Whale News

• Save The Date!
• Happy National Principals Month!
• DCPS Updates From Chancellor Ferebee

• The Wheatley Tribune
• October Student Birthday
• How DCPS responds to COVID-19 cases
  
• SY 21-22 Important Reminders

• It's Optimistic October - All Month Long
  

• UNITY DAY 2021 -Wear an ORANGE T-SHIRT, ORANGE shoelaces, ORANGE socks, or ORANGE sunglasses. Wednesday, October 20, 2021
  

• CAREGIVERS Cafe - Bullying 101, Tuesday, October 26, 2021 @2:30 - 3:30 pm

• Math Night - Look for link on Class Dojo. Thursday, October 28, 2021 @4:30 - 6 pm

Please refer to the DCPS calendar for updates:

https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/SY21-22_Calendar_English_05-21-21.pdf

https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/SY21-22_Calendar_Spanish_05-21-21.pdf

Joeseph Cole Recreation Events:

• Family Movie Night - Friday, October 22, 2021 | 5:00 pm -7:00 pm | Joe Cole Basketball Court| 1299 Neal St, NE

• 5th Annual Trunk or Treat - Friday, October 29, 2021 | 5:00 pm -8:30 pm |Joe Cole Parking Lot| 1299 Neal St, NE

Dear DCPS Families,

I hope you will join me this month in celebrating the outstanding contributions of our school leaders. National Principals Month is an opportunity to recognize the roles principals play in our schools and communities. I want to particularly recognize their significant contributions throughout the many disruptions presented by the pandemic. DC Public Schools is grateful to have dedicated, talented leaders who lead our schools.

MAYOR INVESTS ADDITIONAL $22M IN DCPS COVID-19 MITIGATION STRATEGY
Yesterday, Mayor Bowser announced that she is allocating an additional $22 million to DCPS to strengthen our layered mitigation strategy over the school year and hire an additional staff person for every school to support COVID-19 response operations. DCPS will also double the size of its COVID-19 response team. The funding builds on the Mayor’s significant investment of more than $300 million for COVID-19 recovery and health and safety operations in DCPS schools. In addition to positions supporting the COVID-19 mitigation efforts, funding will also be allocated to expand the substitute teacher pool.

FLU SHOTS NOW AVAILABLE AT SELECT COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES
DC Residents can now receive their flu shot at select COVID-19 vaccination sites across the city. We strongly encourage everyone to receive their flu shot as soon as possible to reduce the chances of getting the flu or spreading it to others. Like the COVID-19 vaccine, flu shots are also free at walk-up vaccination sites.

PARENT UNIVERSITY: COLLEGE PREP RESOURCES ON OCTOBER 19 AT 5:30 PM
The next Parent University virtual session will take place on Tuesday and will focus on how to prepare your child for college. It will cover college prep resources available to students and families and how to access them at home and at school. RSVP at this link and then join on Teams on October 19 at 5:30 p.m.

TELEPHONE TOWNHALL ON OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE: OCTOBER 20 AT 5:00 PM
Join us for the third and final townhall about our COVID-19 response efforts this fall at schools. On October 20 at 5:00 p.m., hear from DCPS staff on keeping our buildings safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19 through our layered mitigation strategy. You can watch the previous townhalls, which covered COVID-19 testing at school and how DCPS responds to a COVID-19 positive case at school online.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED CALENDARS FOR SY23-26
To enable future planning and for the convenience of students, staff, and families, DCPS creates 3-year calendars and will release the SY23-26 calendars this upcoming winter. Please take a few minutes to share feedback on the proposed calendars by Friday, October 22.

SCHOOL HOURS & UPDATES:

Arrival - Doors open at 8:15 am

Breakfast - Breakfast starts at 8:15 am

Dismissal - Students will be dismissed at 3:15 pm

Early Dismissal - Anytime before 3 pm. Parents/Guardians must contact the main office to have scholars escorted outside.

*Note: Parents will not be permitted in the building for arrival and dismissal per DCPS Covid protocol

There will be three points of entry for students

Main Entrance: PreK 3&4

Middle School Entrance: Neal Street 4th-8th grade

Montello Ave Entrance: Kindergarten - 3rd grade

ENROLLMENT:

Your child must be fully enrolled and up to date on immunizations in order to start the new school year. Please ensure you have completed the enrollment packet Enroll At Wheatley EC or https://enrolldcps.dc.gov for more information on enrollment. When completing the enrollment forms online, make sure all blanks with the red asterisk* are filled in. If you have any questions please contact the school at 202-939-5970.

Aftercare:

Wheatley will host aftercare for our scholars starting on September 13, 2021. The number of spaces is limited. You must have submitted your school year 2021-22 enrollment forms for the regular school day and allow two business days for the information to be updated into the system before you enroll in the afterschool program.

To submit an application, use the following link: Aftercare Application

For more information, check out DCPS Afterschool Info.

Uniform:

Friendly reminder - Wheatley will continue to be a flexible uniform school. We encourage all students to wear uniforms and Wheatley swag and show Wheatley pride, but students will not be disciplined for not wearing a uniform. All students will be expected to adhere to the dress code policies below. During the year, the administration will begin meetings and listening sessions to get feedback on a uniform policy for the future. The uniform for all grades is below.

Students will be given the opportunity to purchase Wheatley shirts that can be worn in lieu of the designated uniform shirt.

Prek-8th grade:

Navy blue pants, shorts, or skirts

Light blue, royal blue, or white polo shirt

We understand that learning is important and we want to uphold our school's motto: Excellence in Every Classroom. We are committed to ensuring that all scholars are empowered with the knowledge, 21st-century skills, and values necessary to be college and career-ready.

Aftercare:

Wheatley will host aftercare for our scholars starting on September 13, 2021. The number of spaces is limited. You must have submitted your school year 2021-22 enrollment forms for the regular school day and allow two business days for the information to be updated into the system before you enroll in the afterschool program.

To submit an application, use the following link: Aftercare Application

For more information, check out DCPS Afterschool Info.

Email: wheatleyec@k12.dc.gov
Website: wheatleydcps.org
Location: 1299 Neal Street Northeast, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (202) 939-5970
Twitter: @WheatleyDCPS