Family Newsletter

Dear Hyde-Addison ES Families,

Thank you for your continued patience, as we await DCPS updates, regarding school opening. In the interim, we will continue to work to ensure building readiness, for whenever our school community returns in-person. We look forward to upcoming engagement and collaboration opportunities, as we support students and each other.

Please review the DCPS guidance and protocols, below. We will continue to provide information to families, as it becomes available, remaining mindful that the timeline and process is DCPS driven.

Please keep you and your loved ones safe. For resources and information about the District of Columbia Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) response and recovery efforts, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov. Please visit dcpsreopenstrong.com or backtoschool.dc.gov for DCPS virtual learning resources.

Kindest Regards,

Dr. Calvin Hooks, Principal

Hyde-Addison Elementary Schools

On Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, all DCPS students will have asynchronous instruction so DCPS staff can have two additional Professional Development days. Tuesday, November 3 is Election day and there is no school for staff or students. Friday, November 6, remains a day off for students and a split records-PD day for all staff.

More information about the asynchronous learning for November 4-5 is forthcoming.

Families will be notified if their child has been selected for an in-person learning classroom beginning today.

Due to the recent PERB ruling, we are unable to discuss staffing and any potential teacher or class shifts at this time. DCPS and WTU are currently in negotiations and we are honoring that process. Please do not contact teachers with any questions about Term 2 plans or the lottery as they are not involved in the lottery process. It is run by DCPS Central Office and questions about the student selection process are best directed to dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov.

If offered an in-person learning seat, you will have two business days to respond with your decision, but we prefer you respond ASAP. After two business days, the spot will be offered to someone else. You can respond by emailing hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov with your child's full name and grade to confirm that you will accept or decline the seat.

• Teacher Schedules – We are planning to have one classroom per grade with a teacher leading in-person instruction in Term 2, pending educator availability. This means that elementary students – whether they will be learning in school or at home – may have a different general education teacher for this term and we are unable to discuss any staff assignments.

• Class Sizes – All in-person classroom spaces will meet social distancing requirements and may enroll up to 8 students in PK3, 10 students in PK4 and Kindergarten, and 11 students in grades 1-5. Virtual class sizes may increase due to teachers transitioning from virtual to in-person instruction.

• Family Notices – In-person learning classroom notifications will be sent to families receiving a seat beginning today, and CARE classroom notifications will begin next week. Elementary student schedules will be finalized and shared with families the week of November 2.

To learn more about what elementary school learning model may be best for you, visit dcpsreopenstrong.com/schedule/selection-process/ to check out a new feature that walks families through the Term 2 options available.

All students must be up to date on their immunizations to take part in any in-person learning, including CARE classrooms. The following documents offer more information and resources for families:

• Universal Health Certificate
• Immunization Clinic Locations
• DC Immunization Requirements

Email completed forms to hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov

Thank you to the families who previously opted in to our ASPEN Parent Portal. Based on feedback, we will now be adopting an opt out policy. Please fill out this short survey if you do not wish to have access to the Parent Portal.

As a reminder, the Parent Portal allows you to access to both your students Attendance information as well as have expedited, electronic access to Report Cards.

The Panorama Student Survey for grades 3 and up will open online on Monday, October 19. Classroom teachers will support children in completing this survey, however parents have the right to opt children out of the survey. To read more, parents should go to this link: Panorama Student Opt-Out: Under 18. To review the survey questions, go to https://dcps.dc.gov/surveys.

Did you know that there are many ways to support Hyde-Addison and that 100% of the proceeds from the PTA's fundraising initiatives go directly to the school? As we prepare for the eventual return to in-class learning, we are grateful for donations of any amount - whether at once or on a recurring basis - to fund critical health and safety measures (e.g., masks, hand sanitizer, plexiglass dividers) as well as instructional materials. Also, don't forget to link your Amazon account and other loyalty programs to the Hyde-Addison PTA, and ask your employer about any gift matching programs!

_____________________

A Public Oversight Roundtable on “Return to In-person Instruction in DC Public Schools” has been scheduled for 3-6 pm, Friday, Oct. 23, before the Committee of the Whole & the Committee on Education of the D.C. Council. While this roundtable is limited to oral testimony from government witnesses, written statements from the public will be made a part of the official record. Written statements should be submitted by email to Ashley Strange, astrange@dccouncil.us. The record will close at 5 pm, Friday, Nov. 6.

Watch Live:

– On the Council site, at https://bit.ly/2ooL0l1

– On the OCTFME site, at https://bit.ly/2JNZIro

– On TV, usually Channel 13

_____________________

KONSTELLA. To stay informed about all these events and initiatives, make sure to sign up for Konstella, a new, secure, and private communication platform for Hyde-Addison families to message other families, access the family directory, form or join social groups!

For families that are looking for affordable internet, please click the link below for more information. https://www.techtogetherdc.com/internetforall

For tech support, families can visit http://dcps.tech/help or call the DCPS hotline at 202-442-5885.

• 10/27: General PTA Meeting at 5:00pm
  
• 10/28: Schoolwide Meeting at 3:00pm
• 10/30: Families be notified of the option of a CARE classroom
• 11/03: Local School Advisory Team Meeting at 4:00pm
• 11/04: Asynchronous Learning for All Students- No Live Instruction
• 11/05: Asynchronous Learning for All Students- No Live Instruction
• 11/09: Term2; In-Person Learning Classrooms open
• 11/16: Student CARE Classrooms open for Grades PK-1
• 11/30: Student CARE Classrooms open for Grades 2-5

For copies of previous Hyde-Addison ES announcements and updates, please visit the Hyde-Addison ES website at https://www.hydeaddisondc.org/updates.

Email: hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov
Website: https://www.hydeaddisondc.org
Location: 3219 O St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-282-0170
Facebook: facebook.com/hydeaddison/
Twitter: @DrCalvinRHooks