information and/or to sign up to help!

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News November 2021

JOIN DOWNING PTA

Hey PTAers! Did you know the #1 reason people join the PTA? It’s to be informed. I know, that’s me, too. That is just one goal of our PTA to keep you, the parents, informed about what is going on at our school. Because if you are like me, you are juggling. All.The.Things. So we are here, to help!

And thank you!! The competition between the grades led to our DMS PTA earning the Early Bird Award! That award is given when you reach 100% of the previous year’s membership. If you didn’t happen to be an Early Bird this year and haven’t had the opportunity to join yet, it’s OK! There is still time! Just click HERE to join! Adult memberships are $20 and Student memberships are just $5.

We greatly appreciate all you are doing to support our students, teachers and staff by being a member of our Downing PTA!

Congratulations to SIXTH GRADE for going all in and winning the PTA Member Contest!
We hope you enjoyed the treats (and bragging rights)!

DOWNING PTA COMMUNITY HERO

Please join us in commending Downing alum Heidy Williams for her extensive work planning, preparing, organizing volunteers and executing a total revamp of our Legacy Garden at the front of Downing Middle School (by the big “D” on Bridlewood Blvd.). As part of her Eagle Scout project, Heidy spent over 150 hours planning the overhaul; she organized several dozen volunteers to help tame the wilderness the Legacy Garden had become and directed their efforts on a Saturday workday. Heidy has restored serenity to the garden with beautiful flowers, benches and landscaping. We will present Heidy with a Downing PTA Community Hero award at our next evening general PTA meeting in February. Many thanks to Heidy for focusing her time and talents on Downing Middle School!

KENDRA SCOTT

Join us for some early holiday shopping at Kendra Scott and support Downing Middle School PTA! On November 5th from 5-8pm, shop in-store at the Highland Village Kendra Scott, and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to support our Downing teachers and students. Can’t make it to the store? You can also shop online November 5th and 6th by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to use the code GIVEBACK-AWZYR when you check out! Please see our fundraiser website for more details.

PRINCIPALS AND PRESIDENTS LUNCH

As part of National Principals Month, we celebrated Principal Martin at the LISD Council Principals and President Lunch. Mr. Martin, President Tish Raymond and principals and presidents from around the district enjoyed a tour of the TECC-West facility and filled their plates at a buffet luncheon created and served by TECC-West students. Everything from the menu to the service to the floral centerpieces were provided by the students in the career-preparatory TECC-West classes. We appreciate our involved, fun-loving and engaging principal — thank you for all you do, Mr. Martin!

SENIOR ALUM SCHOLARSHIP

Once again, Downing PTA will be sponsoring a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a former DMS student and PTA member. Our scholarship is administered through the Lewisville Education Foundation. Please let parents of high-school senior alumni know that applications open on Friday, Nov. 5 and will be open until January 7th. We have many deserving Downing Middle School alumni and are proud to support their pursuit of higher education!

DRESSED TO LEARN

This month, Lewisville ISD’s Dressed to Learn team provides emergency clothing and necessities to students in our district. They have created a closet of shoes, socks, underwear, clothing and school items for students in desperate need. Dressed to Learn is currently hosting a personal-hygiene drive to collect deodorant, toothpaste/toothbrushes, shaving items, feminine hygiene products and the like for LISD students in need. Please drop off donation at the DMS office and the PTA will deliver the items to the Dressed to Learn team to help support our LISD families.

HOSPITALITY

No Tricks…Just Treats… and LoTs of SmiLeS from our Downing teachers as they loaded their trick-or-treat bags with snacks.
THANK YOU to all those that donated for this event! Without you, it would have been a very sad Halloween.
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to Cecilia Goeke for her beautiful decorations that turned a drab conference room into an adorable yet spooktacular space!
We’ll give thanks for our teachers at our next get together on Tuesday, November 16th. More information coming soon.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Thank you to those of you that sent items through our Amazon list to help with our Community Outreach pantry inventory! Thanks to your generosity, we have enough pantry items to make it almost to Thanksgiving! If you would like to help us get ahead of the holiday needs for our community, please consider picking up our greatest needs: boxed milk, juice pouches, or pop-top canned fruits or vegetables and deliver them to Downing, OR take the simpler route, and click on the link to our Amazon list HERE.
Thank you for your support of our Diamondback community!”

FALL RECYCLING FUNDRAISER

COLOR RUN IS ON!!!!

Mark your calendars! Diamondbacks, the Downing PTA will be hosting an all-school Color Run during the school day on the Friday, March 4, 2022. We can’t wait to blast the kids with multi-colored powder — that is, we are super excited to get the whole school together for a fun, school-spirit-building event!! More information to come…

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News October 2021

JOIN DOWNING PTA

A big THANK YOU to each grade for hearing the call and encouraging your family and friends to join the Downing PTA for our “Finish September as a PTA Member” contest! We heard rumors of friendly trash-talking going on between the grades, but only one grade came out on top. Congratulations to SIXTH GRADE for going all in and winning the PTA Member Contest! We hope you enjoyed the treats (and bragging rights)!

But wait! If you are new to Downing or accidently forgot and haven’t joined yet, you STILL CAN! Any adult, student, grandparent, uncle, cousin, Godmother or community member can join. Just click HERE to join! Your membership does not require you to attend meetings, sign-up to volunteer or bring cookies to the school. Your membership enables us to pour into the teachers through morale-boosters such as teacher/staff luncheons each month and funding teacher requests for classroom enhancements. We also help our students through our Outreach program with motivational speakers and food and school supply assistance. And through enhancing their student-life with upgrades like the new hang-out area by the front office.

Thank you for all you do to support your Downing PTA!

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Stand back and let the chef do her thing! Becky Higginbotham leads our Hospitality Crew with top-notch culinary skills and the unique ability to feed a hungry crowd. When our Hospitality team wants to show our teachers/staff how much we truly appreciate Downing’s efforts, they turn to Becky to whip up gourmet, healthy and delicious meals for 55 of our nearest and dearest friends. Becky does it with ease, grace and a smile on her face. We are loving the addition of her formidable skills to the DMS PTA Board and are so thankful for her time!

SCENTSY ALL MONTH LONG
It’s that time of year again! Our second annual Scentsy Fundraiser in support of the Downing PTA! Stock up on all your favorite fall fragrances and get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping. All orders are due Sun, Oct 31.
You can click HERE to place your orders.

REFLECTIONS

The PTA’s annual Reflections arts program encourages students to tap their inner creativity and express themselves through artwork. Students are invited to submit original artwork in one of six categories: Dance Choreography; Film Production; Literature; Music Composition; Photography; and Visual Arts.
Mark your calendars as submissions are due October 29th.

HOSPITALITY

Thanks to your donations, the “Goodbye Summer…Hello Fall” feast was a huge success!

Our next event “No Tricks…Just Treats” will be on Tuesday, October 26th. Please look for a sign up during the second week of October for snack donations (e.g., individual packages of chips, popcorn, granola bars, candy, etc. so the teachers can grab something to go throughout the day/week).

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Thank you to those of you that sent items through our Amazon list to help with our Community Outreach pantry inventory! Thanks to your generosity, we have enough pantry items to make it almost to Thanksgiving! If you would like to help us get ahead of the holiday needs for our community, please consider picking up our greatest needs: boxed milk, juice pouches, or pop-top canned fruits or vegetables and deliver them to Downing, OR take the simpler route, and click on the link to our Amazon list HERE.

Thank you for your support of our Diamondback community!”

FALL RECYCLING FUNDRAISER

COLOR RUN

Due to the safety of our students and staff, we will be delaying the Color Run until Spring 2022.
We look forward to another awesome time!!

LEGACY GARDEN

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News September 2021

JOIN DOWNING PTA

Have you wondered if you joined the Downing PTA yet because there are soooo many To Do’s at the beginning of the school year?! You are not alone. In fact, if you accidentally joined the PTA twice, you are also not alone! It’s a crazy time!

In the midst of the crazy, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to help our students and teachers hit the ground running this school year. When you join the Downing PTA, you are doing just that. In fact, your membership last year enabled the PTA to create a new lounge area for the students this year! Look for it near the front office. And several teachers were able to purchase upgrades to their curriculum to enhance their students’ learning.

We have Adult, Family (we want Dads, too!) and Student memberships. Students? Yes! They want a membership too! That $5 membership gives them a FREE LATE HOMEWORK PASS, a voice in their school and a few small surprises throughout the year. Sweet! And EVERY membership makes a difference.

Thank you for considering joining your Downing PTA this year! Click HERE and choose the option that works best for your family. Many thanks for all you do to support our students, teachers and staff!

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

There’s volunteer effort and then there’s Volunteer Effort Extraordinaire with sprinkles and a cherry on top! Shelly Anderson went above and beyond when she heard about our plans to replace two aging couches in the student-lounge area. Shelly asked if she could offer her professional contract-furniture expertise: she showed us multiple innovative options, durable fabrics and outstanding price points. She did the measuring, ordering and — finally, after several delays — installing of our furniture last Friday. Ask your students — our new Diamondback-inspired seating looks fantastic, and is perfectly complemented by the new Downing mural that was painted over the summer. Thank you, Shelly, for helping the school welcome our students!

WORTH THE WAIT

Our student-lounge furniture is finally here! Before the end of the 2020-21 school year, the Downing PTA was able to purchase new seating options and a rug for the area that welcomes students just inside the entrance to Downing.

PANDA EXPRESS DINE OUT
The next Downing Dine Out Night will be in September 14 at 10:30a – 9:30p. Please be sure to tell them you are supporting Downing PTA so we will receive 20% back!

HOSPITALITY

Even though it doesn’t feel like it, Autumn is just around the corner. In celebration, DMS Hospitality is planning a Goodbye Summer…Hello Fall feast on Tuesday, September 14th. Since we won’t have chili and soup weather yet, we’re planning a Mediterranean meal with slices of grilled lemon herb chicken served with naan bread, caesar salad, pasta salad, tomato and zucchini quiche, and fruit. Donations of desserts and beverages will be needed to make our feast a success.
Look for the sign-up toward the end of next week.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Downing PTA Community Service Team could use your help and generosity this fall. Click HERE to find out items needed for the weekly Diamondback Packs that are sent home as a community service to provide for student with food insecurity. Descriptions list how many of each item are included weekly in each student pack and priority needs to fulfill our inventory. Simply choose whatever you would like to purchase, it will be shipped directly to Downing MS. Items can also be purchased locally and delivered directly to the school, high priority needs such as canned vegetables, tuna, chicken, pop tarts and fruit bowls. Thank you!

FALL RECYCLING FUNDRAISER

COLOR RUN

Due to the safety of our students and staff, we will be delaying the Color Run until Spring 2022.
We look forward to another awesome time!!

LEGACY GARDEN

AMAZON SMILE
Shop at Amazon and generate donations for Downing Middle School PTA.
Click HERE to get started.

DMS PTA News August 2021

JOIN DOWNING PTA

Welcome back!! Your Downing PTA is SO excited to host PTA functions and activities for the kids and teachers this year! If you are a parent, DMS teacher, grandparent or guardian of a DMS student, we really need YOU!!

Since last year was a challenge in regards to being able to host the super fun activities and serve our teachers every month, we would LOVE to be able to do that this year! The DMS PTA is committed to offering as many services you have been accustomed to in the past like new spirit wear and wrap packs. As well as pouring into the teachers in a big way through morale-boosters such as teacher/staff lunches each month and funding teacher requests for classroom enhancements. We also are focused on helping our students through our Outreach program with motivational speakers and food and school supply assistance.

We would love for you to be a part of the Downing PTA this year to help us do all we can to serve the students and teachers this year! We have streamlined the process even more with our newly designed website to make it EASY. Please click HERE and select Join Now. You will then see the 4 different membership options. And don’t forget to get your student a STUDENT PTA MEMBERSHIP! That membership gives them one FREE LATE HOMEWORK PASS!

Thank you for considering joining our Downing PTA this year! And thank YOU for all that you do to support our students, teachers and staff!

Beth Currey, VP Membership

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

You know, that moment when you sign up for a volunteer job and have no idea how to do it? Kara Steffens defines PTA pluck. Kara has intrepidly researched how our Wrap Pack selection and ordering system works and coordinated the delivery and handout of our school packs in a whirlwind back-to-school season. We appreciate her willingness to dive right into new things!

SPIRIT WEAR

The Downing PTA hopes you’ll take a moment to visit HERE to purchase new Spirit Wear (we just added 2 super designs based on family feedback!)

Our first pass for ordering ends August 20, so please don’t delay.

As always, we thank you for supporting our school and showing off your DMS pride! If you have any questions, please contact Shelby Strafel via text at 601.850.3409.

DOWNING DINE OUT

Our first Dine-Out Fundraiser of the year is coming up on Tuesday, August 24th! Stop by Costa Vida on Long Prairie Rd for Taco Tuesday between 4pm – 9pm and mention you are there to support Downing Middle School. Costa Vida will donate a portion of the proceeds, and you won’t have to worry about what to feed your family on the night of Open House. Everybody wins!

HOSPITALITY

Our Hospitality team kicked off the back-to-school training week with a teacher/staff luncheon featuring oodles of Giro’s pasta, salads and bread, as well as drinks, fruit and desserts generously donated by Downing families. We are pumped for a great school year and are excited to continue lavishing attention on our hard-working Downing employees with monthly Hospitality Events.

WRAP PACKS

Thanks to all the Downing families who purchased Wrap Packs!
The office still has additional wrap packs that can be purchased for a few more days.
6th grade- $55.06
7th grade- $54.27
8th grade- $54.36
Exact cash or check only please.
We are proud to support our Downing students.

FALL FUNDRAISER

We are bringing back our recycling event for the fall…with the exact date to be announced.

COLOR RUN

Due to the safety of our students and staff, we will be delaying the Color Run until Spring 2022.
We look forward to another awesome time!!

LEGACY GARDEN

REFLECTIONS

This year’s PTA Reflections theme empowers our students to imagine their role in changing the world. We are working with DMS Fine Arts teachers to encourage students to create original works of art in numerous categories. Entries will be due at the beginning of October, with exact dates to be announced.