Good evening Shepherd families and friends,
As we’re getting back to normal, we’re excited to announce a few upcoming events highlighted below – Halloween Parade and Scavenger Hunt. We look forward to seeing everyone back in person again soon!
In this week’s PTO Bulletin…
- PK3 “Coffee and Chat” with Dr. Hedlund – Tues, Oct 19th
- October PTO meeting – next Wednesday, Oct 20th at 6:30 pm
- SAVE THE DATE – Halloween Parade and All School Morning Meeting on Oct 29th
- What is IB? Learn more about Shepherd’s program
- Shepherd’s first-ever Scavenger Hunt – Sat, Nov 13th
- Supporting the Annual Shepherd 180 Fund
- Calendar of Events
- AND MUCH MORE!
DCPS Town Hall – October 20th
Join DCPS leadership for a Town Hall on “Creating Safe Environments in DCPS” on Wednesday, Oct 20th at 5 pm. Register here.
School Halloween Parade – Fri, October 29th
It’s BAAACCCKKK this year! YAHOOOO!
Save the date to come watch the cutest and best Halloween parade in the city!
More details coming soon on time of the parade and costume attire.
Save the date – All School Morning Meeting
This month, the 4th graders will be hosting the All School Morning meeting on Friday, October 29th at 9:15 am. Join and watch their presentation focused on Indigenous People Heritage. A link will be sent prior to the event.
Shepherd Scavenger Hunt – Sat, Nov 13th
In lieu of Fall Fest this year, we’re planning a COMPETITIVE TEAM SCAVENGER HUNT!
We’re excited for this year’s Fall FUNdraiser and our first community building event…and looking forward to gathering in small family groups or teams as we hit the streets around the school to look for clues to complete the mission and reward the winning team.
Watch this space for more details soon!
Feedback on the School Calendar Options
The DCPS calendar proposals for the calendar years 2023-2026 are out for review. Share your feedback on proposed options by Oct 22. View the proposed calendar options and survey here.
Monthly Teacher and Staff Breakfasts and “Coffee and Chats” with Dr. Hedlund
Each month, families from a designated grade level come together to organize and deliver breakfast to school so that our staff can have a great start to their day.
Families will also have the opportunity to meet as a small group with Principal Hedlund in the morning to learn about grade-appropriate development milestones and to chat about how the school year is going so far this year.
Next up Tuesday, will be a Staff Breakfast, as well as Coffee and Conversation with Dr. H, by/for PK3 families. More details to follow soon from the Room Parent Network as October 19th draws nearer.
Kindergarten families – save the date of Nov 16th for your staff breakfast/coffee and chat session.
NEW THIS YEAR – TAP A TEACHER!
Every day at Shepherd Elementary School teachers go about the job of teaching and molding our children into smart, confident, socially-conscious human beings. Every now and then, we parents get to witness this magic taking place. The PTO has created a vehicle for parents to share these wonderful experiences with the rest of us.
The Teacher Appreciation Program, or TAP, is an opportunity for a parent, or a small group of parents, to write a letter of appreciation recognizing a teacher who has been especially helpful…or if they have a special way with the class that you admire, tell your story to the rest of the school! TAP gives parents an opportunity to recognize a teacher at Shepherd for their great work and dedication.
Once a month, a special teacher will receive a wishlist fund bonus, and letters will be shared with the selected teacher and school community. To recognize a teacher, please send your letter by e-mail to [email protected]. Our first TAP recipient will be honored at the October PTO meeting. TAP a teacher today!
What does IB mean?
Interested in knowing more about Shepherd’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program and how it’s implemented in the elementary grade levels?
Check out our site here to learn more.
Shepherd is one of only 3 IB-accredited elementary schools in DCPS and the only IB elementary school that feeds into Deal Middle School, also an IB school. Definitely something to be proud of at Shepherd! Ms. Mack is our AMAZING IB coordinator, so reach out to her if you have more questions.
Shepherd Star Achievers Open Board Positions
Star Achievers, the before and after care provider for Shepherd Elementary, is actively seeking new board members to join the SESSA board of directors.
The board, led by parents and Shepherd Park community members, meets once a month and works closely with Dr. Hedlund and Star Achievers staff to ensure our young scholars have enriching and engaging programming and activities during before and aftercare.
The time commitment is minimal, usually no more than 1-2 hours per month. We greatly encourage new community members and parents of young our scholars at Shepherd to join the board.
It’s a great way to be involved in sustaining and growing the before and aftercare program and ensuring the students have strong and engaging enrichment activities such as soccer, robotics, basketball, theater, violin and homework assistance.
Please reach out to: [email protected] if interested.
Support the Shepherd 180 Fund
Help the Shepherd PTO fund lots of great events, initiatives, and extra circular efforts at Shepherd this year by donating to the 180 Fund.
It’s called the 180 Fund because there are 180 instructional days in the school year and your donation of a dollar a day per student helps the PTO support sending students on offsite field trips, funding teacher educational wish lists, putting on school plays and concerts, updating outdoor playground equipment, funding additional academic supports, and hosting school-wide events! This budget really helps us give our students even more unique, meaningful and enriching opportunities each year.
Any contribution is always much appreciated. And as a reminder, your contribution is 100% tax deductible. Thanks for your support – we’re looking forward to getting back to BETTER THAN NORMAL!
THANKS to our 180 Fund DONORS
MANY, MANY THANKS to the following families:
Snyder-Johnson Family
Arellano Family
Kunce Family
Bradley Family
Bennett Family
Beridon Family
Tivol Family
Lyles Family
Faulman-Coffey Family
Johnston-Gruetzmacher Family
Archer Family
Lipton-Marnon Family
Richards Family
Frias Family
Raglani Family
Jabaily-Messing Family
Ju Family
Walton-Prather Family
Marchand Family
Zettle Kreisberg Family
Weerasingha-Cote Family
Yonkwa-Rijimen Family
Boykin-Chase Family
Romine Family
Roberts Family
Marks-Fagen Family
Holdridge-Ma Family
Varda Glover Family
Yang Family
Steele Family
Interested in Volunteering? Give us 5
We’re looking for all types of volunteers and parent leaders – maybe you have 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days or even more time to give…we’ve got something for everyone if you like to help with events, volunteer behind the scenes, or lead a committee!
Check out all the PTO Committees and find one that might interest you to join!
Thanks to these AWESOME parents who’ve stepped up to lead PTO Committees this year!
Kate Snyder – Communications and Advocacy
Siri Warkentien – Fundraising and Grants
Dana Ju – Health and Wellness
Robyn Showanes – PR/Community Engagement
Jodi Arellano – Room Parent Coordinator
Cendrine Robinson – Family Engagement
We’re still looking for parents to lead the Curriculum and Staff Support and Facilities Improvement Committees.
Complete the form above or reach out to [email protected].
Upcoming DCPS Parent University Sessions
Join families across the District and DCPS Central Office teams to learn how we can collaborate to enrich your child’s education.
Families are encouraged to ask questions and offer solutions. Together, we will walk away with activities to try or useful information to accelerate our children’s educational development. All sessions are virtual.
Tues, Oct 26th at 5:30 pm – DCPS Journey to Become a Whole-Centered, Anti-Racist District
Tues, Nov 16th at 5:30 pm – Check in our Social Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health
Click here to register for these free sessions.
Follow Shepherd PTO on FB and Insta
Keep up with the latest updates, events and fun things going on at Shepherd by following our FB page (@ShepherdElemPTA) and Instagram (shepherd_elem_dc)
Upcoming School Calendar of Events
PK3 Teacher Breakfast and “Coffee and Chat” with Dr. Hedlund – Tuesday, October 19th at 8:45 am
DCPS Town Hall – Wednesday, October 20th at 5 pm
PTO Meeting – Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30 pm
All School Morning Meeting – Friday, October 29th at 9:15 am
Halloween Parade – Friday, October 29th
Election Day/No School Day – Tuesday, November 2nd
End of Term/No School Day – Friday, November 5th
Picture Day – Tuesday, November 9th
Veteran’s Day/No School Day – Thursday, November 11th
Shepherd Scavenger Hunt – Saturday, November 13th
Staff breakfast/Chat with Dr. Hedlund with Kinder families – Tuesday, November 16th at 8:45 am
PTO Meeting – Wednesday, November 17th at 6:30 pm