PTA Updates

Thank you to all who have contributed to the school supplies' drive. For those who haven't: Ross families are asked to contribute $100/student to cover the cost of school supplies for the coming year. You can place your order here! The PTA provides funds to Ross teachers to purchase what they need for their students and classrooms. This saves parents a trip to the store and ensures equity among students.

Please order your children's school supply packages by August 25th! In your order, you can also donate additional funds to help support families who aren't able to cover the full amount.

Teachers and the PTA are seeking room parents to help serve as liaisons between the classroom and PTA and to support parent relationships and bonding in the classrooms. Room parents help the teachers identify chaperones for field trips and also communicate about monthly birthday celebrations and class events such as the Valentine's Party. Much of the role can be done via email. We are seeking room parents for all classes except Grades 2 and 5. Please reach out to holly.searl@k12.dc.gov if you would like to volunteer.

EDCJCC afterschool registration opened (and filled quickly) earlier this month. If you have questions about availability or to share concerns, contact abodner@edcjcc.org.

A Ross parent is now offering Growth Club, a new afterschool offering that will provide home-based coaching for small groups of students after school, including:

• Mondays: 4th and 5th grade math
• Thursdays: 3rd and 4th grade math
• Fridays: 4th and 5th grade math + journaling

All sessions will run until 6:15 pm with parents or caregivers picking up their students from 1417 Q ST NW. Please register directly with: andreajdoughty@gmail.com. Contact Principal Searl for confidential scholarship information.

This summer, we elected a new PTA board (meeting recording and presentation). We're still looking for a VP for Fundraising to join our board for the 2023-2024 school year:

• President: Liz Lowry
• VP for Community Building: Becky Ballard
• VP for Fundraising: (open)
• Secretary: Melanie Mayhew
• Treasurer: David Rhodes
• Upper Class Representative: Ruchi Shewaramani
• Lower Class Representative: Nikki Chan Lee

Interested in the VP for Fundraising role? Contact PTAPRESIDENT@rosselementary.org.

The EDCJCC is offering an in-person coffee series this fall to help parents navigate supporting children with special needs, provide advice and resources on practical next steps, and connect with other parents who are going through similar experiences. Join them on the second Tuesday of every month to learn from experts about different topics related to diagnosis, evaluation, navigating resources, and other questions, and to build a support network with other parents in similar situations. The series is free to attend, but registration is required. Questions? Email Maura Schmidt at mschmidt@edcjcc.org.

Dupont Circle BID is sponsoring Chess in the Circle students in grades 1-12 on Saturday, August 26, from 9:00am to 11:55am in Dupont Circle park. This tournament is not nationally rated, and students do not need to have any tournament experience to participate, but they do need to know the rules of chess, including castling, stalemate, and the touch-move rule. Registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chess-in-dupont-circle-tickets-690293495427?aff=oddtdtcreator

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.

2023.24 DCPS Calendar

Thursday, August 24: Back-to-School Check-in with Principal Searl (virtual, 7:00pm)

Click here to join the meeting

Friday, August 25: Sneak-a-Peek Open House and Popsicles on the Playground (2:30-3:30pm)

Monday, August 28: First day of school (K-5)

Thursday, August 31: First day of school (PK4)

Monday, September 4: Labor Day Holiday, No School

Thursday, September 14: Back-to-School Night (all grades) 6:00-7:30pm

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.