We Have an Awesome PTA! 

For the past few weeks it has been Christmas at Shepherd.  Daily packages arrive with items purchased by our PTA from teachers' wish lists.   "I am so excited.  I received materials today.  I immediately opened the first package and will be using the multi-meaning activity book as part of a lesson next week with my fifth graders.  Then I opened the other boxes and immediately started thinking of how each and every new item will be used in a lesson and how these items will excite and enhance the skill and interest levels of my students.  I am so grateful to have received these materials".   Thank you, PTA, for meeting our needs so that we can better serve our students.

Science Fair Time, Again 

The Alexander R. Shepherd Primary Science Fair will be held on April 29^th and April 30^th.   Judging will take place on April 30th.    All K, 1st and 2nd grade students are encouraged to complete a project for the fair.   Parents and students should work collaboratively to complete the project.  For example, you may (1) type or help your student type; (2) correct spelling and help with editing; (3) complete the experiments together; and (4) stretch your student's thinking by asking questions and teaching new vocabulary words.  Do the work with your student, not for your student.    Work should be developmentally appropriate.  Students must be able to talk about their projects. 

Communication

Shepherd is a busy place and one of the best ways to be an involved parent is to be an informed parent! We are working to improve our communication by expanding our communication channels.  This past week you should have received at least two emails.  If you did not, please contact Ms. Brooks in the main office.  We will continue to send emails twice a week (Sundays and Wednesdays).  You will also continue to receive phone messages as needed.  Our teachers will continue communicating with you via their newsletters, Class Dojo, websites, and Remind.  

 To receive occasional text messages about school wide events click the following link: 

https://www.remind.com/join/shepherdpa 

Volunteers/Classroom Visitors

At Shepherd we welcome parents to visit and volunteer in our classrooms.  However, we ask that parents be respectful of our teachers and the tremendous job they do.

Here are a few reminders in planning your school visits:

• If you need to speak with the teacher, please schedule an appointment. 
• If you have an emergency situation, please allow us to assist you in the main office. 
• If you need to deliver something to your student, please leave it in the main office. 
• If you would like to volunteer in the classroom, please coordinate a time with the classroom teacher. 
• If you would like to sit and observe, please coordinate things with your child's teacher or the main office. 
• If you would like to do a "drop-in" visit on your student, please stop by the main office. 

We strive to create a welcoming environment. However, it is also imperative that we keep distractions to a minimum so that our students can focus on learning and our teachers can focus on teaching. 

Science Fair Winners!

Our intermediate science fair was a success.  The judges continue to be impressed with our students.  We extend a special thank you to Salim Abddeen, NOAA representative; Ms. George, the Science Fair Chair; and all of our NOAA partners for helping make our fair a success.  

The winners are:

5th Grade

1st Place - Fahari Dominique - Burning Bio Fuels

2nd Place - Iesha Thomas - The Safest Soda Pop

3rd Place - Amanda Glover - Which Gum Lasts Longer?

4th Grade

1st Place - Stephen Levine - Unfrozen

2nd Place - Kalkidan Kebede - Keep Your Cool

3rd Place - Savannah Alexander - Potato Power

3rd Grade

1st Place - Gus Wells - Tall Towers

2nd Place - Kayla Bethea - Soapy Time

3rd Place - Preston Underwood - Color and Heat   

Spring is Coming Soon!   

Claire Riley 

Program Director

Dear Parents:

As the school year progresses, there are always great things happening in music class.

Throughout the year we focus on the nine (9) "National Standards for Music Education":

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

5. Reading and notating music 

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

This month as we celebrate Black History Month, we are studying the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, slavery, as well as the symbolism in spirituals and how it affected the music development in America.

Last month we worked on Standards (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9); this month we will continue on the same ones and add standard (8) to the list.

I am very excited about the new music program and hope to have you involved as much as possible. Please feel free to contact me Rudygonzalez1234@hotmail.com