March 12, 2022 Dear Families, I hope you enjoyed meeting with your child[ren]’s teacher on Thursday and gained some insight on their achievement and how you can best support them at home. The big news yesterday was that masks for students and staff will become optional on Wednesday, March 16th. If you have individual concerns regarding this protocol shift, please reach out to me at [email protected]. If transmission rates increase (fingers and toes crossed that they don’t), mandatory mask use could be reinstated. It has been two long years as we all know, and although a return to normalcy feels like a relief to some, it may induce anxiety in others. Please let us know if your student needs support through this transition. The Panorama family survey window is open, and I encourage every family to complete the survey. You can find it here. At this point, we have 101 responses, which is a distance from our Comprehensive School Plan (CSP) goal of maintaining or increasing the parent participation rate of 69% survey participation rate from last year. Please know that the data from the survey informs our Comprehensive School Plan, and your participation matters a lot. Ms. McIntyre’s 10th … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good afternoon Shepherd families and friends, BIG CONGRATS to this year’s Black History Bowl winners – Mason Smith, Sanjay Singh, and Sadie Bertania. AND get your Gala and Auction tickets now and share any gift, party, service or product donations for the auction! Our goal is to raise $50,000 for our school! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Parent Teacher Conferences (no school for students) – Thurs, March 10th Professional Development Day (no school for students) – Fri, March 11th PTO Restaurant Night with Potomac Pizza – Mon, March 14th (Pi Day!) Gear Sale in front of the school – Wed, March 16th (8 am) Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th – buy your tickets NOW and help us with auction donations! Calendar of Events Spring Gear Sale – Wed, March 16th Our sale planned for yesterday got a bit thwarted by rain and wind, so we’ll be out again next Wed morning at 8 am in front of the school selling new items! Complete the DCPS Panorama Survey Please complete the DCPS Family Survey by April 1st. Dr. Hedlund and the Shepherd team greatly value the input and analyze the data carefully to respond to our community. It … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, Welcome back from break! The week felt a little lighter than the rest of this school year. Maybe it was some warm weather during recess or the lifting of the outdoor mask mandate or just entering the month of March with its longer days. Next week, we will only have students in the building for three days. On Thursday, we have parent teacher conferences. Please make sure you sign up to learn about your child’s progress with their teacher. Friday is district-wide professional development for all staff. The Panorama family survey window is now open, and I encourage every family to complete the survey. You can find it here. The data from the survey informs our Comprehensive School Plan, and your participation matters a lot. Ms. McIntyre has launched the 10th Annual Toiletry Drive in honor of Women’s History Month, which benefits DASH Safe Housing Alliance. Please donate toiletries in the bins in between the doors at the man entrance. Thank you for your commitment to this project, Ms. McIntyre. I know I am always bragging on our Shepherd staff, and I know you do too. They think beyond the parameters of their classrooms and work collaboratively and … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, I hope you had the opportunity to watch at least part of today’s All School Meeting celebrating Black History Month. It was uplifting, educational and sentimental — I get teary every time I hear PK 3 singing “It’s a Wonderful World.” Our students make our worlds wonderful, and every month, I am awestruck when I watch them leading the way. Go Mustangs! Picture Day will be Tuesday, March 1st. If you want your child to have their individual picture taken, please send them to school with the envelope that was sent home in their backpack this week. Otherwise, homeroom pictures will be taken on that day. Middle of the Year (MOY) Data was reviewed at the PTO meeting on Wednesday. The PowerPoint I used for the presentation is here. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We are seeing growth, but two years ago, our proficiency rates were higher at this time of year. We are on track to achieve the academic goals on our Comprehensive School Plan. Overall, the students in grades K-2 are trending lower in reading than they were pre-pandemic, and students in grades 3-5 are trending lower in mathematics. If your child … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good morning Shepherd families and friends, A reminder that next week we’re off for the February mid-winter break and that ALL students will need to take and submit negative COVID test results by 5 pm on Sun, Feb 27th in order to return to school on Mon, Feb 28th. In this week’s PTO Bulletin… FEBRUARY PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am Mid-Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) – Feb 21st-25th PTO Restaurant Night fundraiser with Ledo Pizza – Mon, Feb 28th DCPS Performance Oversight Hearing – Wed, March 2nd PTO Restaurant Night with Potomac Pizza – Mon, March 14th (Pi Day!) Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th – buy your tickets NOW and help us with auction donations! Calendar of Events PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm Join us on TEAMS for an update from Dr. Hedlund and to hear about PTO events and activities on the horizon. COVID TEST TO RETURN TO SCHOOL on Mon, Feb 28th All students will be required to take a rapid test and upload their results to the https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/testing/ by 5 pm on Sunday, Feb 27th. Rapid … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, Next week is Black History Spirit Week at Shepherd Elementary! Join us as we celebrate! Please tune into our school’s virtual all-school meeting on Friday, February 18th from 9:15- 10:00am. The theme for all-school will focus on Black Entrepreneurship. Please see below for important information regarding our school’s Black History Month Spirit Week! Shepherd’s Black History Month Spirit Week Monday, 2/14- Pan- African Flag Day/Spread the Love (Please wear red that represents the blood uniting the people of the African Diaspora). Tuesday, 2/15- Black Excellence Day ( Please wear HBCU pride gear, career costumes, etc.) Wednesday, 2/16- Pan- African Flag Day/Black Lives Matter Day (Please wear your favorite BLM t-shirt or Black t-shirt representing the people of the African Diaspora.) Thursday, 2/17- Book Character Day (Please wear the outfit of your favorite Black book character *clothes only) Friday, 2/18- Pan- African Flag Day/Shepherd Mustang Day (Please wear your Shepherd gear to represent the diversity of our school or green representing the abundant natural wealth of Africa) Please pay careful attention to the announcements below. Enjoy your weekend, Phyllis Upcoming Events Tuesday, February 15th 8:45 am Coffee and Conversation 1st grade Week of February 13th Black History Month Spirit … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good evening Shepherd families and friends, We’re packing a lot in for the rest of the month of February (including the mid-winter break starting on Mon, Feb 21), so make sure to read all about what’s going on so you don’t miss out! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Fifth grade promotion committee planning call – TOMORROW at 8 am on TEAMS “Coffee and Convo” with Dr. Hedlund and first grade families – Tues, Feb 15th at 8:45 am FEBRUARY PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am Mid-Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) – Feb 21st-25th DCPS Performance Oversight Hearing – Wed, March 2nd Shepherd PTO Restaurant Night with Potomac Pizza – Mon, March 14th (Pi Day!) Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th – buy your tickets and help us with auction donations! Shepherd PTO Health and Wellness Fair – Thurs, May 12th Calendar of Events Join the Black History Month Planning Committee We’ll be following up with Black History Month in DC as our theme this year. Every class will contribute to the All School Meeting on Friday, February 18th. There will be other activities too, so … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good afternoon Shepherd families and friends, It’s February…and that means we’re highlighting Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and all of the fun things we’re planning for Spring! Lots packed into this week’s Bulletin – so don’t miss it! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Ward 3 Ed Network call – Mon, Feb 7th at 7 pm Shepherd Auction/Gala Planning Meeting – Tues, Feb 8th at 7 pm “Coffee and Convo” with Dr. Hedlund and first grade families – Tues, Feb 15th at 8:45 am FEBRUARY LSAT and PTO meetings – Wed, Feb 16th All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am Mid-Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) – Feb 21st-25th Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th – buy your tickets and help us with donations! Shepherd Spring Restaurant Nights with Ledo’s and Potomac Pizza coming in Feb and March – details coming soon! PTO Health and Wellness Fair – Sat, May 7th Calendar of Events Ward 3 Ed Network Call – Mon, Feb 7th The next meeting of the Ward 3 Education Network (W3EdNet) is on Monday, February 7 at 7pm via Zoom (link below). The group will be hosting Council Chair Phil Mendelson, who will share … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, We are past the midway point of the year, and we are making it! The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases dropped in our community last week, and I am hopeful that we will continue that downward trend. Thank you to all our ECE families who are testing their children on Sunday and posting their results by 4:00 pm. It may not feel that way, but things are looking up!!!!! Thank you to everyone for your steadfastness, flexibility and grace. It has been a roller coaster ride in a whirlwind, but through it all, we have felt the support of our families and their willingness to help in any way possible. Thanks to the PTO for providing breakfast to staff this week — we enjoyed it immensely. It is DCPS Feeder Spirit Week, and I want to shout out our Mustangs’ next step, Alice Deal Middle School, which is also an IB school. Principal Neal and her team provide outstanding educational opportunities, and students can participate in anything from debate to cross country to lacrosse to musical theater to Model UN. They also have the opportunity to travel internationally in the eighth grade. Students leave Alice Deal well prepared … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good morning Shepherd families and friends, We are definitely back in full swing based on this packed PTO Bulletin! Lots of events going on today and through the next week. In this week’s PTO Bulletin… DCPS COVID-19 Town Hall – Wed, Jan 26th at 5 pm Town Hall on Vaccinations with Howard University – Wed, Jan 26th at 6 pm Town Hall on DCPS and Special Education hosted by ANC Commissioner Adofo – Thurs, Jan 27th All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Jan 28th at 9:15 am Councilmember George hosts Ward 4 meeting on education – Wed, Feb 2nd from 7-8 pm Shepherd Spring Restaurant Nights with Ledo’s and Potomac Pizza coming in Feb and March – details coming soon! Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th (planning in progress!) Health and Wellness Fair – May 7th Calendar of Events DCPS Town Hall – Wed, Jan 26th at 5 pm Mayor Bowser and the Administration will be providing monthly updates on the DCPS COVID-19 Protocol updates among other critical recovery efforts and district priorities. Click here to see the list of upcoming dates and to register. DC Govt and Howard University on COVID-19 TOWN HALL Join for a virtual … Read More