Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison ES Families,

Although next week is a shortened week with only three student days, we look forward to strong attendance and continued engagement. Please remember that students will not have school on Thursday, October 9, for Parent-Teacher Conference Day. Be sure you have scheduled a conference time with your child’s classroom teacher. In addition, there will be no school on Friday, October 10, for Staff Professional Development, and on Monday, October 13, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting student learning and growth.

As always, please feel free to email hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov with any school specific inquiries.

Warmest regards,
Dr. Calvin Hooks, Principal
Hyde-Addison Elementary School

If your child arrives at school before 8:10 a.m., they must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Students may enter the building starting at 8:10 a.m. to receive breakfast.

Join us as we kick off our brand-new D.C. Quadrant Playdate series—a fun way to build community across all four quadrants of Washington, DC!

📅 Sunday, October 5th
🕑 2–4 p.m.
📍 Turkey Thicket Park (1100 Michigan Ave NE – meet on the playground)

Kids will receive a special Hyde Playdate Passport to collect stamps at each playdate. Collect all four stickers this school year and snag a prize on us!

This casual, free playdate is open to all Hyde families in every grade and every quadrant—siblings welcome. Come connect with new friends, see familiar faces, and share your Hyde Pride across the city!

We’ve raised $25,000 in the first month of the Great Envelope Race (GER)!

On Wednesday we officially reached the halfway point of the campaign—and we’ve just hit the halfway mark of our $50,000 goal!

🌟 Every donation, no matter the size, helps us bridge the DCPS funding gap—supporting field trips, classroom enrichment, teacher appreciation, and community events.

💛 The goal is 100% family participation—and there is no minimum required. Every gift counts! There are perks at every contribution level!
💛 Anyone can contribute—friends, extended family, and neighbors too. Spread the word and help us cross the finish line together!

📅 Donate by October 31st
👉 www.hydegift.com

Let’s show our #HydePride and finish strong!

Thank you to BreJanee, a mom of 3rd and 4th graders at Hyde for graciously volunteering to Co-Chair the Teacher & Staff Appreciation Committee!

The PTA's goal is to build robust and active committees that are representative of our school community.

Each week, we will showcase a different committee or volunteer opportunities that are available. You learn more about them here: https://hydeaddisonpta.org/committees

As always, please contact us with any questions!

Families, please remember to label all of your child’s belongings (jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes, etc.). This helps us return items quickly and ensures they don’t end up in the Lost & Found.

Our Lost & Found bins will be placed outside on Fridays only, during arrival and dismissal for easy access.

With back-to-school around the corner, we have an easy way to help you avoid the lost & found and support our school at the same time!

Mabel's Labels are waterproof, dishwasher and washing machine-safe, durable, and come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and kid-favorite graphics. They're perfect for water bottles, lunchboxes, headphones, jackets and more!

Extra Perk! 20% of every purchase goes right back to Hyde-Addison to support our students and staff.

How to order:

1. Go to campaigns.mabelslabels.com.
2. Search for and select "Hyde-Addison PTA (Washington)"
3. Start shopping! It's that easy!

During the 2025-2026 school year, Hardy MS will be hosting several Open Houses for families with prospective students.

SY 2025-2026 Open House Dates:
November 17, 2025 from 5-7pm
January 28, 2026 from 5-7pm
February 5, 2026 from 10-11:15am

To ensure students and families receive the appropriate technological support, DCPS IT and OCTO will provide dedicated assistance.

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).

If you need help or have questions, email: ch002523@discoverchampions.com

To enroll your child in Champions aftercare for SY25-26:

1. Create a parent portal [STEP 1]

   a. Your parent portal will give you access to billing, scheduling and many more things that will assist you.

   Link: https://connect.klcschoolpartnerships.com/

   
   

2. Fill out the attached Enrollment Packets [STEP 2]

1. Ensure to have your REQUESTED SCHEDULE completed.

2. Ensure you fill out all 3 OSSE forms.

3. Ensure you fill out a separate form for each of your students.

4. Ensure there is contact information for primary and secondary payer (email and number).

5. Ensure you are putting your child/children grade on the enrollment form.

6. When finished please email a copy to CH002523@DISCOVERCHAMPIONS.COM.

Active Play has a combination of parent donations and Active Play scholarships for enrichment programs at Hyde that Active Play would love to put to use. Please contact Active Play if you are in need of support. sarah@activeplayllc.com

Girls in Gear is back with a full line-up of fall programming across Washington, DC, with bikes and helmets available for anyone in need.

Please see the attached flyer for additional information.

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 17th! The PTA is excited to host our annual Movie Night on the Hyde-Addison playground. The film will begin right at sunset.

✨ Free admission for all Hyde-Addison students and their families.
✨ Bring blankets, chairs, and your school spirit! There will be Hyde-Addison swag sales at this event so look for the table!

More details (including movie selection and snacks) coming soon. We can’t wait to see you there!

The lost & found pile is already growing! Help keep track of water bottles, jackets, and more by labeling everything. Through Mabel’s Labels, you can purchase durable, waterproof labels in fun designs — and 20% of proceeds go directly to Hyde-Addison!

👉 Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com, search for Hyde-Addison PTA (Washington), and start shopping.

We also have ongoing restaurant fundraisers each week at Georgetown favorites:
🍕 Manny & Olga’s Mondays (1641 Wisconsin Ave NW)
🌮 Taco Tuesdays at Los Cuates (1564 Wisconsin Ave NW)
🍗 Wingo’s Wednesdays (3207 O Street NW)

✨ 25% of your order comes back to Hyde — just mention Hyde-Addison at checkout! No online delivery apps- in-person dining or takeout only!

For more information and a full catalog of our ongoing fundraisers, visit our website:https://hydeaddisonpta.org/ongoing-fundraisers. Thank you for supporting our school community!

Looking for a costume (or have extras to donate)? Thanks to a great parent idea on Konstella, we’ve created a Costume Swap Spreadsheet!

✨ Post costumes you’re willing to donate (infant–adult sizes).
✨ No costume to give? No problem—you can still reserve one!

📑 Please review the simple rules & instructions at the top of the spreadsheet before adding or reserving items.

🎁 Any costumes not claimed at outdoor Movie Night will be donated to charity.

👀 Take a peek at what’s available today and find something fun for your family:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UO5CMjzaMh_skXSA5VT0IRiUO9o8R9x9P1UMG-pcao4/edit?usp=sharing

Does your employer have philanthropic funds or want to market to Georgetown residents or the greater DC community? Become a Hyde-Addison PTA Annual Business Sponsor!

Support education, connect with our vibrant community, and gain year-round visibility while making a meaningful impact.

Sponsorship levels start at just $250. Together, we can create a stronger, more enriching experience for every student.

Learn more: hydeaddisonpta.org/sponsor

This year, we’re striving for robust, diverse, and active committees that truly reflect our Hyde community—and we need YOU! 💛

Take a moment to:
💬 Join your child’s classroom group (room parents use this for class events, birthday parties, playdates and more!)
🤝 Sign up for committees that interest you
📍 Connect with social groups like your DC Ward

Being on Konstella helps keep our community strong, connected, and informed. If you still need to join Konstella- click here!

https://www.konstella.com/?action=request-to-join&schoolId=5f3ec103b63aaba471bba1f9

Safety Reminders when Traveling To/From School

Ahead of the school year, please remind families to talk to their children about safety when traveling to and from school. Specifically, they should remind their children to:

• Travel in a group or with a friend, neighbor, or other trusted adult whenever possible.​
• Avoid distractions while traveling, like using phones, headphones, or other technology.​
• Walk along main roads, avoiding alleys or other low-visibility paths.​
• Arrive at school on time.​

Students may enter the building beginning at 8:10 a.m. for breakfast. Students choosing to eat breakfast should go directly inside instead of playing on the playground. This helps to ensure a smooth and timely start to the school day.

Please be mindful that students should be picked up each day by 3:25 p.m. We ask that every effort be made to arrive on time, as the tour of duty for most staff concludes at 3:30 p.m. If you require extended care, please contact one of the aftercare or enrichment providers to arrange enrollment in an after-school program.

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.)

All students in grades Kindergarten–5 must have a signed permission form on file each school year in order to:

• Be dismissed to the Jelleff aftercare program

• Walk home

• Take public transportation home alone

• Leave with an underaged sibling

No student will be permitted to leave school alone or with an underaged sibling until the attached form is signed and returned to the main office or emailed to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

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.

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.

Continuing this school year, Hyde-Addison’s cell phone policy will remain in effect. If families choose to send their child to school with a cell phone or other personal technology, it must be kept in the student’s backpack and turned off or set to airplane mode for the duration of the school day as referenced in the Family Handbook.

Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, a new DCPS policy will prohibit 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.

DCPS Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device policy

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

The Family Handbook for the 2025–2026 school year is attached below for your review. Please take a moment to read through it to familiarize yourself with important school policies and procedures.

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.

October 9: Parent Teacher Conference Day / No School for Students

October 10: PD for Staff / No School for Students

October 13: Holiday for Students, Teachers, and Staff

October 16: Literacy Night (5:30pm-7:00pm)

October 23: Fall Student Portraits & Class Portraits

October 24: Final Friday Celebration of Learning 1

October 31: Harvest Parade

First Tuesday of Each Month: LSAT