SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings Stuart-Hobson Community,

In a few days, Stuart-Hobson will continue our tradition of hosting incoming 6th graders in our popular weeklong Summer Bridge Program called Panther Pride Academy. Led by the 6th Grade Academy Assistant Principal, Ms. Andral Hills, this program focuses on activities that promote a positive and joyful introduction to the Stuart-Hobson experience. Sixth graders are given exclusive access to the school, allowing them to safely explore the building, practice middle school routines, and build important connections with school staff and one another. On the final day, students head to the Adventure Park in Sandy Spring, MD, for zip-lining and climbing activities to strengthen newly forged friendships.

Ultimately, our mission with Summer Bridge to give our incoming 6th graders knowledge and connections to start their new school with curiosity, excitement, and confidence. Families who have not registered their incoming 6th grader into Summer Bridge, there is still time to register tonight!

And, we invite all new families to join us for the new family orientation on Monday, August 5, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. (doors 8:30) in room 101. This event provides an opportunity for families to meet school leadership, learn about our school culture, connect with PTA members, and meet other parents. But more importantly, this orientation gives parent guidance and tools to support their student’s middle school transition.

We look forward to seeing many of our new students and families next week and are working hard to get ready for everyone's return later this month!

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser
Principal

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Upcoming Dates

• After-School All-Stars (ASAS) Request to Sign up is now open for SY 2024-25
• Monday, August 5 Uniform Exchange 8:45 a.m. to noon
• Monday, August 5, New Family Orientation In-Person 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (doors at 8:30) Please enter through the main doors, 410 E Street NE. Families will be escorted to room 101 for orientation.
• Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, Panther Pride Academy (Summer Bridge for rising 6th graders), 8:30 a.m. - noon, with optional after-care programming until 4 p.m. Families can register here. Deadline to register is Thursday, August 1 at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, August 5 through Thursday, August 8, Stuart-Hobson Theater Program DramaPlayers Auditions, noon - 2 p.m. Auditorium. Open to all students, free of charge. Interested students should register here.
• Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, We Make the Beats Digital Music Camp, noon - 2 p.m. Please click here to register your child. All grades are welcomed!
• Tuesday, August 6, National Night Out to Beat Crime
• Monday, August 19, New Family Orientation - Virtual - 6 - 7:30 p.m.

  Click here to join MS Teams meeting
  Meeting ID: 217 689 429 664
  Passcode: UCjwLo

• Monday, August 26, Welcome back students! First day of school!
• Thursday, August 29, Debate Team Interest Meeting, 3:45 - 5:00 p.m., Room 219
• Monday, September 2, Labor Day observed, schools closed
• Tuesday, September 3, Capitol Hill Cluster LSAT Virtual Meeting 6 - 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 10, Back to School Night, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
  Note: After-School All-Stars will host a informational session on Stuart-Hobson's after school program from 5:30 - 6 p.m., immediately before Back to School Night.
• Saturday, September 14, DCPS Back to School Block Party, Jefferson Middle School, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Our 2024 Panther Pride Academy is almost here!

There will be a New Parent Orientation on Monday, August 5th from 9:00-10:30 a.m. (doors at 8:30) Note: we will also be hosting a second new parent orientation, virtually, on Monday, August 19 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Meeting login information can be found in the calendar section.

Please use the following link to register your child for an exciting week of fun, laughter, and connections ahead of their entry into middle school! The deadline to register is Thursday, August 1.

https://forms.office.com/r/ZNyrX1cnUz

If you have already registered and need to provide emergency contact information, please use the link below:

https://forms.office.com/r/suEEsaSLF3

The Sign-Up Request process for the school year after-school programming with After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is open!

Please note: the limited spots will be filled on a first come first served basis and enrollment is completely managed by ASAS and separate from the Panther Pride Academy (summer bridge) mentioned elsewhere and below. This year, ASAS is reserving approximately 40 spots for 6th graders and roughly 20 spots each for 7th and 8th grade in after-school programming.

Please note that after completing the registration form you will likely receive an automated message that your enrollment was "received". This does NOT mean that you have secured a spot but that your application is on file with After School All Stars. ASAS will follow-up with families in the future to confirm who has a seat and who has been waitlisted.

Again next year, we expect programming to run daily from 3:30-6:00. ASAS also manages any waitlists and requests for technical support. We are also excited that ASAS will continue to be 100% free for students who attend.

Please reach out to Mr. Evroy Marrett with any questions or requests for more information at evroy.marrett@afterschoolallstars.org.

The following general school supply list will support your student in a successful start to the school year.

General School Supplies

Headphones (microphone optional)

Black or Blue Pens

Pencils and Pencil Sharpener

2-4 Composition Books

2-4 Spiral Bound Notebooks

Crayons, Color Markers, and Color Pencils

Glue Sticks

3 ring binder(s) are recommended to help students organize for multiple classes

Pencil pouch / tote

When planning to organize your student and their supplies, please remember that students will have 4 core classes (Math, Science, Social Studies, and ELA) and 2 electives (e.g. physical education, band, Spanish, etc.).

Additional supplies may be required based on individual courses. These supply lists will be provided by teachers directly to their students/class.

If your family needs support in purchasing school supplies, please contact the main office at 202-671-6010.

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 Ms. Swann:

Coaching Openings:

Boys & Girls Cross Country (Fall), Indoor Track (Winter), and Track and Field (Spring), Head and Assistant Coaches

Girls Soccer

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

Is your incoming student interested in joining Stuart-Hobson's theater program? We are looking for talented, hard-working, creative, flexible, and focused students to join us in the new school year.

Interested in acting, stage crew, dance, or tech? Passionate about the ARTS? We are the group for you! There are limited spaces so auditions will be necessary. Please make plans to attend PANTHER PRIDE ACADEMY, August 5-8th. Theater workshops which will help prepare students for the Thursday auditions will take place from 12- 2 pm that week. Accepted students will then be enrolled into theater class which is required for participation in the program.

Students can begin preparing now by creating a 30 second introduction of who you are and why you should be a DramaPlayer to share during audition week. Put your personality into your presentation, share your goals of what you'd like to do or learn as a DramaPlayer, and any experiences you may have.

​*7th/8th graders interested in joining can also participate in the theater workshops/auditions from 12-2 pm (Aug.5-8).

*Any student unable to attend August auditions may plan to audition on 8/27/24 from 3:30-4:30 pm. However, fewer slots will be available at that time. Students may also audition via video submission. This should be no longer than 5 minutes (max) to include 30 sec creative intro plus a monologue and song, dance routine, or description of theater tech job that most interests you and why.

Questions, please contact Tori Pergerson (Director) at latoria.mckoy@k12.dc.gov.

We are excited to share the upcoming school year's uniform policy and dress code expectations so everyone can plan this summer. We hope that the policy allows us to maintain some community and school pride while encouraging some individualism as well. The most notable changes to the policy for returning families are as follows and the full policy is below:

1. Clothing bottoms can now be khaki OR black in color.

2. Each grade level has their own assigned color (6th - Red, 7th - Gray, 8th - Black)

Additional information about where to buy uniform shirts with logos or SHMS/Cluster clothing, uniform swaps, bulk purchases, and other updates will be shared later this summer. Please reach out with any questions as you prepare your student's wardrobe for next year!

Student Uniform Policy & Dress Code

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:

• Long or short-sleeved solid polo, button-up collared shirt, or T-shirt. An SHMS logo is optional. Any non-SHMS logo on uniform shirts or sweatshirts must be the size of a $1 bill (1 dollar) or smaller. Grade levels are assigned shirt colors as follows:
  6th Grade: Red
  7th Grade: Gray (jersey or other light/medium shades preferred, avoid darker shades to stand out from 8th grade)
  8th Grade: Black

• Plain red, black, or white crewneck sweaters/sweatshirts (front zip, button up, or pullover) and vests. No hoods.
• Long sleeved, plain color, crew/V-neck shirts may be worn underneath uniform shirts.
• Chino ("khaki") pants, skirts, or shorts, worn at waist level and without tears or rips. Jumpers are also acceptable. All should be solid khaki/tan or black in color. No jeans/denim.
• Comfortable closed-toed shoes or sneakers covering the entire foot. Shoes and sneakers should lace-up or fit snugly. No sandals, slippers/slides, or Crocs.
• 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. SHMS/Cluster hoodies are allowed but students should not wear hoods during the school day.

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/face coverings (e.g. winter/baseball hats, ski masks, bonnets, goggles, scarves, masks, etc.)
• Metal studs on headbands and other accessories
• Khaki/black leggings/ tights (worn in place of khaki/black 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 will 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.

DCPS Student Health Services will be operating school health hubs this summer at the schools, dates, and times listed here. The hubs will offer vision screenings, immunizations, and tabling from the DCPS LGBTQ team and mental health partners. If this event is taking place at your school, or you are in the feeder pattern for these schools, please share with your school community.

Stuart-Hobson’s Special Education Department has intentionally designed a learning community that encourages shared participation and decision-making by providing access to opportunities and resources while dismantling barriers.

Through authentic leadership and service to all, we meet the needs of an evolving and diverse student body by fostering creativity, flexibility and positivity. We work in a manner that fosters trust for all through effective, honest communication and accountability.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s IEP or access to learning please email our Special Education Coordinator, Tamara Hunter at tamara.lovelock@k12.dc.gov

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

Stay tuned here for the latest news and updates on the initiatives of the Capitol Hill Cluster PTA, a PTA that represents three terrific schools: Peabody, Watkins Elementary School and Stuart-Hobson Middle School. The PTA is dedicated to supporting and enriching the educational experience across all three schools and will use this space to inform about projects, events, and calls for volunteer support.

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

You can find previously released newsletters and information here.

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

Capitol Hill Cluster Website

DCPS School Calendar SY24-25
Stuart-Hobson Student and Family Handbook - coming soon

Stuart-Hobson School Menus - coming soon