Good morning Shepherd families,
Great news on the horizon as approval for a Covid-19 vaccine is in reach for our elementary-aged children. It will be a game changer for our work at Shepherd. Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day when we celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples. I know families are making time to explain the significance of this holiday and the cultures it celebrates. We look forward to welcoming your students back to school tomorrow, and I hope you enjoy the day. Below please find important announcements about additional clubs and our all-school celebration of Family History Month.
Principal Hedlund
Family History Fashion Show
A message from Ms. Mack:
Shepherd has put together a family engagement team to work more closely together with the PTO. The members of the team include Mrs. Hagan, Mrs. Holt, and Ms. Mack. So far this year, there has been a virtual ECE activity as well as a warm welcome to new families.
We want to celebrate you this month since October is Family History Month. We would like to gather family photos that highlight your culture and uniqueness through special clothing and fashion if possible. If you would like to participate, please upload a festive family photo that invites us to learn more about your family’s culture to this folder by Tuesday, October 19th Family History Fashion Show (specifics on how to upload will be included in the folder). We would like families from all parts of the world to participate! All families whether you are from the US or abroad are invited to showcase.
As an IB PYP school, we are always looking for creative ways to promote international-mindedness, diversity, and inclusion!
Club Announcements
Our staff has added two new clubs:
Thursday
3rd-5th Running Club
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FA4A72AA4FE3-3rd5th2
Friday
3rd-5th Pokemon Club
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FA4A72AA4FE3-3rd5th1
Club Expectations
Student Expectations:
1. Be safe- Maintain safety protocols of the building- distance 3 feet, wear a mask, no snacks, and use hand sanitizer upon entering a space
2. Be responsible- follow directions, fully participate in the given activities of the club
3. Be respectful- use kind words with others, listen when others are speaking, clean the space up after clubs are finished.
Family Expectations:
1. Pick up students on time.
2. Participate regularly and communicate days where students will not be attending.
Dismissal:
Students will be released back to aftercare if they are in the aftercare program.
Students being picked up will meet outside at the middle of courtyard by the main entrance. Please have your yellow signs with your student’s name printed on it.
Staffing Updates
Art: Senor Hernandez’s sister, Gisela Hernandez, will serve as our temporary teacher for Art once she has completed onboarding. Ms. Hernandez is an experienced educator, and we are excited to welcome her to the Specials team and our Shepherd family
First grade: Ms. Buxton, an experienced DCPS educator, will join us as our third first grade teacher to reduce the class size to 18 students per homeroom. We will create sections through a lottery. This week, Ms. Buxton will observe, plan and co-teach with Ms. Saxton and Ms. Lawal. She will also take time to set up her classroom and meet with families virtually and in-person; please stay tuned for those dates and times. Thank you in advance, first grade families, for helping us set Ms. Buxton up for success.
Third Grade: Ms. Oursler will join us to replace Ms. McCarthy in the third grade. We look forward to a swift onboarding process for a November start date. I met with third grade families last Thursday to outline our coverage plan.