Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open House on Monday! It was a pleasure welcoming both new and returning families. We truly appreciate your partnership and the opportunity to connect with you and your children.

We are excited to welcome two outstanding new members to the Hyde-Addison community! Please join us in welcoming Ms. Kirstin Green, our new Manager of Strategy and Logistics, and Ms. Ashley Marshall, who will be joining our 3rd Grade Team this school year. We are thrilled to have them bring their expertise, passion, and dedication to our school community. We invite you to learn more about Ms. Green and Ms. Marshall below and join us in giving them a warm Hyde-Addison welcome!

As we prepare for the first day of school, please take a few moments to review the important information included in this newsletter. In particular, we encourage all families to read the updates regarding:

• Student Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy
• Volunteer Clearance Process for parents and guardians interested in volunteering or serving as field trip chaperones
• NEW SY26–27 DCPS Elementary Student Dismissal Authorization Form, which must be completed for every student (PreK-5), to ensure we have accurate dismissal information for your child

Your attention to these important updates will help us ensure a safe, organized, and successful start to the school year.

Warm regards,

Kim Bigelow

Interim Principal, Hyde-Addison Elementary School

Hello everyone,

My name is Kirstin Green, and I am honored to serve as the new Manager of Strategy and Logistics (MSL) at Hyde-Addison this school year!

This will be my eighth year with DCPS and my second year as an MSL. I am excited to join such an incredible school community and look forward to supporting the students, staff, and families of Hyde-Addison.

In my free time, I enjoy going for walks, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends.

I look forward to meeting and working with all of you throughout the school year!

Best regards,

Kirstin Green

Dear Hyde Addison Family,

I am so excited to kick off this school year with all of you! I join the team bringing 15 years of passion and experience in education, grounded in a strong work ethic and an unwavering commitment to helping our students achieve their highest goals.

This year, I am building a classroom culture centered around world travel and exploration. My goal is to inspire our students to see the world beyond their immediate horizons and to show them firsthand how education is the ultimate passport that can truly take them anywhere they dream to go.

I look forward to collaborating with each of you, learning together, and making this an inspiring, transformative year for our community!

Warmly,

Ms. Marshall

The current DCPS policy prohibits 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. Personal electronic communication devices include some wearable devices such as smart watches or Bluetooth headphones, laptops, tablets, and other future personal electronic communication devices.

For more information, please click the link below:

DCPS Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device policy

We encourage all families who are interested in volunteering or serving as chaperones on school field trips to complete the volunteer clearance process as early as possible. Processing times can vary, and completing the requirements in advance will ensure you are eligible to participate in upcoming school events and excursions.

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.

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.

Required Task: 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.

If you want to participate in the Hyde-Addison PTA Back-to-School Supply Sale, orders must be placed by 11:59 PM TONIGHT, Friday, August 7. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any orders after the deadline.

The PTA Supply Sale is an optional fundraiser that makes back-to-school shopping easy: purchase your child's grade-specific, teacher-approved supply kit online, and PTA volunteers will purchase, organize, and deliver the supplies directly to your child's classroom before the first day of school. We buy in bulk to get the best prices, and proceeds support Hyde-Addison students, teachers, and programs.

Why participate? It takes just a few minutes to order, eliminates a back-to-school errand, ensures you're purchasing the supplies requested by teachers, and supports our school at the same time.

🛒 Cross school supply shopping off your list before 11:59 PM tonight: [PURCHASE HERE]

📋 Learn more & view supply lists: [LEARN MORE]

Need assistance purchasing school supplies? We want every Hyde student to start the year with the supplies they need. Please email the school at hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov ASAP to request financial assistance with your child's school supplies.

Thank you to everyone who has already participated and supported this beloved PTA fundraiser! 💙💛

The PTA is looking for volunteers to help organize and deliver school supply kits to classrooms before the first day of school. Whether you can stay for an entire shift or just an hour, every helping hand makes a difference!

It's a fun way to meet other Hyde families, get involved, and help ensure every classroom is ready for a great start to the school year.

Click below to sign up and view all volunteer details. 💙💛
Sign Up Here: https://www.konstella.com/app/school/5f3ec103b63aaba471bba1f9/signups/6a736057321a2bd0b639fda2

Label It Before You Lose It! Back-to-school means water bottles, backpacks, jackets, lunchboxes… and the return of the endless Hyde Lost & Found. Now is the perfect time to get organized and label EVERYTHING before the school year begins!

Now through August 31, shop Mabel’s Labels and:

✨ Get 15% OFF sitewide with code LABEL15
💛 Hyde-Addison PTA receives 20% of your purchase when you select “Hyde-Addison PTA (Washington)” as your organization.
👉 Start shopping here: campaigns.mabelslabels.com

Help us get Hyde-Addison ready for the new school year! Join us for a fun, family-friendly morning of light gardening, school yard cleanup, rock painting, and play.

This is a casual, family-friendly event--bring friends, family & siblings! RSVP or sign-up is necessary—just stop by the Hyde-Addison playground anytime between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM and stay for as little or as long as you'd like.

Add the event to your calendar here!

See the graphic above for all the details on what we'll be doing and what to bring. We hope to see you there! 💙💛

The Hyde-Addison PTA is seeking a VP of Events to fill a vacancy for the 2026–2027 school year. If you enjoy planning events, staying organized, and bringing our community together, we'd love to hear from you!

Interested or have questions? Email us at pta.hydeaddison@gmail.com. 💙💛

We invite all families to share information with our team in advance so we can better understand each child's strengths, interests, and learning needs. This information will be shared with your child's classroom teacher before the first day of school to help them prepare for a smooth, successful transition into the new school year.

Please click the button below to complete the form by Friday, August 14, 2026.

Please note that our Back-to-School Night is now Wednesday, September 2. To better support Hyde-Addison families with students attending both Hyde-Addison ES and Hardy Middle School, we have adjusted our schedule to help impacted families attend both events.

We look forward to welcoming you and kicking off a successful school year together!

The School Year 2026–2027 supply lists are now available and attached below. Please review the lists for your child’s grade level to ensure you’re all set for the first day.

Hi Families,

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!

Dear Hyde Families,

Registration for our Fall 2026 After-School Enrichment Programs opened last month.

Spots are filling up!

As a reminder, registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. This fall, we are excited to offer new program options. Families may choose from the following:

• One-Hour Enrichment (3:30–4:25 p.m.) – Student dismissal is at 4:30 p.m.
• Two-Hour Enrichment (3:30–5:30 p.m.) – Students participate in a two-hour enrichment program, with dismissal promptly at 5:30 p.m.
• New Spanish Language Programs – Available in both one-hour and two-hour formats.

As families begin planning for the upcoming school year, we are also offering a 20% discount for students enrolled in three or more enrichment classes per week. A detailed program packet, including schedules, class descriptions, and pricing information, is available under the "Catalog" section of our website.

Programs will begin on the first day of school, August 24, and will be offered on all full school days in accordance with the DCPS calendar.

Registration Link:
https://www.activeplayllc.com/hydeaddisonelementary

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at HydeEnrichment@ActivePlayLLC.com.

We look forward to welcoming your children back in the fall!

Sincerely,

Active Play

We are thrilled to announce and congratulate the following parents and guardians who have been elected to serve on the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for the 2026-2027 school year:

• Kenneth Byrd

• Kiran Gore

• Tom Quigley

• Nathan Nair

Your dedication and commitment to our school community are greatly appreciated. We look forward to collaborating with you to uphold and advance high expectations and achievements for all students.

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.

As part of the DC Youth Meals Program, DCPS provides free breakfast (8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) and lunch (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) to children 18 and under at participating schools throughout the summer.

DCPS summer meal locations can be found here. Note that sites below with a ✓ are participating are open to children and youth 18 and under. Sites marked with an X are for students enrolled at that specific summer school. No registration or pre-enrollment is required.

POC: HealthServices.dcps@k12.dc.gov

Before we officially kick off the new school year, now is a great time to learn more about the Hyde-Addison PTA’s committees and join the ones that interest you!

Our goal is to build robust, active committees that reflect the diversity, perspectives, and interests of our entire school community. We want every family who would like to be involved to have a place to contribute—and we want our PTA’s work to represent our students and families to the best of our ability.

Making that possible requires your participation! Whether you are interested in events, gardening, fundraising, sponsorship, school swag, teacher and staff appreciation, the Audit Committee, or something else, there is a place for you.

🔗 Learn more: hydeaddisonpta.org/committees

✅ Ready to join? Log in to Konstella and select: Directory → Browse Committees → Openings (orange button)

Your time, ideas, talents, and perspective can make a meaningful difference. We hope you’ll join us!

Whether you own a business, know a local business you'd love to see partner with our school, or have a friend, family member, nonprofit, or organization looking to make a meaningful impact in the community, we'd love to connect.

📖 Learn more about the program: https://hydeaddisonpta.org/sponsor

✅ Confirm your sponsorship here: https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/7eta78f4zkvx

📄 View the 2026–2027 Annual Business Sponsorship Plan

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all sponsorship contributions to the Hyde-Addison PTA are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law, and we're happy to provide receipts for your records.

There are three easy ways to stay informed, get involved, and connect with our school community throughout the year:

💬 Join Konstella
Our private family communication platform where you can connect with other Hyde families, sign up to volunteer, join committees, and receive important PTA announcements. Join here: https://www.konstella.com/cd/FABTS7

📸 Follow us on Instagram
For school highlights, event reminders, volunteer opportunities, and PTA updates. @HydeAddisonPTA

🌐 Visit our Website
Find everything you need in one place, including upcoming events, programs, volunteer opportunities, fundraising information, committee details, and more: https://hydeaddisonpta.org

We look forward to another fantastic school year together! 💙💛

The Family Handbook for the 2026–2027 school year will be posted soon. In the meantime, please feel free to review last year’s handbook, which is attached below.

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.)

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.

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

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.

Aug 24: First Day of School (K-5)

Aug 27: First Day of School (ECE)

First Tuesday of Each Month: LSAT