
SHMS Family Newsletter
January 22, 2023
Principal's Message
Greetings Stuart-Hobson community,
We only have two instructional days left in the second term and students have until the end of the day on Wednesday to submit any late/missing work or assignments that are eligible for revision. Please support students in prioritizing any assignments that they still need to complete and with finishing any assessments that are outstanding.
I am eager to begin evaluating middle of year data and metrics about our school as we enter the second half of the year. This all will inform our plans for the end of the year and next school year. In the coming weeks we will build our budget and staffing model for school year 2023-24 and begin the needs assessment process for our next Comprehensive School Plan (CSP). I look forward to engaging with our school community during each of those processes.
Please remember that there is no school for students on Wednesday this week as we prepare to launch the third term on Thursday. Let's have a great week together!
Warm regards,
Eric Fraser
Principal
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Calendars
Upcoming Dates: January 23-27
Monday
- A great instructional day of Term 2!
Tuesday
- Last instructional day of Term 2!
Wednesday
- End of Term 2: Records-Keeping & PD Day for teachers & staff, no school for students
Thursday
- First day of Term 3!
- 8th Grade Mock Interview/Application Night, 6:00-8:00 PM
Friday
- A great instructional day!
- Pep Assembly!
Upcoming Dates
- January 31, Picture Day (Make-Ups), 9:00-12:00 PM
- February 1, Deadline to submit My School DC high school application, 11:59:59 PM
- February 7, LSAT Meeting, 6:30-7:30 PM
- February 8, Grade Level Town Halls w/Term 2 Awards (Parents/Guardians invited)
- February 15, SHMS Open House, 6:00-7:30 PM
- February 20, Presidents Day, schools closed
- February 21-24, Winter Recess, no school for teachers or students
- March 3, Black History Month celebration, 2:15-3:30 PM
Athletics Schedule
Participation Forms
All students must complete a participation packet every school year. Additionally, the medical forms must be completed within the prior 365 days. We encourage you to have your healthcare provider complete these forms before the school year and attach them to your participation packet.
Click on the link below to submit the athletic forms online.
https://dcgov.seamlessdocs.com/f/0cnnnbhmck7h
Girls Basketball: #1 Seed East Division
Boys Basketball: #1 Seed East Division
Boys Basketball
Monday: 4:30pm - 6:00pm (Practice)
Tuesday: 4:30pm - 6:00pm (Practice)
Thursday: 4:30pm - 6:00pm (Practice)
Head Coach: Sylvester Robinson
Email: Sylvester.Robinson@dc.gov
Girls Basketball
Monday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Practice)
Tuesday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Practice)
Thursday: 3:30 - 5:00pm (Practice)
Head Coach: Troy Henderson
Email: Troy.Henderson@k12.dc.gov
Cheerleading
Monday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Practice)
Tuesday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Practice)
Thursday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm (Practice)
Head Coach: Sheritha Dixon
Email: Sheritha.Dixon3@k12.dc.gov
Co-Ed Swimming
Thursday: 3:30pm - 5:00pm @ HD Woodson Aquatics Center (Practice)
Head Coach: Stanley Stancil
Email: sstancil1@gmail.com
SPRING SPORTS COMING SOON!
Baseball
Head Coach: William Harrison
Email: williamh696@gmail.com
Outdoor Track & Field
No practice this week
Head Coach: Taurus McGhee
Email: Taurus.mcghee@dc.gov
Football
Tuesday: Interest meeting 3:30pm - 3:45pm in room G-03 (Health Room)
Head Coach: Stanley Stancil
Email: sstancil1@gmail.com
Candidates interested in coaching or volunteering. Send your resume to Richard.Strong@k12.dc.gov
Coaching Vacancies: SY 2022-23
Head Coach: Wrestling (Winter Season )
Head Coach: Co-Ed Lacrosse (Spring Season)
Interested candidates or volunteers should send a resume to Athletic Director Strong, Richard.Strong@k12.dc.gov
DCPS Calendar
Updated calendars for DCPS are available at this link.
School meal menus can be found here: dcps.dc.gov/menus
Shout Outs and Celebrations
Thank you Ms. Pergerson, Mr. Simmons, and Ms. Kensey for organizing a trip to Duke Ellington High School for the Arts for our students who are passionate about arts programming and considering Duke for high school!
Thank you AP Turner and Ms. Schimmerling for organizing a student trip to Ron Brown HS so students could learn about programs and opportunities there as they finalize their high school applications.
Thank you to the Capitol Hill Cluster PTA for hosting the most recent PTA meeting at SHMS and for inviting Principal Miller from Eastern Senior High School to join everyone!
Thank you to our guidance counselors, Ms. Williams and Ms. Schimmerling, for organizing and facilitating the first of two mock interview and application events for 8th grade students and families to support them in navigating the high school application process.
Shout out to our 6th grade and 8th grade Student Council Members. We're excited to have student leaders sharing feedback with our leadership team. 7th grade Student Council will meet on Monday, January 23rd during advisory.
You can find the latest edition of our student paper, The Panther Gazette, online for easy access anytime and on-the-go!
New Information and Important Updates
GW Math Tutoring: Spring Semester
We have limited spaces available for our GW Math Tutoring Program this Spring. Students who participate will attend tutoring twice per week from 3:30-4:30pm and work on math skills to prepare for PARCC and other grade level tests. We have spaces available on the following sessions:
- Tuesday/Thursday
- Tuesday/Friday
Students who attend GW tutoring are expected to attend both days each week, and must be able to attend 90% or more of the sessions in in order to successfully complete the program. Tutoring will last from the end of January until the end of May.
Please email our math department head Ms. Rosera directly at Bethany.Rosera@k12.dc.gov if you are interested in signing up for tutoring.
SHMS Annual Perfect Attendance Pancake Breakfast
At SHMS we like to celebrate our students with monthly perfect attendance incentives. For the month of January, our incentive will be the Annual Perfect Attendance Pancake Celebration. This event will take place on Friday, January 27, 2023. All students who have perfect attendance from December 1 thru January 20, 2023, will be able to participate. The time of the event is from 8:15am to 10:15am. Students will be allowed to eat their pancakes during this window of time. In addition, we are looking for volunteer support for various roles time slots to assist with the event. For more information about the event or ways to volunteer, please reach out to Ms. Hargrove at Clara.Hargrove@k12.DC.Gov or by phone at 202-200-4218. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Black History Month at SHMS
Stuart-Hobson MS is celebrating Black History month with a variety of class and extracurricular activities. Students are invited to perform and parents are invited to attend our Black History Month program on Friday, March 3rd at 2:15pm. If you would like to learn more about Black History Month at SHMS, please contact AP Turner.
SHMS Annual Perfect Attendance Pancake Breakfast
At SHMS we like to celebrate our students with monthly perfect attendance incentives. For the month of January, our incentive will be the Annual Perfect Attendance Pancake Celebration. This event will take place on Friday, January 27, 2023. All students who have perfect attendance from December 1 thru January 20, 2023, will be invited to participate. The time of the event is from 8:15 am to 10:1 5am. Students will be allowed to enjoy their pancakes during this window of time. In addition, we are looking for volunteer support for various roles and time slots to assist with the event.
For more information about the event or to express interest in volunteering, please reach out to Ms. Hargrove at Clara.Hargrove@k12.DC.Gov, or by phone at 202-200-4218. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
LGBTQ+ Resources & Supports
DCPS is an inclusive school community and makes every effort to support all students. Below and attached are resources for LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and allies. We are grateful that Mr. Thrift is our liaison for this work at SHMS. Our Panther Pride club has resumed their meetings and you should expect more information in upcoming newsletters.
Please feel free to reach out to Mr. Thrift (contact information below) to support a student in building a relationship with this support network.
Email: john.thrift2@k12.dc.gov
Mobile: 202.703.4131
Office Hours: Mondays – 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Schedule a Conference with Mr. Thrift @ https://calendly.com/john-thrift2/30min
REMINDER: End of Term Reminders
We hope that all students finish the term strong and pass all of their classes with high levels of success. As the term wraps up we want to remind everyone of some key policies and deadlines.
January 24: This is the last instructional day of the term for students.
January 25: This is the last day of the term and all work must be turned in by 11:59:59 PM to count towards current term marks.
January 25-February 1: Teachers will grade all work and finalize student marks in Aspen.
February 3-10: Report cards will be prepared and mailed home. They will also become visible in Aspen during this time period.
"WS" Marks - Any assignment with a grade of "WS" (Waiting for Submission) has not yet been turned in and graded. Students have through the end of the term to hand in any late or missing work and the highest grade that late assignments will receive is a "B".
Aspen - Aspen is the official record of student academic performance. While other platforms (Canvas, Reading Plus, Zearn, etc.) may include information about student performance and growth, Aspen houses their attendance, lists of assignments, and grades. Please remember that teachers have up 10 days from when an assignment is turned in until a grade must be posted for that assignment in Aspen.
Grade Appeals - Families and students may appeal student marks AFTER receiving their student's report card. If you believe that a term/final mark was is inaccurate because of a miscalculation or unfairly calculated you can appeal to a counselor or administrator within two weeks of receiving the report card.
Analyzing maps in geography!
Stuart-Hobson Panthers
6th Graders Speaking for Social Justice!
Previous Announcements & Resources
**The information below is new or an updated version of something announced previously! **
All Newsletters
You can find previously released newsletters and information here.
The most current version of the Student & Family Handbook is linked on our website.
Student Clubs & Extra-Curriculars
Spelling Bee!
Any student who did not have an opportunity to sign up for the SHMS Spelling Bee in advisory class this week may do so by completing this form: https://tinyurl.com/SHMSBEE2023
The deadline to sign up is midnight on January 16, 2023!
More information will come to families of students who sign up early next week. Please reach out to nancy.abou-samra1@k12.dc.gov with any questions.
Families! Please share this information with your scholar:
Do you consider yourself to be a pretty good speller? Do you love competition? Do you enjoy spelling in front of a crowd? Not sure, but want to give it a try anyway? SHMS needs you! Sign up to participate in our schoolwide spelling bee!
The first round of our schoolwide bee will happen online during the week of 1/17. It will be multiple choice test that interested students take on their devices in the library. Students will listen to a word and select the correct spelling. Students who are interested will get more information when they sign up on the form at this website during advisory next week. (If they are too excited to wait for advisory to sign up, they can fill out the form now!)
Space Camp Registration
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Space Camp interest meeting last week! If you missed it or would like to see the slides, you can find all the information in the slide deck by clicking here or you can view the whole presentation by clicking here.
Any family that is interested in registering for Space Camp can sign up via this link, or reach out to Ms. Rosera at Bethany.Rosera@k12.dc.gov for more information. Financial assistance is available on a limited basis, and registrations will be accepted until the trip is full.
Note: If you would like a version of the video with closed captions/transcript, for whatever reason the downloaded video would not save them but please reach out to Ms. Rosera and she will send the "Stream" version directly.
Extracurricular & Athletics Attendance
As the weather has cooled off, we want to remind everyone that students are not allowed inside the school building after 3:30 PM unless they are participating in supervised, school-approved activity. If students do not have practice until later in the afternoon they should not wait in the building unsupervised for practice to begin, instead, they should leave at dismissal and return for their practice. Activity sponsors are responsible for student supervision anytime students are on campus or in the building after-school and in the evenings.
Additionally, please remember that because of space and supervision constraints, students may only attend athletic events as spectators if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be responsible for them while they attend the event.
Unless in use for athletic events, students and families should plan for after-school entry and pick-up to occur at the main entrance at 410 E Street NE.
Thank you all for working with us to maintain a safe school community and after-school programming.
SHMS Participation in the Scripps Spelling Bee
Please see the linked study lists for 6th , 7th, and 8th grade spelling words to help your scholar prepare for our first round spelling bees which will occur during Advisory the week of January 9th. Please e-mail nancy.abou-samra1@k12.dc.gov if you would like access to more comprehensive spelling word lists. More information is coming soon!
National History Day Information Session Recording
Thank you again to the SHMS Social Studies team for hosting an NHD Information Session for families recently. You can find a recording of that event here. Please reach out to your student's Social Studies teacher or the department chair, Mr. Frail (alexander.frail@k12.dc.gov) with any questions or requests for support.
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Updates
Current NJHS students were invited to meet during their designated lunch periods on December 1, 2022 to discuss upcoming membership season, service projects, etc.
We are excited to kick-off the SY 22-23 recruitment period. Students who have earned a 3.75 GPA or better in all core courses for Term 1 are invited to attend an information session on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 during their designated lunch periods. During this meeting students will view a presentation outlining the requirements for membership. Each student will be allowed 48 business hours to discuss this information with parents and either accept or decline the invitation for membership.
7th grade students who decline the invitation will be eligible to receive an invitation next school year.
8th grade students who decline the invitation are encouraged to seek out the National Honor Society at the high school of their choice.
We look forward to working with your scholar this school year.
Best,
D’Ambra Taylor (dambra.taylor@k12.dc.gov)
Tomicula Williams-Leary (tomicula.williams@k12.dc.gov)
Co-Sponsors, SHMS NJHS
REMINDER: Space Camp Returns!
It brings us great pride to announce that one of our school’s signature programs will be returning. Because of the hiatus that the pandemic put on this tradition, we are collaborating with the PTA to offer students in all grade levels the opportunity to participate in Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama in 2023. Typically, we take our incoming 6th grade class, but we want to accommodate students who missed this great opportunity during the past two years. Below is some information for interested families so you can begin planning for your students participation:
Space Camp Dates:
- April 10 to 12, 2023 6th Grade
- May 22 to 24, 2023; 7th and 8th Grades
How can I participate?
- All grade levels are invited for this year’s Space Camp Trip
- The 6th grade trip has a capacity of 90 students
- The 7th and 8th grade trip has a capacity of 90 students (45 per grade level)
- Chaperones: Please reach out to Ms. Lovelock or Mr. Howard if you are interested in chaperoning this trip. All chaperones, must be DCPS employees and/or have passed the clearance process for school-based volunteers
Criteria for Attending Space Camp:
- Students shall not have accrued 9 or more unexcused absences from start of school until November 2022
- Students shall have not received 4 or more behavioral referrals
- Students shall meet general criteria for field trip eligibility
Space Camp Payment Schedule and Process:
- Payments must be made as money orders, payable to "Stuart-Hobson Middle School"
- Families will receive a receipt after each payment.
- Funding will go towards transportation, food, and admission to Space Camp
- Our goal is to fundraise as much as possible to help offset costs for trip participants
- Payments can be received by Ms. Lovelock before school from 8:30 am to 9:30 am and evenings 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday
1st Payment of $250 due Nov. 14th
2nd payment of 250 due Dec. 2nd
3rd and final payment $205 Jan 6th
Spots will be reserved on a first paid basis and failure to meet subsequent payment deadlines may result in the loss of a student's spot on the trip roster.
Scholarships Available:
- 8 scholarships will be available for both trips
- 4 scholarships for 6th grade
- 4 scholarships for 7th and 8th grade (2 per grade level)
- Scholarships are available to families that demonstrate an economic hardship/need and whose student qualifies otherwise
Questions can be directed to Ms. Lovelock (tamara.lovelock@k12.dc.gov) or Mr. Howard (devin.howard@k12.dc.gov)
Craft and Chat Club Returns!
Join us to craft (or just doodle!), chat, and have community with each other! Crafts provided!
When: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm
Where: Office #117
Why: To have fun, relax, and craft!
Who: YOU! ALL students are welcome!
Questions? See Ms. Harrington (kimberly.harrington@dc.gov, office #221)
We The Girls Club
Contact Ms. Rouse or Ms. Bonner with questions or requests for more information.
Stuart Hobson Debate Team Tournament Schedule 2022-2023
Tournaments start at 8:30 am and end (roughly) by 5:30 pm
Breakfast and lunch are provided
Participants are responsible for transportation to and from host sites. Should a last-minute change in location occur, every effort will be made to spread the information.
Questions? Contact Mr. Plaisted, kip.plaisted@k12.dc.gov
Policies & Daily Operations
Reminder: Uniform & Personal Belongings Policies
Teachers, staff, and administrators will be monitoring adherence to the following policies as students return from the Winter Recess:
1. Crewneck / V-Neck sweaters and sweatshirts: Students may wear crewneck / V-neck sweaters or sweatshirts that are solid RED, BLACK, or WHITE. Sweaters and sweatshirts in those colors with a logo smaller than a dollar bill are also acceptable.
2. School gear: Students may wear sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts (long / short sleeved), and polos that display the school logo. The dollar-bill size logo is waived for clothing showing school / Cluster pride.
3. Not Allowed: There is no change to the policy on other colors, outerwear, or hoodies. Outerwear, hoodies, and shirts that are not red/black/white are NOT ALLOWED to be worn during the school day.
4. Lockers: Students are expected to visit their lockers four times a day - before school, before lunch, after lunch, and at the dismissal bell. Outerwear (may be retrieved for outdoor recess before lunch and returned after lunch) and backpacks should remain in lockers throughout the day.
Failure to adhere to the above policies will result in redirections, student conferences, parent conferences, and the temporary confiscation of belongings that are out of compliance with the policy.
Lost & Found
If your student is missing anything, or you recognize any clothing in the recent photos below, please stop by or encourage your student to check the lost and found and retrieve their belongings.
Immunization Compliance Reminder
If you have any questions you can reach out to our school nurse or AP Turner.
DCPS Impact Aid Survey Opens November 1st
This SY22-23 Impact Aid Survey is available starting November 1, 2022. Each year, DCPS asks all families to complete the Impact Aid survey to generate additional federal funds for DCPS. This year, the surveys will be fully electronic using the Seamless platform. All eligible applications received by December 22 will be submitted as part of the initial application due on January 31, 2023. Using the surveys linked below, all DCPS families should complete one survey per child, not household, in their preferred language. While December 22 is our initial deadline, families will have until April 30, 2023 to complete the survey. All additional eligible surveys will be included in our application amendment due June 30, 2023. Please refer to this FAQ document for additional guidance.
If you have questions, please contact us at DCPSImpactAid@k12.dc.gov.
School Mental Health Supports
Field Trip Eligibility
- Passing ALL classes
- In-seat Attendance (ISA) is 90%+
- Fewer than 5 tardies (late arrival) to class per month
- Zero Tier 3-5 behavior infractions
- Fewer than 3 behavior referrals in term (or previous month)
- Mandatory testing (e.g. iReady, RI, etc.) complete
Administrators and teacher teams will review student eligibility prior to any scheduled trips. Please reach out to a grade-level administrator or field trip organizer with any questions about your student's participation or eligibility.
Title I Scholar-Family-School Compact Feedback
As mentioned in Title I family meeting sessions, the draft of our annual Scholar-Family-School Compact is up for review. If you have any recommendations for revisions or additions to this document we encourage you to share them here. We will review any recommendations and publish a final version of these year's compact by the first parent-teacher conference event on October 6. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Student Device Updates
Lost/Stolen DCPS Technology
If your student's DCPS laptop is lost or stolen, email Ms. Tomlinson at jennie.tomlinson@k12.dc.gov immediately. Notification of lost or stolen technology must be provided to the school in writing. Phone calls or a conversation with a teacher or other staff member does not count as official notification of a lost or stolen item.
For stolen devices, you must file a police report and send a copy to jennie.tomlinson@k12.dc.gov. After the police report is received, DCPS will activate location tracking on the stolen device.
For lost devices, there is a waiting period before the school issue a replacement. Starting from the date the school receives written notification that a device is missing, the waiting period is 10 business days for a replacement laptop and 5 business days for a replacement charger or keyboard. During the waiting period, the student must diligently search the school each day, including in classrooms and common spaces like the gym and cafeteria. Most missing laptops turn up after a proper search. If the missing items have not been located after the waiting period, the student's parent or guardian must out to Ms. Tomlinson to schedule an appointment to sign the paperwork for a replacement.
Damaged Devices
Most accidental damage is covered under warranty. If a student's laptop is damaged, they should see Ms. Tomlinson in the library during first period or after school.
Technology Support at School
Ms. Tomlinson is available for technology support during first period (9:00 am - 10:10 am) and after school from 3:30 - 3:45 pm. Students must obtain a pass from their teacher in order to visit the library for tech support.
Technology Support at Home
Students and parents may call the DCPS Help Desk at 202-442-5715 for assistance outside school hours.
Staffing Updates
Teacher Updates
Spanish - We have selected a candidate and expect them to begin reporting in the next 1.5-3 weeks after finishing the onboarding process.
CES (self-contained Special Education) - We have selected a candidate for hire and are waiting for them to complete the onboarding process.
6th & 8th grade Social Studies - We are still seeking a candidate for this position.
Substitutes - We are seeking substitute teachers to report and cover teachers on leave and/or to assist with daily coverage needs.
Please connect any interested candidates directly with Principal Fraser (eric.fraser@k12.dc.gov) or an assistant principal.
Free Meals for Students at SHMS!
We are delighted to remind everyone that school meals are free for all students at SHMS again this year! School menus can be found here: dcps.dc.gov/menus.
If your student needs any dietary accommodations, please complete the Dietary Accommodation Forms. Any student that requires a different meal than what is being served (due to medical, food allergy, or philosophical reason) must complete the appropriate form and submit it to dietary.forms@k12.dc.gov or to the cafeteria lead. Please note that a new form is no longer required each year; only when the student requires a new accommodation or a change to their accommodation. Dietary accommodations from SY 19-20 and later will carry forward.
Adults, including teachers, school staff, and parents can purchase meals by creating an Adult Meal Account.
Follow us on social media to stay tuned with our latest events on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using @DCPSEats.
More Helpful Links:
Join the School Food Collaborative!
DCPS Local Wellness Policy
DCPS Website | Food and Nutrition Services
SY 2022-23 Uniform & Dress Code Policy
School uniforms are required while on school property, field trips (before or after school day hours), while attending After School All Stars and school-approved activities after 3:30 PM, unless athletic, dance or other specific apparel is required by the coach/leader.
Uniforms include:
o Long or short-sleeved solid red polo shirt/t-shirt. SHMS logo optional. Any non-SHMS logo on uniform shirts or sweatshirts must be the size of a $1 bill (1 dollar) or smaller
o Plain black cotton sweatshirts (front zip or pullover) and knit vests. No hoods.
o Khaki pants, skirts/shorts, worn at waist level.
o Comfortable closed-toed shoes or sneakers covering the entire foot. No sandals, slippers, or Crocs.
o Tops like crewneck t-shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts (no hoods) that show school pride (e.g. SHMS or CHCS logos).
While students may wear some of the following to and from school, they are expected to avoid wearing all of the following during the school day, on trips, and in after-school activities:
• Hoods over student's heads while inside school,
• Outerwear like jackets, fleeces, parkas, windbreakers, etc.,
• Metal studs on headbands and other accessories
• Khaki-colored leggings/ tights (worn in place of Khaki pants).
• Small purses or fanny packs
An SHMS logo is NOT required for any uniform attire. School uniforms may be purchased via Lands End, Target, Old Navy and other retailers. More information regarding our school uniform policy will be shared via our school handbook.
Uniform Non-Compliance Policy
Students should comply with the uniform policy daily. Uniform policy violations can be documented in Live School. Some uniform deficiencies can be remedied by the support team but the loss of instructional time should be avoided when supporting students in complying with the policy. If for some reason a student is out of compliance in your classroom you may reach out to a grade-level administrator or dean for support or remedy. Patterns of infractions should be handled like other Tier 1 and 2 infractions outlined above in the “Disciplinary Policy” section.Student Schedules Live This Week!
Student schedules have been posted in Aspen and should be visible to anyone with an Aspen account. Students or families without an account should soon receive an invitation to set one up by email. We will provide students with copies of their schedule during the first week of school as well.
Aspen Family Portal
Aspen Family Portal accounts will be available the week of August 22nd. Returning families should be able to access their account using their username and password from last school year. New families will receive an email from Aspen Family Portal when their family portal account is available to use.
The Portal allows you to keep up with progress in school - including grades, assignments, attendance, and more. The goal of DCPS' new digital portal is to create an open line of communication between home and school.
To Access the Portal:
1. Visit https://aspen.dcps.dc.gov
2. Make sure pop-up blocking is disabled for your browser
3. Your user name will be provided via email
4. Your temporary password will be provided via email
NOTE: Both user name and password are case sensitive
5. Click Log On to access the system. You will be prompted to fill out some information to change your password so that in the future you can click "I forgot my password" to receive a new password.
How to Navigate the Portal:
This flyer gives you the Parent Portal basics:
- What you need to know about the Parent Portal
- Lo que necesita saber sobre el Portal de Padres
We strongly recommend that families using iOS devices also download the "Grade Corner" app, which allows you to login to Aspen and monitor your student's grades and attendance in a streamlined app. The app was actually developed by an SHMS parent a few years ago.
Additionally, we will discuss student schedules during the family information sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and hope you can join us for one of those virtual meetings!
IEPs, 504 Plans, and Language Acquisition
If your student is an English language learner (ELL), has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, or you are interested in learning about these different supports, please know that our team is ready to connect with you to answer questions and connect you with supports.
Please see the points of contact for each type of inquiry below:
Tamara Lovelock (tamara.lovelock@k12.dc.gov): Special Education and IEPs
Molly Smith (molly.smith@k12.dc.gov): 504 Plans
AP Rennie Taylor (rennie.taylor@k12.dc.gov): English language learners, IEPs, or 504s
Back-To-School Vaccination Checklist
DC Public Schools works closely with DC Health to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. District law and regulations require all schools to ensure students are fully immunized to attend school, and we know that childhood immunizations are critical to keeping our community safe. Now is the time for families to schedule an annual wellness visit with your child’s doctor or attend a neighborhood or school-based vaccine clinic.
New for the 2022-2023 School Year, all students ages 12 and older are required to have the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit your local COVID Center.
Where to Obtain a Vaccine
The best place for DC families to access childhood immunizations is at their primary medical provider. If a family does not have a health care provider for their child or has difficulty securing an appointment before the first day of school, they can select one from a list of pediatric locations, located in every ward. There are DCPS School Based Health Centers to consider on that list, and mobile units that will visit schools through August and September.
- DC Health – Religious Exemption Seeking Process
- OSSE – COVID-19 Compliance Steps
- OSSE – Best Practices for School Leaders
For more information on obtaining immunizations by the first day of school, visit dcpsreopenstrong.com/vaccines.
SY 2022-23 Kids Ride Free Program
The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator while traveling within the District. The SY22-23 KRF cards will be delivered to schools starting 8/9 through 8/16 and will be activated as soon as they are assigned to a student. Please note that:
- SY22-23 KRF cards will be assigned to students without KRF cards first
- SY21-22 KRF cards will remain valid through September 30th
- Always tap the KRF card before rides
- Don’t leave home without the KRF card
- There is no fee for replacement cards
- For more information, visit KidsRideFree.dc.gov or call (202) 673-1740.
Please reach out to our Attendance Counselor, Ms. Clara Hargrove, with any questions or requests for support.
Stay Connected At Stuart-Hobson!
There are many ways that you can stay connected with the PTA and other families at SHMS. Here are a few popular spaces in our community:
CAMPUS LISTSERVE
Families can sign up for individual campus listservs (Peabody, Watkins and/or Stuart-Hobson) through our school website. Our listservs are designed to be open forums for Cluster parents to connect with other Cluster families and stay updated on school-related issues.
https://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/listservs
CAPITOL HILL CLUSTER SCHOOL WEBSITE
www.capitolhillclusterschool.org
The Cluster School website has general school information, school news including weekly newsletters and the school calendar with events for all three campuses.
SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: @capitolhillclusterschoolpta
Follow us on Instagram! Photos of our Cluster community including Peabody, Watkins and Stuart-Hobson events.
TWITTER: @CHCSPTA
Follow us on Twitter! The best way to see frequent posts and reminders of upcoming school events at all three campuses.
FACEBOOK: Capitol Hill Cluster School
Follow us on Facebook! General information and photos of recent and upcoming school events.
LINKEDIN: Capitol Hill Cluster School Parents Group
Join us on Linkedin! Network with other Peabody, Watkins and Stuart-Hobson parents. Lend your professional expertise to help the Cluster!
Supports for Students & Families
Mental Health Supports
Molly Smith, Social Worker, molly.smith@k12.dc.gov
Jessica Thompkins, Social Worker, jessica.thompkins@k12.dc.gov
Kimberly Harrington, DBH Social Worker, kimberly.harrington@dc.gov
Montrice Williams, CIS Social Worker, mwilliams@cisnationscapital.org
Jessica Schimmerling, Guidance Counselor, jessica.schimmerling@k12.dc.gov
Tomicula Willams, Guidance Counselor, tomicula.williams@k12.dc.gov
Kristin Dezen, kristin.dezen@k12.dc.gov
Stuart-Hobson Middle School
Email: eric.fraser@k12.dc.gov
Website: www.stuart-hobson.org
Location: 410 E Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-671-6010
Twitter: @StuartHobsonMS