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
PTO Bulletin
Welcome back, Shepherd families! We’ve got a busy week – hope you’re ready to go! DCPS Oversight Hearing is Tuesday, the PTA meeting with Principal Neal from Deal Middle School is Wednesday, and Jazz Night is Friday. Whew!Jazz Night – this FRIDAY (March 1) at 6:30 pm at ShepherdIt is our 30th Annual Jazz Night this year! Please sign up to bring something to the potluck and invite some of your friends and neighbors! Dr. Wallace has some great musicians lined up and it’s a great time to chat and meet with other Shepherd families! This community event is supported by the Shepherd PTA. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f49aea82fabff2-jazzPTA meeting – Wed, Feb 27 at 6:30 pmPrincipal Neal from Deal Middle School will be joining us to talk about tranisitioning to middle school and what Deal is all about! More on the agenda will be sent out tomorrow.DCPS Oversight Hearing – TOMORROW (Feb 26) at noon at the Wilson BuildingCome join us and SUPPORT SHEPHERD! And 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, … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
Read Across America Week – Spirit Week! February 25 – March 1 is Read Across America Week! Monday – Fox in Socks Students may wear silly socks. Tuesday – Cat in the Hat Students may wear their favorite hat. Wednesday – Who’ville Students may wear colorful hair accessories Thursday – Oh The Places You’ll Go Students will discuss their career goals. Friday – The Sleep Book Students may wear pajamas and receive a Dr. Seuss bookmark. Saturday – Official Read Across America Day Read a book with a loved one and share a picture of the experience on social media or bring a hard copy of the picture to school! Awards Assemblies Thank you for the feedback on our awards assemblies. The concerns and suggestions raised will inform ongoing discussions with the PTA and LSAT. Black History Month Assembly Shepherd Elementary School will celebrate Black History Month by remembering and honoring black music and the performing arts during our annual assemblies on February 28th. The first program for ECE through grade one will begin at 9:30am and the second program for grades 2-5 will begin at 1:45pm. We hope you will be able to join us. Principal Neal Principal Neal … Read More
PTO Bulletin
Good evening, Mustang Parents!A few reminders as we hit the home stretch before the February break… Tomorrow (Feb 14) is class picture day! A reminder to send in your child’s form with payment Friday, Feb 15 is the Valentine’s Day Dance from 3:30-5:00 in the Multipurpose Room Mon, Feb 18-22 – NO SCHOOLAnd when we return from break…it’s “Read Across America” Week with Dr. Seuss…Mon, Feb 25 – Wear Silly Socks (Fox in Socks)Tues, Feb 26 – Wear your Favorite Hat (Cat in the Hat)Wed, Feb 27 – Crazy Hair Day (Who’ville)Thurs, Feb 28 – Dress for Your Future Job (Oh, The Places You’ll Go)Fri, March 1 – Pajama DayUpcoming Events:Tuesday, February 19 at 6pm to 8:30pm at the Juanita Thornton Library – Introduction and Community Conversation with Ward 4 SBOE Frazier O’Leary about the State of DCPS Secondary Education OptionsCome out from 6-6:30pm to meet and greet Ward 4’s SBOE representative Frazier O’Leary, who will explain the role of a SBOE representative in DC, describe the current state of DCPS secondary education options for Shepherd Park, Colonial Village, and North Portal Estates, provide some information on the proposed Ward 3 DCPS Feeder options and what tools are available to … Read More
30th Annual Jazz Night
Hi Mustang Parents! We’re getting excited to host our 30th Annual Shepherd Jazz Night on Friday, March 1 at 6:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room. The evening will include a pot luck dinner, live and up-close jazz music by outstanding artists, creative activities, and an opportunity to mix and mingle with Shepherd families! Please sign up to contribute a food or drink item and bring enough for about 10 people: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F49AEA82FABFF2-jazz. This community event is proudly supported by your Shepherd PTA!
PTO Bulletin
Student Awards Ceremony – Friday, Feb 15The quarterly awards ceremony will be next Friday, Feb 15 in the Multipurpose Room. Time will be announced shortly. You will also be receiving information for your teachers about award recipients.Monday, February 11 at 7 pm at Cleveland Park Library – Ward 3 Feeder Education Network MeetingDeputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn will be joining to share his thoughts and answer questions. And Acting Chancellor Ferebee may stop by as well.Note: This is the group of parents/school reps from Ward 3 schools that meets monthly to talk about issues such as: dealing with Deal and Wilson feeder school issues around overcrowding, school enrollment projections, school facility use and projections, and the need for better schools across the city. All are welcome!Friday, February 15 – Valentine’s Dance at Shepherd – 3:30-5:30 pmWe’re looking for a few volunteers to help chaperone the dance next Friday from 3:30-5:30. Please let me know if you’re interested and available – shepherdptapresident@gmail.com. Thanks to Sam and Gwen Washington for sponsoring this year’s event.Tuesday, February 19 from 6pm to 8:30pm at the Juanita Thornton Library – Introduction and Community Conversation with Ward 4 SBOE Frazier O’Leary about the State of DCPS … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
Thank You First Grade Families! The entire staff enjoyed last Monday’s breakfast. We appreciated all of the healthy and fulfilling breakfast options, especially the coffee! Visit from Acting Chancellor Dr. Ferebee On Thursday, January 31st, Acting Chancellor Dr. Ferebee spent time at our school. During his visit, Dr. Ferebee observed instruction several classrooms and was encouraged by the level of student engagement. Shepherd Science Fair – THIS WEEK The science fair preview will take place Monday, February 4th from 4-6pm at the NOAA building in downtown Silver Spring. All visitors must present a valid ID. The science fair judging will take place Tuesday, February 5th. International Baccalaureate (IB) Nights – New Dates THIS WEEK Come and experience the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Shepherd! On Tuesday, February 5th (grades K–5) and Wednesday, February 6th (ECE), families are encouraged to join us for an evening of inquiry-based learning! Both events will begin at 6:00pm in the multi-purpose room. Girls Basketball Schedule Our lady Mustangs are scheduled to face Eaton ES at Amidon-Bowen at 5:00pm on Monday, February 4th. Boys Basketball Schedule The team will take on Lafayette ES at Lafayette Tuesday, February 5th at 4:00pm. Shepherd Tutoring Program The Shepherd … Read More
Message from Principal Brawley
Inclement Weather DCPS will be closed tomorrow. The best source of information about school delays and closures is the DCPS twitter account (@dcpublicschools). Information will also be shared on the DCPS website (dcps.dc.gov), DCPS social media accounts, and local TV and radio stations. Impacted by the Government Shutdown? DCPS is actively looking to recruit substitute teachers to support schools. Candidates need a Bachelor’s degree and must pass a background check and drug test to be considered. Contact the school and next steps will be shared. Music Teacher Update Quanice Floyd, the candidate scheduled to begin at Shepherd after the winter break, unexpectedly decided to pursue another opportunity in another state. However, another candidate has been selected and the hiring request has been escalated to move through the hiring process as quickly as possibly. Spanish Teacher Update It has been incredibly difficult to find a quality candidate to fill the Spanish teacher vacancy. NAEP Our fourth graders will take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on January 29th. The NAEP is given every 2 years. Parents will receive a detailed letter on Tuesday, January 15th. Spelling Bee Our annual Spelling Bee for students in grades 3-5 will take place on … Read More