Good morning Shepherd families and friends,
A reminder that next week we’re off for the February mid-winter break and that ALL students will need to take and submit negative COVID test results by 5 pm on Sun, Feb 27th in order to return to school on Mon, Feb 28th.
In this week’s PTO Bulletin…
- FEBRUARY PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm
- All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am
- Mid-Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) – Feb 21st-25th
- PTO Restaurant Night fundraiser with Ledo Pizza – Mon, Feb 28th
- DCPS Performance Oversight Hearing – Wed, March 2nd
- PTO Restaurant Night with Potomac Pizza – Mon, March 14th (Pi Day!)
- Shepherd Gala and Auction – Sat, April 30th – buy your tickets NOW and help us with auction donations!
- Calendar of Events
PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm
Join us on TEAMS for an update from Dr. Hedlund and to hear about PTO events and activities on the horizon.
COVID TEST TO RETURN TO SCHOOL on Mon, Feb 28th
All students will be required to take a rapid test and upload their results to the https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/testing/ by 5 pm on Sunday, Feb 27th. Rapid tests will be sent home with your students before the break.
GET INVOLVED AND SUPPORT OUR AUCTION!
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 this year and are looking for parties, experiences, and donated items for this year’s auction.
- Do you know how to make something special and can host a small group to learn?
- Can parents from your class to host a party together? Show off your hometown’s food, your favorite libation or get wild with a theme. Tickets to these parties will be auctioned off during the silent auction.
- Do you have a place or tickets to donate? Think concert, theater or game tickets, a vacation place, etc.
- Can you offer a service as a donation? Tax prep? Home design? Gardening? Home organization?
- Are you an artist, jeweler, potter, musician? Or a parent who has a cool hobby to share with parents or kids?
WE NEED YOU! Share any donated item or service info with us here.
BUY TICKETS AND GET READY TO BID!
Our Gala and Auction tickets are online for purchase and the early bird pricing goes through the end of Feb.
Make sure to get them SOON! Click here to purchase. Early bird pricing of $65 a ticket ends on Feb 28th!
Even if you can’t attend, consider buying an Angel ticket for a Shepherd teacher or staff member.
We’re also looking for parent and corporate sponsors – click here for more info!
All School Morning Meeting
In celebration of Black History Month, tune into our All School Morning meeting on Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am for an event that will focus on Black Entrepreneurship. Join us on TEAMS for this month’s meeting.
Shepherd PTO Restaurant Night with Ledo Pizza – Mon, Feb 28th
First day back after break? Don’t worry – we’ve got you!
Support the Shepherd PTO and order dinner from Ledo Pizza on Mon, Feb 28th! No dine in just yet, but curbside pick up is still available…and who doesn’t love that they bring the food straight to your car?
Can order online or by calling 202-726-5336 – just be sure to include the Shepherd code (306159855) when ordering – if ordering online, add code in the “Coupon Code” section.
Join the 5th Grade Promotion Committee
Please join us to discuss promotion 2022 (date, time, details still TBD). We’re trying to make this process more inclusive this year and assist in the planning and execution to honor our oldest Mustangs!
We will meet the first Thursday of the month – join the committee for the monthly calls on TEAMS here. The next meeting with be March 3rd at 8 am.
Mental Health Resources from Dr. Brown
Our own school phycologist, Dr. Brown, has shared some new resources for us to help with mental health concerns we may be facing personally or with our children.
22 tips for 2022 by NPR
Best Mental Health Podcasts by New York Family
How to Build Boys’ Self Confidence by Child Mind Institute
How to Boost Girls’ Self Esteem by Child Mind Institute
Looking for Volunteers for Health & Wellness Fair
Shepherd Elementary PTO will host our annual Health & Wellness Fair on Thursday, May 12th from 3:00-6:00pm.
We are looking for dentists, eye doctors, dermatologists, physical fitness and yoga instructors, martial arts instructors, health and wellness specialists, play enthusiasts, nutritionists, physical therapists and mental health professionals to join our fair, share resources and help educate parents and scholars on the benefits of healthy living and taking care of the body and mind.
Previous fairs have offered blood pressure checks, yoga and martial arts demos, smoothie station, fitness drills, massage therapy, dental hygiene check ups, dance and MORE!
Please contact Dana Ju (dana.bykowski@gmail.com) if you or someone you know might be interested in participating by providing a demo or free class/service or having a table or station at the fair.
The fair is open to Shepherd ES students, families and staff. It will take place at the school and will follow all local Covid-19 health and safety protocols and guidelines.
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.
NEW Ward 4 COVID CENTER OPENS – KN95 mask distribution now
The Ward 4 COVID Center opened up at 4704 13th Street NW.
DC residents can now pick up two free KN95 masks per day at any of the new COVID Centers. Seven COVID Centers are open across DC, and in addition to free KN95 masks they also offer free vaccinations, boosters, rapid tests, and PCR tests.
Find COVID Center locations and hours HERE.
Star Achievers Aftercare seeking NEW Board Members
The Star Achievers Aftercare (SESSA) program is seeking parent and community volunteers to join their Board of Directors. SESSA is a non-profit board comprised of Shepherd ES parents and community members.
Your child does not have to be enrolled in the program to join the board. The time commitment is minimal, about two hours a month. This is a rewarding opportunity to help grow the before and aftercare program and to help shape the curriculum and enrichment activities such as chess, robotics, theater, dance and sports. Please reach out to Tami Weerasingha at weerasinghat@gmail.com for more information.
DPR Offers Mid-Winter Break Camps
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) offers a full-day camping option for 3-5 year-olds and 6-12 year-olds during the DC Public Schools (DCPS) mid-winter break. The overarching theme for the camps will incorporate DPR’s “Move, Grow, and Be Green” philosophy, as we plant the seeds of personal development.
Click here to learn more about locations.
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
PTO meeting – Wed, Feb 16th at 6:30 pm
All School Morning Meeting – Fri, Feb 18th at 9:15 am
February Break – Feb 21st-25th
PTO Ledo Pizza Restaurant Night – Mon, Feb 28th
Ward 3 Ed Net call – Mon, March 7th at 7 pm
Parent Teacher Conferences/NO SCHOOL – Thurs, March 10th
Professional Development Day/NO SCHOOL – Fri, March 11th
PTO Potomac Pizza Restaurant Night – Mon, March 14th
Ward 3 Ed Net call – Mon, April 4th at 7 pm
Spring Break – April 11th-15th
Records/Professional Development Day/NO SCHOOL – Mon, April 18th
Annual Shepherd Auction and Gala – Sat, April 30th
PTO Health and Wellness Fair – Thurs, May 12th
PTO Mama Lucia Restaurant Night – Thurs, May 12th