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Jumpstart: New Year, New Goals,

Jumpstart: New Year, New Goals,

"Marching into Success: Growing, Learning, and Thriving Together!"

Dear Neval Thomas Families,


We’ve noticed recent dips in student attendance and need your help in encouraging regular attendance. To support this effort, we've prepared messages for families that you can share through newsletters, backpack stuffers, or other communication channels. A robocall script is also available to help reach families directly. To ensure accessibility, these messages have been translated into Spanish. You can find all communication materials here: Attendance Communication.docx.


Additionally, parent-teacher conferences are today, and we are striving for 100% participation to strengthen collaboration and support student growth. Please reach out to the school if you would like to schedule a meeting time outside of today. Thank you for your continued dedication to student success and family engagement!


Educationally Yours,

Principal Trahan

March Dates

This Upcoming Week

Monday, 3.17.25

  • St. Patrick's Day - WEAR GREEN
  • Field Trip - 5th Grade MS visit to Kelly Miller @ 9am
  • An Open Book Foundation (AOB) Partnership - 2nd Grade Illustrator Visit

Tuesday, 3.18.25

  • 3rd Grade Swim @ Woodson HS
  • 4th & 5th Grade - Chat & Chew with Sousa MS
    • Parents are welcome to come to Thomas ES to learn about what Sousa MS offers. This event will take place from 12:45-1:15pm in the Bubble.
  • An Open Book Foundation (AOB) Partnership - 2nd Grade Illustrator Visit


Wednesday, 3.19.25

  • Testing
    • Science RCT 3 - 2nd Grade
    • Math RCT 6 - Kindergarten
  • An Open Book Foundation (AOB) Partnership - 2nd Grade Illustrator Visit


Thursday, 3.20.25

  • An Open Book Foundation (AOB) Partnership - 2nd Grade Illustrator Visit


Friday, 3.21.25

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

STEM Field Trip to The Museum of Natural History

The students of Neval Thomas Elementary School eagerly anticipated their field trip to the National Museum of Natural History. Their excitement was realized on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, when grades 1-5 boarded school buses with teachers and chaperones. The trip aimed to help students connect classroom STEM content with real-world experiences through experiments and hands-on activities. It provided learning and engagement that complemented classroom instruction and fostered a deeper understanding of STEM concepts and their applications.


The National Museum of Natural History offered various focus topics for all grade levels, including fossils, ecosystems, mammals, minerals and gems, and botany. Students were given tasks through the Goosechase app to find specific areas in the museum, where they were challenged to make videos, take pictures, or explain what they learned from targeted areas. This activity added fun and excitement to their exploration.


The winner of the Goosechase activity received a treat upon returning to school. Students shared with their teachers how much they enjoyed the trip, how engaged they were, and how grateful they felt for the experience. "I can’t wait for another STEM field trip," one student stated.

Extracurricular Activities & Clubs

Debate Club

March Parent Workshop

Topic - Mental Health & Social Media

Meeting Options...

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

or

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

Attendance Matters!

School Attendance Policy and Expectations

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!

Grade Level Learning Highlights

PreK3 & PreK4

Students in Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 are exploring motion, force, and the study of three-dimensional shapes through hands-on learning experiences. While they are thriving, we encourage families to ensure their children get a good night’s sleep, as the days can be especially tiring this time of year. Rested minds help support their engagement and success in the classroom!

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students are building a strong math foundation by working on number pairs, addition, and subtraction to 10, which are essential for developing problem-solving skills and understanding relationships between numbers. In science, they are learning about humans and the needs of organisms, fostering curiosity about the world around them. In ELA, they are focusing on identifying the main idea, a crucial skill that helps with comprehension and critical thinking. In history, they are exploring America’s Story, helping them understand the past and how it shapes our present.

1st Grade

Our first-grade Tigers are diving into place value, comparison, and addition and subtraction up to 40—important skills that build their number sense and prepare them for more advanced math concepts. In science, they’re having fun exploring how we communicate using light and sound. In ELA, they’re learning about text structure, focusing on chronological order and cause and effect, which helps them understand how events and ideas connect in stories and the world around them. In social studies, they’re exploring economics, learning about needs, wants, and how choices impact our daily lives. It’s an exciting time of discovery and growth!

2nd Grade

In second grade, students are building a strong foundation in multiplication and division, which are essential for developing problem-solving skills and understanding patterns in math. In science, they’re mapping land and water, learning how our world is shaped and how different features are connected. In ELA, they’re practicing recounting stories, which helps them improve their comprehension and storytelling skills. In social studies, they’re exploring America’s diverse story, learning about the rich history and cultures that make our country unique. It’s an exciting time of growth and discovery!

3rd Grade

Our third-grade Tigers are mastering fractions by learning how to place them on a number line—an important skill that builds a strong foundation for understanding parts of a whole and real-world math applications. In science, they’re exploring magnetic forces and objects in motion, making exciting discoveries about how things push, pull, and interact! In ELA, they’re diving into nonfiction text features, which help them navigate informational texts and become stronger readers. In social studies, they’re exploring DC History, learning all about the rich stories and important events that shaped our city. It’s a fantastic time of hands-on learning and discovery!

4th Grade

Our fourth-grade Tigers are tackling fractions—learning about equivalence, ordering, operations, and decimal fractions, all essential for building strong problem-solving skills and real-world math applications. In science, they’re exploring Earth’s surface and natural resources, discovering how our planet changes and why conservation matters. In ELA, they’re sharpening their critical thinking by explaining reasons and evidence, integrating information, and analyzing elements of poetry—key skills that help them become thoughtful readers and writers. In social studies, they’re diving into the Revolution and Independence, uncovering the exciting events that shaped our nation. It’s a thrilling time of learning and growth!

5th Grade

Our fifth-grade Tigers are putting their math skills to work by exploring addition and multiplication with volume and area—key concepts that help them understand space, measurement, and real-world problem-solving. In science, they’re investigating matter and energy flow in ecosystems, discovering how living things interact and depend on each other. In ELA, they’re strengthening their critical thinking by explaining reasons and evidence, analyzing multiple accounts, and comparing stories—skills that help them become insightful readers and strong communicators. In social studies, they’re traveling through time, from the late 1800s to the Roaring 2000s, uncovering the events that shaped the modern world. It’s a fascinating journey of learning and discovery!

Specials Highlights

🏀 Physical Education

This month, students will focus on learning the fundamentals of basketball, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork skills to build confidence and coordination on the court.

🎵 Music

March is Music In Our Schools Month. During this month, students will compose “March Melodies.” Students will explore the lines and spaces on a musical staff to create and perform their own melody.

🎨 Art

In art, students will study movement and emphasis in the principles of design. They will learn how to create motion using lines, shapes, and colors, bringing their artwork to life through dynamic compositions.


Encourage your child to engage with these creative and active experiences at home by discussing what they’ve learned and exploring new ways to express themselves!

Library📚

See the newsletter below!

🧪STEM📐

🌿 Grade 1: Design From Nature – Parts of Animals

Students will explore how different animal body parts help them survive, grow, and meet their needs in their environments.

🌎 Grade 2: Mapping Land and Water

Students will learn about Mapping Our World, developing an understanding of how land and water are represented on maps and the importance of geographical features.

🦴 Grade 3: Organisms Change Over Time

Students will study Plants and Animal Extinction, examining how species adapt, evolve, and sometimes disappear due to environmental changes.

⛰ Grade 4: Changes Over Time to Earth’s Surface and Resources

Students will investigate Rock Patterns, exploring how Earth's surface changes due to natural processes over time.

🔄 Grade 5: Matter and Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

Students will focus on Energy Transfer and Matter and Energy in Plants, discovering how energy moves through ecosystems and how plants play a crucial role in this cycle.


Encourage your child’s curiosity by discussing these topics at home and exploring real-world connections!

SY24/25 PTO Meeting Invite

Event Information

PTO Meeting

When?

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025, 05:30 PM

Where?

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MGVjODJkZDEtNWZlYS00YmMzLTg0NjEtYTdmMzUyOWYxY2Uw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%222aa046ee-b34e-4a33-92b7-999df2bc0a32%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%220f38ca54-82ea-4579-9f56-030f370b9bed%22%7d

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

March Birthdays

Parent & Student Reminders...

  • 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.

Neval Thomas ES @ Kenilworth

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

Jaimee Trahan
Jaimee is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters