M u s t a n g  N e w s l e t t e r
      
In This Issue
Dates to Remember
Wednesday, 9/16:
Back-to-School Night
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, 9/30: 
State of DC Public Schools, Conversation with Chancellor Henderson
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Dunbar High School

Wednesday, 10/7:
Walk to School Day

Friday, 10/9:
Professional Development Day - No school for students

Monday, 10/12:
Columbus Day - No school for students or teachers

Wednesday, 10/21:
Shepherd PTA Meeting
6:30 PM

Don't Forget!

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!


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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
All tuition for Aug/Sept must be paid by 5pm Tuesday Sept 8.  Late fees will be charged for all overdue tuition.

Before Care 
Students may enter between 7:30am and 8:20am each morning through the single auditorium door (the single door facing 14th
St.)  This is the entrance for before care only. 
After 8:20 all auditorium doors are open.  If students are signed up for before care and arrive after 8:20am, they can go straight to the cafeteria.
 
Aftercare 
We are currently organizing the "specials" classes for this year, according to various schedules and room availability.  In the past we have had French and Spanish, Art, Martial Arts, PE, Imagination Stage, Chess and Dance.  Some of these activities will return this year - stay tuned and check out the website sesstarachievers.com

Star Achievers has a new website.
PLEASE visit our new virtual space at sesstarachievers.com and learn about our violin offerings.





Construction and Modernization

2015/2016 Shepherd Parent Handbooks

The 2015/2016 Shepherd Parent Handbook and the Shepherd Handbook on Food Allergies are now available on the Shepherd Elementary School website.

Click  here to review the Parent Handbook.

Click  here to review the Handbook on Food Allergies.

September 14, 2015 


A Message from Principal Brawley

Dear Shepherd Families and Friends,

I am incredibly excited to see you this Wednesday at our Back-to-School Night! 

We have so much information to share with you, including our successes from last school year, goals for this year, IB units, partnerships as well as learning experiences that your children will be engaged in. You will also have an opportunity to meet our wonderful staff and hear from  our amazing PTA!

See you soon,

Jade L. Brawley
Principal
 
Back-to-School Night Schedule
Welcome 
6:00 - 6:30
Presentation from the
Special Subject Teachers
6:30 - 6:50
Visit Classroom A
7:00 - 7:20
Visit Classroom B
7:30 - 7:50


Newsletters - What's New?
Instead of each month, teachers will be sending home a newsletter with each IB unit. Just like the monthly newsletter, the unit newsletter will include the content standards and skills that will be taught as well as ways that parents can support their child(ren) at home. Look for the newsletter for the current IB unit at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday.

New Morning Arrival Pilot 
Morning arrival continues to run smoothly.

Look for a survey at the end of September to share your thoughts. 

Entering The Building
Students who are not in Before Care are admitted into the building at 8:20, which is also the time that breakfast begins.

Grade Level Entrance
Pre-Kindergarten 3 and 4 Pre-Kindergarten Wing
Kindergarten thru Grade 3 Auditorium
Grade 4 and Grade 5 Main Entrance

Visiting Classrooms
Parents are encouraged to contact your child's teacher in order to arrange a classroom visit. In addition, all visitors must sign in at the front desk and obtain a visitor's pass from Mrs. Brooks (or a staff member in the main office).
 
A Word About Safety
Due to construction, it is imperative that we strive to maintain a safe and orderly drop-off and pick-up. To this end, we need your support and cooperation. Please adhere to the following:
  • The area designated by the cones is the morning drop-off/afternoon car pool pick-up zone. Please do not park and leave your vehicle. If you need to enter the building, please find an alternate parking space.
  • When arriving, please drop your students off on the side of the street closest to the school building. 
  • When dropping off on the opposite side of the street, please have students walk to the crosswalk so that drivers and staff members can ensure their safety. Avoid allowing children to cross in the middle of the street in between cars.
  • Please steer clear of making u-turns in the middle of 14th Street.
  • Remind students to look both ways when crossing the street and follow the directions of the crossing guard (when available).
Outdoor Recess
We will continue to play soccer during outdoor recess.
Thank you for keeping those footballs at home for now.


Passport to Peace
                          
Confidence
Students learn confidence when we give them the opportunity to discover what they can do on their own.  Knowing that their parents, teachers and other important people in their lives have confidence in them helps students to feel valued and respected.


Ways to help our students build confidence:
  • Encourage them to learn things for themselves, instead of giving them all the answers or doing it for them (even when they are little).
  • Make them feel loved and lovable.
  • Do special things with them, i.e. take them to places they enjoy.
  • Cheer them on when they do something for themselves or for others.
  • Let them try new things for themselves (if it is safe).
  • Encourage them when they fail at something.
  • Make them aware that success takes practice.
  • Talk about their feelings, so they can better understand them and practice good solutions for dealing with unhappy or angry feelings.
  • Give them choices -this helps them to learn to make decisions (for example, ask "Do you want to wear your yellow or your green t-shirt?").
  • Find another caring person to support them if you are feeling stressed and unable to do so - suggesting another person shows them that their issues are important to you too.
 
Things to avoid:
  • Letting  them see and hear you arguing or fighting.
  • Calling them 'shy' in front of other people - this will label them, most likely embarrass them and without knowing it, give them an excuse for not talking to people.
  • Comparing them with others.
  • Exposing them to adult things that will scare them or worry them.
  • Praising too much - keep it balanced
A Message from the PTA


Midsummer on a Playground

What a great turnout of Shepherd ES families and neighbors from Shepherd Park at the  Midsummer on a Playground production by Pocket Change Theater last weekend!  As you can see, the actors performed right on the Shepherd Park playground, even using some of the playground equipment in the production.


Back-to-School Night

We look forward to seeing everyone at Back-to-School Night! This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from your child's classroom teacher as well as the special subject teachers (like Physical Education, Art, Music, Library, French, and Spanish).

The Star Achievers Program will provide childcare during Back-to-School Night.  If you plan to use this childcare, please review these important details:
  • Children do not need to be enrolled in Star Achievers to come for care during Back-to-School Night.
  • Childcare will take place in the cafeteria and in a classroom for early childhood age students.
  • No children under age 3.
  • Siblings who are not enrolled at Shepherd can participate in childcare.
  • Parents must sign their children in and out.  Children should not go down to the cafeteria by themselves or with older siblings.
  • Children cannot be automatically transferred from Aftercare to Back-to-School Night childcare.  Parents need to sign their child out of Aftercare and into evening childcare.
The PTA has a new shipment of t-shirts for students plus some new hoodies.  We also have t-shirts for parents who want to show their Shepherd pride.  The Shepherd wear will be available for purchase at Back-to-School Night.  Remember - your students can wear their Shepherd gear every Friday for Spirit Day!


PTA Board Vacancy - Election at October PTA Meeting

The position of PTA First Vice President is currently vacant. We will hold an election to fill the position at the October PTA Meeting on Wednesday, October 21st.

To nominate yourself or someone else, please contact Leonie Stephenson at leoniestephenson86@yahoo.com.  Before nominating someone else, please discuss with them and confirm their interest!  

Nominations must be received by Wednesday October 7th @ 11:59 PM to be included.  Please send the following:  candidate name, email address, telephone number, and brief candidate statement. 

To run for the vacant office AND to vote in the election, you must be a member in good standing with the PTA at least 14 days prior to the election.  This includes payment of the annual PTA dues of $20. 

Please click here to pay your PTA dues by Wednesday October 7th so you can participate in the election as a candidate or voter!

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