Good afternoon Shepherd families,
It has been a real treat to see so many of you pick up student belongings. Everyone is bursting with ideas on how to make things better, especially our students. I have been collecting some terrific ideas that we will start sorting through next week. I also want to give you the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. To that end, Ms. Rottman and I will be hosting two Zoom sessions next week on Wednesday, August 19th at 3:00 pm and Thursday, August 20th at 3:00 pm. Please join us if you can.
On Wednesday, August 19:
Topic: Opening of school listening session
Time: Aug 19, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 869 8836 4655
Passcode: d4tyXG
On Thursday, August 20:
Topic: Opening of school listening session
Time: Aug 20, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 857 3783 4123
Passcode: VY3hXx
Attached please find a presentation Ms. Rottman made to share the Shepherd Elementary Quarter 1 Virtual Learning Schedule. It reviews your feedback from spring listening sessions, DCPS requirements and schedules by grade. We will be reviewing this presentation during the listening sessions. Please reach out with any and all questions and input you have on scheduling. I know this is essential information as you make child care arrangements.
Virtual Learning Schedule Presentation.pptx
Staff Updates
In an exciting turn of events, Mr. Clayborn volunteered to move up to 5th grade and join the Leonard/Scott tremendously terrific team. He will have the same role as Ms. Harvey does on the 4th grade team.
Ms. Haygood decided to remain home with her three children and not return to the classroom. We are sorry to lose her. We have a new Kindergarten teacher, Roshini Rajwani. This will be her 9th year as an early childhood/elementary school teacher. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and from the University of the Virgin Islands with a Master of Arts in Education. She was born and raised in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and also lived in India for 4 years as an adolescent. In 2016, she relocated to the DMV area and continued to teach in DC.
Another new face is Stephanie Gladney, our ECE Communication and Education Support (CES) teacher. She is originally from the MidWestand moved to the DC area after completing Law School and passing the Bar Exam. She received her Master’s in Education from American University in 2010. Over the past decade, she has taught students in grade Pre Kindergarten through Fifth grade, both as a general education and special education teacher. As a certified yoga teacher she is committed to bringing mindfulness and movement into the classroom and beyond! Ms. Gladney is a teacher in our Summerbridge program for rising third graders!
Also in the ECE CES classroom are Ian Morris and Jhan Verastegui who will serve as aides. Ian Morris graduated from Lincoln University in the class of 2016. He is transferring to Shepherd from Truesdell. Jhan Verastegui from is from Peru and just completed his Spanish Teaching Associate’s degree at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. He will continue his studies at UDC to teach in DC. He has been working with kids with special needs since 2017.
The Shepherd Park Community Center
The center is on schedule for completion, and if all goes well, they will be providing access as early as August 18th. Please see the attachment for an update.
Shepherd Construction Update_August 2020.pdf
Thank you,
Phyllis