SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings Stuart-Hobson community,

Thank you for all of your efforts to begin our close-out processes and planning for next school year. While we are still waiting on some details to be finalized, I am excited to join everyone on Wednesday night for an info session about our summer and school-year 2021-22 plans as they stand right now. We are inviting all returning and rising students' families to join us. The session will be recorded and shared afterward if you cannot make it on Wednesday.

Our June 4 enrollment benchmark (90%) is fast approaching and we are 70% of the way towards our goal for next year. Right now the rising 8th grade is leading in our race to 100%. Any grade-level that makes it by June 24th will have a dress-down week during the first term next year!

Also, we have begun matching enrolled students to summer enrichment activities based on responses shared in the SHMS Summer Enrichment Preference Survey. The survey will remain open to students who enroll and/or complete it later.

It's very hard to believe that we only three weeks left in this remarkable school year, let's make the most of them!

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

This Week:

Monday

• A Day - A busy day of teaching and learning!
• Study Hall, 4th period
• Perfect Attendance Ice Cream Pick-Up at SHMS, 1:00-3:00 PM
  

Tuesday

• B Day - A busy day of teaching and learning!
• Advisory & Clubs
• Title I After-School Tutoring, 4:00-5:00

Wednesday

• In-person support program for select students, 9:30-11:45 (AM session) or 1:30-3:45 (PM session)
• Office Hours, 10:00-11:30 AM and 2:00-3:30 PM
• Title I after-school tutoring, 4:00-5:00
• Family Info Session w/Principal Fraser: Planning for Summer and SY 2021-22 (virtual), 6:30-8:00 PM
  

Thursday

• A Day - A busy day of teaching and learning!
• Study Hall, 4th period
• TItle I after-school tutoring, 4:00-5:00

Friday - Sports Day

• B Day - A busy day of teaching and learning!
• Advisory & Clubs

Upcoming Dates

• June 12, Free Physicals for Student-Athletes at Eastern HS, 8:30-1:30 PM
• June 12, Monthly Saturday Tutoring, 9:00-1:00 PM
• June 18, End of Year Assembly (virtual)
• June 23, 8th Grade Promotion Ceremonies (in-person), 10:00 AM & 1:00 PM
• June 23, 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony (virtual), 6:00 PM
• June 24, Last Day of School for Students

Please see the most current version of the academic calendar for School Year 2020-2021.

We are excited to continue offering in-person support with student device troubleshooting and enrollment. Please note that our in-person support is very limited on Wednesdays because we are working with students and families who are in-person. Additionally, because our support staff is not fully in-person, the most efficient way to get support is to call/email and schedule ahead.

Enrollment

Schedule a time to enroll in-person at SHMS any day of the week between 9:30 - 3:30.

We will also be open for in-person enrollment and support on Saturdays June 5th and 12th from 9:00-12:00 in the morning.

Contact Ms. McIlvaine, tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov to get virtual assistance or schedule an in-person appointment now!

Tech Support

Ms. Tomlinson is available by appointment only for in-person student device / tech support at the following times:

Mondays, 9:30-10:30 am

Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 pm

Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 am

Fridays, 12:00-1:00 pm

Email her at jennie.tomlinson@k12.dc.gov to troubleshoot your challenge virtually, schedule an appointment, or to inquire about limited availability for tech support outside these hours.

Need help with something else?

Please email Mr. Howard, devin.howard2@k12.dc.gov or Ms. McIlvaine, tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov, to schedule a visit for other types of assistance.

Thank you to the parents and staff who have represented everyone on the PTA and LSAT this year. We had our last LSAT meeting of the school year this past Tuesday night and I was reminded of how much our school community benefits from the selfless gift of time, service, and effort that so many of our official and unofficial parent and staff leaders make to our students. A big thank you to our representatives who are finishing up their tours and a warm welcome to newly appointed members of both groups! Thank you all!

DCIAA Free Physical Day – Sat, June 12 – Eastern HS

The DCIAA is proud to announce the return of our free physical day for student-athletes. This is a great opportunity for students to complete their paperwork and become eligible for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. Students will need a valid physical on file to participate in any athletic activities over the summer or during the school year.

When: Saturday, June 12 from 8:30am-1:30pm. No registration is needed.

Where: Eastern High School (1700 E Capitol St NE). Parking is available behind the school on A St.

Who: All returning and incoming student-athletes (grades 4-12 in school year 2021-22).

How to Prepare: Parents must complete and sign Part 1 of the Universal Health Certificate (UHC). Students must bring this document with them to the free physical day.

As the end of the year approaches we want to remind everyone of the general DCPS Promotion Policy. Per that policy, students who successfully complete their core courses will be promoted to the next grade level. Students who do not succeed in all core courses and have not been previously retained are eligible for retention this year. However, because of the unique circumstances this year which prevented many students from receiving in-person support and instruction we will make any retention recommendations and decisions in collaboration with families. Where retention is possible, we want to make sure that it is in the best interests of the student.

To support us in making those decisions, we should all remember that the summer and upcoming school year will be characterized with opportunities for students to make-up missed learning (even as they promote to the next grade-level). Our summer programs and plans for instructional recovery during the school year (enrichment period, small group and individual tutoring, etc.) should help most students to accelerate and close any gaps in learning that may have opened up this year. Generally speaking, we believe that we can continue guiding our students towards high school readiness without retaining them at the end of this school year.

If you have any questions about your student's standing, or would like to weigh the possibility of retention with a staff member, please reach out to AP Turner, katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov, or our guidance counselor, Ms. Tomicula Wiliams, tomicula.williams@k12.dc.gov, this week.

The Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) will hold its final meeting of the school year on Tuesday, June 1st at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting agenda and link to join can be downloaded by clicking HERE. For more information and past meeting minutes and recordings, please visit our website.

Here at Stuart-Hobson, we have a robust team of mental health and educational professionals committed to creating an atmosphere of positive behavioral health. To help us understand your perceptions of behavioral health at Stuart-Hobson and assist us in planning for next year, please complete the following survey.

As a reminder, we will begin matching students to summer programs this Tuesday. If you are enrolled for next school year and interested in an offering (all listed below and in previous newsletters) please complete this SHMS Summer Enrichment Preference Survey.

In addition to opportunities provided for students who are participating in our Acceleration Academy or other DCPS programs (also both outlined below), we hope to engage as many additional students as possible in at least one of the "Supplemental SHMS Programs" outlined below. Please complete the survey to indicate which of the programs you would be interested in having your student attend and we will begin confirming program rosters on June 1st.

If you have any questions you can reach out to our summer programs leader, AP Turner, at katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov.

The DCSAA and DC Health are partnering to offer a free vaccination clinic to all student-athletes, coaches, and officials who live, work, volunteer, or attend school in the District of Columbia. All attendees will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. No registration is required. Walk-ins are welcome.

When: Saturday, June 5 from 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-7:00pm

Where: Eastern High School (1700 E Capitol St NE). Parking is available behind the school on A St.

Who: All student-athletes, coaches, and officials age 12 and up. Maryland and Virginia residents are eligible. Parents and family members may also be vaccinated at the clinic.

How to Prepare: Students age 16 and 17 must bring this consent form completed by a parent or guardian. Students age 12-15 must additionally be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adults and students age 18+ only need a valid form of ID.

Cost: Free. DC Health is providing the Pfizer vaccine free of charge.

As we prepare for the return of high-contact sports, everyone should do their part to lessen their risk of acquiring or spreading COVID-19. The safest way to resume play is to get vaccinated. We encourage everyone to get the vaccine. Get in the game and take your shot!

Attached to the newsletter is an official notification from DCPS about the status of annual standardized tests during the 2020-21 school year. As a reminder, because of a waiver obtained by DCPS, we will not be administering most standardized exams (e.g. PARCC) this school year.

DCPS values the safety and security of all our students. Cybersecurity is more important than ever before. As a result, we are resetting student passwords and asking students to create their own unique password. This password is used for logging into DCPS computers and accessing instructional platforms such as Office 365, Canvas, Clever and more. The process to reset the password is easy and will take approximately 3-5 minutes.

REMEMBER: NEVER SHARE YOUR NEW PASSWORD WITH ANYONE.

Your password was reset on Tuesday, May 18th at 2:15 PM. If you have not done so already, here are the instructions to reset your password:

1. Open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) and visit https://portal.office.com.

2. Make sure pop-up blocking is disabled for your browser.

3. Enter your username or pick your account from the list –your username is your ‘student ID’

followed by ‘@students.k12.dc.us’. For example, if your student ID is 1234567, your username is

1234567@students.k12.dc.us.

4. Enter your current password and click the Sign in button.

5. On the next screen, enter your initial password in the first line, followed by a unique new password at least 8 characters long on the second line.

· Your new password must include at least one (1) upper case letter, one (1) lowercase letter,

and one (1) number.

· Reenter your chosen password on line 3 and click the Sign in button.

· Please Note: Your password must be unique and not easy to guess. That means you cannot

use common words or phrases. We recommend using a password with a combination of

words, numbers, or even special characters (for example: Blue$ky32). As a reminder, this

new format will not allow students to use their birthday as their password.

Click here for instructions with screenshots.

**Important: Please note that after you have reset your password, you must use your new password to log into Office 365/Teams, Canvas and Clever. However, your DCPS device’s login may not sync immediately. Some devices will require access to the school’s Wi-Fi network (DCPS-Mesh) to sync the device’s password. If this happens, continue to use your old password to log into your device until your next visit to your school at which time your device will sync automatically, and you will be able to log in with your new password.

For questions or assistance regarding the password reset process, please contact AP Turner, katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov, or call (202) 442-5885.

To align with current health and safety guidance, particularly policies governing student and staff cohorts, we would like families who are interested in summer programming to complete this SHMS Summer Enrichment Preference Survey. In addition to opportunities provided for students who are participating in our Acceleration Academy or other DCPS programs (both outlined below), we hope to engage as many additional students as possible in at least one of the "Supplemental SHMS Programs" outlined below. Please complete the survey to indicate which of the programs you would be interested in having your student attend and we will begin confirming program rosters on June 1st.

Supplemental SHMS Summer Enrichment Programs

We are excited to offer additional programming and enrichment outside of the Acceleration Academy, Panther Pride Academy, and other DCPS summer programs. With current cohort guidance for students and staff in place, students would likely only be able to join one cohort/activity below. If they are also participating in Acceleration Academy, Panther Pride Academy, or another in-person program that will add additional scheduling challenges. If the cohorting restrictions shift before the summer it will provide us with more flexibility to enroll students in multiple in-person activities. We are releasing this initial list of dates and activities now so you can begin identifying priorities for your student. We will follow-up with sign-up information in a future newsletter.

Music Workshops w/Mr. Simmons (in-person)

Program Description: During our summer enrichment program students will learn brass, woodwind, percussion, and string essentials such as warmups scales, arpeggios, rudiments, and long tones etc. Students will also assemble into various ensemble configurations like drum line, string ensemble, pep band and funk band, which will include rhythm section players including pianists, guitarists, drummers, and bassists. Students will also benefit from learning music theory and application through improvisation. Select students will learn music programming into DAW (digital audio workstation) and music production

July 6-16, 1:00-4:00 PM, Monday-Friday

Seats: 30

Health & Wellness w/Mr. Strong (in-person)

August 2–13, 9:00 – 12:00 PM, Monday – Thursday

Program Description: Get some exercise and learn about health and wellness with some SHMS peers!

Target Audience: All grade levels

Seats:15 per session

Real World Equations w/Mr. Monsanto (in-person)

August 2 - 6

Program Description: Math enrichment

Target Audience: Rising 8th graders

Seats:15

Theater & Company w/Mrs. Pergerson and Mrs. Kensey (in-person)

Program Description: The SHMS Drama Players are ready for action! This summer enrichment class will serve as a jumpstart to the upcoming Fall season for students interested in auditioning. Students will engage their imaginations as they experience the thrill of creating live theatre. Focus will be placed on learning basic acting techniques, improvisation, and elements of performance. Each class sessions will involve drama games, choreography, and ensemble work to promote self-confidence and team spirit. At the end of the summer session, students will share their work in a free, public performance.

July 6 – 23, 1:00-4:00 PM, Monday - Friday

Target Audience: All grade levels

Seats: 30

Journalism 101 w/Mrs. Tomlinson(in-person)

August 9 – 13, 9:00- 3:00pm (students choose morning or afternoon session)

Program Description: Journalism 101 - Are you someone who needs to get the story straight? Do you like to ask questions and gather details and facts? If this sounds like you, consider joining the staff of The Panther Gazette, Stuart-Hobson's student newspaper! This week-long Journalism 101 course will cover the basics of reporting, including interview techniques, research skills, and how to write and format stories for news media. For our final project, we will publish and print a special summer issue of the student newspaper!

Target Audience: All grade levels

Seats: 18 (9 for each session)

Podcasting 101 w/Mrs. Tomlinson (in-person)

August 9-13, 9:00 – 3:00 PM (students choose morning or afternoon session)

Program Description: Podcasting 101 - Are you someone with a story to tell? Do you have strong opinions and aren't afraid to share them? If this sounds like you, consider joining the BRAND NEW Stuart-Hobson Podcasting Club! In this week-long Podcasting 101 course, you will learn effective storytelling and interviewing techniques, as well as how to produce your own original podcast!

Target Audience: All grade levels

Seats:18 (9 for each session)

SHMS Acceleration Academy, July 12-29

In this invitation-only, in-person program we will focus on supporting students in finishing any remaining coursework from this school year and delivering some foundational instruction and community-building to set them up for success in the next school year. Families of current SHMS students who are eligible for this program have been notified and the initial enrollment deadline was this past Friday, May 7th. Eligible students and families who are rising 6th graders will be contacted and enrolled in the coming weeks.

Contact AP Turner (katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov) with any questions about the program or your student's eligibility

Panther Pride Academy (6th Grade Summer Bridge), August 9-12

This program will likely have in-person, hybrid, and virtual elements. Panther Pride Academy will provide rising 6th graders with learning and community-building experiences that help them prepare for the upcoming school year. More information about signing up will be shared in the future, but we anticipate having the capacity to serve all interested students.

DCPS Programs

DCPS is offering three math acceleration programs this summer. Based on current math course placements and recent grades and assessment data, all middle schools have recommended students for eligibility in each program. The three programs are:

Algebra Accelerator I (rising 7th graders interested in Accelerated 7th Grade Math)

Algebra Accelerator 2 (rising 8th graders interested in Algebra I in Fall 2021)

Algebra I for original credit (rising 9th graders, interested in Geometry in Fall 2021)

Mr. Hawkins (SHMS Math Instructional Coach) will contact families of eligible students to confirm their interest in these programs beginning the week of May 10th. Families can also express interest in the Algebra Accelerator 2 program directly here.

*Please remember that all of these plans and dates are subject to change and dependent on current health and safety guidelines and/or staffing availability. We remain committed to offering as many summer experiences as possible within the current policy and prioritizing equitable access and experiences for students.

DCPS students currently in grade 6-8 now have an exciting opportunity to earn 0.5 credit in a high school credit-bearing course during the 2021 summer learning period (Tuesday, July 6 – Friday, August 6). Interested students and families should register here. Please forward your questions to 6-12summerlearning@k12.dc.gov.

Eastern High School is hosting an in-person camp experience for rising 9th graders. Please use this link to sign up: http://bit.ly/EASTERNFORSUMMER

Parents are invited to contact AP Benjamin Davis for more details: benjamin.davis3@k12.dc.gov

8th Grade Promotion Ceremonies

The 2021 8th Grade Promotion Activities will be held virtually and in-person on Wednesday, June 23rd at Stuart-Hobson Middle School The in-person event will follow all CDC/DC DOH guidelines for physical distancing and COVID safety. We hosted a parent promotion info session on Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:30pm to provide additional clarity around 8th grade end of the year activities. Slides from that meeting can be found at the end of the newsletter

Virtual Promotion Details:

What: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony via Video

When: The virtual promotion video will be available for viewing at 6pm on Tuesday, June 22nd.

Where: Capitol Hill Cluster School Youtube Channel

Who: All 8th Grade students will be showcased virtually

In Person Promotion Details:

What: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

When: Wednesday, June 23rd at 10am and 1pm

Where: Stuart-Hobson MS Field

Who: 8th Grade students and 2 guests per student

• All 8th Grade students are eligible to attend and participate in 8th grade in-person/virtual promotion
• Students will be randomly assigned their in-person promotion time 10am or 1pm

Due to Covid-19 regulations, the following practices must be followed during promotion

• Capacity on the field is 250 persons - Students will receive 2 tickets for guests.
• All students and guests must wear a mask at all times
• Students and guests who are ill should NOT attend the promotion event
• Seating will be socially distanced
• Guests will be seated in pairs with 3-6 feet between pairs of seats
• Open seating – seating opens 30 minutes before ceremony
• Hydration station for water
• Nurse’s Tent for anyone who may feel ill

In Person Promotion Attire:

• Promotion Ceremony Attire Students may wear:
• White or black dresses with coordinating shoes
• White or black dress pants/shorts/suits
• White or black dress shirt/polo shirt/blouse
• Red tie or a splash of red
• Note: Cap and gown attire is reserved for high school promotion ceremonies

Promotion Tickets:

• 2 Promotion Tickets per student
• There is a waitlist to request additional tickets. Requests cannot be guaranteed but every effort will made to accommodate reasonable requests.
• The deadline to submit waitlist requests is Friday, June 11th

Virtual Promotion Photo Submission (All 8th Grade Students)

Please email a photo of your 8th-grade student for posting in the promotional slideshow. This slideshow will highlight all students in the 8th grade class whether participating in virtual or in person promotion.

• Please make sure to send a clear vertical photo with only your student in the picture.
• Students, please do not submit photos without parental approval.
• Photo approval is at the discretion of our school staff.
• Email the photo to shmspromotionphotos@gmail.com by Friday, June 11th
• If there are privacy concerns, the photo is optional and is not mandatory for participation. Please let Mr. Frail and Ms. Grime know if you would not like to participate in the photo display via the email above.

Class Speaker:

This year we will highlight 5 student speakers for the class of 2021. Please see the flyer above and submit your audition video by Friday, May 21st to Ms. Rosera.

Class Shirts and Tickets:

Class shirts and tickets will be distributed the week of June 14th during regular business hours.

We look forward to your participation in our 2021 Promotion Programs and encourage you to contact AP Turner with any questions you may have at katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov

Dear DCPS Community,

A month ago, we announced DC Public Schools will fully reopen for the 2021-2022 School Year with in-person learning for every student every day. This is an incredibly critical milestone to ensure our students remain on the path for success in college, career, and life.

Enrollment for SY21-22 is now open online at enrolldcps.dc.gov. We want to thank our families who are helping their school better prepare for welcoming back students next year by enrolling early. Our Enrollment Saturday and other in-person events from the past few weeks demonstrate there is eagerness and excitement to return to the classroom. We also want to thank our staff who are ensuring our students end the year strong — no matter if they are learning virtually or at school — and putting plans in place to be ready for day one of SY21-22 on August 30.

Updated Local and Federal COVID-19 Guidance and Impact to DCPS

This week, local and national leaders announced adjustments to COVID-19 safety protocols, and we want to provide an update on what they mean for DCPS.

For the remainder of the school year, all current health, safety, and school operational policies will remain in effect for DCPS staff, students, and visitors. This means that our mitigation strategies to keep students and staff safe such as wearing masks, social distancing, student cohorting, and daily health screenings are staying in place. The last day of school for students is June 24 and the last day for staff is June 25. This also means that high school graduation and student promotion ceremonies will continue as planned.

The news that our city-wide health metrics are trending in the right direction makes us incredibly hopeful that we will meet our commitment to fully reopen in the fall. This kind of certainty is necessary, along with the strategic budget planning and classroom capacity analysis already underway, as we continue on our path to #RecoverStrong and build confidence around the return to in-person learning.

This week, we held the first of our #RecoverStrong town hall series and provided an update on DCPS’ road to recovery ahead of next school year. You can watch a replay of the event on YouTube or download the presentation slides. Next week on May 19 at 5:00 p.m., we will provide the same information in Spanish and take questions from families. You can RSVP here.

A few highlights from the conversation:

COVID-19 Vaccine

While the COVID-19 vaccine is currently not required for students to attend school next year, we encourage all students ages 12 and older and their parents and caregivers to get vaccinated. If you want to see students back in school, then it is our responsibility as a community for everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to them. We are collaborating with local health officials to host vaccination clinics at our schools. More details are forthcoming.

On Wednesday, DC Health announced that DC residents who are 12-15 years old can now get vaccinated at the free walk-up sites, hospitals, health centers, and pharmacies that administer the Pfizer vaccine. Visit coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccinatedc to see where the Pfizer vaccine is available for young people each day. People 18 and older can receive any approved vaccine to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

Afterschool Programs

The return to in-person learning for students is also about the return to in-person work for adults and our commitment to meeting families’ childcare needs. DCPS is proud to announce that we will offer before and aftercare next school year. More information about how to register for DCPS Out of School Time Programs will be available this summer.

Commuting to School

We know our students and staff rely on public transportation to get to school every day. During the town hall, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) shared how they are protecting the public and their workforce against the spread of COVID-19. Did you know that Metrorail cars complete a full air change approximately every three minutes, and on buses, new air enters frequently as the doors open and close at each stop? Follow the link to learn about how Metro is ensuring health and safety precautions are in place. Stay tuned for information about the Kids Ride Free (KRF) program for next school year.

Recovery Investments Survey

As we shared earlier this week, we look forward to receiving your feedback on how DCPS should prioritize the use of our federal recovery funds under the American Rescue Plan. Visit bit.ly/dcps-recovery-survey to share your opinion on these investments as well as what you need to see or hear from our schools to feel safe returning to in-person learning this fall.

Sincerely,

Lewis D. Ferebee, Ed.D.
Chancellor

Beginning on Friday, May 21, student-athletes must have an asymptomatic COVID testing form on file at their school to participate in athletics. This will allow the students to be included as a part of random weekly testing by the school nurse. DCPS believes this to be an important step in understanding the potential impact of extra-curricular activities on cohort mixing and serves as an additional method to keep the broader school community safe.

Parents of student-athletes should complete this form and return it to the school nurse. Translations of the consent form are available here. You may also wish to review the test explainer for additional details about the test and program. More information about the program is available on the DCPS Reopen Strong website.

Last updated: June 4, 2021

We are currently 67% of the way to our annual enrollment goal and the rising grade levels are in a close race to claim first place:

Rising 6th grade: 65%

Rising 7th grade: 69%

Rising 8th grade; 74%

As soon as you enroll, you become eligible for early access to many programs, awards, and experiences (attachments and flyers below). Enrolled families and students:

1. Are eligible for raffles like gift cards and SHMS yard signs delivered by Principal Fraser!
2. Get priority access to summer enrichment and course offerings with SHMS teachers!
3. Get priority access to building tours with SHMS staff later this Spring!
4. Help students compete and earn points for their grade level at our end-of-May Pep Rally!
5. Help students from our three feeder schools compete for an ice cream social with SHMS staff and Principal Fraser!
6. Are eligible to run for positions on the Cluster PTA!
7. Will stop receiving many of these nagging emails about enrolling!

As a reminder, you can enroll online anytime that is convenient for you. If you would like assistance with the Seamless platform, please reach out to a member of our enrollment team at Stuart-HobsonMSEnroll@k12.dc.gov, call the main office at 202-671-6010, or reach out to Ms. McIlvaine directly at tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov

We also have staff available to assist families in-person or curbside with enrollment. We would prefer that you schedule ahead to make sure that someone is available and we do not keep you waiting. We are open most school days and have extended hours, until 5:30 PM, on most Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Thanks for your interest in our school, we hope to have the opportunity to work with your student next year and look forward to seeing or hearing from you before our next enrollment benchmark!

If you are interested in participating in any of the following sports at Stuart-Hobson during SY 2021- 2022 please fill out the interest form for that sport. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Strong, SHMS Athletic Director, at richard.strong@k12.dc.gov

Football Interest Form

Girls Soccer Interest Form

Boys Soccer Interest Form

Archery Interest Form

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

In-Person Support (Wednesdays): We will continue to offer in-person support for students on Wednesdays during AM and PM sessions (the same model we established for Term 3). We are excited to have more staff on-board for the fourth quarter so we can open up more AM and PM sections. Additionally, the recent guidance from DC Health will allow us to expand seats in existing sections. Together, this means that we will have more seat offers for the Term 4 Wednesday program so lookout for an email or phone call from our team.

Athletics: We are excited that Track and Baseball are getting underway. Interested students should reach out to our Athletic Director, Mr. Strong (richard.strong@k12.dc.gov). Additionally, as long as our athletic teams are not practicing nor is school in session on Wednesday, the SHMS athletic field is open for public use (enter on the 5th Street side).

PTA/Family events: The PTA has been active with sharing information about opportunities for students and families to connect in-person. A trip to Sky Zone, bike club, and park meet-ups have been organized. If you would like more information you should sign-up for the Cluster PTA listserve to learn about, or organize, these events.

The LSAT team is recruiting new LSAT representatives for School Year 2021-2022. We want to ensure that our diverse school community is represented, so please share this opportunity with others in our school community and feeder pattern schools (for SHMS). LSAT meetings will continue to be held virtually next year.

Three seats for LSAT positions will be open for nomination:

1) Parent rep from Peabody (2-year term)

2) Parent rep from Watkins (2-year term)

3) Parent rep from Stuart Hobson (2-year term)

Parents/Guardians will nominate and then vote on one parent representative for each of our three campuses. Due to COVID-19 related circumstances, both the nominations and voting will be done online this year. Nominations began Monday, April 26th, and will close on May 16th. Please use this Nomination Form to nominate someone (or yourself today).

If you have any questions or want would like to talk more about serving on the LSAT, please feel free to reach out to the Co-Chairs or another LSAT member. Names and contact information for current LSAT members can be found on the LSAT web page.

Don't forget to check out a FREE copy of your book for ELA class! Click the link next to your grade level to borrow in Sora.

6th Grade: Beowulf: A New Telling, by Robert Nye

7th Grade: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
(audiobook only)

8th Grade: 145th Street: Short Stories by Walter Dean Myers

More outdoor book clubs are coming to Stuart-Hobson!

Scare Squad - If you like horror, mysteries, and supernatural thrillers and chillers, this is the book club for you! Our first book will be Small Spaces by Katherine Arden.

After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn't think—she just acts, stealing the book and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man," a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price.

Ollie is captivated by the tale until her school trip the next day to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history all its own. There she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true? Ollie doesn't have too long to think about the answer to that. On the way home, the school bus breaks down, sending their teacher back to the farm for help. But the strange bus driver has some advice for the kids left behind in his care: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch, a keepsake reminder of better times, begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.

Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed the bus driver's warning. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small."

And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.

Beyond Blume - Join if you enjoy reading new YA books by diverse authors! Our first book will be Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney.

Quinn keeps lists of everything—from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud,” to all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane. By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing…

An anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public. Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.

Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

Sign-Up Information

Scare Squad: Monday, May 10th & May 17th, 2:45 - 3:45 pm

Book: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Seats Available: 11

Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAAA2AA7FDCF8-scare

Beyond Blume Thursday, May 13th & May 20th, 2:45 - 3:45 pm

Book: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney

Seats Available: 11

Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAAA2AA7FDCF8-beyond

Enrollment Status

Rising 6th Grade: 40% enrolled

Rising 7th Grade: 42% enrolled

Rising 8th Grade: 47% enrolled

Overall: 43% enrolled

Enrollment Goals:

Tuesday, May 4th: 60% (304 students enrolled)

Friday, June 4th: 90% (457 students enrolled)

Thursday, June 24: 100% (507+ students enrolled)

Need to Enroll?

Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is open for new and returning students! Families can enroll through an online process or in-person at the school or one of the enrollment events we will be organizing this Spring. We are also eager to assist families over the phone or in-person with enrollment paperwork submission.

Our goals for enrollment are very ambitious (see below) and we are organizing our staff to streamline outreach and supports so we can meet each benchmark. We plan to enroll at least 507 students for the upcoming school year! You can help us minimize outreach and tailor our communications and support by enrolling right away and/or completing this brief enrollment preferences survey. It is designed to help us offer support where and when it is needed during enrollment season.

We are also planning some incentives and rewards for students and families who enroll early and help us meet our benchmarks. As an example, grade levels will earn pep assembly points for May's event depending on the percentage of students who have re-enrolled.

As a reminder, if possible, it's great to take care of annual health and immunization documentation while completing the enrollment process. You can find information below, attached, and on this website.

Want to enroll in-person or curbside at SHMS? Schedule a time to enroll in-person Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays until 5:30 PM Contact Ms. McIlvaine, tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov to schedule an in-person appointment or to be connected with another member of our team.

We look forward to seeing your enrollment paperwork online, in the main office, or hearing from you soon so we can support.

All immunization records and Universal Health Certificates must be up to date in order for your child to return to in-person school virtual-only learning concludes. Students who have not submitted the appropriate documentation will be removed from in-person learning until their document submission is completed successfully.

Records can be submitted via email to Tiffany Mcilvaine and Janice Myles (Senior School Nurse). If you are unable to email, you can schedule an appointment to drop off records at the school. Appointments and email submission should be submitted to: tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov and/or JMyles@childrensnational.org

Are you interested in joining the virtual Stuart-Hobson Dungeons & Dragons Club? Check out the information in the flyer and email Percy or Sam to join the club!

For our first book, we're going to read Revenge of the Star Survivors, this year's selection for Stuart-Hobson Reads One Book!

Who

The club is open to the first 11 students who sign up using this form.

When

• Wednesday, April 28th from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, May 5th from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, May 12th from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Where

We'll meet on the school steps at the E Street entrance promptly at 4:00 pm. Bring your book (copies were mailed out to all students), a blanket or towel to sit on, and your mask!

Build the skills to excel in Algebra in middle school. Develop a love of reading together as a family. Participate in hands-on learning projects that combine math, science, and the arts.

This is just a sampling of the virtual and in-person offerings for students across every grade this summer at DCPS! Follow the link to explore our Family Guide to Summer Learning to find the program or opportunity that best fits the needs of your student.

Registration is now open for virtual enrichment programs at dcps.dc.gov/summer.

• Grades K-8 — Summer programming (in-person and virtual) is based on student need, except virtual enrichment courses for grades 3-8. Eligible families can expect to hear from their school about their summer program options starting the week of April 5. Families can register for virtual enrichment programming listed at dcps.dc.gov/summer also beginning the week of April 5.
  
• Grades 9-12 — Academic summer programming (in-person and virtual) is designed to support students on their path to graduation, and Summer Bridge experiences will welcome students to their new school! Eligible students and families can expect to hear from their school about their summer program options this spring.
• Pre-K — Families will hear more from their school and the Early Childhood Education Division later this spring about in-person acceleration academies, virtual programs, and other opportunities taking place in July and August, including teacher meetings before the first day of Pre-K.
  

We remain committed to ensuring healthy and safe in-person learning environments for our students and staff. This includes mandatory face masks for anyone in a school building, frequent cleaning, and HVAC enhancements to increase fresh air infiltration, as well as the availability of COVID-19 vaccine for all staff and asymptomatic testing.

Please review the most current OSSE COVID-19 Travel guidance before returning for any in-person programming at SHMS.

Starting on Monday, April 19 (Term 4) DCPS will officially transition to a 10-day quarantine period for those who have been identified as a close contact of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.

Staff and students who travel to high-risk states (list available here) may only return in-person to school after:

• Self-monitoring and limiting daily activities—including not attending school – for 10 days, OR
• Self-monitoring and limiting daily activities – including not attending school – until tested for COVID-19 (within three to five days after return from travel) and receiving a negative result.

Individuals may also return immediately after travel if the following are true:

• They do not have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 AND they have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period within the last 90 days, OR
• They are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (two weeks/14 days after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine).

OSSE and DC Health have released this COVID-19 Travel visual for staff and families.

Food and Nutrition Services is excited to announce that Market Boxes containing 7 days' worth of meals for students are now available at four DCPS Open Meal Sites: Excel Academy, Langdon ES, McKinley Tech MS/HS, and H.D. Woodson HS. Market Boxes are free and available to all DC Youth age 18 and under, not just students attending these schools. It is recommended that families register for their Market Box ahead of time as availability is not guaranteed without pre-registering. For more information and to pre-register, please click here.

For a full list of open meal sites, please visit this site.

Students are invited to join our City Year Corps Members every Wednesday from 12:30-1:00 on the City Year channel. This space is intended for social-emotional learning, we will be playing games aimed at team-building skills, have conversations about relevant events, and provide a positive space where students can interact with one another and our Corps Members.

Join DCPS Family Engagement for their newest Family Engagement Program:

DCPS Family Cornerstones Live!

We are happy to announce that we will be hosting Family Cornerstone Parent University workshops! Fun and learning for the whole family.

Family Cornerstones Live are hosted on Thursdays at 5:30 pm

What are Family Cornerstones?

Discover activities to try as a family on our Family Cornerstones page!

All DCPS Families can and are supporting their child's education in many unique ways. Family Cornerstones provide a roadmap for families from Pre-K to Graduation that highlights a few key shared learning experiences. These key experiences are essential to the partnership between DCPS schools and families.

Questions or Comments?

Email ParentU@k12.dc.gov

This is a friendly reminder that “Every Day Still Counts”. Parents and caregivers, please follow the steps below to ensure your student has a successful finish to the school year:

- Live instruction starts at 9:35AM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays and requires a log-in to TEAMS and/or Canvas.

- On Wednesdays students are required to login to Canvas to capture their attendance. Joining teachers' office hours for academic support is a great way to make this log-in a part of your Wednesday routine.

·

- Attendance is recorded based on the student’s activity in Canvas (Note: Teams Attendance is uploaded in ASPEN once a week, not daily) Logging in to Canvas is your best solution to making sure your student’s attendance is immediately accurate.)

- A student is marked "absent"when they do not log in to Canvas or TEAMS at least once between 6:00 AM and 11:59 PM on a given school day.

·

- If your student is absent, parents/guardians can submit excuse notes by email to Clara.Hargrove@k12.DC.Gov and the absence reason will be updated within 48 hours of the receipt of your email.

- If you are having device issues, please do not hesitate to send an email to Ms. Hargrove and she will update your attendance and connect you with tech support if needed.

Lastly, the staff at Stuart-Hobson understands that every family is different. We are committed to connecting our students and their families with the resources they need to thrive in school. If you need additional help, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Hargrove or another member of our support team.

***Everything below this section of the newsletter has been announced in previous editions***

Social distancing doesn't mean fashion gets thrown to the wind. Show your Panther pride during your next class, meeting, or virtual friend meet-up. Check out the clothing and gear that are available at our new school store! Use the "APRIL21" code at checkout to receive 15% off of orders of $70 or more, the sale ends on April 30th!

Starting today, families, staff, and students will be able to buy custom Stuart-Hobson Panther gear. You can find the latest name brands on your custom SHMS gear. With each purchase, a percentage returns to the school to support student activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Howard, devin.howard2@k12.dc.gov

I want to thank our custodial team for doing some Spring cleaning and getting the athletic field ready for Spring athletics and public use. The entrance to the field on the 5th Street side of the building will be open during daylight hours. The field is currently available for public use all days except Wednesdays when we have in-person school for some students. If you are interested in helping with maintaining the space and/or access to it, please contact me so I can connect you with a group of parent volunteers.

As a result of the recent declaration from the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) that is in alignment with the Mayor’s Emergency Health Order, athletics can tentatively resume in phases as early as March 15, pending health conditions. Updated guidance will be published by DCSAA and DC Health.

We are excited for a return to play and have planned for Spring sport practices and competition. This includes Spring sport offerings that will be conducted outdoors as no indoor sport related activity (practices, workouts, skill development) can occur. The DCIAA will conduct the following spring sport opportunities: Baseball, Flag Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Softball, Soccer and Tennis. This applies to the specific grade level sport offerings – high school, middle school, and elementary school. The start of spring sports will be a phased in approach beginning with conditioning, skill development workouts and progressing to practices. The timeline for the phased-in approach will be announced by the DCSAA in the coming days.

This schedule allows our Spring student-athletes a chance to compete after the 2020 season was canceled in the early stages of the pandemic. The schedule also allows student-athletes time to condition and practice, as we know that many student-athletes have faced inequitable access to training facilities and equipment over the past year. The Spring season will occur under new safety protocols and details will be forthcoming as we approach the first day of practice.

We will update families soon about planning and informational meetings and SHMS-specific opportunities to engage in athletics this Spring. As always, students will need an updated Universal Health Certificate on file to be eligible to participate. If you have questions about Track, please contact Coach Smith (mark.smith3@k12.dc.gov). For general questions or other inquiries, please direct any questions to Mr. Richard Strong, SHMS Athletic Director, richard.strong@k12.dc.gov

We are excited to have begun our own reopening program on Wednesdays for high-priority students. As a reminder, we are currently in our first phase of this effort and inviting students back one at a time for the limited seats we have available. We anticipate expanding the program in the coming weeks and will keep everyone updated if our seat offer process changes.

We understand that some families received a call from the Mayor encouraging them to reach out to us about seats. Currently, we are working through our list of priority students and will reach out to you if and when your child is next to receive an offer. So, while you do not need to reach out to express interest currently, please reach out if any of your preferred contact information has changed since you enrolled this year so we can update your records in Aspen.

If you receive a seat offer at any time in the future, we want everyone to have access to this folder which contains all key documents, info, and resources that we discussed during the family info session presentation. One of the folders in there includes key documents like testing waivers, Ask, Ask, Look weekly logs, and the "Family Agreement", all of which students and families should complete and return to school, as they begin attending in-person. Additionally, there is a folder with general information and resources about reopening and the policies that will be in place. A recording of the family info session is also included there.

Please reach out if you have any questions about our Wednesday program.

I am excited to share that, starting in Term 3, all of our teachers who are remaining virtual during will offer Office Hours on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30 PM and 2:00-3:30 PM. This menu of links to their office hours should help families and students find support during our only fully asynchronous day of the week. We know that everyone wanted more structure and routine on Wednesdays so are happy to be offering this program to all students, including those who are in-person with us!

COVID-19 Building Safety Hotline Launch
As DCPS continues to reopen schools, the COVID-19 Building Safety Hotline has been created to ensure that students, parents, the community and staff members have a mechanism readily available for reporting safety concerns in school buildings. Safety concerns can be submitted via two methods: by emailing dcps.covidsafety@k12.dc.gov or calling (202) 442-5656. Typical operating hours for the phone line will be 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Voicemails and emails will be acknowledged within 48 hours of receipt.

This information is shared publicly for students and families on the Reopen Strong website here.

The Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO) Risk Management team will monitor the intake of these concerns via the COVID Safety Concerns Hotline (phone and email). The concerns will then be directed to the relevant central office team for response, resolution, and closeout.

A Family Guide to Learning at Home: To help parents and caregivers have a successful start to the school year, DCPS created a helpful guide to virtual learning for families. The guide contains information about Canvas, student schedules, attendance, family wellness, and more. Please see the guide, available in both English and Spanish, with your school community.

DCPS encourages families to bookmark this website as a starting point for finding resources and opportunities to help us #ReOpenStrong. There you will find up-to-date policies and guidance for topics like student attendance, grading, technology use, etc.

You are encouraged to continue joining Parent University sessions. DCPS is continuing to deliver a Parent University series focused on the #ReopenStrong questions at the top of your mind, including what learning at home looks like, online tools, and more. Register for these weekly online events or watch recordings of each session when you have the time.

DCPS continues to maintain a website that organizes supports for families that specifically focus on maintaining instructional continuity during distance and hybrid learning.

Additionally, much of the student experience this year will be on the Microsoft TEAMS platform. This resource should support parents and guardians in understanding and navigating the platform with their student(s).

Lastly, if students are having trouble logging on to any of the platforms families can call a DCPS helpline at (202) 442-5885 for support. Please direct requests for support with device issues to the school by emailing or calling the front office at 202-671-6010.

• Whenever possible, meetings should be moved to a virtual platform. If an in-person meeting is essential, all visitors must make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitors without an appointment should only be permitted entry with the approval of school administration.
• All visitors will be required to complete the OSSE “Ask, Ask, Look” protocol prior to entry, have their temperature taken, wear a face covering at all times on the school grounds and inside the school building, and adhere to social distancing guidelines should be followed.

DCPS has added another grade code to Aspen grade books for teachers to use. The "WS" code may now appear in your student’s Aspen grade book for some assignments. "WS" stands for "Waiting for Submission," and indicates that the student has not yet handed in the assignment. If a student has a "WS" in the grade book, they should work on the assignment and submit it to the teacher to be graded.

As has been true all year, if submitted work is incomplete or unacceptable, the assignment will have an "F" in the grade book. Also, depending on the assignment, students may have the opportunity to receive feedback and resubmit the assignment for an improved mark. Teachers can provide more clarity so the student knows exactly what to do if an assignment has a "WS" or an "F" in the grade book.

If you have questions about grades or Aspen you can reach out to your student's teacher or Assistant Principal Turner (katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov)

As we conclude the term and begin examining students' report cards, we wanted to share some important information for families regarding the grading policy.

• Teachers will post a minimum of 2 grades every 10 days.
• Teacher grade books will have at least 4 Assessments, 4 Practice & Application, and 2 Student Engagement assignments per term
• Late assignments must be accepted and graded without penalty. Please provide teachers with at least 10 school days to grade (or revise grades) for late or revised work in Aspen.

• All Required Curricular Tasks from the Canvas Course Companions are subject to revision work and teachers should provide feedback to students to support their mastery as they revise assignments.
  

• Revisions to submitted work (except RCTs) are at the discretion of the teacher. Teachers will communicate to families if revised assignment grades will be averaged, entered as a second grade or replace the previous grade.
• Please provide teachers with at least 10 school days to grade (or revise grades) for late or revised work in Aspen.
  

Welcome to the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Attendance Corner!! My name is Ms. Clara Hargrove, Attendance Counselor and I am excited to work with you for the 2020-2021 School Year! We will continue to have a successful and productive school year!! Here at Stuart-Hobson, we strive for our students to be successful. One of the ways we do this is by making sure our students are prepared and have what they need to be productive. Whether it’s virtually learning or in-person-Every Day Stills Counts!!

Below are a few reminders to make sure your student’s attendance is counted every day:

• Live instruction starts at 9:35AM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
• Wednesdays-students are required to login to Canvas to capture their attendance. Wednesday is not a day off, but a day on to reach out to teachers for support or to discuss concerns
• Attendance will be recorded based on the student’s activity in Canvas (Note: Teams Attendance is uploaded in ASPEN once a week, not daily!) Canvas is your best solution to making sure your student’s attendance is accurate!!!!)
• Absences occur when a student does not log in to Canvas at least once between 6:00 AM and 11:59 PM
• If absent, a parent can submit a note by email to Clara.Hargrove@k12.DC.Gov and the absence reason will be updated within 48 hours of the request
• If you are having device issues, please do not hesitate to send an email to Ms. Hargrove and she will update your attendance and connect you with tech support if needed.

Stuart-Hobson understands that every family is different. We are committed to providing our students and their families with additional resources to ensure that every student can be successful. If you need additional help, please feel free to reach out to our support team by contacting the main office.

Aspen login information will arrive via email. Please check your email address for an email from "Aspen Parent Portal". Students can also check their MS Office email account for login info. Be sure to check your spam / junk mail folders as well.

How to Navigate the Portal:
This flyer gives you the Parent Portal basics:

• What you need to know about the Parent Portal
• Lo que necesita saber sobre el Portal de Padres

These instructional videos will guide you through the ins and outs of the Aspen Parent Portal.

• Aspen Parent Portal - Getting Started
• Aspen Parent Portal - Finding your Child and Checking Their Schedule
• Aspen Parent Portal - Assignments and Grades
• Aspen Parent Portal - Calendar and Email
• Aspen Parent Portal - Transcripts and Graduation Program

Helpful Guides
Check out this step-by-step Mobile Guide to accessing the Parent Portal on your phone or tablet.Read through this Student User Guide to help support your child with navigating through Aspen.

Once these platforms are live and school starts, If you have any issues accessing them you can reach out to Counselor Williams tomicula.williams@k12.dc.gov or ASL McIlvaine tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov

The school will be open for students and families to return loaned student devices or pick-up devices for the upcoming school year. Our hours of operation are listed in the weekly calendar above. Please use the entrance on E Street and Mr. Howard or Ms. Tomlinson will help you return your device or pick-up a new one in the main lobby.

When returning a device, you will complete a form with Mr. Howard or Ms. Tomlinson to acknowledge that the loaned device was returned.

If you are picking up a new device we will first confirm that you have completed the DCPS Technology Access Survey or will ask you to complete it if you have not done so. Please reach out to Mr. Howard to schedule a device pick-up between 10:00-12:00 any day that the building is open, or with any other questions about technology.

As with all school visits, please plan to adhere to current health guidance (e.g. maintaining social distancing and wearing masks at all times).

The Free and Reduced-price Meal application for School Year 2020-2021 is now available online. We highly encourage families to complete and submit their applications online. The online application is available here or a copy on the DCPS website. Hard copies will also be available at the school for families that come by to complete it in-person.

For assistance or additional information please reach out to Ms. McIlvaine (tiffany.mcilvaine@k12.dc.gov) or Mr. Howard (devin.howard@k12.dc.gov) by contacting the front office.

Stuart-Hobson Middle School uses Remind.com for quick text/email messaging to parents and families. Unlike a listserv, the text messages are sent by members of our administrative team to provide updates and information in a timely fashion. You can reply to the administrator as well for one-on-one communication. To join our Remind Groups, please click the following links:

SHMS 6th Grade Class of 2027

SHMS 7th Grade Class of 2026

SHMS 8th Grade Class of 2025

Thank you for stopping by our EdFest booth or attending one of our virtual Open House events for prospective students and families in recent weeks. In addition to some individual follow-up, we wanted to make sure that everyone had access to the shared folder with an FAQ sheet, the slides from our Open House, a recording of one of our Open House events, and a list of all staff email addresses.

We encourage you to share these links and resources with other prospective families and students who are considering Stuart-Hobson for middle school.

We look forward to keeping in touch with everyone as you continue to navigate your middle school planning process. Please do not hesitate to reach out with additional questions. Thank you again for joining us!

Internet 4 All Program

Mayor Bowser has launched a program to connect eligible DC students in need of at-home internet for the 2020-21 school year.

What do eligible families need to do?

The primary guardian will receive a call, text message, or email from DC Government asking if they’d like to join the program and for consent to share their name, address, phone number, and email with the internet provider that will be providing their service, either Comcast or RCN.

Calls will come from 202-559-4065.

Texts will come from 698-66.

Emails will come from tech.togetherdc@subscriptions.dc.gov.

Enrollment in the Internet 4 All Program is not automatic. The primary guardian must respond affirmatively to a call, text, or email from DC Government to initiate the connection process.

Once consent is received, Comcast or RCN will then contact the household to initiate the internet installation process. From the point of contact with Comcast or RCN the household should receive their install kit within 5-7 days.

As the term changes, we know that some students and families will be reorganizing their schedules and maybe looking for additional activities. After-School All-Stars is one of our partner organizations and still has spaces in this year's program if you are interested. More comprehensive enrollment information has been shared previously and is still listed below. Want to know what ASAS is all about? Check out this video.

Also, After-School All-Stars calls all the Anime fans to join our Anime club! Do you like to draw anime cartoons? Come and learn from teaching artist Brandon Wright, learn the trade, and have fun drawing anime cartoons with friends! The class runs on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.

Open to all grade-levels!

When: Every Tuesday and Friday at 3:25 PM. Drop by, no need to pre-register!

Questions? Contact our teacher and WTG advisor, Ms. Rouse: demetria.rouse@k12.dc.gov

Check out this opportunity for free after-school tutoring through the DC Public Library.

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HelpNow's features include:

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• Foreign Language Lab /Spanish-Speaking Support

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While we don't know a lot about when the season will start, it's hopeful that we may be allowed to begin SAFE, SOCIALLY DISTANCED practices in November. We'll set up a meeting for parents to discuss what this would look like once we have details.

To get ready, you need to submit health and consent forms for this year -- if you haven't already. Fortunately, you can do this online. Here's what to do:

1. Before starting the online forms, you need an electronic copy of the completed Universal Health Certificate (UHC). You will NOT be able to submit the other forms if you don't have either a PDF or JPG image of the UHC. If you need help, please let us know.
   
2. Once ready, click here to upload the UHC and fill out all other forms: https://dcgov.seamlessdocs.com/f/c4a57hp5qjqy.

Track your runs: Please encourage your athlete to track their independent runs here. We also encourage them to download MapMyRun if they have a phone, to record their independent workouts (whether running, playing basketball or soccer, or biking).

Thanks! And hope to see you on the track soon!

-Coach Smith (mark.smith3@k12.dc.gov) & Coach McGhee

Starting back in 2018, students and staff receive a generously funded grant to allow everyone in our community to read the same book.

This is 2020’s selection and enjoy!

Middle school meets the Dark Side in this painfully funny survival story of social misfit Clark Sherman. When Clark crash-lands on the inhospitable planet of Festus Middle School, he soon learns the natives don t take kindly to newcomers . . . particularly ones who practice Jedi mind tricks and follow nerdy TV shows like Star Survivors. As he faces a conspiring group of violent bullies, browbeaten teachers and a fiendish principal, Clark knows he ll be lucky just to survive eighth grade.

Then, hope appears on the horizon: there is Les, the enigmatic boy who seems to disappear at will; Ricki, a fellow Star Survivors fan; and the independent-minded librarian, Ms. Beacon. When Clark and his newfound allies are imperiled, he gathers his courage and the consequences of his actions ripple through the galaxy in life-altering ways.

The Capitol Hill Cluster Parent Teacher Association and One Book Foundation generously funded Revenge of the Star Survivors for each student.

We are excited to partner with After-School All-Stars (ASAS) again this year! ASAS will offer students virtual after-school programming to students in grades 6-8. Please see the attached documents and information about the program.

Attachments

• Welcome Letter: a letter from Daniela (our Executive Director) welcoming families to the new program year
• DC Chapter Virtual Program Offerings: a description of most program activities that will be offered this fall.
• Why ASAS: a breakdown of why After-School All-Stars is the right program for families!

ASAS Enrollment Form Link: https://form.jotform.com/202115148443143

ASAS Parent/Student Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1Q-SmrbzPsX7-Pfb7DpF-h7MdxnYQNde63aWp7_6uDIo1yw/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you have any questions that ASAS cannot answer you can direct them to AP Turner, katherine.turner@k12.dc.gov

Looking to explore artistry? Looking to express yourself? Well, come join Fly By Light with Mr. Jair and Ms. Shardia as they come back to Stuart Hobson Middle School to uplift peace and positivity through artistic expression!

Fly by Light also organizes events for parents and families. Check out the flyers for their student and family events below.

The SHMS MathCounts Team will compete with other schools around the city doing various math problems and puzzles throughout Term 2 and Term 3. Competition winners will escalate to regional and national competitions, where there is scholarship money to be won!

We will host two practices a week:

• Wednesdays (whole team): 10:00-11:00am
• Choice (you pick one time that works better for you): Either Tuesdays 3:30-4:00pm or Thursdays at 2:40-3:10pm

You do not have to be a Math All-Star or in advanced math to participate, ANYONE can join and compete with us, have fun, and do some math puzzles!

For more information or if you have any questions, please email Ms. Rosera at bethany.rosera@k12.dc.gov to be added to the competition channel.

Are you an athlete or sports lover? Are you looking to be a part of a group of like-minded students who believe that success happens on and off the field, court, track, slope, etc.? If so, the A.C.E.S is the club for you!

Join us on Friday afternoons from 3:25 - 4:00 PM

https://tinyurl.com/SHMSACES

For more information, contact Counselor T. Williams, tomicula.Williams@k12.dc.gov

Internet for All initiative: OCTO is conducting a second round of outreach to eligible families for participation in the District's new Internet for All initiative. If you are an eligible family you will likely receive emails, phone calls, and/or text messages from representatives who are hoping to connect you with this opportunity. Please find additional information and translated documents HERE.

Join some representatives from our student support team to ask questions or learn more about supports that are available to students and families. See the flyer below for more information or join them here on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00, no appointment needed!

Please see the key information about meal pick-up sites and more comprehensive information about meals. Key points to know are:

- Effective September 24, 2020, all DC youth ages 18 and younger may receive free grab-and go meals at DCPS meal site locations through December 31st, 2020.

- Please note that during this period, DC youth are not required to be enrolled DC Public Schools students to receive meals.

- To limit the number of trips families need to make to meal sites, youth, or parents/guardians on their behalf, can receive up to 3 breakfast and 3 lunch meals in a single visit.

- DCPS meal service locations are open every Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

- You can view the most up-to-date list of meal sites, along with menus here. Additional food resources can be found here: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/food.

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) School Mental Health Program is hosted by Stuart-Hobson Middle School to support students’ mental and emotional well-being. Reach out to Ms. Harrington if you feel your student would benefit from support such as, individual therapy or group grief therapy.

These services are provided via telehealth during partial and full distance learning.

DBH's services are a public health model. Services are provided to families at no charge regardless of insurance. For more information or to enroll, please reach out to Ms. Harrington using the email or phone number below.

Kimberly Harrington, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker

School Mental Health Program, Department of Behavioral Health

kimberly.harrington@dc.gov, 202-557-6404

Email: eric.fraser@k12.dc.gov
Website: www.stuart-hobson.org
Location: 410 E Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-671-6010
Twitter: @StuartHobsonMS