Category Archive

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.

Dear Shepherd Families: We realize that this is an uncertain time as our city grapples with coronavirus (COVID-19). Despite the challenges and concerns this situation presents, we want to assure you that DC Public Schools (DCPS) and our outstanding Shepherd faculty developed a solid plan to ensure that your child’s education continues during a period of school closure. Please read this correspondence in its entirety as it includes specific information from our fantastic teachers. You probably heard from them separately, but we wanted to put it all in one place for you. In addition, there are library and family resources attached from Ms. Blake and Ms. Browne respectively. Printed Information PacketDCPS has prepared a hardcopy packet of materials that contains your child’s instructional materials for March 24 to March 31. These activities have been designed to extend prior learning and engage students during the period of school closure. It contains learning activities across content areas that were planned for all DCPS learners, including English Language Learners and students with special needs. Packets will be available of pick up at Shepherd from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm on 3/19, 3/20, 3/23 and 3/24. Shepherd will be open daily from 8:30 am -2:00 … Read More

Dear Shepherd Families:  We realize that this is an uncertain time as our city grapples with coronavirus (COVID-19). Despite the challenges and concerns this situation presents, we want to assure you that DC Public Schools (DCPS) and our outstanding Shepherd faculty developed a solid plan to ensure that your child’s education continues during a period of school closure. Please read this correspondence in its entirety as it includes specific information from our fantastic teachers. You probably heard from them separately, but we wanted to put it all in one place for you. In addition, there are librarry and family resources attached from Ms. Blake and Ms. Browne respectively. Printed Information Packet  DCPS has prepared a hardcopy packet of materials that contains your child’s instructional materials for March 24 to March 31. These activities have been designed to extend prior learning and engage students during the period of school closure. It contains learning activities across content areas that were planned for all DCPS learners, including English Language Learners and students with special needs. Packets will be available of pick up at Shepherd from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm on 3/19, 3/20, 3/23 and 3/24.  Shepherd will be open daily from 8:30 am -2:00 pm … Read More