Mustang Matters

Greetings MMS Families,

Happy Friday! Today is our big day – Enrollment Day! We are hoping to hit our goal of 50 families enrolled today and we are open for enrollment tomorrow during Saturday school as well to get to that benchmark. We also have lots of early incentives for getting enrollment in this weekend – please see the flyers and messages we have been sharing. Our goal is to have 125 families by Friday, April 3rd enrolled – help us get there and encourage your friends to do the same!

Speaking of tomorrow, please be sure to reiterate to your Mustangs that we need them here for Saturday School!! We only have a few more Saturday sessions before the CAPE testing starts a week after Spring Break – let’s get all we can out of the additional prep.

Lastly – you have gotten a lot of messages but we need your help to Complete the Spring Panorama Survey – Our goal is to have 200 families respond – we are a ways from that so we need all of you to complete it ASAP this weekend or the coming week!

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Cooke

Greetings MacFarland Families,

Enrollment season starts on Friday, March 27th for the 2026-2027 School Year and we are excited at the prospect of continuing to provide your Mustang with the opportunity to learn and grow with us!

We have some awesome incentives in store for current 6th and 7th grade students that complete the re-enrollment process (flyer attached).

6th Grade Incentives:

• The first advisory to reach 100% re-enrolled wins a Chick-fil-A breakfast.

• The second advisory to reach 100% re-enrolled wins a donut party.

• Students re-enrolled by April 3rd, can dress down for the remainder of the year.

• Students re-enrolled by April 10th, will receive extra recess and can dress down every Monday and Friday.

• Students re-enrolled by April 24th, will participate in an Ice Cream Social.

• Students re-enrolled by May 1st, will attend the Carter Barron Cookout.

• Students re-enrolled by June 1st, will receive a MacFarland t-shirt.

7th Grade Incentives:

• The first advisory to reach 100% re-enrolled wins a Chick-fil-A breakfast.

• The second advisory to reach 100% re-enrolled wins a donut party.

• Students re-enrolled by April 3rd, will be able to dress down for all remaining FRIDAYS once re-enrolled.

• Students re-enrolled by April 10th, will attend an Ice Cream Party.

• Students re-enrolled by April 24th, will attend a Pizza Party.

• Students re-enrolled by May 1st, will be eligible to attend the 7th grade cookout.

• Students re-enrolled by June 1st, will receive a MacFarland t-shirt.

To successfully complete the re-enrollment process you will need to complete the three steps listed below:

• Complete the DCPS enrollment packet. The enrollment packet for school year 2026-2027 can be completed online through the Aspen Parent Portal starting on March 27th, when it will go live at https://aspen.dcps.dc.gov/aspen-login/go. Please note that to complete enrollment online you must have access to the Aspen Parent Portal so please make sure you are able to log in prior to enrollment opening! Please let us know if you need help accessing your account.

• Provide valid proof of DC residency and health forms (prior to the first day of the new school year if due). Documents can be turned in to the main office or can be attached to the enrollment packet online.

• Submit the completed enrollment packet and proof of DC residency to the school. Submission can be done online or in person in the main office.

If you need help completing the enrollment process, you can sign up for an appointment through the link below:

• Select a Date & Time - Calendly

We will also be available for walk in assistance during the regular school hours on a first come first serve basis and will hold extended office hours in the morning, afterschool, and on select Saturdays. Please see schedule below:

• Extended Office Hours

  • ​Monday - Thursday starting at 7:15 AM

  • Afterschool everyday until 5:00 PM

• Saturday Enrollment Schedule

• March 28th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM​

• April 25th, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Enrollment Saturday! More details will be shared soon.

• May 2nd, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• May 9th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the main office (202) 671-6033 or email macfarlandmsenroll@k12.dc.gov.

Thank you,

MacFarland Enrollment Team

Saludos a las familias de MacFarland,

El periodo de inscripción comienza el viernes 27 de marzo para el año escolar 2026-2027, nos entusiasma la perspectiva de seguir brindándole a su Mustang la oportunidad de aprender y crecer con nosotros!

Tenemos fantásticos incentivos preparados para los alumnos actuales de 6º y 7º grado que completen el proceso de reinscripción (folleto adjunto).

Incentivos para alumnos de sexto grado:

• El primer grupo asesor que logre el 100% de reinscripción ganará un desayuno de Chick-fil-A.

• El segundo grupo asesor que logre el 100% de reinscripciones gana una fiesta de donas.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 3 de abril podrán vestir de manera informal durante el resto del año.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 10 de abril recibirán recreo adicional y podrán vestirse de forma más formal. cerrado todos los lunes y viernes.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 24 de abril participarán en una merienda con helado.

• Estudiantes reinscritos antes del 1 de mayo , Asistiré a la barbacoa de Carter Barron.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 1 de junio recibirán una camiseta de MacFarland.

Incentivos para alumnos de septimo grado:

• El primer grupo asesor que logre el 100% de reinscripción ganará un desayuno de Chick-fil-A.

• El segundo grupo asesor que logre el 100% de reinscripciones ganará una fiesta de donas.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 3 de abril podrán vestir de manera informal todos los viernes restantes una vez que se hayan reinscrito.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 10 de abril asistirán a una fiesta de helados.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 24 de abril asistirán a una fiesta de pizza..

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 1 de mayo podrán asistir a la barbacoa de séptimo grado.

• Los estudiantes que se reinscriban antes del 1 de junio recibirán una camiseta de MacFarland.

Para completar con éxito el proceso de reinscripción, deberá seguir los tres pasos que se indican a continuación:

• Complete el formulario de inscripción de las Escuelas Públicas del Distrito de Columbia (DCPS). El formulario de inscripción para el año escolar 2026-2027 se puede completar en línea a través del Portal para Padres de Aspen a partir del 27 de marzo, fecha en que estará disponible en https://aspen.dcps.dc.gov/aspen-login/go. Tenga en cuenta que para completar la inscripción en línea debe tener acceso al Portal para Padres de Aspen, así que asegúrese de poder iniciar sesión antes de que se abra el período de inscripción. Si necesita ayuda para acceder a su cuenta, no dude en contactarnos.

• Proporcione un comprobante válido de residencia en DC y formularios de salud (antes del primer día del nuevo año escolar, si corresponde). Los documentos se pueden entregar en la oficina principal o adjuntarse al paquete de inscripción en línea.

• Envíe el paquete de inscripción completo y el comprobante de residencia en DC a la escuela. Puede entregarlo en línea o en persona en la oficina principal.

Si necesita ayuda para completar el proceso de inscripción, puede solicitar una cita a través del siguiente enlace:

• Seleccione una fecha y hora - Calendly

También estaremos disponibles para brindar asistencia sin cita previa durante el horario escolar habitual, por orden de llegada, y tendremos horario de oficina extendido por la mañana, después de clases y algunos sábados . Consulte el horario a continuación:

• Horario de oficina ampliado

  • De lunes a jueves a partir de las 7:15 a. m.

  • Actividades extraescolares todos los días hasta las 17:00.

• Horario de inscripción del sábado

• 28 de marzo, de 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• 25 de abril, de 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: ¡Sabado de inscripciones! Próximamente se compartirán más detalles.

• 2 de mayo, de 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• 9 de mayo, de 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud, llame a la oficina principal al (202) 671-6033 o envíe un correo electrónico a macfarlandmsenroll@k12.dc.gov.

Gracias,

Equipo de Inscripción de MacFarland

Spring Panorama Survey:

Dear MacFarland Middle School Families,

The 2026 DCPS Family Panorama Survey is now open through April 3!
This yearly survey helps us learn what DCPS and MacFarland MS are doing well and how we can continue to improve. The 2026 survey is also part of DC’s citywide school climate survey for families, DC SAYS.

We need your help to ensure MacFarland MS voices are represented.
Please take the survey today at dcsays.dc.gov

Every voice counts. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your feedback and help us strengthen our school community.

To learn more, you can:

• View last year’s survey results at bit.ly/dcpsresults.
• Visit dcps.dc.gov/surveys to preview survey questions and access additional information for families.

If you have any questions about this survey process, please contact our Panorama Survey Liaison at lawrence.dance2@k12.dc.gov or reach out to the main office.

Thank you for helping us make MacFarland MS an even better place for our students and families.

Sincerely,
Lawrence Dance
Assistant Principal, MacFarland Middle School

____________________________________________

Estimadas familias de la Escuela Secundaria MacFarland:

La Encuesta Panorama para Familias de DCPS 2026 ya está abierta hasta el 3 de abril. Esta encuesta anual nos ayuda a conocer lo que DCPS y MacFarland MS están haciendo bien y en qué podemos mejorar. La encuesta de 2026 también forma parte de la encuesta climática escolar a nivel de la ciudad para familias, DC SAYS.

Necesitamos su ayuda para asegurar que las voces de MacFarland MS estén representadas.
Por favor, complete la encuesta hoy en dcsays.dc.gov.

Cada voz cuenta. No pierda esta oportunidad de compartir sus opiniones y ayudarnos a fortalecer nuestra comunidad escolar.

Para obtener más información, usted puede:

• Ver los resultados de la encuesta del año pasado en bit.ly/dcpsresults.
• Visitar dcps.dc.gov/surveys para ver las preguntas de la encuesta y otra información para familias.

Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este proceso, no dude en comunicarse con nuestro enlace de la encuesta Panorama al lawrence.dance2@k12.dc.gov o llamar a la oficina principal.

Gracias por ayudarnos a hacer de MacFarland MS un mejor lugar para nuestros estudiantes y familias.

Atentamente,
Lawrence Dance
Subdirector, Escuela Secundaria MacFarland

March 27th – Enrollment Day – Enrollment begins and all families should enroll Day 1!

REMINDER – Our Faculty Meeting Schedule for April HAS BEEN be adjusted to provide a time for testing training. Our April Faculty Meeting will be pushed to 4.22 (after Spring Break) please plan accordingly.

Virtual Innovation Pathway at Garnet-Patterson STAY – our partner school has an additional option for high school students who may benefit from a flexible, virtual learning environment. You can learn more at an upcoming information session if this might be an appealing option for your Mustang: VIP Information Session-April 1st @5:30pm

REMINDER – 3.27 Heating Update – SAME AS LAST WEEK - It’s been warmer outside and it’s warm in the building due to the installed heaters, but as noted previously the HVAC system is not fixed as of now.

Parent Resource/Opportunity for March – As we begin the ramp up to DC CAPE Testing, this was a good way to remind of us of the JOY of math: Fun Math Activities for Students and Their Families - In this Mathematics Teacher article, Gina Kling (Hope College) and four co-authors share math activities that students and their families can enjoy at home. In a sidebar, they recommend these five websites:

• The Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival Online Puzzles

• Math Fact Fluency (Bay-Williams & Kling, 2019 Companion Website

• Michigan Math Essentials Early Math Games

• Investigations in Number, Data, and Space Game Websites (Grades K-5)

• Connected Mathematics Project Game Website (Grades 6-8)

Reference – Wellness Team Members – please reach out if you believe your Mustang (or another Mustang) would benefit from additional support.

6th Grade – Ms. Kent, School Psychologist –Christina.Kent@k12.dc.gov

6th Grade – Ms. Castro, Counselor - Liana.Castro@k12.dc.gov

7th Grade – Ms. Raphael, Social Worker - Alexandra.Raphael@k12.dc.gov

7th Grade – Ms. Sargent, Counselor - Leslie.Sargent@k12.dc.gov

8th Grade – Ms. Raifsnider, Social Worker - Jennifer.Raifsnider@k12.dc.gov

8th Grade – Ms. Thompson, Counselor - Kelly.Thompson@k12.dc.gov

PTO Liaisons have been coordinated to support each grade level and grade level families. You can expect to see them at PTO meetings and connect with them if need be. For 25-26 SY the staff liaisons are:

- 6th Grade – Jessica Gibian – jessica.gibian@k12.dc.gov

- 7th Grade – Fadwa Hussein – fadwa.hussein@k12.dc.gov

- 8th Grade – Sarah Riggen – sarah.riggen@k12.dc.gov

In addition, the family Grade Level Liaisons for this year are:

• 6th Grade – Anita Rechler and Julie Gallo – rechlera@gmail.com, julie.schwenk@gmail.com

• 7th Grade – Patrique Smellie – pacamp01@gmail.com

• 8th Grade – Nidia Dence – nidia.dence@gmail.com

A huge thanks to all of our liaisons for this year, and a reminder to all families: be sure to join the PTO’s WhatsApp or email list if you haven’t already (see info at the bottom of this message)!

Shout Outs and Celebrations: Please check out a few shout outs to MacFarland community members who are embracing our belief that we are one MacFarland!

Shout out to Mr. Madison courtesy of AP Ojeda in our New Educator Spotlight! Mr. Madison is doing excellent work here and got a shout out in the newsletter for new educators this month. We are lucky to have him here teaching and growing as well! Great work Mr. Madison and thank you AP Ojeda for sharing the shout out.

Music can really be soothing – even the emerging sounds of novice piano players! I have a soft spot for Dr. Guyton for teaching kids piano – this is hard! His patience and diligence though has kids ready to run ahead and play Mozart! It was a pleasure to sit while he worked with our emergent musicians this week!

Shout out to Mr. Novoa-Marcano and our Empowerment team for their work to make the Morgan State University Trip come together for our young people Friday! We had a great turnout for our young people getting a chance to visit an HBCU thanks to the coordination and effort our Mr. Novoa-Marcano and our Empowerment Team!

Shout out to Ms. Punwani for her work to fund literacy at the school! Here is the notice from DonorsChoose confirming the funded supplies -thank you to our community and to Ms. Punwani for coordinating the fundraising project!:

The DonorsChoose community recently funded supplies for Ms. Punwani's classroom! The following materials are being ordered and sent to your school, expected to arrive in the next 3 weeks. This shipment is Ms. Punwani's first set of supplies funded through DonorsChoose this school year.

Garnet-Paterson S.T.A.Y. will be hosting an upcoming virtual information session for families interested in learning more about the Virtual Innovation Pathway. Please see date/time and Teams meeting links below. If possible, please share the event information with your school community.

VIP Information Session-April 1st @5:30pm

Flag Star Football is a youth flag football league. Join a free promo day coming up in Cap Hill — kids can come play and see what Flag Star is like! Here’s the form to sign up for a promo day.

Flag Star football is also trying to build up their Cap Hill Girls league. We have teams for 3rd-8th graders. Games will be played on Sundays starting April 11th at Eastern High School. Here’s the website for the Cap Hill Girls League!

We'd love to have as many girls as possible register for the Cap Hill Girls league. Discount code DCPSSTUDENT brings the registration fee down to $75.

Parents are also welcome to apply for full financial aid through our Flag Star Football Foundation.

If you have any questions contact Sophie Bollinger, Program Director Girls Flag Football at sophie@flagstarfootball.com.

Youth Sports For All (YSFA), a Go Play program, offers free after-school and summer sports programs for DC youth in grades K-8, especially those with limited access to enrichment opportunities. Families can sign up for upcoming seasons and give kids a chance to grow through play, building confidence, making friends, and staying active in a supportive environment.

Registration and program details: https://www.goplaydc.org/ysfaspringregistration
Questions? Contact our team at ysfa@goplaydc.org or 202-679-3432.

Youth Sports For All (YSFA), un programa de Go Play, ofrece programas deportivos gratuitos después de la escuela y en verano para jóvenes de DC en los grados K-8, especialmente para familias con acceso limitado a oportunidades recreativas. Las familias pueden inscribirse en las próximas temporadas para que los niños disfruten del deporte, desarrollen confianza, hagan nuevos amigos y se mantengan activos en un ambiente de apoyo.

Enlace de inscripción y detalles del programa: https://www.goplaydc.org/ysfaspringregistration

¿Preguntas? Contacta con nuestro equipo en ysfa@goplaydc.org o 202-679-3432.

The School Without Walls Math club is inviting students to participate in the 5th annual DCPS middle school math competition on March 28, 2026

Please note that space is limited and the first 150 students to sign up will be granted participation. Students can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMKbvd-8mDGNJVYLyf3BGdA7JelFN8ZXbK9G06LG1Sh7WpbQ/viewform

Date hosted: March 28, 2026 from 9am - 1pm (arrive at 8:30am)

Location: School Without Walls High School (2130 G Street NW Washington, D.C. 20037)

The Brightwood Family Success Center is pleased to share updates on our upcoming events and services.

Wellness Wednesday

We'd like to invite you to join us for an informative session presented by the Wards 3 & 4 DC Prevention Center. This workshop will cover opioid safety and awareness, overdose prevention, and medication safety. We will also provide specific resources for the management of healthy lifestyle practices. Light refreshments will be served. Please register by March 17, 2026, using the link below or the QR code on the flyer.

You can register here: https://forms.gle/t6AUXK8ePExyhh8MA.

Center Resources

- Computer Lab: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

- Clothing Closet: Now featuring a variety of spring and summer apparel. Along with winter clothes for next winter.

- Employment Assistance: Support available for resume building, mock interviews, and Dress for Success.

- Service Navigation: Referrals to various community services via our comprehensive database.

It’s that time of year again and we need your help! Each year, DC Public Schools asks families to complete the Impact Aid Survey.

Why? Because your response helps us secure important federal funding that supports our students and schools. This quick survey takes just a few minutes and makes a big difference for our students.

Please find the link below to the Impact Aid website, along with the links to the electronic surveys.

Impact Aid Website

Click the preferred language below to access the survey:

1. English

1. Spanish

1. French

1. Amharic

1. Vietnamese

1. Chinese

Dear MacFarland community, as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) tightens its stance on food support to families, MacFarland is seeing more pull on our food pantry that supports students and families year-round.

Most of the items that are typically used to support families have been depleted. If you have any unexpired, non-perishables in your pantries and cupboards, please think about supporting our families with these items. Protein meals (including beans, and other grains, canned fish/meat) are of value to our families. With every school break comes more stress for families; because we’re a school community that supports the whole child, this is our way of ensuring care beyond the walls of the school campus.

If you are able to support, you may drop off the non-perishable goods in the main office, so that we can sort, store, and support families immediately in need.

Thank you for all that you do to support our school community.

The Petworth Library will be closing for a building refresh project on December 12th and we will likely be closed for the remainder of the school year. For more information please visit the link below:

https://www.dclibrary.org/news/petworth-library-renovation

NEW ATTENDANCE EXCUSE NOTE PLATFORM: Families can now submit attendance excuse notes via the Aspen GO (Parent Portal). Step-by-step instructions attached below.

At DC Public Schools, we want every student to feel loved, challenged, and prepared to positively influence society and thrive in life. To reach this ambitious goal, every student needs to be in school every day. However, too many of the young people in our city are not coming to school every day.

The Office of the State Superintendent’s (OSSE) finds that one in four kids in DC are chronically absent from school – which means missing 10 percent or more of the school year. At some DCPS high schools, three out of four students are chronically absent.

DCPS believes that every day counts.

Students, families, and the community must be empowered to track our progress in helping every young person get to school. By being transparent about our challenges, our city can work together to reduce the barriers that too many students and families face.

Definitions

• Truancy: Measures the percent of students aged 5-17 who are considered truant. To be “truant” means that a student has 10 or more unexcused absences from school – with or without – parental knowledge, consent, or otherwise securing prior approval from the start of the school year.
• In-school Attendance: Measures the average percent of students who are attending school.
• Chronic Absence Rate: Measures the percent of students who miss 10 percent or more days in a school year from the start of the school year.
• Attendance Entry Rate: Measures the percent of classes for which a school has entered attendance.
• 60/40 rule: Students are considered legally absent for the day if they miss more than 40% of their classes.

Regular school attendance is critical for academic success. Our goal is to ensure that every student attends school regularly and on time. Daily presence in school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families can continue to play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school—excused or unexcused—they can fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days in a school year. Research shows that:

Children that are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence is a warning sign for students at risk of dropping out of school. By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

Questions/Concerns:

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Ms. Claribel Salgado via email at claribel.salgado@k12.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 671-6033.

• https://dcps.nutrislice.com/menu/macfarland-middle-school

The allergy season is here and many individuals who suffer from frequent asthma attacks are beginning to feel the impact of the various allergens and irritants in the air. For students and families, we are sharingthis link to Children’s National -- https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/departments/impact-dc-asthma-clinic -- as a resource for helping to manage your students’ asthma related-illnesses. If your child suffers from asthma, be sure to complete and submit the Asthma Action Plan and Medication Plan and Procedure to the Nurse. The Anaphylaxis Plan must be completed for acute allergy sufferers who need to be administered an Epi-pen. Also, if your child is on any medication during school hours—including over-the-counter medications—a Medication Plan and Procedure Form must be completed and submitted to the Nurse along with your child’s Medication Treatment Administration Form, signed by your child’s primary care physician. All these documents must be provided to the Nurse by parents, along with the medication/s your child is taking during school hours. Students are not permitted to self-carry or self-medicate. All the forms mentioned in this message are attached, for your convenience.

For Mental Health Support Resources in English and Spanish for Students, Parents, and Teachers. Topics include: Stress, Grief and Loss, Anxiety, Suicide and Self-Harm, Healthy Relationships, Social Media, and much more! -- Mary`s Center (maryscenter.org)

This school year, DCPS is partnering with Children’s National Hospital to support our students’ health and attendance through the Collaborative for Attendance Resources in Education and Health (CARE-H); CARE-H is now available in all DCPS schools. Through this program, parents or guardians can give permission to DCPS to securely share attendance information with their child’s doctor(s), nurse(s) and medical office staff. This information will help these healthcare professionals to provide special outreach and medical attention to children that might be missing school and their families. Information about this initiative can be found here.

POC: Andrea.Allen@k12.dc.gov

The MacFarland PTO has set up an email list for discussion and connection among current and enrolled MacFarland families. Any family member or guardian of a MacFarland student can join by either of these methods:

Attention families, anyone with a child that would like a Kids Ride Free SmartTrip Card can sign up for one in the main office. We will process and distribute on a rolling basis.