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.

November 28th: School Nurse Community Meeting 6PM-7:30PM

November 28th: School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2023 @11 am.

November 30th: Virtual PTA Facilities Committee Meeting @7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

December 2nd: EdFest

December 4th-7th: Scholastic Book Fair at JOW

December 4th: Virtual PTA Events and Fundraising Committee Meeting @8PM via Zoom.

December 4th: School Report Card – OSSE and SBOE Engagement Sessions 6PM-7PM

December 6th: Stuart Hobson Middle School Virtual Open House 6PM-7:30PM

December 7th: Lifetouch Picture Retake Day

December 7th: Literacy Night

December 7th: The JOW Winter Spectacular

December 20th: Last Day of After-School Programming

December 22nd-January 2nd: Winter Break No School For Students

January 3rd: Students return from Winter Break

January 15th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (DCPS Closed)

January 26th: No School for Students...PD/Records Day for Staff

The SY23-24 Impact Aid Surveys are now available. Each year, DCPS asks all families to complete the Impact Aid survey to generate additional federal funds for DCPS. The surveys will be fully electronic using the Seamless platform. All eligible applications received by December 22 will be submitted as part of the initial application due on January 31, 2024. We are kindly asking all families to complete one survey per child in the household. Please see below for the link to complete the survey.

Impact Aid Website

Here are the survey links:

1. English: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_English

2. Spanish: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Spanish

3. French: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_French

4. Amharic: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Amharic

5. Vietnamese: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Vietnamese

6. Chinese: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Chinese

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and we couldn't be more excited! Today is #GivingTuesday, which marks the official start of our annual Cardinal Giving Drive activities. Our 2023 Cardinal Giving Drive goal is $10,000. Tax-deductible donations can easily be made online here. Will you help us meet our goal by December 31, 2023?

Your financial support funds vital programming and activities for our students and staff throughout the school year, such as:

• Community events (Fall Festival and Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Outdoor Movie Night, playdates, Literacy Night, Spelling Bee, Game Night, Math Night, Career Day, Field Day, etc.)

• Cardinal Grants: Grade-level program support, classroom mini-grants, and enrichment & community grants

• Enrichment programming and support for sports & clubs

• Facilities support: Teachers’ lounge makeover, new washing machine for ECE, recess equipment storage

• PTA Meetings: Food and childcare so we can regularly come together in-person

• And so much more!

All donations directly support J.O. Wilson students, staff, and families. It’s more than just financial contributions, we also invite you and your network to give your time and talents to J.O. Wilson.

PTA Facilities Committee Meeting (Virtual)

Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Join us to talk about modernization, street safety around school and other facilities projects.

Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/JOFACILITIES

PTA Events and Fundraising Committee Meeting (Virtual)

Monday, Dec. 4, at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Join us for updates and learn how to assist with the ongoing Giving Drive and the upcoming Camp Fair.

Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/FundEventsDec23Mtg

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school. Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from Dec. 4-7 in the Parent Center. Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy. Scan the QR code for more information.

If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jowilsonelementaryschool1

Link your VIC card to J.O. Wilson through Harris Teeter's Together in Education program. Give your cashier the code 1267 and your VIC card when you check out. As a reminder, you must re-link your rewards card every school year.

Lifetouch will be visiting our school on Thursday, December 7th, to offer retake opportunities for student photographs. If you're interested in having your child's picture retaken, this is the perfect chance. Please note that school uniforms are not required on this day, so students can dress in their favorite outfits. Don't miss this opportunity to capture your child's memorable school moments!

Wondering what to give your scholar's teacher this year? Please help our teachers with the items they need to engage our students in fun and enriching activities. You can give directly to J.O. Wilson teacher projects on Donors Choose, where all donations will receive matching funds for #GivingTuesday, TODAY ONLY.

Amazon and iD Tech are partnering once again to sponsor students ages 11-18 to participate in a fully-funded six-month enrichment program bringing the magic of STEM to life. Amazon AHEAD is designed for under-resourced youth residing in the Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, or Washington, D.C. (DMV) metro areas. Selected applicants will attend this innovative program delivered by iD Tech, the world’s top STEM educator, and will be immersed in hands-on learning through a custom curriculum enhanced by Amazon.

To qualify, candidates must:

• Be an under-resourced youth ages 11-18.

• Reside in one of the following metro areas: Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, or Washington, D.C. (DMV)

• Have a desire to learn STEM.

• Some prior STEM exposure recommended.

• Participate in a six-month program from January-June 2024

• Attend two monthly sessions online.

• Attend one in-person session at the beginning of the program.

• Previous AHEAD scholarship recipients are not eligible

For more information, visit www.iDTech.com/amazon-ahead.

The flyer link can be found here (Note: the flyer has a QR code that brings you to the application)

To apply, complete the application found here. Deadline is December 6, 2023.

Questions? Contact hello@iDTech.com

Check out the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Drama Players as they star in the award winning winter performance, The Addams Family! Experience the ghoulish characters who bring us a story of friendship through adversity.

Showtimes are:
Friday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m.

The Saturday 1 p.m. show is Feeder Day! Meet other families from Stuart-Hobson's feeder schools and hear from Principal Fraser at a reception afterward. Purchase tickets here: tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players.