The November 18, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Families,

I am still energized by the incredible school spirit and community support we saw at Saturday’s Janney 5K and Fun Run. It was a joyful morning, and we are grateful to everyone who participated, volunteered, and cheered. Please be sure to read the acknowledgments below -- there are many partners and sponsors who helped make the day such a success. Thank you for showing up so strongly for our school.

We also welcomed prospective families at our Open House this past Friday. It is always inspiring to see new families step into our classrooms and experience firsthand what makes Janney such a special place. Their excitement was a meaningful reminder of our core value of community, and the sense of belonging and connection that continues to grow because of all of you.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I hope your homes are filled with anticipation for rest, time with loved ones, and traditions that bring joy. This season invites us to slow down, appreciate one another, and reflect on what we’re grateful for as a school community.

Thank you for all the ways you support our students and our staff.

Sincerely,

Principal Singh

Nov. 18, 4-8pm | Nando’s PERi-PERi Fundraiser 👈 TONIGHT!

Nov. 26-28 | No School- Thanksgiving Break

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

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!

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

📍Indoors at Janney Elementary School

👉 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.

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#/

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

THANK YOU to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket at our kickoff at Saturday's 5K. We're off to a great start! 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 $1,000, $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 3 weeks 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!

Registration for Winter Enrichment, Winter Camp Days (1/26, 2/13, 3/12, 3/13), January, February, and March JAC is now open! Register Here. The catalog of Winter Enrichment offerings can be found on the Janney+ website.

Saturday was a wonderful reminder of what makes our Janney community so special. From our youngest Fun Run runners giving it their all, to our 5K runners pushing through every step of the course, to the families who lined the sidewalks to cheer on every runner, the whole morning was bursting with joy, energy, and Janney spirit. And truly, you all showed up.

As we mentioned last week, the city grant that has supported our 5K in past years did not come through this year — a significant hit to our expected fundraising. The way this community rallied and gave was nothing short of extraordinary.

Here’s what that looked like:
👉 834 runners — our biggest turnout ever
👉 $5,000 in family donations — the most we’ve ever received

⭐ To every family and friend who donated — thank you.

⭐ To every volunteer who gave their time to make this event succeed — we are grateful. Thank you for reaching out to sponsors, handing out bibs, setting up tables, managing the AV, cleaning up, and creating an unforgettable morning for our community.

Together, your time and financial support are what truly fuel the magic of events like this.

And to our incredible teachers and staff who came out to run, cheer, and support our students — thank you for adding even more heart to the day.

And a few special thank-yous…

• Brenden Chaney, for leading this incredible event with such dedication and for managing the many behind-the-scenes details that helped make it all happen.

• Madeleine Konig, for securing sponsors and offering steadfast support throughout planning and race day. Her deep knowledge and experience continue to strengthen this event in countless ways.

• Eva Gunasekera and Miles Karson, for navigating every detail with DC agencies and helping us manage the complexities that make race day possible.

• Janney’s Glee Club, for kicking off our morning with such spirit.

• Sarah Vuong, for all her work coordinating this year’s t-shirts.

• Rebecca Marshall-Peel, for jumping in to design this year’s t-shirt graphics.

We’d be remiss not to offer an extra-special thank-you to Madeleine, Aram, Eva, and Miles, whose children are graduating from Janney this year. For the past five years, their leadership and behind-the-scenes work have been the backbone of this race — the Janney 5K and Fun Run simply wouldn’t be what it is today without them and their families. We are so grateful for everything you’ve poured into this event, and we hope you’ll continue to come back, as you will always be part of our Janney community!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

And finally, a heartfelt thank-you to our incredible sponsors, who helped make this community event possible. These generous businesses stepped up in a big way for our school. Let’s return the favor! When you’re choosing where to turn for services or support, please consider starting with them.

🏅Year-long Platinum Janney Sponsor: Kids Elite

🏅Gold Sponsors: Bird Smiles Orthodontics, American University, Finnel Lee Homes, District Pediatric Dentistry, Discover Strength (If you didn’t get a chance to sign up for a free training session, click here. Each time someone tries it out before 12/15, Discover Strength donates back to Janney.)

🏅Silver Sponsors: District Dental, OrangeTheory Fitness

🏅Bronze Sponsors: Friends of Friendship Park, Rodman’s Discount Gourmet, Sarah Howard | Compass, Ace Hardware – Tenleytown/Glover Park, Harris Teeter – Bethesda, Chick-fil-A – Tenleytown

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.”

👉 What is the SSF (Student Support Fund)?

The SSF is one of the most important ways we raise money during the school year. This year the PTA is asking for a donation of $795 per child at Janney.

To learn more, visit the PTA Budget page on our website for details.

👉 How does it benefit our students?

The fund is used for:

• Staff positions not covered by DCPS, ie nurse, support teachers, etc
• Classroom supplies
• Custodial equipment
• Classroom technology and more

Note:

Thank you for taking a few extra minutes to seek out these extra funds that make a difference in supporting our kids' education! Contribute to the SSF below.

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

🐝 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.

👪 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
• Check out our Website for important links 👇