The Cardinal Connection
August 14th, 2024
At J.O. Wilson Elementary School, we are SOARing to success every day in every way by creating an environment in which joy, pride, positive interactions, and growth mindsets lead students to comfort in taking risks, self-advocating, and facing adversity.
Important Dates:
August 22nd: Ice Cream Social and Teacher Meet and Greet
August 22nd: DCPS Back to School Information Session with Chancellor Ferebee
August 24th: Youth Sports Day @ The Fields at RFK
August 26th: First Day of School for Students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade
August 29th: First Day of School for Students in Pre-K 3 and Pre-K4
August 31st: Hill Family Biking Back to School Ride
September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday...No School for Students and Staff
September 3rd: First Day of After School Programming
September 10th: Parent Teacher Association (PTA) General Body Meeting 6PM
September 11th: PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten Back to School Night @6:30PM
September 18th: 1st grade through 5th grade Back to School Night @6:30PM
Communities In School & JOW Presents...Ice Cream Social and Teacher Meet & Greet
Join us on Thursday, August 22nd from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM for our annual Ice Cream Social and Teacher Meet & Greet sponsored by Communities in Schools in conjunction with J.O. Wilson ES! Come out and meet our wonderful teachers and staff. We will have vendors, raffles, and giveaways. Don’t miss the chance to meet representatives of our amazing PTA and purchase J.O. Wilson SWAG as well. It's a perfect opportunity to connect with the school community and enjoy some delicious ice cream. We look forward to seeing you there!
DCPS Back to School Information Session (8/22)
Join Chancellor Ferebee and DCPS leadership on Thursday, August 22 at 6 pm for a virtual information session to learn important updates for the coming school year. Topics include attendance, early childhood, immunizations, digital citizenship, safety, and more! Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available. To register and get more information, please click here.
Youth Sports Day @ The Fields at RFK (8/24)
Fight for Children is hosting Youth Sports Day on Saturday, August 24. This family-friendly event will showcase different youth programs available across the city, as well as games, free food, and haircuts. More details can be found here.
Show Our Teachers and Staff Support for a Strong Start to the School-Year
The PTA is looking for families to donate snacks and drinks for our fabulous J.O. Wilson Cardinal teachers and staff. Sign-up for a week-long shift.
During your week of providing treats, families will check-in at the office, and Ms. Stephenson, Ms. Bishop and Ms. Winter will assist them in bringing snacks to the staff lounge. For more information, please contact Ms. Winter at victoria.winter@k12.dc.gov or 202-698-4733. Thank you for your support!
J.O. Wilson Elementary School First Day of School Announcement
We are excited to welcome our students back for the new school year! Please note that there are different start dates for our students based on their grade levels:
Kindergarten through 5th Grade: The first day of school is Monday, August 26, 2024. Doors will open for breakfast at 8:15 AM, and staff will escort students to their classrooms from the front door. Dismissal will be at 3:15 PM on the playground.
Pre-K3 and Pre-K4: The first day of school for our youngest learners is Thursday, August 29, 2024. The playground gate will open at 8:15 AM, and families will escort their children to the classroom. Dismissal will be at 3:15 PM from the classroom.
We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead at J.O. Wilson Elementary School! For more details, please visit our website at www.jowilsondcps.org.
See you soon!
Hill Family Biking - Back to School Ride on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 10:30 a.m.
Come celebrate the new school year with Hill Family Biking on Aug. 31 at 10:30 a.m. for the annual Back to School Ride and Block Party — a 4.5-mile bike group ride touring schools in the neighborhood, including J.O. Wilson! Join the ride mid-way as it passes by J.O., at the corner of 7th and K NE on school grounds, or start at the beginning of the ride at Maury Elementary at 10:30. (There will be an advance team to meet riders at J.O. before the ride gets there to help usher you safely onto the route.)
We'll end back at Maury for a block party to celebrate the new school year including:
Bouncy house,
Giant chalk art mural
Face painting
DC Public Library Book Bike
DJ Paul Spires
Maracas Ice Pops tricycle
A food truck.
Bathrooms will be made available on-site.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) General Body Meeting...Sept. 10th
PTA membership is free and open to all parents, grandparents and legal guardians of students at J.O. Wilson. Fill out a membership form here to get involved. At our September meeting, we will hold PTA Board elections for the following positions:
2nd Vice President - Emily Badger, interim appointee
Secretary - Tiffany Payne, interim appointee
Fundraising Director - Sheena Gay, interim appointee
Assistant Membership Director - Open
The interim appointees currently occupying these positions intend to seek permanent election, but any J.O. Wilson parent, grandparent, guardian, or staff member is eligible to be nominated for these positions. Please submit your nomination(s) here! Also, feel free to reach out to the PTA info@jowilsonpta.org to learn more about the positions.
J.O. Wilson Elementary School Back to School Nights
We are excited to announce that J.O. Wilson Elementary School will be hosting two separate Back to School Nights this year to better accommodate our students and families.
Pre-K & Kindergarten Back to School Night:
- Date: September 11, 2024
- Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
1st - 5th Grade Back to School Night:
- Date: September 18, 2024
- Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Both events will provide an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, learn about the curriculum, and explore ways to support your child’s success this school year. We look forward to seeing you there!
For more details, visit our website at www.jowilsondcps.org and follow us on social media:
- Facebook: J.O. Cardinals
- Twitter: @JOWilsonDC
- Instagram: @jowilsoncardinals
Note: J.O. Wilson is a Title I school, which allows us to receive additional support and resources to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.
Girls on the Run Registration Is Now Open (Students in Grades 3-5)
Girls on the Run inspires individuals of all abilities to discover, build, and grow their self-confidence. Together, they experience a sense of belonging and connection as a team. Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together, which provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and sets a confident mindset into motion.
Click on the link below for more information
