PTA Newsletter
November 18, 2025
Dear Ross Community,
Last week my tiny Roadrunner asked me when it was going to start snowing. I replied, "Pretty soon, probably next month." But what I didn't warn her or know about was the deafening wind storm that was coming in for a late-fall surprise. When my big Roadrunner had his weekly case of the why-do-we-have-to-go-to-school-on-Mondays yesterday morning, I'll admit I looked outside at the dry hurricane and thought, I might be in his boat today. I hope you have marked yourself safe from the fall leaf whipping, and hats off to Ms. Juriga for yelling "THE WIND" as I remarked that I needed to think of my intro topic for this week. Somehow I heard her over the breezy vacuum of the playground, and she nailed it.🍃
We have a few new items of interest for you this week: updates to Super Saturday's festivities, a new partnership event with Ted's Bulletin, an exciting new Coffee & Content series coming up early next year, and a variety of volunteer opportunities as we start the holiday season. Don't forget the Diaper Drive runs until this Friday, and you have five more days to get in your Ross merchandise order to receive your items before the holidays!
Prepping for Thanksgiving travel 🙃
-Aimee
Ross's beloved annual Holiday Festival, Super Saturday, is coming up! Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 6, 10 am to 4 pm, and get ready for our Tree Sale, Bake Sale, Book Fair, community service project, and crafting activity. The Tree Sale will take place in person November 29, 30, and December 6, and 7, with delivery on December 6th and 7th. Pre-order your tree or wreath at this link now!
We need lots of volunteers to make Super Saturday a success! Sign up to help today for the Bake Sale, Tree Sale, and Book Fair.
Update: Community Service Project Information
Please join us as we pack grocery bags for Food for All, a non-profit organization providing grocery deliveries to low-income, homebound residents throughout the District of Columbia. Food for All operates out of our neighborhood, just a few blocks from Ross. A speaker from Food for All will be there to tell us more about the organization. Meet in the Ross cafeteria. Due to capacity constraints, 24 students can participate in each of the two sessions. A parent/guardian must accompany students in 2nd grade or younger. Thank you! Sign up here!
We are excited to announce that Ted's Bulletin, in partnership with Ross, is offering a free kids' meal with the purchase of an entree to any Ross student who presents their report card (digital or physical, any grades accepted!). This is for the Ted's Bulletin 14th Street location and is valid until December 17.
By the off chance your Roadrunner has misplaced a hoodie this year, it's high time you swung by the Lost and Found to pick it up! Located in the hallway/at the bottom of the stairs just outside of the main office on the basement level, it's a treasure trove of wayward items. There is a build-up since the beginning of the year, so please swing by before winter break, after which the remaining items will be donated.
Just five more days to hit the Ross Holiday Merchandise Sale online to get your gear before the holidays! Check out brand-new items including ornaments, updated class notebooks, T-shirts, and more. Opportunities abound to support Ross and show your school spirit. Make sure to get your order in by November 23 and plan to pick up at school December 15-17. Questions? Contact Sarah at rossmerchandise@gmail.com.
3rd grade girls who are participating in Girls on the Run, an afterschool running program coached by Ross teachers, will soon launch a service project to collect diapers, toiletries and other necessities to donate to the Greater DC Diaper Bank. The Greater DC Diaper Bank is the largest diaper bank in the area, and it provides essential baby and hygiene products and expanded access to critical services for families who need them the most.
Here's where you can help: From November 10-21, you can donate any of the listed items in the Ross lobby. The Greater DC Diaper Bank accepts both opened and unopened packs of diapers. Have a few random diapers lying around? Here's your opportunity to make sure they go to good use. Other items include wipes, baby food, bottles, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes/toothpaste, lotion, deodorant and much more.
To show our teachers and staff gratitude during the month of Thanksgiving, the PTA is organizing a Teacher & Staff Breakfast Buffet on the morning of Friday, November 21. The PTA will order acai bowls and avocado toast, as well as coffee. But we also need your help! Please sign up here to contribute a delicious treat -- homemade is great, but store-bought is fine, too! We could also use a little help with set up and clean up and you can sign up at that link. All food items must be dropped off the morning of Friday, November 21 by 8:00am in the staff kitchen/lounge. For food donations, assume you're feeding 12, make sure the food is nut-free, and label whether a food item is vegan or gluten free. Questions? Feel free to reach out to PTApresident@rosselementary.org.
Maryland Basketball is inviting local families to enjoy select games for free this season! Claim up to two complimentary tickets — one for your child (17 and under) and one for a parent or guardian — and experience the excitement of Terrapin hoops together. It’s the perfect way to introduce young fans to the energy, pride, and fun of Maryland Basketball!
Deadline to claim tickets is tonight at 9 pm. Click here to claim yours for the Women's Basketball game on November 23rd and/or the Men's Basketball game on December 28th.
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
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.