The Cardinal Connection
March 20th, 2025
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:
March 21st: Indoor Track - End of Season Awards Party - 4:30 PM @ J. O. Wilson ES
March 22nd: Volunteer Day – Beautifying Our Swing Space! @10AM
March 29th: Play Date at RFK Playground and Fields 3 to 5PM
April 1st: Outdoor Track - DCIAA East Developmental Meet - 11:00 AM @ Spingarn
April 5th: Play Date at RFK Playground and Fields 10AM to 12 noon
April 7th: PD and Records Day...No School for Students
April 14th-April 18th: Spring Break for Students and Teachers
The Importance of Monitoring Your Student's Cell Phone Activity
Dear J.O. Wilson Families,
We want to strongly emphasize the importance of closely monitoring your child’s cell phone activity at home. Recently, we have seen an increase in incidents involving students engaging in group chats, social media interactions, and online conflicts outside of school, which have led to disruptions and safety concerns within our school community. As a reminder, cell phones are not permitted during the school day, including before care, after care, and all non-instructional periods. Students must keep their phones off and put away at all times while at school.
Online Safety & Monitoring Apps for Parents
To help families keep their children safe online, here are some highly recommended parental control and monitoring apps:
📱 Bark – Monitors text messages, emails, and social media for safety concerns like cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
📱 Qustodio – Provides real-time activity reports, screen time management, and content filtering.
📱 Net Nanny – Blocks inappropriate websites, tracks online searches, and sends alerts for risky content.
📱 Google Family Link – Allows parents to approve app downloads, manage screen time, and track device activity.
📱 OurPact – Lets parents set screen time limits, block apps, and schedule device-free time.
🔍 MMGuardian – Monitors messages, blocks dangerous apps, and helps manage online activity.
🔍 Life360 – Tracks real-time location and alerts parents when their child arrives or leaves a specific place.
Again, we strongly encourage families to have open conversations with their children about responsible digital behavior and online security. Unmonitored phone use can pose serious risks, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and interactions with strangers.
Your partnership in reinforcing these expectations is extremely important in helping us to maintain a safe and positive learning environment for all students. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
The 2025 DCPS Family Panorama Survey
Dear Cardinal Families,
The 2025 DCPS Family Panorama Survey is open through March 28! The yearly survey helps us learn what DCPS and JO Wilson are doing well and how we can improve. The 2025 survey is also part of DC’s citywide school climate survey for families, DC Says. We need your help to ensure JO Wilson voices are represented! Please take the survey today at dcsays.dc.gov. Every voice counts. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your feedback!
🌸🎨 Help Our Artists Create Spring Sculptures! 🎨🌸
Dear J.O. Wilson Families,
Ms. Amegah’s art students are bringing creativity to life with spring sculptures, and we need your help! Please send your students to school with clean/rinsed plastic bottles and bottle caps of any size or color. These recycled materials will be transformed into unique and exciting works of art for our Spring Art Show!
How You Can Help:
✅ Send in clean, empty plastic bottles and bottle caps (any shape, size, or color)
✅ Donations can be sent daily—every little bit helps!
✅ Encourage your child to collect and bring in materials from home
Your contributions make a huge difference, and we truly appreciate your support in fostering creativity and sustainability in our young artists. We can't wait to see what they create!
Thank you,
Ms. Amegah 🎨✨
Hill Family Biking Little Tikes Ride - Saturday, March 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Join us at Lincoln Park for a one-mile on-street ride for your balance bike, training wheel, and first pedal bike riders. Plus a bubble show and treats! Register Now
Play Dates at RFK Playground and Fields
The PTA will be hosting families with games and refreshments at the RFK playground and fields on March 29 (1st - 5th) and April 5 (PreK and Kindergarten). All J.O. students and their families are welcome. We hope to see you there!
1st - 5th grade - Saturday, March 29, 3 to 5 p.m.
Pre-K & Kindergarten - Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to Noon
✨ Bring the Magic of Theater to Life – Support J.O. Wilson Drama! 🎭
We are thrilled to bring Beauty and the Beast Jr. to a brand-new stage—the historic Atlas Theater in Washington, DC! But we can’t do it without you! While we’ve been working tirelessly to raise funds, we haven’t reached our goal—and we need your support now more than ever. Your donation will help us create a truly magical production with stunning costumes, sets, and lighting while also supporting our Annual Drama Players Broadway Trip! This life-changing experience gives our students the opportunity to witness professional theater and deepen their passion for the arts.
🎭 Show Dates:
📅 May 23 at 7 PM
📅 May 24 at 1 PM & 5 PM
💡 Give today and make a difference: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/JOWdrama25
By giving, you’re not just funding a production—you’re inspiring young artists, fostering creativity, and making dreams come true. Thank you for believing in the power of the arts! 💛🎶
J.O. Wilson Career Day – Calling All Presenters!
Dear J.O. Wilson Families,
We are excited to host Career Day on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 8:50 – 10:40 A.M., and we need your help! We are looking for parents, family members, and community professionals to share their careers and experiences with our students. This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire the next generation and help them explore different career paths.
📅 Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:50 – 10:40 A.M.
📍 Location: J.O. Wilson ES, 810 26th Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
If you or someone you know is interested in presenting, please contact Massiell Guzman (Massiell.GuzmanFrias@k12.dc.gov) or Victoria Winter (Victoria.Winter@k12.dc.gov).
We appreciate your support in making this a fun and meaningful event for our students!
Save the Date for Cardinal Auction Night Party!
When: Friday, May 2, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: Skyline 609 (609 H St NE)
Our biggest fundraiser is fast-approaching. We rely on community donations, sponsorships, and volunteers to make this event a success. There are many ways to pitch in – contacting local businesses, picking up donated items, party planning, and just getting the word out.
Tickets will go on sale in April. We’ll have childcare provided by J.O. Wilson staff at Pilgrim Baptist Church, for current J.O. Wilson students only.
Please email the PTA (info@jowilsonpta.org) if you’d like to get involved, or plan to join the next Fundraising and Events Committee Meeting on Wednesday, April 2, to learn more!