Mid-Year Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison Families,

As we wrap up an energizing and joyful first half of the school year, we want to take a moment to thank you for being such an important part of the Hyde-Addison community. Whether you joined us at an event, volunteered your time, supported a fundraiser, or simply showed up with your enthusiasm and encouragement—you’ve helped make this year truly special.

At Hyde-Addison, every family is automatically part of the PTA. There’s no sign-up, no dues or required commitment—just a shared dedication to supporting our students and strengthening our community. Our work centers on:

• Supporting the school’s educational mission

• Promoting the well-being and success of every student

• Building and sustaining a connected, inclusive school community

• Raising funds that enrich learning and create meaningful opportunities for all students

We’re incredibly thankful for the PTA volunteers, Room Parents, and caregivers who make our community thrive. Together, families have stepped up to fill over 110 volunteer positions for PTA events so far this year—an amazing reflection of the care and dedication that make Hyde-Addison so special. Every act of involvement—big or small—helps make Hyde-Addison the welcoming, connected community our children deserve.

This fall has been filled with connection, celebration, and momentum—and we’re excited for everything still ahead. Read below to recap everything we've already done and what's to come!

Thank you for being such an essential part of the Hyde-Addison community. Here’s to a wonderful second half of the school year—together.

With gratitude,
The Hyde-Addison PTA Executive Board

Stay connected & get PTA updates from:

The Hyde-Addison Family e-Newsletter on Fridays • Konstella • Instagram • hydeaddisonpta.org

Questions or ideas? Email us anytime at pta.hydeaddison@gmail.com — we love hearing from you!

It has been an incredibly full and joyful start to the school year! Here’s a look back at all the events & support our PTA has provided to our community:

Thanks to the collective support of our families, friends, and community partners, our fall fundraising efforts are off to a strong start. Every dollar raised helps close the DCPS funding gap and ensures Hyde-Addison students have enriching learning experiences, well-supported teachers and a vibrant school community. Here are key takeaways from the PTA financials and fundraising so far this year.

• Funds Raised: As of November 30, the PTA has raised just over $107,000 (gross), putting us at 71% of our $150,000 approved budget goal for the year.

• Reserve Funds: The PTA maintains reserves consistent with nonprofit best practices. These funds help ensure financial stability, allow us to respond to unexpected needs, and support thoughtful planning for future school priorities so we can continue supporting Hyde-Addison students, staff, and families year after year.

• The 12th Annual Great Envelope Race remains the PTA’s primary fundraising driver, accounting for nearly 70% of all funds raised so far this year. It had a banner year, achieving 43% family participation and raising $64,460—a new record in both categories for Hyde-Addison. All of your contributions —big or small— made this a success.
  

• The School Supply Sale is the second-largest contributor so far, generating over $11,000 of total funds with a record-breaking 269 orders filled, ensuring every classroom started the year with essential supplies. The sale would not have been possible without our family volunteers who helped deliver supplies to classrooms before the first day of school.
  

• Business sponsorships were introduced as a new initiative this year, and we’re proud to share that we have exceeded our inaugural goal. To date, eight sponsors have contributed a combined $4,500, representing just over 5% of total fundraising.
  

• Community-based efforts—such as Double Good Popcorn, restaurant collaborations, shopping events, and swag sales—collectively add meaningful support and diversify our fundraising streams.

• Double Good Popcorn Sale: With 147 supporters, this quick fundraiser resulted in $7,521 in sales, and raised $3,760 directly benefiting Hyde-Addison.*These funds aren’t reflected in the Nov. 30th fundraising total above because December financials are still ongoing.

• Restaurant Collaborations: Events including Manny & Olga’s Monday’s, Taco Tuesdays at Los Cuates, Wingo’s Wednesdays, Thai Chi Happy Hours, and one-time partnerships with DIG and Call Your Mother have generated over $1,200—more than triple our goal for this point in the year.

• Smaller events like Clare V Shopping, Movie Night and Parent–Teacher Night Out were designed primarily as community-building opportunities, with modest fundraising impact (Movie Night is not classified as a fundraiser, but happened to have a net positive this year due to event donations).

• The vast majority of PTA-raised funds (83.3%) have been directed to school administration use, meaning funds are primarily being applied directly to support school operations, classrooms, staff, and student needs.
  

• A relatively small portion of funds is used for PTA-led expenses, including:
  

• End-of-calendar-year gift cards for teachers and staff (5.2%), recognizing and appreciating all Hyde-Addison staff & teachers who support our students every day.
  

• Operational costs (5.2%), such as required nonprofit filings, insurance, and essential platforms that allow the PTA to function responsibly and effectively (*note these items are front-loaded at the beginning of the fiscal year).
  

• Additional targeted investments include:
  

• Family Support & Grocery Assistance (3.7%), helping ensure families have access to essential resources.
  

• Events (2.1%) that build community and connection.
  

• Gardening materials (less than 1% due largely to family donations) supporting schoolyard care, while strengthening community-building.

We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our Mid-Year PTA Check-In Survey. Your feedback is incredibly important—it helps us understand what’s working well, where we can improve, and how we can better support all Hyde-Addison families. The survey is anonymous and only takes a moment, and we hope to hear from as many families as possible.

🌟 TAKE THE SURVEY HERE! 🌟

• Spring Gala planning kicks off

• Another e-Newsletter coinciding with Final Friday #2 highlighting the PTA "Preferred Vendor Handbook" and our annual business sponsors, committee updates, ways to get involved, and much more!

• Morning Mingles & TaiChi Happy Hours continue in the new year coinciding with Final Fridays

• Community Valentine-Making Project for hospitals and nursing homes

• Valentine’s Day Bingo

• Launch of our First-Ever (!!) Read-A-Thon Challenge

• March Madness PTA Bracket Challenge

• PTA General Body Meeting #3

• Ongoing quadrant playdates and other community building events

• Continued staff appreciation days and celebrations

• And plenty more–stay tuned for more details!

As we close this midyear update, we want to once again thank our families for the energy, generosity, and support you bring to Hyde-Addison. Every family is valued, every voice matters, and every child truly benefits when our community shows up in ways that work for them. We are also deeply grateful to our incredible teachers, staff, and administration, whose dedication and care make our school such a joyful and nurturing place for students to learn and grow.

We’re excited for the second half of the school year and all the opportunities it will bring for connection, celebration, and continued enrichment. Wishing you and your families a restful winter break and a bright, happy New Year—we can’t wait to see you back at school in 2026!