John Lewis Elementary School
Website: www.johnlewises.org
Location: 1335 Farragut Street NW, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-576-6226
UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDARS
April 2023, May 2023, and June 2023 Family Events Calendars
**Please note that all school events are subject to change, pending weather or revised COVID protocols
You may also find the DCPS SY22-23 Calendar below:
RE-ENROLLMENT FOR SY23-24
To complete your child’s re-enrollment forms, including providing proof of residency, please follow the three steps below:
1. Complete the DCPS enrollment packet at https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/71
2. Provide proof of DC residency.
3. Submit the completed enrollment packet and proof of DC residency
In addition to enrollment support after school, we will be offering in-person, weekend enrollment support on the following days from 9:00am-12:00pm:
- Saturday, April 8th
- Saturday, April 29th
If you need assistance completing the re-enrollment process, please call the main office at (202) 576-6226 or contact Ms. Cruz at Evelin.bercian@k12.dc.gov. We are happy to support!
Looking forward to SY23-24!
PARCC TESTING
We are approaching PARCC testing for students in Grades 3-5 and we need your support in ensuring that our students do their best!
The PARCC testing dates are listed below:
- 5th Grade Science: Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th
- 3rd-5th Grades Math: Tuesday, May 2nd, Wednesday, May 3rd, and Thursday, May 4th
- 3rd-5th Grades ELA: Tuesday, May 9th, Wednesday, May 10th, and Thursday, May 11th
Our students have worked hard all year, and it important that we continue to encourage them during PARCC testing.
Simple things that can help students do their best include:
- Getting good sleep and rest (we recommend a full 8 hours of sleep per night)
- Eating healthy breakfasts (since testing is usually done first thing on testing days)
- Giving encouragement (without increasing pressure some students may already feel)
- Making sure students arrive to school on time
BUDGET AND NEW POSITION UPDATES FOR SY23-24!
New Position Additions for SY23-24:
- Assistant Principal (Operations and Special Education)
- 2nd Grade Teacher
- 3rd Grade Teacher
- 4th Grade Teacher
- Full-time Dance Teacher
- English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- Math/STEM/SEM Specialist
- Two School-Wide Support Educational Aides
HUGE thank you our Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for your engagement and collaboration throughout the budgeting process!
SCHOOL PLAY UPDATES
As you know, our staff and students are working hard to put together a fabulous performance of 101 Dalmatians Kids for our community on June 2nd and 3rd! As in past years, we will be printing a full color souvenir playbill for everyone who attends the show. This is both a way to commemorate the show and to raise money for our school through ad sales. Purchases are tax-deductible and proceeds from ad sales will go to support arts programs for John Lewis!
Please see the attached flyer for more information or just visit our ad sales site to purchase an ad or make a donation. https://jles-psco.square.site/.
Thank you in advance for your support!
UPDATES TO OUR JOHN LEWIS SOCIAL MEDIA AND SCHOOL WEBSITE!
Please check out out school website with lots of updates, including our staff directory, school calendar, newsletters, and much more! www.johnlewises.org
Follow us on Instagram johnlewisesdc
Follow us on Twitter at @jlesdc
Special shout-out to Ms. Paicopolis, our new GW Vista Intern, for all her hard work on our school website and social media!
Please also visit our school store at:
https://logowearhouse.shop/john_lewis_elementary/shop/home to purchase all your John Lewis swag!!!!
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We believe in providing students with a well-rounded experience during the school day and through extracurricular activities! Please find below, the extracurricular activities we currently have scheduled for January and February:
- Orchestra Practice: 3:30-5:30pm; Wednesdays and Thursdays
- Track Practice: 3:30-4:30pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays
- DC Junior Scores (Grades 1-2): 3:30-4:30pm; Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
- DC Scores (Grades 3-5): 3:30-4:45pm; Monday-Friday
- School Play Practice: As communicated via the 101 Dalmatians, Jr. Remind Group
CLASSROOM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
In addition to field trips and school-wide events and activities, we will also have opportunities for parents to engage in our classrooms throughout the school year (volunteering in the classroom, special projects, events, etc.).
Please reach out to your child's teacher about volunteer opportunities and ways in which you can support our classrooms!
All parents and family members who would like to volunteer must complete the DCPS Clearance process before volunteer services can be provided.
Please review the guidance below to complete this mandatory process. Please note, there is no cost associated with obtaining a background check.
- Complete the DCPS Clearance Application.
- Complete the TB Risk Assessment Screening, imbedded in the DCPS Clearance Application. If directed, based on the results of your TB Risk Assessment Screening, provide TB test or chest x-ray analysis results to the DCPS Clearance team at dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Students are late after 9:00am. Students are expected to be at school and on time every day.
To minimize disruptions to instructional time, we ask all teachers to take attendance at 9:00am prior to the start of the instructional block. While we do our best to update the attendance in the main office for late arrivals, students who arrive more than 15 minutes tardy may at times be erroneously marked as absent if the absence is not changed to a tardy once the late student arrives.
Please notify the main office by calling us at 202-576-6226 or emailing Ms. Cruz if you receive an incorrect absence notification and we will update this.
As a reminder, student dismissal begins at 3:15pm and ends at 3:30pm. Students who are not registered for our afterschool programming must be picked up by 3:30pm.
Students who are being picked up for early dismissal must be picked up by 2:45pm. Students will not be dismissed between 2:45pm-3:15pm as they will be in transition.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS
Student Arrival
Students may enter our building at 8:40am. All students will enter the building through our Farragut Street entrance and will be directed to their grade-level lines upon arrival. Students are late for school after 9:00am.
Car riders will utilize our “Kiss and Ride” drop-off line on Farragut Street. John Lewis staff will be on-hand to support unloading students from cars in the “Kiss and Ride” line and to assist with traffic. There is no parking allowed in front of our building on Farragut Street. This space is reserved for student drop-off only. Please review the enclosed map.
Student Dismissal
Student dismissal begins at 3:15pm and students will be dismissed from assigned exits, based on their grade-level.
Pre-K: Farragut Street Exit
K – 1st Grades: Farragut Street exit
2nd - 5th Grades: Gallatin Street exit
If a student has a younger sibling, they should meet at the pick-up location of their younger sibling. All students must be picked up by no later than 3:30pm.
Early Pick-Up of Students
Our school hours for students are 8:40am – 3:15pm, Monday through Friday. We understand that Doctor's appointments and unforeseen circumstances may sometimes require that students be picked up early from school. Students being dismissed early must be picked up by 2:45pm. Students will not be dismissed between 2:45pm-3:15pm as teachers and staff are completing end of day activities and preparing students for dismissal during this time.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: As you know, dismissal is one of our busiest times of day. To help our staff keep your child and their classmates safe, please remember the following procedures for dismissal:
- The dismissal zones map outlines the areas around the school that are designated for parking, student loading, and no parking. Pay special attention to the area that is marked as “student loading”—if you are in this area you are expected to stay in your vehicle and only exit to help load your child into the car. Please review this map and share it with anyone else who regularly picks up your child from school. There is no parking allowed in front of our building on Farragut Street or Gallatin Street.
- Under no circumstances, should you double park in front of the school building to allow your child to get loaded into your car. Farragut Street is narrow, and cars that are double parked, even for just a few minutes, prevent cars in our quick pick-up line from being able to exit and create space for other vehicles and can create unsafe conditions for students and families.
Thank you for doing your part to help keep all students in our JLES family safe!
BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL REMINDERS
Before School Programming
Drop-off for JLES morning care is in the cafeteria on Gallatin Street, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Children will meet our morning care team and join their peer groups for activities. Students must be dropped off by 8:15am or they will have to enter the building at 8:40am with the rest of the students.
Our program is currently at capacity; however, you may sign up to be added to our waitlist and will be notified if a seat becomes available. If you are interested in registering for the program, please complete this link: https://forms.office.com/r/5A2WpJvhQN
After School Programming
The after-school program hours are as follows:
Grades PK-K: 3:30-5:30pm
Grades 1-5: 3:30-5:50pm
Our building closes to students promptly at 6:00pm so that our custodial team can have ample time to clean and sanitize classrooms for the next school day.
Failure to pick up your students on time will result in students being removed from after school programming.
AFTERSCHOOL PLAYGROUND USAGE
As a reminder, the school grounds (including the playground and facilities in the school building, like bathrooms) are for school use only during the hours of 8:00am to 6:00pm. JLES has before- and after-school programs that use these facilities and, as I am sure you can understand given recent events, it is an issue of safety to have students not participating in afterschool programming on campus after they have been dismissed.
JOHN LEWIS STAFF DIRECTORY
Our main office telephone number is 202-576-6226.
You may also email Principal Jackson and AP Bryant at:
You may find our full staff contacts here:
STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY
We recommend that students do not bring cell phones or other electronics (tablets, gaming devices) to school. We realize, however, that there may be instances in which a student needs to have his/her cell phone before or after school (for communicating with family, etc.). We have created a fair cell phone policy, and we ask families to respect this and reinforce it at home. We also ask that parents DO NOT call or text their students during the school day. If you need to reach your child or if there is an emergency, please contact the main office.
The usage of cell phones is prohibited during school hours. In all grades, students may activate their cell phones before entering the school building and after leaving the school building. However, cell phones should be powered off as soon as students enter the school building and placed in backpacks prior to entering the building.
Students who violate this policy will have their phones taken and a parent will be called. An administrator will return the phone at the end of the school day. Multiple violations of this policy will require a parent or guardian to pick up the phone.
PARENT STAFF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (PSCO) NEWS
As a reminder, our PSCO is using the newest A to Z software to communicate about meetings, events, and other opportunities for students and families. You can access this software here: https://johnlewispsco.membershiptoolkit.com/home. If you previously had an account on the older A to Z software, please be sure to use your same email address so that all of your information migrates over. If you are new to A to Z, you can just create an account.
Also, if you use Facebook, you can search "John Lewis ES PSCO Group” to join the PSCO Facebook group. Once a request is made, a current member of the group will approve the request. Please feel free to reach out to the PSCO if you have any questions.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS
Please find the breakfast and lunch menus below. Students are permitted to bring their own lunches if they prefer.