Good morning Shepherd families and friends,
We are definitely back in full swing based on this packed PTO Bulletin! Lots of events going on today and through the next week.
In this week’s PTO Bulletin…
- DCPS COVID-19 Town Hall – Wed, Jan 26th at 5 pm
- Town Hall on Vaccinations with Howard University – Wed, Jan 26th at 6 pm
- Town Hall on DCPS and Special Education hosted by ANC Commissioner Adofo – Thurs, Jan 27th
- All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Jan 28th at 9:15 am
- Councilmember George hosts Ward 4 meeting on education – Wed, Feb 2nd from 7-8 pm
- Shepherd Spring Restaurant Nights with Ledo’s and Potomac Pizza coming in Feb and March – details coming soon!
- Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th (planning in progress!)
- Health and Wellness Fair – May 7th
- Calendar of Events
DCPS Town Hall – Wed, Jan 26th at 5 pm
Mayor Bowser and the Administration will be providing monthly updates on the DCPS COVID-19 Protocol updates among other critical recovery efforts and district priorities.
Click here to see the list of upcoming dates and to register.
DC Govt and Howard University on COVID-19 TOWN HALL
Join for a virtual town hall on Wed, Jan 26th at 6 pm with Howard University College of Medicine. HCUM students and staff will answer questions from young women and girls around the COVID-19 Vaccination.
Click here to join the conversation.
Conversation with CM George – Wed, Feb 2nd at 7pm
Join Councilmember George for a virtual meeting on Wed, Feb 2nd from 7-8 pm to cover concerns and issues from parents, principals and educators as the Council heads into spring performance and budget oversight hearings. Register here in advance of the meeting.
Shepherd messaging re: needs for the school can focus on: long-term substitutes, more cleaning supplies, and a contract tracer for our school.
Contact Will Perkins ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
Shepherd Gala and Auction Updates
We’re already making plans for this year’s Spring Gala/Auction. Our HOPE is to have the event in person on Saturday, April 30th at Bobby Van’s downtown.
It takes a village to put on this type of event, so if you have experience in planning events, fundraising, communications and marketing, signage, tech/AV, and/or logistics, we’d LOVE to have your help.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb 1st at 7 pm, and we’ll start to break into committees to divide and conquer. Join the call here!
Other ways you help:
- Check out the event page to buy tickets and get the latest event info!
- Donate an item or experience for the Auction
- Consider supporting the event as an official sponsor
- Assist your class on a class art project or gift basket to donate to the Auction
All School Morning Meeting – Friday, Jan 28th
Join this month’s All School Morning Meeting to celebrate the Lunar New Year hosted by the 2nd graders. Virtual meeting will start at 9:15 am on Friday, Jan 28th. Click here to join and watch the performance on TEAMS.
TAP a TEACHER – NOMINATE HERE!
CONGRATS to Mrs. Hagan and Ms. Denmark-Lewall as the last TWO TAP recipients!
PTO wants your help in recognizing our amazing TEACHERS!
Once a month, a special teacher will receive a wishlist fund bonus, and letters will be shared with the selected teacher and school community at our monthly PTO meeting.
To recognize a teacher, submit a nomination here.
Free, in-home vaccinations now available
Effective immediately, your entire family (including kids 5+) can get vaccinated/boosted in your own home for free! Just call 855-363-0333 to set it up. Other vax sites in DC can be found here.
Improving Special Education in DCPS – Thurs, Jan 27th
DC Council is seeking recommendations for improvement on special education. Commissioner Salim Adofo will host a preparation meeting to draft recommendations for City Council. Virtual meeting will be this Thursday, Jan 27th at 6:30 pm. Register here to be a part of this discussion.
The purpose of this hearing is to examine how OSSE, DCPS, and other schools are providing adequate special education to ensure that students with disabilities are academically successful.
Mental Health Tips from Dr. Brown
Our wonderful psychologist, Dr. Brown, has shared more tips and resources to help start the new year on the right foot! Take a few moments to yourself to read or listen to some of these pieces and know we’re here for you and your students.
How Moms Shape the World – TED Talk
Best Online Therapy Services in 2022
New Year, New You – 25 minute Morning Meditations
Best Mental Health Apps – Very Well Mind
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
Britton Family
Smith Family
Head Family
Gulczynski-Gupta Family
Goodman Family
Marrkand Family
Youssef Family
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
Kindness Week – Jan 24th-28th
End of Records Day/NO SCHOOL – Wed, Jan 26th
All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Jan 28th at 9:15 am
Meeting with CM George on Education – Wed, Feb 2nd from 7-8 pm
Ward 3 Ed Net Meeting – Mon, Feb 7th at 7 pm
100th Day of School – Feb 10th
Convo with Dr. Hedlund and Staff Breakfast provided by 1st grade – Tues, Feb 15th
LSAT and PTO meetings – Wed, Feb 16th
All School Morning Meeting – Thurs, Feb 17th at 9:15 am
February Break – Feb 21st-25th
Parent Teacher Conferences/NO SCHOOL – March 10th
Professional Development Day/NO SCHOOL – March 11th
Spring Break – April 11th-15th
Records/Professional Development Day/NO SHCOOL – April 18th
Annual Shepherd Auction and Gala – April 30th
Health and Wellness Fair – May 7th