PTA Newsletter

Dear Ross Community,

Next Monday, September 30, is Portrait Day! This will present me and perhaps you with the yearly only-two-outcome experience: mugshot or framer. There is no in between in this house. And in some ways, this may make them all framers, because the mugshot years are so comical that they deserve a place on the wall as well. (Or in the cloud, which is where my digital files are admired by no one--just me?)

This week we have the almost-as-fall-as-pumpkin-spice kickoff of Fall for Ross, the delightful Back to School Picnic, and some save the dates for the first PTA General Body Meeting and Pupatella Happy Hour to benefit Ross's Run 4 MK team. Read on for all the deets.

It's in the 60s today so please wave to me as I happily stroll by you with my PSL. 🎃☕

-Aimee

Everyone belongs! At Ross, every family, every teacher, and every staff member are valued members 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!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sep 25, at 10 AM, registration will open for Keegan Theatre's SY '24-'25 All Day PLAY Days! Space is limited, so act quickly. If a day that you are trying to register for does fill up, please sign up for the waitlist. Keegan Theatre is offering 15 PLAY Days throughout this school year; the specific dates are: Oct 10/11, Nov 4/5, Jan 17/27, Feb 14, March 13/14, April 7/14-18. Programming will run from 9 AM to 5PM.

This year, Keegan received generous grant funding to subsidize the All Day PLAY Day program, so they are very pleased to be able to offer these program dates free of charge for the '24-'25 school year. The registration link will go live tomorrow so we are unable to share it at this time; please check the website for updates.

Cleaning Out Closets? Support the Community by Sharing Outgrown Clothing!

If your children have outgrown clothing and/or Halloween costumes in clean, good condition that you wish to donate to our community, please reach out to Ross Social Worker Natalie Elmore at natalie.elmore@k12.dc.gov.

The Back to School Picnic is this Thursday, September 26, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Stead Park Rec Center! We are excited to to have a shaved ice truck for all to enjoy at the picnic!

We are in great need of main dishes (e.g. mac & cheese, pasta salad, casserole, for 10+ people) and volunteers to serve pizza. Please sign up here to volunteer today, and many thanks to those who have already signed up!

The Ross PTA will hold the first general body (open to everyone) meeting of the year on Thursday, October 17, from 5:00-6:00pm in the Kay Hall meeting room at the JCC (1529 16th St NW). You can also join online here (meeting ID is 819 4058 2080 and passcode is k7rZKv). Reminder: Every Ross parent/guardian is a member of the PTA. Join us to hear from the principal and about the latest updates, events and activities!

On Tuesday, October 22, enjoy Happy Hour at Pupatella from 4-7 pm! Pupatella will give 20% of their proceeds that day to the Ross Run 4 MK team! So come anytime from open to close, and catch some fun specials and meet up with Ross friends during Happy Hour. Don't miss it!

Recap from last week of Ross's participation in the Run 4 MK: Ross Roadrunners will join the Run 4 MK the morning of Saturday, November 16! Kids and adults are both welcome. The run includes a 500 meter at 9:00 am, 5k at 8:00 am, and 10k at 7:45 am. The event supports Miriam’s Kitchen’s critical work to end homelessness in our community. Find out more and register here. If you register please also sign up for the Ross team and the Ross Run 4 MK team WhatsApp groups. Questions? Contact Becky Ballard at BeckyBall@gmail.com.

From the website: "It is our 11th year of holding Art All Night Dupont and the 20th Anniversary of being a Main Street. Our organization, with a small budget, produces mighty results: supporting the 340 businesses surrounding Dupont Circle with promotion, grants, beautification and creating events like Art All Night!

Art All Night Dupont opens and activates wonderful galleries, cultural and historic destinations and enlivens our business community. Art All Night is a festival of arts - but a true and vibrant weekend-long celebration of Washington DC neighborhoods. Enjoy!" More info here!

Questions? Please email Shoshana Parker at sparker@edcjcc.org. This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC in partnership with PJ Library and funded by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and The United Jewish Endowment Fund.

DCPS School Year 2024-2025 Calendar

September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday, September 25: PK4-Grade 2 Parent Coffee with Mental Health Team, 8:30 am on Attic Level

Thursday, September 26: PTA Back to School Picnic at Stead Park, 5:00-7:00 pm

Monday, September 30: Portrait and Class Photo Day

Tuesday, October 1: Enrichment Committee meeting, 8:00-8:30 am in school library

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

Thursday, October 17: 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.