Hi Mustang families,Enjoy a GREAT Spring Break…but don’t forget to buy your Gala & Auction tickets before you go…and sign up for the May 18-19 Camping Trip!Shepherd Gala & Auction – Sat, May 4BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR SPRING BREAK…GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!AND YOU MIGHT WIN THE SHEPHERD HOODIE IF YOU ARE LUCKY TICKET #100!Buy tickets: https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sespta-spring-gala-2019YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US RAISE MONEY TO DO THINGS LIKE: Fund a field trip for every grade level this year Provide more than $200 of supplies/materials/equipment for each teacher at Shepherd Help teachers go the “extra” mile to do special in-class learning experiences like the Academic Carnival and Cendrillon, the French play Help with school-wide activities like Field Day and School Beautification Days Put on School/Community Events like Fall Fest, Jazz Night, Movie Nights, Camp Fair, and the Health and Wellness FairShepherd Elementary Camping Trip – Sat, May 18We’ll be heading to Cunningham Falls in Thurmont, MD on the morning of Saturday, May 18th then heading back to civilization on the afternoon of the 19th. We will organize a hike to the waterfall on Saturday afternoon, a campfire that evening, and one more activity on Sunday morning.All children must be accompanied by an adult responsible … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
First Annual Health and Wellness Fair Thank you for making Shepherd’s first Health and Wellness Fair a SUCCESS! From massages to kickboxing, there was something for everyone. Bravo Zulu Chess Team – Mid–Atlantic Champions Congratulations to Shepherd Star Achievers’ Chess Team, Bravo Zulu! Bravo Zulu has competed in tournaments in Baltimore and Virginia, earning recognition for their professionalism and sportsmanship. The March Madness Box Tops CONTEST WINNERS! Thank you to all of the participants in our March Madness Box Tops Challenge! Congratulations to the following winners: First Place – Ms. Holt’s and Ms. Lewis’ Pre-K4 classes Second Place – Mr. Mack’s third grade class Third Place – Ms. Carney’s Kindergarten class Enrollment Season Time to enroll for School Year 19-20! The enrollment packet, which includes forms located online at http://enrolldcps.dc.gov, should be completed and presented to Mrs. Brooks along with proof of residency. The first class to register 100% of returning students for SY19-20 will receive extra recess! No School – Thursday, April 4th Thursday, April 4th is a professional development day for teachers. There is no school for students. No School – Friday, April 5th Friday, April 5th is a 1/2 Records Day and 1/2 professional development day for … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
PARCC Tests The PARCC assessments are designed to give schools and teachers more information to improve instruction. Moreover, PARCC is designed to let parents know how their child is progressing academically. DCPS administers the PARCC Assessment in grades 3-5 at the elementary level. For your planning purposes, students will take the PARCC tests in grades 3-5 from April 22-May 24 on the following days by grade level: 3rd – 5th grade: PARCC Practice Tests, ELA and Math (April 22 – 26) 3rd grade: ELA (May 6-10), Math (May 20 -24) 4th grade: ELA (April 29 – May 3), Math (May 13- 17) 5th grade: ELA (April 29 – May 3), Math (May 13- 17) There are three days of English Language Arts (up to 90 minutes each), three days of math (up to 60 minutes each) and 2 days of science (up to 90 minutes each). Fourth grade has an extra ELA day due to a field test. Schools are not informed about which section will contain the field test. Attendance is extremely important on these days, so we want to make sure you have the schedule ahead. For practice opportunities and general information, please visit here. https://parcc-assessment.org/parent-resources/ 2019-2020 School … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Happy Wednesday, Mustang Families!PTA meeting tonight – 6:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room (pizza and childcare provided for Shepherd students)Agenda includes:School Advocacy Updates – Budget Hearing requests on Social Emotional Learning, IB and SecurityCommunity Center updatePTA Bylaws refresh effortPTA/LSAT Elections to be done at May meetingGala update – May 4Health and Wellness Fair – March 29School Spring Clean Up – April 28Shepherd Gala and Auction UpdatesThanks to the AMAZING sponsors who’ve committed at the GOLD level – Ledo’s, Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry and Kids Elite Sports!Party It Forward – HOT Auction Items WANTEDFrom whiskey or wine tastings and child vs parent basketball games to guacamole or pasta making and Lego and Pokemon parties, the ideas and possibilities are endless! Think about how much you would love to just show up to a fun event someone else plans for you or your kids…and how fun it will be to meet Shepherd parents and kids you may not know! Think about what type of party you or a group of parents might be able to host and let us know! Send auction party ideas to sesgala2019@gmail.com.Amazing Travel and Experiences WantedWe are seeking vacation homes, in the U.S. and abroad, airline miles, or … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
Thank You Fourth Grade Families The staff was truly appreciative for Monday morning’s fare, especially the coffee! We cannot thank you enough. Young American Poetry Digest Congratulations are in order for the following Shepherd third graders in Mr. Clayborn’s class for their original haikus: Dalia Bolanos, Ellison Doomes, Callum Gray, Zuri Relayo, Makayla Jones, Riley Greenwood, James Walker, and Carmen Garner! Their poems will be published in the Young American Poetry Digest publication. Belgium Day It was quite a pleasure to host the Ambassador, his wife and various volunteers (including a Smurf!) from the Embassy of Belgium. Our guests made traditional cookies, played soccer and created comic strips with our students through our partnership with the Embassy Adoption Program. DCPS Panorama Survey Each year DCPS uses the Panorama Survey to measure social emotional learning, satisfaction, and engagement across staff, families, and students. Our third through fifth graders completed the survey last week and parents are encouraged to participate as well. It takes only 5-10 minutes. The survey can be accessed at bit.ly/dcpsfamily. The survey will remain open until March 29th. March Madness Box Tops The following classes will advance to the next round of our Box Tops competition: Ms. McIntyre, … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Early Bird Price – TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!Early bird ticket price is $55 through March 15th, and $65 thereafter. You can also purchase “Angel” tickets to cover the cost of Shepherd teacher/staff attendance at the event.Consider supporting the Gala as an official sponsor – rewards and recognition are available for various VIP ticketed sponsor levels and are on the event site below. Ticketed VIPs will receive early admission to a VIP-only reception, featuring open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.Even if you can’t make the event, we’d appreciate your support. Money raised from the Gala goes to support supplies and materials for the teachers, field trips for our students, putting on events like Fall Fest, Jazz Night, Movie Nights and the Camp Fair and Health and Wellness Fair… and we are focusing some specific money from this year’s Gala on STEM materials for next year.VIP, Earlly Bird and Angel Tickets are now on sale – https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sespta-spring-gala-2019.PTA Restaurant Night – BLUE44 – Tues, March 19 from 5-10 pmHave Dinner and Support Shepherd Elementary School PTA! Bring a copy of this flyer to BLUE44 at 5507 Connecticut Ave NW, Wash, DC from 5PM – 10PM on TUESDAY, MARCH 19th BLUE44 will … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Shepherd Elementary School PTA needs your help!We are just beginning the massive effort of planning and preparation for Shepherd’s 15th Annual Spring Gala and Auction. This year’s Gala will be held on May 4th, 2019, at The Atrium at Bobby Van’s Grill in Washington, DC. Historically, the Spring Gala has been the PTA’s best fundraiser of the year, and we hope to raise over $40,000 this year to support Shepherd’s academic and enrichment programs, which will benefit all students.HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?There are so many ways you can participate to help us to throw a wonderful Gala and Auction. Here are a few suggestions:• Assist your classroom parent(s) and contribute to classroom project and basket donations – information from your classroom parent should have been sent to you (if not, feel free to follow up with Caroline Smith at mrthbtn@gmail.com• Either provide or solicit donations of goods or services for the auction – do you have a special talent for cooking and can host a cooking party, a vacation home, access to tickets or a box for concerts or a game, or professional services to offer? If you have an item to donate or know a business owner you … Read More
15th Annual Spring Gala & Auction
Shepherd Elementary School PTA needs your help! We are just beginning the massive effort of planning and preparation for Shepherd’s 15th Annual Spring Gala and Auction. This year’s Gala will be held on May 4th, 2019, at The Atrium at Bobby Van’s Grill in Washington, DC. Historically, the Spring Gala has been the PTA’s best fundraiser of the year, and we hope to raise over $40,000 this year to support Shepherd’s academic and enrichment programs, which will benefit all students. HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? There are so many ways you can participate to help us to throw a wonderful Gala and Auction. Here are a few suggestions: Assist your classroom parent(s) and contribute to classroom project and basket donations – information from your classroom parent should have been sent to you (if not, feel free to follow up with Caroline Smith at mrthbtn@gmail.com Either provide or solicit donations of goods or services for the auction – do you have a special talent for cooking and can host a cooking party, a vacation home, access to tickets or a box for concerts or a game, or professional services to offer? If you have an item to donate or know a business owner you would like … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
New Schedule for Spanish-language Students Beginning Monday, March 4th, all students with Spanish as their world language will be reassigned to an extra elective of Music, Art, PE or Library. March Madness Box Tops Who will win the title for collecting the most box tops? Students in Pre-K3 to grade 5 will compete throughout the month of March against one another to clip the most box tops and earn the most points. To see the bracket for the box top tournament, check out the bulletin board in the multipurpose room. For participating products, see: https://www.box tops4education.com/earn/participating-products. Annual Women’s History Toiletry Drive Mrs. McIntyre is sponsoring Shepherd’s annual Women’s History Month Toiletry Drive to collect items to donate to the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), an organization providing access to safe housing & services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Body soap, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, band-aids, deodorant, dental floss and feminine hygiene products can be dropped off in the bin in the atrium throughout the month. No School – Friday, March 8th There is no school for students on Friday, March 8th. Six Flags Tickets Sixty-three Shepherd students in grades K-5 will receive a certificate and tickets to Six … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Hi Mustang Parents – lots going on this week and the coming weeks…stay tuned!PTA meeting – TONIGHT – 6:30 pmPrincipal Neal from Deal Middle School will be with us tonight to talk about transitioning to middle school and what Deal is all about! We’ll also have a guest speaker from PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voice in Education) to come talk about how to best advocate for our schools and students and how to help us prep for the March 29 hearing.Yesterday’s DCPS Oversight HearingTHANKS FOR THE MANY PARENTS WHO CAME OUT YESTERDAY AND HELPED MAKE AN IMPACT YESTERDAY!We got the attention of Chairman Grosso and we have already seen some positive impacts from our testimony yesterday. For those who couldn’t attend yesterday, please submit written testimony by Friday, March 1 to Ashley Strange, Committee Assistant, at astrange@dccouncil.us or mail a copy to the following address:Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Education 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 116 Washington, D.C. 20004Jazz Night – THIS FRIDAY – March 1 at 6:30 pm at ShepherdOn Friday, come enjoy some Jazz music by local musicians and a pot luck with Shepherd families and neighbors! Thanks to Dr. Michael Wallace for his continued support … Read More