M u s t a n g  N e w s l e t t e r
              
In This Issue
Dates to Remember
Tuesday. 11/17:
GeoPlunge Tournament

Grade 5 will visit Mount Vernon.

Wednesday, 11/18:
PTA Bake Sale
3:15 - 6:00 PM

SIT Meeting, 4:30 PM

PTA Meeting,  6:30 PM

Friday, 11/20:
Make-Up Day for school pictures

Monday, 11/23
Grade 4 will visit the National History Museum

Wednesday, 11/25:
Star Achievers Pizza and Movie Day

Thursday, 11/26 and Friday, 11/27:
Thanksgiving Holiday - No school for students, teachers, and staff

Wednesday, 12/2:
Shepherd Spring Gala Kick-Off Planning Meeting
6:30 PM

Friday, 12/4:
Professional Development for teachers - No School for students
Don't Forget!




Any items left in the lost and found will be donated to a  local charity on the last Friday of the month.


Shop for Shepherd!

Did you know that many local stores like Giant and Safeway will donate a percentage of your purchases to Shepherd?

Visit the PTA website to find out how:   Shop for Shepherd!



IB Learner Profile

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Dress Code

Shepherd Elementary is a uniform school. The uniform consists of a white top and navy blue bottoms. All students are expected to adhere to the uniform policy.

Spirit Day

Every Friday is Spirit Day! Everyone is encouraged to show their Mustang Pride by wearing the school colors, gold and green along with any other Shepherd apparel.

Star Achievers
Greetings Star Achievers Families!

As many of you know, I 
am retiring from Star Achievers after three years  with the Before and  Aftercare Program. 
 
I have enjoyed building 
the program,  especially working with all of the parents, students and 
staff in the Shepherd Community.  

The process f or selecting a  replacement has begun,  and I will remain with the Program until the new administration is settled in.

If you or anyone you know
is interested in leading 
Star Achievers, please see the position descriptions 
for Operations Manager 
and Program Director at idealist.org.  Or, contact 

Thanks for your help in taking Star Achievers to the next level - 
 
Claire Riley
Program Director

November 16, 2015 
 
A Message from Principal Brawley
Dear Shepherd Community,

It is hard to believe that we are already in the second advisory of the school year!

There are so many exciting things happening in and around the building. Physically, the structure of the building is changing: steel beams have been placed and concrete is beginning to pour.
Classrooms are alive with targeted, small group instruction, in addition to the IB units of study. Our students are debating, investigating, and researching their way to academic success!

Jade L. Brawley
Principal


American Education Week - November 16-20
Each year, American Education Week is celebrated the last full week of November before Thanksgiving. American Education Week was first celebrated in 1921 in an effort to raise America's literacy rate. Now, it serves as a special opportunity to highlight the wonderful things that happen in schools everyday. 
You will receive more information regarding how we will commemorate American Education Week this year. 

Injuries As A Result of Rough Play
In the past couple of weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of students who are being injured as a result of rough play during recess, specifically during the second and third grade recess period. As a result of these injuries, we will be separating our second and third graders on the field. Likewise, any student who engages in rough play, including:  tackling, pushing, pulling, grabbing others' clothing, and/or simulating any form of fighting, will lose their recess. After a student loses their recess three times, a parent meeting will be scheduled.

Please support us in this effort by encouraging your child to adhere to the rules for playing safely on the field and by reminding your child to take responsibility for their actions by apologizing when they harm one of their peers accidentally. 

Parent Survey on Increasing Instructional Time
DCPS is looking for feedback from parents on increasing instructional time. As we think about the Fiscal Year 2017 budget and strategies to continue to improve academic outcomes among all students, increasing the school day and the school year are two ideas being considered. As DCPS researches and considers these options, it is imperative to know what our families think about these strategies, and if they were implemented, how families would like increased time in school to be used. Please participate in  this survey. It is important that the responses come from a wide range of school communities to ensure the feedback we collect is representative of all DCPS families. This feedback will inform the FY 2017 budget. Questions or additional feedback can be sent to ofpe.info@dc.gov.

Bullying Workshop
Please join Ms. Liggins and Ms. Browne this Friday, November 20th, from 8:30-9:30 for a workshop on bullying. Topics to be addressed include:
  • A clear definition for the term bullying
  • Effective ways of communicating 
  • Strategies for dealing with bullies
This workshop is open to all and we look forward to seeing you!


Student Recognition

The following students were recognized at our Awards Assembly on October 30th:

IB Learner Profile
Caring
Kaiya Nevers, Maia Lewis, Omar McIntosh, Chloe Francois, Destiny Whitfield, Aasha Roca, Andre Crosby,  Damon Watkins,  Isabella Gonzales, Christopher Mendoza-Lazo, Sala Queen, Carter Alston,  Kaylee Barrett, Ivori Jennings, Mercer Jackson, Samuel Elliott, Jemima Ndjuelo-Mbiengom, Michaela Jenkins, Kia Smith, Nia Dunham, Kennedy Harrison, Claudia Goletiani, Kayla Bethea, Nicolaus Carter, Renata Mills, Gabrielle McKinley, and Zora Pauk

Inquirer
Nikolas Alveras, Teghan Aldrich, Amanuel Laike, Daniel Messing, Samantha Harrison, Samuel Ghermay, Jebasei Sloan, Ellison Doomes, Dalia Bolanos, Jacob Matthews, Zyron Howard, Emanda Nessero, Siena Lenerz, Zora White, Carter Alston, Kellis Webb, Silas Wells, Imani Akers, Sifan Kabeta, Taj Johnson, Zion Banks, Sydney Mabry, Raimon Nelson, Nia Dunham, Nicholas Anagnostopoulos, Carys Nelson, Emma Laudadio, Truth Woods, Makayla Kennedy,Tyler Campbell, and Natnale Ayalew
International Baccalaureate PYP Update
 
Thinker - "I try to connect the things I know"

Suggested Reading Books For the Month of November

  • Emily' Art by Peter Catalanotto (5-8yrs.)
  • When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest 
  • Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban
  • It Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont (5-8yrs)
  • Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Anholt, Laurence (8-11 yrs)
  • Baseball Bats for Christmas by Kusuqak, Michael 
  • I will not ever never eat a tomato by Lauren Child
  • Voices of Ancient Egypt by Kay Winters (9-11yrs)
  • Elephants Can Paint Too! by Katya Arnold (5-11yrs)
  • Alexander Graham Bell: an inventive life, by Elizabeth McLeod (9-11yrs)
  • Katie and the Mona Lisa, by James Mayhew (8-11yrs)
  • Katie Meets the Impressionists, by James Mayhew (8-11 yrs)
  • Catkin, by Antonio Barber 
  • Swimmy, by Leo Lionni
  • Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, by Candance Fleming (PreK-2)
Loose Change Fundraiser


The annual Shepherd Loose Change Fundraiser will run from November 3rd - December 1st. Proceeds benefit a family in need for Christmas and support needed changes at our school. 

Students are encouraged to bring pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to school to fill up the loose change bag in their classrooms.  Bills accepted too!

Pizza party for the class that collects the most money in the Loose Change Fundraiser

Click here for a flyer about the Loose Change fundraiser.

2015-2016 Girls Basketball Team
Congratulations!!!

Erin Askew                    Samara Rouse
      Melody Bryant                Brianna Royal
Sharon Chirambo          Mia Saunders
Yasmina Konate            Aileen Santacruz
Kennedy Mack              Micah Stovall
Deja Page                     Truth Woods
Sarah Rice 
 
Letters About Literature 2015 Contest
Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest put on each year by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. This contest is for students in grades 4-12. 

Students read a book, poem or speech and write to that author (living or dead) about how the piece affected them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels. Please consider talking with your child to see if he/she is interested in participating. 

If your child chooses to write a letter to an author, you may mail their entry individually or drop it off to Ms. Tiffany in the library by Friday, January 8, 2016. Guidelines and the entry form can be found  here . Please feel free to contact Ms. Tiffany at  christina.tiffany@dc.gov  or stop by the library after school until 3:30 p.m. if you have any questions about the contest.
A Message from the PTA
Shepherd Spring Gala Committee

Believe it or not, it's time to start preparing for the annual Shepherd Spring Gala.  We will hold our initial planning meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd @ 6:30 PM.  Volunteers are needed for the following committees:
-   Event Planning - food, drinks, decorations, etc.
-   Auction Logistics - auction software, coordination
-   Fundraising - silent auction donations, corporate sponsorship
-   Shepherd History - help put together info about the history of Shepherd ES

Please send an email to anne.mcleer@gmail.com to volunteer for a gala committee.  We look forward to seeing you at the kick-off meeting!

PTA Bake Sale - Wednesday November 18th

Back by popular demand - Ms. Beverly's sweet potato pies.  If you missed them at Fall Fest 2015, now is your chance!  Visit the PTA Bake Sale on Wednesday, November 18th from 3:15 - 6:00 PM.

Additional bakers needed.  Click here to volunteer to bring homemade baked goods for the bake sale.

 

Shepherd Elementary | (202) 576-6140 | mustangshepherd2@gmail.com 
  http://www.shepherd-elementary.org/
7800 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20012