Category Archive

Good evening Shepherd families and friends, In this week’s PTO Bulletin… DCPS Ed Fest – Sat, Dec 11th Dec LSAT and PTO meetings – Wed, Dec 15th All-School Morning meeting – Fri, Dec 17th Order your holiday greenery and support the Shepherd PTO Support Shepherd’s virtual food drive now through Dec 10th Volunteers needed – Spring Auction/Gala CONGRATS to Ms. McIntyre – our first PTO TAP recipient Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Get your holiday greenery here! We’re once again working with Lynch Creek Farms to give you a way to decorate for the holidays while supporting the school too! With each purchase, Lynch Creek Farms will donate 15% back to the Shepherd PTO. Click here to shop the elegant wreaths, garland, table toppers, centerpieces and accessories. Happy Holidays! GALA/AUCTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Do you like planning an event? Or maybe you like fundraising? Or you’re a master of logistics or marketing/communications? WE NEED YOU! It takes a village to put on an event like this and we’re looking for volunteers to help chair and plan this year’s Spring Gala/Auction. It’s our biggest fundraising event of the year and we hope to … Read More

Good morning Shepherd families and friends, It’s almost Thanksgiving and we want THANK YOU for all the support you’ve given Shepherd over the last few months. We’ve reached our annual 180 Fund goal of $10,000 for the first time in years, have more than 49 families signed up for our holiday photos fundraiser, and had AN AMAZING FUN RACE this past Saturday with more than 109 racers participating on 24 teams. WHEW! What a great start to our school year! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… LSAT and PTO monthly meetings TODAY – Wed, Nov 17th All School Morning Meeting hosted by the 4th graders – Fri, Nov 19th Family Holiday pics – Sat, Nov 20 and Sun, Nov 21 (SOLD OUT!) Staff Appreciation Holiday Event Planning Kick-off meeting – Mon, Nov 29th at 7pm Spring Gala/Auction planning kickoff meeting – Wed, Dec 1st at 7 pm Volunteers needed – planning for the Teachers/Staff holiday party, Spring Auction/Gala, and library book sorters! Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! And the FUN RACE WINNERS ARE… They ran, jumped, threw, biked, dodged, counted, strategized and worked as teams to try to get the fastest time … Read More

Good evening Shepherd families and friends, We’d like to take a moment today to salute all of the veterans in our school community – we thank you for your service today and everyday! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… See our full list of FANTASTIC TEAMS competing in Shepherd’s first-ever Fun Race to Fundraise – Sat, Nov 13th Reminder – School Picture Day – Mon, Nov 15th Kindergarten families – “Coffee and Chat” date with Dr. H – Tues, Nov 16th LSAT and PTO monthly meetings – Wed, Nov 17th All School Morning Meeting hosted by the 4th graders – Fri, Nov 19th Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Shepherd Fun Racers! They’re warming up, lifting weights, running sprints, and getting ready for the BIG RACE this Saturday! Get ready to cheer on the 29 TEAMS competing in the FUN RACE TO FUNDRAISE. All teams should’ve received a group number and start time via text…more race details will be sent via text to the cell number we have for each team. A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: Ledo’s Pizza, Target, City CPR, Call Your Mother’s Bagel, Maison RZK realtors, and the Jabaily-Messing and … Read More

Good evening Shepherd families and friends, In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Sign your team up now for Shepherd’s first-ever Fun Race to Fundraise – Sat, Nov 13th starting at 11 am Vaccine Pop-Up Clinics on Fri, Nov 5th “No School Day” Play Day hosted by Star Achievers on Fri, Nov 5th Ward 3 Education Network Meeting – Mon, Nov 8th at 7 pm School Picture Day – Tues, Nov 9th No School on Veteran’s Day – Thurs, Nov 11th Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Register Your Fun Race Team Here Ward 3 Education Network Meeting – Mon, Nov 8th at 7pm The group will be hosting DC Public Schools Deputy Chancellor Melissa Kim and Social Studies Director Scott Abbott. This will be an opportunity to ask Deputy Chancellor Kim about such topics as COVID and schools (testing, outdoor lunches and education, vaccinations, virtual learning), overcrowding in schools and the recent community working group, and the upcoming budget cycle. Director Abbott will be talking with us about the new DCPS curriculum and instructional approach for elementary social studies and math. Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive … Read More

Good evening Shepherd families and friends, Wow – it’s almost November and our school schedule of events is picking up again and nothing makes us more excited! Mark your calendar because we have a lot you won’t want to miss. In this week’s PTO Bulletin… DATE CHANGE – Halloween Parade is now TOMORROW (Thurs, Oct 28th) at 2:30 pm All School Morning Meeting hosted by the 3rd graders is on Fri, Oct 29th at 9:15 am via TEAMS Sign your team up now for Shepherd’s first-ever Fun Race to Fundraise – Sat, Nov 13th starting at 11 am Get your families ready for holiday photos with our PTO family photo shoot fundraiser – several November dates noted below Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Register Your Fun Race Team Here DATE CHANGE – Halloween Parade is now TOMORROW (Thurs, Oct 28) Time is still 2:30 now on Thurs, Oct 28th due to rain forecasted for Friday. We will parade around the perimeter of the school like last time, and parents will be able to sign their children out at the end of the parade. All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Oct 29th … Read More

Good afternoon Shepherd families and friends, As we’re getting back to normal, we’re excited to announce a few upcoming events highlighted below – the School Halloween Parade and Shepherd Fun Race. We look forward to seeing everyone back in person again soon! Reminder that we have our Oct PTO meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. Join us via TEAMS here. In this week’s PTO Bulletin… DCPS Town Hall – TONIGHT (Wed, Oct 20th) at 5 pm October PTO meeting – TONIGHT (Wed, Oct 20th) at 6:30 pm SAVE THE DATE – Halloween Parade and All School Morning Meeting on Oct 29th Shepherd’s first-ever Fun Race – Sat, Nov 13th THANKS to our PTO Committee Chairs and volunteers Supporting the Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! DCPS Town Hall – October 20th Join DCPS leadership for a Town Hall on “Creating Safe Environments in DCPS” on Wednesday, Oct 20th at 5 pm. Register here. PTO Meeting TONIGHT at 6:30 pm Join us via TEAMS tonight to hear from Dr. Hedlund as she shares beginning of the year (BOY) data, details about upcoming events and committee updates. School Halloween Parade – Fri, October 29th It’s BAAACCCKKK this year! YAHOOOO! … Read More

Good evening Shepherd families and friends, As we’re getting back to normal, we’re excited to announce a few upcoming events highlighted below – Halloween Parade and Scavenger Hunt. We look forward to seeing everyone back in person again soon! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… PK3 “Coffee and Chat” with Dr. Hedlund – Tues, Oct 19th October PTO meeting – next Wednesday, Oct 20th at 6:30 pm SAVE THE DATE – Halloween Parade and All School Morning Meeting on Oct 29th What is IB? Learn more about Shepherd’s program Shepherd’s first-ever Scavenger Hunt – Sat, Nov 13th Supporting the Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! DCPS Town Hall – October 20th Join DCPS leadership for a Town Hall on “Creating Safe Environments in DCPS” on Wednesday, Oct 20th at 5 pm. Register here. School Halloween Parade – Fri, October 29th It’s BAAACCCKKK this year! YAHOOOO! Save the date to come watch the cutest and best Halloween parade in the city! More details coming soon on time of the parade and costume attire. Save the date – All School Morning Meeting This month, the 4th graders will be hosting the All School Morning meeting on Friday, October 29th … Read More

Hi Shepherd families and friends – just a reminder that Parent-Teacher Conferences are Thurs, Oct 7th (no school day for kids), Fri, Oct 8th is a professional staff development day (no school for kids) and Mon, Oct 11th is a holiday for all! See everyone back on Tues, Oct 12th! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Walk to School Day Pics Introducing Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP) Review DCPS calendar proposals for upcoming years Star Achievers Aftercare Open Board Positions Upcoming DCPS Parent University sessions Seeking PTO Committee Chairs – Facilities Improvement and Curriculum and Staff Support Supporting the Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Walk to School Day Success! YAY! The rain held off today and we were able to once again host the annual Walk to School Day! Thanks to the many walking captains, volunteers, parents, staff and students who participated! If you’ve got pics, send them our way – info@shepherd-elementary.org Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant Update Thanks to the hard work of Siri Warkentien, we’ve now got the supplies and the $3K in grant money from the Whole Kids Foundation to kick start our new Garden Club and supplement what the 2nd graders will learn … Read More

Happy Wednesday, Shepherd family! We have our first PTO meeting TODAY (Wednesday, Sept 29th) at 6:30pm. Link is below. Join us to hear from Dr. Hedlund, Dr. Brown (Shepherd’s school psychologist), updates from the Committees, and hear about upcoming plans and events for the Fall. We’d love to hear your voice and ideas too. In this week’s PTO Bulletin… Walk to School Day – Wed, Oct 6th Introducing Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP) First PTO meeting – Wed, Sept 29th at 6:30 pm Room Parent Orientation – Wed, Sept 29th at 8 pm Upcoming DCPS Parent University sessions Seeking Room Parents and PTO Committee Chairs Supporting the Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Calendar of Events AND MUCH MORE! Walk to School Day – October 6 Join us for this before school event! Either walk your normal route or meet us at one of three meet-up locations: Marvin Caplan Park at the corner of Alaska Ave. and Holly Street. Group leaves at 8:10am. Triangle Park at the corner of Luzon Ave. and Van Buren St. Group leaves at 8:00am. Lowell Field at the corner of Kalmia and 17th Streets. Group leaves at 8:10am. FIRST PTO MEETING – WED, Sept 29th at 6:30 pm … Read More

It’s BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT! We look forward to seeing everyone virtually! In this week’s PTO Bulletin… – All School Morning Meeting – this FRIDAY at 9:15 am! – Upcoming DCPS Parent University sessions – TAP a teacher program – First PTO meeting – next Wed, Sept 29th at 6:30 pm – Seeking Afterschool Club Leaders, Room Parents and PTO Committee Chairs – Supporting the annual Shepherd 180 Fund – AND MUCH MORE! THIS FRIDAY – ALL SCHOOL MORNING MEETING Be sure to join virtually this Friday, Sept 24 at 9:15 am to see the fifth graders host our first ALL SCHOOL MORNING MEETING of the school year to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Join here to watch! Upcoming DCPS Parent University Sessions Join families across the District and DCPS Central Office teams to learn how we can collaborate to enrich your child’s education. Families are encouraged to ask questions and offer solutions. Together, we will walk away with activities to try or useful information to accelerate our children’s educational development. All sessions are virtual. Sept 26 at 5:30 pm – Making the Most of Your Parent Teacher Conferences Oct 6 at 5:30 pm – Social Emotional Development and Learning During Challenging Times … Read More