Principal's Bulletin

Ross Elementary School November 14, 2021

Principal's Message

November 14, 2021

Week 2 of Term 2

Dear Ross Families,

Thank you to LSAT parent and Ward 2 Ed Council Chair, David Alpert and PTA President and LSAT Secretary, Amanda Tyler for offering testimony at the recent budget hearing. DCPS is hosting a parent information session on the new budget model Wednesday, November 17 at 5:30pm.

Learn more about next Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which covers the 2022-2023 School Year, and how the revised model will make our process more transparent.

Register at bit.ly/dcpsbudget

Join Wednesday at 5:30pm by going to bit.ly/dcpsbudget1117

One of the PTA's biggest fundraisers of the year next to the auction is our annual Holiday Tree and Bake Sale, on Super Saturday, December 4. We need your help to make this event a success. Please see the attached flier for information about pre-orders and to volunteer.

Volunteer to help sell trees
Volunteer to donate baked goods (homemade) to the bake sale
Volunteer for a shift at the Bake Sale table
Volunteer to lead/support simple craft making with children
Volunteer to help with sandwich making for Martha's Table
Pre-order a tree or wreath here: https://rosspta.square.site/ (scroll down)
Donate to the Ross PTA/Fall for Ross campaign (in lieu of annual membership drive) http://rosselementary.org/fall-for-ross/

Warm Regards,

Holly Searl, Principal

holly.searl@k12.dc.gov

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Green Christmas Tree Sale Opening Flyer with hyperlinks.pdf

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Monthly Cultural Recognition Board: Seeking Family Photos

The K-1 Fantastic Flamingos, along with our Inner Core team, are in charge of our school-wide December Cultural Recognition Bulletin Board. Please see the message below from Ms. Emminger for ways you can help followed by the remaining months/topics and classes who are assigned to create the board.

In December, the first floor bulletin board at Ross will focus on the “Seasons of Light,” which includes (but is not limited to) the late Fall/early Winter holidays of Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, and solar New Year.

We want to recognize and honor how Ross families celebrate the “Seasons of Light,” and we need your help!

Please email K1 teacher, Ms. Emminger (kelly.emminger@k12.dc.gov), a photo of your family celebrating one (or more) of the holidays listed above (or another light-based holiday that occurs in Fall/Winter) and we will print and post it on the bulletin board for the students and staff of Ross to view. We will also create a virtual bulletin board where parents will be able to view all the photos submitted.

In your email to Ms. Emminger (kelly.emminger@k12.dc.gov), please include the following:

photo of your family celebrating the holiday
name of the Ross student(s) in the photo
name of the holiday being celebrated
optional: a brief description that you would like to share with the community of how your family celebrates the holiday

All emails that are received by or before November 29 will be included in the bulletin board.

Remaining Months/Staff POCs

January: Lunar New Year/Year of the Tiger (Inner Core, Flamingos and Narwhals)

February: Black History (Inner Core & Daring Dogs)

March: Women’s History (Inner Core & Helpful Hyenas)

April: School Library and Poetry (Inner Core, Ms. Juriga is POC)

May: AAPI (Inner Core & Persistent Puppies)

June: LBGTQ (Ms. Adams and Ms. Clark)

COVID Vaccine Locations for Ages 5-11

Information on sites in DC receiving initial vaccine doses for children.

Children who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they are close contacts of a case in school.

Attendance Reminders & Travel Guidance

Please find the DCPS attendance policy attached.

Include Mr. Salazar on any communications regarding absence/tardy notices.

Family travel is not excused per DCPS policy.

The Mayor's travel guidance does not require quarantine or testing after travel out of DMV, but it is recommended.

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Attendance Policy (SY 2021-22).pdf

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Health and Safety

DCPS will now test 20% of the student population every week.

NEW: Starting November 8, Ross testing day is now on Mondays at 10:00am

If your child successfully tests, you will receive a letter in backpack mail.

Shield T3 Helpdesk Phone # 833-762-0762

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).

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Patient portal login_k12_dc_parent_FINAL.pdf

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