PTA Updates
Dress up: Earth Week I Book Drive I Meet Ward 2 Ed Board Rep
Ross Earth Week (4/22-4/26): Dress Up!
Ross students will celebrate Earth Week after spring break! The 4th Grade Fearless Ferrets have planned daily themes and dress-up options for all Ross students (optional):
- Monday 4/22, Earth Day: Wear green or florals
- Tuesday 4/23, Energy Day: Wear neon and sunglasses
- Wednesday 4/24, Wildlife Day: Wear animal print and bring an animal stuffie
- Thursday 4/25, Paper Conservation Day: Wear stripes or white
- Friday 4/26, Water/Plastic Conservation Day: Wear blue and bring a reusable water bottle
New Ross Merchandise Available (Deadline: TODAY)
New Ross merchandise is available in the Ross online store! Check out our new items, including spring shirts, baseball caps, water bottles and tote bags, some of them printed with the Ross mural, which was painted by a former Ross parent. All orders must be placed by Monday, April 15.
Ross LSAT: Nomination Period Open (until April 30)
The LSAT (Local School Advisory Team) is a group of parents, teachers, and staff at each DCPS school who advise the principal on topics like the school's academic performance, curriculum, budget and more. The Ross LSAT meets monthly, currently alternating between in-person morning meetings and virtual afternoon meetings. Four parent members will be elected for the 2024-25 school year, likely in May.
Any Ross parent is welcome to run for a position on the LSAT. Nominations will begin on April 15 and end on April 30. Anyone interested in finding out more about the LSAT should email LSAT chair David Alpert (alpert@gmail.com) and/or attend the next meeting, in person at Ross on Monday, April 8 at 7:30am in the library.
Annual Ross Mothers'/Fathers' Day Book Drive
Our annual “Mothers' and Fathers' Day Book Drive”--an annual Ross fundraiser in which participants donate $25 to purchase a book for the Ross library in honor of a loved one or teacher--is right around the corner. We need kids (and their grownups) to volunteer to make it a success! Our goal is to raise funds to buy at least 200 new books for our kids’ classrooms and Ross’ library.
NEW THIS YEAR: We're running a class competition for the Book Drive: the class that sponsors the most books will win a popsicle and water balloon party at recess! The on-site Book Drive will be held at the following locations and dates/times this year:
Friday, May 3 – On the Ross playground, 8:00-9:00am and 3:00-4:00pm
Saturday, May 4 – In front of Safeway on 17th, 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, May 5 – At the Little Flea Market at 19th and Q, from 9:00am-3:00pm
Please sign up your family to volunteer for a time slot here. You also can donate $25 per book now by going to this link.
Contact Ross parent, Kathy Crutcher at kathy@shoutmousepress.org with any questions about volunteering.
DCPS and DC Government Highlights
Did You See Ross Featured in the DCPS Chancellor's Newsletter?
To mark School Librarian Day, DCPS Chancellor Ferebee visited Ross and met with our our librarian, Ms. Juriga, whom he called "the Ross Matchmaker for Books," because she mentors 4th and 5th graders to be librarian helpers and inspires them to read to Pre-K students, and because her library is where students choose to spend some of their recess time.
Meet Ward Two's DC State Board of Education Member at Ross Parents' Home
On Sunday, April 28th from 1:00pm-3:00pm at 1537 T Street NW, Ross parents Kyle Mulhall and Michael Sigelman will host a meet and greet for Ward Two's DC State Board of Education Member Alister Chang (Allister Chang | DC State Board of Education).
Representative Chang will share what he hopes to achieve during his second term and answer questions about himself, his campaign and his work with local public education. This is an opportunity for parents to find out more about what changes and challenges are coming for DCPS. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to mulhall64@yahoo.com by April 25.
DDOT Survey: Safe Routes to School
Please consider completing this DDOT survey, once per child, about safe routes to school: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7718647/DC-Safe-Routes-to-School-2024-Survey.
Time to Re-enroll in Ross!
On March 29, enrollment opened for the 2024-2025 school year. All students must enroll by May 1, 2024. You can complete the enrollment process online at https://enrolldcps.dc.gov or visit Ross during the week. Please remember the importance of enrolling promptly upon receiving notification. Any questions, please email Ms.Segovia at graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov.
Note: Recently, DCPS centrally reset passwords for users who had not accessed the ASPEN Parent Portal. The email is titled "Welcome to the ASPEN Parent Portal". Families will use the same log-in ID email and password to access the online enrollment platform.
New Exhibit: Undesign the Redline
Check out a new interactive exhibit at the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (3310 Connecticut Avenue NW) now and until July 11, that explains the history of redlining–the explicit devaluation of residential areas based on race–and other, once legal policies that denied people of color access to homeownership in upper Northwest DC and nationwide. Learn more here.
News and Events around Town
Neighborhood Blood Drive
Roll up a sleeve between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Wednesday, April 17 at The First Baptist Church (1328 16th Street NW) to give blood in the church fellowship hall. To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
Youth Soccer Clinic with Georgetown Athletes
On Sunday, April 28th, from 2:00-5:00pm, Athlinics is holding its Georgetown University Soccer Clinic. Open to both boys and girls, the event will feature Georgetown athletes, Julian Barrios Cristales and Miles Avery, who will lead a skills training session and team play, concluding with a panel to speak with the players about student-athlete life at the Division I level. This event will take place at Dulles Sportsplex at 21610 Atlantic Blvd, Sterling, VA 20166. Here is a link to sign up; use discount code GU10 for $10 off.
Adams Morgan Spring PorchFest
Adams Morgan Spring PorchFest returns on Saturday, May 4 from 2:00-6:00p,m-6pm. Featuring approximately 80 bands, this event will showcase some of DC’s local musical talent featuring nearly every musical genre, including classic rock, funk, go-go, rap, reggae, blue grass, classical and pop. Twenty porches, business patios, parks and the closed 18th Street will become stages for the day. 18th Street NW (between Columbia and Kalorama Roads NW) will be closed to vehicular traffic, creating additional safe space for performances.
Guide: Where to Enjoy Creative Works Outdoors around DC
Spring Garden Tours
Resources
Key Dates
2023.24 DCPS Calendar and DCPS Google Calendar
Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19: NO SCHOOL
Monday, April 22- Friday, April 26: Earth Week Dress-up Week at Ross
Monday, April 22- Friday, April 26: No EDCJCC Afterschool in Observance of Passover
Wednesday, May 1: Deadline to Re-enroll in Ross for the 2024-2025 School Year
Friday, May 3 - Sunday, May 5: Mothers' and Fathers' Day Book Drive
Monday, May 6 - Friday, May 10: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 16: Ross Piano/Open Mic Night, Saloon (1205 U Street NW) 6:00-7:30pm
May 22 and 23: Ross School Musical (Day and Evening Performances)
Monday, May 27: NO SCHOOL
Friday, May 31: Ross Field Day
Tuesday, June 4: NO SCHOOL
Saturday, June 8: Ross Participation in Capital Pride Parade
Thursday, June 13: Fifth Grade Promotion
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
About the Ross PTA
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.
