PTA Newsletter

Dear Ross Community,

Yesterday was an exciting time in the neighborhood when the power went out on our slice of T Street all day. Some of the power grid still functioned, so a few outlets and lights worked in our buildings. I've learned a few things about what to do in power outages over the years, and I'd like to add another to the list: after testing all the outlets and lights to see if they have power, remember to turn them off, because when the power does come back on, it will be like the scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation where you can see your house from space. At precisely 10:46 pm, I marked myself safe from the absolute shock of the brightest light ever seen, and I will never do that again. Consider yourself warned.

We have so many exciting events and opportunities coming up, Roadrunners. Enrollment is now open, and there are some really great incentives for getting enrolled on time--see below for details! We have a special coffee truck next Friday for our Learning Celebration, family soccer nights, and a new partnership with Jeni's ice cream! Read on for all the details. I'll see you at that coffee truck next Friday!!

-Aimee

The Ross Auction is just a few weeks away! Bidding online begins on April 20th and we'll gather for a celebratory happy hour at Boogy and Peel on April 25th. Please register ASAP so we can get a good sense of numbers. The auction is our largest fundraiser of the year, and what we most need now are event sponsors! Sponsorship is a great way to help ensure Ross meets its fundraising goal. You can sponsor as an individual, a family, a business--- thank you for supporting Ross Elementary!

The PTA will host a coffee truck for parents, teachers, and administrators the morning of the upcoming Learning Celebration on Friday, April 10th. The District of Colombia (notice the spelling!) Coffee Truck will be parked outside of Ross on R Street from 7:30 am until the Learning Celebration begins at 9:00 am, and will offer free coffee from a menu including brewed coffee, hot tea, iced coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos. Please stop by and have a coffee on the PTA while mingling with other parents before the Learning Celebration begins. We’ll also be selling Ross merchandise, so please peruse the racks!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased tickets so far to either of these two upcoming soccer matches! A portion of each ticket purchase benefits your PTA. A big shoutout to the second grade class for organizing a group outing to the Washington Spirit match. They purchased over 50 tickets! If other classes are interested in organizing a similar outing, please reach out to Joseph Jones. Otherwise, for individual ticket purchases or small group ticket purchases, please use the FEVO links included below!

Cheer on D.C. United as they take on the St. Louis City SC on Saturday, May 16th at 7:30 PM! Watch the Black-and-Red tear it up on the pitch!

This is the moment the stadium comes alive, the crowd surges, and the entire community shows up together and we’re pulling out all the stops to make this a can’t‑miss event for your friends and families. Between the entertainment, the energy in the building, and the match on the pitch, this is the game you absolutely do not want to miss.

Every ticket purchased $3 goes towards Ross Elementary School PTA! Get yours here today!

For groups of 10 or more, please email Quentin Johnson at qjohnson@dcunited.com

Get ready to cheer on the Washington Spirit as they take on the Seattle Reign! We are excited to announce a special Ross Elementary School night at the stadium on Saturday, May 30th. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a professional soccer match with friends and family while supporting our school. The best part? $3.00 from every ticket purchased goes directly to the Ross PTA! The donation is already included in the price, so all you have to do is grab your seats and show up in your Spirit (or Ross!) gear.

• When: Saturday, May 30, 6:30 PM

• Where: Audi Field

• Tickets: Starting at $25

• Buy Tickets Here: Ross ES Fundraising Link

We’re excited to share that enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year is now officially open! Families may complete enrollment online by visiting: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/ To ensure a smooth process, please have all required documents ready to upload, including proof of DC residency and any other necessary forms. Having everything prepared in advance will help avoid delays. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Ms. Segovia at graciela.segovia@k12.dc.gov. We look forward to welcoming your family for another great school year!

This year we will have some fun incentives for the enrollment process!

Friday, April 10: All classes at 50% will have a popsicle party at recess/lunch

Friday, April 8: All classes at 75% will have an extra recess

Monday, June 1: All classes at 100% will have extra choice time

So get your paperwork together and enroll today!🎉

In order to acknowledge all of our students' effort, hard work, and commitment to their school work, the PTA has partnered with Jeni's Ice Creams on 14th Street. As a result, following the release of third term report cards at the end of April, students will receive a free scoop bookmark compliments of Jeni's Ice Creams. Keep an eye out for this tasty reward in students' folders some time in April!

The Panorama Family survey is open now, until Friday, April 3! Please complete the survey and encourage your parent peers to do so as well. https://dcps.dc.gov/surveys

Should you have any questions, Ms. Adams is the Ross POC for Panorama and you may email her at ashlee.adams@k12.dc.gov

Registration is now open for our final term of the school year—Spring Term, beginning April 6, 2026! To view our offerings and enroll, please visit:
https://igeneduacademy.com/aftercare-ross/. We’re looking forward to a STEAM-tastic Spring session filled with hands-on learning, creativity, and fun!

Yoga helps students learn techniques for concentrating, reducing stress, and connecting to their bodies in a loving way while building fitness and having fun.

Breathing Space classes are full of age-appropriate yoga poses, movement games, imaginative play, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques that support gross motor development, fitness, balance, body awareness, language acquisition, and creative expression. Themes may include Yoga philosophy, social-emotional skills, and character development. Class always includes some form of quiet relaxation.

Winter Classes Enrolling: 10 classes from April 1-June 9, Weds @ 8:00-8:40 AM, for $200

Sign up: https://families.breathingspacedc.com/dmn4239/ross-elementary-yoga.html

The book drive committee is looking for volunteers to help with this year's book drive/fundraiser! There will be a rescheduled Zoom meeting Thursday, April 9, at 9:15 am for those interested! Use this link

Parents and kiddos are needed to work some tables May 2nd and 3rd. Please let parent Rachel Markey know if you'd like to join and/or join the meeting that Friday!

Join other dads from the neighborhood tonight (Tuesday, March 31), at 7:00 pm for this month's Dads of Dupont Happy Hour! Join other fathers for support and camaraderie (and a FREE round of beer!) at ECHO BOX (1633 Q St NW). All dads from the neighborhood (from Ross to daycares to the playground) are invited to attend. For updates or questions, please join the DoD WhatsApp group or email PK4 dad Justin Thornton.

Spring is right around the corner and that means Flower Mart will be here before you know it! If you are spring cleaning, moving, or purging unwanted household items, Flower Mart’s White Elephant committee will happily take your stuff. All donations are tax deductible. Gift tax receipts available at drop-off.

ACCEPTED ITEMS: dishware, glassware, silverware, barware, china, crystal, serving platters, bowls & trays, home décor, table linens, jewelry, purses & fashion accessories, decorative pillows & throws, artwork, lamps, mirrors, pots & pans, bakeware &. bowls, kitchen utensils
NON-ACCEPTED ITEMS: furniture, clothing, books, toys, bed linens, curtains, appliances, personal hygiene or food items

DATES : Saturdays – March 28 and April 11
TIME : 10 am to 2 pm

LOCATION : Cathedral Library on South Rd., behind the National Cathedral. This is the same drop-off location as last year. Signs posted along South Rd. will direct you to library. Volunteers available to unload cars. Parking available along South Rd. & directly in front of the library.

MORE INFO: www.flowermartwe.com ( http://www.flowermartwe.com/ )

Flower Mart is May 1 & 2, rain or shine, on the grounds of the National Cathedral. All proceeds from white elephant donations go toward the maintenance and upkeep of the National Cathedral grounds, Bishop’s Gardens & Olmstead Woods. All Hallows Guild & the White Elephant committee greatly appreciate your support & donations.

PS: if you have a big load to donate and can’t make it to our drop off location, please email us at fmwhiteelephant@gmail.com [fmwhiteelephant @ gmail dot com] and we will try to arrange for one of our volunteers to pick up the items at a mutually convenient time.

DCPS School Year 2025-26 Calendar

Key Dates for Ross Families

Friday, April 3: Coffee and Content, Grades K–2 ELA, 8:15 am in the upstairs PD Room

Monday, April 6: NO SCHOOL, Records/PD day for teachers

Wednesday, April 8-Thursday, April 9: Grade 5 Science CAPE Test

Friday, April 10: Learning Celebration Term 3, 9:00am

Monday, April 13-Friday, April 17: SPRING BREAK, NO SCHOOL

Saturday, April 25: Ross PTA Auction Happy Hour, Boogy and Peel, 5-7 pm

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday April 28-30: Grades 3-5 CAPE Testing

Friday, May 1: Enrollment deadline for lottery matches

Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3: Mother's/Father's Day Book Drive

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday May 5-7: Grades 3-5 CAPE Testing

Thursday, May 14: Bike/Roll to School Day

Thursday, June 4: Ross End-of-School Picnic (Stead)

Monday, June 15: 5th Grade Promotion

Tuesday, June 16: No School, Primary Election Day

Thursday, June 18: Last Day of School

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.