The Cardinal Connection

At J.O. Wilson Elementary School, we are SOARing to success every day in every way by creating an environment in which joy, pride, positive interactions, and growth mindsets lead students to comfort in taking risks, self-advocating, and facing adversity.

October 26th: ECE Virtual Committee Meeting

October 28th: J.O. Community Dine Out @ Fresca Taquiera (costumes are welcome)

October 28th: NoMa BID’s PumpkinPalooza

October 29th: ECE Fall Parade 9AM-9:30Am

October 30th: PD Day...No School for Students

November 2nd: Records/Wellness Day: No School for Students

November 3rd: Election Day: No School for students and teachers

November 3rd: J.O. Wilson PTA's Election Day Bake Sale

November 4th: LSAT Meeting @4PM

November 11th: Veterans Day: DCPS Closed

November 18th: J.O. Community Dine Out @ Bub and Pop's

November 25th-27th: No School for Students and Teachers

Dear J.O. Wilson Families,

I am thrilled to share some incredible news! J.O. Wilson Elementary School has been named a 2026 DC Bold Performance School by EmpowerK12! This is a tremendous honor for our school community. J.O. Wilson is one of only 21 schools across Washington, DC receiving this recognition, and it is the first time in our school's history that we have earned this distinction!

Although we learned of this exciting news earlier, EmpowerK12 requested that schools keep the recognition confidential until October 23, 2026. Now that the announcement embargo has been lifted, we are excited to celebrate this achievement with our families!

What Does It Mean to Be a BOLD School?

The Bold Performance Schools initiative celebrates schools that are achieving exceptional academic results while serving large populations of students who face economic challenges and other barriers to educational opportunity. Schools are recognized when their students perform significantly better in reading and mathematics than expected when compared to schools serving similar student populations. This means J.O. Wilson is being recognized not just for academic achievement, but for demonstrating that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, can achieve at high levels! This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects our commitment to providing an excellent education for ALL students.

This Is OUR Celebration! To our amazing students, dedicated teachers and staff, and supportive families, this accomplishment belongs to all of us! Your hard work, encouragement, and belief in our students have helped make this possible.

On Thursday, October 29, J.O. Wilson will be formally recognized at EmpowerK12's 10th Anniversary Bold Performance Schools Celebration at the International Spy Museum.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we remain committed to building on our success and ensuring every child at J.O. Wilson continues to learn, grow, and thrive. We are J.O. Wilson. We are BOLD. And our best is yet to come!

Learn More: Visit www.dcboldschools.org to learn more about the award and the 2026 Bold Performance Schools.

With tremendous pride,

Principal Brunson

Has your Cardinal misplaced a jacket, sweater, lunch box, or another personal item? It may be in our Lost & Found! Beginning today through Friday, November 6, we will place a box containing items lost throughout the school year near the ramp by the playground during both morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. We encourage all families to stop by and take a look. You might just find that missing item you've been searching for! Help us to get these items back to their rightful Cardinals! ❤️🐦

**Please note: All unclaimed items will be donated after Friday, November 6**

Does your Cardinal love acting, performing, or being creative? We're excited to explore the launch of our Cardinal Drama Players! Students in grades 3–5 who are interested in theater and performing arts are invited to attend an interest meeting on Wednesday, October 28, from 3:30–4:00 PM in the gym. Whether your child is a natural performer or simply curious about trying something new, we encourage them to come learn more. Let’s help our Cardinals shine on and off the stage!

Fresca Taqueria, located two blocks from school (701 H Street NE), is partnering with the PT. to host a dine-out fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Join other Cardinal families for dinner in the restaurant after school, pick up take-out on your way home, or place a delivery order, and the restaurant will donate a portion of sales back to the school. Just be sure to mention J.O. Wilson when ordering (and use the J.O. Wilson link for online orders). And if you join us in person, Fresca is hosting a costume contest, so feel free to dress up!

Join neighbors starting at 4 p.m. at Alethia Tanner Park for food, FREE PUMPKINS from a “pick-your-own” pumpkin patch, live Minion & Gru costumed characters, live music, book giveaways, selfies with alpacas, and more! Costumes encouraged for people and pets, as we’re hosting the ever-popular costume parade with amazing prizes. Finish off the evening watching Minions & Monsters on the big screen at DC’s best outdoor movie venue! More details and information available here.

Get ready for some fall fun! Our youngest Cardinals will celebrate the season with our 2026 Fall Parade on Thursday, October 29, from 9:00–9:30 AM! Students are welcome to wear fun, age-appropriate, non-scary costumes. Please, no masks. We can't wait to see our little Cardinals dressed up and showing their fall spirit! 🍂❤️

Kids ages 3 to 12 will enjoy new soccer games and a new art project each day, led by friendly, experienced coaches. Camp runs from 9 am to 3 pm, with before care starting at 8 am and after care until 5:30 pm, so the whole day is covered.

J.O. Wilson families get 20% off with the code JOWILSON20 at checkout. Scholarships are also available for families who need them.

Save your spot today: www.dcway.com/camps/one-day-camp

Questions? Contact DC Way at contact@dcway.com.

Cardinal Families,

We need your help to every student is healthy, safe, and in school! We are just 27 students away from full immunization compliance! Families in PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten, please check your child's backpack for a red envelope containing important immunization information. The deadline is December 7, 2026. Students who are not compliant and do not have an approved exemption or other legally recognized basis for attendance may be excluded from school. If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. Stephenson or Nurse Anderson.

We are excited to welcome the Vision To Learn van to J.O. Wilson on Thursday, November 5, 2026! Vision To Learn helps students see clearly and succeed in the classroom by providing vision screenings and access to glasses for students who need them. Clear vision is essential to learning, and we are excited to bring this valuable resource to our Cardinals!

Greetings Families,

We hope you’re doing well! This is a friendly reminder that November Before & Aftercare tuition will be automatically processed on November 1, 2026. As we approach the payment date, please review the important reminders below to avoid declined payments or interruptions in services.

IMPORTANT: NEED TO KNOW

• Payment Date: November 1, 2026.
• Processing Time: Payments are automatically processed between 3:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
• Accepted Payments: Credit and debit cards ONLY. ACH (bank account) payments are not accepted.
• Declined Payment Fee: A $35 fee is automatically applied to declined payments.
• Update Your Card: Make sure your card is valid, unlocked, and has sufficient funds.
• Need Assistance? Contact Ms. Isaacs at 202-440-3919 for help updating your payment information.

WHAT IF MY PAYMENT DECLINES?

If your payment is declined:

1. Your child cannot attend Before or Aftercare until payment is successfully processed.
2. Sawyer will automatically email you a declined payment notification.
3. Sawyer will retry your payment every 24 hours.
4. After 3 unsuccessful attempts over 3 days, with no communication from your family, your child will be removed from enrollment.
5. Re-enrollment must be requested by email and is subject to availability. Placement is not guaranteed.

📅 NEED A PAYMENT EXTENSION?

We understand that payment dates don’t always align with paydays.

Families may request a 1–3 day payment extension before their scheduled payment date.

• Extensions cannot exceed 3 days after the original due date.
• Requests must be made before automatic payment processing.
• Please contact us in advance to request an adjustment.

NEED TO CANCEL OR PAUSE ENROLLMENT?

If you need to make changes to your enrollment, please complete our cancellation form HERE.

• Cancel: Permanently remove your child from the program.
• Pause: Temporarily remove your child from the roster and pause payments until the following month.

You will receive an email confirmation once your request has been processed.

Please remember: Payments are automatically processed on the first of each month unless an approved adjustment has been made.

Thank you for your attention to these reminders and for your continued partnership!

Warmly,
The Future Stars Team

Bub and Pops (100 Florida Ave. NE) is partnering with the PTA to host a dine-out fundraiser on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The restaurant will donate a portion of food sales between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. to the school (dine-in or takeout). And if you join us in person, Bub and Pops has bowling, arcade games, video games, and TVs to keep everyone busy.

Our 4th and 5th graders are headed to Ski Liberty Mountain on Friday, February 19, 2027! The cost is $82 per person, which includes ski equipment, a lift ticket, a lesson, and lunch. What a great opportunity for our students to try something new and enjoy a fun day on the slopes! Please see Ms. Davila or Ms. J. Johnson for additional details.