Dear Neval Thomas Families,

Thank you to all who participated in our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your engagement plays a critical role in student achievement, and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate and exchange valuable insights that support student growth.

As we move further into the school year, please note that Spring Break will take place from April 14–18. We encourage families to use this time to rest and recharge as we prepare for the upcoming testing season.

Students are currently preparing for the DC CAPE assessments, which provide important data to help us monitor progress and guide instruction.

• DC CAPE for Science will begin on April 8.

• ELA and Math assessments for students in grades 3–5 will begin in May.

Attendance is especially important during this period. Please ensure your child is present and on time each day so they can continue receiving high-quality instruction and be well-prepared for testing.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our long-awaited official school website: wearenevalthomas.org! This new communication hub is designed to be your go-to resource for everything related to our school.

In addition, our next PTO Meeting will be held on April 30 at 5:30 PM following Spring Break. A flyer and meeting link will be shared soon. We encourage all families to participate and stay connected with school-wide initiatives and events.

Lastly, we want to emphasize the importance of enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year. Timely enrollment helps us plan staffing and resources effectively. We are thrilled at the prospect of welcoming all of our students back next year and look forward to another year of growth and learning together.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our school community. Together, we continue to build a nurturing environment where our students can thrive.

Educationally Yours,

Principal Trahan

Monday, 4.7.25

• PD/Records Day (virtual)
• School Closed for Students

Tuesday, 4.8.25

• 3rd Grade Swim @ Woodson HS
• DC CAPE Testing (Science - 5th Grade)

Wednesday, 4.9.25

• DC CAPE Testing (Science - 5th Grade)

Thursday, 4.10.25

• Seeing Ourselves in STEM Presentations
• 9:45am - 11am / K-5 / Parents are welcomed to attend.
• Family Panorama Pizza Party
• Winning grade level will be announced on Tuesday during morning announcements!

Friday, 4.11.25

• Field Trip
• 4th Grade goes to Kingman Island with the Living Classrooms Foundation partnership!
• 1st Round of the Homeroom Enrollment Contest ends @ midnight!

• Attendance Incentive Giveaway
• Basketball/Shirt Donation Giveaway (dismissal)

• Flashlight Friday (READ, READ, READ)
• Joyful Food Market (during dismissal)

Family Portraits are scheduled for Wednesday, April 23rd. Families will be able to come in and take family portraits and/or students who are family within Thomas ES are able to take portraits. Information will be provided to families soon.

Because of you, we successfully completed 122 Family Panorama Surveys... THANK YOU! The class with the highest percentage of completed surveys will be announced during the morning announcements on Tuesday for their pizza party.

KUDOS to ALL of the classes! We made the "Family Survey All-Stars" list where we had more responses than 2024, "Family 100 Club" list where we had over 100 family responses, and the "Student Survey All-Stars" list where our individual student response rate is above 80%. 👏👏👏👏

Each month, our teachers bring stories to life by dressing up as one of their favorite book characters and sharing key details from the story to inspire a love for reading. This fun and engaging tradition helps students connect with books in new and exciting ways, encouraging them to explore stories beyond the classroom. Last month, Ms. Randall shared her favorite book, You're My Little Cookie Monster by Sesame Street, bringing smiles and curiosity to our young readers. We invite you to join us in celebrating the magic of reading and the many stories that spark imagination and make learning truly joyful!

to the Debate Team...

They participated in Cluster III's Battle of the Books which is a reading incentive program for students in 3-12th grade. Our 4th-5th grade students read 5 different books and came together, with 15 elementary schools in Cluster III, to demonstrate their abilities and test their knowledge of those books. Students read Bud, Not Buddy, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Holes, Because of Winn Dixie, and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Even though we didn't place, our students were grateful for the experience and look forward to preparing for next year. Kudos to Ms. Thompson and Ms. Campbell!

to 1st Grade:

They were caught reading with their finger lights for Flashlight Friday! Remember, EVERY Friday for the last 15min of class, we READ, READ, READ for Flashlight Friday📚🔦!

Meeting Options...

Join Us In-Person - Light Refreshments will be served.

or

Join Us via Teams - Link will be shared on ClassDojo.

At Neval Thomas, we aim to ensure that every student achieves academic success by being at

school every day and on time. Students with regular school attendance learn more and are more

successful.

Elementary Attendance Update

Starting in 24-25, elementary schools will be required to enter a “Partial Absence” (PA) code for

students who miss more than 40% of the school day. This means that when this code is used,

students will be considered legally absent for the day, even if they were present for part of the

school day.

• Students arriving after 11:25am
• Students leaving before 12:35pm
• Students arriving late and leaving early and missing more than 40% of the scheduled school day.

Parents:

• Please make sure that students arrive on time to school and class every day.
• Should provide documentation to the front office for missed days.
• Ask school staff for help if you have academic or other concerns (e.g., lack of transportation) preventing you from attending school.

Please be mindful that a missed day is a lost opportunity for learning. We look forward to seeing

your child(ren) every day!

Attendance Incentive

This April, our creative Tigers are expressing themselves in wonderful ways through the arts and movement! In Art, students are diving into our exciting Character Drawing unit, where they’ll draw, and paint characters inspired by their favorite movies, games, and books. As the unit wraps up, they’ll bring their imaginations to life by creating original characters and stories—a beautiful blend of visual art and storytelling. In Music, we’re celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month! Students will explore the rich sounds of jazz by listening, performing, and learning about syncopation and improvisation—key elements that make jazz such a unique and expressive genre. Over in P.E., students are building strength, coordination, and confidence as they practice tumbling and stunting. It’s a joyful, well-rounded month that nurtures creativity, movement, and a love for the arts—thank you for supporting your child’s journey through these enriching experiences!

See the newsletter below!

For any questions, please contact Aja.Campbell@k12.dc.gov

If you are interested in joining the PTO, utilize the QR code below.

• Label student names and/or initials on student items, such as lunch boxes, coats, hats, etc. Lost & Found items will be donated at the end of each month.
• Please ensure that the Student Dismissal Procedure Form is updated for every individual student. If changes are needed, please contact the Main Office immediately.
• Student cell phones must be turned in at morning arrival daily to the Main Office. Students may retrieve their phones upon dismissal.
• There is a waitlist for both - Before & After care. If you still desire a space, we are encouraging families to fill out the application, and you will be notified if/when a space becomes available.

Principal: Jaimee Trahan (jaimee.trahan@k12.dc.gov)

Instagram: nevalthomastigers
Website: COMING SOON!!
Location: 1300 44th St. Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (202) 724-4593