Originally delivered on 5/29/2024 2:57 pm

SUBJECT: Shepherd PTO Bulletin - 05/29/2024

Shepherd PTO Bulletin - May 29, 2024

Happy May!

In this week's PTO Bulletin...

- Gala Fundraising Updates

- Enrollment Reminder

- 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 RESCHEDULED
Shepherd Art Gallery Showcase

- IB Corner

- Giving Back Opportunities

Online Gear Storefront
Lands End Uniforms
180 Fund

- Community Offerings

- Other Upcoming Important Dates

June 4th - Election Day (No School)

Gala Fundraising Update

Thank you to all our generous families who attended the gala and contributed to Shepherd's PTO through the appeal or bidding on an auction item. As of today, we have raised over $73,000 in total, exceeding our 2024 target. Included in that is more than $14,000 for funds earmarked to operational needs and the Passport Program. More than 150 guests came to celebrate our school at the gala this year, dance to songs spun by Mr. Velez, and hear highlights of 23-24 school successes by Asst. Principal Coles. Check out photos from the night here!

A special thank you to our Gala Planning Committee & Volunteers:

Andrella Adams, Lindsay Baker Hayes, Artemis Benedetti, Stephanie Bingham, Jessie Caola, Liz Daly, Meg Dunne, Adam Fagan, Melissa Garn, Sarah Gilberg, Damon Gulczynski, Shaila Gupta, Kimberly Hauge, Heather Holdridge, David Kaufmann, Harrison Kreisberg, Taryn Losch-Beridon, Simon Messing, Annie Nguyen, Lauren Okonkwo, and Amber Romine.

The fundraiser would not have happened without the many hours they spent on planning, negotiating, organizing, soliciting, and giving personal time for the event.

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.

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 RESCHEDULED

Due to today's weather forecast, the Family/Faculty softball game has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 30 -- and the weather is supposed to be spectacular! All other details, timing, and logistics remain the same.

Date: Thursday, May 30th

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Where: Shepherd Lower Field

For those who signed up to play, we hope you will still be available to participate! If you are no longer able to play, please message Leigh Tivol (lrtivol@gmail.com) or delete your sign-up (and we will miss you). If you hadn't signed up to play and would still like to (maybe you weren't available today but you are free tomorrow), we still have a couple of slots available, so please sign up!

Shepherd's Art Gallery Showcase

Shepherd Elementary's Art Showcase Gallery will be held on Friday, May 31st from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room. Please come support our Shepherd artists!

IB Corner

April Update

School-Wide Action Project

Our school-wide IB community action project was connected to the Life Below Water United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Our community action project was a recyclable materials art gallery! PK4 led us in this effort. Please scan this QR code to see their awesome work!

As a school community, we read The Big Book of Blue. The Big Book of Blue explores the underwater world through several themes such as looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Filled with fascinating facts, this book's vivid illustrations bring to life some of the most interesting underwater animals.

April Learner Profile and Learning Skill

IB Learner Profile Attribute of the Month: Inquirer

We are curious. We ask questions and search for information. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm.

Approach to Learning Skill of the Month: Research Skills

This includes information-literacy skills, media-literacy skills, and ethical use of media/information.

May Update

School-wide Action Project

Our school-wide IB community action project is connected to the Life Above Land United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Our community action project is Pennies for Pups. Our PK3 students are leading the charge. Jars are located in Ms. Awunyo-Akaba and Ms. Trotter's rooms.

As a school community, we will be reading Over and Under the Rainforest. This book discusses the value of the land, and appreciation of its beauty is beautifully captured, encouraging a love for the rainforest. The appealing illustrations will encourage the young reader to learn more about the animals and plants found in the glossary.

May Learning Profile and Learning Skill

IB Learner Profile Attribute of the Month: Communicator

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language. We listen carefully to the ideas of others.

Approach to Learning Skill of the Month: Communication

This includes exchanging-information skills, literacy skills, and IT skills.

June Update

School-wide Action Project

Our school-wide IB community action project will be connected to the Partnership for the Goals United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. Our community action project is our exhibition project! 5th graders will lead us in this effort. More information will be shared with 5th grade families!

June Learner Profile and Learning Skill

IB Learner Profile Attribute of the Month: Reflective

We think about the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to learn and grow.

Approach to Learning Skill of the Month: Communication

This includes exchanging-information skills, literacy skills, and IT skills.

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

Family/Faculty Softball Game

Strong Start Assembly (PreK-3 Families)

Shepherd Art Showcase

No School (Election Day)

IB Ambassador Applications Due

June LSAT/PTO Meeting

Field Day

Last Day of School

Dates

Thursday, May 30th

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)