SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings SHMS Community!

We were excited to settle in and make the most of our only five-day week of school in January this coming week but the weather has other plans for us. I hope that everyone stays safe and has a chance to enjoy the wintry weather tomorrow as DCPS recently announced that all schools are closed on Monday, January 6, 2025. Should the inclement weather have further impacts on our operating status later in the week, DCPS will be the first to announce and share that information. When school resumes we will work to reschedule any testing, meetings, or other events currently scheduled for tomorrow (or subsequent delays and closings).

The short weeks in January do not shorten the list of tests and work that we need to wrap up before the end of the term. Thank you for helping your student to return to school last week and for your future efforts to focus and encourage them with these many loose ends. As mentioned prior to the break, we are very proud of how much students have been showing up for school this year and want to sustain that improvement even in the face of winter weather and choppy weeks on the calendar.

A reminder that Clever, Reading Plus, Zearn, and many other instructional apps are all accessible from personal devices so student's can spend some down time catching up on any Term 2 work while school is closed. Whatever you do, I hope everyone makes the most of tomorrow's closure and look forward to seeing everyone when school reopens later this week.

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

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Weekly Calendar

Monday, 1/6

• DC Public Schools closed due to winter weather advisory.

Tuesday, 1/7

• Significant potential for weather closing or delays – please check dcps.dc.gov for updates
• MOY ELA Testing continues (Reading Plus & MAP)
• Swim Team interest meeting - 3:45 p.m. Health Room - G-01
• SHMS Away Basketball Games vs Kelly Miller Girls at 4:45 p.m., Boys at 6 p.m.
• LSAT Meeting, 6:30-8:00 PM (virtual)

Wednesday, 1/8

• MOY ELA Testing continues (Reading Plus & MAP)

Thursday, 1/9

• MOY ELA Testing continues (Reading Plus & MAP)
• SHMS Home Basketball Games vs Eliot-Hine Girls at 4:45 p.m., Boys at 6 p.m.

Friday, 1/10

• MOY ELA Testing ends (Reading Plus & MAP)

Upcoming Dates

• January 14-17, MOY Math testing (iReady/MAP)
• January 15, Make-up Picture Day
• January 15, Vision to Learn Eye Exams for Students
• January 17, No school for students, professional development day for teachers
• January 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed, schools closed
• January 21-24, MOY Science testing (MAP)
• January 24, Last instructional day of Term 2
• January 27, End of Term 2 Records-Keeping & PD day, no school for students
• January 28, First day of Term 3!

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 10PM, Sunday, January 5th until 1AM, Tuesday, January 7th for the District of Columbia. As the first significant snowstorm of the year approaches this evening, I want to take a moment to remind everyone of our inclement weather policies and communication protocols. Ensuring you stay informed about school closings, delays, or operational changes is a priority.

Decisions regarding inclement weather and its impact on school schedules and operations are made by the Mayor and/or DC Public Schools (DCPS). SHMS will promptly amplify these official announcements as soon as they are made public.

To receive timely updates regarding DCPS emergencies, delays, or closures, please:

• Visit the DCPS homepage - https://dcps.dc.gov/

• Follow DCPS on X (formerly Twitter) - https://twitter.com/dcpublicschools

• Follow DCPS on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/@dcpublicschools/

• Sign up for DCPS mobile text alerts by texting “DCPS” to 91990 (standard fees apply)

• Monitor local news sources:

AM Radio:

• WMAL (630)

• WOL (1450)

• Radio America, Spanish (1540)

• WTOP (1500)

FM Radio:

• WAMU (88.5)

• WTOP (103.5)

• WHUR (96.3)

Television:

• Channels 4, 5, 7, and 9

• Cable Channels 8, 16, and 28

In addition to district-wide communications, SHMS will send out direct messages to our community and staff in the event of a school closure or delay.

Stuart-Hobson is partnering with Vision To Learn to provide free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to students during the school year. No out-of-pocket cost for families. Our screening date is Wednesday, January 15.

Easy Participation – Students will automatically receive a vision screening. If needed, a mobile vision clinic will conduct an eye exam, and glasses will be provided. No follow-up is required to participate.

Insurance and Billing – Services are billed to Medicaid if available, but families will not incur any additional costs. An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) may be sent, but no payment is needed.

Opt-Out Option – If you prefer your child to continue care with their current eye doctor, sign and return the attached opt-out form.

Glasses Only – If your child already has a valid prescription from the past year, Vision To Learn can help provide glasses. Please submit the prescription to the school coordinator by the specified deadline.

For questions, contact stuart-hobsonms@k12.dc.gov or visit www.visiontolearn.org.

The 2024-2025 Athletics’ Participation packet has been released. 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. If your student’s UHC has been updated recently, you are encouraged to complete the participation packet as soon as possible.

English Participation Packet

Spanish Participation Packet

Universal Health Certificate (UHC).

Students with certain medical conditions may also need to complete an Asthma Action Plan or an Anaphylaxis Action Plan

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. 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 Coach Drakeford.

Coaching Openings:

Indoor Track (Winter), and Track and Field (Spring), Head and Assistant Coaches

Please direct any questions about athletics to our Athletic Director, Coach Drakeford, latavia.drakeford-allen@k12.dc.gov.

Below please find food service menus for breakfast, breakfast grab and go, lunch and snack for this week!

Do you have questions about mental health and behavioral health services at Stuart-Hobson? Would you like to talk to one of the counseling staff about support services for your student? Submit a request via https://bit.ly/referralSHMS or contact SHMS Social Worker Bernadette Wittschen at bernadette.wittschen@k12.dc.gov.

The Cluster is a strong community of families, and the PTA strengthens that community by working together to support our students and campuses. Joining the PTA is a great opportunity to learn more about our school, enrich the student experience, and meet new people. PTA dues help fund critical programs, as well as supplies for music, art, library, and athletics.

Email: stuart-hobsonms@k12.dc.gov
Website: www.stuart-hobson.org
Location: 410 E Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-671-6010
Twitter: @StuartHobsonMS

Important Links

Aspen DCPS Student and Family Login

Attendance Excuse Template

Capitol Hill Cluster Website

DCPS School Calendar SY24-25

DCPS School Mental Health Resources
Stuart-Hobson Special Education and 504 Plans

Stuart-Hobson Communications Plan - SY2024-25
Stuart-Hobson Uniform Policy

Stuart-Hobson Food Service Breakfast-Lunch-Supper Menus
Stuart-Hobson Behavior Expectation Matrices
Stuart-Hobson Student and Family Handbook