The Takoma Times

Highlighting snapshots of our Junior Racers and Staff in action as they navigate each leg of the journey.

Leadership updates and key messages from PrinciPAL Clayton- guiding the team forward on the path to EXCELLENCE.

Team Takoma,

To the phenomenal women of Takoma, we celebrate you with excitement, gratitude, and immense pride. Women’s History Month, officially recognized nationwide in 1987 after beginning as a grassroots celebration in 1978, reminds us that progress is fueled by bold leadership and collective courage. From the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote, to the groundbreaking leadership of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court, history shows us what is possible when women lead with conviction and vision. We also honor pioneers like Rosa Parks, whose quiet strength helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement; Katherine Johnson, whose mathematical brilliance propelled NASA’s early space missions. The legacy continues in our time with Vice President Kamala Harris, who in 2021 became the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to serve as Vice President of the United States, reminding us that barriers are meant to be broken.

At Takoma, that same brilliance and determination lives within you. You are educators shaping minds, leaders guiding teams, counselors nurturing hearts, and staff members ensuring that every child walks into a space of care and excellence. Your impact is not small; it is transformational. You advocate for students who need a champion. You collaborate to solve complex challenges. You bring both intellect and empathy into every room. Because of you, our school community thrives.

As we reflect this month, let us be clear: the work you do is powerful. The example you set is lasting. The influence you have extends far beyond our walls and into the futures of the children we serve. Thank you for your leadership, your resilience, your wisdom, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. Takoma is stronger, brighter, and better because of you. We celebrate you today and every day.

With pride and purpose,

PrinciPAL Clayton
“The Amazing R.A.C.E.: Driving Toward Success, One Falcon at a Time!”

Hello Educators!

Due to the snow days, we will be extending the RCT window by four days, which means that scoring will be due for:

RCT 3 in K-2: March 26th

RCT 4 in 3-5: April 2nd

Have a wonderful day!

In alignment with guidance from OSSE, schools are required to send home an ​early literacy screening letter​ with DIBELS/Lectura results for any students who are considered "At Risk" at MOY. This includes kindergarten and first grade students whose MOY composite score is well below and whose RAN from BOY was well below. Please download a copy of the letter in the appropriate language(s) save your own version, and customize as needed before sending home to families. Letters must be sent by Friday, March 6 in the family’s preferred language.

POC: Helen.Behr@k12.dc.gov

Greetings Takoma team,

We are excited to kick off March Reading Madness this week! Attached you will find the official bracket for the competition.

Throughout the week, students should continue to record the time, date, and obtain a parent signature each time they read. Reading logs were sent home last week, and a basket will be placed in the front office on Friday for you to turn in completed reading logs.

I will also deliver new reading logs to classrooms on Friday morning.

Please encourage your class to read as much as possible!

Here’s what’s at stake:

🍕 Bracket Winner: Pizza Party

🍕 Most Minutes Read (Month Total): Pizza Party

🎁 Top 4 Classes on the Bracket: Additional prizes

Let’s hype this up and get students excited about reading!

Thank you for all you do to make this fun and motivating for our scholars.

Racing with Excellence,

Below is our updated 2-Hour Delay Schedule for Takoma Elementary School. This schedule applies to PK3–5 and will be implemented on any designated 2-hour delay day.

Takoma Elementary: 2-Hour Delay Schedule

• Building opens to students at 10:20 a.m.
• Morning collaborative, before-school meetings, and intervention blocks are canceled.
• Staff report time follows district guidance for delayed openings.
• Students may pick up grab-and-go breakfast upon arrival and report directly to class.
• Instruction begins promptly at 10:20 a.m.

Arrival Procedures
• PK3 and PK4 students enter through the exterior classroom doors as normal.
• Kindergarten through 5th Grade students will enter through the front door of the school and report directly to their homerooms.
• Related service providers will push in or pull students based on adjusted service windows.

Instructional Schedule
• Strong Start: 10:20–10:35
• Core Instruction begins immediately following Strong Start.
• Lunch and recess will follow the regular schedule unless otherwise communicated.
• Afternoon specials and intervention blocks will proceed as scheduled when possible.

We will continue to monitor implementation and make refinements if needed to ensure strong instructional minutes while maintaining clarity and consistency for students and families.

Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to making every instructional moment count.

We are currently seeking:

• ELA Instructional Coach
• Assistant Strategy and Logistics Manager (ASL)
• Two Behavior Technicians

Each of these roles plays a critical part in supporting our students and staff. The ELA Instructional Coach will help deepen instructional practice and accelerate literacy growth across classrooms. The Assistant Strategy and Logistics Manager will support operational systems that ensure our school runs smoothly and efficiently each day. Our Behavior Technicians will provide targeted student support to help maintain a strong, positive learning environment.

Our hiring process includes careful screening of resumes, structured interviews aligned to role competencies, performance-based tasks when appropriate, and reference checks. We are committed to selecting candidates who align with our vision, demonstrate strong relational capacity, and bring a deep belief in the potential of every student.

If you know strong candidates who would be a great fit for Takoma, please encourage them to apply. We are building a team that reflects our commitment to rigor, care, and excellence.

Thank you for your partnership as we continue strengthening Team Takoma.

As part of our ongoing commitment to instructional excellence, we will included the current week's schedule and monthly dates to remember and ensure that they are on the calendar on our website and added to DOJO.

May 29th: Falcon Pride Day! Wear your Takoma T-shirt

June 2026

June 5th: Racing in Unity, Dressed in Color, Show Off Your Grade-Level t-shirt Power

June 12th: Falcon Pride Day! Wear Your Takoma T-Shirt and Crocs

February 9th - March 20th- ACCESS Testing

• 3rd Grade: Week of March 2nd
  
• 1st Grade: Week of March 9th
  
• Kindergarten: Entire Cycle (Due to 1:1 Testing)
  
• Alt. ACCESS Testing: Week of February 9th - March 17th
  

March:

Women History Month

Mar. 1-7: School Social Worker Week

Mar. 20: BCBA Day

April:

Apr. 1-3 Paraprofessional Appreciation Week

Apr. 4: School Librarian Day

Apr. 6-10: Assistant PrinciPAL Week

Apr. 20-24: ASP Coordinator Week

Apr. 22: Administrative Professional Day

May:

May 1: PrinciPAL’s Day/ School Lunch Hero Day

May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6: School Nurse Day

May 18: Speech Pathologist Day

📅 Upcoming Sessions

• Tuesday, March 3- Creating Language Rich Environments (Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
• Tuesday, March 10- MOY Next Steps and EOY Closeout
• Tuesday, March 17- Language of Community & Learning
• Tuesday, March 24- Team Leader Meeting (Class List, Re-enrollment, etc...)
• Tuesday, March 31- TBD

Reminder: Please be on time and fully present for Turn & Talk Tuesday. Out of respect for the session and your colleagues, avoid standing in the doorway—be seated and ready to engage when we begin. Thank you for your professionalism, cooperation, and commitment to our collective learning.

March 15- Sarah Jensen

March 17- Elena Lostoski

March 18- Josephine Kouakou

March 23- Deborah Rouse

March 31- Kiana Dabay

This week is a A-Week, meaning our focus is on standards-based ELA planning.

Note: March Panorama Monthly Check-In Window for 3rd-5th Grade is this week

Momentum Monday, March 2, 2026

• Check-in: Thomas/Lawson (9:00 AM-10:00 AM)
  
• Check-In: Hipps/Robinson (11:00 AM-11:30 AM)
  
• Booking: C. Barnette/Clayton (12:30 PM-12:45 PM)
  
• Booking: O. Joseph/Clayton (1:30 PM-1:45 PM)
• Data Review: 4th Grade Re: February Panorama (2:30 PM-2:50 PM) Rm. 347
• Afternoon Announcements @3:10 PM
• Late Pick-Up Duty: Clayton (4:30 PM)
• Staff Out: Elizabeth Kendig, Kiana Dabay, Toni Sanao, Lenneil Turner, Jessica Gomez (12:30PM-3:30PM), Rolando Abletes, Josephine Kouakou (12:00PM-4:30PM), Vanessa Victor (2:00PM-3:30PM), Cherry Limbos, Masha Agar, Abigail Johnson, Kathleen Kantor (2:00PM-3:30PM), Channing Herring, and PrinciPAL Clayton

Route Check Tuesday, March 3, 2026

'TUESDAY FOLDERS GO HOME TODAY

• WPM/WDM: CES Team (9:45 AM - 10:30 AM)
• Meeting: C3 Admin Team Meeting (9:00 AM-10:00 AM)
• Takoma Support Circles: E. Hardaway & India Reaves ((10:00AM-3:00PM) 1st & 5th Grades
• Check-In: Davis/Clayton (12:45 PM - 1:30 PM)
• WPM/WDM: Kindergarten (12:30 PM - 1:15 PM)
• WPM/WDM: 4th Grade (2:15 PM - 3:00 PM)
• Afternoon Announcements (3:10 PM - 3:15 PM)
• Booking: Stone/Clayton (3:30 PM-3:45 PM)
• Booking: Agar/Clayton (4:00 PM-4:15 PM)
• Class: Clayton (5:10 - 7:30) *Will be leaving campus right at 4:15 PM*
• Late Pick-Up: Schroeter/Clayton (4:30 PM - 5:30 PM)
• Staff Out: Hawanatu Koroma, Josephine Kouakou, Caleb Hazard

Acceleration Wednesday, March 4, 2026

• Student Celebrations: Student of the Month Ceremony (8:30 AM-9:00 AM)
• Meeting: Walkthrough Wednesday- Kindergarten & 3rd Grade (9:00 AM - 11:30 AM)
• AED Meeting: A. Romero Constantino (10:00 AM-11:00 AM)
• Check-In: Schroeter/Clayton (12:30 PM-1:30 PM)
• WPM/WDM: 1st Grade (12:30 PM - 1:15 PM)
• Check-In: Thomas/Clayton (2:00PM-3:00PM)

• Afternoon Announcements (3:10 PM - 3:15 PM)
• Class: Clayton (5:10 - 7:30) *Will be leaving campus right at 4:15 PM*
• Late Pick-Up Duty: Lawson (4:30 PM - 5:30 PM)
• Staff Out: Rosie Konkol (2:30PM-3:30PM), Hawanatu Koroma, Thaishesherri Stone (12:30PM-4:30PM), Angel Borden (2:00pM-4:30PM), and Atiyah Schroeter (8:00AM-12:30PM)

Checkpoint Thursday, March 5, 2026

• Film Day 1 (8:30AM-12:30PM)
• Emergency Management: Fire Drill (AM)
• WPM/WDM: Pre-K (9:00am-9:45 am) The 1st Floor Conference Room
• Eligibility Meeting: Obi B. (9:30 AM-10:30 AM)
• WPM/WDM: 4th Grade (2:15pm -3:00pm) The Learning Lab Rm. 240
• Meeting: Operations Team (2:15pm-3:15pm)
• Late Pick-Up Duty: Robinson (4:30pm-5:30pm)
• Staff Out: Kendra Houser (12:00PM-3:30PM) and Lauren Carey (2:30PM-3:30PM)
  

Victory Lap Friday, March 6, 2026

Sprit Friday: Revved-Up Readers Day; Dress as your favorite storybook character

• Meeting: Wellness Team (9:00 AM -10:00 AM)
• Meeting: MTSS LT (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM)
• Check-In: Turner/Clayton (12:30 PM - 1:00 PM)
• Check-In: Clayton/Larkin (1:00 PM-1:45 PM)
• Late Pick-Up Duty: D. Stewart (4:30 PM-5:30PM) Clayton will cover
• Staff Out: AP Lawson, Kendra Houser, Jacqueline Jackson, Atiyah Schroeter (8:00AM-12:00PM), Carin Idowu, Jessica Gomez, Dannie Stewart (1:00PM-4:30PM), and Brandon Beebe

UPCOMING PRE-APPROVED Field Trips

Next Steps (Policy):

• Please ensure that all paperwork is fully updated in Quickbase. Meaning it has been giving the FINAL approval from PrinciPAL Clayton prior to you departing Takoma for the trip.
  
• Coordinate with Ms. Rhonda, our Food and Nutrition Manager, to finalize lunch plans. Be sure to discuss whether bag lunches are needed, if an alternate lunch time is required, or if your group will not be eating at school.
  
• Verify that all chaperones have an approved DCPS clearance, and send their information to AP Lawson for final confirmation.
  
• Meet with Mrs. Atiyah at least 72 hours (3-days) before the trip to confirm that all financial obligations have been met. If you are collecting any money for this trip, remember that all funds must be turned in daily to the Banker, Ms. C. Davis.
  
• Moving forward, failure to adhere to this policy will result in the postponement or cancellation of your field trip.

Kids Ride Free Lending Library

The SSO division will continue to extend the opportunity to borrow Kids Ride Free (KRF) Field Trip cards from our KRF Field Trip Lending Library through the process outlined below.

Updated Process:

• If an upcoming field trip requires SmarTrip cards, please submit this form.
• Requests must be made (21) days and/or three weeks prior to the date of the field trip.
• We will no longer accommodate exceptions and last-minute requests.
• Cards should only be requested for students who have not been issued a KRF card.
• We have a limited inventory; therefore, requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

• If you request cards and are a repeated offender (3 or more times) of losing cards, your requests for cards will not continue to be prioritized.

Celebrations and updates from Pre-K to 2nd grades where our youngest racers are learning to drive with purpose.

Falcons,

As we reflect on our BOY to MOY Math i-Ready data across Kindergarten through Grade 2, we are seeing strong upward movement particularly in reducing students performing below grade level and increasing students at and above grade level. At this point in the year, academic monitoring and teacher internalization of lessons are not optional they are the lever for sustained acceleration.

Below is the breakdown:

🟣 Kindergarten

BOY

• 🔴 0% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🔴 0% One Grade Level Below

• 🟡 84% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 4% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 12% Mid/Above Grade Level

MOY

• 🔴 0% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🔴 0% One Grade Level Below

• 🟡 45% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 25% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 30% Mid/Above Grade Level

What This Means: Kindergarten reduced the yellow band dramatically (84% → 45%) and increased students performing on or above grade level from 16% at BOY to 55% at MOY. This is significant acceleration and reflects strong foundational math instruction.

BOY

• 🔴 13% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🟡 67% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 6% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 14% Mid/Above Grade Level

MOY

• 🔴 3% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🟡 57% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 8% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 32% Mid/Above Grade Level

What This Means: Grade 1 reduced students two grade levels below (13% → 3%) and more than doubled students performing mid/above grade level (14% → 32%). Students are moving upward but the 57% in t

BOY

• 🔴 42% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🟡 46% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 7% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 5% Mid/Above Grade Level

MOY

• 🔴 12% Two Grade Levels Below

• 🟡 64% One Grade Level Below

• 🟢 9% Early On Grade Level

• 🔵 15% Mid/Above Grade Level

What This Means: Grade 2 dramatically reduced students two grade levels below (42% → 12%) a major collapse of the red band. However, many of those students moved into the yellow band (46% → 64%). While this reflects growth, it also means our work is not finished. We must now convert yellow to green and blue through stronger conceptual instruction and facilitation.

At this stage of the year:

• The “floor” has improved.

• Students have moved up bands.

• But many are still hovering just below grade level.

To convert this progress into proficiency, we must:

Strengthen Academic Monitoring

• Weekly data checks aligned to lesson objectives

• Tight small-group adjustments based on subskill gaps

• Monitoring of yellow-band students biweekly

• Ensuring i-Ready usage aligns to identified deficits

Deepen Teacher Internalization

Strong facilitation begins with strong planning. Internalization must include:

• Anticipating misconceptions

• Planning math discourse questions

• Identifying the key conceptual understanding of each lesson

• Planning representations and models intentionally

• Preparing checks-for-understanding in advance

Acceleration from red to yellow happened.
Now the work is yellow to green and green to blue.

This is where precision teaching matters most.

Our Focus Moving Forward

• Tight alignment between i-Ready data and small-group instruction

• Increased walkthroughs focused on facilitation moves

• Stronger math discourse in Tier 1 instruction

• Monitoring conceptual understanding, not just procedural accuracy

• Continued coaching cycles centered on internalization

AP Ashley C. Lawson, LES Assistant Principal

Lower Elementary School (Pre-K - 2nd Grades)

News and achievements from Grades 3-5 as our older students accelerate toward academic success.

Team Takoma,

This week I came across a post on metacognition — thinking about your own thinking.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUoPbIHk3Ik/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&img_index=9

Neuroscience tells us that when students pause to analyze their thinking, they activate the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for:

• Self-control

• Emotional regulation

• Long-term decision-making

But here’s the instructional connection:

Metacognition is not just emotional regulation.

It is academic acceleration.

When students:

• Explain why they chose a strategy,

• Revise their reasoning,

• Identify misconceptions,

• Question whether their answer makes sense,

They are building deeper neural pathways.

This connects directly to our data.

We have students who:

• Show up.

• Persist.

• Believe they can succeed.

• Feel like they belong.

They are ready.

Metacognitive prompts are how we stretch them safely.

Not more work.
Not louder instruction.
Not faster pacing.

Deeper thinking.

This week, try adding one metacognitive question:

• What strategy did you use and why?

• Where did your thinking shift?

• What mistake did you almost make?

• How do you know this is correct?

Rigor is not just knowing the answer.

It is understanding your thinking while you find it.

Greetings Takoma!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather ☀️🌻. Please see this week's operations updates and reminders. Be sure to thoroughly review all information and links.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful week on purpose!💙💛 -DSL Schroeter

🚒 Fire Drill - Thursday, 3/5:

On Thursday, we will have a Fire Drill. Please see the PPT deck linked below for reference and specific information. Be sure to have your Emergency Flipchart AND class roster for use during the drill. ​Fire Drill for Staff and Students.pptx​

🗓 What's Coming Up in Operations!

On March 30th the Takoma Operations Team will begin the 2026-2027 SY Enrollment/Re-enrollment season! This means newly matched (through the My School DC Lottery) families as well as returning Takoma families will complete the required DCPS enrollment process to ensure their seat at Takoma for the 2026-2027 school year. As a heads up, we will ask teachers to help with sending enrollment reminders/messaging again this year through their Class Dojo, What's App groups and other methods of communication with families on a weekly basis during enrollment season. We will also have another friendly homeroom enrollment competition this year. Stay Tuned for more information on this!

🍎 (PAST Due) Teacher Substitute Plan Requirements and Classroom Location

Thanks to the teachers that have submitted their Sub Folder classroom location already! If you have not done so, please review the ​​​​Teacher Substitute Plan Requirements​​​​​​ linked here, then complete the Substitute Folder Classroom Location Form ASAP. Every teacher is required to review the requirements and complete this form. Please do not email your sub plan location to Ms. Schroeter. Thank you and as always feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

💰Fundraising Protocol

We're always excited that grade teams are interested in raising funds for student events! All grade teams are required to have a grade level designee complete the Fundraiser Request Form.

Note: All fundraising events must be fully approved by Ms. Schroeter before starting the fundraiser and before sharing any information with the school community. Also, no reimbursements for purchases towards an event or fundraiser will be issued without full approval of the purchase first by Ms. Schroeter. Please request an in-person meeting with Ms. Schroeter to discuss your event or fundraiser before it begins. Once you have been approved and you begin your fundraiser, please remember you are required to turn in all funds raised DAILY to Ms. Davis. She will issue you a receipt for your submitted grade level funds. If Ms. Davis is not at school that day, funds are to be submitted to Principal Clayton. Please invite me to your team meeting, happy to attend to discuss your plans!

🚌Fieldtrip Planning Protocol

A quick reminder that only grade team fieldtrip coordinators should be submitting fieldtrip applications for their grade team members. Please see your fieldtrip coordinator if you are interested in planning a fieldtrip as they have received training on Takoma's updated fieldtrip process and have the steps to complete. Our process is more involved this year to ensure new district compliance expectations. If you have any questions about this, email DSL Schroeter directly. Or invite me to your team meeting, happy to attend to discuss your plans!

🚨Student Emergency Protocol

Use the following protocol/steps in the event of student emergencies. This includes but is not limited to any student or staff injury and student elopements of any type. Please contact Ms. Schroeter or Principal Clayton directly if you have any questions about this process.

1. Immediately call the cell phone of one of the following admin team members: DSL Schroeter, AP Robinson, AP Lawson or Principal Clayton. If you do not receive an answer, call the next admin member. If you are a walkie holder, you may also use the walkie to attempt to contact the aforementioned admin members. Note: It is not adequate to only report the incident to another staff member.

   Principal Clayton- (202) 664-2141

   AP Lawson- (202) 710-3812

   AP Robinson- (202) 286-6571

   DSL Schroeter- (202) 702-9980

1. Send via email a complete statement summarizing the incident in full detail to DSL Schroeter, Principal Clayton and APs Robinson and Lawson as soon as you compete the call with an admin team member.

   
   

2. Complete a ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Student Injury Form​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ (if applicable) and submit to Principal Clayton or DSL Schroeter within 24 hours of the incident. This form is also linked on the Falcon Staff Hub and copies can be found in the front office in the mailbox area. The mailbox slot is labeled Student Injury Forms.

   
   

3. Be prepared to meet briefly with the admin team before the end of the day, on the same day of the incident. All staff that witnessed or were involved in the event may be expected to attend the admin team meeting.

🔑Access Card or Room Key Replacement Policy

If a staff member loses their building access card (white cards used to enter the building) or room key, they will need to pay $20 for a replacement key/card following these steps.

Step 1️⃣- Go to Ms. Davis to pay the $20 fee (cash or check).

Step 2️⃣ - Ms. Davis will issue you a receipt.

Step 3️⃣ - Come to Ms. Schroeter's office with your receipt to receive your

replacement access card.

🎒Early Dismissal Protocol

Please review the updated early dismissal protocol below and share with your classroom families in your weekly communication. We will need your continued support in responding to your cell phone especially between 11:30 am and 2:15 pm as we are calling from Ms. Rouse's cell (301) 728-5851, Ms. Schroeter's cell (202) 702-9980, Ms. Bordan's cell (202) 578-4483 or the school main line (202) 671-6050, to have students walk down with buddies for early dismissal. If students are in PK, we will pick them up from the classroom. Thank you for your support and let us know if you have any questions.

1. When families/guests arrive to dismiss a student(s), they will be required to present a physical ID only. As of 10/13/25, DCPS security guards are no longer able to accept IDs in digital form on a cell phone.

2. The parent/guest will be required to sign the guest sign-in book.

3. The security officer will call Ms. Rouse (or person covering the front desk) to confirm that they are on the student's contact list in Aspen.

4. Once confirmed, the parent/guest will sign the student out in the early dismissal book. The early dismissal book will be at the table directly in front of the security office. The parent/guest will remain in the entrance vestibule; they will not enter the main office.

5. Ms. Rouse will then call for the student to come down or go to retrieve the student for early dismissal.

6. Ms. Rouse will bring the student directly to the entrance vestibule area and ensure each student is handed off to the pickup person.

Note: Parents who need to complete a document or request speak to someone in the main office for any number of reasons will:

1. Be required to provide a physical ID.

2. Sign the guest sign-in book upon arrival.

3. Be permitted to enter the building and the security guard will have them proceed to the main office.

📋2526 SY Classroom Supplies List

Please see the current list of all classroom supplies linked here: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Takoma 2526 Classroom Supplies List​​​​​​​​​​​​​​. Only submit a request on the Falcon Hub for classroom supplies if you are in need of one or more of the items listed, as we have limited supplies of items. Note: If you do not see a picture of one or more items (from the list linked above) on the Classroom Supply Request Form on the Falcon Hub, you may send Ms. Rouse an email (deborah.rouse@k12.dc.gov) directly to request the item.

🏫School Event Approval Protocol

Please review and follow all steps listed below if you are interested in hosting an event or reserving a space for an event or meeting at Takoma.

Note: There is no form to submit for this process. However, all staff members are required to follow the steps listed below in order. These steps are also linked (Staff Event Approval Protocol) on the Falcon Hub under the ​Staff Hub tab​. Please let me or your AP know if you have any questions about the process. Thank you.

Step 1: Initial Approval - Grade Band Assistant Principal

Submit your event proposal to your Grade Band Assistant Principal (AP) for initial review and alignment with academic priorities and team schedules.

Step 2: Final Approval - Ms. C. Davis, Director of Programming

Once your AP has given initial approval, the proposal is forwarded to Ms. C. Davis for final confirmation. This ensures the event aligns with school-wide priorities, systems, and leadership calendars.

Step 3: Calendar Coordination - DSL Schroeter

After approval from your AP and Ms. Davis, the event is sent to DSL Schroeter for official date confirmation and placement on the Takoma Master School Calendar. Note: The event is not considered official or scheduled until it appears on the school calendar.

Step 4: Set-Up and Supplies – Ms. Bacote & the Beautification Team

Once the event is confirmed and calendared, Ms. Bacote will be notified. She will coordinate with the Beautification Team for: Room setup or outdoor prep - tables, chairs, signage, decorations and any supply needs or special requests.

Racing with Excellence,

Atiyah

In this space, Mr. Thomas will share important updates, reflections, and resources connected to student well-being, school culture, and the systems we are strengthening to ensure Takoma remains a safe, supportive, and joyful place for all scholars.

This section highlights the heart of our work—building strong relationships, reinforcing expectations with care, and centering the whole child.

Be sure to take a moment to read his updates and stay connected to the great work happening across Team Takoma. 💛

This week we recorded 5 total behavior reports schoolwide, which reflects a decrease of 4 reports overall compared to previous week. Thank you to our staff and students for the continued focus on expectations and positive culture.

What the data shows:

• 1st Grade: +3 this week
• 2nd Grade: -3 (improvement)
• 4th Grade: -2 (continued positive decline)
• 5th Grade: -2 (continued positive decline)
• Pre-K, Kindergarten, 3rd, and CES: 0 reports this week

Based on this week’s reports, we are tightening up a few key areas to ensure safety and consistency schoolwide:

· Reteach bathroom expectations schoolwide (enter, use, exit, no lingering)

· Limit the number of students out at one time

· Reinforce “walk at all times” expectations in classrooms and hallways

· Use calm, consistent language when redirecting

· Tighten transition routines, especially during indoor recess and bathroom breaks

Consistency across adults is critical. When expectations are clear, predictable, and reinforced the same way in every space, student behavior improves.

This week’s Culture Spotlight goes to our entire Pre-K team!

Their hallway behavior has been almost flawless. You can clearly see that expectations are set before students walk out of the classroom door.

· Students are walking quietly

· Lines are straight (as straight as we can expect from 3- and 4-year-olds!)

· Adults are proactive and intentional

It’s evident that the tone is established early and reinforced consistently. The result? Calm, structured transitions that set our youngest Falcons up for success.

Thank you, Pre-K team, for modeling what strong systems and clear expectations look like in action.

This week, we officially launch our TLC (Time, Love, and Connection) Buddy Check-Ins as part of our Whole-Child work. These intentional moments are designed to ensure every identified student has a trusted adult connection in the building.

What’s Expected of TLC Buddies:

· Meet with your assigned student at least once per week (5–10 minutes).

· Keep the check-in relaxed and relationship-focused (conversation, quick game, lunch visit, etc.).

· Use simple conversation starters and listen more than you speak.

· Document brief notes as needed for tracking.

· Maintain consistency (reliability builds trust).

The goal is connection, not counseling.

What’s Expected of Classroom Teachers:

· Allow students to attend scheduled TLC check-ins.

· Maintain a positive and collaborative approach as you work with TLC Buddies to determine the most appropriate time for weekly check-ins.

· Reinforce the positive partnership by speaking about TLC in an encouraging way.

This is a team effort. When students know multiple adults are invested in them, school feels safer, more supportive, and more connected.

Thank you to everyone serving as a TLC Buddy, your presence matters more than you know.

We have an exciting professional learning opportunity coming up that directly connects to our ongoing focus on intentional relationship-building and strengthening Tier 1 culture practices schoolwide.

This session, hosted through Luma, will center on practical strategies for building authentic connections with students, strengthening classroom culture, and deepening adult-to-student trust.

This opportunity would especially benefit:

• Staff looking to strengthen relationship-building strategies

• Adults working with students who need consistent connection

• Teachers refining their classroom culture systems

• New-to-Takoma staff still learning our culture framework

• Anyone looking to strengthen centering spaces and restorative practices

Register here: https://luma.com/to25iuae

💙 Hi Falcon Family,

We are pleased to share information about our upcoming Zones of Literacy Family Engagement Initiative, which connects the Zones of Regulation framework with literacy in a meaningful and engaging way. Students and families will select a book to read at home and create a project on standard 8x11 paper. Each project should include the book title, one chosen character, the character Zone during the beginning, middle, and end of the story, and a brief reflection on how the character regulated themselves and whether the strategy was effective. Families will also have access to an optional template to help guide their thinking as they track the Zones throughout the reading experience. Completed projects will be submitted in designated boxes located at arrival and in the main office.

To support student participation, submission boxes will be managed by Mrs. Latour, Mrs. Hipps, and Mrs. Victor. Celebration baskets will be provided by Mrs. Victor and Mrs. Hipps, and special snacks will be provided by Ms. Warren. Grade‑level celebrations will occur during lunch, with Upper and Lower Teams facilitating; staff support may qualify for CSC credit pending approval from the Principal. Important dates are as follows: Kindergarten and 3rd Grade projects are due March 11 with celebrations on March 12; 1st and 4th Grade projects are due March 19 with celebrations on March 20; and 2nd and 5th Grade projects are due April 1 with celebrations on April 2. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering literacy, emotional awareness, and family engagement within our school community.

— The Wellness Team

Wellness Referral Form

Please input information for social-emotional support through the Wellness Referral Form to streamline support for our Jr. Racers!

The Wellness Referral Form can be utilized to:

• Share concerns about academics, behavior or wellness;

• Flag possible ACE's (Adverse Childhood Experiences);

• Connect students with targeted supports and resources.

Please click and bookmark the link below:

Wellness Team Referral Form SY 25-26

Thank you for collaborating with us to ensure every Jr. Racer is equipped to thrive. Please feel free to reach out to any Wellness Team member for any questions or additional support.

In Collaboration,

The Wellness Team

DCPS-wide announcements, policy reminders, and new initiatives that impact the R.A.C.E.

School Funded, School Operated Summer Programs Form (3/6)

All schools, including those not hosting any summer programming or ​offline for the summer​ are required to submit the 2026 DCPS Summer Programming Form. If you have not yet completed the form for your school, please do so by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Responses help confirm an accurate list of schools with no programming and ensure that relevant Central Services teams are aware of all programming that will take place in DCPS buildings this summer so that appropriate operational support, such as custodial, security, and meal service, can be arranged.

POC: Jeffery.Taylor@k12.dc.gov

Review SY26-27 Lottery Seats (2/23)

On Friday, February 13, participating schools in the My School DC lottery received their proposed SY26-27 My School DC Lottery Seat allocations via email. Schools are able to review their proposed lottery seats and the SY26-27 Lottery Seat Business Rules and Processes. Petitions must be submitted via the QuickBase link provided in the email by COB Monday, February 23.

POC: dcps.lotteryseats@k12.dc.gov

Summer 2026 PD Calendar and Mandatory Summer Training for Principals and APs

The Professional Learning Team is excited to share the ​Summer 2026 PD Calendar​. We will continue to keep this updated as more information about Summer PD becomes available. To support your summer planning, please remember that some summer trainings are required for target Principal and AP groups:

• Summer Leadership Academy (7/13-7/17) - required for all Principals and APs (on select days)

• BASE Camp (7/6-7/10) - required for all new Principals and new APs

• Principal Huddle (8/13) - required for all Principals (virtual format, one hour, not full day)

• 6th & 9th grade academy retreat (6/25-6/26) - required for 6th and 9th Grade Academy APs

Calendar holds will be forthcoming.

POC: pl.dcps@k12.dc.gov

[NEW DATE] Hiring Ready – What Principals Need To Know for SY26-27 Hiring (3/5)

The first webinar of the SY26-27 hiring season is on Thursday, March 5, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The Instructional Talent Acquisition and Retention (ITAR) team will present "Hiring Ready – What Principals Need To Know for SY26-27 Hiring." During this webinar, we will share how to set up your school-based talent team to prepare for early hiring. To receive an invitation to this webinar and all future talent webinars, please complete this interest form.

POC: dcps.hiring@k12.dc.gov

2026 Enrollment Saturday Sign-Up (Due by 3/6)

Hosted by My School DC, the eighth annual Enrollment Saturday will take place on Saturday, April 25 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. While all schools are invited to participate in this event, participation is mandatory for all DCPS SY26-27 Growth Schools. Any school planning to participate must complete this form to sign-up by COB Friday, March 6.

POC: enroll@k12.dc.gov

To Your FNS POC

Deadline Extended: FNS Administrator Evaluation Survey (2/27)

The Winter 2025–2026 Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Administrator Evaluation Survey has been extended through Friday, February 27. FNS POCs must complete the survey to help evaluate meal service quality and satisfaction at your school. The FNS team will follow up with any POCs who did not submit a survey during the week of March 2; principals will be CC’d on this message. This survey is a key opportunity to highlight the great work happening in your buildings and identify areas that require improvement. We appreciate your time and your commitment to improving the student meal experience. If you are unsure if your school has already completed the survey, please reach out to Robert Jaber for support.

POC: Robert.Jaber@k12.dc.gov

Assistant Principal

Date Change: Spring 2026 AP Summit (4/6)

Due to DCPS calendar updates, the AP Summit will now take place on Monday, April 6 from 8:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at Ballou High School. This half-day event is designed to strengthen leadership practices, build connections, and inspire action, and features cluster meetings and breakout sessions that will center on practical leader knowledge and skills to support your growth and attaining your annual goals. All APs are expected to attend. Please register here by Friday, March 6 to select your breakout sessions. If you previously registered before the date change, you do not need to re-register.

POC: Alexandria.Rhoden@k12.dc.gov

MSL/DSL

Encouraging Family Survey Completion for the Impact Aid Amended Application

The initial Impact Aid application was submitted on Monday, February 2. The amended application, due in June, will ensure DCPS receives the federal funding necessary to support our students. It is important that every family completes the Impact Aid survey. A list of families who have not completed the survey will be sent to DSL/MSLs this week. Please work with families who haven’t yet submitted to complete the survey this Spring.

POC: JuVaughan.Jones@k12.dc.gov

MSAA/DLM Pre-Administration Checklist

The MSAA/DLM Pre‑Administration Checklist must be submitted no later than 3 business days before the school’s OSSE‑approved testing start date as outlined in the school’s Test Plan. Only the Test Monitor or Principal may submit the form. These individuals should work closely with the school’s Test Coordinator to ensure that all information provided is complete and accurate. The survey serves as a procedural safeguard to confirm a school’s readiness and to prevent OSSE monitoring findings or pauses to testing caused by missing pre‑assessment requirements. Failure to submit the checklist by the required deadline will result in a delay to the start of MSAA and DLM testing for the school.

POC: Alana.Brown@k12.dc.gov

ESY Student Certification (4/10)

The Extended School Year certification window is open and LEA Rep Designees can begin certifying special education students. LEA Rep Designees are required to complete certification for all special education students in their building. Principals can view certification progress in the ESY Data Tracker. Certification must be completed by Friday, April 10.

POC: Carmen.Palomo@k12.dc.gov

Field Trip Reminders & New Bus Vendors

As a reminder, all field trip types must be logged in the Field Trip QB app with a final student roster. Please update your Attendance POC the morning of a field trip with the final student roster so that each student’s attendance can be correctly logged as “Student Activity.” Also, two additional approved bus vendors have been added: RHG and Sunny’s Worldwide. Their details are listed on the homepage of the Field Trip QB app in the “Charter Bus Approved Vendor Report.” If staff have any questions or need support, please encourage them to attend the optional March office hours, Wednesday, March 4 at 1:15 p.m. via Teams and Friday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. via Teams.

POC: Helen.Tzow@k12.dc.gov

New Teachers

New Educator Network PD (3/17)

New educators navigating the educator licensure process are invited to join the NEN virtually on Tuesday, March 17 at 3:30 p.m. for our Spring Professional Development session. This session is designed specifically to support those new to the profession and/or DCPS as they pursue licensure in the District. For additional details, please see the flyer linked ​here​.

POC: pl.dcps@k12.dc.gov

Teachers

Academic Partnering Resources

With the cancellation of Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs) on March 12, educators are encouraged to utilize existing communication structures to engage families in meaningful academic partnering conversations. If helpful, educators can leverage ideas in these resources to support their ongoing engagement with families outside of the traditional PTC format:

• ​Dos and Don’ts on Communicating with Families​

• DCPS Best Practices for Academic Partnering Year-Round

• DCPS Best Practices for Ongoing Communication with Families

• ​Building Trust and Navigating Concerns with Families Through Effective Communication​

More academic partnering resources available on the official Family Engagement Canvas Hub.

POC: Tierra.Patterson@k12.dc.gov

Upcoming Cultural/Religious Observances

In February there are three cultural/religious observances identified on the DCPS instructional calendar: Ramadan begins (Tuesday, February 17 - evening only observance), First day of Ramadan and Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, February 18 - full day observances). Please follow the guidance on the DCPS school year calendar when planning school events and activities on days indicated as cultural/religious observances:

• Evening only: Religious holidays and observances begin after sunset on these days. Schools may schedule daytime activities as usual, but whenever possible, schools should refrain from special evening events (homecoming, Back to School Night) and important meetings after school on these days. This includes observances that occur on the weekend.
• Full Day: Whenever possible, schools should refrain from scheduling special events (homecoming, field trips, family events), important meetings, or DCPS scheduled athletic events on these days to avoid excluding staff, families, and students. This includes observances that occur on the weekend.

POC: DCPS.SEAD@k12.dc.gov

Excused Absences for January 29 and 30

On Tuesday, February 10, DCPS informed families that any absences on Thursday, January 29 or Friday, January 30, would be retroactively excused. School teams do not need to take any action to excuse individual student absences for these two days; these updates to student attendance records were completed centrally. The Attendance team added excuses only for students who had an unexcused absence on either day. Therefore, there should be no matching report impacts, and any excuses that the school may have already entered were not overridden.

POC: Andrea.Allen@k12.dc.gov

Child Find Notice Posters

Child Find is a district responsibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires schools to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities. DCPS schools are required to display “Child Find Notice” posters (translations available here) in the school's Welcome Center and in the corridor near early childhood classrooms in elementary schools. The name of the LEA Representative or LEA Representative Designee must be listed as the contact person on the poster. Posters must remain visible in every building at all times, including during the summer months.

POC: dcps.specialed@k12.dc.gov

To Your Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessional Structured Literacy Training (3/30)

Given the recent SY25-26 calendar update, the DCPS Reading Clinic will still offer the ​​Structured Literacy Training for Kindergarten Paraprofessionals​​ Monday, April 13 - Wednesday, April 15 (during the DCPS Spring Break), as originally planned. This training will be appropriate for any partner teacher, paraprofessional, aide, or support teacher (non-WTU) who works in kindergarten with general education, ML, or special education students. Participants will learn content and best practices for working with all readers during this three-day training. Paraprofessionals are encouraged to registerhere by Monday, March 30. All sessions are located at Barnard ES. Anyone who previously registered to participate in the training on Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13 and Monday, April 6 may still participate on those dates with principal approval.

POC: Helen.Behr@k12.dc.gov

Spring 2026 Panorama Surveys Open Next Week (3/2)

The Spring 2026 Panorama Surveys for students, families, teachers, staff, and school leaders will be open from Monday, March 2 through Friday, April 3. Reminders will be sent to school survey liaisons throughout the survey. Follow your school’s response rate on the Panorama dashboard.

POC: panoramasurvey@k12.dc.gov

Priority Work Order Requests (2/12)

Please ensure that your D/MSL or Operations POC has submitted your school’s top 10 priority work orders to your cluster’s School Operations POC by 5pm today, Thursday, February 12. DCPS is working with DGS to prioritize these work orders for late spring/summer repairs.

POC: Dedra.Adams@k12.dc.gov

Summer Learning 2026 Registration Now Open

Registration for Summer Learning 2026 opened on Monday, February 2. Students and families can learn more about Summer 2026 at this site. Please note that K-8 sites will hold programming 5 days a week (Program Dates: Monday, June 22 to Friday, July 31). High schools will hold programming Monday-Thursday, with no programming on Fridays (Program Dates: Monday, June 22 to Thursday, July 30).

POC: extendedlearningteam@k12.dc.gov (K-12); dcps.esy@k12.dc.gov (K-12 ESY); Kristopher.bengtson@k12.dc.gov (ES and MS ELSAP)