Category Archive

Happy June!9 more days of school – WOW! A few things left as we wrap up the school year.LAST CALL AUCTION!Just a reminder that the auction site closes at noon TODAY! So, go get some LAST MINUTE deals ASAP!FIELD DAY – Tues, June 11 from 9am-3 pmWe also need more VOLUNTEERS for Field Day!Volunteers are needed to help assist at the 17 different stations available that day. Donations of water and popsicles are also needed to help keep kids hydrated during the day.PARENTS – please send your child with a reusable water bottle that day so we can minimize our trash!Please share the following link with the parents in your classrooms and encourage them to sign up to volunteer (or donate): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4eaeae29a1fc1-shepherd1.Let’s make this a great Field Day for our kids! If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Langrock at jeff.langrock@dc.gov or Karen Sloan at info@shepherd-elementary.org.Upcoming events:• Fifth grade Promotion – June 7• Shepherd Field Day – June 11• International Day – June 12• Awards Day – June 13• Last day of school – June 14

SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING – Thurs, MAY 23 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, May 23rd, 2019 for a community meeting and discussion of the Shepherd Park Community Center project.The project architect will present a revised concept design based on the feedback we’ve received from previous community meetings and discussions with DCPS and DPR program staff. Meeting with be in the Multipurpose room at Shepherd Elem.Check out the latest: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/shepherd-park-community-centerFIELD DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Tues, June 11This year’s Field Day will be held on Tuesday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Rain date is June 12). Volunteers are needed to help assist at the 17 different stations available that day. Donations of water and popsicles are also needed to help keep kids hydrated during the day.PARENTS – please send your child with a reusable water bottle that day so we can minimize our trash!Please share the following link with the parents in your classrooms and encourage them to sign up to volunteer (or donate): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4eaeae29a1fc1-shepherd1.Let’s make this a great Field Day for our kids! If you have any questions, … Read More

Election ResultsPTA Exec Board for 2019-2020:President: Liz Bradley1st Vice President: Taryn Losch-Beridon2nd Vice President: Ayana McIntoshRecording Secretary: Caroline SmithCorresponding Secretary: Lauren Benning-WilliamsTreasurer: OPENAssistant Treasurer: Andrea SmithLSAT members for 2019-2020:Kristin BaldwinSara FaulmanDominic JuCendrine RobinsonPrincipal Selection Panel (parents):Liz Bradley – PTA PresidentJimmy Sarakatsannis – LSAT ChairKevin JenkinsAyana McIntoshJulia LiptonDoug SloanYolanda Grate – alternateShepherd Camping Trip – Sat, May 18 – NEED YOUR CONFIRMATIONSOur first annual Shepherd Elementary camping trip is fast approaching. Unfortunately, all of the sites are booked already, but if you were one of the lucky ones who signed up early, we need to know you’re going.Please visit the Google spreadsheet found via the following link and provide your name and camp location. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jk0ZHWquP31JUYmN7duxjLG6PumJeFIh4sptYW5qpWE/edit?usp=sharingEach campsite can fit two cars and up to six guests, so if you want to go but forgot to book a site, please message me and we will try to pair you with another family that has booked a site.Camp set up can begin at 3:00 PM on the 18th. Derek and Michelle Musgrove will have games for the kids between 3 and dinner, and they’ll host Smore’s at 7:00 PM. You’re on the hook for your own dinner and breakfast. If you’re new to camping, … Read More

Good morning, Mustang families! Below are all of the nominations we’ll be voting on at tonight’s PTA meeting. The meeting will be at 6:30 pm in the Multipurpose room and you must be present to vote. Childcare will be provided in the cafeteria by Star Achievers. PTA, LSAT and Principal Selection Panel Nominations PTA Exec Board Nominations President: Liz Bradley I’m Liz Bradley and am running again for PTA President to help maintain consistency of school communication, fundraising efforts and community building while the school transitions with a new administration. We have done some amazing things this year – improve communications, engage more parents, better support and appreciate our teachers and staff, build more community with parents and neighbors, diversify our fundraising, work with more partners and have fun! We have more work we want to do next year – focus on more community-building opportunities, implement PTA-supported STEM efforts for all grade levels, and engage the team to further support our efforts to stay in the Deal/Wilson feeder pattern. I am currently a Communications Strategy Director at AARP and have taught Communications Strategy and Planning at Georgetown University. 1st Vice President: Taryn Losch-Beridon Taryn Losch-Beridon is the parent of a current PK3 … Read More

Hi Mustang families – we are getting close to finishing up the year (whew!), but have a few more items of business and activities to do before we call it done!PTA, LSAT and Principal Selection Panel Elections – Wed, May 15 at 6:30 pmElections are this WEDNESDAY! Parents running for PTA and LSAT, please submit your name and 100-word write up about your interest in joining the PTA Exec Board or LSAT.For those interested in the Principal Selection panel, please submit your name and your child/children’s grade levels for the 19-20 school year – please note you must be available ALL DAY on Mon, May 20 for interviews.Submit ALL nominations to info@shepherd-elementary.org by midnight on Tues, May 14 to be on the ballot.PTA candidates must be PTA members in good standing; LSAT and Principal Selection Panel candidates must be parents.All seven PTA positions are open:• President— preside over meetings and the executive board, serve as primary contact for the principal, represent the PTA outside the school and more. • First vice-president— assist the president and stand in for the president when he or she is unavailable. • Second vice-president— assist the president and first vice-president, and stand in for them … Read More

Want to contribute more to Shepherd Elementary? Run for the PTA Exec Board, the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) or the Principal Selection Panel Committee. Election is at the Wed, May 15 PTA meeting, but all nominations must received in advance – by midnight on Tues, May 14. Meeting on May 15 starts at 6:30 pm in the multipurpose room. Must be present to vote.  PTA candidates must be PTA members in good standing; LSAT and Principal Selection Panel candidates must be parents.  For the Principal Selection Panel: You can nominate yourself or someone else, but please make sure the other person knows they are being nominated. You need to send your/nominee’s name and your/their child/children’s grade levels for the 2019-2020 school year to info@shepherd-elementary.org by Tues, May 14 at midnight to be added to the ballot. Must be available for the ENTIRE DAY on Mon, May 20 for interview panels. For the PTA Exec Board (7): Candidates should provide a brief (100-word) statement for distribution to attendees prior to the meeting.  Send nomination to info@shepherd-elementary.org by Tues, May 14 at midnight. All seven PTA positions are open: • President— preside over meetings and the executive board, serve as primary contact for the principal, represent the PTA outside the school … Read More

Hi Mustang families!I know it’s hard to get back in the swing of things after Spring Break…but it’s almost GALA time! I’m sure you’ve received several emails and flyers this week to encourage you to buy tickets and register to bid online if you can’t be there. We have well over 250 auction items now – and that could mean A LOT OF MONEY for Shepherd PTA with your help!Do you want students to go on more field trips, have more classroom materials and supplies they desperately need, and offer more social emotional learning training for our teachers? THEN WE NEED YOU!Register to bid or buy tickets: https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sespta-spring-gala-2019Tickets are $65; VIP sponsorships start at $250. Be thre – Bobby Van’s Grill on Sat, May 4th.A few other important notes:PTA meeting tonight at 6:30 pm with FREE GALLEY FOOD SAMPLES at 5:30 pmWe’re doing a RESTAURANT WEEK (April 28-May 4) with Galley (HOME DELIVERY FOR DINNER!) as a twist on RESTAURANT NIGHT! Tonight they’ll have samples and below is info on Galley… Galley Foods has partnered with Shepherd Elementary for a school fundraiser. Galley empowers you to eat well on your schedule, with freshly prepared fully cooked dinner made from scratch … Read More

Hi Mustang families,Enjoy a GREAT Spring Break…but don’t forget to buy your Gala & Auction tickets before you go…and sign up for the May 18-19 Camping Trip!Shepherd Gala & Auction – Sat, May 4BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR SPRING BREAK…GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!AND YOU MIGHT WIN THE SHEPHERD HOODIE IF YOU ARE LUCKY TICKET #100!Buy tickets: https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sespta-spring-gala-2019YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US RAISE MONEY TO DO THINGS LIKE: Fund a field trip for every grade level this year Provide more than $200 of supplies/materials/equipment for each teacher at Shepherd Help teachers go the “extra” mile to do special in-class learning experiences like the Academic Carnival and Cendrillon, the French play Help with school-wide activities like Field Day and School Beautification Days Put on School/Community Events like Fall Fest, Jazz Night, Movie Nights, Camp Fair, and the Health and Wellness FairShepherd Elementary Camping Trip – Sat, May 18We’ll be heading to Cunningham Falls in Thurmont, MD on the morning of Saturday, May 18th then heading back to civilization on the afternoon of the 19th. We will organize a hike to the waterfall on Saturday afternoon, a campfire that evening, and one more activity on Sunday morning.All children must be accompanied by an adult responsible … Read More

Happy Wednesday, Mustang Families!PTA meeting tonight – 6:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room (pizza and childcare provided for Shepherd students)Agenda includes:School Advocacy Updates – Budget Hearing requests on Social Emotional Learning, IB and SecurityCommunity Center updatePTA Bylaws refresh effortPTA/LSAT Elections to be done at May meetingGala update – May 4Health and Wellness Fair – March 29School Spring Clean Up – April 28Shepherd Gala and Auction UpdatesThanks to the AMAZING sponsors who’ve committed at the GOLD level – Ledo’s, Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry and Kids Elite Sports!Party It Forward – HOT Auction Items WANTEDFrom whiskey or wine tastings and child vs parent basketball games to guacamole or pasta making and Lego and Pokemon parties, the ideas and possibilities are endless! Think about how much you would love to just show up to a fun event someone else plans for you or your kids…and how fun it will be to meet Shepherd parents and kids you may not know! Think about what type of party you or a group of parents might be able to host and let us know! Send auction party ideas to sesgala2019@gmail.com.Amazing Travel and Experiences WantedWe are seeking vacation homes, in the U.S. and abroad, airline miles, or … Read More

Early Bird Price – TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!Early bird ticket price is $55 through March 15th, and $65 thereafter. You can also purchase “Angel” tickets to cover the cost of Shepherd teacher/staff attendance at the event.Consider supporting the Gala as an official sponsor – rewards and recognition are available for various VIP ticketed sponsor levels and are on the event site below. Ticketed VIPs will receive early admission to a VIP-only reception, featuring open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.Even if you can’t make the event, we’d appreciate your support. Money raised from the Gala goes to support supplies and materials for the teachers, field trips for our students, putting on events like Fall Fest, Jazz Night, Movie Nights and the Camp Fair and Health and Wellness Fair… and we are focusing some specific money from this year’s Gala on STEM materials for next year.VIP, Earlly Bird and Angel Tickets are now on sale – https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sespta-spring-gala-2019.PTA Restaurant Night – BLUE44 – Tues, March 19 from 5-10 pmHave Dinner and Support Shepherd Elementary School PTA! Bring a copy of this flyer to BLUE44 at 5507 Connecticut Ave NW, Wash, DC from 5PM – 10PM on TUESDAY, MARCH 19th BLUE44 will … Read More