PTA Newsletter
February 24, 2026
Dear Ross Community,
This weekend I discovered that I had two tweens, apparently. Am I the best driver? Maybe not the best. I mean ok, I did hit a pothole pretty hard (where did it come from, I still don't know). But instead of my old encouraging peanut gallery in the back seats, one Roadrunner wanted me to know that "if you didn't talk so much while driving maybe you'd see the potholes" and the other aggressively asserted my need for glasses. Aptly, we were listening to K Pop Demon Hunters' "Takedown" at that moment. I knew this was coming, but I didn't know I'd be taken down quite so soon...wish me luck...
An enormous thank you to everyone who attended Bingo Night! Thank you to Libby Franklin for organizing, and to Ms Juriga and Ms Jackson for Bingo calling and checking, and to parent volunteers for distributing pizza. It was a great success! Next on your spring social calendar will be the Ross Auction Community Happy Hour (all details below). We are looking forward to another successful auction and a great celebration on April 25. We will need LOTS of help! Please reach out to Libby at rosselementaryauction@gmail.com if you'd like to donate time or items.
Have a lovely, hopefully snow-free week (with very little backseat-driver judging)🤞
Aimee
As the snow melts, picture a warm April evening. The kids are with a sitter. You are on a Dupont Circle patio, drink in hand, hanging out with the Ross community, and raising money for our school! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25th. We'll gather at Boogy & Peel for a community happy hour (5-7pm) to celebrate the culmination of our silent auction! Grab your tickets now, consider becoming an event sponsor if you can, and reach out to rosselementaryauction@gmail.com if you can help! (Do you have inroads at businesses that could donate items or experiences? Do you have access to a vacation property? Do you have a talent to donate or teach others? Let us know.)
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
This year, in partnership with The Story of Our Schools, our fourth graders and Ms. Juriga are uncovering Ross’s history through archival research, oral history interviews, walking tours, and field trips. This hands-on learning is helping students connect deeply with the community and explore the issues and stories that shape where they live and go to school. In recent newsletters, we've been sharing some of these stories.
At the end of the research process, students and teachers—together with The Story of Our Schools—will design and install a permanent, museum-quality exhibit in our school building to share Ross’s story with the broader Dupont Circle community. We look forward to unveiling it at a public celebration.
We are raising funds—we're at about $10,000 now, with a goal of reaching $15,000—to support the production and installation of a history exhibit in our school. The PTA will match every dollar raised. We are grateful to early supporters—including Dupont Circle ANC 2B, Dupont Circle Citizens Association, Friends of Stead Park, Swift Cleaners, and our school community and neighbors for their generous support
All contributing organizations and individuals will be recognized on a permanent exhibit plaque, and we also will promote supporters through our PTA communications.
We would be grateful if you would consider making a tax-deductible donation and helping us preserve and share our neighborhood’s history. We also would be grateful if you would help us spread the word. Donations may be made online here by February 28, 2026, though contributions are still welcome after that date. If you have any questions, please contact PTApresident@rosselementary.org.
This Open House will feature Juanita Driver, Director of Outreach at Miriam’s Kitchen, who will share an inside look at the extraordinary work her team does every day to connect with our neighbor’s experiencing homelessness. Juanita will share some general knowledge about the work her team does, some client stories, and how outreach has changed under the new administration.
Our Outreach Team is one or can be the first point of contact for individuals living outside — building trust, navigating encampment clear-outs, helping secure documents, and walking alongside guests as they begin the journey toward housing. Their work is complex, relational, and deeply human.
As always, our Open Houses are intimate and conversational and will serve light refreshments as well. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, engage directly with staff, and see how your support fuels this critical work. Doors will open at 11am and Juanita will start her discussion around 11:30am – come before then to mingle and a chance to see the MK dining room.
Please RSVP here: Feb MK Open House Tickets, Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
Friends of Stead Park is excited to host the first ever youth chess tournament at Stead Park. The 2-day event will take place March 28th & 29th and is open to kids from all across the District. This will be a ‘Swiss style’ tournament; elementary age kids will play on Saturday and middle & high school age kids play on Sunday. Scholarship money will be awarded to the winners. The event is free but registration is required. Scan the QR code in the image or click here to register.
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.