Originally delivered on 11/23/2022 1:00 pm

SUBJECT: Shepherd PTO Bulletin - 11/23/2022

Shepherd PTO Bulletin - November 23, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving!


In this week's PTO Bulletin...


- Update on Library Refresh

- Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

- Spring Gala Kick-off/Holiday Staff Appreciation 

- Upcoming Events

  • Shepherd Elementary Open Houses
  • December PTO Meeting 
  • Winter Concert & Holiday Bazaar
  • DC EdFest

- Ways to Give Back

  • Lynch Creek Farms Holiday Fundraiser
  • iPad Donation

- Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP)

- Shepherd 180 Fund

- Other Important Dates

    - No School:  November 23rd - 25th

    - Toy & Coat Drive Day of Service:  December 21st

Update on Library Refresh

A huge thank you to our volunteers who helped with the Library Refresh! The Library now has new floors and brightly painted walls that reflect our Shepherd Spirit.  A shout out to the following people who helped make this possible:  Ms. Erin Scott, Amy Zettle, Stephanie Bingham, Angela Mokodean, Taryn Losch-Beridon, Simon Messing, Julia Marnon Lipton, Frank Rijmen, Penny Ngo, Harrison Kreisberg! Also a shout-out to Sherwin Williams on Grubb Road whose discount on paint supplies made this refresh possible!  

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot for Hunger

Ms. Caola and Shepherd Running Club are inviting the Shepherd Park community to participate in America's Trot for Hunger in support of SOME (So Others Might Eat)! We hope you will consider joining and racing with us and donating to support this crucial mission. You can run, walk, scoot, and even bring a dog or baby. You can participate in person at Freedom Plaza or virtually at your own time and location.  It is a great family tradition and wonderful way to stay active during our break.

More information on the event can be found here. We hope you will consider participating in this great cause!

Spring Gala Kick-off

The Spring Gala and Auction team will have their kick-off planning meeting November 28th at Noon.  The Spring Gala is Shepherd's biggest fundraiser of the year and takes a corps of community volunteers to be successful. Responsibilities range from event logistics to sponsorships & donations to communications.  All ideas are welcome!  Please join us virtually here if you can!

Holiday Staff-Appreciation Meeting

As we prepare for the holidays next month, the Curriculum & Staff Support Committee is looking forward to finding ways to recognize and appreciate our hard-working Shepherd Elementary teachers and staff. We're hosting a planning meeting on November 30th at 7:30 pm.   Again - All ideas are welcome!   Please join us virtually here if you can!  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Shepherd is looking forward to welcoming prospective families to our upcoming open houses!  To register for an Open House, please complete the RSVP form here.

November PTO Meeting

Please mark your calendars!  Due to the Winter Concert on Wednesday December 14th, the December PTO Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13th.  More information will be forthcoming.  

Winter Concert and Holiday Bazaar

Shepherd Elementary is excited to welcome back families in-person for the Annual Winter Concert and Holiday Bazaar on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:00 pm.  

The Winter Concert is a can't-miss event where families are invited to watch students and the Shepherd Elementary Choir perform songs in the spirit of the holidays.  

This year, we are also excited to welcome back the Holiday Bazaar marketplace where local vendors will be able to showcase their merchandise.  It's a great opportunity to find some holiday gifts and support local small businesses!  

DC EdFEST

EdFEST, DC’s annual public school fair, will be held virtually on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Students and families will be able to visit Shepherd's virtual booth, chat directly with school representatives and learn about the public school lottery – all from their device. With the launch of the public school lottery application on Dec. 12, 2022 for the 2023-24 school year, EdFEST is a timely event to help families make informed choices.


  • Date: Saturday, December 10, 2022 

  • Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm 

  • Location: Expo XP event platform (same platform as last year)


WAYS TO GIVE BACK
Shepherd Holiday Fundraiser

As we prepare for the holidays, we're hoping to lift spirits and spread cheer! And since we're all home a lot more, why not have something beautiful to enjoy? 

We're excited to be working with Lynch Creek Farms again this year to do online and direct home delivery of holiday wreaths and greens for the season. Their products are VERY lovely and anyone across the country can order items and help support Shepherd PTO.  

Every time someone shops for holiday decor through our group's fundraising page, Shepherd PTO will receive 15% of the purchase

In order to receive your greenery in time to decorate, now is the perfect time to place your order!

Help us meet our $1000 goal and make purchases online here

PTO Board Looking for Used iPad or Tablet

The PTO Board is asking the community if any families would be able to donate an iPad or similar tablet device.  This device would be used to ensure quicker and more efficient onsite sales for events, gear, and spirit wear. If you have a device that you think would fit our need, please email info@shepherd-elementary.org. Thank you!

Looking for More Ways to Give Back?

The Shepherd Website has a comprehensive list of ways to contribute through donations, volunteering, shopping, and sponsorships. Please visit the website for a complete list of vendors and more information on how you can help enrich the Shepherd experience.

Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP)

Congratulations to Ms. Anna Marie Pereira as our November TAP winner!

The Teacher Appreciation Program, or TAP, gives parents an opportunity to recognize a teacher at Shepherd for their great work and dedication. TAP invites parents to write a letter of appreciation recognizing a teacher who has been especially helpful or admirable in the classroom. 

Once a month, a special teacher will be selected from the nominations to receive a Wishlist fund bonus.  The recognition letters will also be shared with the selected teacher and school community.

TAP a teacher today by submitting a nomination here.

Time to Support the 2022-2023 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 child care at events, 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!

Many, Many Thanks to our 180 Fund Donors!

Archer Family

Arellano Family

Biswese Family

Boykin-Chase Family

Carroll Family

Clair Family

Coble Family

Daly Family

D'Angelo Family

Faulman Family

Frias Family

Goletiani Family

Goodman Family

Howard Family


Jabaily-Messing Family

Krill Family

Landau Family

Learmonth-Davies Family

Lipton-Marnon Family

Ma-Holdridge Family

Marchand Family

Raglani Family

Riley Family

Romine Family

Sanders Family

Snyder-Johnson Family

Tivol-Kaufmann Family

Tyson Family

Walejko Family


Upcoming Events

No School

No School

No School

Spring Gala Kick-off

Holiday Staff Appreciation Meeting 

Shepherd Elementary Open House

DC EdFEST

1st Grade Coffee and Conversations

December PTO Meeting

Winter Concert & Holiday Bazaar

Toy & Coat Drive, Service Day

Dates

Wednesday, November 23 

Thursday, November 24

Friday November 25

Monday, November 28th

Wednesday, November 30th

Wednesday, December 7th

Saturday, December 10th

Tuesday, December 13th

Tuesday, December 13th

Wednesday, December 14th

Wednesday, December 21st

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -