SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings Stuart-Hobson community,

It was great to see so many families at Friday's Cluster Family Fun Night on the SHMS field! Between that and last week's National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony it really started to feel like we were entering the end of the school year which is always marked by many celebrations, community activities, and fun!

This upcoming week we will formally recognize all of our teachers and staff as part of Teacher Appreciation Week! We have a series of activities planned for our entire school community to celebrate and appreciate our teachers and staff throughout the upcoming week. I want to thank the Cluster PTA for their partnership in organizing and supporting these events and everyone else for taking a few moments to show some gratitude or appreciation for our many teachers and staff members.

I am so proud of our enrollment team and grateful to our families for tending to enrollment during the first month of the season. Because of all of your efforts we have already enrolled 65% of the students that we expect at Stuart-Hobson next year! Our rising 7th graders are leading the pack with 77% of students already re-enrolled for next year! You helped us hit our May 3rd goal and hope that everyone can also help us meet our next goal of having 90% of students enrolled by Memorial Day weekend.

Only one more week of CAPE testing and six more weekly newsletters to go, let's have another great week together!

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

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Monday

• Teacher Appreciation Week Kudos Board launches (stop by the lobby throughout the week to share some love for teachers & staff)

Tuesday

• CAPE Testing (calendar below)
• LSAT Meeting (virtual), 6:30 PM

Wednesday

• Warm Wishes Wednesday - Email, text, and call teachers and staff to show your appreciation!
• Bike and Roll to School Day, Lincoln Park, 7:30 AM, bike and roll at 8:20 AM
• CAPE Testing (calendar below)

Thursday

• CAPE Testing (calendar below)

Friday

• Pep Assembly & Staff Social, 1:30-3:30 (Parent volunteers needed)
• A great instructional day!

Upcoming Dates

• May 16, Be Seen in Green (dress down event) to support Mental Health Awareness
• May 19, Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K, & Fun Run
  
• May 23, Annual SHMS Sports Banquet, 6:00 PM
• May 27, Memorial Day observed, schools closed
• May 31, SHMS Musical: James & The Giant Peach, 6:30 PM
• June 1, SHMS Musical: James & The Giant Peach, 1:00 & 6:30 PM
• June 2, SHMS Musical: James & The Giant Peach, 3:00 PM
• June 17, Last day of school for students
• June 18, Records-Keeping & PD Day for teachers, last day for teachers

After a 5-1 win over Eliot-Hine on Friday, the Stuart-Hobson baseball team is undefeated in their first three games. They will play Johnson at Jackie Robinson Field on Tuesday, May 7th.

Outdoor track has a meet scheduled for Friday, May 10th. The team has been working hard in preparation for their first meet of the season.

Caregivers, please try to submit new physicals as close to the expiration date as possible. DCIAA has a three practice rule, athletes must be cleared for participation at least three days before a contest. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Swann.

Please note that it is not necessary to submit a new participation packet for each season. A complete packet includes the DCIAA forms filled out in their entirety along with a Universal Health Certificate that was completed within the last year.

Coaching Openings:

Boys’ Outdoor Track Head Coach

Boys’ Outdoor Track Assistant Coach

Girls’ Outdoor Track Assistant Coach

Football Head Coach (Fall)

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.

1. Participation Packet

2. Universal Health Certificate (UHC). Students with certain medical conditions may also need to complete an Asthma Action Plan or an Anaphylaxis Action Plan

*ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BEFORE PARTICIPATION.

SHMS Athletics is seeking to hire coaches for the following teams. Professional and coaching résumés can be sent directly to Ms. Swann:

Athletic Director

Please see below for team specific QR codes and sites and direct any questions about athletics to our new Athletic Director, Ms. Dreka Swann, dreka.swann@k12.dc.gov

Updated calendars for DCPS are available at this link.

SY 2023-24 Calendar

All school meal menus can be found here and the middle and high school menus are here.

We are deeply grateful to all of the teachers and staff who choose the role of educator in young people's lives and are glad that we can partner with our broader school community to celebrate them this week! Please find time to celebrate and show your gratitude for all SHMS teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week this year.

Returning students and families are maintaining the lead in our enrollment race! 77% of rising 7th grade families have already completed their enrollment paperwork. We plan to have 90% of all students enrolled by Memorial Day weekend, please take a few moments to submit your paperwork before then!

Math 6 Readiness is an in-person course for rising 6th graders attending Stuart-Hobson next school year. Students will revisit essential skills in preparation for Math 6 in the fall and get an early introduction to math class expectations at Stuart-Hobson.

The course runs from Monday, July 22 - Thursday, July 25 and Monday, July 29 - Thursday, August 1, from 9:30 - 11:30am. Students meet at Stuart-Hobson and are expected to attend each day.

The class has a maximum of 25 students. After the first 25 students have registered, additional students will be placed on a waitlist. Families will be contacted when space opens.

Please register here. Registration closes on Friday, June 21 at 5pm.
Final details will be emailed to families in early July.
Please email Ms. Latagan at mariecrist.latagan@k12.dc.gov with any questions.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! From May 6 through May 10, the PTA will be hosting a week full of activities and offerings—including a special breakfast and lunch—to honor and celebrate all of the teachers and staff members who have an impact in our students' lives.

In addition to these planned events, we are reaching out to invite YOU to participate in the following three ways:

Send Messages to School: Wednesday, May 8
We are asking families to show their appreciation with notes, cards, emails or other forms of thanks and tokens of affection--whatever works for you! Our goal is to flood teachers and staff on this day to REALLY make an impact. Remember, we want to recognize all teachers and staff this week, so don't forget our amazing librarian, counselors, aides, specialists, admin and everyone else at Stuart-Hobson who enriches your student's day.

Sign up to Support the Pep-Rally: Friday, May 10
Please volunteer at the Pep Rally! Our hope is to end the week by giving teacher's an early start to the weekend! Please sign up to help with overseeing the Pep Rally from 1:30 to 3:30pm so teachers may leave for an extra break. We are looking for 10+ volunteers. Options available for the full two hours or for one hour slots. Sign Up!

Encourage Your Student to Show the Love: ALL WEEK
Please encourage your student to post a message on the Thank You wall in the lobby. Supplies will be provided for your student to jot a short message of gratitude and post for teachers to see as they enter and leave the building.

Thanks for your help this Teacher Appreciation Week in showing all of our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them!

—Stuart-Hobson PTA Executive Committee

May 8th is Bike & Roll to School Day! Please plan to meet our Cluster Schools along with other Ward 6 Schools at Lincoln Park between 7:30am and 8:20am. We will gather as a Cluster at the top of the main sidewalk that will lead to Peabody and Stuart-Hobson. Your students are welcome to bring Signs that show Cluster Pride and Please ROCK THE RED! Once the event is over, MPD will escort all students and parents to school. I hope to see you there!

Tickets now on sale for this spring's musical presented by the Stuart Hobson Dramaplayers: James & the Giant Peach

May 31st 6:30pm
June 1st 1pm & 6:30pm
June 2nd 3pm

Tickets on sale here: tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players-2024

We are just 2 weeks shy from DCPS' 13th Annual Leading With Pride (LWP) Conference.

LWP is a one-day conference hosted by DCPS for queer and trans students, families, LGBTQ+ Liaisons and allies. This year's conference will be held on Saturday May 11th 10 am - 2 pm at Bard High School Early College DC.

The day will feature a host of workshops/activities for primary students, secondary students, parents/caregivers and LGBTQ+ Liaisons/GSA Advisors. In addition, we will have a live DJ and performances, community resources/giveaways, food and so much more.

**The information below is new or an updated version of something announced previously! **

You can find previously released newsletters and information here.

The most current version of the Student & Family Handbook is linked on our website.

As we launch engagement for the SY 26-29 calendars, DCPS invites school leaders, staff, families, and students to submit calendar proposals! Submitted proposals will be used to inform the draft calendars that are shared publicly for feedback in Fall 2024. Learn more about how to submit your calendar proposal here.

As a reminder, DCPS will not have to extend the school year for SY 23-24 to accommodate snow closures and the last day of school for students will remain Monday, June 17. The last day for teachers, a Records/PD Day, will remain Tuesday, June 18. If you have not done so already, please share this information with your school community.

The DCPS Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Board is now accepting applications for school year 2024-25. The Advisory Board provides a monthly space for parents and caregivers to engage with the Chancellor, DCPS leadership, and various DCPS teams to learn about and provide input on current or emergent priorities and initiatives. Application translations are available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic. The application will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 6.

For more information, visit here. Apply today here.

Greetings DCPS Families!

As we prepare for the launch of online enrollment, the District will be centrally resetting the passwords for all users who have not accessed the ASPEN Parent Portal on March 25. The email will be titled "Welcome to the ASPEN Parent Portal". Please test and save these credentials, as families will use the same log in ID email and password to access the online enrollment platform starting March 29. If you have any questions, please contact your school enrollment team (Ms. Swann, Mr. Howard, or AP Turner).

DCPS Arts is excited to announce that this year’s Everyday DC exhibition will take place from Thursday, March 28, to Friday, June 7 at the Charles Sumner Museum and Archives. The culminating showcase of our middle school Cornerstone unit, Everyday DC, presents a visual narrative of everyday life in Washington, D.C. through the eyes of more than 130 DCPS middle school students from all four quadrants of the city. More information can be found here.

Given the additional instructional hours built into the school year calendar, DCPS will not have to extend the school year for SY 23-24 to accommodate snow closures. The last day of school for students will remain Monday, June 17 and the last day for teachers, a Records/PD Day will remain Tuesday, June 18.

Thank you for your patience while we processed Payment #2 for the 8th grade trip to Williamsburg, VA. We are excited to announce that while we originally thought Payment #3 would be a max of $200, the popcorn fundraiser was such a success that the 3rd payment will only be $100 for families.

Please be advised that Payment 3 ($100) has a hard deadline of Friday, April 12 because we have to make a final payment to our travel agent shortly afterwords. Families are encouraged to make Payment 3 any time between now and April 12 to Ms. Rosera in Room 313.

As a reminder, we can only accept cash or money order at this time.

Please reach out to Ms. Rosera with any questions or concerns at Bethany.Rosera@k12.dc.gov or 401-837-0470.

Chisholm Elementary (formerly known as Tyler Elementary) is excited to host an inaugural Community Ca$h Conference on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The "College Gurl," Jessica Brown, will open the event! Then, participants will explore empowering personal finance sessions about budgeting, buying a home, & more! Free childcare and free lunch will be provided to registered participants. Registration is open now at this link.

Please support us in helping students uphold the school policies outlined below. This week, our student support team and administration will begin confiscating food and drink that students are sharing, distributing, and consuming outside of assigned locations and meal times (e.g. hallways, classrooms, offices, bathrooms). Families can help by keeping large bags of snacks, especially candy and chips, at home and teachers and staff will strictly supervise food that is shared and consumed outside of student lunch periods and the cafeteria. By refocusing on this policy together we believe we can maintain a cleaner and healthier school environment for everyone. As always, if your student needs any dietary accommodations or restrictions please reach out to the school nurse and/or a member of the administrative team. The policy from our handbook is copied and pasted below.

Students are encouraged to promote and help maintain the cleanliness and well-being of the classrooms and other spaces in the school. Trash cans and recycling bins are located throughout the building in classrooms, offices, and other communal spaces. Students are expected to dispose of trash properly, eat in assigned locations, and refrain from the long-term storage of food in lockers.

Students will eat only in designated areas in the school building, including the cafeteria. Students may NOT eat in classrooms, the gymnasium/field, teachers’ lounges, or other spaces without permission from an administrator. Further, students are not allowed to use microwaves, refrigerators, or vending machines which are intended solely for staff use. Students should not store food or drinks in their lockers overnight.

Sunflower seeds are NOT permitted anywhere on school grounds.

Are you new to the community and are finding it challenging to find the time and space to get to know the community? Are you looking to get to know other families at Stuart Hobson Middle School? Do you have questions for families with children in different grades about their experience? Help us, help you to build community at Stuart Hobson Middle School, and volunteer to be a Grade-Level Caregiver Liaison!

Join the Grade-Level Caregiver Liaison Program and help to develop connections and continue to create an inclusive environment at Stuart Hobson Middle School!

SIGN UP HERE: https://forms.gle/75oVMRmHb6FyYokMA

Thank you – The SHMS Grade-Level Caregiver Liaison Team

Many students are working on displays for their National History Day and Science Fair projects and may not have access to a color printer at home. With their D.C. One or public library card, they can print up to 20 pages per day in color or black and white at no cost at any branch of the D.C. Public Library.

Print jobs must be sent via email with only the word "PRINT" in the subject line. The email address for the public library closest to Stuart-Hobson is northeastlibrary@dc.gov. Here are the email addresses for all public library branches if students want to print at another location. That link also has additional info about remote printing services, including instructions on how to pick up a print job at the library.

One thing to note: the library prints all pages double-sided. If a student wants to print photos for display on a board, then they need to leave a blank page between each image.

Welcome to the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Attendance Corner. My name is Ms. Hargrove, and I am the Attendance Counselor for Stuart-Hobson. At the Attendance Corner, I will provide updates that are important for parents & guardians concerning attendance matters.

The X-Box Group is seeking donations of white dress shirts and ties of all sizes. Our goals are to educate our students on the proper dress for school/job interviews. If you would like to invest into a student’s future, please see Ms. Hargrove or Mr. Henderson in the main office. All donations are tax deductible.

Parents/Guardians, this is a friendly reminder about attendance notes. DCPS Policy states that a parent has 5 days to submit documentation for a student’s absence. You can submit handwritten, texted, or emailed documentation for a student’s absences to be excused. When submitted notes, please be sure to add your student’s first name and last name for the excused to be entered into ASPEN. ASPEN runs by last name first. If you have any questions concerning attendance, please be sure to contact me at Clara.Hargrove@k12.DC.GOV or 202-671-6010.

Upcoming Attendance Incentives

On Thursday, February 15, 2023 Perfect Attendance Freedom Tour-African American Civil War Memorial Museum, Lee’s Flower Shop and Ben’s Chili for Lunch. Student will visit the U Street area and celebration African American contributions to city.

We are excited to bring families six amazing sessions to answer questions from how to enroll in DCPS to how to support children during key transitions. All sessions provide live access to education experts across the district and more! The sessions are always virtual and on Tuesday evenings. Families can register here to send questions in advance and request interpretation services, or they can just tune-in the day-of the event via this link.

The current iteration of the DCPS strategic plan, known as The Capital Commitment: 2023 – 2028, was officially launched on Wednesday, January 17. This strategic plan is the culmination of many months of data analysis and engagement with stakeholders—including students, staff, and families. Through this process, key areas of focus emerged:

• ONE Equity Imperative: We will ground the success of this plan in our ability to serve students furthest from opportunity.
• TWO Commitments: We will advance student success by valuing our people and partnering with our community.
• THREE Strategic Priorities: We are committed to ensuring students are succeeding academically, connected to school, and prepared for what’s next.

Powerful learning happens every day, but students must be in class to maximize their growth.

DCPS is committed to promoting a culture of strong attendance, and you can help! Visit attendanceworks.org for more ways to show up together so every student can thrive. The following attendance tips can help:

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine;

• Lay out clothes and backpacks the night before;

• Create a back-up plan for commuting to school in the morning;

• Avoid scheduling appointments and trips during school hours;

• Reach out to your school for support with overcoming attendance barriers.

The SY23-24 Impact Aid Survey is available here. Annually, DCPS asks all families to complete the Impact Aid survey to generate additional federal funds for DCPS. The surveys will be fully electronic. All eligible applications received by Friday, December 22, will be submitted as part of the initial application. All DCPS families should complete one survey per child. December 22 is our initial deadline; families will have until April 30, 2024, to complete the survey.

Please fill this form out to refer a student for mental health, behavioral health, or MTSS services at Stuart-Hobson Middle School. Referrals are reviewed weekly and a counseling team member reach out to you.

If you need assistance with this form, please contact Ms. Molly Smith at molly.smith@k12.dc.gov.

For mental health or behavioral health emergencies, contact ChAMPS at 202-481-1440, the DBH Access Helpline at 1-888-7WE-HELP, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 911.

Referral Form Link

While we were excited to kick-off the winter sports season last week and had our monthly pep assembly on Friday, we were also reminded of the need to work together to remind our students about the level of sportsmanship and positivity that we promote and project in our school community. On the whole, our experiences at recent sporting events and pep assemblies have been positive, however, we ask that everyone work to remind scholars of our expectations and why they are important to our reputation as individuals and a school community.

Below you will find some general expectations that we share with students at SHMS. More specifically, please remind students that the following behaviors are unacceptable at school events and during competitions with other schools, for competitors and spectators alike.

- Booing and jeering

- Taunting or antagonizing opposing players, fans, or staff/coaches

- Organizing disruptions or unsanctioned performances during scheduled events or competitions

During pep assemblies specifically, students are reminded that we all uphold the following expectations:

- Stay in your seat unless scheduled to perform or participate

- Do not cross the (base/side) line in front of assigned bleachers

- Remain in seats until prompted to leave/dismiss from the gym and walk out calmly

We remain confident that upholding these expectations will ensure that SHMS remains a place where students are known as scholar athletes and our community is one that is joyful and safe, even during intense competition. Thank you in advance for having conversations with our students about these expectations.

To maintain everyone's safety, maintain safe gym capacity, and align with other DCPS middle school's we maintain a policy that spectators under the age of 18, including SHMS students, must be accompanied by their parent/guardian. Unaccompanied students will not be allowed to attend indoor sporting events at SHMS or most other DCPS schools. Further, staff and other families cannot be responsible for supervising or escorting another student to any games/events.

Thank you all for adhering to this policy and helping us to maintain an environment that is safe and allows for an enjoyable experience for spectators and guests.

Did you know all District residents who access healthcare services via DC Medicaid, Alliance, or the Immigrant Children’s Program must start renewing their health coverage again? Don’t miss out on important information- take time today to update your address, phone number, and email at districtdirect.dc.gov so the Department of Health Care Finance knows where to send your Medicaid renewal letter. If you need help, please call the Public Benefits Call Center at 202-727-5355.

¡Atención beneficiarios de Medicaid!

¿Sabía que todos los residentes del Distrito que acceden a los servicios de atención médica a través de DC Medicaid, Alliance o el Programa de Niños Inmigrantes (Immigrant Childrens’ Program) deben comenzar a renovar su cobertura de salud nuevamente? No se pierda información importante - tómese el tiempo hoy para actualizar su dirección, número de teléfono y correo electrónico en el sitio districtdirect.dc.gov para que el Departamento de finanzas de atención médica sepa a dónde enviar su carta de renovación de Medicaid. Si necesita ayuda, llame al Centro de llamadas de beneficios públicos al 202-727-5355.

While social media and technology offer students new opportunities, they can also amplify the typical stresses of growing up. Families can help their children develop strong digital citizenship skills and stay safe online by taking the steps below.

• Make screen time social with young scholars by watching or playing together.

• Talk with your student about the difference between personal and public information.

• Together, explore the features on their devices and in their apps that can help them use technology more intentionally.

• Visit the DCPS Digital Citizenship Family Portal for more tips!

Looking for ways to pay for home internet? Families may be eligible to receive discounted, high-speed internet through the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program. Eligibility is based on household income or participation in government assistance programs like SNAP or WIC. Apply at getinternet.gov.

Our recruitment and hiring processes are underway for the positions listed below. Please share this list of opportunities with colleagues and acquaintances who would be a great fit for our school community. In addition to applying to the DCPS pool of applicants by following the links below, interested candidates can express their interest in an opportunity by emailing our hiring team and/or Principal Fraser.

School Psychologist

Thanks everyone for spreading the word about these opportunities!

Reading Plus is going strong!

Parents, all students are expected to be working on their Reading Plus lessons.

Consistent usage on Reading Plus leads to gains on other tests that our on your child’s transcript.

Students should:

1. Complete at least four Reading Lessons a week

2. Earn at least an 80 on the lesson

NOTE: Reading Plus be done through logging on to CLEVER and searching for the site DREAMBOX.

SHMS partners with GW University for students to receive free math tutoring 90 minutes per week​ through their Math Matters program. Programming is available to interested 6th and 7th graders!

​About Math Matters​

Based out of the Nashman Center at George Washington University, Math Matters collaborates with DCPS to provide high-impact math tutoring to middle school students in Washington, D.C.​ Math Matters recruits and trains GW undergraduate and graduate students to be effective mentors and tutors.

Tutoring Details​

- Tutors provide small group tutoring throughout the school year to groups of 3-4 students

- Students attend two days per week, 3:30-4:30pm​ (snack included)

- Tutoring curriculum is skill based, and is geared towards accelerating students towards grade level proficiency​

- Tutoring starts the week of September 18 for all students.

Sign Up

https://bit.ly/mathtutoringshms or the QR code ​below

Got questions? Reach out to Ms. Rosera at Bethany.Rosera@k12.dc.gov

Get involved with Debate! This year’s competitive topic is Income Inequality, and we would love to hear your voice!

We meet in Room 219 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 – 5:00.

See Mr. Plaisted (kip.plaisted@k12.dc.gov) for more information.

As the public health emergency is lifted, COVID-19 is now treated the same as any other communicable disease. We are sharing the following reminders for your reference:

1. COVID Testing: DCPS will not conduct COVID tests at school. COVID tests are not required to return to school this year.
2. COVID Contact Tracing: No contact tracing will occur.
3. Testing Positive for COVID:
1. Staff who test positive for COVID should alert their school leader and follow guidance from their health provider.
2. Students who test positive should follow up with their health provider for guidance and the family should alert the school of their absence (in accordance with normal absence reporting requirements).
4. Masks:
1. Mask wearing is optional, and schools should support individual decisions to mask for health reasons.
2. For individuals who test positive for COVID: A mask should be worn through the 10th day from a positive test or onset of COVID symptoms.
5. Notifications: No notifications (classroom, staff, or school-wide) will be sent for COVID positive cases.

Thank you to the new families who were able to join us in-person or virtually for our New Families Orientation sessions recently. If you are a new family, or just want a refresher about everything we do at Stuart-Hobson MS and key policies and procedures, please review this recording of the virtual session (please note that the orientation begins shortly after the 13 minute mark in the recording). Also, families can always find the most current resources and information about our school in this folder.

While families who attended were able to pick up their student's schedule and the summer mailing, those who were not able to join us should receive their student's schedule with the summer mailing sometime in soon.

Student schedules have been posted in Aspen and should be visible to anyone with an existing Aspen account after August 18th. Students or families without an account should soon receive an invitation to set one up by email (check your Junk folder). We will provide students with copies of their schedule during the first week of school as well.

Aspen Family Portal

Aspen Family Portal accounts should reflect the new school year on/after August 18th. 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.

If you have any questions about accessing Aspen or your student's grades or schedule please reach out to their counselor, Ms. Schimmerling or Ms. Williams, or grade level administrator, AP Hills - 6th, AP Taylor - 7th, or AP Turner - 8th.

Dear Families,

Happy Fall. My name is Nurse Anderson, and I am excited to be the new Nurse at Stuart-Hobson MS for SY 23-24. Periodically throughout the school year, I will be providing health updates and messages that concern our community and students.

For the month of September, our health corner focus will be Medication Distribution and Accommodations Related to Emergency Situations:

For medication distribution, it is imperative that you contact me or any designated school nurse at Stuart to drop off any medications and authorization forms for your children. See forms attached.

We cannot administer any medication without approval from your child's Physician and an authorization from you. The medication needs to have a pharmacy label and the medication must match the medication order.

While medication authorization forms are important part of your child’s health plan, we also encourage families to provide information if their child experiences Asthma, or Allergies. Please ensure that your student has an inhaler with an Asthma Action Plan at the school. The action plan can be submitted to the Main Office or myself. If the child is approved to self-administer, please remind them to always carry their inhaler. If they suffer from any allergies (food), an Epi-Pen is also needed with an Anaphylaxis Plan.

Last, the school will be conducting several emergency drills that range from fire to lockdown. We recognize that these events may trigger an emotional response. Also, some of these drills may require students to physically move from one location to another. If you think that your child/children may have any Physical disability or emotional unseen disability, please let the school/school nurse know, so that appropriate accommodations can be made for any possible evacuations, drills, etc.

The school nurse hours are Monday-Fridays 8:00 am-4:30 pm with a daily lunch. When the nurse is unavailable students may receive assistance from staff in the main office.

Nurse Anderson can be reached by calling the school or emailing her at sanders@childrensnational.org

The SHMS uniform policy is designed to maintain school pride and traditions while contributing to a safe and predictable school experience for students and families.

School uniforms or other apparel that identifies our school 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 red, black, or white crewneck sweaters/sweatshirts (front zip, button up, or pullover) and vests. No hoods.

o Long sleeved, plain color, crew/V-neck shirts may be worn underneath uniform shirts.

o Khaki pants, skirts, shorts, worn at waist level. Khaki jumpers are also acceptable.

o Comfortable closed-toed shoes or sneakers covering the entire foot. Shoes and sneakers should lace-up or fit snugly. No sandals, slippers, or Crocs.

o Any clothing that identifies our school community by name or logo (e.g. Stuart-Hobson MS or the Capitol Hill Cluster School) may be worn in place of uniform components. This includes hoodies.

Dress Code

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:

• Hooded coats, shirts, and sweatshirts,

• Outerwear like jackets, fleeces, parkas, windbreakers, etc.,

• Hats and other head coverings (e.g. winter/baseball hats, ski masks, bonnets, goggles, scarves, etc.)

• Metal studs on headbands and other accessories

• Khaki-colored leggings/ tights (worn in place of Khaki pants).

• Small purses or fanny packs

Religious, medical, or other personal exemptions/exceptions to any of the above expectations should be made by parents/families and documented with the school culture and/or administrative teams prior to taking effect.

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

Students should comply with the uniform policy daily and will be recognized for compliance with LiveSchool points, eligibility for trips and other activities, and other rewards. 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. Incidents and patterns of infractions will be handled like other Tier 1 and 2 infractions.

We are excited that Stuart-Hobson Middle School is a CEP school again this year, meaning that all students will receive free school breakfast and lunch!

The DCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team is excited to invite our students back into the cafeteria for SY23-24! Help us ensure that students are ready for the first day of meal service. Please see the SY 23-24 Meal Charge Policy, and dietary accommodations process for this school year.

This school year, DCPS is partnering with Children’s National Hospital to support our students’ health and attendance through the Collaborative for Attendance Resources in Education and Health (CARE-H); CARE-H is now available in all DCPS schools. Through this program, parents or guardians can give permission to DCPS to securely share attendance information with their child’s doctor(s), nurse(s) and medical office staff. This information will help these healthcare professionals to provide special outreach and medical attention to children that might be missing school and their families.

With a goal of decreasing barriers to school success by providing students, school staff, and families with tools that promote academic and psychosocial growth and progress, DCPS has launched a new website dedicated to student mental health. For mental health resources including a provider directory, events calendar, and articles on mental health, special education, and parenting strategies, visit dcpsmentalhealth.org.

We encourage everyone to use the referral QR codes above to connect students with our school mental health team at any time throughout the year. Also, attached to the newsletter is a document outlining DCPS' approach to school mental health programs and support. If you have any questions please reach out to a school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or administrator.

Our social worker from partner One Common Unity, Ms. Kiersten Morris, has created a virtual office link for students and families. The virtual office includes information and resources for parents and students.

It can be accessed at: bit.ly/MsK

Thanks for checking it out!

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