SHMS Family Newsletter
September 1, 2024
Principal's Message
Greetings Stuart-Hobson Community!
The first week of the 2024-2025 school year is in the books! Our time together was all about building connections with teachers and peers, establishing routines, and setting clear expectations and norms for middle school. During our back-to-school Town Hall on Tuesday, we celebrated the students' achievements from last year and shared our high aspirations for them this year—academically, athletically, and in extracurricular activities. This is one of the strongest cohorts Stuart-Hobson has had in many years, and we are expecting great things from this group of students.
Next week, we will begin our Beginning of the Year (BOY) assessments. These BOY assessments provide us with crucial individual and overall class data on academic levels, which may lead to adjustments in class placements. More importantly, they help us refine instructional delivery, curriculum pacing, and the development of academic support strategies. It is vital that students put forth their best effort to ensure the accuracy of this data. Please help them get proper rest over the long weekend to prepare.
Thank you to the community for supporting improvements to our morning arrival screening process. The community’s collective efforts significantly reduced student wait times. We will continue to monitor and adjust this process as the school year progresses to achieve further efficiencies.
Finally, as a reminder, connection between school and parents is critical to a student's academic success, and that begins with open communication channels. Please use the communication guide linked here as a resource for staying connected. 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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Calendars
Weekly Calendar & Upcoming Dates
Weekly Calendar
Monday 9/2
- Labor Day, School Closed
Tuesday, 9/3
- Volleyball Tryouts, 4:30 - 6 p.m. Stuart-Hobson Gym
- Capitol Hill Cluster LSAT Virtual Meeting 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 9/4
- Cross County Interest Meeting, 3:30 - 4 p.m. Stuart-Hobson Gym
- Volleyball Tryouts, 4:30 - 6 p.m. Stuart-Hobson Gym
Thursday, 9/5
- A great instructional day!
Friday, 9/6
- A great instructional day!
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, September 3, Volleyball Tryouts, 4:30 - 6 p.m., Stuart-Hobson Gym
- Tuesday, September 3, Capitol Hill Cluster LSAT Virtual Meeting 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 4, Volleyball Tryouts, 4:30 - 6 p.m., Stuart-Hobson Gym
- Wednesday, September 4, Cross County Interest Meeting, 3:30 - 4 p.m. Stuart-Hobson Gym
- Saturday, September 7, Learn24: Afterschool in the City, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Deanwood Community Center, 1350 49th Street NE
- 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.
ASL interpretation services will be provided. - 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
New Information and Important Updates
Every Day Counts! - Stuart-Hobson Middle School Attendance Policy
Every Day Counts!
At Stuart-Hobson Middle School, we are committed to providing academically engaging classes and offering a wide variety of high-quality athletic and extracurricular activities every school day. We expect our students to attend school each day to make the most of these opportunities. If your student is absent, arrives late, or needs to leave early, please email stuart-hobsonms@k12.dc.gov with your student's name, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, and your name.
Our goal is for every student to feel loved, challenged, and prepared to positively impact society and succeed in life. To achieve this, consistent attendance is essential because every day counts! When students miss school, they risk falling behind academically. Therefore, absences should only occur for legally approved reasons. When students accrue unexcused absences, our school attendance team must implement the DCPS Attendance Protocol.
Parents have five business days from the time their student returns from an absence to submit documentation to the school office. Please email stuart-hobsonms@k12.dc.gov if you child is absent, is arriving late or leaving early. If a student is absent for five or more consecutive days, official documentation (such as a doctor's note) is required. Here are the key attendance guidelines:
- 3 Cumulative Partial or Full-Day Unexcused Absences: A universal absence letter will be sent to parents, and the teacher will call the student's home to discuss attendance.
- 5 Cumulative Full-Day Unexcused Absences: A universal absence letter will be sent home, and a Student Attendance Conference (SAC) will be conducted. Families may be referred to CFSA for educational neglect.
- 15 Cumulative Full-Day Absences (Student Ages 14-17): The student may be referred to Court Social Services.
- 20 Consecutive Full-Day Absences (PreK 3 - 12th Grade): The student may be withdrawn from school for non-attendance.
Approved reasons for absences include illness, medical or dental appointments, a death in the immediate family, exclusion by DCPS (e.g., quarantine, suspension), attendance at a judicial proceeding, observance of a religious holiday, or other emergencies approved by DCPS.
Remember, Every Day Counts toward your student's success!
Mayor Bowser Presents LEARN24: Afterschool in the City
Afterschool in the City 2024 is on Saturday, September 7, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Deanwood Community Center (1350 49th St NE, Washington, DC 20019). Families will have the opportunity to explore afterschool and out-of-school time programming available to District youth ages 5-21 during the 2024-25 school year. More information and promotional materials in Spanish and English are available here.
RSVP: learn24afterschoolinthecity2024.eventbrite.com
September 7, 2024
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Deanwood Community Center
1350 49th Street NE
Apply to the Technology Advisory Committee (9/13)
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.
Save the Date: Back to School Block Party (9/14)
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.
Academics
Math Tutoring Available for 6th and 7th graders
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
Athletics
2024-2025 Athletics' Participation Packet
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.
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.
Food Services at Stuart-Hobson
Food Service Menus for this Week
Below please find food service menus for breakfast and lunch for this week!
Dietary Accommodations
As a reminder, DCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) does not require a new dietary accommodation form to be submitted every school year.
You only need to submit a new dietary accommodation form if:
- Your student is new to DCPS and requires dietary accommodations.
- Your student has a new dietary need, such as a newly diagnosed food allergy.
- There are changes to your student’s existing dietary accommodation form on file with Food and Nutrition Services.
For more information or to complete a dietary accommodations form, please click here.
Student Clubs & Extra-Curriculars
Third Annual Stuart Hobson Mock Trial Club
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.
Craft and Chat Club returns for its 5th year on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
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)
Supports for Students & Families
Counseling Team at Stuart-Hobson MS
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 - Welcome Back Capitol Hill Cluster PTA Meeting - Tuesday, September 17, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Watkins Elementary
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!
Previous Announcements & Resources
**The information below is new or an updated version of something announced previously! **
All Newsletters
You can find previously released newsletters and information here.
Stuart-Hobson Middle School
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
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