Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison ES Families,

Enrollment season began today and our kickoff will be on Monday, March 30, 2026. More information is shared in this enrollment communication and below in this newsletter. Now is a great time to start gathering all of your needed documents for a seamless enrollment process.

The DCPS goal is to have 60% of students enrolled by May 1, 2026. Please be mindful that reenrolling by early April will significantly support our ability to maintain small class sizes. The school team will begin offering seats to students on the waitlist if current families do not reenroll and secure their placements. Any current Hyde-Addison ES families who enroll later in the season will be added to existing classes, which may result in increased class sizes.

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

Hyde-Addison is hosting a Re-Enrollment Kick Off Fair to help families complete enrollment for the 2026–27 school year and we encourage everyone to take advantage!

📅 Monday, March 30
⏰ 8:10–9:25 AM or 3:00–4:00 PM
📍 At School – Look for the balloons! 🎈

Stop by before or after school for support & questions with re-enrollment. There will be coffee & light bites in the morning and popsicles in the afternoon!

👉 Remember to bring your DCPS residency verification documents!
For more info visit: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov or check out the re-enrollment newsletter below!

This is a reminder that our next Final Friday Celebration of Learning will take place on April 3rd.

We will begin by gathering in the gym, as we do for a typical SWM, where we will recognize students with core value shout-outs. Afterwards, classes will be dismissed to prepare while a few announcements are shared with families.

Families will then be invited to visit their child’s homeroom classroom, where students will demonstrate key learnings and share highlights from one or two subject areas they have been working on this term.

Welcome to "Hyde & Shine"—a section of our family newsletter dedicated to celebrating the amazing accomplishments of our students and the moments that make them proud!

Join the Hyde-Addison PTA for a relaxed and fun Final Friday Happy Hour—a great chance to unwind, connect, and build community with fellow Hyde families!

📅 Friday, April 3
⏰ 3:30–6:00 PM
📍 Tai Chi Bubble Tea (1357 Wisconsin Ave NW)

Come hang out in the downstairs dining room while parents mingle—and kids are welcome (with adult supervision!) to enjoy games and TV.

Bonus: Can’t make happy hour? No problem!
🥡 Takeout and dine-in orders count all night
👉 Just mention the Hyde-Addison PTA at checkout

💛 20% of all sales will be donated back to our school!

Stop by for a bit or stay awhile—we’d love to see you there!

The yearly survey helps us learn what DCPS and Hyde-Addison ES are doing well and how we can improve. The 2026 survey is also part of DC’s citywide school climate survey for families, DC SAYS. The survey will open on Monday, March 2 and remain open through Friday, April 3.

We need your help to ensure your voices are represented! Please take the survey today at dcsays.dc.gov.

Every voice counts. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your feedback! See last year’s survey results at bit.ly/dcpsresults.

You can also visit dcps.dc.gov/surveys to view survey questions and other information for families. If you have any questions about this survey process, please feel free to contact hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

The team is incredibly excited about International Night! Thank you to all of the families and staff who have already volunteered. We truly appreciate your partnership and support. As we continue to collaborate and finalize event logistics, International Night has been postponed to a date following spring break. We look forward to sharing the new date once available.

Hi Families,

Great news—Champions Back-to-School Enrollment opens Tuesday, March 24! 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!

As you begin making plans for Spring Break, we would like to share a friendly reminder that Spring Break will take place April 13–17.

As families plan travel and activities, please be mindful that students should attend school in the days leading up to the break so they do not miss valuable instructional time. We look forward to students returning to school Monday, April 20, ready to continue learning together.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting strong attendance for all students.

Below you will find the 2026 Chancellor’s Family Notification Letter regarding state-mandated assessments. This letter includes a message from Chancellor Ferebee about mandated assessments, the DCPS assessment windows, and links to helpful resources for families.

Hyde Families,

Registration for our final "summer" enrichment season opens this Monday at 9:00 AM! To assist with your planning, you can explore the full catalog, detailed course descriptions, and the registration link directly on our website here.

Key Dates & Information:

• Registration Opens: Monday, March 9th at 9:00 AM
• Cancellation Notices: We will notify parents of any class cancellations by April 10th.
• Registration Closes: Friday, April 17th

Please note that registration will remain open throughout Spring Break. However, classes with insufficient enrollment will be canceled the week prior, so we strongly encourage you to register early to secure a spot in your preferred programs. If you have any questions, need assistance with registration, or have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help! Thank you and we look forward to having your child join us this summer!

Sincerely,

Active Play

Details

• August 4th-6th, from 8:30am-12:30pm
• Summer Bridge enrollment opens March 27th, and your student MUST be signed up to participate
• Hardy Bridge Sign Up

Help us kick off our first Gardening Day of 2026 and give the Hyde playground a little spring refresh! Families are invited to stop by for a fun afternoon of planting, cleanup, and painting colorful Kindness Rocks to add to our growing rock garden near the front entrance.

📅 Sunday, March 29
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Hyde Playground

We’re also excited to welcome incoming 2026–27 families, so it’s a wonderful chance to meet new members of our community and show them what makes Hyde so special!

Helpful to bring if you have them:

• Closed-toed shoes
• Gardening gloves
• Yard bags
• Leaf blowers
• Sunscreen!

Join the Hyde-Addison PTA and fellow Hyde families for youth night at Audi Field--a fun evening at a Washington Spirit soccer game — our Southwest Playdate of the season!

📅 Saturday, May 30
⏰ 6:30 PM Kickoff
📍 Audi Field – Section 115
100 Potomac Ave SW, Washington, DC

Watch the Washington Spirit take on Seattle Reign while connecting with other Hyde families for a great night of professional soccer in DC.

🎟 Early Bird Tickets: $25 per person
• Early bird pricing available for the first 50 tickets sold
• After that, ticket prices may increase — buy early!

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/5cy7uy0r8qoa

⭐ Bonus for Kids:
The first 20 kids’ tickets purchased will receive access to a pre-game field experience starting at 5:00 PM.

Important Notes:
• Parking is not included
• Seats are together in Section 115

If your family needs financial assistance, please contact:
📧 hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov

Ticket sales are officially live for the Hyde-Addison PTA’s annual spring gala, Jazz After Dark, taking place Saturday, April 25 from 7–10 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church (across the street from school). Lock in your sitter now and grab your tickets before the event sells out because we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Our incredible team of parent volunteers has been meeting every week to plan an unforgettable evening for the Hyde-Addison community. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming together:

🎶 LIVE JAZZ BAND ANNOUNCED!
We’re thrilled to share that Donvonte McCoy & CP Time will be performing live at the gala! This outstanding DC jazz band has played on Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, and we’re so excited they’ll be bringing their music to our community for this special night. Check them out here!

🍸 Great Food
🏷️ Live + silent auctions with exciting items
🎷 A lively night of music, community, and celebration in support of our school
🏫 All funds raised go directly to the Hyde-Addison PTA to support teachers, classroom resources, enrichment programs, and student opportunities.

📅 Saturday, April 25 | 7–10 PM
📍 St. John’s Episcopal Church
🎟 $100 per person
👥 Adults only

🎟 Secure your tickets here: https://hae.schoolauction.net/jazzafterdark/register/ticket_sales

⭐ Check out our website for more info: hydeaddisonpta.org/jazzafterdark

Planning is in full swing for our Annual Spring Gala, and we’re so grateful to the community members and businesses who have already stepped up to support this special event!

✨ We’ve already secured sponsors for some of our biggest moments of the night — including the live band and dance floor. ✨

Now we’re looking to round out the experience with a few more fun and creative sponsorships:

🍸 Specialty Drink Sponsor
🍰 Dessert Table Sponsor
🎟 Tombola
…and more!

👉 Have a small business? Want to promote your brand to our community?
👉 Want to team up with friends, other families or community members to sponsor together?

There are many flexible ways to get involved, and every contribution directly supports Hyde-Addison students, teachers, and programs.

👉 Explore sponsorship options and find the right fit: HydeAddisonPTA.org/sponsorjazzafterdark

👉 Ready to jump in? Confirm your sponsorship here: https://hae.schoolauction.net/jazzafterdark/register/ticket_sales

Thank you for helping us make this a truly memorable night for our community!

Thank you again for making our first-ever Hyde-Addison Read-A-Thon such a success! With over 93,000 minutes read, more than half the school participating and $15,114.75 raised for our school ($20,153 raised overall), we are so proud of our community.

As we look ahead to next year, we’d love your feedback. Whether your family participated or not, your input will help us improve the experience and make this an even stronger tradition at Hyde-Addison.

👉 Please take 2–3 minutes to complete our survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRgICkm-qM-KbvZ4wQ5A7Zp7DE05XaxuNmi1VGxyiEjGwRfQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Thank you for helping us continue to build a joyful, literacy-focused community at Hyde-Addison! 💙📖

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)
🍗 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!

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!

We’re excited to share that our Minted fundraiser is back! When you use code FUNDRAISEHYDEADDISON, you’ll save 20% on your order—and Minted will donate 10% back to the Hyde-Addison PTA.

This code works all year long, so whether you’re ordering holiday cards, change of address cards, baby announcements, graduation invitations or announcements or personalized gifts, every purchase gives back to our school!

Minted offers beautiful, high-quality designs, easy address collection, and free recipient address printing on envelopes, making any large send-out a breeze.

Thank you for considering supporting Hyde-Addison while checking a few things off your to-do list! Happy Shopping! --> https://www.minted.com

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

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).

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.

April 6: Half-Day Records & Half-Day Wellness / No School for Students

April 13-17 (Spring Break): No School for Students or Teachers

First Tuesday of Each Month: LSAT