Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison ES Families,

As I prepare to close this chapter and conclude my service as Principal of Hyde-Addison Elementary School after eight incredible years, I do so with a heart full of gratitude, pride, and appreciation.

Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Together, we have celebrated successes, overcome challenges, navigated uncertainty, and created countless memories that I will carry with me for years to come. Through every school event, performance, celebration, meeting, classroom visit, and daily interaction, I have witnessed what makes Hyde-Addison such a special place, a community united by a shared commitment to children.

To our students: Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. You have inspired me with your curiosity, creativity, resilience, kindness, and determination. Watching you learn, grow, discover your strengths, and support one another has been a privilege. Whether you are moving on to middle school, continuing at Hyde-Addison, or pursuing new adventures elsewhere, know that I believe in you. Continue to be kind. Continue to persevere when things become difficult. Continue to celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Most importantly, continue to be wonderful individuals.

In a world that can sometimes feel divided, you have consistently reminded the adults around you that friendship, respect, empathy, and collaboration still matter. You have shown that people can disagree without becoming enemies, that diversity is a strength, and that kindness remains one of the most powerful gifts we can offer one another. Never lose those qualities.

To our families: Thank you for your partnership, your advocacy, and your unwavering support of our school. Your commitment to your children and to this community has helped make Hyde-Addison a place where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The successes we have celebrated over the years have been possible because of the strong partnership between home and school. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside you.

As I reflect on these eight years, I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together. While test scores, awards, recognitions, and milestones are important, what I will remember most are the relationships, the conversations, the smiles, the celebrations, the moments of growth, and the collective commitment to ensuring that every child felt seen, valued, and supported.

Though my role is changing, my appreciation for this community will remain. Hyde-Addison will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to have served as your principal.

As you look ahead to the future, I encourage you to continue building upon the strong foundation that exists here. Continue striving for excellence. Continue supporting one another. Continue leading with integrity, kindness, curiosity, perseverance, and respect. Continue believing in the limitless potential of every child.

Thank you for eight unforgettable years. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story.

With deep gratitude and appreciation,

Dr. Calvin Hooks, Principal
Hyde-Addison Elementary School

As we wrap up the school year, we encourage all families to take a moment to review and save the key dates for the summer and the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Important information regarding supply lists and the first day of school will be shared throughout the summer.

Please see the dates below and mark your calendars!

We are excited to share a special opportunity for Hyde-Addison families! Through a partnership with Great Outdoors Summer Camp, Hyde-Addison families can receive 50% off summer camp using a special discount code reserved exclusively for our school community.

Great Outdoors Summer Camp offers a fun-filled summer experience featuring outdoor adventures, STEM activities, arts and crafts, sports, games, and exciting two field trips a week throughout the DMV area.

If you’re still searching for summer plans for your child, this is a wonderful opportunity to secure an engaging and affordable summer program.

For more information, camp details, or to receive the discount code, please contact Funmi Akintunde, via email at OAkintunde@discoverchampions.com.

We invite families of Hyde-Addison Elementary School to cast your vote for four (4) parent/guardian positions for the 2026-27 school year at https://forms.gle/nZNs6HoojVh6hW7a6. You can view the candidate statements inline on the ballot form.

Voting will run from today, Friday, June 12th until June 19th, and the results will be shared in the June 26th Family Newsletter. Thank you in advance for your participation!

As the school year comes to a close, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hooks for his years of dedicated leadership and service to the Hyde-Addison community.

During his tenure, Dr. Hooks helped guide Hyde-Addison through periods of growth, change, and achievement while always keeping students at the center of every decision. His commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and fostering a strong school community has left a lasting impact on our children, families, teachers, and staff.

We are especially grateful for the care, energy, and thoughtfulness he brought to creating an environment where students could learn, grow, and thrive. Through his leadership, Hyde-Addison continued to build on its tradition of excellence while embracing opportunities to strengthen and support every member of our school community.

On behalf of the Hyde-Addison PTA, our families, and our students, we thank Dr. Hooks for helping pave the road for our school's continued success. While we are sad to see him go, we wish him all the best as he begins this exciting new chapter. His contributions to Hyde-Addison will be felt for years to come, and he will always remain an important part of our school's story.

Thank you, Dr. Hooks. You will be greatly missed--come visit us!

As we wrap up another incredible school year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on just some of what our Hyde-Addison PTA community accomplished together in 2025–2026. Believe it or not, this graphic only shows the highlights!

None of this would have been possible without the support of our amazing families, dedicated teachers and staff, countless volunteers, and our generous Annual Business Sponsors. Thank you for helping us strengthen our school community, support our students and educators, and create meaningful experiences throughout the year.

Keep an eye out next week for our full End-of-Year PTA Newsletter, where we'll take a deeper dive into the year's accomplishments, impact, and share a few updates as we head into summer.

In the meantime, we'd love your feedback. What worked well this year? What could be improved? What programs, events, communications, or initiatives would you like to see next year? The PTA exists to serve our school community, and your input helps us grow, improve, and better meet the needs of Hyde-Addison families. Please take a few moments to complete our End-of-School Year PTA Survey: https://forms.gle/Es3JnceYapa3qU4Y8

Thank you for being part of such a special year—we can't wait to build on this momentum together next year! 💙💛

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

The Elementary Student Dismissal Authorization Form has two parts:

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

  
  

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

You can learn more about the form, including recommendations for completing it, on the DCPS website. You may download a fillable version of the form online or pick up a paper copy from our main office at any time. Please complete a separate form for each child and submit completed forms to the main office or via email to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov by the first day of school:

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

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

  
  

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

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

Hi Families,

Great news—Champions Back-to-School Enrollment opens Tuesday, March 24! Enrollment is quick and done online at DiscoverChampions.com.

Current families: Log in and click “Add a Program.”
New families: Follow the flyer instructions to get started. (See below)

Questions? Contact Ms. Funmi at ch002523@discoverchampions.com or Ebony Tucker at ebony.tucker@discoverchampions.com.

We can’t wait for another great year!

Hyde Families,

Registration for our final "summer" enrichment season opens this Monday at 9:00 AM! To assist with your planning, you can explore the full catalog, detailed course descriptions, and the registration link directly on our website here.

Key Dates & Information:

• Registration Opens: Monday, March 9th at 9:00 AM
• Cancellation Notices: We will notify parents of any class cancellations by April 10th.
• Registration Closes: Friday, April 17th

Please note that registration will remain open throughout Spring Break. However, classes with insufficient enrollment will be canceled the week prior, so we strongly encourage you to register early to secure a spot in your preferred programs. If you have any questions, need assistance with registration, or have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help! Thank you and we look forward to having your child join us this summer!

Sincerely,

Active Play

Details

• August 4th-6th, from 8:30am-12:30pm
• Summer Bridge enrollment opens March 27th, and your student MUST be signed up to participate
• Hardy Bridge Sign Up

Hardy Summer Math and ELA assignments are linked below. Hardy Middle School asks that students complete these assignments prior to the start of the school year, as they will help inform course placements.

Thank you!

Last year was the most historic season in Howard’s 54 year history featuring the first outright MEAC regular season championship since 1986-87, first MEAC Tournament title & NCAA appearance since 1992, and a nationally recognized team social justice project centered on Black Maternal Health advocacy.

Last summer, the team had over 230 campers come through our 4 sessions of camp. This year, the team is excited to unveil the new Burr Gymnasium practice facility with 14 hoops spread across 3 courts which will greatly expand and enhance the camp experience.

If you are interested in enrolling, all registration can be done at www.howarduniversitybasketballschool.com.

Dates and age ranges are below:

• Elite Camp 1: June 13-14 (ages 14-19; boys only)
• Skills Camp 1: June 22-26 (ages 6-18; boys and girls)
• Skills Camp 2: July 20-24 (ages 6-14; boys and girls)
• Elite Camp 2: August 2-3 (ages 14-19; boys only)

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Welcome to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Instrumental Music Summer Intensive! This program is mandatory for all incoming Instrumental Music students and runs from July 6–30, 2026.

Note: Incoming Ellington students do NOT need to pay, as the intensive is required for admission.

Please read the information below thoroughly as it contains important information regarding this year’s summer intensive. Sign-up link is at the bottom of this email.

Program Overview

Dates: July 6 – July 30, 2026

Days: Monday – Thursday

Hours: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

All levels and instruments are welcome, including beginners.

Strings (guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass): Starting at 2nd grade

Brass, woodwinds, percussion, piano: Starting at 4th grade

Daily Schedule

1. Music Theory

2. Instrumental Instruction

3. Large Ensemble Rehearsals

Students should bring lunch/snacks, as a lunch break will be provided.

What to Bring

1. Pencil and notebook/binder (for theory)

2. Metronome/tuner (recommended)

3. Tablet or device (for ensemble sheet music, optional)

4. Your own instrument (except for large instruments like tuba, bass, percussion, or piano)

5. Bring your own mouthpieces, sticks, and mallets

If you need help securing an instrument, please contact us ASAP.

Payment Info

Incoming Ellington students do NOT need to pay, as the intensive is required for admission.

For non-incoming Ellington students, please see cost info below:

Cost: $400 (can be paid in full or installments)

· Initial Deposit Due: July 6

· Final Payment Due: July 30

· Payment Link: https://square.link/u/XlNlwsqV

Note: SYEP Participants

· Students placed at our site through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will have their fee waived.

· Current Ellington students not in SYEP may volunteer and receive community service hours.

Facing financial hardship? Contact us directly—we’re here to help.

MAKE PAYMENTS HERE

Questions or Need to Register?

Reach out anytime or share this with someone who still needs to sign up.

Contact

· Mr. Isaac Daniel – isaac.daniel@k12.dc.gov

· Mr. Kieron Irvine – kieron.irvine@k12.dc.gov

· Mrs. Tyra Woods – tyra.flotte@k12.dc.gov

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE 2025 DESA INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SUMMER INTENSIVE

We look forward to a fun and enriching summer together!

Warm regards,

Duke Ellington School of the Arts – Instrumental Music Department

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is committed to creating pathways of opportunities and success in STEM. The journey begins with NSBE's Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (Summer Engineering Experience for Kids), a free three-week summer program for rising 4th to 6th graders, designed to stimulate interest in STEM.

For more information, please click on the link below.

https://seek.nsbe.org/

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

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

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

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

All students in grades Kindergarten–5 must have a signed permission form on file each school year in order to:

• Be dismissed to the Jelleff aftercare program

• Walk home

• Take public transportation home alone

• Leave with an underaged sibling

No student will be permitted to leave school alone or with an underaged sibling until the attached form is signed and returned to the main office or emailed to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

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

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

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

Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, a new DCPS policy will prohibit students from accessing a cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day while on DCPS school grounds, aligning with our school’s current cell phone policy.

DCPS Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device policy

For students and families:

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

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

DCPS Anti-Discrimination Policy

The Family Handbook for the 2025–2026 school year is attached below for your review. Please take a moment to read through it to familiarize yourself with important school policies and procedures.

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

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

First Tuesday of Each Month: LSAT