Principal's Bulletin

September 19, 2021

Week 4 of Term 1

Dear Ross Families,

Thank you for attending grade level Back to School Nights last week. Content shared at the meetings will be posted in teacher's weekly updates for your reference.

Hispanic Heritage Month launched on September 15. Teachers will recognize the month in a variety of ways with students. There are many family friendly events throughout the area.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/09/15/11-ways-to-celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month-around-dc/

Mural Making event at Cleveland Park Library: https://www.dclibrary.org/node/68793

Students collaboratively create a class identity as part of our Responsive Classroom Social-Emotional Curriculum. You can learn more about Responsive Classroom here.

I am pleased to announce the following class names for 21.22 school year.

PK4: Little Lions

K-1 Emminger: Fantastic Fireflys

K-1 Kim/Guarisco: Nifty Narwahls

K-1 Hailemicael: Fascinating Flamingos

Grade 2: Persistent Puppies

Grade 3: Helpful Hyenas

Grade 4: Powerful Parrots

Grade 5: Daring Dogs

Please note the EDCJCC is closed September 21-22 in observance of Sukkot.

If you wish to be added to the PTA e-newsletter distribution list, please contact:

ptapresident@rosselementary.org

Warm Regards,

Holly Searl, Principal

holly.searl@k12.dc.gov

We currently have a 0% positivity rate with our asymptomatic testing program. Let's continue to keep our community healthy by ensuring children are wearing well-fitting masks and only attending school if they are healthy. Please do not send your children to school if they are ill or displaying symptoms. If you answer "yes" to any of the "Ask, Ask, Look" health screening questions, that means your child should not attend school. If your family has a positive case, or is a close contact and needs to quarantine, please reach out me directly. As Principal, I am the COVID POC for Ross. When we have a case, we will follow all guidance and protocols from OSSE and DCPS. Protocols can be found here.

Free DC COVID Testing is Readily Available for ALL!

We encourage families and students to utilize the city's free and accessible COVID-19 testing regularly. Consider adding this as part of your family's back to school checklist! Did you know that there are options that can do rapid tests at your home? Thank you for helping keep our community safe!

How to Test at Home

Ready Responders

For at-home, on-demand care and COVID testing, call (202) 602-0814. Ready comes to your home, is open 8am to 8pm, seven days per week, and serves all 8 Wards. Ready is currently offering rapid antigen testing only, with results in 15 minutes. If you require a PCR test, please utilize another testing option.

Pixel by LabCorp

Home test kits are available for no out of pocket costs to be delivered to your door: https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/covid-19-test

Safeway Pharmacy

Safeway Pharmacies are now offering quick and easy COVID-19 at home saliva tests through Phosphorus Diagnostics at scheduletest.com

Walk Up Testing Locations

DC also has robust options for walk up COVID-19 testing at sites across the city. The locations and times change regularly, but you can find an overview of the options HERE (scroll down until you see the large graphic with a table underneath it).

Sunrise Scholars and Afternoon Academy begin Tuesday, September 20. These classes are by invitation only. Ms. Adams is the point of contact. ashlee.adams@k12.dc.gov and you can also always contact your child's teacher with questions.

Sunrise Scholars should arrive for health screening/entry no later than 7:55am. Teachers will pick up their groups outside and escort them into classes. Please arrive on time. If you arrive after the teacher has picked up the class, your child will not be admitted. Breakfast will be served in the classrooms at 8:40 instead of the cafe for grades 2-5.

Afternoon Academy ends at 4:30 and students will be brought outside to the front gate area for dismissal.

We are excited to begin our morning enrichments. If your child is registered for an enrichment, you have been notified by email. Please arrive no later than 7:55am for screening/entry. Enrichment teachers will pick up the students outside at 8:00 and escort them to the classrooms. Please arrive on time. If you arrive after the teacher has picked up the class, your child will not be able to attend. Breakfast will be served in the classrooms at 8:40 instead of the Cafe for grades 2-5.

We had more demand than capacity for K-1 Makerspace and 2-3 Coding Club. If you have not been notified that your child was accepted, that means your child is on the prioritized waiting list for the next session, which will begin in November. We will reach out in late October to confirm you are still interested.

We are still waiting on DCPS facilities approval for Chess. We hope to begin in late September.

Zivorad (Ziko) Djuric will be offering fee-based Chess classes before school on the following days:

K-1 Chess: Tuesdays

2-3 Chess: Wednesdays

4-5 Chess: Thursdays (cancelled due to low enrollment, if you registered, Ziko will contact you)

Contact Ziko directly to register and pay. If you need scholarship support, please contact Principal Searl directly.

zikochess@gmail.com

Please note that if you completed the DCPS Consent Forms upon enrollment and DID NOT give media consent, we are unable to take photos of your child on picture day for the class picture and the yearbook. We are also unable to allow your child in any class/school photos of events, field trips or for posting on our weekly updates, school website and social media.

If you wish to change your consent form response, please find a blank form attached to this communication. We will also have hard copy forms available at arrival gates next week.

If you have not yet completed the consent forms, please do so.

Please reach out with any questions.

OSSE has partnered with COVID-19 testing vendor Shield T3 to provide saliva based PCR testing to 10% of the enrolled population in every school each week or 20% following a holiday weekend. At Ross, approximately 16 students will be randomly identified for testing every Wednesday. Your student will be included in the randomized sample unless you complete and return the opt-out form. If you need a paper copy, please ask. You can learn about the testing process by watching this video. Teachers will review the process with students in class. Patient Care Techs (PCTs) will pick selected students up from class and accompany them to the testing vendors. You will receive a letter in backpack mail if your child was selected for testing along with directions for setting up your account in the "point and click" PNC portal to review results. Directions for setting up the account are also attached below. The agency code for Ross is RossES.

There is a Point and Click help desk parents can call for help logging into Shield T3. The number is: 833-762-0762

If you have questions about asymptomatic testing, please reach out to Principal Searl.

Immunization notices were sent home by Nurse Gordon on September 8 if your child is out of compliance. Required immunizations must be completed by October 12 for students to remain in school. Kindly note that the letters are auto-generated by DCPS. Immunization questions should be directed to Nurse Gordon.

Nurse Gordon : cdelancygo@childrensnational.org

All medications must be turned into the nurse along with required medical documentation.

Please submit all required medical and dental forms as soon as they are completed.

If you currently have a Kids Ride Free card from last year, it is valid until September 30.

If you need a new card, please contact Mr. Salazar in the main office.

farley.salazar@k12.dc.gov

Tuesday, September 21: Sunrise Scholars, Afternoon Academy and Enrichments begin; No JCC

Wednesday, September 22: No JCC; "Fall for Ross" launches

Tuesday, September 28: No JCC

Wednesday, September 29: No JCC

Friday, October 1: School Picture Day, Freed Photography

Wednesday, October 6: Walk to School Day

Thursday, October 7: NO SCHOOL, Parent/Teacher Conferences (virtual)

Friday, October 8: NO SCHOOL, PD Day

Monday, October 11: NO SCHOOL, Indigenous Peoples Day

Email: holly.searl@k12.dc.gov
Website: http://rosselementary.org/
Location: 1730 R Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (206)-673-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossElementarySchool/
Twitter: @rossesdc