Dear Families, I know all of you have questions on a number of important topics: 5th grade promotion celebration, items your child may have left in school, and whether the Clever platform will be available over the summer months and school year 2020-21. Today Ms. Rottman and I will attend the School Leadership Institute, and we hope to provide you and staff with more information afterwards. Last Tuesday, I was speaking with a parent during packet pick up, and we discussed how this is a time of constant innovation cloaked in uncertainty and ambiguity. I look forward to spending time with you and your children in person soon — it has been too long. Parent teacher conferences are next Friday, May 22nd, and your homeroom teacher has been in touch about scheduling a time to talk about your student’s progress. Specials teachers are also available to speak with you. If you would like to speak with one of our Specials teachers, please see the following information for scheduling a time: Art, Carmen Garner: Hi Shepherd families! If you would like to request a conference on May 22, please contact me through e-mail at Carmen.Garner@k12.dc.gov. We can schedule a time to meet … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Shepherd familles, We hope everyone remains healthy and safe as we move along during these unpredictable times. A few reminders to start the week… Packet pick up will be Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13 at school from 8:30-2 pm at the school. Ward 3 Ed Network Call TONIGHT W3Ednet’s next meeting is Monday, May 11 at 7pm on Zoom (see details below). We are very happy to host Karen Cole, DCPS Deputy Chief of Academic and Creative Empowerment, to talk about distance learning. Hope that you can join us. All are welcome. Join Zoom Meeting https://jh.zoom.us/j/96151856577?pwd=dVlRL3RGWE03V1VhWVNnUkQ2UW5qQT09 Meeting ID: 961 5185 6577 Password: 147366 One tap mobile +16465189805,,96151856577#,,#,147366# US (New York) +16468769923,,96151856577#,,#,147366# US (New York) SHEPHERD’S ONLINE AUCTION – Saturday, May 30th – register NOW! As you might expect, we had to cancel this year’s in-person event. Shepherd Elementary School PTA’s biggest fundraiser of the year – the 16th Annual Spring Gala and Auction – will NOW be a virtual event and has been re-scheduled for Saturday, May 30th, 2020. The entire event will take place via our Handbid auction system. We’ll have some items up for auction, but will be focusing more on the direct appeal this year…RECESS IMPROVEMENTS after the Community Center project … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Hello everyone, I think our teachers felt appreciated this week. It was more challenging to appreciate them virtually, but I was copied on a number of beautiful emails and videos. Thank you for taking the time to honor them! I am so fortunate to be working with this faculty, the best one I have ever encountered. They are deeply committed not only to your students but to Shepherd Elementary. In response to all of your warm wishes this week, they have created this video for all of you to enjoy. Thanks Ms. Pereira for putting this together! Hopefully, all our mothers will be greatly appreciated this Sunday, Mother’s Day. All of you are either a mother or a daughter or a son, and some of you are privileged to be both. Maya Angelou wrote, “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.” I love these metaphors because it makes me think of my own mom — her strength, her beauty, her sweetness, her loyalty, her turbulence, her steadfastness, her magic. A mother has to be all things — everything, and even then, it can be tough to … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Shepherd families, Just a reminder it’s TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK and we want to show our teachers some LOVE! Now, more than ever, thank a teacher for their long distance love and support during this difficult time. And don’t forget the specials teachers too! The PTA will be sending the teachers a special treat this week, but they really LOVE hearing from their students and families! #thankadcpsteacher A few ideas to do while we’re still apart: – Send your teacher a personal, heartfelt message on Dojo, Rallyhood, Remind or Teams – Have your student type a “thank you” email (typing and writing practice too!) – Send a photo or video with a special message from your student (we would love to share on our Facebook page too!) – Make a poster to show your thanks – Make an award certificate for your teachers – Send an electronic gift card to their favorite store or restaurant – Do a class video with a few students from your class – Make and mail a THANK YOU card to your teacher at school – Send flowers or a plant to their home (if you have their address) The classrooms may be empty right now and we’re … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, Thank you to those families who were able to attend our listening sessions last week. We have one more tomorrow for Pre-K families. If you like to add your feedback on distance learning or the 2020-21 school year, please email me. Teacher Appreciation Week This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and it is challenging to reinvent faculty lunches, handmade cards and flowers cut from the garden. I have created a schedule for the week, and I hope you will participate in celebrating our incredible staff. Monday — Students show appreciationIf you would like, download the I LOVE MY DCPS TEACHER poster attached to this email and have them hold it up during class, or have your student make his/her own sign. Have your student post a note or appreciation through TEAMS or email. I heart my DCPS teacher – for print (1).pdf Tuesday — Parents show appreciationWrite your student’s teacher(s) an email or post in TEAMS. Let them know you appreciate them. Wednesday — Classes show appreciationRoom parents I am leaning on you here. How can your class show appreciation for their homeroom teacher? Be creative! Thursday – Shepherd Spirit Day — Appreciate our school communityWear your favorite Shepherd … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hello Shepherd families! We truly hope you all are staying safe, healthy and are making plans to get outside in the coming days with nicer, warmer weather on the way! A few reminders and notes to share: Packet delivery – TUES and WED this week Week 6 distance learning packets will be at school for distribution TODAY (Tues, April 28) and TOMORROW (Wed, April 29). If you would like, bring your completed packets for drop off. This is not required. Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4-8 Since we’re not all at school together, just a reminder to send your teachers some extra appreciation and love this year! Feel free to drop off notes for them at school today or tomorrow. Dr. Hedlund and Ms. Rottman will make sure the teachers get them when they return to school. Helping Shepherd families in need Thanks to the many families who’ve already donated to support some of our own families having a tough financial time during this pandemic crisis. We could use more support to help a few families get basic food and essential items. If you’d like to still help, please click here. We are earmarking these funds and working with Dr. Hedlund to fulfill the … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Good afternoon families, We received some big news today, news that is especially challenging as we do not have many details yet. We will be proceeding ahead with distance learning for the remainder of the school year and our last official day of school this year will be May 29th. More to come on May 15th in regards to the summer and plans for next school year start in August. This week, during our listening sessions, we spoke with parents from every grade level to hear their feedback on distance learning. Parents expressed gratitude, frustration, confusion and admiration simultaneously. These are tough times for all of us as we struggle to balance families with our work, and we worry about relatives and friends, going to the grocery store and our children’s education. As many of you know, I have three children two years apart, and although they are older now, I well remember when they needed my support on everything they did and needed me to look at everything they had done. Even though my children are in high school and college, I worry whether they are completing all their assignments, attending their classes and understanding their work now that … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Shepherd family and friends, We hope you are all remaining safe and healthy during these challenging times. We have been inspired by our community – the many of you bravely fighting this pandemic as first responders, healthcare workers, and other essential employees. Others are doing their part by staying home or organizing efforts to help where you can. Many of you have asked about needs within our community and we do have a few needs to address within our parent community. If you’re willing and able to help, email Liz Bradley at shepherdptapresident@gmail.com. Stay safe and be well! Liz Bradley PTA President A Message from Dr. Hedlund Just a quick heads up that learning packets will be available for pick up next Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 am-2:00 pm. Also keep an eye out for a grade-level Zoom invitation to provide feedback on distance learning to me and Ms. Rottman. Hope everyone is well. I will provide more updates tomorrow. Update on the Shepherd Gala and Auction As you might expect, we had to cancel this year’s in-person event. Shepherd Elementary School PTA’s biggest fundraiser of the year – the 16th Annual Spring Gala and Auction – will NOW be a virtual event and has … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Dear Families, We have now completed day 4 of distance learning, and faculty members are in constant communication with each other. We have had three staff meetings this week, grade level teams are meeting, leadership is checking in with individual teachers, and instructional coaches are supporting distance learning for their content areas. I have observed some of your students learning during morning meeting and have seen photos of them learning at home. At this point, you should have heard from your child’s teacher, and if you have not, please let me know. In many instances, the distance-learning model may include videoconferencing. Please contact me if you would like to opt out of this form of staff-student engagement. It is strongly recommended that parents be present or in the student’s proximity during videoconferencing. To learn more on using Microsoft Teams, see this brief tutorial for families. DCPS is encouraging teachers to use an asynchronous model (taping and posting the lesson) to provide instruction whenever possible so your student can view a lesson at a time that fits the family’s schedule. DCPS will also be using television to provide instruction as early as next week. Read more here. I will provide updates … Read More
Message from Principal Hedlund
Good afternoon families, This morning we had a staff meeting, and it was great to see everyone’s faces and just be in touch. We are all well! Staff is committed to support your family and your student’s learning during this time, and if you haven’t heard from your child’s teacher already, you will soon. The expectation is teachers will be in touch with individual students weekly to check in and provide guidance as necessary. Knowing our staff, I expect that you will be hearing from them much more often. An important goal is to preserve our strong community during this time. Teachers may choose to use videoconferencing to instruct whole class or meet with small groups. I have attached the DCPS Internet Safety Use Policy for your review. This week teachers in grades 3-5 are receiving training in Microsoft Teams; many have already been trained and are using the platform. Stay tuned for more information from your child’s teacher. Finally, we will be receiving the next set of learning packets in the next week, and they will be distributed at Shepherd on 3/31-4/1 (next Tuesday and Wednesday) from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. You have the work from 3/24-3/31. These packets for weeks 2 … Read More