News & Events

Dear Families, Our Academic Leadership Team meets weekly and has worked hard on our Comprehensive School Plan and preparing for our upcoming IB evaluation. At this time, we are focusing our attention on classroom instruction and how to improve results for all students. As a faculty, we are working on differentiation, or tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Differentiation is challenging and requires expertise, skill and a deep knowledge of students’ abilities. Teachers plan with the specific students from their class in mind. When they analyze results, whether it is from an exit ticket or a unit test, they think through the misconceptions students may have experienced and how to reteach the lesson. Our coaches and administration will support this work. To reach our goals for growth and achievement, we need to spend time analyzing and planning around classroom-level data. Shout out to the third grade and our emcee, Mr. Mack, for an uplifting and informative All School meeting on Friday. It was sensational. If you have not attended an All School meeting yet, I encourage you to do so. We learn, chant, share, and dance together, and it is a fantastic way to start the day. Please remember that … Read More

It was a short week, but a productive one for faculty and staff at Shepherd. On Monday, we participated in a Responsive Classroom training on logical consequences and spent time completing some important tasks, including grading. The majority of us spent Tuesday in professional development with the rest of the schools in our cluster and attended a Turnaround for Children training as a faculty. Early Childhood and Specials teachers attended training specific to their content area. Having just read report card comments, I know that our students are working hard and achieving a lot. On Friday, I observed a 4th grade language arts classroom where students had a choice to either create a movie title or song to summarize a short story they had just read or select an animal to represent a group of characters in that story and explain their choice. Their work revealed a deep understanding of the text, their creativity, and their ability to collaborate. Last week, I also spent time with a special education teacher inside and outside of the classroom and observed the countless strategies she used to engage her student, including making her a character in the story they were reading. Earlier last … Read More

Yesterday was the best Halloween I have had in years! Thank you to all of you who cheered us on along the parade route. There was a lot of joy at Shepherd yesterday! Thank you all for your patience with Monday’s evacuation. Construction is supposed to begin on 11/4, and I have not received any additional information. I have strongly requested daily air quality reports and daily meetings with the project foreman. Please keep me informed of your concerns moving forward, and I will communicate everything I learn to you. Here at Shepherd we continue to emphasize social and emotional learning. On Monday, we will participate in a 90-minute Responsive Classroom training, and on Tuesday, we will attend a Turnaround for Children training on social and emotional learning. We will also be trained on differentiation, meeting students where they are and enriching or extending their learning. I deeply value these opportunities to learn with our experienced, exceptional staff. With a new month, we have a new IB Learner Profile, which is Thinker. As thinkers, we use creative thinking skills to better understand and take responsible action on difficult problems. We take initiative and make good choices. Thanks so much for … Read More

Last week’s Fall Fest was a tremendous success. Families and staff enjoyed the food, fun and perfect weather, and the Shepherd PTA raised more money than they ever have at this event. A huge thank you to all who attended and volunteered. A special shout goes to Ayana McIntosh who coordinated this year’s Fall Fest and brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to this event. We are all grateful for your efforts on behalf of Shepherd. Please remember to check the Lost and Found, which can be found at the 14th Street Entrance to our building. With the fluctuating temperatures, it is overflowing with jackets and sweatshirts. We are hoping to donate items left after November 1, so please stop the Lost and Found this week, or ask your student to take a look. Thursday is Halloween and our Halloween Parade! Please feel free to cheer us on at 2:30 pm as we walk around the block, and come in costume if you can. You may sign your student out at the end of the parade. Remember no masks, no weapons and nothing too scary for the sake of our littlest Mustangs. Next Tuesday, October 29th, we will conduct our first … Read More

This coming week is Bullying Prevention Spirit Week at Shepherd, and you will see the fun daily activities we have planned. During Morning Meeting, Ms. Browne and Dr. Brown have been visiting each homeroom to discuss bullying with students and teach them what it is and what to do if they are being bullied or they see someone being bullied. In addition, Ms. Rottman is holding class meetings with specific homerooms that have struggled with playing fairly during recess and reinforcing that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated and assume the best intent of one another whenever possible. Students need to learn how to cooperate, how to be a friend, how to share and how to accept setbacks with grace. During the second quarter, we will be working on explicitly teaching these types of skills to students as an aspect of our work with Turnaround for Children. More to come as we get started. Last week, 5thgrade held its elections, and we have officers for the Shepherd Student Government (SGG).President/ Ise KambuiVice President/ Noemi MilamSecretary/ Ivori JenningsHistorian/ Henry Goldblatt This coming week homerooms will hold elections for homeroom representatives. There will be one homeroom … Read More