UPCOMING EVENTSStay up-to-date on all upcoming IB events June- Saying Goodbye to Our 5th Grade ClassFriday, June 4th- Classrooms Going Global Morning MeetingFriday, June 11th-Classrooms Going Global Morning MeetingFriday, June 18th- All-School Meeting FEATURED IB FAMILY CONNECTION RESOURCE 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School IB PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY AND IB POLICIES Click here IB LEARNER ATTRIBUTE OF THE MONTH: BALANCED Click here APPROACH TO LEARNING SKILL OF THE MONTH: THINKING SKILLS Click here for family resource HAS YOUR CHILD TAKEN ACTION IN HIS OR HER COMMUNITY? Click here to nominate your child for an IB award Shepherd’s Virtual IB Programme Overview VideoWatch this video to find out more about Shepherd’s Virtual IB Programme! Contact Shepherd’s IB Coordinator, Avani Mack, for more information.
PTO Bulletin
5th Grade Promotion – Mon, June 21 at 10 am On Monday June 21, 2021 at 10:00 am, we will celebrate 5th grade promotion in person for all students and their families who would like to attend. The DPR field should be resurfaced by that date, but alternatively, we will use our playground space. We’re excited to get to celebrate these fabulous students and their major accomplishment! More details to come soon. “Moving Up” Ceremonies for ALL GRADES Dr. Hedlund and the staff are also planning “moving up” ceremonies in person for each grade level so students have the opportunity to see one another before we close out the school year. They are researching and planning for safe celebrations for our students, so please stay tuned for details coming soon! Vote NOW for PTO and LSAT reps for SY 2021-2022 – deadline Tues, June 1 Check your email and remember to vote by Tues, June 1 at 8 pm EST. All people on the PTO AtoZ Connect email list should’ve received an email from the Nomination Committee. If you are receiving this email, you’re on the list! If you have any questions, email elections@shepherd-elementary.org. Thanks again to Ana Ma, Kristin Harrison and Autumn Jackson … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, We are in the process of planning our end of the year activities. On Monday June 21, 2021 at 10:00 am, we will celebrate 5th grade promotion in person for all students and their families who would like to attend. The DPR field should be resurfaced by that date, but alternatively, we will use our playground space. Also in store are “move up” ceremonies in person for each grade level so students have the opportunity to see one another before we close out the school year. We currently are researching and planning for safe celebrations of our students so please stay tuned for details but we would love to have the opportunity to celebrate all of our children as we close out what has been a challenging year. At our PTO meeting on Wednesday, I walked participants through the Panorama survey data for students and families. Once our end of the year achievement data is available, I will share it with you. Dr. Leonard and Ms. Freeman are planning our summer program for those students in need of some additional support, and they will be communicating details with those families as soon as possible. I am saddened to inform you that Dr. Wilson is experiencing a family emergency and will have to take leave for the … Read More
PTO Bulletin
LAST PTO MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR – TONIGHT (Wed, May 19) at 6:30 PM Join us here on TEAMS! Agenda will include a deep dive by Dr. Hedlund into the Panorama survey data, election info by the Nominating Committee, and plans for the rest of the school year. Call for PTO Board and LSAT Representatives for Next School Year It’s that time again…we are officially kicking off elections for SY2021-22! Many thanks to our volunteers on the Nominating Committee: Ana Ma, Autumn Jackson, and Kristin Harrison! As was done for the last round of elections, this year’s elections will be held virtually via ElectionBuddy.com. If you’d like to put forward a nomination for one of the open positions/roles, please send these directly to the Election Committee by emailing elections@shepherd-elementary.org. The window for nominations will close at midnight on Friday, May 21st. The PTO board member positions (1-year term) are as follows: Two (2) Co-President positions, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. For more details on the specific responsibilities for each role, please see pages 3-4 of the PTO bylaws here. There will also be 4 slots for parent reps on Shepherd’s Local School Advisory Team (LSAT). Voting will take place online between May … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Good afternoon Shepherd families, Here at Shepherd we are focusing much of our energy on planning for the 2021-22 school year. We are in the process of monitoring and updating our Comprehensive School Plan and securing some high-quality professional development opportunities for this summer and beyond. In addition, the personnel committee is interviewing candidates as several staff members are transitioning out of their roles at Shepherd. Ms. Harvey is moving to Virginia with her family and is pursuing further graduate studies. Her calm, even presence and outstanding instruction will be greatly missed. When I first came to Shepherd, she agreed to move from second to fourth grades, and her flexibility and collaborative nature make her a beloved member of our staff. Mr. Langrock will be relocating with his family to North Carolina. Like Ms. Harvey, Mr. Langrock will be greatly missed for his equanimity and his craft. He teaches every grade at Shepherd and meets students where they are developmentally, always ensuring their safety and promoting their wellness. Ms. Johnson, a consummate early childhood educator, will be retiring at the end of this school year. She has touched so many lives over the course of her career and continues to … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Shepherd PTO Spring Fling “Shaken & Stirred” Cocktail Making Class – TOMORROW (Thurs, May 13) at 8 pm LAST CALL FOR TICKETS TODAY! We will be mixing up two different cocktails — a Strawberry Smash and a Bees Knees — both of which are a perfect way to ease us into the warm weather. Each ticket purchase will gain the adults in your household access to the cocktail class which will be hosted virtually. No more kits are available, but after registering you will receive a “shopping list” to make sure you can gather everything you need. Get your tickets here. TONIGHT (May 12) DCPS Town Hall at 5 pm Hear from the Chancellor and learn about the reopening plans for next school year. Register here. Call for PTO Board and LSAT Representatives for Next School Year It’s that time again…we are officially kicking off elections for SY2021-22! Many thanks to our volunteers on the Nominating Committee: Ana Ma, Autumn Jackson, and Kristin Harrison! As was done for the last round of elections, this year’s elections will be held virtually via ElectionBuddy.com. If you’d like to put forward a nomination for one of the open positions/roles, please send these directly to the … Read More
PTO Bulletin
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! Reminder that this week we’re celebrating our amazing teachers and staff who’ve overcome many hurdles and challenges to support our students this year. Show them some love and support! The PTO will be providing snacks and treats to the teachers at school and those still virtual, but we encourage you to make a card, send a note, sing a song, make a sign or share your appreciation any way you can! Shepherd PTO Spring Fling “Shaken & Stirred” Cocktail Making Class – Thurs, May 13 at 8 pm We will be mixing up two different cocktails — a Strawberry Smash and a Bees Knees — both of which are a perfect way to ease us into the warm weather. Each ticket purchase will gain the adults in your household access to the cocktail class which will be hosted virtually. In addition, we will offer cocktail kits that will give you everything you need to mix up two of each of these delicious cocktails. Please place orders for kits by 8 am on May 10th. Should you choose to raid your home bar and provide your own ingredients, you will receive a “shopping list” prior to the event to make … Read More
IB Newsletter
UPCOMING EVENTSStay up-to-date on all upcoming IB events May- Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage MonthFriday, May 7th- Classrooms Going Global Morning MeetingFriday, May 14th-Classrooms Going Global Morning MeetingFriday, May 21st- Classrooms Going Global Morning MeetingFriday, May 28th- Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage All-School Meeting FEATURED IB FAMILY CONNECTION RESOURCE May Is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month: 12 Ways to Enrich Kids’ Appreciation of Asian-Pacific American Culture IB PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY AND IB POLICIES Click here IB LEARNER ATTRIBUTE OF THE MONTH: REFLECTIVE Click here APPROACH TO LEARNING SKILL OF THE MONTH: COMMUNICATION SKILLS Click here for family resource HAS YOUR CHILD TAKEN ACTION IN HIS OR HER COMMUNITY? Click here to nominate your child for an IB award Shepherd’s Virtual IB Programme Overview VideoWatch this video to find out more about Shepherd’s Virtual IB Programme! Contact Shepherd’s IB Coordinator, Avani Mack, for more information.
PTO Bulletin
REMINDER – Teacher Appreciation Week is next week – May 3-7. Show the Shepherd teachers and staff some love for all they’ve done during this super challenging school year! SHEPHERD YEARBOOK UPDATES – need pics uploaded by May 1 It’s been a unique year, and we have overcome many obstacles. Let’s celebrate all that your children have, and will, accomplish by working together to create a fabulous yearbook. All families should follow the steps below to be included in the yearbook: Become a member of TreeRing. If you ordered a yearbook in the past, click hereLinks to an external site. to log-in to TreeRing. If you are new to TreeRing, click hereLinks to an external site. to set up an account. You will need the school’s passcode: 1013930010262632 At the time you become a member, you will be given the option to purchase a yearbook. Please note you can upload photos even if you do not purchase a yearbook. Upload a portrait of your child. Click hereLinks to an external site. for directions. You are welcome to contribute to as many or few of the categories below. Please note that each category has a different e-mail address because the pictures are being sent to different folders. Please make sure that your … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, Happy Friday! We launched our first 4th grade CARE class and increased capacity in our 3rd grade CARE classroom, and Madame Gadie, Senor Hernandez, Coach Langrock, Mr. Muskett and Ms. Pereira all returned to the building. Big news is that it will no longer be 3rd grade CARE. Starting next Thursday, it will be in-person learning with Mr. Mack. Next week, Ms. Hunter, Ms. Johnson and Dr. Leonard return to teach in person. Ms. Rajwani, Ms. Saxton, Ms. Murali and Mr. Clayborn increase their class sizes. We will have 210 students in attendance, putting us at 57% of our students returning in person. Thank you to everyone as we shift and change rooms, dismissal locations, and at times, homeroom assignments. I am so excited to turn a corner and see a child or hear a class outside my office during lunch. It is wonderful to have students and staff back here again! Phyllis 4/25/21 Shepherd Elementary Beautification Day 10:00 am Please come out with garden tools if you have them to help tend our beautiful gardens that Simon Messing nurtures with love and devotion. Thank you Mr. Messing for all you do! 2022 DC Teacher of the Year Nominations OSSE is currently accepting … Read More