PTA Updates

At 8:30am on Thursday (3/30), join us in the Ross cafeteria for an open discussion with Principal Searl and David Alpert (Ross LSAT Chair) about Ross's 2023-24 budget and plans for next school year.

In addition, feel free to reference this helpful Budget FAQ webpage that David Alpert recently published. Feel free to send David additional questions you might have (at alpert@gmail.com) or post them directly in the comments on the page.

Thanks to the generosity of the Ross community, our "Starry Night" auction was a great success, raising more than $62,000 to support our school!

THANK YOU to the local business community, teachers and staff, parents, students, neighbors, and many others for donating more than 200 items and experiences, for sponsoring and attending the auction, placing bids, donating the venue, volunteering at the event, and spreading the word!

All young writers grades K-4 are invited to the FREE Virtual 2023 WETA PBS Kids Writers Workshop! This hour-long workshop will feature New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Lulu Delacre.

Ms. Delacre will:

• Share her personal experiences creating books.
• Answer questions from the youth participants.
• Offer tips for inventing the best stories ever.

Every participant will receive a signed copy of one of Ms. Delacre’s books.

Date and time: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. EST.

Location: From Wherever You Are!

Register here for this Zoom event.

Also, the deadline to submit a story to the 2023 WETA PBS Kids Writers Contest is April 21, 2023! It’s open to children grades K-4 in the Washington D.C. area. Learn more here.

Kids, Smartphones, and Social Media - Why Waiting is Best (and What to do if you Didn't)

One of the biggest sources of stress for parents today is around when to give kids smartphones and social media, and then managing the fallout. As a busy parent, do you:

• Know about the new, safe (and less expensive) alternatives to smartphones?
• Know the latest research showing the many ways smartphones and social media harm your child's mental and physical health, development, and physical safety?
  
• Worry about apps and ads addicting and manipulating your kids?
• Want to learn concrete, specific digital best practices and solutions we can all adopt for healthier and safer kids and community?
  
• Want to connect with other families to delay adoption together?

Perhaps this tech is already a source of friction or stress in your family?

If so, please join local DC parent Jeremy Joseph for a Zoom presentation on May 8 at 7:30 pm geared towards busy parents/caregivers of elementary and middle school kids entitled "Smartphones and Social Media: Why Waiting Is Best (and What to Do If You Didn't)" where he will help answer these questions with the latest research, expert opinion, and universally recommended best practices. Jeremy has presented to over 600 families at 13 different schools, and fellow parents and principals have commended Jeremy’s presentation for being clear, concrete, and actionable.

Meeting Details:

• Time: May 8 at 07:30 PM ET
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86974531827?pwd=OHFSaHhFbnpqNy9JblhacVQ1YUQxUT09
• Meeting ID: 869 7453 1827
• Passcode: 995210

Back by popular demand! The Ross PTA has reserved a block of discounted tickets ($27 ea) for the DC United soccer game vs. LA Galaxy on Sat. May 20 at 7:30PM.

If your family would like to attend, but is unable to cover the cost, please let Principal Searl know. The PTA has set aside funds to make it possible for more families to join.

One of our generous auction donors, Arena Stage, shared details about their summer camp, Camp Arena Stage, a multi-arts, full-day summer camp for kids ages 8-15. See PDF attached below for more info.

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
Facebook: facebook.com/RossElementarySchool/
Twitter: @RossESDC