Kids and parents alike enjoyed the recent Family Game Night put on by the recently-formed Dysart-Geneseo Parent Teacher Organization (DGPTO). For more photos, pick up a copy of this week's print issue.

Stick To It Family Game Night was a successful event sponsored by the newly formed Dysart-Geneseo Parent Teacher Organization (DGPTO). During the month of February, students were asked to bring in coins to help raise money for the PTO to sponsor a family game night. Most students were motivated to bring in coins as the top class (average money per student) would get to duct tape their teacher to the wall! And the top 4 classes would win a new game for their classroom (Hasbro and PTO Today donated coupons for DGEPTO to purchase the games). Staff even got into the game to avoid OR see their colleague being duct taped to the wall! Each week, results were posted. There was definitely a “buzz” around the building as students waited in suspense for the Monday afternoon announcements to see who was in the lead! The support and response was amazing, so students (and staff) received a surprise at the end of the competition not just one, but THREE teachers would be taped to the wall on March 26th! Pictured here are the top 3: Mrs. Parker (3rd grade) is on the right in 3rd place, Mrs. Keegan (2nd grade) is on the left in 2nd place, and 1st place went to Mrs. Hass (5th grade) in the middle. These 3 classrooms each received a new game for their classroom as well as 4th place, Mrs. Asumussen (1st grade). The cafeteria was not a quiet place as students were yelling and chanting to “Do it, do it!” while these 3 teachers looked a little hesitant as the first sound of duct taping went ripping across them! Because of the amazing generosity of students, the co-chairs of the event (Rochelle Richards, Erica Sparks, and Sherry Reifenstahl) proposed to give each student at DG Elementary a voucher to purchase items at the student council’s Pencil & Tablet Shop. Students were excited to get “free” stuff! PTO was glad to be able to give back.

The duct taping event was the kick-off for the main event Family Game Night. Families entered the elementary school cafeteria on the evening of March 26th to see a wide variety of games scattered throughout the tables for “kids” ages 2-72! There was even a play doh table for the little ones. There were several stations of “Minute to Win It” competitions in the hallways as well as 2 “life size” Jenga games made from 2 x 4’s. A game night isn’t complete without snacks so a variety of snacks and beverages were also provided free for all. The 3 co-chairs were hoping for 20 people to attend, but were pleasantly surprised as there was well over 120 people! If you were there, you couldn’t help but see all the smiles and hear all the laughter everyone was having a great time! “It was really great to see parents and children interacting and having fun with each OTHER without any tablets or gaming systems just good old fashioned fun!” said Reifenstahl, PTO Vice President and Co-chair of this activity. She also wanted to thank her co-chairs, Sparks and Richards, as well as the volunteer help from their own children, a few parent volunteers, middle school student volunteers, and the staff at DG Elementary. And a big thanks to all who donated money and items (food, games, time) throughout both events. The night concluded with door prize give-aways where students had a chance to win over 20 different games in hopes that they would continue to “stick to” family game nights in their own homes.

If you would like to be a part of the DGPTO, any parent of students currently attending DG Elementary are welcome to attend meetings at the elementary library on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6 p.m. DGPTO is an independent organization separate from the school district that provides support to the school.