Dear Families, This week we concluded our Back to School Nights. Thank you to all of you who attended and provided your support and feedback. We have made some adjustments based on your input. Please continue to let us know how things are going. Today we will have our final pick up for PK-5 students. Please come to Shepherd if you have not yet picked up supplies or any essential student belongings. We are preparing the building as Shepherd is an early voting site and need to clear out the atrium. Thanks so much for your cooperation. This Friday there will not be classes so parents can attend conferences with Shepherd teachers. Your homeroom teachers will communicate their sign up procedures. If you would like to meet with a Specials teacher, please use the links below to secure a time. Art French Library Music Physical Education Spanish Thank you, and have a fantastic weekend! Phyllis LAST CALL PK-5th Grade Supplies and Belongings TODAY PK-5 families can come to pick up learning materials for Math (K-5), ELA (K-2), white boards and any personal belongings left in last year’s classrooms. PK-5 Pick Up Tuesday, October 6th 8:30 am-4:30 pm Please observe social distancing … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hello Shepherd Families! A QUICK reminder to vote for the PTO board members and LSAT representatives by midnight TONIGHT (Tues, Oct 6). Look for an email from Shepherd Elementary School via ElectionBuddy Elections and check your spam folders if you haven’t seen it. Only those registered in AtoZ Connect (the PTO’s email database) received an online ballot. Again, thanks to Julia Marnon Lipton, Michelle Musgrove and Ronnie Pearcy for leading this year’s nominating committee. DCPS RE-OPENING INFO SESSION TONIGHT – Oct 6th at 5:30 pm! The Chancellor is hosting an info session to go over the news shared in yesterday’s press conference on the schedule and specifics for the first groups to come back to school in person in Term 2. Click here to register for tonight’s session at 5:30 pm. KIDS RIDE FREE CARDS Card pick up is cancelled for tomorrow – we’re waiting on more cards. Next pick up day will be announced soon.
PTO Bulletin
Make Sure to VOTE – PTO Board and LSAT Representatives If you’re in AtoZ Connect, you should’ve received an online ballot from ElectionBuddy. Make sure to vote by Tues, Oct 6th at 11:59 pm. 2020 PTO Budget and Bylaws Approved Thanks to the many who voted – we’re happy to announce the proposed PTO budget for the 2020-2021 school year shared at the first meeting was approved. The updates to the PTO bylaws were also approved and will be updated. Both will be posted on the school’s website. Mayor’s Oct 5th COVID Update – DCPS News Click here to see the latest updates for Term 2. Are You New to Shepherd? Attention New Shepherd Families! The PTO would like to host some Zoom meet-ups for parents new to the school. We’d like to do some large group sessions as well as smaller group meet-ups. And, we’d also love to get new students connected with other Shepherd students! If you are a new family and have any interest in being a part of these Shepherd meet-ups, email Caroline Smith (mom of Henry, 4th grade, [email protected]). Please include your name, contact information, and the names and grades of your students. Connecting with Specials’ Teachers This Friday … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, It was wonderful to see so many of you at this week’s Back to School Nights. We appreciate your attendance and thoughtful questions and feedback. As I reflect on the milestones I shared at Back to School Nights these last two weeks, I wonder how our students can possibly reconcile their passion for fairness and justice with the failure of the grand jury in Kentucky to hold the police officers in the Breonna Taylor case accountable. The answer is that they cannot and should not; none of us can. Kentucky’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron, announced Wednesday that one police officer would be charged, not in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, but with endangering her neighbors with reckless gunfire. What does that scream to Ms. Taylor’s family and all of us about the value of her life in our justice system? The case forced no one to be held responsible for her murder. When we cannot grasp that, what do our students do? Our call to action is greater than it has ever been. Since our last newsletter we also lost Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What does the replacement of her seat on the Supreme Court mean for justice? … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Back-To-School ZOOM Sessions by Grade Level – SEE DATES AND LINKS BELOW! In place of our big in-person gathering we usually hold every September, Dr. Hedlund, Mrs. Rottman and the teachers will be hosting grade-level sessions to meet the teachers, orient parents for the school year and share expectations. See dates and Zoom links below to join your student’s session. Sept. 24 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–4th Grade Topic: Fourth Grade Open House Time: Sep 24, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86810484836?pwd=WmJyeHA1ZTBSbU5zcmd5RHNJaW5nQT09 Meeting ID: 868 1048 4836 Passcode: H2bdbe Sept. 28 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–1st Grade Topic: 1st grade open house Time: Sep 28, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89929251599?pwd=aFVNT29SSWtveGhNRWpMVlJ6RmdkQT09 Meeting ID: 899 2925 1599 Passcode: XD32hM Sept. 29 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–Pre-K 4 Topic: PK-4 Open House Time: Sep 29, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83284231015?pwd=akphbVNENC9BUFJLaEVsYzl5Q1JoUT09 Meeting ID: 832 8423 1015 Passcode: AVuV46 Sept. 30 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–Pre-K 3 Topic: PK-3 Open House Time: Sep 30, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84224686762?pwd=cEtNbXRTbml4cG9BL1Q4SnRrb1Y3UT09 Meeting ID: 842 2468 6762 Passcode: 5fTrSm Extending Nomination Deadline for Open Slots The Nominations Committee for … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good morning Shepherd families, Just a reminder that TODAY is the last day to submit PTA board member and LSAT nominations. Please send in your name, contact info, position of interest, and a brief statement about yourself to [email protected] by 11:59 pm TODAY (Mon, Sept 21). PTA board positions include: Co-presidents (2), Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. LSAT election will be for 4 parents to join Dr. Hedlund, Ms. Rottman, one of the PTA co-presidents and a group of teachers and staff on this year’s Shepherd Elem LSAT. For more info on the LSAT, click here. Online voting for all positions will begin Sept 30. More details to come. A HUGE thanks to Michelle Musgrove, Ronnie Pearcy and Julia Marnon Lipton for running this year’s Nominating Committee.
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, Yet another busy week at Shepherd! Wednesday’s PTA meeting was well-attended and productive, and last night we had our first virtual Back to School Meeting with 5th grade families, which was successful due to strong parent participation, thorough teacher planning and optimism all around. Please find the schedule for the remaining grade-level back to school nights below. We look forward to seeing you. Next Monday and Tuesday, we will have additional pick up for K-5 students. Pre-K, the iPads are at the warehouse and won’t be delivered until late next week. I will send an announcement for PK pick up once devices are in. Please stay tuned, and I apologize for the delay. As a reminder, students and teachers in your student’s classroom enter your home each day. Please be mindful of language, discussions and attire in your home when your student is in school. We have had a few incidents that made teachers and students uncomfortable. I am happy to discuss this further if you have any questions. Please see the announcements below, and have a wonderful weekend! Phyllis Shepherd Virtual Learning Expectations: -Students are expected to be ready with materials to learn at the beginning of each class period … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Shepherd families, Thanks to the MANY parents, teachers, and staff who joined us last night for our first PTO virtual meeting of the school year. Attached is the PPT we presented with some valuable information. This will also be posted on our school website. 20200916-PTO-Meeting.pdf Wanted to bring special attention to the call for PTO board members and LSAT representatives, as well as the PTO budget and bylaws for review. Click here to see the DRAFT documents. We are extending the deadline for PTO and LSAT nominations until Mon, Sept 21. Please send your name, position of interest, and a brief statement about yourself to [email protected]. The PTO board member positions are for 1-year terms as follows: Two (2) Co-President positions, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. If you want further details on the responsibilities for each role, you can read the proposed bylaw descriptions of each office at this link (see pgs 3-4 in the document). Online voting info and deadlines coming by end of Sept. All those in AtoZ Connect database will be eligible to vote. If you are receiving these emails, you are registered already. THANKS!
PTO Bulletin
Back-To-School ZOOM Sessions by Grade Level – SEE DATES AND LINKS BELOW! In place of our big in-person gathering we usually hold every September, Dr. Hedlund, Mrs. Rottman and the teachers will be hosting grade-level sessions to meet the teachers, orient parents for the school year and share expectations. See dates and Zoom links below to join your student’s session. Sept. 17 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–5th Grade Topic: Fifth Grade Open House Time: Sep 17, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84966919550?pwd=OHBLd2V0eFVkTmx0RWNuYlNPeWFsQT09 Meeting ID: 849 6691 9550 Passcode: eWsaM8 Sept. 21 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–Kindergarten Topic: Kindergarten Open House Time: Sep 21, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83228213201?pwd=VW40eXZrZXpvdzZCTkVCOWE0aXpDUT09 Meeting ID: 832 2821 3201 Passcode: MH4hUt Sept. 22 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–3rd Grade Topic: 3rd Grade Open House Time: Sep 22, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82114044851?pwd=S05XSUtKOCt0ZnY3dXZraW1YV1AzZz09 Meeting ID: 821 1404 4851 Passcode: mCfHQ6 Sept. 23 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–2nd Grade Topic: 2nd Grade Back to School Night Time: Sep 23, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81208520379?pwd=SFVJYUF5ZUJyd1BsRFNiTXRwV0NLZz09 Meeting ID: 812 0852 0379 Passcode: 2cF7Y4 Sept. 24 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.–4th Grade Topic: Fourth … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, For me, remembering the 19th anniversary of 9/11 during this pandemic is staggering. Many of those who were babies when that tragedy occurred are about to vote for the first time, and across the country, cities are honoring the victims and heroes today. As I greet families as they enter the building, I realize how much everyone has going on in their lives aside from the pandemic and how much more difficult it is to endure challenges under these conditions. In our community, people have lost family members, moved, undergone surgeries and illnesses, and experienced personal anguish for a variety of reasons. Thank you for the patience and grace you have shown us and each other as we move through these times. Our teachers and families have been positive, upbeat and supportive, and this is what makes Shepherd the very special community it is. It was great to see a number of you yesterday and today picking up learning materials. We will be distributing materials again on Monday from noon to 5:00 pm. A lot of this week’s information is a repeat of last week’s but good to have on hand. I hope to see many of you at the … Read More