PTA Newsletter

Dear Ross Community,

Remember the first school day that all of your children cooperated in the morning, didn't argue, did everything they were supposed to do, walked out the front door on time, and were happy? Me too! Confession: it was today. The first time was today, and we're four years into this morning chaos show. The stars aligned and the Universe gave me a taste of pure bliss. If it never happens again, I will always have these fond memories to look back on.

I hope you are feeling equally blissful, or that you at least survived Day 1 of Week 2. Let's move into this week's newsletter, which includes a few updates, some fun save the dates, and a couple of events around town.

-Aimee

Each DCPS has an LSAT (Local School Advisory Team), which is a group of elected and appointed members that advises the principal on matters that promote high expectations and high achievement for all students. The team consists of parents, teachers, non-instructional school staff, a community member, and in some cases students. Ross is now holding elections for the 2024-2025 LSAT. Please vote here for up to four of these candidates by Sept. 9: Zeke Hill, Brigitte Keener, Nikki Chan Lee, and Marissa Piropato. Questions? Contact Marissa at marissa.piropato@gmail.com.

We are at $11,800 of our $14,000 goal for the school supply fund. If you haven't already contributed for your Roadrunner(s), please do so today at this link!

Families who are able are asked to contribute $100/student to cover the cost of school supplies. This money is distributed to teachers, who purchase supplies directly for their classroom. This system saves parents a trip to the store as well as ensuring equity among students. You may also donate additional funds to help cover the costs for families who are unable to cover the full amount.

Ross Back to School Night will take place at school this Thursday, September 5, from 5:00-6:30 pm. Back to School Night is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet and connect with their children's teachers and other staff members, see the classroom and school, discuss the curriculum, and ask questions. This event is for parents and caregivers, but children can attend if parents are unable to arrange care.

This year, the PTA has worked with aftercare partners (iGen, the JCC and Keegan Theater) to extend aftercare programming for children who are already enrolled in these programs on Thursdays. We are not able to provide (additional) childcare on the playground this year.

- iGen will host aftercare until 6:00pm and then walk children to the Ross playground and supervise them until 6:30pm. Parents should pick up their kids on the Ross playground.

- The JCC is extending its Thursday aftercare until 6:45pm. Parents should pick up their children at the JCC.

- Keegan will extend its aftercare until 6:45 pm. Parents should pick up their children at Keegan.

Back to School night involves rotations so parents can participate in all of their kids' classrooms. There are two rotations and time to meet specialists:

5:00-5:15 pm: time for connecting with specialists

5:15-5:45 pm: first rotation

5:45-6:00 pm: transition and connecting with specialists

6:00-6:30 pm: second rotation

Ross Elementary will be hosting author visits for third and fourth grade with Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko on Thursday, September 19, at 2:00 pm in the Ross Library.

If your children would like copies of their books, you MUST preorder before the visit, as no books will be available the day of the visit. Please support our visiting authors by using this link to purchase their books, Mouse and His Dog: A Dogtown Book and Dogtown.

Families may order books online by following the directions listed on the order form. Students must turn in the forms no later than Monday, September 16. Direct questions to Ms. Juriga at lisa.juriga@k12.dc.gov.

Please save the date for the Ross Back to School Picnic, to be held on Thursday, September 26, 5:00-7:00 pm at the Stead Park Rec Center. We will need volunteers to bring food and drinks, and help set up and clean up. Please sign up here to volunteer today!

Save the date to celebrate National Walk & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 9. Ross families and staff will walk, bike and/or scooter to school with Ross families and staff. Thank you to Kindergarten parent Joseph Jones for leading 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. Participants are encouraged to wear Ross gear. Parents are welcome to stay longer for a PTA-sponsored coffee hour on the playground. Questions? Contact PTApresident@rosselementary.org and Joseph Jones.

We are still in search of one parent to run the Spooktacular Halloween celebration at Ross on Oct. 31. This Spooktacular will be different from previous years because it will happen on Halloween, which means that we won't organize a specific trick-or-treating event for Ross students. Instead, we'll have a Halloween carnival at Ross and then students will go on their normal trick-or-treating routes. Interested? Email hollykilness@gmail.com and ptapresident@rosselementary.org.

Be My Neighbor Day at the Children's Museum, September 14

Be My Neighbor Day invites children and families to participate in fun activities. It aims to help children understand how to support others and how one kind act can lead to many.

Be My Neighbor Day is free and open to the public. From 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, children and families can participate in fun family crafts, music and dancing, special appearances by PBS KIDS characters Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat, and more! Reserve your ticket in advance by clicking here. Walk-up tickets will be available on September 14th, but please know space is limited.

KidFriendly DC's Guide to Live Entertainment

Check out Kid Friendly DC's Guide to Live Entertainment for fall, which includes listings from all over the city. You can catch performances of Winnie the Pooh, Spider-Man, Disney's Frozen, as well as many other family-friendly live events.

DCPS School Year 2024-2025 Calendar

Tuesday, September 3: First Day of JCC and iGen After School programming

Thursday, September 5: Back to School Night 5:00-6:30pm

Thursday, September 26: PTA Back to School Picnic at Stead Park

Monday, September 30: Portrait and Class Photo Day

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

Thursday, October 31: Ross Spooktacular Celebration

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.