Good evening Shepherd families and friends,
In this week’s PTO Bulletin…
- DCPS Ed Fest – Sat, Dec 11th
- Dec LSAT and PTO meetings – Wed, Dec 15th
- All-School Morning meeting – Fri, Dec 17th
- Order your holiday greenery and support the Shepherd PTO
- Support Shepherd’s virtual food drive now through Dec 10th
- Volunteers needed – Spring Auction/Gala
- CONGRATS to Ms. McIntyre – our first PTO TAP recipient
- Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors
- Calendar of Events
- AND MUCH MORE!
Get your holiday greenery here!
We’re once again working with Lynch Creek Farms to give you a way to decorate for the holidays while supporting the school too! With each purchase, Lynch Creek Farms will donate 15% back to the Shepherd PTO.
Click here to shop the elegant wreaths, garland, table toppers, centerpieces and accessories. Happy Holidays!
GALA/AUCTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Do you like planning an event? Or maybe you like fundraising? Or you’re a master of logistics or marketing/communications? WE NEED YOU!
It takes a village to put on an event like this and we’re looking for volunteers to help chair and plan this year’s Spring Gala/Auction. It’s our biggest fundraising event of the year and we hope to be able to have it again in person in April!
Reach out to pto@shepherd-elementary.org if you’re able to participate – our next call will be Tues, Dec 7th at 7 pm.
Shepherd Virtual Food Drive
As an IB school, Shepherd is committed to caring by supporting our local community. Help us support the Capital Area Food Bank and donate virtually through Friday, December 10th. Help us reach our goal of $500 donated…and there will be a cupcake party for the grade level that collects the most donations.
Give here – no gift is too small! And record your donation here to be counted in the school-wide competition. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Room Parents NEEDED – 4th and 5th grade classes
Attention parents of 4th and 5th graders – WE NEED YOU!
Looking for Room Parents for Ms. Brown’s 4th grade class and Ms. Caola and Ms. Scott’s 5th grade classes. Email ptocommunications@shepherd-elementary.org if you’re interested in helping.
Holiday Health Tips From the Health/Wellness Committee
Brighten the holidays by making your health and safety a priority. Take steps to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy—and ready to enjoy the holidays.
- Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. It’s flu season! Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
- Bundle up to stay dry and warm. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
- Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep. Ask for help.
- Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip and encourage passengers to do the same.
- Get exams and screenings. Ask your health care provider what exams you need and when to get them. Update your personal and family history.
- Get your flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, if eligible. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.
- Practice fire safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so don’t leave fireplaces, space heaters, food cooking on stoves, or candles unattended. Have an emergency plan and practice it regularly.
- Prepare food safely. Remember these simple steps: Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures and refrigerate foods promptly.
- Eat healthy, stay active. Eat fruits and vegetables which pack nutrients and help lower the risk for certain diseases. Limit your portion sizes and foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Also, be active for at least 2½ hours a week and help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
- Enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones!
Support the Shepherd 180 Fund
Help the Shepherd PTO fund lots of great events, initiatives, and extra circular efforts at Shepherd this year by donating to the 180 Fund.
It’s called the 180 Fund because there are 180 instructional days in the school year and your donation of a dollar a day per student helps the PTO support sending students on offsite field trips, funding teacher educational wish lists, putting on school plays and concerts, updating outdoor playground equipment, funding additional academic supports, and hosting school-wide events! This budget really helps us give our students even more unique, meaningful and enriching opportunities each year.
Any contribution is always much appreciated. And as a reminder, your contribution is 100% tax deductible. Thanks for your support – we’re looking forward to getting back to BETTER THAN NORMAL!
THANKS to our 180 Fund DONORS
MANY, MANY THANKS to the following families:
Snyder-Johnson Family
Arellano Family
Kunce Family
Bradley Family
Bennett Family
Beridon Family
Tivol Family
Lyles Family
Faulman-Coffey Family
Johnston-Gruetzmacher Family
Archer Family
Lipton-Marnon Family
Richards Family
Frias Family
Raglani Family
Jabaily-Messing Family
Ju Family
Walton-Prather Family
Marchand Family
Zettle Kreisberg Family
Weerasingha-Cote Family
Yonkwa-Rijmen Family
Boykin-Chase Family
Romine Family
Roberts Family
Marks-Fagen Family
Holdridge-Ma Family
Varda Glover Family
Yang Family
Steele Family
Escalante Family
Gallagher Family
Rodell Family
Prabhu-McDonald Family
DeAngelo Family
Dorsett-Holliday Family
Musgrove Family
Singh Family
Mitchell Family
Francis Family
Carlyle Family
Joiner Family
Martin Family
Mokodean Family
Britton Family
Smith Family
Head Family
Gulczynski-Gupta Family
Goodman Family
NEW THIS YEAR – TAP A TEACHER!
CONGRATS to Mrs. McIntyre as our first teacher to be recognized by the PTO’s Teacher Appreciation Program!
The Teacher Appreciation Program, or TAP, is an opportunity for a parent, or a small group of parents, to write a letter of appreciation recognizing a teacher who has been especially helpful…or if they have a special way with the class that you admire, tell your story to the rest of the school! TAP gives parents an opportunity to recognize a teacher at Shepherd for their great work and dedication.
Once a month, a special teacher will receive a wishlist fund bonus, and letters will be shared with the selected teacher and school community. To recognize a teacher, please send your letter by e-mail to pto@shepherd-elementary.org.
TAP a teacher today!
Follow Shepherd PTO on FB and Insta
Keep up with the latest updates, events and fun things going on at Shepherd by following our FB page (@ShepherdElemPTA) and Instagram (shepherd_elem_dc)
Upcoming School Calendar of Events
Spring Gala/Auction Planning Call – Tuesday, December 7th at 7pm
Make-up School Photo Day – Monday, December 13th
Ward 3 EdNet meeting – Monday, December 13th at 7 pm
VIRTUAL Open House for prospective families – Wednesday, December 15th
LSAT Meeting – Wednesday, December 15th at 4:30 pm
PTO Meeting – Wednesday, December 15th at 6:30 pm
All-School Morning Meeting – Friday, December 17th
Staff and Teacher Holiday Party – Tuesday, December 21st from 3:30-4:30 pm