Principal's Message Oct 31 - Nov 4

Dear Peabody and Watkins community,

What a week for community! We had two huge celebrations this week - one to celebrate the retirements of Ms. Turner, Ms. Nelson, and Ms. Dickson from Peabody and another to celebrate Hispanic Heritage at Watkins. Both events brought hundreds of people, their smiles, and so much fun. Our PTA supported both events (thank you) and Ms. Bloom and Ms. Blagburn led the charge to honor our retirees while Mr. Lopez and Mr. Nagbe really showed our families that all of our kids are performers. Thank you to them and everyone that made this week's events such successes. If you haven't yet, check out the pictures and videos on our Instagram page below.

Oct 31 - Nov 4: Spirit Week

Nov 7, Nov 8, Nov 11: No school for students. End of term/records day, Election Day and

Nov 21: Peabody Picture Day

Nov 22: Watkins Picture Day

Nov 23-25: Thanksgiving Holiday - no school for students.

Note: Watkins book fair is postponed due to the out of service elevator. We are planning on for mid-December.

Monday, October 31 - Book Character Day (& Parade): Dress as a favorite book character!

Tuesday, November 1 - Sport Day: Show your favorite team or sport!

Wednesday, November 2 - Wacky Wednesday: Wear mismatch, inside-out, anything goes!

Thursday, November 3 - Hat Day: Wear a favorite or silly hat!

Friday, November 4 Rock the Red Day: Show Your Cluster Spirit and wear red!

On October 31 students at both schools will celebrate their book characters by having a parade. Please send students with their book, if possible. Caregivers are invited to view the parade on the parade route!

At Peabody: at 9am, PreK 4 students (followed by PreK 3 & K students) will start a parade around our block and families are invited to watch. Route will be out the C Street Playground gate, west toward 4th and around the block to Constitution, 5th Street and return to the front door. Caregivers are welcome!

At Watkins: At 2:15 the parading will begin! Caregivers are welcome to join us on the field. You can arrive via the playground or E St gate. We will parade on the field. Caregivers will not be permitted in the building.

Field Trips have resumed and we welcome parents to join as chaperones. Parents who would to volunteer/ chaperone on an ongoing basis, must complete the DCPS Clearance process beforehand.

Exceptions

Exceptions may be granted to the DCPS Clearance process in the following situations:

1. You are volunteering for a one-time, on-campus event, like Career Day or Field Day. Please email the Clearance Team at dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov to confirm whether you qualify for a clearance exception.
2. You are a potential volunteer with an active secret or top-secret federal security clearance. Individuals in this group should complete the Federal Security Clearance Verification letter in lieu of being fingerprinted with DCPS. The original signed verification form and a copy of a state issued photo ID to dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov

Peabody's picture day is scheduled for Nov. 21 and Watkins' will be Nov. 22. More information is forthcoming.

Would you like to join your child's class in our gardens? Up to 4 caregivers can join each class on Wednesdays (Watkins only) and Fridays. Please sign up for your child's class only.

Peabody 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.

Waktins sign-ups

Email addresses are often entered into our systems with mistakes. If someone you know (partner, friend, neighbor) isn't getting school communication please have them email their names, their child's name, email addresses and phone numbers and any other information to either PeabodyESEnroll@k12.dc.gov or WatkinsESEnroll@k12.dc.gov. Our team will correct the errors asap.

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.

· On this day each child can dress up like their favorite book character.

· We encourage families to send in the book or a picture of the book that has your child’s character in it.

· At 2:15 the parading will begin! Caregivers are welcome to join us on the field. You can arrive via the playground or E St gate. We will parade on the field. Caregivers will not be permitted in the building.

· RAIN PLAN: Grade levels will have parades indoors and caregivers will not be able to participate.

· Details regarding costumes: Children should arrive at school with their costume on and be able to put on and take off costume independently for toileting purposes; children must wear shoes with costumes. Costume masks, props, weapons and face-paint are not allowed.

On November 8th, there is no school for students. We are planning to use this day to organize and inventory our storage closets throughout the building. We are seeking 8-10 parent volunteers to support with this process on November 8th from 10am- 1pm.

Interested? Please email tanisha.montgomery@k12.dc.gov.

Hello Watkins families! I am Cory Langley, the new school librarian. I started on Oct. 7 and have been busy getting the library ready for classes, book-shopping and clubs. Some classes have visited the library already, and I’ve been happy to meet so many students who love to read!

How You Can Help?

If you’d like to help get the Watkins Library ready for all of our book-hungry students, here are a couple of ways you can contribute:

• Sign up to volunteer after school (you would help shelve books and assist with other projects as needed): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4ea9a92dabfb6-watkins
• Send me a plant! I’d like to take advantage of the sunny space by making it green. If you send in a plant, please include a tag with my name on it and leave it in the front office.

Library News

• The Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for Dec. 9-16. More information will be coming as the holidays approach!
• We’re getting started with “Library Club,” which is open to interested 4th and 5th graders. Club members may visit the library during recess and on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Club members will assist with book shelving and library projects, and explore library and book-related interests.

I plan to update families regularly about library activities and opportunities to get involved. If you have thoughts/questions, please email me at cory.langley@k12.dc.gov.

Yours in Panther Pride,

Ms. Langley

· On this day each child dresses up like a favorite book character

· At 9am, PreK 4 students (followed by PreK 3 & K students) will start a parade around our block and families are invited to watch. Route will be out the C Street Playground gate, west toward 4th and around the block to Constitution, 5th Street and return to the front door.

· We encourage families to send in the book or a picture of the book that has your child’s character in it. If you need help finding a book, please email your child’s teacher or Ms. Bloom (susan.bloom@k12.dc.gov.).

· RAIN PLAN: Grade levels will have mini-parades on each floor.

· Details regarding costumes: Children should arrive at school with their costume on and be able to put on and take off costume independently for toileting purposes; please do not send in toy props; children must wear shoes with costumes.