Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison Community,

It was great seeing so many of you at the Harvest Festival! Thank you for showing up to support our students. They had a great time showing off their costumes and they were soooooo cute 🤗!

Be sure to carefully read the News & Updates section below. There are great opportunities for our community to come together in the month of November including Math Night. We hope you can join us! Enjoy the long weekend! We look forward to welcoming students and families back on Wednesday, 11/4.

Here are a few reminders and highlights for the next few days:

• No school for students on 11/2, 11/3, and 11/11.
• Math Night will take place on 11/10 from 5:30-7:00pm. Let's pack the house!
• Student Portrait Make Up Day is 11/24.
• Thanksgiving Break is 11/25 - 11/27.

Standing Announcements:

• Planning to volunteer in the classroom or chaperone a field trip? You must first complete DCPS' volunteer clearance process. It takes just a few minutes and the clearance is good for two years. You can find out more information here: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-fingerprinting-background-check-and-id-badge-processes-and-requirements .
• Attendance: Every day counts! We appreciate your partnership to ensure students are in school every day, on time (in their line spots by 8:25), and ready to learn. We understand the importance of having memorable shared experiences as a family, but we strongly encourage you to consider scheduling family trips during scheduled DCPS breaks. Please note that family vacations do not count as excused absences.

From DCPS:

Java with Jackson: Coffee and Conversation with Chancellor Kim Jackson

Join Chancellor Jackson for Java with Jackson, a series of community conversations hosted at local coffee shops across the District. Families, educators, and community partners are invited to meet Chancellor Jackson, share experiences, ask questions, and help shape the future of DC Public Schools. Register here.

Dates & Locations:

• Thursday, November 19, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Ebenezer’s Coffee, Ward 5 & 6

Registration is not required, and attendees may join a coffee in any Ward, regardless of residence or the location of their school.

Warm regards,

Kim Bigelow

Interim Principal, Hyde-Addison Elementary School

Parents, it’s time to put those long-forgotten multiplication tables to good use! Join us for a night of

hands-on math sessions that will help you navigate this “new math”. Whether you’re a math whiz or just trying to remember what 7x8 is, this night is for YOU. Come learn math concepts, how we’re making it fun and accessible for your kids, and maybe even pick up a few tricks for yourself!

Bring your best math face and we will see you on Tuesday, November 10th from 5:15-7:00pm.

Childcare will be provided for all Hyde-Addison students and will open at 5:15pm. You must sign up for childcare, even if your child is in Champions.

Welcome to "Hyde & Shine"—a section of our family newsletter dedicated to celebrating the amazing accomplishments of our students and the moments that make them proud!

• 💙 DCPS No School 1-Day Camp Resources: Check out our website if you need last minute childcare for Monday or Tuesday!
• 🏁 JUST ONE DAY LEFT TO JOIN--The Great Donation Race Ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, 10/31! This is our largest fundraiser and primary annual direct appeal to Hyde-Addison families! Our goal is to raise $60,000 and have 100% family participation. The suggested donation amount is $500/child, but donations of any size are appreciated and help fund field trips, classroom enrichment, teacher appreciation, community events, and more—and there are participation perks at every level! Anyone can contribute so tell grandparents, aunts/uncles and friends! Learn more here.
• 📣 DOUBLE YOUR DONATION! Thanks to a few generous donors, all contributions of $50 or less made through October 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,500 (Give $10, and our school gets $20)! This is a fantastic opportunity to unlock an extra $2,500 for Hyde-Addison. Every family counts and every dollar makes DOUBLE the impact! Don't miss your chance to help us finish strong.
• 🍦 All classes that reach 100% participation OR the three classes with the highest participation win an ice cream party!
• The 3 classes currently in the lead: Ms. Taylor (92%), Mrs. Romano (82%) & Ms. Shields (78%) --> see Konstella for the full classroom participation breakdown!
• 🚨 Current School-Wide Participation: 41%
• 🌟 Participate here through 11:59 PM on Sat (10/31): One-time Payment or 10 Monthly Payments
• ♥️ We'll announce the results of the 2026 Great Donation Race at School-Wide Meeting next Friday, Nov. 6th.
  
• 📰 The First PTA Quarterly Newsletter Is Here! Packed with important updates, upcoming events, fundraising progress and plenty of need-to-know information you won't want to miss! Read the first issue here!
• 📣 New Swag Alert: We have new Hyde Pride swag!
• Includes: blankets, adult and youth hoodies, adult tees and everyone's favorite tie-dye shirts restocked in youth sizing only of multi-color and orange tie-dye!
• Get your swag now online for backpack mail.
• 🍂 Fall Gardening & Schoolyard Clean-Up: Saturday, Nov. 7th | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Hyde-Addison Schoolyard.
• Help us spruce up our school grounds for fall! Bring your gardening gloves, shovels, yard bags, leaf blowers and helping hands. Closed-toe shoes encouraged! Learn more here!
• 🎉 Parent & Teacher Night Out: Thursday, Nov. 19th | L'Enfant Gallery, a proud SY 2026–2027 PTA Annual Business Sponsor!
• Join Hyde teachers, staff and fellow parents for a fun, relaxing adults-only night out! Purchase your tickets and book those babysitters now! Champions aftercare is available for students already enrolled in the program (due to liability requirements) and no night-of drop-ins permitted. If you're not enrolled in Champions, book your sitters now because you aren't going to want to miss this!
• 👉Get your tickets here!
• 🍁 Growing Gratitude- Help our Hyde Pride Tree grow by adding your "Leaf Shout Out" for teachers, staff or the PTA here and we'll add them to the tree!
  
• 🔍 Lice Treatment Kits: The Hyde-Addison PTA is offering FREE over-the-counter lice treatment kits to families experiencing financial hardship. If your child currently has lice and the over-the-counter treatment kit(s) are cost prohibitive, you may anonymously request one kit per person for anyone living in your household, including parents/guardians and siblings. No questions asked. Click here for more information & to request a kit --> please read the form information entirely.
• 👉 Stay Connected with Your PTA:
• Join Konstella (and your classroom(s)!)
• Follow Us on Instagram
• Visit Our Website
• Check out the PTA Bulletin Board inside the school lobby
• Email us

Registration for Active Play's Winter Season Closes this Week!

Registration for the Winter season of Active Play enrichment closes Friday, October 30th. For all program details — including the catalog, class descriptions, pricing, and registration information — please visit the website: https://www.activeplayllc.com/hydeaddisonelementary

Enrollment is first come, first served. If a class reaches capacity, you’ll have the option to join a waitlist for your preferred class. If your family needs help covering the cost of Active Play after school enrichment, or if you have any questions, please contact: hydeenrichment@activeplayllc.com.

Sincerely,

Active Play

With the holiday season fast approaching, we acknowledge that some families may require additional assistance. To indicate if you would benefit from some support, kindly click on the link provided below.

Holiday Outreach - Parent Referral SY2627

While completing the form does not guarantee selection, we aim to support as many families as possible. This information will only be shared with our Student Support Team.

Save the date for our 2nd Annual Turkey Trot on Tuesday, November 24! We look forward to celebrating together before the break.

More details coming in November! 🍂

The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) protects students’ safety while providing a supportive school climate that encourages fun and learning. This guidance provides schools with information about outdoor play in the midst of intense weather conditions.

Cold Weather Clothing Guidance:

The following temperatures correspond to what children should wear at those temperatures:

 Below 60 degrees: Jacket or long sleeve recommended

 Below 50 degrees: Coat and long pants recommended

 Below 40 degrees: Gloves and hats with previously recommended gear necessary

 Below 32 degrees: Indoor recess or physical activity

Additional information can be found here.

As we move into cold and flu season, let’s work together to keep our school community healthy!

The attached graphic shares five ways to support children’s health. Please also remind your child to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing, throw used tissues away, and wash their hands afterward.

If your child is unwell, please keep them home so they can rest and recover. Thank you for helping us care for one another! 💙

We are pleased to report that the spring DCPS Panorama Survey results have arrived. Please see several key data points below. When officially published by the district, family facing data will be available on the OSSE school report card, at schoolreportcard.dc.gov, in the school climate section.

The event is designed for families with children ages 3 and up, and The Tunnel's scarier experience is ideal for ages 8 and up. Costumes are encouraged, especially on Halloween!

Dates: Friday, Oct. 30, 5–9 PM; Saturday, Oct. 31, 12–4 PM; Sunday, Nov. 1, 5–9 PM

Location: Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD

Tickets and details: www.MysteryMansion.org

American University's Cheer and Dance Teams are hosting our annual Jr. Eagles Cheer & Dance Clinic for grades K-6 on Saturday, January 16th.

At the clinic, the participants will practice cheer and dance fundamentals and then learn a short halftime routine, which they will perform later that afternoon at Bender Arena during the AU women's basketball game!

Feel free to register using this link: https://aueaglestickets.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2465

Additional information:

• The cost is $50 per participant for early registration ($60 after 12/1/26), which includes the participant's clinic registration, game ticket, commemorative t-shirt, and on-court halftime performance.

• The clinic will start at 9:15 AM on Saturday, January 16th in the Meltzer Center building on American University's campus. Sign-in / t-shirt pick up will start at 8:45 AM.

• The clinic will run from 9:15 - 11:45 AM. Parents/guardians will need to pick up their child at 11:45 AM.

• The women's basketball game starts at 1:00 PM. Participants are welcome to cheer on the Eagles in the stands with the AU Cheer and Dance Teams during the first half of the game. They will perform a short routine with the AU Cheer and Dance Teams during the halftime of the game, approximately 1:45 PM.

• Space is limited, so don’t wait to register!

The SY26–27 Family Handbook is available below. Please take time to review it for important information about school policies, procedures, expectations, and resources for the upcoming school year.

The current DCPS policy prohibits students from accessing a cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day while on DCPS school grounds, aligning with our school’s current cell phone policy. Personal electronic communication devices include some wearable devices such as smart watches or Bluetooth headphones, laptops, tablets, and other future personal electronic communication devices.

For more information, please click the link below:

DCPS Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device policy

We encourage all families who are interested in volunteering or serving as chaperones on school field trips to complete the volunteer clearance process as early as possible. Processing times can vary, and completing the requirements in advance will ensure you are eligible to participate in upcoming school events and excursions.

All volunteers, including parents, must complete the DCPS Clearance process before volunteer services can be provided. Please send a proof of your completed clearance status to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

If your child needs to take medication or requires medical treatment during school hours, please have your medical provider complete the appropriate forms, which may include the Medication and Treatment Authorization Forms, the Asthma Action Plan and the Action Plan for Anaphylaxis. Please email forms to hyde.Addison@k12.dc.gov and ask them to be submitted to the nurse. We will confirm receipt.

If your child needs a dietary accommodation, your provider should also complete the Dietary Accommodations Form. Please submit the completed form to dietary.forms@k12.dc.gov and cc hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

At DC Public Schools (DCPS), we are committed to the safety and security of our students. Beginning in School Year (SY) 2026–2027, all students in grades PreK–5 will be required to have a completed and signed Elementary Student Dismissal Authorization Form on file.

The Elementary Student Dismissal Authorization Form has two parts:

• Part 1: Authorization to Release (Required for all students in PreK–5)
  This section asks you to list the adults who are authorized to pick up your child, if needed, during the school day or at dismissal.

  
  

• Part 2: Permission to Self-Dismiss (Required only if applicable for students in grades K–5)
  This section allows you to give permission for your child to self-dismiss—either alone or with an older, authorized child-- at the end of the school day. Please note that only students in grades K-5 are eligible to self-dismiss, and DCPS recommends students in K-3 dismiss with an older, authorized student rather than alone. Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students should be picked up by a parent or authorized adult and may not be released to another elementary-age child.

You can learn more about the form, including recommendations for completing it, on the DCPS website. You may download a fillable version of the form online or pick up a paper copy from our main office at any time.

Required Task: Please complete a separate form for each child and submit completed forms to the main office or via email to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov by the first day of school:

• Monday, August 24, 2026, for students in grades K–5

• Thursday, August 27, 2026, for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students

  
  

Thank you for helping us keep your child safe and accounted for each day.

Attendance is a top priority for both DCPS and Hyde-Addison ES, as consistent, on-time attendance is essential to student achievement, growth, and overall success. We encourage families to review the DCPS Academic Calendar below or directly on the dcps.dc.gov website, to plan vacations, appointments, and events in a way that supports uninterrupted learning throughout the school year.

During the school year, please notify the school every time your student is absent. Excuse notes must be emailed to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov within 5 school days after the student’s return to school for the absence to be excused, in alignment with DCPS Attendance policies. (Classroom teachers cannot excuse absences.)

DCPS is pleased to announce the release of the SY 25-26 Feeder, Middle School, and High School Booklets. These comprehensive booklets provide essential information including school overviews, programming details, geographic and programmatic feeder patterns, and much more.

Please find attached a message from DC Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee regarding changes to sibling phase-in policies for students enrolling in 9th grade in School Year 2026-2027 and later.

For students and families:

• OCTO Student & Family Call Center – Assists parents and students with technical and password issues. Contact number is: (202) 442-5885 (Option 1).

DCPS is committed to creating a discrimination-free environment for all students. To meet this commitment, DCPS is focused on creating an environment in which we eliminate opportunity gaps, interrupt institutional bias, and remove barriers to academic and social success, particularly for students of color. Please review the following policies regarding anti-discrimination within DCPS.

DCPS Anti-Discrimination Policy

When you receive the Family Newsletter by email each Friday, as well as most other school-wide communications, you will have the option to view it in a web browser. Accessing the newsletter this way allows for automatic translation into over 20 languages and provides enhanced accessibility features, including high-contrast display settings and adjustable font sizes for improved visibility.

All Family Newsletters will also be archived on the Hyde-Addison website https://hydeaddisondc.org/home throughout the year for your ongoing reference.

Oct. 30: PD for Staff / No School for Students

Nov. 2: Half-Day Records & Half-Day Wellness / No School for Students

Nov. 3: No School for Students or Teacher

Nov. 11: Holiday for Students, Teachers, and Staff

Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving Break / fNo School for Students or Teachers

First Tuesday of Each Month: LSAT