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.

September 16th: Bob Thurston Invitational (cross country meet) @ 11 AM at Colmar Manor Community Park

September 17th: Back to School Night...Grades PK3-Kindergarten 6:00PM to 8:00PM

September 23rd: DCIAA ES/MS XC Challenge (cross country meet) @ 11 AM at Colmar Manor Community Park

September 24th: Back to School Night...Grades 1st-5th 6:00PM to 8:00PM

September 26th: DCPS Block Party

September 30th: School Picture Day with Strawbridge Studios

October 7th: DCIAA Elementary Cross Country Championships @ 11 AM at Colmar Manor Community Park

October 12th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day...DCPS Closed

October 13th: Parent Teacher Conference

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

Our first Back-to-School Night is this week! Families of PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten students are invited to join us on Wednesday, September 17, from 6:00–8:00 PM. The evening will begin in the cafeteria with opening remarks from school administration, followed by classroom rotations and opportunities to visit vendor and information tables.

Back-to-School Night is an important opportunity to learn about classroom expectations, instructional priorities, and how we can partner together to support your child’s success. We strongly encourage all parents and caregivers to attend. Families in Grades 1–5 will have their Back-to-School Night on September 24 from 6:00–8:00 PM.

Thank you to all of the teachers, staff and parents who volunteered during the homecoming fair on Saturday, and to all of the families and friends who joined us to make the day joyful and fun! We’re especially thankful to ANC 6C for providing a generous grant to help fund much of the event. And special shout-outs to parent Lauren Mendonsa, who secured that grant; to Ms. Shipp and parent Katie Gima, who designed the art project to decorate our new garden boxes; to parent Iesha Parks, who made all the amazing balloon creations; to parent Paul Spires who helped bring us the youth go-go band; and to Ms. Stephenson, who always does ALL OF THE THINGS! This event helped make our new school feel like HOME.

Cardinal Families! As a reminder, J.O. Wilson ES does not allow or accept food deliveries for students from Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, restaurants, or other third-party delivery services. Any student food deliveries from these services will be denied. Families may still bring lunch directly to the school for their child. We appreciate your cooperation as we work to minimize disruptions and keep our school day focused on teaching and learning. Thank you for your continued support.

The time is NOW to handle your DCPS chaperone clearance if you would like to accompany your scholars on trips throughout the year. Trips for younger students visiting the pumpkin patch are coming up, so please complete the process ASAP! The finger-printing and background check process can take a week or more. If you completed your clearance last year, it is good for two years and you will not need to do it again this year.

The DCPS link to begin the volunteer clearance process can be found here, and there is a one-page information sheet here. The steps of the process:

1. Fill out the DCPS clearance form

2. Fill out a T.B. screening assessment form. For most people, this assessment will satisfy the screening requirement.

3. Schedule and complete a fingerprinting appointment. Locations and details are explained in the application portal.

J.O. Wilson in conjunction with DCPS remains a cell phone and personal electronic device-free school throughout the entire school day, including before-care and after-care.

Students should turn off cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, gaming devices, head phones, and other personal electronics when they arrive and keep them stored in a backpack, bag, or designated area. Devices should not be carried or used during the school day unless a staff member gives permission.

Students may access their devices once they have been fully dismissed from school. If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the main office at (202) 698-4733.

The PTA is looking for families to take a week-long shift adopting a teacher’s lounge this school year. Donate snacks, drinks or any other tokens of appreciation (thank-you notes, flowers, decorations, etc.) for our teachers and staff. In our new building, there are three staff lounges — one on each floor. Learn more details and sign up here to take a shift for one or more lounges during a week that works for you.

Cardinal Families, as a reminder, if you need to pick up your child early, please do so before 2:30 PM, as our main office becomes extremely busy as we prepare for dismissal. We also ask kindly families to schedule appointments outside of the instructional day whenever possible.

Early dismissals may seem like a small amount of time, but repeated early departures can quickly add up to hours, and eventually days, of missed instruction. Every instructional minute matters and the loss of instructional time can put students academically at risk; missing as little as 10% of the school year, about 18 days or two days per month, is associated with lower academic performance.

YBA PLAY delivers fun and free instructional clinics to kids, ages 5 to 12 in underserved communities, giving them the chance to learn and love the game of baseball with year-round clinics and summer league teams.

By reducing the barriers to access, both geographic and financial, providing young people with a positive, high-paced, engaging youth baseball experience, YBA PLAY can increase the consistent participation of youth in underserved communities by supporting the emotional and physical development of its participants. YBA PLAY Programming runs year-round and is available to children in Wards 7 and 8. No prior experience is required to participate. Equipment is provided.

YBA PLAY Details:

• Register at no cost at www.ybaplay.com

• Healthy snack, dinner and all equipment is provided at each session.

• Dates: Sept. 14-Nov. 2

• Program Run Time: 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

• Mondays at Ferebee Hope (Ward 8) and Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (Nats Academy) (Ward 7), for boys and girls, ages 5-12

• Wednesdays at Nats Academy, for girls only, ages 5-12.

Fall programming is underway. Register today!

Please join us on Saturday, September 26, at Dunbar High School for the 2026 DCPS Back To School Block Party. There will be free food and fun activities for all ages, including face painting and student performances. Please RSVP at the link here: https://bit.ly/DCPSBlockParty2026

J.O. Wilson parents and guardians are invited to A Literary Feast, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation's signature annual fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 7. Neighbors will host dozens of book-themed dinner parties across Capitol Hill and then meet up at the Hill Center for dessert and a community celebration. No reading required, just great food, great company, and a great cause. Proceeds from the Feast fund the Foundation's grants to neighborhood schools, including J.O. Wilson.

Buy your tickets here:

https://www.aliteraryfeast.org/register-online-and-pay-by-credit-card .

Thank you to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation for their continued partnership and support of our school!

On Saturday mornings for the past six years, Payne Elementary School has offered music, art, movement, and extracurricular classes that complement what the kids learn during the week. Kids can take up to three classes.

You don’t need to be enrolled at Payne to attend. We welcome kids from all schools. About 200 children enroll in Saturday Arts Academy every session, and about 15% of kids in the program attend other Capitol Hill elementary schools.

Here are the classes that are currently available:

• Kindergarten: ukulele, voice, capoeira, robots, ballet, basketball, violin, theater

• First grade: ukulele, voice, capoeira, robots, ballet, basketball, violin, theater, journaling

• Second grade: voice, chess, basketball, ballet, theater, journaling, musical theater

• Third grade: chess, musical theater, voice, journaling

• Fourth grade: chess, musical theater, voice

• Fifth grade: chess, musical theater, voice

PK3 and PK4 classes are currently full. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist, submit the registration form, and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up.

Classes start Sept. 19. Class sizes are limited, and popular options can fill quickly! For more information and to register, click here.

At J.O. Wilson, we know that caring for our minds and emotions is just as important as caring for our bodies. We encourage families to take a few minutes together to pause, breathe, connect, and reset. Whether it’s slow breathing, sharing something you’re grateful for, or simply sitting quietly together, these small moments can help everyone feel calmer, more connected, and ready for what comes next. Small moments can make a big difference—and we are always Stronger Together!