Happy Almost-Back-to-School time! Welcome new and returning families – we can’t wait to see you and your children in real life again soon. This email is packed full of key info – school calendar of events, Back to School events, School Beautification Day info, Shepherd gear updates, uniform swap, and PTO volunteer opportunities!

Don’t miss out on the latest news from Shepherd PTO! Our AtoZ Connect database has been updated to the newest version powered by Membership Toolkit. In order to keep you on the PTO email roster, we need all parents to re-register in AtoZ as soon as possible to confirm contact info.

Please create your family’s new account here, ideally, using the same email you used for your initial AtoZ registration. You will then receive a verification email that you must acknowledge within 2 hours in order to authorize your account.

See you all real soon!

Shepherd PTO Board

School Community Beautification Project – Jonquil Hill “Clearing” and Garden Clean-up
Members of the Shepherd community will come together on Sunday, August 22 from 10am-2 pm to clear the hill on the Jonquil St. side of the building and to perform other garden clean-up projects. As they say, “many hands make light work” so we’re seeking as many volunteers as possible to assist with the effort – even if you can only join for an hour or two, we would love to have you! Interested individuals should contact Derek Musgrove at derek.musgrove@gmail.com.

Special Election for Open PTO Board Positions – Sept 1st
There are currently two open PTO Board positions for SY2021-22: Co-President and Assistant Treasurer. PTO will hold an ad-hoc special election meeting on Wednesday, September 1st at 6:30PM ET. This meeting will be hosted virtually on Microsoft Teams and voting will be done via show of hands in Teams. Nominations can be sent to elections@shepherd-elementary.org.

Urgent Need for Audit Committee Members
In order to comply with the financial obligations mandated by our PTO bylaws, an audit of fiscal records from the prior school year must be undertaken by three independent Shepherd PTO members (i.e., not affiliated with current or previous PTO Executive Board members). The audit will require approximately 3-4 hours of time in the next 6 weeks. Please email pto@shepherd-elementary.org if you are interested in serving in this very important role.

First “Back to School” Playdate – Aug 22 at 10 am
Come meet new friends and see old friends too! We’re just excited to see everyone again. Join us at the Shepherd Park DPR playground (lower side of 14th and Jonquil Street NW) at 10 am on Sunday, August 22nd.

DCPS Budget Model Town Hall -Thurs, Aug 12 at 5:30 pm
Join Chancellor Ferebee and the DCPS Budget Team to learn how we will evolve our budget model to align more strongly with our values and support our students and schools. We will share more about our work to introduce a new formula for how funding is allocated to schools beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Register here for the session.

Ordering Spirit Wear and Uniform Swap
Watch this space very soon for a link to our new Shepherd gear online store. We’ll have new designs, more choices and shipping directly to your home. As Dr. Hedlund shared, students can wear Shepherd gear everyday in place of white uniform shirts and the gear sales benefit all the work the PTO does for our school community!

In the meantime, many of us have uniform pieces that are way tooooo small! Please consider donating any gently used uniforms in support of our uniform “swap” at our upcoming open houses. Donation bins are located in the school’s main entrance vestibule, which is accessible between 8AM and 4PM on weekdays.

Seeking Welcome Ambassadors for New Shepherd Families
PTO is seeking approximately 30 returning Shepherd Elementary families who would be interested in serving as a Shepherd Ambassador Families to help ensure a smooth transition for families new to Shepherd in SY2021-22. As an Ambassador Family, you will be paired with a newly enrolled family that best matches your child/ren’s grade.

Pairings will be sent out the week before school resumes. Ambassadors are asked to make personal contact with their new families within a week of receiving their assigned family. We also welcome Ambassador families to consider joining the New Family playdate scheduled for August 22nd at 10AM.

If you would be willing to serve as a resource for a new, incoming family this school year, please send an email to FamilyEngagement@shepherd-elementary.org with your children’s grade levels at Shepherd.

New Contact Information for PTO Executive Board

Please note the following NEW email address for use in contacting members of the Shepherd PTO Executive Board: pto@shepherd-elementary.org. We will be retiring the shepherdptapresident@gmail.com email account moving forward.

Parent Equity Panel

Dr. Hedlund is seeking a handful of parents to serve on a mixed panel of Shepherd faculty/staff and parents who will work together to develop activities and programming to promote equity within Shepherd’s classrooms. Interested parents should contact Dr. Hedlund directly at Phyllis.Hedlund@k12.dc.gov.

DCPS Parent University is Re-opening with New Classes
Our Doors Are Open! DC Public Schools will be hosting a series of #RecoverStrong Parent University Sessions, designed to prepare you and your child for School Year 2021-22. Please join us on Microsoft Teams at bit.ly/parentujoin! Register here!

Upcoming School Calendar of Events

Playdate for New Families @ DPR Playground, 1425 Jonquil St NW – Sunday, August 22 from 10am – 12pm

Garden Clean Up (in front of the school and hill on Jonquil Street NW) – Sunday, August 22 at 10 am

LSAT Meeting via Teams – Tuesday, August 24 from 4 – 5pm

Open House for Enrolled Students and Families – Thursday, August 26 from 4 – 6pm

PK-4 School Tour and Playdate – Friday, August 27 from 1 – 2pm

PK-3 School Tour and Playdate – Friday, August 27 from 2 – 3pm

K-5 Open House and Play Date – Friday, August 27 from 3 – 4pm

“Back to School” Playground Playdate @ DPR Playground, 1425 Jonquil St NW – Sunday, August 29 from 1 – 3pm

First Day of School (K-5 Students) – Monday, August 30

Special PTO Board Election Meeting via Teams – Wednesday, September 1 from 6:30 – 7:30pm

First Day of School (Pre-K Students) – Thursday, September 2

Labor Day – NO SCHOOL – Monday, September 6

First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month – Wednesday, September 15

Back to School Night – Wednesday, September 15 from 6 – 8pm

September PTO Meeting – Wednesday, September 22 from 6:30 – 7:30pm