Principal's Bulletin

Dear Ross Roadrunner Families,

The countdown is here! One week until school starts for our K-5 learners and we cannot wait to see students back in class.

Para apoyar un regreso seguro para el próximo año escolar, todos los estudiantes y el personal deberán presentar una prueba negativa de COVID-19 el primer día de clases.

In order for your child to enjoy morning recess and enter the building on time with the class on Day 1, you must TEST TO RETURN on Sunday, August 28 and UPLOAD your negative rapid test results before 7:30am on Monday, August 29. Please stop by Ross this week to pick up a rapid test kit. They will be out on the blue picnic tables by the front doors daily from 8:00am-3:30pm and until 5:30pm on Wednesday and Thursday. You may also pick up your rapid test kit at the Friday, August 26 "Sneak a Peek" event between 2:30-3:30pm.

All information about testing and uploading results is here.

Questions? Contact Ms. Segovia. graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov

He aquí los tres pasos que deben dar las familias:

1. Recoja un kit de pruebas.

• Las escuelas distribuirán los kits de prueba de COVID-19 desde el martes 23 de agosto hasta el viernes 26 de agosto con el siguiente calendario:
  • Martes 23 de agosto y viernes 26 de agosto de 9:00 am a 2:00 pm.
  • Miércoles 24 y jueves 25 de agosto de 12:00 pm a 5:30 pm.
    
• Las familias deben recoger los kits de pruebas en la escuela a la que asiste su hijo(a). Las familias con alumnos que asisten a varias escuelas pueden recoger los kits de pruebas para todos sus alumnos matriculados en una sola escuela.
  
• Las familias también pueden recoger un kit de prueba en cualquier Centro COVID del Distrito ubicados en las 8 secciones. Puede encontrar las ubicaciones y los horarios de los Centros COVID en coronavirus.dc.gov/covidcenters.
  

2. Ponga a prueba a su alumno.

• Los estudiantes de los grados K-12 tendrán que hacer la prueba COVID-19 y presentar los resultados el domingo 28 de agosto.
• Los alumnos de pre-kindergarten tendrán que hacer un examen e informar de los resultados el miércoles 31 de agosto.
  

3. Suba los resultados de sus pruebas.

• Vaya a DCPSstrong.com/testing para subir los resultados de las pruebas de su estudiante el día que las realice. Subir los resultados de su hijo(a) al sitio web ayudará a las escuelas a asegurar un primer día de clases exitoso para los estudiantes.

First Day Arrival

All K-5 students will line up on the R Street sidewalk by grade starting at 8:15am. Staff will be on the sidewalk with signs. DO NOT enter at the alley gates. You must use the R Street gate entrance on the first day. If you arrive early, please DO NOT enter campus until you have been cleared by Ross staff. If your child will miss the first day, please notify us and note you must still test to return before entering campus.

Students will be admitted to campus in this order:

1. Students with uploaded test results

2. Students with photos of test results

3. Students without test results will need to wait to be tested by the Patient Care Tech on-site before being allowed to attend class. We will have one Patient Care Tech and they are the only person permitted to test students to enter.

What to bring on the first day of school? Backpack, water bottle with name on it, safe, closed-toe shoes for recess and PE, medical/dental forms and any required medicines in original packaging with doctor's orders. Questions regarding meds? Contact Nurse Gordon cdelancygo@childrensnational.org

What to leave at home? Toys, personal electronics, valuables, gum, candy and soda. If a student brings a cell phone, it must remain in the backpack with the ringer off and may not be used during the day. Ross is not responsible for lost property.

• Stay up-to-date on Ross PTA activities! Sign up for PTAemails here. [https://forms.gle/vXfLZE1ptopsYYPHA] Thank you to families who have paid for school supplies, please see below for more information and a link to pay.

I look forward to seeing your children back on campus soon.

Please reach out if you have any questions or needs.

Warm Regards,

Holly Searl, Principal

holly.searl@k12.dc.gov

Daily Arrival

Arrival begins at 8:20am and students enter at 8:40am. Breakfast is served to all who choose it at 8:40am.

Parents/caregivers do not enter the building with children at arrival. Please prepare your child that you will say good-bye at the gate or fence.

K-2 students play on the playground

3-5 students play on the field

PK4 students are checked into the front garden.

Daily Dismissal

K-5 students will be in class lines on the field between 3:20-3:25 for pick-up. Come to the fence along the field on the playground side and the teachers will match children to parents. Please be patient at the beginning of the school year as teachers work to learn names and faces at pick up. If someone who is not on the enrollment documents is picking up, we must have a note from you and we will require ID. Please advise of any custody issues.

The EDCJCC provides us with a daily list for aftercare. If your child's name is on their list, we will send them to the EDCJCC.

PK4 students will be ready for dismissal from the garden at 3:15pm.

If someone who is not on the enrollment documents is picking up, we must have a note from you and we will require ID. Please advise of any custody issues.

PK4: Ms. Chelak and Ms. Barber

K: Mr. Eickmeyer and TBD

K: Ms. Hailemicael and TBD

Kindergarten Class Lists

1st: Ms. Emminger and Ms. Mehta

2nd: Ms. Fogarty (Humanities) and Ms. Kim (Humanities & STEM)

3rd: Ms. Barnett & Ms. Fogarty (Humanities) and Ms. Greene (STEM)

4th: Ms. Barnett (Humanities) and Ms. Greene (STEM)

5th: Ms. Meyer

Welcome Adam Odomore, Educational Aide, who will be supporting the upper grades along with Ms. Chafetz, who is returning. We are still in the hiring process for two Kindergarten Aides.

Nick from Volo Sports will be at Sneak-a-Peek on Friday for registration for fall sports with Volo.

M 410-440-3744

E nick@volokids.org

W volokids.org

The EDCJCC offers traditional aftercare and enrichment classes at their site Monday through Friday.

EDCJCC staff walk students from Ross to the site daily. Registration opened today. Contact Arielle Bodner regarding registration.

Arielle Bodner | Director of Camp and Afterschool Programming

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Edlavitch DCJCC

1529 Sixteenth Street, NW | Washington, DC 20036

Office: 202.777.3245 | Mobile: 410.474.8683 |abodner@edcjcc.org

edcjcc.org

The Keegan Theatre offers a variety of after school enrichment programming. Keegan staff walk students from Ross to the site for classes.

Ross will offer Track & Field for Grades 4/5 after school on Wednesdays through DCIAA when school begins. Contact Coach Shegda with questions. jason.shegda@k12.dc.gov

Ross offers a variety of before and after school enrichments and academic supports throughout the year based on teacher availability. Most offerings are free of charge and will begin in mid-October.

News from Ms. Chelak

Kristen Chelak is our PK4 teacher at Ross.

Please note that all health and dental forms should be turned into Nurse Gordon and Ms. Segovia. Kindly review the immunizations flier and note that children who are not in compliance with immunizations will not be permitted to remain in school until updated. You will have 20 days from the first day of school to be in compliance.

For more information on obtaining immunizations by the first day of school, visit https://dcpsstrong.com/vaccines/

Questions?

Nurse Gordon cdelancygo@childrensnational.org

Ms. Segovia, graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov

Breakfast will continue to be FREE for all DCPS students. Breakfast is served in the classroom each morning after the children enter the building.

Lunch is priced at $3.00 per student this year. You must set up a declining balance lunch account through MySchoolBucks for your child to purchase meals. You will need your child's ID number which you can get from Ms. Segovia. You can also find it on your child's report card, if your child is returning to DCPS.

Please complete the Free/Reduced Meal application for a reduced or free rate, based on family income.

If you need help with the application, please see Ms. Segovia. graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov

Link to school menus

Link to information about dietary accommodations

Pay for school supplies here.

Ross families are asked to voluntarily contribute $100/student to cover the cost of school supplies. The PTA provides collected funds to Ross teachers to purchase supplies for all students in the class.

This saves you a shopping trip and ensures equity among students in the classroom.

The PTA encourages you to purchase as soon as possible and to consider an extra donation to help support families who are not financially able to contribute.

Coach Shegda and Ms. Cirillo are coaching Cross Country in Fall for Grades 4-5 on Wednesday afternoons. Details regarding physical exams, etc. can be found here. Your child must have a current physical to participate. Coach Shegda's email is jason.shegda@k12.dc.gov

The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator while travelling within the District.

• SY22-23 KRF cards will be distributed upon parent request by Ms. Segovia. We use KRF cards for many field trips. If you request a card, please ensure you send it in on field trip days, if asked.
• SY21-22 KRF cards will remain valid through September 30th
• Always tap the KRF card before rides
• Don’t leave home without the KRF card
• The DC Student Ride Guide flyer is available in multiple languages
• There is no fee for replacement cards
• For more information, visit KidsRideFree.dc.gov or call (202) 673-1740.

2022.23 DCPS Calendar

2022.23 DCPS Calendar Spanish

Friday, August 26, 2:30pm : Sneak a Peek at classrooms and meet the teacher, and enjoy a popsicle on the playground with other Ross families and PTA leaders

Monday, August 29: First Day of School for K-5 students.

Thursday, September 1: First Day for entire PK4 class.

Wednesday, September 14: Back to School Night for PK, K, Grade 1 from 6:00-7:00pm. Adult facing program.

Thursday, September 15: Back to School Night for Grades 2-5 from 6:00-7:00pm. Adult facing program.

Thursday, September 22: Back to School Picnic sponsored by the Ross PTA

Email: holly.searl@k12.dc.gov or graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov

Website: http://rosselementary.org/
Location: 1730 R Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (206)-673-7200
Twitter: @rossesdc