PTA Updates

All members of the Ross community are encouraged to join our second PTA General Body Meeting of the year via Zoom on February 27 at 7:00pm.

Agenda:

• Update: PTA auction fundraiser on March 2
• Community discussion with DCPS Office of the Mayor for Education to review the proposal to shift to a single middle school feed with School Without Walls Francis Stevens only
• Principal's update
• Upcoming PTA events and volunteer opportunities

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84897736703?pwd=blSGCstDl4osep0RFXKssJPuLlnofy.1

Meeting ID: 848 9773 6703
Passcode: 636181

Less than a week to the Ross auction! Join us on March 2 for the 2024 Ross Elementary Auction: The Mixtape! We'd love to see all of our families at the auction (buy tickets here)--and online now, where you can bid on the more than 200 items and experiences that we're auctioning to raise funds for Ross. In particular, take a gander at the amazing experiences* that Ross teachers and staff have donated, including:

• Zoo adventure with Ms. Sawyer and Ms. Jackson
  
• Shoe painting and pizza tasting with Ms. Cirillo and Ms. Nagorski
  
• Fishing with Mr. Shegda
• Taylor Swift lunch party
• Treat week with Principal Searl
• PreK-4 tea party with Principal Searl
  
• Tie-dye after school with Principal Searl
  
• Colorful creations with Ms. Kim
• Cooking with cats at Mrs. Juriga's house
• Boba break with Ms. Greene
• Spa afternoon with Mrs. Sharkey and Mrs. Elmore
  
• Fun Friday with Ms. Emminger
• Pizza and board games with Mr. Eickmeyer
  
• Ice cream social outing with Mrs. Sharkey and Mrs. Elmore

*Note that some of these experiences are age-limited, so please read the description thoroughly.

Thursday, March 7 @ 8:45am - Meet with SWWFS Principal & AP: SWWFS Principal Young and Assistant Principal Eaves, along with Principal Searl, have agreed to come meet with us to talk about the middle school experience at Francis Stevens and answer parent questions. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear about the school directly. We look forward to seeing you on the playground after drop off.

The PK3 – Grade 8 DCPS lottery application deadline is March 1. Ready to apply? Click here! As you prepare to apply, make use of these tools:

• Learn if you need to apply.
• Watch how the lottery works. Take a moment to watch how My School DC matches students to schools. How you rank your schools on the My School DC application matters!
• Create a list of schools using the School Finder – you can apply to up to 12! You can filter by grade to help with your school search.

• Applying to PK? We have a page for that.
• We want to help you find the right fit for your child with an individualized education program (IEP). We have a point of contact within schools’ profiles that you can connect with, as well as an overview of the process.
• Familiarize yourself with Key Terms and review FAQs.

The DPR summer camp lottery is open through Monday, February 26. Learn more here. And check out Ross Elementary School's unofficial camp compilation for other camp ideas.

Everyone has their own unique body, but do you know how our bodies work? Come explore the various ways we use our bodies and how our bodies function at the National Museum of Natural History – Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center’s Classroom. For tickets ($35 for a family; ideal for ages 0-8) for Saturday, March 2, from 10:00-11:30am, click here.

Join for kid and family friendly drawing classes, 30 minutes after school, from 5:00-5:30pm with "Sketchbook Club." Free and virtual, taught by National Gallery of Art educators. Click here for free registration for February 27 and 28, with more dates coming.

The Georgetown Neighborhood Library (3260 R Street NW) is hosting a trivia contest on Sunday, March 17 at 2:00pm. You can play on a team or as an individual. Prizes and snacks available! Questions? Contact wendell.kellar@dc.gov.

• 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

Tuesday, February 27: Ross PTA General Body Meeting, 7:00pm, Zoom

Friday, March 1: MySchoolDC Lottery Closes (PK3 - Grade 8)

Saturday, March 2: Ross Auction (6:00pm, Toolbox Pilates Art Studio; learn more here)

Thursday, March 7: Meet with School Without Walls Francis Stevens Principal and Assistant Principal, Ross Playground, 8:45am

Thursday, March 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences, NO SCHOOL

Friday, March 15: NO SCHOOL

Friday, April 5: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19: NO SCHOOL

Friday, May 3 - Sunday, May 5: Mothers' and Fathers' Day Book Drive

Monday, May 6 - Friday, May 10: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

Monday, May 27: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, June 4: NO SCHOOL

Saturday, June 8: Ross Participation in Capital Pride Parade

Last Day of School Year TBD (Snow Days)

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.