Dear Shepherd Families: I am excted to share the following information on DCPS Covid-19 vaccine clinics. I know some of our students were vaccinated as early as yesterday! Please note that we needed to move Picture Day, which was scheduled for Tuesday, November 9th, to Monday, November 15th, because of asymptomatic Covid-19 testing on Tuesday. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way for us to help stop the spread of the virus and keep our community safe. On November 2, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that children ages 5 and older are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. To help DCPS families get vaccinated, free school clinics will open beginning November 8. Any DC youth ages 5-11 can visit an elementary school site to receive their first dose, while students ages 12 and older should visit a secondary school location. There is no appointment needed, and the parent / guardian accompanying the student should bring a valid photo ID for themselves. Student IDs are not required, and second doses will be available at schools in December. Parents who are unable to bring their child will have the option to print and sign a form allowing a trusted family member … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Families, The images above are from Ms. Conte’s African Dance Club for students in PK 3-K. As I walked with our youngest learners yesterday for the Halloween Parade, I realized how much we benefit from our beautiful, adorable, absolutely wonderful children. Their cuteness yesterday was beyond words, and I had the privilege of assisting Ms. Conte on Wednesday and wanted to share their work. Thank you to her and our other teachers who are enriching students’ lives with these after school experiences. Pleases share any great moments you captured yesterday. Third grade (and their support team) put on a fantastic all school meeting on indigenous people and family history today. Thanks to Ms. Murali and Ms. Pereira who remained steadfast in the face of technological adversity. The photographs you shared of your families were just beautiful and reminded me how fortunate I am to be a part of this community. Quick reminder that there is no school on Tuesday 11/2 for Election Day and on Friday 11/5 for Professional Development/Records. Please see the announcements that follow, and have a wonderful weekend. Principal Hedlund Special Recognition for Dr. Wilson Our very own Dr. Wilson has been selected as a 2022 District … Read More
Announcement from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Elementary School, This letter is to inform you that an individual who was last present at Shepherd on October 26 has since reported a positive test for coronavirus (COVID-19). The individual is no longer on campus and will not return until medically cleared. As determined by the DCPS Contact Tracing team, DC Health, and in accordance with the district’s COVID-19 health and safety guidance, unless you have received instructions directly, your student has not been identified as a close contact of the positive individual and does not need to be tested or self-quarantine. Persons for whom we know were in close contact with the positive individual were notified and provided guidance on next steps, including how any students impacted would receive instruction during quarantine. For your awareness, DC Health defines a close contact in a PK-12 setting as, “Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period, starting from two days before illness onset (or for asymptomatic infected people, two days prior to positive test collection) until the time the infected person is isolated.” Since DCPS has layered mitigation measures in place at our schools, students who were … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Families, I know your students are excited for our Halloween parade next Friday, October 29th at 2:30 pm. We will parade around the perimeter of the school, and PK 3 will lead the way. You will have the opportunity to pick your child up immediately afterwards if you choose to do so. Children may wear their costumes to school on 10/29. Please just remember not to send you child wearing anything that would frighten our youngest learners. Fridays are officially dress down days at Shepherd. Some students have already presumed this to be the case:). Students are also free to wear their uniforms on Friday. The same goes with Picture Day on Tuesday, November 9th. It is your family’s choice whether or not your student is in uniform that day. It is hard to believe we are approaching the close of the first term. Please see the important dates that follow. Principal Hedlund 11/2 Election Day — No school 11/5 End of Term 1, Records Day — No school for students 11/9 Picture Day 11/11 Veterans Day — No school 11/16 Coffee and Conversation Kindergarten 11/17 LSAT meeting 4:30 pm 11/17 PTO Meeting 6:30 pm 11/24-29 Thanksgiving Break
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Shepherd Families, We have a lot of good news on the staffing front. Ms. Mami Buxton joined our staff as a first-grade teacher, and students will transition from Denmark-Lawal and Saxton’s sections on Monday. Welcome Ms. Buxton! She taught at Leckie for 8 years and is thrilled to be back in DCPS. Next week brings the return of Ms. Romero. She will serve as our TLI Mathematics and will provide coaching to teachers and internvention to students. This week also saw the return of Mr. Talbert-Jackson who has and will be substituting in the building and will be an educational aide once he is onboarded. Ms. Fatima Raji, will also be an aide after she completes the onboarding process. In addition, the Chancellor has notified us that a full-time substitute will be assigned to each school. We are excited to have more hands to help serve the children. Next week, we have our PTO meeting from 6:30-7:30 pm on Wednesday. There will be a Coffee & Conversation for PK 3 families at 8:30 am on Tuesday in the cafeteria. Enter at the Jonquil entrance, adjacent to the community center. Please see the important announcements below as well as Panorama … Read More
PTO Bulletin
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
Message from Principal Hedlund
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, … Read More