APRIL PTO MEETING – TOMORROW (WED, APRIL 21) at 6:30 pm
Joins us on TEAMS for our monthly chat with Dr. Hedlund, hear about the latest on the new DCPS Foxhall and MacArthur school sites and the Shepherd Park Community Center, and get more details about the upcoming Spring Fling events.
SPRING FLING EVENTS – VIRTUAL BAKING CLASS THIS SATURDAY, April 24 at 5 pm
Does your family like to watch baking shows? Or do you or your kids like chocolate chip mini cookie cakes with vanilla buttercream frosting? Then join us for a Shepherd school-wide virtual family baking class hosted by Tiny Chefs! This event is great for the whole family and proceeds go to Shepherd PTO. Unfortunately, the “add-ins” ingredient kits and Shepherd aprons and chef hats are sold out. But you can still get tickets for the virtual event here!
Listening Session for Shepherd Recreation Center – Thursday, April 22 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm
The purpose of this listening session is to ascertain the community’s interest in the use of the Shepherd Park rec center with ANC Commissioners Green and Whatley.
Please join the meeting to help us continue to push to secure dedicated space in the Rec Center for Shepherd students’ use during and after school.
When: Thu Apr 22, 2021 from 7:30pm – 8:30pm Eastern Time
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81320144339
SHEPHERD GARDEN CLEAN UP – Sun, April 25 starting at 10 am
Our very own gardner-in-resident, Simon Messing, would love help weeding and planting to shape up our gardens around the school. He kindly spends a lot of free time keeping up with the flower beds, helping our trees, and even weeding! Let’s get together (socially-distanced!) to help spread the load. COME WHEN YOU CAN AND BRING YOUR GARDENING GEAR!
ATTENTION FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES – Shepherd Chat with Deal’s Principal Neal – April 27th at 6:30 pm
Join Principal Neal as she talks with Fifth grade parents about how to get students ready for the transition to middle school.
Topic: Virtual Feeder School Chat – Shepherd
Time: Apr 27, 2021 6:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87484553072
Meeting ID: 874 8455 3072
+13017158592,,87484553072#
COVID-19 TESTING KITS AT SHEPHERD PARK LIBRARY
Mayor Bowser and DC Health announced the launch of Test Yourself DC, a program offering at-home COVID-19 testing kits at locations around the District. The program offers the option to either take a COVID-19 test onsite at one of the 16 locations or to drop off their test sample at the closest DC Library drop box at no cost.
Approximately 8,000 Test Yourself DC kits will be available every week, and each site will be limited to 100-200 test kits per day. Individuals interested in participating can find a location at testyourself.dc.gov.
Between April 19-30, testing kits locations will be open for pickups Monday to Friday between 10 am and 6 pm. Starting the week of May 3, the locations will be open for pickups Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 6 pm. Testing kits can be dropped off the locations no later than 8:00 pm seven days a week.
Our local library is one of the 16 sites – see more info here.
Foxhall and MacArthur Community Working Group Update – Shepherd Elem meeting on Mon, May 3 at 6 pm
DC Public Schools will meet with the Shepherd school community on Mon, May 3 at 6 pm to discuss the efforts of a community working group looking at two potential schools in the Wilson High School feeder pattern. All are welcome to attend, both to learn more and to offer their opinions. A link will be sent closer to the event.
WE NEED YOUR HELP – PTO NOMINATING AND AUDIT COMMITTEES
We’ll be doing PTO Board elections at the May PTO meeting and need 3-5 parents to volunteer to be on the nominating committee to hold the official elections. We’ll also need 3-5 parents to serve on the audit committee at the end of the year to close out our financial books. No one related to the current board can volunteer. If you’re interested in helping, please reach out to [email protected] by April 30.
Ward 3 EdNet meeting – Mon, May 10 at 7pm
The May meeting will include Council Chair Phil Mendelson. This is an opportunity to have a conversation with him about reopening schools, school budgets, overcrowding in Wilson feeder schools, school oversight and governance, and other education topics (we ask that you only raise education topics).
We will be taking questions from the chat during the meeting, but would welcome any questions that you would like to share with us ahead of time. Please send them to [email protected].
The registration link for the Zoom meeting is:
https://interactivestrategies.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcuyvrz4qH9YNG1JcH1fNkOOnV2asiBdY
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
At our June meeting we will hear from the new DC Education Research Collaborative.
Upcoming Important Dates:
April 21 – Shepherd PTO meeting – 6:30 pm
April 24 – “Spring Fling” virtual baking class – 5-6 pm
April 27 – Fifth Grade Chat with Deal Principal Neal – 6:30 pm
May 3-7 – Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 – DCPS Foxhall/MacArthur School Community Update Meeting – 6 pm
May 6 – “Spring Fling” ADULT cocktail-making class – 8 pm
May 10 – Ward 3 EdNet meeting – 7 pm
May 19 – Shepherd PTO meeting and ELECTIONS – 6:30 pm
May 31 – Memorial Day holiday
June 5/6 – SCHOOL WIDE OUTDOOR EVENT
June TBD – 5th Grade Graduation
June 24 – last day of school