Shepherd PTO Newsletter - December 4, 2025

Help Us Celebrate Our Amazing Staff 🎁

Our annual Staff Holiday Party is coming up, and we’d love to surprise our teachers and staff with meaningful gifts to show how much they’re appreciated.

If you would like to contribute, we are accepting donations of:

Gift cards (any amount)
Small treats or goodies
Monetary donations to help us purchase gifts

Your generosity helps us ensure every staff member feels valued during this festive season. If you want to contribute, email info@shepherd-elementary.org. Thank you to those of you who already contributed!

1st Friday Social Hour

We are coming up on the first Friday of December, which means it’s time for our Monthly Social Hour! Our last get-together of 2025 will be at Juneberry Garage (6810 Cameron Drive NW - at Walter Reed just south of Whole Foods) on December 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. We hope you’re able to join for some holiday cheer and another fun night with our Shepherd community!

The SES Family Engagement Committee

Every contribution directly supports our Mustangs

Your donation helps bridge the gap in the DCPS budget by funding essential staff positions, classroom supplies and technology, and enriching programs like the arts and IB. Shepherd relies on our community to ensure our students have everything they need to thrive—academically, creatively, and emotionally.

Every dollar truly makes a difference, and monthly giving options are available for those who prefer a sustained impact. Donate here.

All students should wear black bottoms (pants or skirts; a one-color dress is also acceptable).

Pk3: White/Beige/Gold
PK4: Light Blue
K: Red
1st: Royal Blue
2nd: Emerald Green
3rd: Burgundy
4th: Silver or Gray
5th: White and/or Red

Questions? Contact Ms Woods via Class Dojo

Donate to the 180 Fund

The 180 Fund was established in 2009 by Shepherd's PTO as an alternative to the traditional "family enrichment fee" that many DCPS schools request from families to help supplement the annual operating budget for the school. With 180 instructional days in the school year, the 180 Fund equates to $1 per school day per student. Each Shepherd family is asked to consider a contribution of $180 per student to the Fund; payments can be made in one lump sum annually, or by monthly installments. Please submit 180 Fund payments directly via this link.

Many employers offer a corporate matching grant program that can match, double, or even triple the amount of your contribution to the 180 Fund. You will need to provide them with a donation receipt along with our EIN/Tax ID number (47-0879109). Please email our PTO Treasurers to let them know that you have submitted the matching grant with your employer so that they can look out for it.

Thank you to our Donors!

Ajose Family

Archer Family

Arellano Family

Benedetti Family

Cannon Family

Bowie Family

Boyd Family

Boykin Family

Brandi Howard

Jackson and Weaver Family

Cartmell-Mayorga Family

Flack Family

DeAngelo Family

Gilberg/Prince Family

Gilbert Family

Godwin Family

Goodman family

Riddick Family

Han Family

Hauge Family

Henthorne-Zeigler Family

Hoehn Family

Jabaily Messing Family

Ju family

Kane Family

Kominakos Family

Krill Family

Hayes Family

Mainor-Etienne Faimly

Papademetriou and Facini Family

Mbeleg-Takacs Family

McNeill Family

Mintz Family

Raglani Family

Cooper Family

Nielsen Family

Orlins/Bianchi Family

Sheynberg Family

Rijmen Family

Riley-Keck Family

Sarraf-Collier Family

Scott/Palmer Family

Singh Family

Solomon Family

Maiers Family

Toussaint Family

Walejko / Markham Family

Zettle Kreisberg Family

💛 Free Childcare for Families Impacted by the Federal Shutdown

From Discover Fun Camp

Dear Families,

We know many are feeling the effects of the ongoing shutdown — from delayed SNAP benefits to missed paychecks. Discover Fun Camp is here to help with free, safe, and engaging childcare on select days this season.

🗓 Relief Care Dates (Ages 3–13)

Dec 22–24 • 8 AM–5 PM
Dec 29–31 • 8 AM–5 PM
Jan 2 • 8 AM–5 PM

📍 Discover Fun Camp, 4606 16th St NW, Washington, DC
🧑‍🏫 1:10 ratio, CPR/First Aid certified staff
💰 Free for families affected by the shutdown
🕒 Offered in 2-hour blocks; registration required (first come, first served)

🎨 Kids’ Activities: arts & crafts, games, stories, snacks, and quiet time.
🥜 Nut-free space — all children must be toilet-trained and symptom-free.

🙏 Want to Help?
Support by donating snacks, supplies, or funds to expand care for more families.

👉 Register Now for Relief Care

Staying Connected

SES Family Portal

We have a new centralized website for our Shepherd Families. Check it out here.

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.

PTO Meeting Invite

PTO Meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7PM. Access them by using the Zoom link here. Meeting ID: 603 911 4050; Passcode: 061391

Follow Shepherd PTO on Social

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 Newsletter - 12/4/25