SHMS Family Newsletter

Greetings SHMS community!

We only have four school days left in the second term and first half of the school year! I hope that all of our students are on track for success in all classes as the end of term approaches. This is a reminder that the term officially ends on Monday, January 27, a non-instructional day for students. Please reach out directly to teachers, counselors, or grade-level assistant principals if you need help or clarity to best support your student at the end of the term.

One of the many things at Stuart-Hobson that I am extremely grateful for and proud of is the work of our counselors, especially when it comes to their efforts to prepare our students and families for high school. On Tuesday night we will host the first of two high school application help night events. Our counselors work with the 8th grade team to organize these events where we consult with students and families to assist with making their high school plans. This event, the high school fair, and our mock interview nights work together every year to make sure that our have a great chance of matching to the best high school for them. We showed prospective families the impressive list of high schools that our students match to every year during this past week's virtual Open House. Thanks for spreading the word about our remaining events to prospective families!

In addition to looking ahead to the end of the term and finishing up any academic work, I hope that everyone finds time to celebrate and embody the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend.

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

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Weekly Calendar

Monday, 1/20

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed, schools closed

Tuesday, 1/21

• MOY Science testing (MAP)
• High School Application Help Night, 5:00-7:00 PM

• SHMS Home Basketball Games vs McKinley, Girls at 4:45 p.m., Boys at 6 p.m.
  *All students who wish to attend must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

Wednesday, 1/22

• MOY Science testing (MAP)
• PTA General Meeting (virtual), 6:30-7:30 PM

Thursday, 1/23

• MOY Science testing (MAP)

• SHMS Home Basketball Games vs Eliot-Hine Girls at 4:45 p.m., Boys at 6 p.m.
  *All students who wish to attend must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

Friday, 1/24

• Last instructional day of Term 2
• MOY Science testing (MAP)

Upcoming Dates

• January 27, End of Term 2 Records-Keeping & PD day, no school for students
• January 28, First day of Term 3!
• January 28, High School Application Help Night, 5:00-7:00 PM
• January 29, SHMS hosts annual Cluster Game Night, 6:00-8:00 PM
• February 4, LSAT meeting, 6:30-8:00 PM
• February 5, Pupatella Pizza Night (8th Grade fundraiser), 4:00-7:30 PM
• February 5, NJHS Induction Ceremony, time TBD
• February 12, Open House for Prospective Families, 6:00-7:30 PM
• February 14, District Professional Development Day, no school for students
• February 17, Presidents Day observed, schools closed

8th Grade Mock Interview and Application Nights

8th grade students and families applying for the My School DC Lottery for high schools are welcome to receive support in reviewing their high school essays and participating in mock interviews with members of the Stuart-Hobson Middle School community (including SHMS alumni and SHMS parents!)

Date(s): Tuesday, January 21, 2025 and Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: Stuart-Hobson MS Library

Questions? Please contact the SHMS Counseling Team at jessica.schimmerling@k12.dc.gov or alexis.wilson@k12.dc.gov.

As a reminder, the total cost of the trip has been confirmed to be $250- congratulations and thank you for the great fundraising efforts!

• Payment 1: $100 (if new to the trip, pay ASAP only a few spots remain!)
• Payment 2: $100 due January 31
• Payment 3: $50 due February 28

We will re-run eligibility and invite any students who become eligible after Term 2 grades post in a few weeks.

If you have questions about payments, eligibility, or anything trip related please reach out to Ms. Rosera at Bethany.Rosera@k12.dc.gov.

As we enter the budget season, we are excited to hear from you—our valued community members—about your priorities for our school. Your voice is critical in shaping how we allocate resources to best support our students, staff, and programs.

Our Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) has created a Budget Priorities Survey to gather your input. This survey is an opportunity for you to share what matters most for your child’s learning experience and overall school environment.

We encourage all families to participate by completing the survey linked below. It should take no more than 10 minutes, and your feedback will directly inform budgeting decisions.

The survey will remain open until Friday, January 31.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us make informed decisions to support our students’ success.

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:

Indoor Track (Winter), and Track and Field (Spring), Head and Assistant Coaches

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, breakfast grab and go, lunch and snack for this week!

The Mental Health Team at SHMS facilitated the annual suicide prevention program, Signs of Suicide, with all students in the beginning of the school year and wants to continue to provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to learn about this important topic.

TRAILS, a suicide prevention organization, is offering a free training for caregivers and community members to learn about suicide awareness and prevention.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention for Caregivers and Communities, Thursday, February 6 from 4:30-6pm. Discussion will take place via Zoom: https://bit.ly/TRAILS_2-6_training

If you have any questions about the mental health services offered at SHMS, you can submit a referral to the Mental Health Team and a team member will be in touch with you: https://bit.ly/referralSHMS

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.

The Cluster is a strong community of families, and the PTA strengthens that community by working together to support our students and campuses. Joining the PTA is a great opportunity to learn more about our school, enrich the student experience, and meet new people. PTA dues help fund critical programs, as well as supplies for music, art, library, and athletics.

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

Attendance Excuse Template

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