Please mark your calendars for Shepherd's annual gala on April 1st! This 'no-kids' event & auction is Shepherd's largest fundraiser and a fun evening that brings the community together. We have some exciting format changes this year.  First, we've secured a new venue!  This year's event will take place at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 901 G Street NW. In addition, tickets will now cover an open bar for the entire evening and heavy hors d'oeuvres from Occasions Catering. 

As always, there are different levels of ticketing: 

• Angel Tickets - Tickets purchased by families allowing Shepherd teachers & staff to attend for free.  Early bird discounts are applied to Angel Tickets through 2/1/2023.  
• Early-Bird General Admission Tickets - Discounted tickets for the event that starts at 7:15 pm.  Early-bird discounts is applied to GA Tickets through 2/1/2023.  
• VIP Sponsorship levels  - Tickets that include admission to the VIP reception beginning at 6:30 pm and various perks depending on the level of support (for example, recognition on the Shepherd Elementary website).

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here! To purchase tickets, please navigate to the "Buy Tickets" option on the landing screen for the event.  

Our January PTO Meeting will be held tonight January 18th.  We will hold an in-person session at 5:30 pm in the Shepherd Cafeteria.  

We will also offer a virtual option as well.  Please connect via this meeting link or dial: ‪(US) +1 234-759-0374‬ PIN: ‪579 099 938‬# 

The agenda will include:

• Upcoming Events
• January TAP Nomination
• Update from Principal Russell
• Meet our new Social Worker, David Bardach
• Update from Star Achievers (SESSA)
• Treasurer's Report Update
• Committee Updates

Please join us for the January All School Morning Meeting hosted by 1st grade on Friday, January 27th.  The agenda will focus on a Celebration of Africa, Kindness Week, the IB Learner Profile Attribute of the month: Balanced, and Approaches to Learning: Self-Management. You can virtually access the morning meeting here.  

The next Open House for prospective families will be held February 7th from 9:30 am - 10:30 am.  You can register to attend here. 

The Shepherd PTO has two exciting projects underway to improve our facilities. First, we would like to give back to the teachers & staff who give so selflessly to our children every day. The current teacher and staff lounge is in need of renovation. We have big plans to make it an inviting space where teachers can consult, socialize, and recharge. Thank you to all families who very generously donated to this effort! We would like to start with a fresh coat of paint. 

The makerspace is a collaborative space next to the library which is used for making, learning, exploring and sharing. This room helps bring our IB curriculum to life, and similarly, it could use a refresh. 

What: We need parents to help prep, paint, and clean up. 

When: Wednesday, February 1 through Sunday, February 5.  Do you have a few hours after school/work? Or have availability over the weekend? Any time you can give to this group effort will go a long way. 

If available to volunteer, please email amy.zettle@gmail.com and let her know when you have some time to help, and she'll provide you with the details.

The Facilities Improvement Committee is looking to move forward with preparing for its support to Shepherd's Outdoor Learning space.  Help is needed from our PTO community!  One of the recommended learning spaces are moveable seats cut from a large tree trunk. We have a fallen tree identified on a family's property, but are looking for an experienced parent with a chainsaw to help us turn a downed tree into a classroom experience.  If you can assist, please email info@shepherd-elementary.org.

Congratulations to Ms. Brenda Brown and Mr. Max Chamovitz as our December TAP winners!

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.

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