Hello Mustang families. On Thursday, we marched and drove as a community to speak out against racism and call for justice. For many of our students, it was an event they will never forget. I know I won’t. I have had many powerful and moving moments as an educator, but our walk was the most moving. We are a formidable community, and we demonstrated that in word and deed. Providing a safe space for our young students to demonstrate against racism was an important step of moving our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Progamme into action. Teachers are analyzing curricular units to devise more ways to extend learning into action, and students’ voice and choice will guide that work. Thank you to our families who made who participated, and check out our social media pages for photographs of the event. When I came on as Interim Principal last July, in my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined how school year 2019-2020 would unfold. We have been through a lot together, but through it all, we have communicated, providing feedback and changing course as necessary. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Shepherd community. Our families and staff are thoughtful, creative, action-oriented … Read More

Good morning everyone, Across the world, people are horrified by the murder of George Floyd, a murder once again demonstrating the cruelty, injustice and indignity that Black Americans suffer. I am sickened and outraged. It is impossible to wrap your mind about what happened during that video. That someone meant to protect would kill. That these officers’ saw George Floyd so much as other that they had no value for his life. No value at all. And if it had not been captured on video, it very likely would have been business as usual. Parents worry about their children — it is what they do, but to worry that your child may be killed for jogging or walking down the street is unconscionable. I do not know what it means for my child to be viewed as suspect. I do not know that kind of worry, and that is a privilege. Systemic racism is a reality in our country, and it must be eradicated so all people can experience the fundamental rights our democracy guarantees. In my heart, I believe we can achieve that by holding people accountable for their biases and crimes, but that is a struggle that Black … Read More

Dear Families, This week we gained information from the Mayor and Chancellor on the phased re-opening of the District and the opening of school year 2020-21. At this time, DCPS continues to solicit information from families and staff about their preferences and concerns, and there will be more details to follow. Next week is the last week of school for students. Hopefully, you had the opportunity to speak with your child’s teacher last week; if not, please reach out and schedule a time or additional time if necessary. If the stay-at-home order is lifted earlier than June 8th, we will plan to close out the building during the first week of June. I will provide additional information on close out once the dates are clearer. The Academic Leadership Team will be reflecting on the last two months and designing professional development that will complement the professional development the District will provide during the second and third weeks of June. We encourage you to provide feedback to inform that process either by email or attendance at an upcoming listening session. Through our two rounds of listening sessions by grade level, we heard consistent scheduling, clear weekly/daily expectations and more instruction. Please … Read More

Dear Families, I know all of you have questions on a number of important topics: 5th grade promotion celebration, items your child may have left in school, and whether the Clever platform will be available over the summer months and school year 2020-21. Today Ms. Rottman and I will attend the School Leadership Institute, and we hope to provide you and staff with more information afterwards. Last Tuesday, I was speaking with a parent during packet pick up, and we discussed how this is a time of constant innovation cloaked in uncertainty and ambiguity. I look forward to spending time with you and your children in person soon — it has been too long. Parent teacher conferences are next Friday, May 22nd, and your homeroom teacher has been in touch about scheduling a time to talk about your student’s progress. Specials teachers are also available to speak with you. If you would like to speak with one of our Specials teachers, please see the following information for scheduling a time: Art, Carmen Garner: Hi Shepherd families! If you would like to request a conference on May 22, please contact me through e-mail at Carmen.Garner@k12.dc.gov. We can schedule a time to meet … Read More

Hello everyone, I think our teachers felt appreciated this week. It was more challenging to appreciate them virtually, but I was copied on a number of beautiful emails and videos. Thank you for taking the time to honor them! I am so fortunate to be working with this faculty, the best one I have ever encountered. They are deeply committed not only to your students but to Shepherd Elementary. In response to all of your warm wishes this week, they have created this video for all of you to enjoy. Thanks Ms. Pereira for putting this together! Hopefully, all our mothers will be greatly appreciated this Sunday, Mother’s Day. All of you are either a mother or a daughter or a son, and some of you are privileged to be both. Maya Angelou wrote, “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.” I love these metaphors because it makes me think of my own mom — her strength, her beauty, her sweetness, her loyalty, her turbulence, her steadfastness, her magic. A mother has to be all things — everything, and even then, it can be tough to … Read More

Dear Families, Thank you to those families who were able to attend our listening sessions last week. We have one more tomorrow for Pre-K families. If you like to add your feedback on distance learning or the 2020-21 school year, please email me. Teacher Appreciation Week This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and it is challenging to reinvent faculty lunches, handmade cards and flowers cut from the garden. I have created a schedule for the week, and I hope you will participate in celebrating our incredible staff. Monday — Students show appreciationIf you would like, download the I LOVE MY DCPS TEACHER poster attached to this email and have them hold it up during class, or have your student make his/her own sign. Have your student post a note or appreciation through TEAMS or email. I heart my DCPS teacher – for print (1).pdf Tuesday — Parents show appreciationWrite your student’s teacher(s) an email or post in TEAMS. Let them know you appreciate them. Wednesday — Classes show appreciationRoom parents I am leaning on you here. How can your class show appreciation for their homeroom teacher? Be creative! Thursday – Shepherd Spirit Day — Appreciate our school communityWear your favorite Shepherd … Read More

Good afternoon families, We received some big news today, news that is especially challenging as we do not have many details yet. We will be proceeding ahead with distance learning for the remainder of the school year and our last official day of school this year will be May 29th. More to come on May 15th in regards to the summer and plans for next school year start in August. This week, during our listening sessions, we spoke with parents from every grade level to hear their feedback on distance learning. Parents expressed gratitude, frustration, confusion and admiration simultaneously. These are tough times for all of us as we struggle to balance families with our work, and we worry about relatives and friends, going to the grocery store and our children’s education. As many of you know, I have three children two years apart, and although they are older now, I well remember when they needed my support on everything they did and needed me to look at everything they had done. Even though my children are in high school and college, I worry whether they are completing all their assignments, attending their classes and understanding their work now that … Read More

Dear Families, We have now completed day 4 of distance learning, and faculty members are in constant communication with each other. We have had three staff meetings this week, grade level teams are meeting, leadership is checking in with individual teachers, and instructional coaches are supporting distance learning for their content areas. I have observed some of your students learning during morning meeting and have seen photos of them learning at home. At this point, you should have heard from your child’s teacher, and if you have not, please let me know. In many instances, the distance-learning model may include videoconferencing. Please contact me if you would like to opt out of this form of staff-student engagement. It is strongly recommended that parents be present or in the student’s proximity during videoconferencing. To learn more on using Microsoft Teams, see this brief tutorial for families. DCPS is encouraging teachers to use an asynchronous model (taping and posting the lesson) to provide instruction whenever possible so your student can view a lesson at a time that fits the family’s schedule. DCPS will also be using television to provide instruction as early as next week. Read more here. I will provide updates … Read More

Good afternoon families, This morning we had a staff meeting, and it was great to see everyone’s faces and just be in touch. We are all well! Staff is committed to support your family and your student’s learning during this time, and if you haven’t heard from your child’s teacher already, you will soon. The expectation is teachers will be in touch with individual students weekly to check in and provide guidance as necessary. Knowing our staff, I expect that you will be hearing from them much more often. An important goal is to preserve our strong community during this time. Teachers may choose to use videoconferencing to instruct whole class or meet with small groups. I have attached the DCPS Internet Safety Use Policy for your review. This week teachers in grades 3-5 are receiving training in Microsoft Teams; many have already been trained and are using the platform. Stay tuned for more information from your child’s teacher.  Finally, we will be receiving the next set of learning packets in the next week, and they will be distributed at Shepherd on 3/31-4/1 (next Tuesday and Wednesday) from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. You have the work from 3/24-3/31. These packets for weeks 2 … Read More

Dear Families, We saw a number of you this week picking up learning packets from the school. I just wanted to reach out after the Chancellor’s announcement to share that our staff is busy planning for the weeks ahead. Everyone is well. We will be having a staff meeting at 9:00 am on 3/24, and I will update you that afternoon as our plans become more concrete. For now, the learning packets are for the 3/24-3/31; we are on Spring Break until Tuesday, March 24th. Many teachers have already been reaching out to families, and all families will hear from their teachers next week. I just wanted you all to know that we miss seeing your beautiful children and are sending love and good wishes your way. Be safe and know that we are thinking of you. With love, Phyllis  Phyllis Hedlund, Ed.D.