Reminder: PTA Meeting – This Wednesday, October 16th, 6:30 pm, Multipurpose Room AGENDA: Welcome Dr. Hedlund remarks and questions  IB Parent Academy with Ms. Mack Approval of Sept PTO meeting minutes PTO Budget update – field trips for PK3 and PK4, STEM materials for K-5 classes, IB training for new teachers, teacher wishlists, more Shepherd gear, etc. Fall Fest update 180 Fund focus for November Upcoming fundraisers – Blue 44, Holiday family photo shoot NEED: Committee to help with holiday greenery sale Fall Fest Is Around the Corner! It’s almost here…and the weather looks GREAT for this year’s Fall Fest! So, get your tickets early so you don’t have to stand in the long line on Saturday! Those who buy tickets ahead of time will pick up tickets/packages at the event in the advance sales line. And…we still need volunteers for shifts at the different stations! Give us at least 30 mins of your time for your class station.  During Fall Fest 2018, we raised more than $18,000 which helped fund a field trip for every grade, community events like Movie Night, Camp Fair and Jazz Night, and additional supplies and materials for our classroom teachers. Our goal is $20,000 this year! We encourage you … Read More

All Your Fall Fest Information!On Saturday, October 19th, Shepherd Elementary School will host its fall fundraiser – Fall Fest! The event will be held at the school from 12-4 pm. There will be food, music, and games.Fall Fest is fun for everyone, and we need our school community’s participation to make this event great! Come take a station shift for 30 mins, buy tickets, buy new gear that will be on sale, bring your friends and family, come dunk Mr. Garner in the dunking booth, and meet new families! If you’d like to volunteer for this event, click here to sign up.During Fall Fest 2018 we raised more than $18,000! To be successful again this year, we need your help!Your dollars go toward classroom materials and supplies for teachers, IB training for new teachers, IB materials for our students, a field trip for every grade level, the music book and materials for this year’s Spring Musical, resources for social emotional learning initiatives and more.We encourage you to purchase a Family Sponsor Package and your donation of $100 will include the following:• 1 wrist band that includes UNLIMITED ACCESS to games, moon bounce, and rock wall!• 25 tickets• 4 beverage coupons• … Read More

Today – Walk to School Day!Join Shepherd’s PTO and the Health and Wellness Committee along with students, parents, and staff for this “before school” event. Either walk from home along your customary route or meet us at one of the three meet-up locations to join a “walking school bus” led by volunteers.The meet-up locations are:• Marvin Caplan Park at the corner of Alaska Avenue and Holly Street NW – Group will leave promptly at 8:10 am.• Shepherd Park Christian Church (new walk to school day location) at the corner of Eastern Avenue and 12th Street NW – Group will leave promptly at 8:10 am.• Lowell Field at the corner of Kalmia Road and 17th Street NW – Group will leave promptly at 8:10 am.There will be volunteers to greet students with water when they arrive at the school!Picture DayOctober 4th is picture day! Come dressed in your finest. Note: Students do not have to wear their uniforms to school that day, although they may if you want.Fall Fest is Coming!On Saturday, October 19th, Shepherd Elementary School will host its fall fundraiser – Fall Fest! The event will be held at the school from 12-4 pm. There will be food, music,and … Read More

MOVIE NIGHT – SECRET LIVES of PETS 2Join us Friday, September 27th at 6:30 pm for a screening of The Secret Lives of Pets 2! Bring your blankets; come in your pajamas! There will be snacks and drinks for sale. Most importantly, a good time will be had by all.BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CLUBSSeveral of our staff members are offering special programming for our students this year. Please check out these options, with more to come soon:Kindness ClubIs your child interested in changing our school and community by being a part of The Kindness Club at Shepherd? We will be recognizing acts of kindness at Shepherd, participating in The Great Kindness Challenge, giving back to those in need, and more! Kindness Club is for students in grades K-5.Where? Mrs. Zepeda’s room (A101).When? Kindness Club begins the week September 30th.• Kindergarten – 2nd Grade: Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:30• 3rd Grade – 5th Grade: Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Mrs. Zepeda via email at sarah.zepeda@k12.dc.gov.Culture ClubDo you enjoy learning about different cultures from around the world? Activities will include:• Playing geography and culture games• Art and craft activities• Tasting different foods from … Read More

PTA MEETING TONIGHT!The first PTA meeting of the school year will take place tonight, September 18th, at 6:30 pm in the multipurpose room of the school. Pizza and childcare for students will be provided.SHEPHERD TUTORING PROGRAMThe Shepherd Tutoring Program will begin September 22nd and take place from 5-6 pm at Tifereth Israel Congregation, 7701 16th St., NW (between Juniper and Jonquil – enter on Juniper). This program offers free tutoring for Shepherd students with weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions with the same tutor every week for the entire school year. Tutors are either adult or teenage members of the synagogue and other community volunteers. These tutors will go over math facts or problems, read with children for basic skills and comprehension, or work on other class assignments. For more information, email Shepherd Tutoring Program or sign your student up at http://tinyurl.com/ShepherdTutee.SHEPHERD PARK COMMUNITY CENTER MEETINGThere will be a meeting to discuss the planning of the community center on September 26th at 6 pm in the multipurpose room of Shepherd Elementary School. For additional information about this project, please visit: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/shepherd-park-community-center.WARD 3 MEETINGSWe are encouraging parents to attend the Ward 3 – Wilson High School Feeder Education Network – meetings. The next … Read More

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE!We are working to update our website, and you’ll see that we’ve got some terrific new content added. You’ll find the parent handbook (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/ShepherdParentHandbookFinal.pdf) as well as the school calendar on the site (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/ses-calendar-2/).SPECIALS!Wondering what “special subject” your child has today? Check out the Specials Calendar online (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/Aug-Sept2019-Specials-Calendar.pdf). You can also read about all of the exciting things that these dedicated teachers are doing in their classrooms (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/SPECIALISTS-NEWSLETTER-2019-2.pdf).SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!We need volunteers for a number of events at Shepherd, including Fall Fest and Movie Nights. We’d also love to have volunteers sign up to be a class Room Parent or to serve on a PTA Committee. A sign up link is now LIVE on the website: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094da5af2babf85-shepherd.FALL FEST PLANNING MEETINGSpeaking of special Shepherd events, planning has begun for Fall Fest. If you are interested in helping out, come out to our first planning meeting of the school year. It will take place on Monday, September 9th at 6:30 pm in the Teachers’ Lounge. This is our BIG fall fundraiser, and we want to make it great!TEACHER SUPPORTOur new Spanish teacher, Senor Hernandez, is looking for any guitars that you might have around the house that you would … Read More

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE! We are working to update our website, and you’ll see that we’ve got some terrific new content added. You’ll find the parent handbook (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/ShepherdParentHandbookFinal.pdf) as well as the school calendar on the site (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/ses-calendar-2/). SPECIALS! Wondering what “special subject” your child has today? Check out the Specials Calendar online (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/Aug-Sept2019-Specials-Calendar.pdf). You can also read about all of the exciting things that these dedicated teachers are doing in their classrooms (https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/SPECIALISTS-NEWSLETTER-2019-2.pdf). SEEKING VOLUNTEERS! We need volunteers for a number of events at Shepherd, including Fall Fest and Movie Nights. We’d also love to have volunteers sign up to be a class Room Parent or to serve on a PTA Committee. A sign up link is now LIVE on the website: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094da5af2babf85-shepherd. FALL FEST PLANNING MEETING Speaking of special Shepherd events, planning has begun for Fall Fest. If you are interested in helping out, come out to our first planning meeting of the school year. It will take place on Monday, September 9th at 6:30 pm in the Teachers’ Lounge. This is our BIG fall fundraiser, and we want to make it great! TEACHER SUPPORT Our new Spanish teacher, Senor Hernandez, is looking for any guitars that you might have … Read More

WELCOME TO OUR PK3 AND PK4 STUDENTS!We’re excited to welcome our newest Mustangs, the PK3 and PK4 students, and their teachers and staff tomorrow – Thursday, Aug 29! We hope you have a GREAT first day!“Kiss and Ride” drop off on 14th Street in the mornings STARTING TOMORROW – NO PARKING ZONE14th Street between Kalmia and Jonquil Streets (closest to the school) will be designated as a “Kiss and Ride” drop off area in the mornings from 8:20-8:40 am. Staff and administrators will be there to help your children out of the car and to get them to their morning drop off locations.INCLEMENT WEATHER DROP OFF LOCATION FOR 4TH AND 5TH GRADERSIf there is rain, snow, sleet, hail, or it’s below 32 degrees on school mornings, please drop off your 4th and 5th graders in the multipurpose room.GET YOUR T-SHIRTS!PTA will be selling t-shirts again on Thurs morning at school in the atrium from 8-9 am. We’ll have more in stock in the smaller sizes and some new designs available, including a unisex navy polo! More hoodies, long sleeve shirts and winter gear will be coming by Fall Fest on Oct 19!SHEPHERD BEAUTIFICATION DAY SUCCESS!Thanks to the more than 75 … Read More

MOVIE NIGHT – SECRET LIVES of PETS 2Join us Friday, September 27th at 6:30 pm for a screening of The Secret Lives of Pets 2! Bring your blankets; come in your pajamas! There will be snacks and drinks for sale. Most importantly, a good time will be had by all.BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CLUBSSeveral of our staff members are offering special programming for our students this year. Please check out these options, with more to come soon:Kindness ClubIs your child interested in changing our school and community by being a part of The Kindness Club at Shepherd? We will be recognizing acts of kindness at Shepherd, participating in The Great Kindness Challenge, giving back to those in need, and more! Kindness Club is for students in grades K-5.Where? Mrs. Zepeda’s room (A101).When? Kindness Club begins the week September 30th.• Kindergarten – 2nd Grade: Tuesdays from 3:30 – 4:30• 3rd Grade – 5th Grade: Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Mrs. Zepeda via email at sarah.zepeda@k12.dc.gov.Culture ClubDo you enjoy learning about different cultures from around the world? Activities will include:• Playing geography and culture games• Art and craft activities• Tasting different foods from … Read More

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PLAY DATE – THURS, AUG 22 FROM 5-7 PMCome meet new families, teachers and staff, and help us make sure the school is stocked with supplies for this school year.NOTE – these supplies will be used in the specials’ classrooms and general school locations, not the supplies needed for your child’s class.We have a curated Amazon link for the supplies needed for Art, Music, Library, French, Spanish, Special Ed, etc. Any purchase made will be MUCH APPRECIATED and can be shipped right to the school – 7800 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20012.AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO TARGET FOR THE GENEROUS SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATION!SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION DAY – SAT, AUG 24 from 9 am-noonWOW! We have more than 40 parents signed up to come help! But we still need you! Sign up for a shift – we’ll take whatever time you have this Saturday.Lastly, WE’RE LOOKING FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS!If you’d like to be on a PTA committee, help at an upcoming event, or serve as a room parent, click here to sign up! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR!See you all on Thursday at the “Sneak Peek” play date … Read More