We are only 10 days away from our Fall FUNdraising event!

Fall Fest, the PTO's annual fall FUNdraising effort, is returning to Shepherd on Sunday, October 20, from 12 PM - 4 PM. Come for the Game Truck, Wow Wheelz, Carnival Games, Arts & Crafts, Concessions, and our very own DJ Velez! 14th St. between Jonquil and Kalmia will be closed for the festivities. Keep and eye out for early Ticket Sales soon!

New for this year is a "Mini Camp Expo" to meet and greet local summer camps!

We need YOUR help to make this event a success! Sign up to volunteer HERE

*The PTO will sign Community Service Hour Forms for Middle & High School Students who volunteer so please feel free to share*

Family/Faculty Kickball Game

The Shepherd tradition continues! Following the rousing success of our first Family/Faculty kickball game last fall, we're continuing the tradition and are now recruiting players for this year's game!

Date: Thursday, October 17th

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Where: Shepherd Lower Field

This is a friendly game, and no practice or experience is necessary -- just your best Shepherd spirit!

As we did last spring, each team (Team Green and Team Gold) will be a mix of families/caregivers and faculty/staff so that we have more opportunities for folks to collaborate and cheer each other on. Feel free to sign up for either team.

Last year, the teams filled quickly -- so nab your spot today! Registration is first come, first served. If you are interested, please visit the Sign-up Genius here.

LSAT & PTO Meetings

October LSAT and PTO Meetings are next week, October 16 at 4 PM and 5:30 PM, respectively. We look forward to connecting with our SES community next week. Stay tuned for meeting info.

It was a Great Wednesday Walking & Rolling to School + Coffee & Donuts

Thank you for joining Shepherd’s PTO and the Health & Wellness committee along with students, parents, and staff for the National Walk & Roll to School Day event. Not only did we walk & roll to school, but we also enjoyed some great donuts, coffee, and conversation afterward!

Welcome Delaney Caldwell - SES School-Based Therapist

This year, Shepherd welcomes the partnership with Paving the Way. Through the Department of Behavioral Health, we have been allotted one clinician. Ms. Caldwell began her work here in August. Below, please find a letter describing her services. Please feel free to contact Shepherd's Administration or Ms. Caldwell at Dcaldwell@pavingthewaymsi.org. Read her letter to our families here.

Reminder - Volunteer Clearance

We encourage our families to complete the volunteer clearance process early on in the school year. DCPS requires all volunteers, including parents, to complete the DCPS Clearance process before volunteer services can be provided. This includes anyone who may become a room parent, chaperone for field trips, or volunteer for various school-day events. Clearances last for two years. If you have completed your clearance, please send a copy of your letter to brenda.wilson@k12.dc.gov.

IB Corner

Reminder - SESSA No School Days

SESSA's "No School Day" schedule is now on our website. "No School Days" are a full day of coverage provided by Star Achievers for DCPS professional development and parent-teacher conferences. Note: they are not included in your monthly tuition. If you have any questions on how NSDs operate, feel free to ask eric.viera@sesstarachievers.com. Link is attached here for sign ups.

Giving Back Opportunities

Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP)

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.

Staying Connected

Mustang Express

Check out this week's Mustang Express, SES's weekly newsletter from leadership.

Shepherd Elementary Groups.io

As a reminder, the Shepherd PTO has a Groups.io that can be used to communicate with the community. To actively join our Shepherd Elementary School Parents groups.io, please click here and select the blue button that says "Apply for Membership in this Group." If you have any questions, please email info@shepherd-elementary.org.

Shepherd Elementary Calendar

You can also add the Shepherd Elementary Google calendar to your personal Google account. Log into your Google account and navigate to the Shepherd Elementary Calendar website. In the lower right-hand corner of the calendar, there's an icon that says "+ Google Calendar." If you click this icon, it will redirect you to your personal Google calendar and prompt you to "add" the Shepherd Elementary calendar. More detailed instructions can be found here.

Time to Support the 2024-2025 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 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!

Jackson-Reed Sports Camp Opportunities

Flag Star Camp on 10/11

We are thrilled to be partnering with The Jackson Reed Football team to offer our ambitious ballers a few hours of skills, drills and fun as a fundraiser! Register here.

Where: Jackson Reed High School, 3950 Chesapeake St NW

What: Three hours of skills, drills and games along with the chance to meet and play with the Jackson Reed Football Players

When: October 11th 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Who: All Skill Levels - Girls and Boys 2nd - 7th Grade

Cost: $85.00

Email HQ@flagstarfootball.com for financial aid and any other questions*

Youth Soccer Camp on 10/14

The Boys Varsity Soccer Team at Jackson-Reed HS is holding a soccer camp on Monday, October 14th (DCPS does not have school that day). We are looking for 1st through 5th Graders who want to spend the morning learning some soccer skills and playing fun games. (limit 50 kids) The camp will be at the Jackson-Reed High School Soccer Field. We did this in June and it was a huge success and the kids had a great time. Register here.

When: 9AM -12PM on Monday, Oct 14th (DCPS does not have school that day)

Where: Jackson-Reed High School Soccer Field

Cost: $40/camper, includes a pizza lunch at 12PM.

For any questions, please email Quinn McInerney (Captain - Jackson-Reed Varsity Soccer Team) at quinnmci28@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

Professional Day (no school)

Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School)

Family History Spirit Week

Family/Faculty Kickball Game

Fall Fest

Book-a-ween Parade

Records Day (No School)

Election Day (No School)

Veterans Day (No School)

Dates

Friday, October 11

Monday, October 14

Tuesday, October 15 - Friday, October 18

Thursday, October 17

Sunday, October 20

Thursday, October 31

Monday, November 4

Tuesday, November 5

Monday, November 11

Follow Shepherd PTO on FB and Insta

Keep up with the latest updates, events and fun things going on at Shepherd by following our FB page (@ShepherdElemPTO) and Instagram (@shepherd_elementary).

SUBJECT: Shepherd PTO Bulletin - 10/10/24