Good evening Shepherd families and friends,
In this week’s PTO Bulletin…
- Sign your team up now for Shepherd’s first-ever Fun Race to Fundraise – Sat, Nov 13th starting at 11 am
- Vaccine Pop-Up Clinics on Fri, Nov 5th
- “No School Day” Play Day hosted by Star Achievers on Fri, Nov 5th
- Ward 3 Education Network Meeting – Mon, Nov 8th at 7 pm
- School Picture Day – Tues, Nov 9th
- No School on Veteran’s Day – Thurs, Nov 11th
- Thanks to our Annual Shepherd 180 Fund Donors
- Calendar of Events
- AND MUCH MORE!
Register Your Fun Race Team Here
Ward 3 Education Network Meeting – Mon, Nov 8th at 7pm
The group will be hosting DC Public Schools Deputy Chancellor Melissa Kim and Social Studies Director Scott Abbott.
- This will be an opportunity to ask Deputy Chancellor Kim about such topics as COVID and schools (testing, outdoor lunches and education, vaccinations, virtual learning), overcrowding in schools and the recent community working group, and the upcoming budget cycle.
- Director Abbott will be talking with us about the new DCPS curriculum and instructional approach for elementary social studies and math.
Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Vaccine Pop Up Clinics – Fri, Nov 5th
DC Dept of Health is hosting a Vaccine Pop-Up Clinic for children ages 5-11 years old on Fri, Nov 5th at at two community centers: Takoma Community Center in Ward 4 (300 Van Buren Street NW) and Ft. Stanton Recreation Center in Ward 8 (1812 Erie Street SE). See link here for more details.
In the coming days and weeks, the vaccine will be available at more than 60 pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers across all eight wards. As the District learns which sites have received their vaccine doses and started vaccinations, that information will be updated on coronavirus.dc.gov.
Star Achievers “No School Day” on Fri, Nov 5th
We’re partnering with Trax Sports to engage kids in a variety of exciting sports games and fun activities for ALL AGES (PK3-5th grade), including basketball, kickball, soccer, arts and crafts, and much more! Anyone can sign up – not just those currently enrolled in before or aftercare. Sign up here.
Please be mindful that cohorts will be mixed during “No School Day.” These groupings will be made the evening before each “No School Day”, and they are solely based upon those in attendance. Review our full Covid-19 Protocol here
School Picture Day – Tues, Nov 9th
A reminder that students can wear what they’d like for next week’s picture day. More info coming home soon!
Room Parents NEEDED – 4th and 5th grade classes
Attention parents of 4th and 5th graders – WE NEED YOU!
Looking for Room Parents for Ms. Brown’s 4th grade class and Ms. Caola and Ms. Scott’s 5th grade classes. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in helping
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
Crystal Satterfield – Facilities Improvement
We’re now only looking for one more parent to lead the Curriculum and Staff Support Committee.
Complete the form above or reach out to [email protected].
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-Rijmen Family
Boykin-Chase Family
Romine Family
Roberts Family
Marks-Fagen Family
Holdridge-Ma Family
Varda Glover Family
Yang Family
Steele Family
Escalante Family
Gallagher Family
Rodell Family
Prabhu-McDonald Family
DeAngelo Family
Dorsett-Holliday Family
Musgrove Family
Singh Family
Mitchell Family
Francis Family
Carlyle Family
Joiner Family
Martin Family
Mokodean Family
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.
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 next PTO meeting. TAP a teacher today!
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, 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
End of Term/No School Day – Friday, November 5th
Family Photo Day Shoot (option 1) – Saturday, November 6th
School Picture Day – Tuesday, November 9th
Veteran’s Day/No School – Thursday, November 11th
Shepherd Fun Race – Saturday, November 13th at 11 am
Staff breakfast/Coffee and Chat with Dr. Hedlund with Kinder families – Tuesday, November 16th at 8:45 am
LSAT Meeting – Wednesday, November 17th at 4:30 pm
PTO Meeting – Wednesday, November 17th at 6:30 pm
All School Morning Meeting (hosted by 4th graders) – Friday, November 19th
Family Photo Shoot Day (option 2) – Saturday, November 20th
Family Photo Shoot Day (option 3) – Sunday, November 21st