
The Cardinal Connection
October 3rd, 2023
At J.O. Wilson Elementary School, we are SOARing to success every day in every way by creating an environment in which joy, pride, positive interactions, and growth mindsets lead students to comfort in taking risks, self-advocating, and facing adversity.
Important Dates:
October 4th: Walk and Roll to School Day
October 4th: Vision To Learn visits JOW
October 4th: Master Facilities Plan review meetings 12 noon - 1:30 p.m. Click here to register for this virtual town hall.
October 5th: Master Facilities Plan review meetings 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Click here to register for this virtual town hall.
October 6th: JOW Swag Sale 3:15PM-6PM
October 9th: Indigenous Peoples Day...No School for students and staff
October 10th: Virtual PTA Meeting @ 6PM
October 14th: DCPS School Night at D.C. United on Saturday, Oct. 14th, at 5 p.m.
October 18th: JOW Swag Sale 3:15PM-8PM
October 18th: Fall Festival, Hispanic Heritage Celebration and Outdoor Movie Night
October 19th: Parent Teacher Conference Day...No School for Students
October 20th: Professional Development Day...no School for Students
October 25th: Fall 23-24 Picture Day JOW
October 28th: The Literary Feast
October 30th: Virtual Principal Chat 6PM
November 2nd: JOW Swag Sale 3:15PM-6PM
The J.O. Wilson Cardinal Players Proudly Present...THE BIG REVEAL!
Vision to Learn is coming to J.O. Wilson on October 4
One in four kids in public schools lacks the glasses they need to see the board, read a book, or participate in class. Students with uncorrected vision problems often avoid reading, suffer headaches, and can have trouble focusing in class, as 80% of learning during a child’s first 12 years is visual.
How Vision To Learn Works:
Vision To Learn mobile clinics solve the problem by bringing eye care and glasses, free of charge, to children at schools. Studies show that students who receive glasses from Vision To Learn are better able to recover lost learning time and succeed in school. Here’s how Vision To Learn works:
· Vision To Learn collaborates with schools and community partners to provide vision screenings to students.
· A Vision To Learn mobile clinic comes to the school or community organization where a Vision To Learn optometrist provides eye exams to students who fail their vision screenings.
· Students who need glasses pick a pair of frames from a large selection in the mobile clinic.
· Students receive new glasses in about three weeks, free of charge.
*Families who do not wish to participate can request and opt-out form from the Front Office.
Walk & Roll to School Day
J.O. Wilson is registered for Walk & Roll to School Day tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 4. at Lincoln Park at 7:30 am Join schools from Ward 6 and Ward 7 to celebrate the joys of being able to walk safely to and from school. Come see our very own J.O. Wilson Elementary Cheer Squad, the Eastern HS Marching band, Wendy the Water Drop and so much more. There will be giveaways from DDOT and light snacks courtesy of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
VIRTUAL General Body PTA Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m.
Please join the PTA for our monthly General Body Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m.
This meeting will be virtual. Register in advance here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsdOqsrz4iGtbV3nyjBuH6odY26wXMC_QN
Membership in the PTA is free and open to all parents, guardians, and staff. Please fill out our membership form to let us know if you're interested in roles like volunteering during events or serving on a committee. To stay up-to-date, visit the school website jowilsondcps.org, follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) @jowpta and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/JOWPTA.
Upcoming Swag Sales!
Thanks to everyone who continues to show school pride by purchasing J.O. Wilson apparel! You can purchase additional swag and pick up pre-ordered swag at the following upcoming swag sales:
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Friday, Oct. 6: 3:15-6 .p.m
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Wednesday, Oct. 18: 3:15-8 p.m.
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Thursday, Nov. 2: 3:15-6 p.m.
You may pre-order shirts, hoodies, and yard signs by completing the order form at our Swag Store. To help expedite orders, we ask that you use CashApp, Zelle, or PayPal if possible.
Announcing the Cardinal Grant Program!
The J.O. Wilson PTA is pleased to offer the Cardinal Grant Program, which makes additional funding available for academic and extracurricular enrichment and community-building. For 2023-2024, the following types of Cardinal Grants will be available:
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Classroom (up to $100 per grant)
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Grade Level (up to $500 per grant)
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Enrichment & Community (up to $500 per grant)
Apply for a Cardinal Grant here. Review the Cardinal Grant Policy here. Email info@jowilsonpta.org with any questions.
Girl Scouts has kicked off for another year at J.O. Wilson!
This year, we expanded to girls in K-4th grade! We have a few girls on the waiting list already, but need to find another adult volunteer to join us on Thursdays before we can open it up to more. Email larissahorn@gmail.com if you're interested in being on the waitlist or volunteering.
Do You Need Free Covid-19 Tests?
Fill out a short form and the federal government will mail you four free tests. Limit of one order per residential address. https://special.usps.com/testkits
Help Support a J.O. Partner - Join the Literary Pumpkin Walk and Get on the Map
Transform your yard or stoop into a festive fall display and sign up for inclusion in the Capitol Hill Community Foundation’s Literary Pumpkin Walk map. Choose a book or favorite character, and design a single pumpkin or an entire yard scene. Each year, neighbors vote for their favorite entry, and the Foundation donates $1,000 to a school selected by the winner.
Purchase your pumpkins from J.O. Wilson and support the PTA!
All proceeds from the sales of pumpkins support activities that benefit students and teachers. Please complete the pre-order form no later than Wednesday, Oct. 11. Limited quantities will be available for day-of purchase at the Fall Festival.
Fall Festival, 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration and Outdoor Movie Night — Wednesday, Oct. 18
Join the Cardinal Community for:
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Pumpkin decorating
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Fall-themed activities and games
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Bake sale
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Refreshments (pizza, popcorn, snacks and drinks)
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A viewing of Encanto or Hotel Transylvania - YOU pick! Please vote for the movie you (and your kids) want to watch!
Festivities will start at 4 p.m. Movie begins at sundown. Closed captions will be provided. This event is open to all; please help spread the word to friends and neighbors.
Volunteers needed!
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Do you like to bake? Please sign-up here to contribute baked goods to the bake sale! All items must be individually packaged/wrapped and NO NUTS please.
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Can you work a shift during the afternoon/evening of Wednesday, Oct. 18 (or help with unloading pumpkins the morning of Oct. 17)? Please sign-up here to assist with set-up, concessions, and clean-up.
If you would like to be involved with planning events like this, please reach out to info@jowilsonpta.org so we can add you to the Events and Fundraising Committee email list.
Master Facilities Plan (MFP) 2023
Join the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education for a series of virtual town hall meetings to learn more about the DCPS Master Facilities Plan 2023. Participants will review updated programmatic capacities and draft recommendations supporting the three goals of the MFP; ensuring school facilities are efficiently utilized, ensuring every student is enrolled in a modern state of the art facility and, ensuring every student's daily experience is in a well-maintained facility.
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Wednesday, Oct.4, from noon - 1:30 p.m. Click here to register for this virtual town hall.
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Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Click here to register for this virtual town hall.
DC Teacher Voice Festival
EmpowerEd is holding its 2023 DC Teacher Voice Festival in Ward 6 this year! ALL DC RESIDENTS are invited to join DC educators for family-friendly fun at the 2023 DC Teacher Voice Festival. RSVP now for the event at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PLEASE bring family, friends, and colleagues. The event will include:
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Go-Go music
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Carnival-like games
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Food truck
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Kids face painting
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Balloon animals and more
Explore tables hosted by local educators to discuss action on things like reforming standardized testing, school ratings, teacher retention, culturally responsive education, ending child and family poverty and more. Register here
DCPS School Night at D.C. United on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m.
Come out to Audi Field to watch the D.C. United vs. Medeama SC with DCPS friends and families! DC United’s School Night includes:
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20% off single game tickets
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Block seating
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Exclusive fan experience options
Tickets start at $20 per ticket. Purchase tickets here. For groups of 10 or more, reach out to Emma Cohen-Dumani (group sales account executive).