![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-5d75b0318d0f455d242299ff-fbd430bcefd7.jpg)
The Cardinal Connection
November 7th, 2023
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:
November 9th: Fall Panther Pride Day at Stuart-Hobson MS 10AM-12PM (for rising 6th graders only)
November 9th: ECE Virtual Committee Meeting 5PM-6PM (see below to join)
November 10th: Veteran's Day...No School for Students and Staff
November 13th: School Report Card – OSSE and SBOE Engagement Sessions 6PM-7PM
November 14th: In Person PTA Meeting 6:00-7:00 p.m.
November 14th: DCPS Budget Hearing 6PM (see below for more details)
November 21st: LSAT Meeting 4PM
November 21st: W6PSPO November Meeting via zoom 7PM
November 22nd-24th: Thanksgiving Holiday...No School for Students and Staff
November 28th: School Nurse Community Meeting 6PM-7:30PM
November 28th: School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2023 @11 am.
December 2nd: EdFest
December 4th: School Report Card – OSSE and SBOE Engagement Sessions 6PM-7PM
December 6th: Stuart Hobson Middle School Virtual Open House 6PM-7:30PM
December 4th-7th: Scholastic Book Fair at JOW
Impact Aid Season Is Upon Us!
The SY23-24 Impact Aid Surveys are now available. Each year, DCPS asks all families to complete the Impact Aid survey to generate additional federal funds for DCPS. 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, 2024. We are kindly asking all families to complete one survey per child in the household. Please see below for the link to complete the survey.
Here are the survey links:
1. English: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_English
2. Spanish: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Spanish
3. French: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_French
4. Amharic: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Amharic
5. Vietnamese: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Vietnamese
6. Chinese: https://forms.dc.gov/f/DCPSImpactAid_Chinese
Next Tuesday, Nov. 14: PTA In-Person General Body Meeting, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Dinner will be provided (starting at 5:30). Childcare will also be provided, for current J.O. students only. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend. (An RSVP is not required, but will help us plan for childcare and dinner.)
Hear from J.O.’s partners and sponsors, Treasury Department Federal Credit Union and Communities in Schools
Learn about ways to get involved in J.O.’s upcoming Cardinal Giving Drive
Camp Fair planning updates
Modernization updates
Cardinal Grant updates & reminders
Purchase adult hoodies
Upcoming PTA Committee Meetings:
Thursday, Nov. 9, ECE Committee meeting, 5-6 p.m.
The PTA’s Early Childhood Education committee will meet in-person at school, with a Zoom option for those you can’t make it in person.Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81747668897?pwd=T1J2RWpIYUlFWnI5bHpVS0w3eGdyZz09
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way!
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school. Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from Dec. 4-7 in the Parent Center.
Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jowilsonelementaryschool1
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Volunteers are needed to assist students and families, organize books, and help with checkout and cashier duties. If you are interested in helping with the Book Fair, please see the sign-up at https://tinyurl.com/JOWBookFair23. Thank you!
Support J.O. Wilson While Shopping at Harris Teeter
Link your VIC card to J.O. Wilson through Harris Teeter's Together in Education program. Give your cashier the code 1267 and your VIC card when you check out. As a reminder, you must re-link your rewards card every school year.
Capitol Hill Cluster Book Fair...Nov. 6th-12th
Fall Panther Pride Day...Nov. 9th
School Report Card – OSSE and SBOE Engagement Sessions.
These sessions are important as the changes to the report card affect the way our schools are seen and evaluated. Register to attend an engagEment session: https://osse.dc.gov/page/dc-school-report-card-resource-library.
Monday, November 13, 6 to 7pm (virtual). How and where should the DC School Report Card display school’s summative scores?
Monday, December 4, 6 to 7 pm (virtual). What should the DC School Report card look like?
You can also fill out this survey bit.ly/DC SchoolReportCardFeedback.
DCPS Budget Hearing, November 14.
DCPS is holding its annual budget hearing on Tuesday November 14 at 6 pm, to get feedback on the FY25 budget. Register to testify at this virtual event by November 10 at this link. You can also send questions to ceo.info@k12.dc.gov.
WARD 6 PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT ORGANIZATION (W6PSPO) UPDATES
W6PSPO November Meeting, November 21. W6PSPO will meet November 21 at 7 pm via zoom. Staff from the Deputy Mayor for Education's office wilL attend and give us an update and preliminary recommendations coming out of the Student Assignment and Boundary process.
DC Council Teacher Retention Hearings
November 21 at 2 pm is a hearing on Council Member Robert White's bill to provide educators mental health days, bolster flexible scheduling, study increasing paraprofessional pay, give high need schools wellness coordinators and more. It's also a hearing on Council Member Henderson's new bill to provide student loan relief for educators.
November 28 at 4 pm, there is a general hearing on teacher retention. If you care about teacher evaluation, over-testing, improve teacher PD, housing support, a new WTU contract or anything else to support teacher retention: this is your chance to be heard.You can sign up to testify at these hearing here.
School Nurse Community Meeting, November 28
At this meeting a discussion on the implementation of the cluster staffing model for school nurses will take place.
Who should attend: Parents of DC Public School students, school nurses, and other interested community stakeholders.
What will be discussed: The newly implemented “Cluster Model” to deliver school health services- what it is and is not. Our concerns. What questions do we have for leadership?
When: Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 6 - 7:30 pm
Where: Northeast Library, 330 7th St., NE
For questions, comments, concerns, and to RSVP, email: Robert Allen, BSN, RN DC Nurses Association interim vice chair at rga.rn@hotmail.com
School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2023 hearing
School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2023 hearing, November 28, 11 am. This act is aimed at encouraging financial and other support from private and philanthropic organizations for DCPS schools in exchange for naming rights for interior parts of DCPS properties, e.g., auditoriums, libraries. See here for more information and to sign up to testify.
WMATA Red Line Metro Closure (12/18-12/30)
On Monday, December 18, WMATA will begin a two-week construction project on the Red Line that will make the line unavailable at Farragut North, Metro Center, and Gallery Place stations from Monday, December 18, through Saturday, December 30, with free shuttle buses replacing trains. In addition, Judiciary Square Station will be closed from Friday, December 22, through Sunday, December 24. While the Red Line is closed at these stations, service will continue to be available on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines on the lower level at Metro Center and Green and Yellow line service on the lower level at Gallery Place. Please share this information with your families. Additional details are available here.
Upcoming Open House Events For Prospective Families at Stuart-Hobson MS
Public School Family Funding Survey
Calling all families of DC public and public charter school students! The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education is seeking your voice and input as they develop recommendations for changes to the District’s school funding policies. Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey to share what matters most to you in your student’s school, what is working well, and where we can improve. The survey is open through Nov. 15. The survey is about 15 questions and should take 5 to 8 minutes to complete.