WELCOME BACK!
We’re wishing everyone a warm welcome to the start of a very unique school year. We know there will be some hiccups along the way as we get started, but we’re excited to get going and get back in a groove. We’re missing your faces, but know we’ll see each other at least virtually soon!
A HUGE THANKS to our teachers, staff, students and parents/families who are working closely together to kick off the school year!
PTA Board and LSAT Nominations – due by Fri, Sept 18
Our PTA board and LSAT elections will happen electronically by the end of Sept. You must be registered on AtoZ Connect to vote. All interested candidates for the PTA Board or LSAT should submit a brief statement of interest to [email protected] by Friday, September 18.
PTA board positions open to all candidates: Co-Presidents (2), Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary. 7 positions in total.
LSAT is a mix of teachers, non-instructional staff, parents and community members who help to advise the Principal on school direction, budget, goals, metrics, etc. We are awaiting guidance from DCPS on LSAT next steps, but know there will be several parent slots for this year’s LSAT, including one of the PTA Board members.
FIRST PTA MEETING – Wed, Sept 16th at 6:30 pm via Zoom
At our first meeting, our agenda will include:
– Hearing from Dr. Hedlund and Ms. Rottman about the first few weeks of school
– Voting on this year’s PTA budget
– Hearing about proposed changes to the PTA bylaws
– Brainstorming ideas on how to build community virtually
– Sharing the “PTA 101” presentation for families to learn about the PTA’s mission, volunteer and leadership opportunities and goals and vision of the upcoming school year.
We are seeking any and all community building and fundraising ideas since most of our usual plans will be off the table for now. We’ll cover at the meeting, but if you can’t attend…please also send ideas to [email protected].
SIGN UP FOR THE PTA EMAIL LIST – AtoZ CONNECT
To make sure all parents and caregivers are receiving ALL emails from the school and from DCPS, sign up for the PTA email list via AtoZ Connect. We send out every email from Dr. Hedlund, the Chancellor, DCPS updates, and send our own PTA email updates every week.
WE WANT YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PICS
It was definitely not a normal first day of school, but we’d still LOVE to see your funny, cute and sweet first day of school pics. Send your first day of pics in to Mrs. Holt for the yearbook – [email protected].
COMMUNITY NOTICES
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Several local groups are doing after school onsite and/or virtual activities for those who are interested, here is a sampling of a few with options near us – HoopEd, CREATE, Stoddert Soccer , Kaizen Karate and HeadFirst Clubhouse.
Virtual Support Line and Support Groups for DC Parents
DC Dept of Behavioral Health now offers free counseling and mental health services for parents and caregivers via a 24 hour HOTLINE 1-888-793-4357 and weekly interactive support groups for parents. Call the number provided here to learn more about how to access these services.
Shepherd Park Library is OPEN AND READY TO HELP!
DC Public Libraries (DCPL) are aware that this school year will come with unprecedented changes and challenges, so we want to make sure you are informed about all current public library offerings.
The Shepherd Park library is open weekdays from 11AM-2PM, and 3PM-7PM (all branches are closed from 2PM-3PM for deep cleaning).
If you do not currently have a library card, you can register for one online or in person. Online registrants will receive a temporary card number that will expire 90 days after all library branches are open. If your permanent library card was set to expire in the coming months, its expiration date has been pushed forward to February 1st, 2021. See here for more information regarding library cards, including what information is needed to register for a card, loan periods, borrowing limits, and library fees (DCPL has eliminated fines on all late returns. Users will still be charged for lost items).
All open branches are currently in the “Takeout+” phase of re-opening, which includes certain limited services. Patrons can return items they have previously checked out, pick up new materials they have put on hold (place holds on our website using your library card number and pin number), and use a limited number of computers in each branch for 45-minute computer sessions, which start every hour on the hour.
DCPL is currently quarantining all items for 96 hours after they are returned. Please allow up to 8 days for returns to be removed from your card. You will not be charged any fines for items that are late due to this policy. Items can be returned to any of the 14 open branches. Please note that DCPL branches are not accepting donations at this time.
DCPL also offers numerous online resources for those who are unable to or uncomfortable with coming to a physical branch. We currently offer ebook and digital audiobooks through OverDrive and the Libby App. We also offer free moving streaming through Kanopy, full-color digital magazines via RBdigital, and music streaming with Freegal.
Those services can be located here or by visiting dclibrary.org and selecting the “Digital” tab at the top of the webpage. We also offer free access to a wide variety of databases for all ages, including JStor. Dig DC, NoveList Plus, NoveList Plus K-8, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Those can be located here or via the “Research” tab on our website.