Fall Fest Was Spectacular!WOW!!!!!!!You all really delivered for Shepherd this year at Fall Fest! And we want to THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!Let’s break it down by the numbers:• $23,000 was made this year (blowing well past our 2018 gross amount of $18,000)• 70 family sponsorships were sold (also breaking our previous year’s number of 54)• 5 key corporate/organization event sponsors – The Parks at Walter Reed, MCN Build, Children’s National, Shepherd Park Citizen Association, and CM Brandon Todd (a BIG thank you to them!)• 100+ volunteers (parents, staff, teachers and neighbors) helped us make Fall Fest a massive success!!!• 65 beautiful, dry and sunny degrees!!• Priceless fun had when we met new friends, dunked Mr. Garner, Dr. Hedlund and others, decorated pumpkins and cupcakes, climbed the rock wall, bounced in the moon bounce, got a Shepherd tattoo, won a Beyblade battle, and played carnival games!A HUGE THANK YOU to Ayana McIntosh, Ronni Pearcy, Siri Warkentien, Simon Messing, Rajan Sedalia, Jasmine Riley, Yolanda Grate, Sanjay Singh, Karen Sloan, Taryn Losch-Beridon, Sharon Bovelle, Michael Robbins, Esther Ntim, Lauren Benning, Andrea Smith, and all the ROOM PARENTS!A SPECIAL thanks to Shepherd parent, Sharon Bovelle, for these wonderful pics that … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
This coming week is Bullying Prevention Spirit Week at Shepherd, and you will see the fun daily activities we have planned. During Morning Meeting, Ms. Browne and Dr. Brown have been visiting each homeroom to discuss bullying with students and teach them what it is and what to do if they are being bullied or they see someone being bullied. In addition, Ms. Rottman is holding class meetings with specific homerooms that have struggled with playing fairly during recess and reinforcing that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated and assume the best intent of one another whenever possible. Students need to learn how to cooperate, how to be a friend, how to share and how to accept setbacks with grace. During the second quarter, we will be working on explicitly teaching these types of skills to students as an aspect of our work with Turnaround for Children. More to come as we get started. Last week, 5thgrade held its elections, and we have officers for the Shepherd Student Government (SGG).President/ Ise KambuiVice President/ Noemi MilamSecretary/ Ivori JenningsHistorian/ Henry Goldblatt This coming week homerooms will hold elections for homeroom representatives. There will be one homeroom … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
We have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks: Parent Teacher Conferences this coming Friday, Fall Fest on Oct 19 and Halloween. We have encouraged our staff to schedule conferences as needed to ensure they can meet with all families before, on, or after that date. Our building will be open with regular hours 7:00 am-7:30 pm on Friday, October 11 for conferences. We look forward to sharing your child’s progress with you! Fall Fes is in two weeks, and I know the PTA has a lot of great activities for families to enjoy. Make sure to volunteer and I will see you there. Back by popular demand is the Halloween Parade. At 2:30 pm on Oct 31, our students will parade around the block in costume and can be dismissed afterwards if their parents are present. This past week, Ms. Pereira, Ms. Mack and I launched Shepherd Student Government (SSG) with our fifth graders. There will be elections for officer roles next week: President, Vice President, Secretary and Historian. We then will seek a homeroom representative in homerooms K-4. Representatives will rotate at the end of the second and third quarters to offer room for more … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
Last night’s community meeting was well attended. Questions were sensible yet urgent. We have outstanding parent advocates working on our students’ behalf. The community center was the focus of the meeting, but time was also spent on lead contamination on DC playgrounds. You can find DPR’s presentation here. Construction will start in mid-October, and there are sure to be bumps along the way for the community, government agencies and construction firm. I will give you weekly updates on the construction and more frequent ones if conditions demand them. In the end, however, we will have a gorgeous new gymnasium, cafeteria and kitchen to enjoy. I feel confident it will be well worth the wait. This week we nearly had a tragedy when a driver blinded by the morning sun as they traveled on 14th Street almost struck one of our Pre-K 3 students. The boy’s father literally had to pull him out of the car’s path, and the family was in the crosswalk at the time of the incident. Although we are all busy with countless responsibilities, we need to take the time to travel safely, especially in the vicinity of our school. We all know that lives can be … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
Thank you to all the family members who attended the first PTA meeting this past Wednesday. It was well attended and representative of students in all grades. You make our community strong and welcoming. Go Mustangs! Please check today’s announcements closely as clubs will begin in the next several weeks. At the PTA meeting, I announced that Shepherd will have a Winter Concert and a Musical this year. Students will have input on the selection of the Musical, and the Winter Concert will involve all grades. Keep an eye out for additional details as they are determined. Movie Night is Friday, September 27th, and Fall Festival will be here before you know it. Picture Day is Friday, October 4th, and Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, October 11th. Please remember that there will be no school for students that day. Mrs. Hagan and Mrs. Zepeda will host a breakfast on Tuesday, September 24th for our English-language learner families. Madame Gadie and Mr. Hernandez will host a World Language Information Session on Friday, October 4th from 8:00-8:40 am in the Library. They will provide an overview of the curriculum and objectives for language instruction at Shepherd. Enjoy this beautiful fall … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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