Principal's Message February 7 -11
What a Week!
We are right in the middle of our middle of the year testing at for K-5 classrooms. Some classes are done, some are upcoming. I think everyone can agree that there are so many assessments this year and perhaps every year. And at the same time, we are very interested in tracking our students growth, and learning what they know and don't know in order to better meet their learning needs. That is the point of assessment.
At Watkins, we are having gentle "efficacy talks" with students - Mr. Boisvert or I are going into some classes to message to students that you (staff and caregivers) have all worked so hard this year and that this iReady test is just one way to show how much you've learned. So try your best! Teachers will also have a brief conversation with students to process the new score in light of the old score. We are seeking to use these data points so that students have agency over their math and reading goals, awareness of how to achieve them, and a sense of success and support along the way. Before Parent-Teacher Conferences (March 10) you'll hear more from leadership about your child's iReady score, what it means, and how they will be supported and challenged moving forward. One important point to keep in mind is that this is just ONE data point and does not define your child as a learner.
Keep in mind that this is a year unlike any other. Positive results are worth celebrating and unwanted results are worth further inquiry that teachers, students and caregivers can engage in together.
Both Schools
Key Dates
- Feb 8 - Peabody Open House, 6pm VIRTUAL. (Details below)
- Feb 9 - Watkins Open House, 6pm VIRTUAL. (Details below)
- Feb 17 - Watkins Black History Celebration, 6pm. Tentatively in person.
- Feb 28 - March 4 Peabody Black History Celebration, during school, virtual access
Asymptomatic Student Testing Schedule!
Every Friday: Asymptomatic COVID testing for students.
9:15 for Watkins
9:15 for Peabody (Kindergarten only - PK students all test at home weekly)
upcoming open houses
All Open Houses will take place from 6pm- 7pm. No registration is needed.
Watkins: Feb 9, March 16
Peabody: Feb 8, March 15
Staff and Caregivers:
please share this link to our Enrollment Page on our school website to any and all of the people in your networks.
Spirit Week!
NEW: School-Based Close Contact COVID TEST REQUESTS
DCPS staff or students identified as a close contacts in a school based COVID case, can now request up to 2 test kits. The steps for requesting a Mail-to-Home COVID-19 Test Kit will be outlined in the guidance close contacts receive.
Quarantine or Testing Questions?
First try https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/
Watkins
Basketball teams continue to thrive
Coach Drakeford is planning the upcoming track and soccer seasons for all students - stay tuned!
A Mathtastic New Opportunity at Watkins!
Ms. Goedeke, our math coach, is thrilled to launch the Watkins Math Team for students in 4th and 5th grade every Wednesday morning before school, 8:00 to 8:40am, starting Wednesday, February 16th. We will meet weekly to solve, discuss and analyze non-routine math tasks. Most of these problems come from the Continental Math League competition, a national organization that creates challenging contests for students.
During our Math Team meeting, students can volunteer to share their strategies for solving each of the problems. We’d like to have as many students share as possible. Team mates then have an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions of their teammates.
If you would like to participate in Math Team, please use the link below to RSVP.
http://evite.me/1AzDzP2y4a. The first twenty students who RSVP will receive a morning pass to report to the 3rd floor common space, and a copy of the first week’s tasks.
If you have additional questions about Math Team, please reach out to Ms. Goedeke: janice.goedeke@k12.dc.gov.
February Parent Engagement Group
Peabody
Collecting tubes and small boxes for new Library Maker Space
Virtual Bedtime Stories with Ms. Bloom
The link to join is on the Peabody Library Canvas Page - just click on the black PJ's & Bedtime Story button OR use the link here.
Weekly PreK 3 and 4 Testing Requirement - Reminder
With many of our youngest learners ineligible to access the COVID-19 vaccine, DCPS is dedicating testing resources to weekly testing of all Pre-K students.
Students in PK3 and PK4 will be sent home with a rapid test each Friday, and will be required to upload their results each Sunday before returning to the classroom here: dcpsreopenstrong.com/testing.
Students will not be able to test at school. Students without a test result the first day of the week will have to return home to test.
Families should test and upload their results by 4:00 p.m.
Additional note: because tests must be taken the day prior to your student's return to school with results uploaded by 4:00 p.m. that day, if your child is not attending school on Monday, next week, they should not test and upload results on Sunday, but on the day before they return. This rule will apply to every week.
Kindergarten students will also be receiving weekly test kits and are highly encouraged to test each week. This is not a requirement. K students will still be randomly selected for weekly asymptomatic testing.