PTA Updates

Ross is very excited to host its first winter concert, directed by Ms. Hailu, on Thursday, January 11 at Garrison Elementary. Art work will be displayed by Ms. Cirillo. Students should arrive for dress rehearsal at 5:30pm; the program begins at 6:15pm (doors open at 6:00pm). Students are asked to wear any combination of solid black and white clothing. Holiday attire that is black or white and is embellished with silver or gold sequins is okay, as are cravat/ties/bowties. No prints or stripes, please. Students can wear formal shoes or sneakers.

Registration is open for the 2024 Ross auction, which will be held on March 2, 2024 at 6:00pm at Toolbox Pilates Art Studio! Learn more and buy your tickets here for Ross Auction: The Mixtape. The annual auction is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. This year, we’ll celebrate the time before Tik Tok, before Youtube, before Netflix. The tunes will be 90’s. The drinks will be flowing. Fun will be had by all! We are seeking:

• Donated items (donation form is here; some examples include gift cards, gift baskets, or unopened sought-after items like LEGO sets)
• Experiences (host a dinner or party, give airline or hotel points, etc.)
• Ask businesses and people you know in the community to donate
• Sponsorships (Ice Ice Baby at $250, Smells Like Teen Spirit at $500, Waterfalls at $1,000, Wonderwall at $2,500)
• Someone with video production skills to create a video for the auction

Show the Ross community how much you love it by attending, contributing to and spreading the word about the auction. Proceeds from the auction will fund basic classroom supplies, vital extracurricular activities and important technology updates at Ross. Have questions? Contact rosselementaryauction@gmail.com.

Note: These are not affiliated with Ross. If you have a camp to add to the list, contact melanie.mayhew@gmail.com and we'll include it in the next newsletter.

• Keegan PLAY Summer Theatre Camp for grades 1-3 (registration just opened for Jun 24-28, Jul 8-Aug 23, July 1-5)

• Imagination Stage (registration opens on January 8)
  

• Sidwell Summer (registration opens on January 10)
• Calleva Camp (registration for new campers opens on January 16)
• Camp Beauvoir (registration opens on January 24 at 7:00pm)
• Valley Mill Camp (registration open)
• Steve & Kate's Camp (registration open)
• DPR summer camp (information has not been posted yet for 2024; registration likely will be in the early spring)

Parents of elementary school children are invited to attend a virtual workshop coordinated by Ross school counselor Jillian Sharkey on Monday, January 22, from 7:00-8:00pm with Dr. Francois Williams, focusing on childhood anxiety. This online session will help you identify anxiety in children and provide you with effective strategies for support both at home and in collaboration with their schools.

Dr. Williams completed his studies at Xavier University of Louisiana and Morehouse School of Medicine, with further training in adult psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. His expertise in group psychotherapy and DBT is complemented by his current role as a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at Georgetown University Hospital and his private practice, where he leads parenting groups.

Workshop highlights:

• Differentiating normal behaviors from signs of anxiety in children
• Parental roles in easing childhood anxiety
• Practical strategies for home and school environments
• This virtual workshop is a fantastic opportunity to gain insight and tools for supporting your child's emotional development and mental health

Zoom Link and RSVP: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/92840430765

Are you interested in what nursing coverage is provided at DC schools? If so, the advocacy group, Parents United for School Health, is asking DC public and charter school parents to take this survey. The group also is looking for volunteers to help. Contact parentsunitedforschoolhealth@gmail.com for more information.

The special election for the current vacancy for single member ANC district 2B07 will be on Thursday, January 4. The special election will take place in the vestibule of St. Thomas’ Parish at 1517 18th Street NW. Polls will be open from 3:00-7:00pm. In order to participate in the special election, you must be a registered voter in single member district 2B07, the boundaries of which can be found here. There will be two candidates appearing on the ballot, including Josiah Blackwell-Lipkind and Libby Franklin, a Ross parent.

Join JFamily Ambassador Melissa for a communal havdalah ceremony on Saturday, January 6 from 6:00-7:00pm to mark the end of Shabbat, followed by a light bagel dinner and playtime fun in the EDCJCC's preschool play space. Come in pajamas. This program is geared towards families of children ages 1-4 and space is limited to 20 families. Register at https://www.edcjcc.org/calendar/jfamily-pajama-havdalah/.

2023.24 DCPS Calendar

Thursday, January 11: Ross Winter Concert and Art Show (Garrison Elementary School)

Monday, January 15: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, January 18: Ross Open House #3 (9:00-10:30am)

Monday, January 22: Ross Parenting Workshop on Anxious Children (7:00-8:00pm; RSVP here)

Friday, January 26: NO SCHOOL

Friday, February 16: NO SCHOOL

Monday, February 19: NO SCHOOL

Saturday, February 24: Ross/Imagination Stage Theater Trip, 1:00pm

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 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences, NO SCHOOL

Friday, March 15: NO SCHOOL

Friday, April 5: NO SCHOOL

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

Monday, May 27: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, June 4: NO SCHOOL

Monday, June 17: NO SCHOOL

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.