Principal's Message Oct 17-24
Dear Peabody and Watkins Community,
Friday was full of so much fun! Our monthly Rock the Red celebrations and Panther PRIDE community meetings keep getting better and better. If you haven't seen the images and videos yet on Instagram, please check us out by clicking the link below! Our Peabody students celebrated Hispanic Heritage and our Watkins 5th graders debuted the newest school song, written and directed by Mr. Nagbe! Thank you Mr. Nagbe for creating such a dynamic song and adding to our sense of Panther PRIDE.
One Watkins 5th grader has been working especially hard to show perseverance, respect, integrity and dedication to excellence. When she was named Panther of the Week, her classmates erupted in cheer, she was showered with hugs, and was even brought to tears by a sense of pride and accomplishment. I share this vignette to illustrate how powerful acknowledgement and celebration of our students can be for an individual and for our community as a whole. I'm so grateful to the staff who are carrying out this new ritual and the positive impact it's having on our students.
Key Dates for Families
Note: Watkins book fair is postponed due to the out of service elevator. We are planning on for mid-December.
SAVE THE DATE: PICTURE DAY
Returning Aftercare Program: Music Kids- Please complete Interest Survey
We’re working with one of our school’s enrichment partners, Music Kids, to survey parents about which musical instruments they’d most like to see offered at Peabody and Watkins for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Please take a brief moment to indicate your interest using the Instrument Preference Poll link below. For Music Kids to properly staff the program, and for us to know whether we’ll have enough enrollment for them to do so, it will really help to hear from as many families as are interested so we can plan accordingly.
Music Kids offers the convenience of on-site classes for students as young as three years old. They offer instruments including Guitar, Piano and Violin, where students get to learn alongside a friend or two from school. Take-home instruments, learning resources for parents, and virtual support are all included. For new families, the link below also includes a short summary of what the program is all about. For returning families who were enrolled in the program last year, you should still fill out the survey as well.
https://form.jotform.com/musickids/instrument-preference-poll
For any additional information about Music Kids including packages, pricing and more please visit their website at www.musickidsprogram.com or contact them at office@musickidsprogram.com
FoodPrints Caregiver VOlunteer Sign Ups
For the Watkins schedule, the 1st-3rd grade classes will go in the afternoon, so look for your child's afternoon teacher, not homeroom teacher on this schedule.
sy 22-23 emergency preparedness DRILL SCHEDULE
As required by DCPS, we will follow the below emergency preparedness drill schedule to ensure all students and staff are prepared in the event of an emergency.
All of the fire drills excluding the 1st one of the school year are unannounced. Dates for alternate drills (alert status, earthquake, lockdown, severe weather, shelter in place, 500 ft evacuation, and reverse evacuation) will be communicated to the school community in advance.
SY 22-23 Drill Schedule
Oct: Fire Drill & Earthquake Drill
Nov: Fire Drill & Lockdown Drill
Dec: Fire Drill & Alert Status Drill
Jan: Fire Drill & Severe Weather Drill
Feb: Fire Drill & Shelter in Place
March: Fire Drill & 500 ft evacuation/ relocation Drill
April: Fire Drill & Reverse Evacuation Drill
May: Fire Drill & Lockdown Drill
June: Fire Drill & Shelter in Place
Watkins
Watkins Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
October 26, 6-7pm
The celebration includes live performances! "Vivir me Vida" - a song and dance by 3rd-5th graders and "Mi Gente" by 1st & 2nd graders. Hispanic biographies and artwork will also be showcased. There will also be a guest musician, Juan Hernandez, and mini salsa lessons for caregivers and students alike!
All Watkins students are preparing for this event in their Spanish, Music, and Art classes and are welcome to participate. Ask you child to share what they are learning and help them practice for the big event!
Basketball Try-outs Coming Soon!
When: October 11, 2022 – October 21, 2022
- Girls: Oct 11, 12, 13. Way to go girls! You worked so hard and had fun this week!
- Boys: Oct 18, 19, 20.
Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Where: Watkins Gym
***Tryouts are held for 4th & 5th grade boys and girls. Please bring shorts, a t-shirt, and basketball shoes
***ONLY cleared /eligible athletes can try out… Email AD Drakeford for clearance status and/or the link to submit paperwork. If you have any further questions the Athletic Director and Coaches can be reached via contact information below.
AD Drakeford – Email: Latavia.drakeford-allen@k12.dc.gov
Coach Redmon: Email: jerenzo.redmon@k12.dc.gov Phone: 202-465-1504
Coach Hill – Email: Dawayne.hill@k12.dc.gov Phone: 202-276-8883
Panther PRIDE Community Meetings
It's also been a little bumpy regarding the parent access. Moving forward, this link will provide access to all of the Panther PRIDE Community Meetings.
When are the next celebrations?
5th Grade - Oct 14, 2:30
4th Grade - Oct 21, 2:30
3rd Grade - Oct 21, 9:05
2nd Grade - Oct 28, 9:45
1st Grade - Oct 28, 9:10
Fall 2022 Panorama Survey for 3rd - 5th graders
Twice a year, we ask students in grades 3 and higher to complete a survey about social emotional learning for DC Public Schools, the Panorama Student Survey, to help DCPS and school administrators better understand what students think about their school experiences and their social and emotional learning.
For three surveys in a row, Watkins students have reported an increased feeling of loved at our school! This is a key metric we plan around and have as a goal on our school plan. There are more details in the Caregiver Opt-Out Form. All 3rd - 5th students will take the survey unless we receive an opt-out form.
We are finalizing the administration schedule and will have it all done by November 4th.
Peabody
The Pizza Party is Back!
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST PEABODY PIZZA PARTY OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR!
When: Tuesday, Oct 25th (Rain date Wednesday, Oct 26th), 5:30-7:30PM
Where: Peabody Blacktop
What: Peabody Pizza Party! (Pizza, drinks and snacks provided by the Captiol Hill Cluster
PTA)
Who: Peabody students, families and siblings
Please join us for a fun, free, relaxed evening of community, music, pizza and books to kick off the new school year.
Capitol Hill favorite musical duo King Bullfrog will perform, and the Scholastic Book Fair will be open during the party as well.
Bring a blanket and enjoy getting to know Peabody families, teachers and staff.
Don't forget to bring all your PTA questions as well! We will have plenty of information about how to get
involved with Peabody and PTA this school year!
Email issues with Smore? Unsubscribed from Blackboard?
If you somehow are unsubscribed from Blackboard, please email your appropriate school inbox above and Adia.Howard-Stroud@k12.dc.gov who will fix the issue on Blackboard.
