PTA Meeting – Tonight, Wednesday, February 12th at 6:30 pm
Agenda:
- Welcome and updates – Dr. Hedlund
- Jan minutes and budget review – Andrea and Caroline
- LSAT meeting updates – Liz
- DCPS Panorama Survey – feedback due by Feb 14th
- PTA Parent Survey – coming in Mid-March to inform next year’s efforts
- PTA bylaws review – in progress
- DCPS Oversight Hearing – Wed, Feb 19th – sharing testimony later this week; Budget Hearings in March TBD
- Shepherd Gala updates and next steps
- Need parent/teacher volunteers to help with: Jazz Night (Fri, Feb 28), Health/Wellness Fair (Fri, March 27) and Gala/Auction (Sat, April 25)
Have you missed a recent PTA meeting? See the minutes from the previous meetings here – https://www.shepherd-elementary.org/parents/parent-teacher-organization-pto/
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ON SALE TODAY!
On Wednesday, February 12th, from 3:30-8:00pm, the Brownies and Junior Girl Scout troops from Shepherd will host a Girl Scout cookie sale in the lobby after school and during the PTA meeting. This is just in time for Valentine’s Day! Please support the Girl Scout troops based here at Shepherd.
DCPS PANORAMA FAMILY SURVEY
55% of Shepherd families have completed the Panorama Family Survey. If you haven’t yet filled one out, please do so. You have until February 14th! Remember, our goal was to have a 60% response rate. We are so close to achieving that! Share your thoughts by following the link: bit.ly/dcpsfamily. We need your feedback!
And, parents, if you have time to volunteer to work the kiosk at arrival and dismissal over the next few days, please see Mrs. Rottman.
THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE WEEK!
All Shepherd students are invited to dress up for the Great Kindness Challenge this week. Classrooms may choose to participate in the KINDNESS themed door decorating contest. Judging will take place on Friday, Feb 14th.
Dress up days for the rest of the week are as follows:
- Thursday, February 13: Kindness ROCKS – Dress like a musician.
- Friday, February 14: Dream of a world that is KIND – Dress in your pajamas.
Students in grades K-5th grade are invited to join our Kindness Read-a-thon beginning on February 10th – March 13th. Donations can be made to Heifer International directly at https://fundraise.heifer.org/fundraiser/2590607 or given in an envelope. Please give all donations to Mrs. Hagan. Checks should be made out to Heifer international.
Students who would like to participate will be bringing home more information. Students can collect donations or donations can be made online.
SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
Due to space constraints at NOAA, students’ science fair projects will be on display Thursday 2/13 and Friday 2/14 in the Shepherd atrium. Stop by to see their great work!
ALL HANDS ON DECK! SHEPHERD JAZZ NIGHT – Friday, Feb 28th
Jazz Night (Friday, February 28th) is fast approaching, and we need your help to make it a success. Please sign up to bring some yummy treats – homemade or store bought – to this event. Remember, no nuts please! You can find the link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4EAAAC28A5FD0-31st.
For those who haven’t been before, the event includes a potluck dinner, live and up-close jazz music by outstanding artists (including both talented students and veteran professionals), creative activities, and fine company!
Jazz Night founder, Dr. Michael Wallace, introduced this special event 31 years ago—when his own children were Shepherd students – and he still helps us plan and execute this long-standing event every year. Jazz Night was created with Shepherd students in mind; to introduce them to jazz music in a kid-friendly environment. Bring your children to enjoy the music and see the musicians—and their instruments—close up.
Email Caroline Smith at [email protected] if you can help be on the committee!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH at SHEPHERD
The Shepherd Black History Month committee, which comprises of staff and parents, met and decided to dedicate the week of 2/24 to celebrating Black History Month. Each day we will celebrate Black History Month with a different event or activity. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, February 24: Wear your HBCU shirt or sweatshirt!
Tuesday, February 25: Dress up like an honorable Black History Month figure!
Wednesday, February 26th: Black History Month Bowl!
Thursday, February 27: Third grade production of the play Now Let Me Fly to be held from 6:30-8 pm. Shepherd families and students invited. The play, which is based on hundreds of oral histories and personal interviews, tells the story of the unsung heroes and heroines in the battle for civil rights.
Friday, February 28th:
- Step Afrika (an all-school presentation supported by the PTA for the students on Friday morning)
- Jazz Night – 6:30 pm (all teachers, staff, students, parents and neighbors are welcome!)
In addition, we will have a door decorating contest, a daily Black History fact during announcements, and a Shepherd Black History Month t-shirt. Order your t-shirts at https://forms.gle/Qvi1PYHMkpfaDEm5A. Orders should be placed by Monday, February 17, 2020 (President’s Day) for delivery on Monday, February 24, 2020.
SPRING GALA AND AUCTION – Sat, April 25th
Our annual Spring Gala and Auction – Shepherd’s largest fundraiser of the school year!
Join parents, teachers, friends and neighbors of Shepherd Elementary School on Saturday, April 25th, 2020 at Bobby Van’s Grill, for our 16th Annual Spring Gala and Auction! Your ticket purchase secures your entrance to a fantastic evening of entertainment, featuring our live and silent auction, while you enjoy cocktails, diverse beer & wine offerings, and delicious bites as you select your top auction items of the night.
New Silent Auction offerings will include experiences and offerings from local businesses, as well as beloved class creations, parent parties, teacher treats, and more. Get ready to bid with our live auctioneer who will help us raise the paddle and entice the crowd with the best items of the night.
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased here: https://events.handbid.com/auctions/shepherd-16th-annual-spring-gala-and-auction/tickets.
We are looking for parents and teachers to help us put on this MASSIVE event! See the link below for many volunteer opportunities. Let us know how you can help! https://forms.gle/kZyWke6cqkJVtE4z5
Upcoming DCPS Performance Oversight Hearing – Wed, Feb 19th
The first of the annual DCPS public hearing opportunities is coming up on Wed, Feb 19 at 11 am. The DCPS Performance Oversight Hearing is meant to give members of the public (parents, teachers, students) the opportunity to share their concerns with the DC Council about issues with the schools such as management, facilities, operations, equipment/materials, processes, and procedures.
Unfortunately, this first hearing is during the DCPS FEBRUARY BREAK, which means quite a few parents will likely not be able to testify in person. However, whoever can be there should and those who can’t should definitely send in written testimony.
Those who wish to testify may sign-up online at http://bit.do/educationhearings or call the Committee on Education at (202) 724-8061 by 5:00 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2020. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged to bring 10-15 copies of their written testimony.
If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. The record typically closes 10 business days after each hearing – Feb 27th. Written statements can be emailed to Ashley Strange, Committee Assistant, at [email protected].
Several parents have volunteered to develop sample testimony for Shepherd advocates. We will focus on important issues like replacing the lead equipment on the playground and concerns with DPR/DCPS collaboration over the community center construction project. It’s always more impactful when we’re saying the same things and hitting on the same messages to break through and try to make change. But feel free to make it personal with your own anecdotes.
The date of the Budget Hearing for next year’s school budget is still TBD…and that is where we’ll certainly be needing to push more publicly with many voices at the table!
TOILETRY DRIVE FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Ms. McIntyre will lead a toiletry drive in honor of Women’s History Month from March 1-31. Items will benefit DASH — District Alliance for Safe Housing. More details to follow.
Reminder of Upcoming Dates:
- Wednesday, Feb 12th – LSAT and PTA meetings (4:30 pm and 6:30 pm)
- Monday, Feb 17th-Fri, Feb 21st – February Break (NO SCHOOL, NO STAR ACHIEVERS)
- Wed, Feb 19th – DCPS Oversight Hearing (DC CITY COUNCIL at 11 am)
- Tuesday, Feb 25th –DCPS Parent Workshop at Brookland Middle School ( 6 pm)
- Thursday, Feb 27th – Black History Month event at 6:30
- Friday, Feb 28th – Jazz Night (6:30-8:30 pm)
- Wednesday, March 18th – LSAT and PTA meetings (4:30 pm and 6:30 pm)
- Friday, March 20th – Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)
- Friday, March 27th – Health/Wellness Fair
- Monday, April 13-Fri, April 17th – Spring Break
- Wednesday, April 22nd – LSAT and PTA meetings (4:30 pm and 6:30 pm)
- Saturday, April 25th – Shepherd Gala and Auction
- May 4-8 – Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 16-17 – Shepherd Family Camping Trip
- Thursday, May 21st – International Day