PTA Updates

Support the Ross PTA's 15th Annual Holiday Tree Sale! The Ross PTA is selling a variety of Fraser fir trees in all sizes (from tabletop to 9’) and festive wreaths. Pre-order online by Nov. 24th for a discount! Pick up at Ross during the sale (weekends of Nov 25 & 26 and Dec 2 & 3). Local delivery also available.

On Friday, November 17, the PTA will organize a potluck breakfast buffet to show our gratitude for Ross teachers and staff. Please sign up here to contribute a delicious treat or help with set up or clean up. All food items must be dropped off the morning of Friday, November 17 between 7:45am and 8:00am in the staff kitchen/lounge. For food donations, please assume you are feeding 12 people, make sure the food is nut-free, and label the dish (make sure to include if a food item is vegan or gluten free).

This holiday season, your gift-giving can support Ross! Find fun, Ross-themed gifts for friends, family, kids, and pets in our new, online holiday store! Order by Nov. 21 to avoid shipping fees, and pick up your items at Ross the week of Dec. 18th. All proceeds support the Ross PTA. Questions? Contact Sarah Berglund at rossmerchandise@gmail.com.

THANK YOU to the 64 Ross families and staff who have donated to our Fall for Ross fundraising drive so far!! We are 77% of the way to our goal of raising $50,000. With over $11K left to raise, we need more help!

We are extending the deadline for our class competition. The class(es) with the most participation by THIS FRIDAY, November 17 will win an extra recess! (Participation is measured as the percentage of families from that class that have made a monetary donation of any amount through the Fall for Ross drive.) Below are the current standings:

Fall for Ross Participation by Class:

• Plucky Panthers (K-Eickmeyer) - 69%
• Wise Wolves (1st) - 58%
• Fearless Ferrets (4th) - 52%
• Brave Blue Jays (K-Sawyer) - 47%
• Friendly Frogs (PK4) - 45%
• Powerful Penguins (3rd) - 34%
• Mindful Meerkats (5th) - 27%
• Kind Cobras (2nd) - 14%

We're asking all Ross families to consider giving at least $50/month ($600 annually) to help the PTA continue to fund operational expenses at Ross and support our community. If $600 isn't possible for your family, please contribute what you can. Everything helps!

Donate today, and help the PTA support Ross!

The annual Holiday Tree Sale and Bake Sale are important fundraising events for Ross and wonderful community-building activities for our school, Ross families, and our neighbors. And we need the support of volunteers to make them a success! Please donate your time to support our school and engage with our community.

The Tree Sale:

• When: The weekends of November 25-26 and December 2-3 on the Ross field.
• How you can help: Volunteers are needed to sell trees onsite and/or deliver trees, in 2-3 hour shifts.
• Sign up to help here!

The Bake Sale:

• When: Saturday, December 2 on the Ross playground.
• How you can help: We are in urgent need of a parent (or parents) to take the lead on organizing the bake sale! Parents who have led the sale in previous years are available to plan and support, but aren't able to lead this year. Email PTApresident@rosselementary.org to help.
• Volunteers will be needed to bake and donate goodies and staff the sale on December 2.

Questions? Email PTApresident@rosselementary.org

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington has offered Ross students free tickets to a holiday show on December 9 at 3:00pm. Last year, the Chorus offered tickets and a group of Ross students attended the show. The Ross PTA is in search of one parent volunteer to be the point of contact for show organizers and for parents/students interested in attending. Contact beckyball@gmail.com if you're interested in coordinating.

We need parent volunteers to help with upcoming open houses for prospective families. Please contact sushmitajena@gmail.com to volunteer.

• Saturday, December 2 (Super Saturday) Time TBD
  
• Thursday, January 18 from 9:00-10:30am

Ross’s first Learning Celebration of the year will occur Tuesday, November 21, from 9:00-9:30am. At this informal event, you will sit with your child for 15-20 minutes as they show and explain the great work they completed during the first quarter of school. The celebration is intended to foster communication between a student and his/her family, and there is no presentation from school staff. Three more Learning Celebrations will occur later in the year (February 2, April 12, and June 7).

The Ross Enrichment Committee would like to know about your family's interest in a potential new after-school STEM program, before-school yoga, and the before-school Spanish program that started this fall. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.

We're looking for someone with WordPress experience who would be willing to help make minor updates to the Ross website. If you're able to help, please email PTApresident@rosselementary.org.

Learn about the origin and significance of the jingle dress and Jingle Dress Dance with dancers Misty Solorio (Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation/Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation), Jennifer Night Bird Miller (Red River Métis), and Nathan Solorio (Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation/Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation). The dancers will be accompanied by father-and-son duo Ralph Zotigh (Kiowa/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo/Isante Dakota Indian) and Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo/Isante Dakota Indian). The performances are on November 24 at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. More information

2023.24 DCPS Calendar

Monday-Tuesday, November 21-22: No EDCJCC Aftercare

Tuesday, November 21: Learning Celebrations (9:00am, your child's classrooms)

Wednesday-Friday, November 22-24: NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Holiday

November 24 - December 3: Holiday Tree Sale & Festival

Saturday, December 2: SUPER Saturday at Ross (Tree Sale, Bake Sale, Book Fair, Open House #2)

Monday, December 11: MySchoolDC Lottery Opens

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

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

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

Saturday, March 2: Ross Auction

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
Facebook: facebook.com/RossElementarySchool/
Twitter: @RossESDC

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.