PTA Updates

If you weren't able to attend the recent Ross PTA General Body Meeting, you can watch it here. The meeting covered the following:

• 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

The Ross PTA annual auction, which culminated in a 90s-themed event on Saturday, was all that and a bag of chips! Our auction raised more than $57,000, surging past our $50,000 goal. Thank you to our event hosts, Ross parents Iva and Alex Gotzev, who own Toolbox Pilates Art Studio, and to auction chair Libby Franklin and a group of dedicated parents, who have worked on the auction for months. Thank you to Ross teachers and staff, and Ross families, who generously donated experiences and items; their expertise and time; and sponsored the auction. And of course, thank you to area businesses that showed their support for Ross in ways big and small. And thank you to Jared from Keegan Theatre for emceeing the event.

And thank you to those who bid on items online and in-person! Funds raised help support our school budget by covering the majority of our non-personnel expenses such as student supplies, cleaning supplies, soap, paper, trash bags, field trips and much more. Not having to budget for these items gives Principal Searl more funds for hiring staff.

A few important notes:

• ITEM PICKUP: If you bid on an item and did not pick it up at the auction, please pick up your items at Ross on March 6, 7 and 8 from 8:30-9:00am and 3:15-4:00pm at Ross.
• FIRESALE AND OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE: We have a small selection of items and experiences that did not receive bids. These are available on the auction website for reduced prices--you also can donate funds if you're interested in increasing our auction tally.
  
• PHOTOS: Have photos of the auction? Please share them here.
• QUESTIONS: Email rosselementaryauction@gmail.com.

Thursday, March 7 @ 8:45am - Meet with SWWFS Principal & AP: SWWFS Principal Young and Assistant Principal Eaves and Counselor Lisa Bruce have agreed to come meet with us to talk about the middle school experience at Francis Stevens and answer parent questions. This is an opportunity to hear about the school directly. We look forward to seeing you in the Ross Cafe after dropoff.

The Ross Enrichment Committee will be meeting on Friday, March 8 at 8:40am in the music room to discuss and plan enrichment programs before and after school at Ross and externally (such as the JCC and other after-school programs). Parents are welcome to participate or feel free to share any comments or suggestions you have with David Alpert at alpert@gmail.com.

Meet the Ross Multi-Disciplinary Team on Monday, March 11 at 8:45am in the Ross Cafe, and learn about how they support students and families at Ross. Please RSVP and complete a brief survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/dq0bxnFrh8.

Are you looking for more fun in your life? Then come check out the Ross Game Library! We have just added a lot of new games! What to know:

• The game library is located in the basement next to the cafeteria.
• Any parent or teacher can stop by anytime to borrow games. Just sign the game in and out in the game library binder.
• All games and the list of games in the binder are organized by age, so please return them to the correct shelf when you bring them back so it's easy for others to find.
• If you drop off games to donate, please email Sarah Roma at sarahandsokol@gmail.com so she can document it and add it to the check out list.
• More information can be found here.

The Metropolitan Police Department (Second District) invites you to join them for an upcoming Community Walks. These walks offer an opportunity to join MPD, other government agencies, and fellow neighbors to talk about safety issues impacting our communities, and collectively discuss solutions.

PSA 208 Community Walk

Tuesday, March 12 @ 7:00pm

Start Location: 6 Dupont Circle NW

https://www.kidfriendlydc.com/2024/02/29/womens-history-month-2024/

Mark your calendar for the International Women’s Day Agora on Thursday, March 7 from 5:00-9:00 pm at The Ven at Embassy Row. Agora means marketplace in Greek. The International Women’s Day Agora is made up of several activations including a Women’s Vendor Marketplace featuring international female vendors; live painting by a local female DC artist; empowering talks by inspirational women from the Chinese American Museum, Alliance Française of Washington, Margaret McNamara Education Grant; and more! There will be a raffle prize drawing with gifts from supporters. Click here for more information.

The Edlavitch DCJCC is offering a new series of Jewish learning opportunities for children in grades K-3 and their parents, including one on March 10 about the zany carnival holiday of Purim. See details below and register at https://edcjcc.org/jewishyear. All are welcome, whatever your level of prior knowledge and however you identify or don't identify as a Jewish family.

Families of children in kindergarten through third grade are invited to use all their senses to engage with Jewish holidays and traditions in this monthly series led by the EDCJCC’s Rabbi Atara Cohen. Each standalone session will explore themes and values of the calendar through accessible texts and joyful creative activities. All sessions meet on Sundays from 2:00-4:00pm at the EDCJCC at 16th and Q Streets NW.

March 10: Purim in Four Acts (Purim)

In this session we will experience the four key components of Purim: listening to the Megillah, gifts for those who are food insecure, bringing treats to friends, and enjoying a feast!

April 7: Seder Adventures (Passover)
What is the Passover Seder all about? In this spirited and occasionally silly session, we will create our own Seder rituals, using and expanding on traditional practices to tell our own family stories and cultivate justice today.

May 19: Celebrating Jewish Books! (Shavuot)
On Shavuot, we celebrate the gift of the Torah, the most important Jewish book -- so important that some Jews have the tradition to stay up all night learning it! In the spirit of this tradition and of the custom to eat dairy on Shavuot, join us for an afternoon pajama ice cream party in which we create and celebrate books about our own Judaism.

Visit https://edcjcc.org/jewishyear for individual session details and registration.

Email mszubin@edcjcc.org with any questions.

Dupont Circle will be celebrating India’s most colorful holiday, the Holi Festival, on Sunday, March 24 from 1:00-5:00pm. Festivities begin in Dupont Circle Park with music and dancing, and then progress to The Ven Hotel at 2:00 p.m. for dancing and powder throwing. The Holi Festival is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the end of winter and ushers in spring – celebrating color, love, and new life. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Holi falls on March 24. Click here for more info.

The EDCJCC Parenting Center is hosting a Virtual Workshop, Parenting Without Power Struggles on Tuesday, March 12 at 8:00pm. Power struggles are maddening for parents, and it turns out, not good for children either. This workshop that will provide strategies for how to encourage your child's growing need to assert independence while still maintaining your control and authority. Struggles around mealtime, potty training, cooperation, and others will be addressed. Led by Claire Lerner, a licensed clinical social worker and child development specialist. Registration is required. Read more and register at https://www.edcjcc.org/programs/parenting-workshops/

On March 9 from 10:00am-1:00pm, bring your family to investigate materials, methods, and ideas in art at The Phillips Collection. Take a tour of Bonnard’s Worlds (at 11:00am and 12:00pm) to get inspired by the colorful gardens in Bonnard’s paintings. Then, in the studio, families will bring the outside in, arranging flowers into artful bouquets and sketching them with ink and watercolor. Included with general admission; free for members. Reservations encouraged. Children must be accompanied by their adult. This is a drop-in program suitable for children of all ages. Learn more.

The Washington Nationals recently announced the Nats Summer Concert Series, which will bring a fun lineup of artists to the ballpark: Flo Rida on June 7, Carly Rae Jepsen on July 19, Teddy Swims on August 9, and Lady A on September 27. All of the concerts will follow Nats home games, and they are free for fans attending the games. Purchase tickets here.

If you’re spring cleaning, Flower Mart’s White Elephant committee welcomes your donations. All donations are tax deductible. Donation forms given at drop-off. All proceeds from White Elephant donations benefit grounds maintenance of Washington National Cathedral, Bishop's Garden and Olmsted Woods.

ACCEPTED ITEMS: dishware, glassware, silverware, barware, china, crystal, platters & bowls, home décor, table linens, jewelry & fashion accessories, decorative pillows & throws, and small appliances. We don’t accept books, baskets, clear flower vases, clothing, or furniture.

DATES: Saturdays – March 9, 16, 23, April 6 and 13.

TIME: 10:00am to 2:00pm

LOCATION: Cathedral Library on South Road, behind the Cathedral. Direction signs will be posted. Volunteers available to unload cars.

MORE INFO: flowermartwe.com

After being closed several months for maintenance, the Renwick Gallery is now open to the public. There is always interesting art on display that all ages can enjoy. Sharing Honors and Burdens: Renwick Invitational 2023 is still on view along with more than 100 works of contemporary craft. And Janet Echelman's 1.8 Renwick, always a visitor favorite, remains upstairs: Lay back on the floor and watch it change colors above you. See more about the Renwick in posts about past exhibitions here, here, and here.

On Saturday, March 9, from 10:30-11:15am, children and their caregivers can join the National Building Museum in partnership with General Shale, America’s largest producer of clay bricks, for a themed story time and free build session in the exhibition Brick City. After reading two stories about how bricks are used in construction, participants will learn about how bricks are made and how they help make buildings strong with touchables and a short video. Afterwards, all participants will be invited to move into the Brick City exhibition to create their own buildings. This program is geared toward a PreK-2nd grade (3-7 year old) audience. Register here.

On March 9 from 1:00-3:00pm, join the National Building Museum for STEAM activities related to its Brick City exhibition (see above). Each activity challenges children to think creatively and experimentally using principles of design thinking and engineering. From building with LEGO® bricks to working with AI to plan a city, each child will solve problems large and small and come to a greater understanding of the built world around us. Register here.

• 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

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

Friday, March 8: Ross Enrichment Committee, 8:40am, Ross Music Room

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

Friday, March 15: NO SCHOOL

Thursday, March 29: Online Enrollment for Next School Year Opens

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

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

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.