PTA Newsletter

Dear Ross Community,

There's no way to sugarcoat this week's weather: it is the absolute pits. If I could channel my toddler's puddle-jumping joy it might lessen the sting a little, but it's just. too. wet. Here is hope upon hope that today is the last of it and we can get back to some cool fall breezes and colored leaves. 🍂

Speaking of colored leaves, fall celebrations are ramping up! See below for Spooktacular and other fun Halloween celebrations. Make sure to make your Fall for Ross contribution, swing by the merchandise sale this Friday for new Ross gear, and then sport it next Wednesday for Walk & Roll to School Day! Also don't forget to mark your calendars for our first PTA General Body Meeting of the year on October 16, 5:00-6:00 pm (please note the date change to accommodate for JCC's aftercare closure on the 17th).

I hope to report back next week from cool, partly sunny skies! ⛅

-Aimee

We are one week into our Fall for Ross 2024 campaign and already more than 10% to our $50,000 goal! Keep your eyes peeled for a more detailed email about how the PTA depends on the generosity of families in this campaign to cover essential costs at our school.

Everyone belongs! At Ross, every family, every teacher, and every staff member is a valued member of the Ross PTA. Instead of an annual membership drive, every fall we invite all members of our community to Fall for Ross.

We encourage families to consider a financial donation of $50/month ($600 annually) to help the PTA maintain its strong programs and investments in school operating costs. We understand this isn’t possible for every family. Please give as you’re able. Small or large, every donation is important and contributes to improving the learning environment for every student at Ross.

What does the Ross PTA Do?

• Hosts events to build community

• Supports Ross teachers and staff

• Raises significant funds to offset school operating costs and non-personnel expenses. This enables Principal Searl to increase Ross staffing beyond the school's DCPS budget allocation.

Our engaged school community is an essential part of what makes the Ross environment such a welcoming, supportive place for our children to learn and grow.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 this fall and to connect with every Ross family. Please join us!

The highly attended Back to School Picnic was a great success! Kids, siblings, and caregivers danced, ate pizza, partied with shaved ice, and enjoyed Stead Park throughout the evening. We would like to extend big thank yous to parent Ruchi Shewaramani and volunteers for planning, staffing, and cleaning up the picnic; to parents and caregivers for bringing food and drink additions to the potluck; to Commodore and Pupatella restaurants for food donations, as well as to our DJ, Ross alum Armwell Lang!

This Friday will be your chance to pick up some Ross gear for next week's Walk & Roll to School Day! Gear will be sold on the playground after school. This fall, we have some new full-zip kids' and adult hoodies for sale; come check them out! We could use one or two volunteers to help out; email Sarah Berglund if you are available or have questions. Remember you can always order 24/7 online!

Monday, 10/21: We are united! Wear orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.

Tuesday, 10/22: We can walk in other people’s shoes. Wear your favorite shoes to symbolize walking in someone else’s shoes.

Wednesday, 10/23: Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti! Wear as many different colors as you can!

Thursday, 10/24: We Are a Team! Wear a team jersey or number on your shirt to show “everyone counts.”

Friday, 10/25: We are Ross Elementary School, and we do not bully. Wear school colors or a Ross t-shirt to celebrate coming together as a school community to promote a bullying-free environment.

Additional Resource: American Psych Association: How parents, teachers, and kids can take action to prevent bullying

The time is almost here! National Walk & Roll to School Day is NEXT Wednesday, October 9! Ross families and staff will walk, bike and/or scooter to school with Ross families and staff. Kindergarten parent Joseph Jones will lead the pack! Rain or shine, meet at 7:50am at the northeast corner of 15th and R streets (in front of the 15th Street Presbyterian Church) and walk/bike/roll together to Ross, departing at 8:00am. Kids will be excited to hear that the police will be escorting us on our route! Participants are encouraged to wear Ross gear (come to the merchandise sale this Friday afternoon, see above!). Parents are welcome to stay longer for a PTA-sponsored coffee hour on the playground. Questions? Contact PTApresident@rosselementary.org and Joseph Jones.

Join us for this year's Ross Halloween event, Spooktacular, on Thursday, Oct 31, on the Ross playground. We invite families to gather on the playground at 5:00pm in their costumes for music, pizza, fun giveaways, and to take pictures. (We need volunteers! Sign up here.) After 6:00pm, kids will head out for trick-or-treating on Swann Street and other locations. This year students will not be trick-or-treating at 17th Street businesses since Spooktacular is happening on Halloween and because the Little Goblins Parade (see below) offers an opportunity to collect candy from these businesses a few days before. (Note: No costumes/face paint are permitted at Ross during the school day.) Questions? Contact ptapresident@rosselementary.org.

Parade steps off at Ross Elementary at 1:00 PM (1730 R Street NW, Washington, DC) and party continues at Stead Park (1625 P Street NW, Washington, DC). We will parade from Ross down 17th Street, trick or treating at the stores along the way, and ending at Stead Park for a Halloween party! There will be music, candy, photo ops, games, giveaways, and more. RSVP here!

Mitchell Park Fall Fun Day is an annual community celebration bringing together 500+ neighbors, families, and kids. What's in store? Decorate a pumpkin, enjoy free pizza, catch performances from MHP Jam, moonbounce, climb aboard a fire truck, decorate fall crafts, and interact with representatives from city, Embassy, and community associations. Parents can join for a free yoga class by Yoga District. More info can be found here!

From KidFriendly DC: She Persisted, The Musical, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton, is an empowering historical adventure. And with music and dance helping bring it all to life, it's sure to keep theatre-goers of all ages engaged. "Fourth-grader Naomi’s field trip to a Women’s History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor." "She Persisted, The Musical," will be at Adventure Theater (in Glen Echo Park) from October 4 through November 3. It's appropriate for all ages, but will be best enjoyed by kids 4 and up. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased online.

The Annual 17th Street High Heel Race is a time to celebrate the diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ community and join thousands of costumed spectators cheering on costumed drag queens, drag kings and community members as they race down 17th Street NW. Lively and filled with local drag entertainment and much more, you won’t want to miss this DC tradition! More info here. **For important information on how this will affect Ross's pickup on October 29, please see below.

There will be street closures affecting R Street before pickup time on Oct 29 for the race. Caregivers will need to plan to walk, use public transit, or park outside of the affected zone that afternoon. Parking immediately adjacent to Ross will be unavailable on R Street. More detailed info will be provided as we obtain it.

As of last week (9/26/24), free Covid tests are again available to all American households as we head into the fall/winter season. Each household is eligible for one kit (4 tests). Sign up here to receive yours in the mail.

DCPS School Year 2024-2025 Calendar

September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday, October 2 to Friday, October 4: JCC Closed for Rosh Hashana, no aftercare

Wednesday, October 2: Grades 3-5 Parent Coffee with Mental Health Team, 8:30 am on Attic Level

Wednesday, October 9: National Walk & Roll to School Day

Wednesday, October 16 (**DATE CHANGE**): First General Body PTA Meeting, Kay Hall/JCC, 5:00-6:00pm (join virtually here, meeting ID 819 4058 2080 passcode k7rZKv)

Sunday, October 20: Garden Clean-up at Ross, 10:00 am

Tuesday, October 22: Pupatella Happy Hour to benefit the Ross Run 4 MK Team, 4:00-7:00 pm

Friday, October 25: Learning Celebration, 9:00-9:30am (PK4 from 8:30-9:00am); subsequent Learning Celebrations scheduled for Fridays January 24, April 4, and June 13

Thursday, October 31: Ross Spooktacular Celebration

Saturday, November 16: Miriam's Kitchen 5K/10K

About the Ross PTA

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

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Do you have updates or announcements that you think would be of interest to our school community? If so, please email me here.