The November 25, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Families,

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for your continued partnership and support. Our community thrives because of the kindness, generosity, and care you show each day.

I hope this holiday offers your family time to rest, reconnect, and enjoy moments of gratitude together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next week, refreshed and ready for the weeks ahead.

Wishing you a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Principal Singh

Nov. 26-28 | No School- Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 3 | Pizzeria Paradiso Fundraiser
Dec. 6 | Janney Winter Market

Dec. 12 | Janney Winter Concert

Dec 12 | Card Making Event

Dec. 22- Jan. 2 | No School- Winter Break

Jan. 15 | Bingo Night

Jan. 21 | Spelling Bee

Check out our Weekly Mental Load Helper! Stay on top of Janney activities by reading our weekly newsletter and following janneyelementary on Instagram!

THANK YOU to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket at our Cheer Crew's first pep performance last week! We're at 41% of our raffle goal and climbing! If you haven't grabbed a ticket yet here is everything to know about our yearly raffle:

• Tickets are now $50 per ticket (we've cut the ticket price in half to make it easier for more families to join us).
• You can get free tickets by buying a bundle (Buy 3, Get 1 FREE! Buy 5, Get 2 FREE! Buy 8, Get 3 FREE!)
• Buying a ticket makes you eligible to win $1000, $750, $500 and three bonus prizes of $150 each!
• We have set a school-wide ticket goal to sell an average of 20 tickets per class. When we reach our school goal, everyone wins — with an all-school celebration to mark the milestone!
• The drawing is on Saturday Dec 6 at the Winter Market (but you don't need to be present to win)

We have just 12 more days to reach our goal. Your participation matters more than ever — especially as the PTA faces major unexpected funding challenges this fall. Every ticket you purchase helps keep Janney’s traditions strong and supports the programs that make our community shine.

Tickets are available online and we encourage you to share with family, friends and neighbors who are ages 18+ too. Let’s rally together, reach our school-wide goal, and make this year’s raffle our most spirited one yet!

When: Saturday, December 6, 10am-12pm

📍Indoors at Janney Elementary School

Volunteers are SUPER needed! Sign up here for one of the last chances to volunteer in 2025! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B4DA4AB2BABF85-60374370-winter#/

👉 Crafters, chefs and anyone with an idea of something to sell- Winter Market table sales are now open! Visit our website to register for this Janney holiday tradition before they sell out.

How can you participate? Sell kid- or adult-made crafts, jewelry, art, baked goods or other treats. Use this opportunity to have your kids make some holiday cash by selling toys and other items they’ve outgrown. In prior years, students and parents have sold a large assortment of items including soaps, crocheted stuffed animals, ornaments, pottery, jewelry, baked goods, hot chocolate, used toys, and Pokémon cards. You could even set up a hair braiding, face painting, or nail decal-ing station! We welcome your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit! Note: Before reserving a table, please read the info on our website.

Questions? Please talk to Anne Rancourt and Kelly Molyneux or email wintermarket@janneyschool.org

Huge congratulations to our players for securing their first two wins of the season! The team showed incredible hustle, teamwork, and heart showing that when Janney Jaguars step on the court, they show up with grit and spirit.

We're so proud of these athletes and can't wait to cheer them on as they keep building momentum. Let's GO Jaguars!

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, we’re reminded of how special Janney is — and today, we simply want to say thank you.

Every day, our teachers, staff, and school leaders bring such care and dedication to our kids, and we feel incredibly lucky to have them at the heart of our school.

We’re also thankful for all of our families! Thank you for the many ways you support our community — with your time, your talents, and your generosity.

This place is stronger because of the spirit you bring to it — whether you’re organizing an event, sending in snacks, helping in the garden, cheering on our teams, or offering support from the sidelines… you help make our school a place where everyone feels connected. Thank you for your commitment and for creating the warmth and connection that make Janney so special!

Wishing everyone a warm, restful, and happy Thanksgiving.

We’re so grateful for all of you and feel so lucky to be part of this incredible Janney community.

Warmly,

Anita Siegfriedt and Jackie Ross

Getting ready to order holiday cards, gifts, or decor? Shop through Minted and enjoy 20% off your purchase, while Minted gives 10% back to Janney to support our students and school programs.

It's an easy way to check items off your holiday list and give back to our community at the same time. Just use our Janney Code: FUNDRAISEJANNEY at checkout and feel great knowing your purchase makes a difference!

Lets spread some holiday cheer and a little Janney spirit together!

Accepting Donations NOW for Bingo Night on Thursday, Jan 15, 2026. 👉 Please consider donating any unopened toys/games to use as prizes. Contact: Email carolyn.hoef@gmail.com or text 314-704-0922 to coordinate a pick up or you can leave them on the front porch at 4308 Ellicott St NW (near GDS playground)

When: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Step into an enchanted hideaway for an unforgettable evening of music, wild bids, and Jaguar pride. Money may not grow on trees, but as daylight fades, watch generosity take root.

👉 Save the date to join fellow Janney parents, teachers, and friends for our biggest night of the year! Beneath a shimmering canopy, we’ll celebrate our amazing community with lively auctions—both silent and live—games, dancing, and maybe a few surprises along the way. This adults-only evening is your chance to connect, laugh, and give back to the school that helps our Jaguars thrive.

👉 Volunteer: To learn more or volunteer, please email auction@janneyschool.org

👉 Shop our high-quality, seasoned firewood straight from West Virginia!

• A half-rack is 4’ x 4’, $200 for 125 pieces
• A full-rack is 8’ x 4’, $300 for 250 pieces

🛻 DELIVERY IS FREE!

Deliveries will reach a limited area and occur whenever an entire truckload has been ordered or every two weeks, whichever comes first.

Note: When ordering, please indicate in the notes where on your property you would like your order delivered. E.g. “Place all firewood in the wood rack at the end of the driveway,” or “Pile it up under the big ‘firewood here’ sign hanging off of the back fence above our parking pad in the alley between 47th and 48th Street.”

When: Monday, November 10- Tuesday, December 2

📍Blue collection bins in front of the gym doors

👉 Did you know that in the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year there were 573 kids in foster care? Let's help these kids have a nice holiday season by donating new gifts for infants through age 20.

Note:

• All donations will be delivered to DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)
• Please email shoshana.zallman@k12.dc.gov if you have any questions
• You can deliver the gifts directly to CFSA any day 12/3-12/5

The Janney Winter Concert will be on Friday, December 12th at 6:00 pm in the Janney Gym.

Doors for the concert open at 5 pm and will feature the Janney Band and the Janney Glee Club.

🐝 Janney Spelling Bee (4th and 5th graders) | Jan. 21, 2026, 9:15 am

What a fantastic group of spellers we have this year! 4th and 5th grade students who attended last week's meeting were given copies of the ​​word study list​​ and​​ etymology guide​​. If your child was unable to attend the spelling bee meeting last week - no worries! They can still sign up to participate and receive the study packets.

This is a ​​word study list with definitions​​ that your child might find helpful. Optional study sessions will be held on Thursdays during 4th/5th grade lunch (11:45-12:15pm in room 316). Contact Ms. Yedwab with any questions.

🎨 The Art Room | The Art Teacher is collecting hardcover book jackets all year round for the newly opened Collage Center in the art room, bring them in and put them to good use!

👕 Lost & Found | Our Lost & Found is bursting with jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes, and more-- most of them unlabeled! Please come fetch before they're carted away for donations.

🚨 Lice Guide | Unfortunately, we regret to inform that it's on the rise again! Please pass on this link to your classes to redistribute: Download our Suggested Lice Guide

🚌 Field Trip Fees | Field trips are an integral part of your child's learning experiences that align with each grade’s curriculum. The field trip fee includes not only the high cost of transportation, out-of-school programs and logistics, but also some assemblies that occur at Janney. Whenever possible, Janney takes advantage of free events, applies for grants, and uses creative ways to reduce the costs of these opportunities. Pay the Field Trip Fee.

👪 Chaperones | DCPS requires chaperones to complete a volunteer clearance application, after which you will receive an email with background check instructions. Fingerprinting is also required as part of the process but this can now be done remotely with instructions. DCPS Volunteer Clearance is valid for 2 years. List Michael Barnhart, michael.barnhart@k12.dc.gov, (202) 282-0110, as your contact and email him your clearance letter once received. View the DCPS Clearance Process.

Do your little Janney Jaguars say the funniest, silliest, or most profound things? Don't let those gems be heard only by the Janney chickens (or just you)! Share these memorable moments with the whole community! Submit elementary school-appropriate quotes from your kids here. All contributions are posted anonymously. 👇

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• Our Newsletter drops every Tuesday, see the SY25-26 Archive
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