Dear Families, We had a great week here at Shepherd! Teachers arrived on Monday, and we spent time reviewing data, setting goals, learning together, setting up our classrooms and simply getting to know one another. Many of you were here for our Open House, and it was a great opportunity for children to reunite and meet their teachers. Thank you to all who were in attendance, and thank you to the PTA for dinner on Thursday for the Open House and lunch on Friday. Both are greatly appreciated! Monday is the first day of school for grade K-5, and we are so excited to greet your children and begin their best school year yet. To ensure it is a smooth start this week, please keep the following in mind: Doors open at 8:20, and all students should be at Shepherd no later than 8:40. PK and K students enter through our main entrance. Parents should walk them to their classrooms. I know that it is hard to say goodbye, but try to make your classroom visit as brief as possible. It is actually easier for them to transition to school that way. All DCPS children receive breakfast at no cost. If … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
PTO Bulletin
It’s the LAST week before school starts, vacations are almost over (ugh!!!) and the weather looks a bit cooler for this Saturday’s Beautification Day and School Supply Drive! That can only mean – it’s time to sign up for a shift and get back in the swing of things! Come meet new families, work on projects to make the school FABULOUS for next week, 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 purchases made will be MUCH APPRECIATED and can be shipped right to the school – 7800 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20012 – or dropped off on Thursday from 9 am – 7 pm, Saturday from 9 am – 3 pm or the first week of school. 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 … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Families, Thank you to all of you who came out to our Shepherd play date last Sunday. It was a beautiful morning, and it was a joy to meet you and your children. Please mark your calendars for our play date and open house on Thursday, August 22nd from 5:00-7:00 pm. Your child/ren will have the opportunity to visit their classrooms and tour the school. I hope to have a lot of staff on hand that evening. I am including the supply list in this email just in case you have not had a chance to visit the PTA website. Please feel free to bring your supplies with you if you come on the 22nd. Please find here a link to indicate your dismissal preferences for your child/ren. This year, we will add Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students to carpool. All carpool students will be brought to the multi-purpose room and dismissed to our 14th Street exit. There will be adults along their route to help them get to you. We are requesting this information so we can create signs for your dashboard with your names to make our carpool line as efficient and orderly as possible. If you are a 5th grade parent and … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Mustang families, It’s that time of year already…please join us for Shepherd’s Beautification Day on Sat, Aug 24 from 9-noon! Come help us rake, weed, organize, clean, create, make copies, or paint. We’ll have outdoor and indoor projects – so something to fit everyone’s skills, interests and availability. Bring a friend, family member or a neighbor too. Kids are more than welcome to come help! Sign up for a shift here and come help us make the school SHINE before everyone starts back to school the week of Aug 26! We are also doing a school-wide supply drive and have identified some additional items on Amazon. These items are meant for our specials’ teachers and general school usage. Share the link with Shepherd neighbors or family members who may not be able to help on Beautification Day but want to support our school. Supplies can be dropped off on Thurs, Aug 22 from 9 am-7 pm and Sat, Aug 24 from 9 am-3 pm. See you on Saturday, Aug 24!
PTO Bulletin
Good evening, Mustang families!We are excited to kick off the first of our back-to-school play dates TOMORROW! Hope many of you can join us! And as you gear up for coming back to school, see a few fundraisers below to help you get ready, organized and support Shepherd Elem!Shepherd Play Dates – TOMORROW at 10 am and Thurs, Aug 22 from 5-7 pmThe PTA will be hosting play dates to meet Dr. Hedlund, the many new Shepherd staff and teachers, and get to know other students and families prior to school starting.Shepherd t-shirts will be on sale during both play dates.Sun, Aug 11 from 10-noon at the park on Jonquil Street next to the lower field and down the hill from the schoolThurs, Aug 22 from 5-7 pm come for a “sneak peek” at schoolFUNDRAISER ALERTLOOKING FOR QUALITY SCHOOL UNIFORM CLOTHING?We have an “online store” with Primary.com where you can get great quality navy and white clothing items. With each purchase, Shepherd PTA gets 10% back on every sale! And we get credit for ALL Primary.com purchases – not just what’s in our store. So be sure to use this link when making all purchases. https://www.primary.com/school/shepherdNEED LABELS FOR YOUR CHILD’S … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Families,Welcome to school year 2019-20! I am so excited to serve as the Interim Principal at Shepherd and am grateful to the families and community members whom I have already met for their warm welcome and invaluable assistance this summer. For the last five years, I served as the Chief Academic Officer at E.L. Haynes PCS. Prior to that, I worked as teacher educator and curriculum developer for Urban Teacher and Capital Teachers Residency programs. Over the course of my career, I have taught fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, eleventh and twelfth grades and worked as an elementary, middle and high school principal. I trained to be a principal at Francis Junior High School and earned my M.A. and Ed.D at The George Washington University. I am thrilled to be back in a traditional public school system. All three of my children attended DCPS schools.Throughout my career, increasing equity and building connections among students, their families and school have motivated my work. When I started my career, tracking dominated schools, particularly at the secondary level. Students in different tracks had distinctly different educational experiences with students in the “lower” tracks receiving less or zero access to the high status … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Mustang families,A few updates as we hit AUG 1 today! More info from Dr. Hedlund is coming soon re: supply lists and how class lists will be shared prior to school starting.We will also be sharing a sign-up link for you to join PTA Committees to help us support the many activities we’ve already been planning and to sign up to be a Room Parent for your child’s class.Enjoy the last few weeks of summer and hope to see you at some of the upcoming events in August.Don’t forget to “like” our Facebook page for even more info and reminders @ShepherdElemPTA.THANKS!Liz and the PTA crewTONIGHT! Community Center meeting – Aug 1 at 6 pmPlease join the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of General Services (DGS) and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) on Thursday, August 1, 2019 for a community meeting and discussion of the Shepherd Park Community Center project. The project architect will present a revised design based on the feedback we’ve received from previous community meetings and discussions with DCPS and DPR program staff. The general contractor will also be present to review specific construction information and details.MEETING DETAILS:Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019Time: 6:00 PMLocation: … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Mustang families,I hope everyone is having an excellent summer. Below are a few upcoming meetings and dates to get on your radar. Hope to see you soon!Community Center meeting – Aug 1 at 6 pmPlease join the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of General Services (DGS) and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) on Thursday, August 1, 2019 for a community meeting and discussion of the Shepherd Park Community Center project. The project architect will present a revised design based on the feedback we’ve received from previous community meetings and discussions with DCPS and DPR program staff. The general contractor will also be present to review specific construction information and details.MEETING DETAILS:Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019Time: 6:00 PMLocation: Shepherd Elementary SchoolMultipurpose Room7800 14th Street, NWPlease share this email meeting invitation with your friends, neighbors and any other interested parties. For additional information about this project, please visit: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/shepherd-park-community-centerShepherd Play Dates – Sun, Aug 11 and Thurs, Aug 22The PTA will be hosting play dates to meet Dr. Hedlund and get to know other students and families prior to school starting. All students and families are welcome!Sun, Aug 11 from 10-noon at the park on Jonquil Street next … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Mustang families!I am very happy to finally be sending along an announcement about our interim principal, Dr. Hedlund, that has just come out from Chancellor Ferebee this evening.We are very excited to have Dr. Hedlund at Shepherd!As you will see, the timing has shifted a bit and we will now NOT be having a principal selection panel imminently. We pushed back on the Chancellor regarding this timing as we did not think that was the best course of action to maintain stability and consistency for our school community, our kids, and our teachers.We will CONTINUE to push to have the panel for the selection of a permanent principal in the Spring, when we’ll have the best selection of candidates and will be much closer to completing the school year.So, as we get excited to start school again…please mark your calendars for two upcoming play dates to come meet Dr. Hedlund.Sun, Aug 11 from 10-noon at the playground next to the soccer field on Jonquil Street (right below the school) and Thurs, Aug 22 from 5-7 pm at school!See you then!Liz BradleyShepherd PTA President