Parking Spot Chalk Decorating
Sunday, August 23, 2026 5:00 to 7:00 PM AFHS Parking Lot
What It Is
StuCo hosts the chalk decorating, and it is one of the best ways to kick off senior year. Senior families come out to decorate the senior's parking space for the first day of school. The school calls it Senior Parking Space and Sidewalk Decoration. If your senior does not have a parking spot, there are sidewalk areas to decorate instead.
The goal is community, not competition. Families approach it in different ways. Some decorate together as a family, some decorate it as a first-day surprise for their senior, and some seniors decorate their own space. All of these are great. It is about building community and enjoying the start of the school year.
Just for fun, there are gift card prizes for a few of the most creative spaces (1st, 2nd, and 3rd).
A Professional Photographer Will Be There
Roxane Warren of Photography Eh is donating her time to photograph the evening. She is a working photographer, and she offered - the committee did not have to go looking. She has also donated $500 toward Class of 2027 senior activities.
What that means for you: decorate with your senior instead of trying to document it. You will not be the parent backing away from the chalk with a phone held up, trying to get the whole space in frame in bad parking-lot light. Someone who does this for a living is handling it.
If you have ever hired a photographer, you know what a couple of hours of that work is worth. Please say thank you if you see her that evening.
StuCo runs this event and handles the rest of it. The PTSA senior committee's part is small: handing out senior yard signs and shirts at the distribution table, and providing the gift cards for the awards.
The PTSA senior committee is collecting donated gift cards, both for those awards and to thank the AFHS SRO and the Apex Police officers who help with senior events. If you can chip in one, claim it on the donations SignUp Genius, email [email protected], or see the Donations page.
Chalk Rules - Please Read
Spray chalk is not allowed - stick chalk only. You'll see spray chalk recommended in general "decorate your parking spot" guides online since it covers large areas quickly, but AFHS does not permit it at this event, even versions labeled washable.
There is a strict requirement on what can be used, and only this is allowed:
- Washable chalk only. It has to wash away easily and be completely temporary.
- No spray chalk. Even "washable" spray chalk is not permitted, because it does not come off cleanly enough.
- No permanent chalk, chalk markers, or paint of any kind.
- If it is not plainly temporary, washable stick chalk, it is not allowed.
Tips & Tricks from Families Who've Done This Before
Ideas that came up among parents who've chalked a spot in past years. One reminder first: every technique below still has to start with washable stick chalk - no spray chalk or premade chalk paint, even versions marketed as washable, since those aren't allowed.
Planning the layout
- Grid method: Sketch or print your design on paper with a light grid over it, then measure out a matching, scaled grid on the pavement (painter's tape works well for the lines) to keep proportions accurate across the whole space.
- Painter's tape borders along the space's edges or between sections give cleaner lines and shapes.
- Work top to bottom so hands and knees don't drag through finished sections while you're still working.
- Stencils are handy for lettering or repeated shapes if freehand isn't your thing.
- Grind it into a paint. Crush washable stick chalk into a fine powder, mix with a little water, and apply with a paintbrush. Covers large filled-in areas faster and more evenly than coloring by hand, and still washes away like regular chalk - it just goes on more like paint.
- Dip the stick in water before drawing directly with it - families say this makes colors noticeably brighter and more solid on asphalt or concrete.
- Blend with a damp sponge, paper towel, or gloved finger for shading or gradient effects.
- Jumbo-sized chalk sticks cover big background areas faster than standard sticks.
- Premade chalk dust (washable, pre-ground chalk) is sold online if you'd rather skip grinding sticks yourself. Color options are limited, but it saves time.
- A broom or leaf blower to clear loose gravel and debris off the pavement before you start.
- A spray bottle of water and a towel to fix mistakes or clean up fuzzy lines as you go.
- A hula hoop is an easy way to trace a large circle.
- Knee pads or a foam kneeling pad make a couple hours on pavement easier on the knees.
- Bring more chalk than you'd guess. It takes more than expected to cover pavement, even with a full stick.
- Plan your design ahead of time so the two-hour window goes to decorating rather than figuring out what to do.
- Bring water and snacks, and shade if it's warm out - a pop-up canopy or umbrella works well. Families who've done it say it's worth slowing down to walk around and see everyone else's spaces too.
Logistics
- Please come during the 5 to 7pm window, not earlier. The facility is rented on Sunday until early afternoon, so families are asked to wait until 5pm to be on campus.
- Cars are not allowed in the student parking lot for safety. Park in the carpool loop at the front of the school, the staff lot behind the school, or at the nearby elementary or middle school, and walk in.
- It will likely be warm. The PTSA will have bottled water on hand.
- Weather: If rain or other weather interrupts, a message will be posted on the AFHS school website by 2pm on August 23. The event would be rescheduled with the senior StuCo officers.
Yard Sign and Shirt Pickup
If you ordered a yard sign, pick it up at the distribution table. Signs are sorted alphabetically. Senior shirts are also available here if your senior missed the Senior Social. If your student cannot make it, see the Senior Signs page for options.
Volunteer Needs
This one barely needs volunteers, since StuCo manages the chalking and Photography Eh is covering photos. The senior committee only needs one person at the sign table to hand out yard signs and shirts. See the roles and times on the Volunteer page.
Questions?
Questions about this event go to Assistant Principal Will Kasapidis ([email protected]).
Photos
Event photos are shared on the AFHS PTSA senior page, the official home for senior photos.
Questions about donations or volunteering? [email protected] | collegehound.com/community/afhs/seniors
Last updated: August 8, 2026