Originally delivered on 11/7/2024 6:30 pm

SUBJECT: Shepherd PTO Bulletin - 11/7/24

Community Engagement Events

Donuts with Grownups

Families! You are cordially invited to join your student in their classroom this Tuesday, November 12, from 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM. This will be an opportunity to join your student's homeroom for breakfast in the classroom and the Strong Start Assembly.

Only five grown-ups per homeroom will be allowed to participate. This will ensure that there is enough physical space in each classroom for everyone. RSVP here.

November Bulb Planting

Please join us for some pawpaw tree and spring bulb planting on Sunday, November 24, from 1 PM - 4 PM. Let’s add spring colors to the Shepherd Garden and join in community fun. For any questions, please feel free to email Simon Messing at zbk_amadeus@yahoo.com.

November LSAT & PTO Meeting

Mark your calendars! The November LSAT meeting will be held November 20 at 4:00 PM and the November PTO meeting will be held November 20 at 5:30 PM. More information to come!

Fall Art Show - Vote for Exhibits & Volunteers Needed

We're excited to involve families in planning for this year's Fall Art Show on November 19! We'd love your input on which art centers you'd like to see at the event. Vote on your preferred method for signing in (a QR code or paper roster check-off, similar to last year). Please click here to cast your votes! Thank you!

We are also still looking for volunteers for the event. Sign-up here. Reminder the event is from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM.

Holiday Greenery Fundraiser

Shepherd PTO is proud to partner this year with Meadows Farms to sell holiday greenery in support of our school. We are offering poinsettias, wreaths, and garlands for sale. All items will be available for pick-up at school, or for an extra $10 donation to Shepherd can be delivered directly to your home! Please keep your eye out for a separate email announcement for this effort.

In Case You Missed It

SESSA After School Clubs

SESSA's after-school clubs are open! Sign-ups are live here! Please note that Chess and Basketball are full. For any additional questions, please email eric.viera@sesstarachievers.com.

SESSA No School Days

Please note there is no SESSA on November 11.

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.

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.

Support the 2023-2024 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!

Thank you To Our 180 Families!

McIntosh Family

Daly Family

Ma-Holdridge Family

Singh Family

Archer Family

Anne Brumbaugh

Raglani Family

McNeill Family

Batler-Landau Family

Riley-Keck Family

Tivol-Kaufmann Family

Elizabeth Henthorne

Snyder-Johnson Family

Boykin Family

Reddy Family

Bowie Family

Fagen-Marks Family

Jabaily-Messing Family

Kane Family

DeAngelo Family

Marrkand Family

Warren and Amber Romine

Kominakos Family

Godoy Family

Hauge Family

Cooper Family

Hoehn Family

Ju Family

Cendrine Robinson

Arellano Family

Walejko & Markham Family

Frias Family

Goodman Family

Prabhu-McDonald Family

Howard Family

The Hechter Family

Marnon Family

Van Aelst - Saulpaugh Family

Zettle-Kresiberg Family

Staying Connected

Mustang Express

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

Shepherd Elementary Groups.io

The Shepherd PTO has a Groups.io that can be used to communicate with the community. To join, please click here.

Shepherd Elementary Calendar

Add the Shepherd Elementary Google calendar to your personal Google account. Need instructions on how to add to your own calendar? Click here.

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).

Upcoming Events

Veterans Day (No School)

Donuts with Grownups

International Education Week

Fall Art Show

LSAT Meeting

PTO Meeting

Bulb Event

Thanksgiving Break

Dates

Monday, November 11

Tuesday, November 12

Thursday, November 15 - Friday, November 22

Tuesday, November, 19

Wednesday, November 20

Sunday, November, 24

Thursday, November 27 - Sunday, December 1