Dear Families,
We are very busy preparing for your arrival in a few weeks. The building looks better than ever, and our custodians are finishing up painting and setting up classrooms. The atrium was painted at the end of July. AP Phillips is ordering supplies, and many of our teachers have already been back to work on their rooms. There is so much excitement around school year 2021-22, but there are still some questions, which is why the parent handbook is not yet finalized. I will also be available to answer your questions and listen to your concerns on Monday, August 16th at 5:00 pm at our virtual meeting.
Please note that to safely conduct our K-5 Open House on 8/27, I have made the following adjustment: Families whose last names begin with A-L should attend from 3:00-3:30 pm. Families whose last names begin with M-Z should attend from 3:30-4:00 pm.
Have a wonderful weekend. Please reach out with any questions, and I look forward to welcoming you to Shepherd soon. Announcements and important dates follow below.
Phyllis Phyllis Hedlund,
Ed.D.Principal,
Shepherd Elementary
Conversation about SY2021-22
Please join me at 5:00pm on Monday, August 16th for a conversation about the opening of school. I may not have all the answers but will take note of all concerns and work on resolving them before August 30th.
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83813556030?pwd=OHNsUFlIL24vTlNGdUNWZG1RWFVtZz09
Meeting ID: 838 1355 6030
Passcode: V5EF2i
School Supplies
We are not requiring parents to purchase school supplies. We have budgeted well and are able to purchase students’ supplies internally. In addition, each teacher receives funds from the PTO to purchase their individual wish lists.
Class Lists
Class lists will be available to families the week of August 23rd. Rosters are still shifting at this time.
Uniforms
Please bring gently used uniforms to school for our uniform swap. There are bins inside of the main entrance for this purpose. Students are expected to wear every day to school: 1. A Shepherd Elementary spirit t-shirt OR a white shirt (without a logo or decoration) and 2. Navy blue bottoms — pants, shorts, skorts or skirts The Shepherd school uniform is not logo or brand-specific. Parents may purchase school uniforms from any store or website that sells the appropriate items. Here are two vendors that families have used in the past: French Toast
Enter Shepherd’s school source code: QS4SJF at it will take you right to the options that meet our dress code. Land’s End School Uniform Shop
Specify Shepherd “Preferred School Number” when placing an order from the Lands’ End School Uniform catalog or Lands’ End School Uniform website. Shepherd’s Preferred School Number:900131202.
Shepherd’s Used Uniform Swap
Stayed tuned for school uniform swaps, which will take place during the first two weeks of school.
Dietary Accommodations
DCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is no longer requiring a new dietary accommodation form for each school year! You must submit a new dietary accommodation form only if: Your student is new to DCPS and requires dietary accommodations, orThere are changes to the students’ current dietary accommodation form on file with Food and Nutrition Services. Please note that all dietary accommodation forms submitted in school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 will carry over. DCPS does not serve meals that contain pork, peanuts, or tree nuts. It is our pleasure to serve vegetarian meals in every school, every day. If your student requires vegetarian meals (will not contain meat, poultry, or fish, but may contain dairy and/or eggs), you do not need to complete a Dietary Accommodation form. To request a dietary accommodation, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Complete the appropriate Dietary Accommodation form for each child in your household that needs a dietary accommodation.Forms Medical Dietary Accommodations Form (For medical accommodations such as food allergies. Requires medical provider’s signature.) Milk Substitution & Philosophical Dietary Accommodations Form
Step 2: Submit the completed dietary form to dietary.forms@k12.dc.gov (preferred), to your school’s cafeteria or by mail to:
DCPS Food & Nutrition Services
c/o Nadine James – Dietary Accommodation Form
1200 First Street, NE 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Fax: (202) 727-2512
Step 3: Food and Nutrition Services will contact you via e-mail to confirm receipt of the form.
Step 4: Our Dietitian will contact you by phone or email with any follow-up questions or to discuss the modified menu if necessary. If your student has a severe or life-threatening food allergy, we also encourage you to work with your school to develop a section 504 plan. Please contact your school directly or email 504@k12.dc.gov.
Before completing a dietary accommodation request form, please note:Dietary accommodations are tracked centrally via student ID number. If your student transfers to another DCPS school during the school year or less than 4 weeks before the start of a new school year, the form does not need to be resubmitted to us, however, we strongly encourage you to alert us so accommodations can continue without interruption at your destination school. Please email us at dietary.forms@k12.dc.gov.Forms must be complete before accommodations can be met, including parent/legal guardian signatures and licensed medical provider signatures (when applicable).
Please select the dietary form for which your student requires a medical dietary accommodation: English | Español | አማርኛ| Tiếng Việt | Français | 中國人
Please select the dietary form for which your student requires a milk substitute and philosophical dietary accommodation: English | Español | አማርኛ| Tiếng Việt | Français | 中國人
Immunization Reminders
We encourage you visit to your family’s pediatrician for your student’s annual wellness exam. Scheduling an appointment with your child’s doctor will help make sure your child is up to date on important immunizations to prevent illness. District of Columbia policies and regulations require students to submit updated immunization documentation for the new school year. Students who do not submit the records within 20 days will not be able to attend until those records are received.
Afterschool Programming is Back!
Shepherd Star Achievers will be back in business when school opens! Registration is open. You can register your student(s) here.
Upcoming Events
Play Date for new families K-5 Sunday, 8/22Community Center Playground 10:00-Noon
Play Date/Open House for K-5 Friday, 8/27 3:00-4:00 pm Sign up is not required. Families whose last names begin with A-L should attend from 3:00-3:30 pm. Families whose last names begin with M-Z should attend from 3:30-4:00 pm.
Pre-K 3 Playdate and School Tour Friday, 8/27 2:00-3:00 om Sign up here
Pre-K 4 Playdate and School Tour Friday, 8/27 1:00-2:00 pm Sign up here
First Day of School (K-5th grade): Monday, 8/30
Pre-K First Day of School Thursday, 9/2
Labor Day (No School for Students): Monday, 9/6
PTA Meeting Wednesday, 9/22 6:30 pm