The May 5, 2026 Newsletter

We are excited to welcome a new month as we begin May together. May is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month. As always, we look forward to opportunities to partner with families as we continue uplifting the diversity, experiences, and voices within our Janney community.

I am also still smiling as I reflect on our incredible production of Shrek the Musical Kids. Our talented 5th graders put on an amazing performance, and we are so proud of their hard work, creativity, and courage on stage. A special thank you to Anna Jordan, Director and Choreographer; Tiken Savang, Assistant Director; David Ifill, Musical Director; Sterling Scroggins, Band Director; and Jenny and Marshall Macomber, our parent volunteer producers. We are also grateful to the many staff members, volunteers, and families whose support helped make this production such a memorable experience for our students and community.

We also continue moving through DC CAPE testing, and we want to continue sending encouragement to our students. We are proud of the effort and perseverance our 4th and 5th graders have shown, and we know our 3rd graders are getting ready to do amazing work as well.

Finally, thank you to all of the families who have already re-enrolled for next school year. Your partnership and timely support help us begin planning thoughtfully for next year, and we are already thinking about ways we can continue making Janney an even stronger community for our students and families.

As we move through these final weeks of the school year, we remain focused on finishing strong together as a school community.

In Partnership,

Principal Singh

May 4-8 | Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week

May 6 | National Bike to School Day

May 6 | Janney Student Council Bake Sale

May 6, 7, 8 | Goods for Good Cleaning Supplies Drive

May 12 | Five Guys Fundraiser

May 13 | 5th Grade Panoramic Photo Day

May 18- June 3 | Janney Clothes + Stuffies Swap

May 25 | No School (Memorial Day)

May 27 | District Tacos Fundraiser

June 5 | Spring Picnic

June 16 | No School

June 18 | Last Day of School

This week is one of our favorite weeks of the year – the time we get to step back and show our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them. Thank you to everyone who is finding little ways – notes from your student, treats for teachers and staff – to show how grateful we are for the Janney team. We are SO lucky to have such a talented group of teachers and staff who make Janney what it is!

To participate, here is a little guide to optional daily themes:

• Monday: 💌 Gift Cards or notes

• Tuesday: 💐 Gift Flowers or plants

• Wednesday: ☕ Gift Beverages

• Thursday: 🍩 Gift Sweet treats

• Friday: 🃏Wildcard (anything thoughtful)

Even small gestures — especially notes from students — go a long way. Questions? Ask your room parents for more details!

Our next goal is 90% of students enrolled by June 1!

Reminder: Janney Enrollment for 2026-2027 is OPEN and ALL FAMILIES must re-enroll!

Login to your ASPEN account to access your parent portal.

💡Helpful Tips:

• Locked out of Aspen? If you’re having trouble logging in, send Ms. Reid an email. Password resets must be initiated by the school, and we'll get you back in Aspen.

• Double-Check Your Documents: The residency verification upload button can be a bit tricky to find. If you’ve submitted your enrollment but haven't received a confirmation email, please double-check that your DC residency documents were successfully attached.

• Re-Enrollment Documents: Good news for returning families! Since we already have proof-of-age documents on file for our current students, you only need to provide those for new students joining the Janney family for the first time.

• Health & Dental Forms: As you schedule your spring check-ups, remember that health and dental forms remain valid for one full year from the date of the appointment.

Here is a tutorial should you need further assistance; you can also reach out to Ms. Reid or Mr. Barnhart.

The Janney Student Council is so excited to host our upcoming school Bake Sale, and we would love your help to make it a huge success! The Bake Sale will be held May 6th right outside at dismissal. Money earned from the Bake Sale will go towards more recess equipment and Field Day fun. We will also donate half of the proceeds to a Scholarship Fund for students in Nigeria.

We are looking for baked good donations from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students (homemade or store bought). No nuts, please.

Some ideas include:

• Cupcakes or cookies

• Brownies or blondies

• Bars or Rice Krispie treats

• Donuts

• Muffins

• Mini cakes or bundt cakes

A few tips:

• Individually package items when possible

• Label any containers you send in with your child’s name and teacher’s name.

Drop-off details:

Please have your child drop off baked goods to Ms. Cole’s classroom (216) the morning of the Bake Sale.

Thank you so much for helping us make this event both fun and successful. Please email me directly if you have any questions. We truly appreciate your support!

Janney Teacher & Student Council Sponsor, Ms. Cole

Wednesday, May 6 is National Bike to School Day which promotes healthier habits, safer routes, and active transportation. This is a great day to ride your bike to school or join the Janney Bike Bus! Join our WhatsApp for our regular Friday morning rides.

We couldn’t let the week go by without giving a huge round of applause for everyone who participated in the Shrek musical last weekend! One of the many things that makes Janney special is our investment in this musical drama program. But it truly takes a village to put together a musical like we saw last weekend. In particular, we want to recognize:

🌟Anna Jordan: our committed Director and choreographer

🌟Tiken Savang: our amazing assistant director

🌟David Ifill: our fearless music director

🌟Sterling Scroggins: our dedicated Band Director

🌟Jenny and Marshall Macomber: our rockstar parent volunteer producers

From costumes, to sound and lights, to the printed program, to set and props, to ticket sales, concessions and more, we saw an unbelievable number of parents involved – too many to name – that made the show a huge success! Thank you for all you did to make this an incredible success!

With much gratitude,

Anita Siegfriedt & Jackie Ross

PTA Co-Presidents

Looking to get more connected, give back, and play a meaningful role in our school community? We’re beginning to build our PTA leadership team for the 2026–2027 school year—and we’d love to hear from you. Our PTA brings together the energy, ideas, and talents of our families to create the programs, events, and support that make our school such a special place for students, teachers, and families.

We are currently seeking interest in Executive Committee Roles:

👑 Vice Presidents (3-year term | 2 positions open)
A three-year leadership pathway supporting the Presidents, leading the Room Parent community, and helping ensure strong continuity across PTA leadership—including future presidential leadership.

👑 Treasurer (3-year staggered term | 1 position open)

Oversee the PTA budget and finances, ensuring strong stewardship and continuity across years.

👑 Committee Chairs

Lead specific programs and events (auction, 5K, staff appreciation, community events, and more)—a great way to get involved in a focused, flexible way.

Interested in learning more or raising your hand? Reach out to our current Presidents or VPs to start the conversation.

Not sure about a leadership role? There are many ways to get involved! Committee roles offer flexible opportunities to contribute based on your interests and availability.

Beth Kuhnhein + Jennifer Records

ptavp@janneyschool.org

2025-2026 PTA Co-VPs

Donate your gently used children’s clothing and stuffies May 18 - June 3rd and come to the gym during the Spring Picnic on June 5th to pick out some new-to-you outfits and friends.

Clothes and stuffies can be put in the blue bins that will be right outside the gym during arrival each morning.

Interested in helping to sort and organize the clothing? Help will be needed on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd right after school in the gym. Drivers are also needed to deliver leftovers to Martha’s Table. Please contact shoshana.zallman@k12.dc.gov if you are available.

Janney is partnering with Goods for Good to collect essential cleaning supplies for local low-income families and young adults. Please consider dropping off new, unopened items—such as Lysol wipes, paper towels, and dish soap (travel size), sponges, and soft soap—in the marked bins in front of the gym during pickup from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on May 6th, 7th, and 8th. Your simple donation will provide critical support to our neighbors in need!

Looking for a dinner option? Order from Five Guys, 4537 Wisconsin Ave NW, Tuesday May 12, 4-8pm to support Janney PTA. Mention the Janney PTA fundraiser when ordering or picking up in store, or enter it in special instructions online.

The 2026 Janney Auction was a joyous success thanks to the incredible energy and generosity shown by our community both in person and from home. We are deeply grateful to our attendees and the dedicated volunteers whose hard work brought this event to life. To ensure the 2027 Auction continues this momentum, please take a moment to complete our feedback survey and help us shape the future of this beloved community tradition.

Alice Deal Middle School prospective families are encouraged to visit Deal for one of our in-person open houses. You will meet current students, connect with Principal Neal for a welcome and FAQ session, be able to purchase Deal Gear, and participate in a student guided tour. Families who wish to attend should sign up here to help us plan. The next session is Wednesday, May 20 from 5:00 - 6:30pm. Alice Deal Middle School is located at 3815 Fort Drive NW, Washington DC.

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• Our Newsletter drops every Tuesday, see the SY25-26 Archive
• Check out our Website for important links 👇

• Join the Janney Bike Bus | Join Janney students and parents on Friday mornings for a fun bike bus to school! Join the Janney Bike Bus WhatsApp group for updates and info.
• Field Trip Fees | Pay here for 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.
• Communicable Diseases | Check out our Mini Guide to Communicable Diseases to stay healthy!
• Lice Guide | Please read and share: Download our Suggested Lice Guide.