Originally delivered on 5/22/2024 2:44 pm

SUBJECT: Shepherd PTO Bulletin - 05/22/2024

Shepherd PTO Bulletin - May 22, 2024

Happy May!

In this week's PTO Bulletin...

- Last Chance for Gala Items

- Enrollment Reminder

- Yearbook Orders

- Field Day Volunteers

- Field Day T-shirts

- IB Ambassador Applications Open

- EOY Receipts for Reimbursement

- Rising PreK-3 Groups.io

- Upcoming Events

Annual Family/Faculty Softball Game

- Giving Back Opportunities

Online Gear Storefront
Lands End Uniforms
180 Fund

- Community Offerings

- Other Upcoming Important Dates

May 27th - Memorial Day (No School)
June 4th - Election Day (No School)

Last Chance for Gala Items

Did you know you can still get a deal on remaining Shepherd items that received no bids? When you log into the Handbid app, use the scroll at the top to find the "Last Chance" section. These items have starting bids that have been heavily discounted. Some highlights:

Baking Basket for Ms. Saxton's class which includes custom aprons designed by her students
Announcements on the Shepherd Marquee for October, December, April, and July have been reduced to starting bids of $25
Multiple summer camp offerings at the fraction of their value
Sign-up Parties are still available! Space is available for Must Love Dogs Paint & Sip - Barbecue, Brews and Bourbon - Private Orange Theory Class - Private Sweat DC Workout
It's not too late to add to the Operations Support/Passport Program Appeal! In addition to donating in Handbid, we also have a PayPal link available that allows you to donate to the Appeal without logging into Handbid. Please considering sharing the PayPal link with any family and friends who are looking to support Shepherd.

Bidding on auction items in the app will close on May 27th at 9:00 pm. As always, if you have any questions, please email sesgala@shepherd-elementary.org. Thanks again for your support of Shepherd!

Enrollment Reminder

Enrollment for SY 24-25 is open! As mentioned on the May PTO call, timely enrollment is critical for DCPS to provide necessary resources for Shepherd's SY 24-25. As an example, the rising Kindergarten class is on the cusp of determining if they need a 3rd classroom.

DCPS has launched a new Online Enrollment Platform to make virtual enrollment easy! To learn more about the new platform, please click HERE.

If you are not returning to Shepherd and not enrolled in another DCSP school, please remember to complete the Withdrawal Inquirer Form.

Yearbook Orders

The PTO is excited to announce it's time to purchase yearbooks for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, you can purchase your yearbook directly from TreeRing here and the yearbooks will be shipped to the school. Yearbooks will cost $21.61. TODAY is the last day to place an order and have it shipped to Shepherd before the last day of school! Orders can be placed after today, but they will be shipped to your home.

When you create your profile, please make sure to include your child's name and select their homeroom teacher from the drop down so that the yearbooks can be distributed properly. If you are asked to identify the school, Shepherd's code is 1013930010262632.

A huge thank you to Robyn Showanes for creating our unforgettable yearbooks these last 2 years!

Field Day Volunteers

The 2024 Field Day is scheduled for Friday, June 14th. Field Day gives kids the chance to celebrate the school year coming to an end, show some class pride and spend a day being active. Volunteers are needed to help support the event. Please sign up here!

Field Day T-Shirts

For this year's event, families will have also the option to purchase a student-designed t-shirt for their child's grade. These designs were selected by their classmates through a t-shirt design contest. You can see the winning t-shirt designs below. If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt, please visit our Shepherd Elementary website. Orders will close May 31st at noon.

IB Ambassador Applications Open

Shepherd Elementary is accepting applications for our IB Ambassadors Program! This is a unique opportunity for 3rd-5th grade students to take on leadership roles within our school community. If you participated this school year, you are welcome to apply again! 🙂 Students must complete the application by Wednesday, June 5th. Applications will be reviewed by Shepherd staff to determine the cohort for the 24-25 school year! Apply here!

EOY Receipts for Reimbursement

As the PTO Treasurers prepare to close out the books for the 2023-2024 school year, we need to ensure all reimbursement requests are recorded. If you have any receipts that require PTO Reimbursement, please complete the Google form no later than May 30th. This will ensure you are reimbursed before the close of the school year and before the transition of PTO officers. Thank you!

Rising PreK-3 Groups.io

We have created a groups.io subgroup for rising PreK3 parents called Class-Of-2032. If you will have a rising PreK3 student next school year, feel free to join the Class-Of-2032 subgroup here: https://shepherd-es.groups.io/g/Class-Of-2032 or by sending an email to Class-Of-2032+subscribe@shepherd-es.groups.io. Please share this with other rising PreK3 parents.

Upcoming Events

Family/Faculty Softball Game

Following the rousing success of our first softball game last spring, we're keeping the tradition going and are now recruiting players for this year's game.

Date: Wednesday, May 29th

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Where: Shepherd Lower Field

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

This year, 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.

Last year, the teams filled quickly -- so nab your spot today! Registration is first come, first served.

For more information and to register, please visit the Sign-up Genius.

Giving Back Opportunities

Online Gear Store

Our Shepherd Elementary gear storefront is now available for orders under "Giving Back to Shepherd" on the Shepherd website. After you've completed your purchase, gear will be delivered directly to your child's classroom within 7 business days. The PTO will still host in-person events throughout the year, but the gear store will provide a convenient alternative to those sales.

Please note, if you select gear and it cannot be added to the bag, it is likely sold out.

Uniform 'Shopping for Shepherd'

As you start to think about new uniforms over the summer, don't forget about 'Shopping for Shepherd.' Shepherd Elementary partners with Lands End to receive rebates when purchases are made through their websites. Lands End purchases earn up to 3% back. Please consider ordering uniforms from these sources as an easy way to give back to Shepherd!

Land's End (School Code: 900131202)

Shepherd 180 Fund Appeal And Bonus Incentive!

Help the Shepherd PTO fund lots of great events, initiatives, and extra curricular 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

Neal Family

Ma-Holdridge Family

Batler-Landau Family

Archer Family

Riley-Keck Family

Krill Family

Tivol-Kaufmann Family

Howard Family

Coble Family

Kunce Family

Faulman-Coffey Family

Arellano Family

Walejko-Markham Family

Boykin Family

Kane Family

Snyder-Johnson Family

McNeill Family

Marchand Family

Raglani Family

Romine Family

Fagen Family

Kasargod-Staub Family

Zettle-Kreisberg Family

Mainor Family

Marnon Family

Kim Family

Gilberg-Prince Family

DeAngelo Family

Hatcher Family

Jabaily-Messing Family

Hoehn Family

Humphries Family

Jackson Family

Bassin-Reimer Family

Head Family

Bowie Family

Warkentien-Moncton Family

Ross-White Family

Boyd Family

Roberts Family

Hechter Family

Miller Family

White Family

Toussaint Family

Ju Family

Jones Family

Monninger Family

Lewis Family

Mayorga Family

Britton Family

Pau Family

Garn Family

Cooper Family

Mokodean Family

Frias Family

Maser Family

Prabhu-McDonald Family

Fessler Family

Goodman Family

Rijmen Family

Scott Family

Molseed-Foley Family

Reddy Family

Nguyen-Stevens Family

Masters Family

Beridon Family

Vaagen Family

Queen Family

Youssef Family

Markand Family

Henry-Meme Family

Kominakos Family

Godwin Family

Hauge Family

Hayes Family

Community Offerings

Jackson-Reed HS Youth Soccer Camp

WHEN: Tuesday, June 4, 9am-12pm (DCPS does not have school this day)

WHERE: Jackson-Reed High School Soccer Field

COST: $40/camper

This camp is open to 1st through 5th Graders who want to spend the morning learning some soccer skills and playing fun games! This camp will be led by the Jackson-Reed Boys Varsity soccer team. Pizza lunch will be provided at 12PM!

Questions? Contact Quinn McInerney at quinnmci28@gmail.com

Upcoming Events

No School (Memorial Day)

Family/Faculty Softball Game

Strong Start Assembly (PreK-3 Families)

IB Ambassador Applications Due

No School (Election Day)

June LSAT/PTO Meeting

Field Day

Last Day of School

Dates

Monday, May 27th

Wednesday, May 29th

Friday, May 31st

Tuesday, June 4th

Wednesday, June 5th

Wednesday, June 12th

Friday, June 14th

Monday, June 17th

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)