PTA Updates

New Ross merchandise is available in the Ross online store! Check out our new items, including spring shirts, baseball caps, water bottles and tote bags, some of them printed with the Ross mural, which was painted by a former Ross parent. All orders must be placed by Monday, April 15. You also can check out samples of the new items, and place orders, on the Ross playground on Friday, April 12 before school. Proceeds benefit the Ross PTA.

We’ve had a very successful pilot of iGen’s STEAM aftercare programming this year! We are thrilled to share that iGen will be expanding its Ross afterschool programs for next school year (fall 2024). We would like to get feedback from any families attending Ross next year (including the new PK4 class) who might be interested in STEAM aftercare programming. This includes options for makerspace, coding, robotics, biology, chemistry, physics and more. Note: This is an off-site, fee-based program.

Your responses to the following questions will help iGen identify the afterschool programs that will best meet the needs of Ross families. Please fill this survey out by the end of the week, as we value your feedback. https://forms.gle/XFWzAsnWK5ff6bqi8

Our annual “Mothers' and Fathers' Day Book Drive” is right around the corner, and we need kids (and their grownups) to volunteer to make it a success! Our goal is to raise funds to buy at least 200 new books for our kids’ classrooms and Ross’ library.

NEW THIS YEAR: We're running a class competition for the Book Drive: the class that sponsors the most books will win a popsicle and water balloon party at recess!

The on-site Book Drive will be held at the following locations and dates/times this year:

• Friday, May 3 – On the Ross playground, 8:00-9:00am and 3:00-4:00pm

• Saturday, May 4 – In front of Safeway on 17th, 10:00am-4:00pm

• Sunday, May 5 – At the Little Flea Market at 19th and Q, from 9:00am-3:00pm

Ross students are highly encouraged to help at this event! They are fantastic at getting people to donate, and we have a flier just for them to distribute. Plus families earn double points for their child's class for each book sponsored during your volunteer shift!

Please sign up your family to volunteer for a time slot here.

Contact Ross parent, Kathy Crutcher at kathy@shoutmousepress.org with any questions about volunteering. And stay tuned for the link for the online portion of the Book Drive, which will begin after spring break!

What is the Mothers' & Fathers' Day Book Drive?

For this annual Ross fundraiser, participants donate $25 to purchase a book for the Ross library in honor of a loved one or teacher. The PTA places a bookplate inscribed with the names of the donor and honoree in the book selected, and can also send the honoree a letter informing of the gift in his or her name, if you choose.

Donating a book is the perfect Mother’s or Father’s day gift or is also a wonderful way to honor a favorite teacher or a loved one for any occasion.

Join Ross families for the Children's Hour at the Saloon (1205 U Street NW) on Thursday, April 11 from 6:00-7:30pm. This is an inclusive space for all young musical artists to share their talents, and for the adults and friends and family who love them to celebrate and enjoy it. Please join Ross families for the best adult-friendly, kid event in the DMV. See the attached flyer for more information.

We're in search of 2-3 more volunteers to help give tours to prospective families from 9:00-10:30am this Wednesday. Please contact Holly Searl if you're able to help.

Ross students will celebrate Earth Week after spring break! The 4th Grade Fearless Ferrets have planned daily themes and dress-up options:

• Monday 4/22, Earth Day: Wear green or florals
• Tuesday 4/23, Energy Day: Wear neon and sunglasses
• Wednesday 4/24, Wildlife Day: Wear animal print and bring an animal stuffie
• Thursday 4/25, Paper Conservation Day: Wear stripes or white
• Friday 4/26, Water/Plastic Conservation Day: Wear blue and bring a reusable water bottle

Thanks to everyone who came to bingo night on a very rainy evening! Thanks also our parent volunteers for handing out pizza and setting up and cleaning up, and to Mr. Eickmeyer for being the bingo caller, and to Foundry UMC for hosting us.

Also, if you left kids' vehicles and/or a Dr. Suess book, please look for them in the Ross lost and found.

Registration is open for Keegan Theatre's All Day PLAY Days during the DCPS Spring Break, April 15-19. There are slots available for each day during the week. You can register for the whole week, or just whichever days work best for your plans. If financial assistance is needed, please email jgraham@keegantheatre.com. Register here: https://keegantheatre.com/prk/education/

The LSAT (Local School Advisory Team) is a group of parents, teachers, and staff at each DCPS school who advise the principal on topics like the school's academic performance, curriculum, budget and more. The Ross LSAT meets monthly, currently alternating between in-person morning meetings and virtual afternoon meetings. Four parent members will be elected for the 2024-25 school year, likely in May.

Any Ross parent is welcome to run for a position on the LSAT. Nominations will begin on April 15 and end on April 30. Anyone interested in finding out more about the LSAT should email LSAT chair David Alpert (alpert@gmail.com) and/or attend the next meeting, in person at Ross on Monday, April 8 at 7:30am in the library.

On March 29, enrollment opened for the 2024-2025 school year. All students must enroll by May 1, 2024. You can complete the enrollment process online at https://enrolldcps.dc.gov or visit Ross during the week. Please remember the importance of enrolling promptly upon receiving notification. Any questions, please email Ms.Segovia at graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov.

Note: Recently, DCPS centrally reset passwords for users who had not accessed the ASPEN Parent Portal. The email is titled "Welcome to the ASPEN Parent Portal". Families will use the same log-in ID email and password to access the online enrollment platform.

https://www.kidfriendlydc.com/2024/03/25/where-to-go-and-what-to-do-during-spring-break-2024/

Friendship Place's Annual Walk to End Homelessness on the National Mall on April 27 is an annual fundraiser to support the needs of unhoused neighbors. There will be activities for the whole family. You can register yourself or a team here: www.friendshipplacewalk.org.

The Edlavitch DCJCC is offering a new series of Jewish learning opportunities for children in grades K-3 and their parents. See details below and register at https://edcjcc.org/jewishyear. All are welcome, whatever level of prior knowledge and however you identify or don't identify as a Jewish family. Families of children in kindergarten through third grade are invited to use all their senses to engage with Jewish holidays and traditions in this monthly series led by the EDCJCC’s Rabbi Atara Cohen. Each standalone session will explore themes and values of the calendar through accessible texts and joyful creative activities. All sessions meet on Sundays from 2-4pm at the EDCJCC at 16th and Q Streets NW.

April 7: Seder Adventures (Passover)
What is the Passover Seder all about? In this spirited and occasionally silly session, we will explore Passover through traditional Seder props, perform a matzah science experiment, and create our own versions of the Passover story.

May 19: Celebrating Jewish Books! (Shavuot)
On Shavuot, we celebrate the gift of the Torah, the most important Jewish book -- so important that some Jews have the tradition to stay up all night learning it! In the spirit of this tradition and of the custom to eat dairy on Shavuot, join us for an afternoon pajama ice cream party in which we create and celebrate books about our own Judaism.

On Saturday, May 4, from 12:00-5:00pm, the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District will present an outdoor pop-up devoted to all things clay. From functional to aesthetic works, join them for a day of shopping local from 20 area potters and ceramicists. Enjoy food and beverages from participating P Street eateries . This event will be held outside, spaced along the sidewalks of P Street NW between 20th and 22nd Streets NW.

On Earth Day, April 22, the Woodrow Wilson House ( 2340 S Street NW) will unveil its newest sanctuary: a vibrant native plant garden that celebrates the beauty of our planet and the power of sustainable living. That day, they will debut the new self-guided garden tour. The tour will include information about all the varieties of flowers, trees and shrubs that were planted in November 2023. From 3:00-5:00pm the garden will be open and the new garden tour will be free of charge to the community.

Travel the world by attending the "Around the World Embassy Tour" on Saturday, May 4, from 10:00am-4:30pm. Participants can experience the architecture, food, art, dance, fashion and music of more than 40 different countries through visiting the numerous embassies that are located in greater Dupont Circle. In the past, visitors have been treated to karate demonstrations, sari wrapping lessons, dance performances and more.

Exploring ADHD: Moving Beyond Stimulants – For Families and Professionals

Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 12pm-1pm on Zoom

Are you a parent or caregiver interested in learning more about ADHD? Join us for an engaging webinar on ADHD: Beyond Stimulants featuring Wendy Sharp, LCSW-C, a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience in ADHD research at the National Institutes of Health. The webinar will cover:

• How to diagnose ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults
• What other conditions commonly occur with ADHD
• What treatments exist other than stimulant medication
• What is cognitive training for ADHD and how does it work

Register today: https://forms.office.com/g/BMGHDY855N

Anxiety Treatment and Prevention in Youth – for Families and Professionals

Friday, May 17, 2024, 12pm-1pm EST on Zoom

Join a live conversation with Krystal Lewis, PhD of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on the topic of anxiety and effective strategies to support kids and families. Key topics that will be covered include:

• The science and biological roots of anxiety
• Signs and symptoms of child anxiety
• Treatment options and strategies for youth with anxiety
• The role of parents and caregivers

This event is open to parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals or simply anyone passionate about children’s mental health. Through this interactive discussion, Dr. Lewis will address participants’ questions and comments. If you have a question or comment you'd like to submit before the webinar, please do so on the registration form. You can also ask questions during the webinar. Register now: https://forms.office.com/g/hquq5p56tu

Can’t make that date and time? Register and select "recording only" and they'll send you a recording of the conversation.

Learn more: www.dcsocialhikes.com

If you’re spring cleaning, Flower Mart’s White Elephant committee welcomes your donations on Saturday, April 13 from 10:00am-2:00pm, at the National Cathedral library on South Road, behind the cathedral. All donations are tax deductible. Donation forms given at drop-off.

Accepted items include dishware, glassware, silverware, barware, china, crystal, platters & bowls, home décor, table linens, jewelry and fashion accessories, decorative pillows and throws, and gently used/clean kitchen appliances. They do not accept books, baskets, clear flower vases, clothing, toys or furniture.

Flower Mart is May 3 and 4. All proceeds from White Elephant donations benefit grounds maintenance of Washington National Cathedral, Bishop's Garden and Olmsted Woods. More info: flowermartwe.com

• Parent Ed Workshop Recording: Understanding and Supporting Your Anxious Child
• Parent Ed Workshop Recording: Kids, Smartphones and Social Media
• Parent Ed Workshop Recording: Navigating Friendships through Elementary School
  
• Ross Unofficial Compilation of Summer Camps
• Ross Skiing WhatsApp Group

2023.24 DCPS Calendar and DCPS Google Calendar

Ross PTA 2023.24 Calendar

Thursday, April 11: Ross Piano/Open Mic Night, Saloon (1205 U Street NW) 6:00-7:30pm

Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 22- Friday, April 26: No EDCJCC Afterschool in Observance of Passover

Monday, April 22- Friday, April 26: Earth Week Dress-up Week at Ross

Wednesday, May 1: Deadline to Re-enroll in Ross for the 2024-2025 School Year

Friday, May 3 - Sunday, May 5: Mothers' and Fathers' Day Book Drive

Monday, May 6 - Friday, May 10: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

Thursday, May 16: Ross Piano/Open Mic Night, Saloon (1205 U Street NW) 6:00-7:30pm

May 22 and 23: Ross School Musical (Day and Evening Performances)

Monday, May 27: NO SCHOOL

Friday, May 31: Ross Field Day

Tuesday, June 4: NO SCHOOL

Saturday, June 8: Ross Participation in Capital Pride Parade

Thursday, June 13: Fifth Grade Promotion

Monday, June 17: Last Day of School for Students

Thursday, June 20: Ross Piano/Open Mic Night, Saloon (1205 U Street NW) 6:00-7:30pm

The mission of the Ross PTA is to support the education of all Ross students, to support Ross faculty and staff, to foster relationships among parents, staff and community members, and to assist faculty and staff to provide a safe and nurturing environment where all students, families and faculty can thrive and grow.

Email: PTApresident@rosselementary.org
Website: http://rosselementary.org/pta-board/
Location: 1730 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202.673.7200

If this email was forwarded to you, subscribe to Ross PTA emails here.

Do you have updates or announcements that you think would be of interest to our school community? If so, email Ross PTA Secretary Melanie Mayhew.