PTA Updates

The last PTA General Body Meeting of the year will be held this Thursday, June 13 at 6:00pm via Zoom (details below). It is open to all members of the Ross community.

Agenda:

• Principal's update
• Vote on your PTA Executive Board - Nominate here
• Vote on LSAT reps - email LSAT chair David Alpert for more info (alpert@gmail.com)
• Vote on PTA budget for next school year

Topic: Ross PTA General Body Meeting

Time: June 13, 2024 06:00pm ET

• Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89614965118?pwd=WPlEu6Lyz8F6R8aTmleNFpa3WwpFcr.1
• Meeting ID: 896 1496 5118
• Passcode: 372675

Did you lose a Ross library book? You can pay for it here: https://square.link/u/gzKzQNn4. Otherwise, please return any Ross library books that haven't been returned this year.

Worn spine and borrowed tale,

Adventures shared, a magic trail.

But now it's time these stories roam,

Back to the shelves, their waiting home.

No overdue stamp, a reader true,

I bring them back, all shiny new.

For waiting minds and curious eyes,

New journeys start, beneath the skies.

Want a Ross yearbook? Yearbooks are still available for online purchase only (https://square.link/u/t49xTeZo); the cost is $30. Yearbooks may be picked up from Officer Woodley; simply show your receipt. They are available until they are sold out.

Staffing updates:

• Ms. Barnett is taking a break from teaching to parent her new daughter full-time.
• Mr. Eickmeyer plans to relocate outside of the DMV.
• Ms. Greene is moving to Japan to explore teaching internationally.
• Ms. Kim plans to attend law school.

New staff:

• Ms. Jana Banks will teach Grade 5 math and offer intervention/enrichment support. She has many years of experience as a math coach and teacher in DCPS. She will work at Ross part-time.
• Ms. Allison Mitchell is returning to Ross to teach Grade 4 STEM. She has taught multiple grade levels and served as an ESOL teacher and intervention teacher.
• Ms. Isabel Parry is joining DCPS from teaching in Loudon County, VA, public schools. Ms. Parry will teach Grade 4 English Language Arts/Humanities.
• Ms. Layla Santos will teach Grade 2. Ms. Santos has experience in DCPS where she was recognized as a teacher of the year at her current school and at KIPP.
• Ms. Margarita Gutierrez is joining DCPS as a PK4 educational aide. Ms. Guiterrez is a long-time Ross parent and dedicated volunteer.

Class organization for next school year:

• PK4: Ms. Chelak (Teacher), Ms. Guiterrez (Aide)
• Kindergarten: Ms. Sawyer (teacher), Ms. Jackson (Aide)
• Grade 1: Ms. Emminger (Teacher), Ms. Mehta (Aide)
• Grade 2: Ms. Nagorski (Teacher), Ms. Santos (Teacher) - There will be one cohort of students.
• Grade 3: Ms. Forgarty (Teacher)
• Grade 4: Ms. Mitchell (Math/Science Teacher), Ms. Parry (ELA/Humanities) There will be two cohorts of students and they will switch classes mid-day.
• Grade 5: Ms. Banks (Math Teacher), Mr. Blacklow (ELA/Humanities), Mr. Stewart (Science)

• Friday, August 23: See Your Classroom and Meet Your New Teacher (2:30-3:30pm)
• Monday, August 26: First Day of School for K-5
• Thursday, August 29: First Day of School for PK4

Isabella & Ferdinand's before-school Spanish program at Ross is open for fall enrollment (grades K-5 only). The 15-week, 30-session program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Ross from 7:55am-8:40am. Enroll here (click drop-down to select fall session).

Thanks very much to the volunteers who organized and staffed the picnic, to Stead Park for hosting us, and to everyone who attended the picnic!

Thank you very much to our Ross community, especially our students, who handed out more than 2,500 pieces of swag (beads, stickers, bracelets, fans, and flags) to enthusiastic onlookers during the Capital Pride Parade. It was a fun and joyous time! Check out some of the pics below.

Let's send off the 2023-2024 school year and start the summer on a high note! Before everyone departs for their summer plans, please join Ross families at next week's open piano/open mic evening on Thursday, June 20 from 6:00-7:30pm in the upstairs performance space at the Saloon (1205 U St. NW). Open Piano/Mic 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 with food and adult beverages as well.

We recently learned that the Story of Our Schools has selected Ross as one of the next schools that the nonprofit will work with to create a permanent exhibition at our school about its history. Students will have an opportunity to participate throughout the research and exhibit development process. Much more information is to come on this two-year process, but to help get us started, we're asking parents and other members of the Ross community to help us identify people who might have stories or photographs to share about Ross. Know someone who has told you an interesting story about Ross? Please fill in their information here so we can reach out to them. The more people we talk to, the better! Have questions? Contact Principal Searl, Ms. Juriga or parents Becky Ballard (beckyball@gmail.com) and Melanie Mayhew (melanie.mayhew@gmail.com).

My School DC – the common application and public school lottery for DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools in DC (Pre-K 3 through Grade 12) – is actively recruiting for parents and guardians to participate in its Parent Advisory Council (PAC) with a focus on members from wards 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Parent voices are critical to ensuring that My School DC is an equitable and valuable resource for families. Representatives who serve on the My School DC Parent Advisory Council (PAC) learn about My School DC priorities, provide input on the design and implementation of policies, programming, and new initiatives, serve as ambassadors of information to their respective schools and communities, and advise the Common Lottery Board – My School DC’s governing body – on major policy decisions. The PAC is comprised of volunteers from all eight wards of the District who represent both DCPS and public charter schools. All interested individuals can apply here by June 30: bit.ly/SY2526PACApp. Please review the membership criteria and meeting schedule before applying. Questions? Email info.myschooldc@dc.gov.

Join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and the DC Department of General Services for a community meeting on Monday, June 24 from 6:30-7:30pm at the Stead Recreation Center (1625 P Street NW) to discuss the athletic field replacement project at Stead Park Recreation Center.

For more information including the on-line link and to RSVP, please visit: https://steadfield.splashthat.com/

To sign up for updates about these, please visit

http://dpr.dc.gov/stakeholder

For individuals needing accommodation, please contact Christopher Dyer at christopher.dyer@dc.gov or by telephone at 202-702-9453.

Check out the June 2024 edition of the Second District News Bulletin. You'll find:

- District Roster

- Crime Statistics

- Safety Tips

- Upcoming Community Events & Meetings

- Officer of the Month Spotlight

- And more information

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is redeveloping the area near Dupont Circle between Massachusetts Avenue NW and Connecticut Avenue NW. This project will aim to address the need for a greener, public plaza that can be used by the community. When completed, the plaza will have a larger tree canopy, more greenspace and new pavement. DDOT is currently working on the concept design for this project, and this virtual meeting on June 12 from 7:00-9:00pm will serve to field community input for the future designs.

Spring is finally here, which means asparagus, kale and other leafy greens are in their prime! Stop by the Dupont Circle Farmers Market every Sunday from 8:30am-1:30pm for fresh produce, baked goods and so much more. For more information about the market, click here.

• 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

Reminder: NO JCC Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday This Week for Holiday Observance

Thursday, June 13: Fifth Grade Promotion

Friday, June 14: Last floor-wide Morning Meeting of the Year and June/July Birthday Celebrations

Thursday, June 13: PTA General Body Meeting (Zoom, 6:00-7:00pm)

Friday, June 14: Flag Day and Hat Day, Wear Favorite Hat or Headband and Wear Red/White/Blue

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

Friday, August 23: See Your Classroom and Meet Your New Teacher (2:30-3:30pm)

Monday, August 26: First Day of School for K-5

Thursday, August 29: First Day of School for PK4

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.