SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings Stuart-Hobson Community!

Tuesday, September 10 is Back-to-School Night! Doors Open at 5:30 p.m.!

We are excited to welcome families to SHMS for our annual Back-to-School Night on Tuesday evening. This important event is one of the many touchpoints we use to build a strong partnership with families with the primary focus of student success. Families are strongly encouraged to connect with their students’ teachers and counselors throughout the school year for both urgent matters and general check-ins. I will be available during Back to School Night, stationed in front of the auditorium. Finally, arrive well before 6:00 p.m. when the first period bell will ring. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Please refer to the schedule below for details about each part of the evening.

5:30 PM – Doors Open
Families will sign in, pick up their student's schedule, and receive additional information. We invite families to join us in the lobby and first-floor hallway, where some of our staff and school partners will have tables set up to share resources and supports available for students and families.

6:00 PM – Class Visits
Parents will follow their student's schedule (see the bell schedule below) to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and experience the overall flow of their student’s school day.

7:30 - 8:00 PM (Optional Session)
I will provide a summary of our Title I programming in the auditorium.

Again, we look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday evening! If you’re unable to connect with teachers that night, please remember that parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for the evenings of October 8th and 16th. These conferences will provide an opportunity to discuss your student's academic progress in detail.

You can always contact the front office at 202-671-6010 or email me directly at eric.fraser@k12.dc.gov with any questions or needs.

Warm Regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

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Weekly Calendar

Monday 9/9

• Archery Interest Meeting, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., gym
  
  

Tuesday, 9/10

• Tuesday, September 10, Back to School Night, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Doors Open at 5:30 p.m. First Bell Rings at 6:00 p.m. Title I Family Meeting (optional), 7:30-8:00 p.m. ASL interpretation services will be provided.

Wednesday, 9/11

• Field Trip - 6th Grade Girls, Terrapin Adventures Trip
• First Day of After-School All Stars, 3:30 - 5:45 p.m.
• Food Services begins Supper Service @ 3:30

Thursday, 9/12

• Emergency Drill - Lockdown Drill
• Field Trip - 6th Grade - Boys Terrapin Adventures Trip
  
  

Friday, 9/13

• Field Trip - 7th Grade - Terrapin Adventures Trip

Upcoming Dates

• Saturday, September 14, DCPS Back to School Block Party, Jefferson Middle School, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 17, PTA Welcome Back Meeting, Watkins ES, 6:00-7:30 PM

We will conduct a Lockdown Drill in the morning on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

This routine exercise takes place twice a year to practice safeguarding our school community from potential dangers within or outside of our building.

During a lockdown drill, students are moved to the safest area of the room, away from doors and windows. They are instructed to stay out of an intruder's line of sight. The window shades are drawn, classroom door windows are covered, and the lights are turned off. While the drill is underway, all exterior doors are locked, and entering or exiting the building is not permitted until the all-clear is given. Nobody, including guests and families, will be allowed to enter the building until the drill is complete.

If you anticipate your student having any needs before, during, or after this or any other drill this year, please reach out to a counselor or grade-level administrator.

Join the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) and shape equitable and inclusive education in DCPS classrooms through technology. Together, we'll discuss, identify, and solve challenges, revolutionizing technology integration. Your unique perspective matters and school leaders, instructional staff, tech POCs, students and DCPS families are encouraged to apply here by Friday, September 13.

The DCPS Back to School Block Party will take place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday September 14, at Jefferson Middle School (801 7th Street Southwest Washington, DC 20024). For more information, please click here.

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 mid-September- official start date TBD once we hear from GW

Sign Up

https://bit.ly/mathtutoringshms

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

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:

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

Girls Soccer

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 and lunch for this week!

Fridays 3:45-4:30

Sept. 27, 2024 – Feb 28, 2025 (final trial date tbd)

Who can participate?

For this year’s program, we welcome any incoming 6th grade student as well as any mock trial veteran (returning student) to join us in learning about and bringing to life a mock criminal trial!

This is a great program for any student- introverts, extroverts, wanna-be lawyers, actors, writers, free thinkers, those good-at-arguing-with-siblings, and everyone in between.

Program Description
Over the course of the year, students will prepare to conduct a mock criminal trial, where the students themselves will take on the roles of lawyers and witnesses. In February 2025, the program will culminate in a full mock trial before a real D.C. judge in a real D.C. courtroom (and an audience of family and friends).

During class, students will learn the nuts and bolts of trials and will gain skills in effective trial advocacy. The majority of our class time will be spent preparing for the mock trial. But students will also have the opportunity to discuss the legal system, some current events that pertain to the law and to hear about careers in the law from law students and practicing attorneys.

Students will work in teams (the defense team or the prosecution team) to get their “case” ready for trial. Depending on their role, the students will write opening and closing arguments, as well as questions for direct and cross examinations of witnesses.

The first class will be Friday, September 27, 2024.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to Ms. Boccardi amy.boccardi@k12.dc.gov or Kyra at kej73@georgetown.edu.

Ready to join?
Interested students (or their guardians) should complete this form by September 9, 2024.

If there are more interested students than can be accommodated, a lottery will be used to select the final class list. Accepted students will be notified by email in mid-September.

Our first SHMS Debate Interest meeting had nearly 80 kids wanting to participate in the first tournament of the season!

In order to make that happen, we need parents and community members to help volunteer as judges. No prior debate experience is needed as we will provide training!

Here are the details:

DATE: October 12th (Saturday)

WHERE: Cap City Public Charter School

100 Peabody St. NW

TIME: 8am - 5:30pm

Could do a morning or afternoon shift

Breakfast, lunch, and coffee provided

Please email Mr. Plaisted at kip.plaisted@k12.dc.gov for more information.

Join us to craft (or just doodle!), chat, and have community with each other! Crafts provided!

When: Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm

Where: Office #108

Why: To have fun, relax, and craft!

Who: YOU! ALL students are welcome!

Questions? See Ms. Harrington (kimberly.harrington@dc.gov, office #221)

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.

Save the date! Capitol Hill Cluster PTA Welcome Back Meeting on Tuesday, September 17, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Catharine Watkins Elementary School, located at 420 12th St SE, Washington, DC 20003.

Arrivals begin at 6:00 pm with pizza and a chance to pick up your Cluster t-shirt and swag. The meeting will officially start at 6:30 pm.

Don't worry about childcare—we've got it covered for free! Come connect with fellow parents, learn about upcoming events, and find out how you can get involved this year. We look forward to seeing you there!

**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

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