Hearst Family Update
March 29, 2021
Principal's Message
Good morning, Owl Families,
Now that DCPS has shared the new health and safety guidance for Term 4 (see https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/schedule/term4/), I've submitted our Term 4 plan for approval to DCPS. As soon as we have that approval, we will move forward with Term 4 offers to families, hopefully this afternoon or tomorrow via email. As we wrap up Term 3 and simultaneously plan to welcome an additional 200+ students back to the building in Term 4, the next few weeks leading to spring break will be exciting and busy ones. Please check this update and your email regularly for additional information about Term 4 in the coming days.
Hope you enjoyed the weekend and thanks for your continued partnership,
Jen
About Us
Email: attendance@hearstes.org
Website: www.hearstes.org
Location: 3950 37th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (202) 282-0106
Facebook: facebook.com/hearstes
Twitter: @hearstes
News and Announcements from Hearst
Upcoming Key Dates
- Monday, March 29 - Term 4 student offers start (tentative)
- Friday, April 2 - Term 4 schedule overviews sent to families (tentative)
- Tuesday, April 6 - Deal Feeder School Chat for Families, 6:30pm (link to be shared soon)
- Friday, April 9 - Asynchronous day for students of staff returning to the building for the first time in Term 4; School tours for students returning to the building in Term 4
- April 12 - School tours for students returning to the building in Term 4
- April 12-16 - Spring Break for Students
- Friday, April 16 - Emancipation Day (no school for students and all staff; building closed)
- Monday, April 19- Term 4 starts
- Thursday, April 29 - Term 3 Report Cards Mailed and Published in Aspen
Quick Updates
- 10% of current in person students at Hearst Elementary were screened for asymptomatic COVID-19 with a PCR test on 3/23/21. All students test results were negative with the Lab Corp PCR test administered.
- Term 4 Forms (Family-school agreement, asymptomatic and symptomatic consent forms) are printed and available for pick up from 8-4 daily at the main entrance. There is no need to call before coming to pick up the forms, simply buzz at the main entrance and someone will be available to hand you a packet of forms.
- A reminder that the playgrounds, soccer field, and basketball court are closed to the public from 11:00am to 1:00pm on school days. This ensures that our in person student cohorts are not mixing with other kids and adults outside of the school during school hours. As we look to Term 4, please know these hours will expand in order to provide our in person students with additional outdoor time.
- Reminder: DCPS has updated the School Planning blog with information about the Foxhall/MacArthur planning process. This is where they will share updates, meeting materials, etc. once the process kicks off. Because the opening of these schools may impact the Hearst boundary and/or feeder schools in the future, please be sure to regularly review the site. The presentation from the most recent meeting last week is now posted online here as well. Because the opening of these schools may impact the Hearst boundary and/or feeder schools in the future, please be sure to regularly review the site to stay up to date on the latest developments.
- Reminder: Because our building is open to students, any non-staff members who would like to come to the building to pick up materials, switch out a device, etc., must have an appointment in order to come into the building. Please email Ms. Johnson (kestaganer.johnson@k12.dc.gov) or call (202-282-0106) to set up an appointment if you need to come into the building for any reason. Thanks!
Reminder: DC is publishing COVID data specific to DCPS and it can be found here: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/node/1506966. With both staff and students back in school buildings, please visit dcpsreopenstrong.com/health/response/ to learn more about DCPS' COVID-19 Response Protocol, including testing available for students and staff.
Friday, April 9 - Asynchronous day for students of staff returning to the building for the first time in Term 4
Updated Medical Documentation Required to Return to Learning in the Building in Term 4
Help your kids #StayOnTrack and ready for school-entry with on-time vaccinations.
Hearst has a current immunization compliance rate of 90% as of 3-14-2020. Remember to send your child's updated medical documentation (Universal health certificates, Medication authorization forms, immunization records) to manik.hinchey@k12.dc.gov. Make appointments with your health care providers and provide the proper documentation before the start of in-person school (see here for a list of required immunizations). Immunizations must be up to date to take an in-person seat or CARES seats. Immunization sites across the city are posted here.
Information for Families with Students Returning In Person in Term 4
We are excited for Term 4 and to welcome back our students who are participating in in-person learning.Please take time to review the In-Person Learning family guide for resources to help you prepare for the first day back to the classroom. It includes important forms that parents or guardians need to sign:
- Family-School Agreement
- Daily Health Screening Tracker
- COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms (symptomatic and asymptomatic)
These documents will be available for pick up at the school starting on Monday, March 29.We will also send home these documents with students on their first day of school and ask that you return them as soon as possible. If you'd like to print, sign, and send them in with your students on their first day, we welcome that as well.
As you know, school will look a little different this year. There may be instances where class is cancelled for the day due to staff availability, quarantines, or building operations. In those instances, we will notify you via Bloomz as soon as possible about the closure and how instruction will shift for the period of the closure.
Reminder: Supporting Students' Social Emotional and Mental Health
Greetings Hearst Community,
I hope that you are all doing well! The mental health team is excited to announce a series of virtual social, emotional support groups that we will be offering to students beginning on March 16, 2021. Each session will be conducted by myself, Ms. Brown, the school social worker and by our school psychologist, Ms. Dewerd. Groups will occur weekly via MS Teams and will be designed to target student's skills and needs by pairing grade levels. During these groups, we will be teaching students about self regulation, particularly mindfulness and the benefits of incorporating these practices into their daily routine. We will also utilize these sessions to teach useful executive functioning skills. Each session will occur during non- instruction periods, so that everyone who wants to, can attend. Sessions will also be recorded, to increase accessibility. By giving your child permission to participate, you are also consenting to the recording. If you or your child do not wish to be recorded, please feel free to disable your camera function. The good thing is, students will not have to participate interactively to benefit from each session!
The schedule for the groups by grade level is included below as well as the links to join.
Kindergarten-1st grade (pre-k is free to join!) Tuesdays 11:45am-12:30pm Click here to join the meeting
2nd-3rd grade- Tuesdays 3:45pm-4:30pm Click here to join the meeting
4th-5th grade Thursdays 3:45pm- 4:30pm Click here to join the meeting
Again, groups will start next Tuesday, March 16th. Please only join the session that corresponds to your child's grade level. Students will not need to bring any materials but are free to have pencil and paper to take notes if they like.
There is a lot happening in our world right now that is beyond our control and many of us are facing unexpected challenges! We are looking forward to connecting with the students in our community and assisting with building social, emotional skills that that can support overall wellbeing!
Mental Health Team of Hearst ES
Reminder: Order Your Hearst Yearbook for the 20-21 School Year
Yearbooks are on sale for pre-order! The early bird special is $22 until the end of March. In April and on each book is $25. Please see the attached flyer for directions to order your yearbook! The yearbooks will arrive near the end of the school year. This year, there is an option to ship the book directly to your home. Otherwise, it will ship to the school and we will find a way to do a safe and secure pickup.
The Hearst yearbook contains portraits of each homeroom class and some candid photos from the year. Thanks to the creativity of our families we've been able to collect a ton of photos for the book! Don't forget to attend school portrait day on Wednesday March 24th with Freed, to have your child's photo taken for the yearbook.
Every year we sell out of yearbooks; don't let it happen to you. Reserve your copy today!
Reminder: Yearbook Photos Needed
News and Announcements from DCPS
Reminder: Travel Guidance for In-Person Students and Staff
We recognize that some staff working in person and families attending in-person programming may be traveling over the spring break. Per the Mayor’s Order 2020-110, individuals who have traveled to any place other than Maryland or Virginia are required to either (1) self-monitor and limit daily activities—including not attending school—for 14 days after returning to the District (or coming to work for a District agency), or (2) self-monitor and limit daily activities—including not attending school—for three to five days and then receive a negative COVID-19 PCR COVID-19 test.
All DCPS staff members who are working in person, whether they are a District resident or not, can show their school ID to be prioritized at any District public testing sites.
See DC Health’s Guidance for Travel for more information and the flyer below.
Reminder: Asymptomatic Testing for Students will be Led by School Nurses as of 3/15
Reminder: Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application Reminder
Reminder: Join DCPS for Family Cornerstones Live!: Family Activity Virtual Events
Join DCPS Family Engagement for their newest Family Engagement Program:
DCPS Family Cornerstones Live!
We are happy to announce that we will be hosting Family Cornerstone Parent University workshops! Fun and learning for the whole family.
Family Cornerstones Live are hosted on Thursdays at 5:30pm
Family Cornerstones - Banking On Our Future
April 8th
Join Operation Hope virtual event as they focus on Supporting Habits for a Financially Stable Lifestyle RSVP HERE
Family Cornerstones - Environmental Stewardship Starts on Your Block
April 22nd
Join Urban Adventure Squad's virtual event as they focus on Encouraging Community Involvement RSVP HERE
Family Cornerstones - Represent Yourself and Community through Public Art
April 29th
Join Urban Adventure Squad's virtual event as they focus on Celebrating Being Washingtonian RSVP HERE
What are Family Cornerstones?
Discover activities to try as a family on our Family Cornerstones page!
All DCPS Families can and are supporting their child's education in many unique ways. Family Cornerstones provide a roadmap for families from Pre-K to Graduation that highlights a few key shared learning experiences. These key experiences are essential to the partnership between DCPS schools and families.
Reminder: Impact Aid Survey – Amendment Deadline (5/30)
News and Announcements From Other Organizations
Summer Opportunity for Students
Hello,
I am reaching out to let you know about scholarship opportunities to our award-winning theatre camps for your students this summer. At The Theatre Lab, we offer high quality, accessible summer camps and musical theatre training programs for students in the DC Metro area entering 1st grade-19 years old. This summer, we plan to offer in-person programs with strict Covid-19 safety protocols in place. We are also offering virtual programs for those who are not yet ready to return to in-person programs. With all of our programs, we offer full or substantial need-based financial aid.
If you know a student who might benefit from this program please forward this email, with the links below, to their parent or guardian. Please also feel free to send them my email address, terah@theatrelab.org, and I would be happy to speak with them about the opportunities this summer.
Theatre Lab Summer Camps for students entering 1st-8th grades:
Theatre Lab Musical Theatre Institute for Teens (Ages 13-19 years old)
Musical Theatre Institute for Teens
Musical Theatre Institute for Teens Application
(financial aid form is included in the application)
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Have a great day,
Terah Herman-Saldaña
Youth Program Director
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
900 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
theatrelab.org 202.824.0449
(pronouns: she/her/hers; what this means)
Next W3EdNet Meeting Mon April 5 at 7pm -- Community Working Group on Foxhall and MacArthur
The next meeting of the Ward 3 - Wilson Feeder Education Network (W3EdNet) is on Monday, April 5 at 7pm via Zoom (link below). We will provide an update of the Community Working Group discussions on the proposed DCPS schools at Foxhall (adjacent to the Old Hardy School building) and on MacArthur Boulevard (the former Georgetown Day Lower School).
This group is advisory, and DCPS will make the final decision after additional community engagement in the feeder pattern and around the city. Slide decks for these meetings (through March 18) may be found at: https://dcpsplanning.wordpress.com/category/wilson-feeder-pattern/ (the latest deck is attached for your convenience).
The discussions for the Foxhall site have centered on opening a new elementary school, which would potentially change boundaries and feeder patterns for Stoddert, Key, and Mann. The discussions at the MacArthur site have focused on three options: a new middle school, which would likely change the feeder rights for some schools in the southern part of the Deal MS boundary; a new high school, which would likely have Hardy MS feed into it; or a ninth grade academy for Wilson HS.
One public service announcement that we promised to make time for last meeting, but didn't manage to, was from James Tandaric (james.tandaric@gmail.com), the chair of the Schools & Universities Committee with ANC3F. He is looking for volunteers from the community to participate. Please contact him for further information.
At our May meeting, we will host Council Chair Phil Mendelson.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Melody, Karin, and Brian
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The Ward 3 - Wilson High School Feeder Pattern Education Network (W3EdNet) is a group made up of PTO Board and LSAT members as well as other interested community members. We aim to work together to support schools in the Wilson feeder pattern, host community events of common interest, and advocate for better schools across the city.
Website: https://www.w3ednet.com/
Twitter: @W3EdNet
Email: w3ednet@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W3EdNet
When: Apr 5, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://interactivestrategies.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucOygqD4jHNFSujcFeQLtjNIAgKP1OZ_4
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Future W3EdNet Dates:
Monday, May 10 -- Council Chair Phil Mendelson
Monday, June 7 -- DC Education Research Collaborative
GLOBAL HARMONY THROUGH PERSONAL EXCELLENCE is proudly sponsoring The 33rd "Celebration of Youth" essay contest
We have announced the 33rd "Celebration of Youth" essay contest. This opportunity is open to all DCPS and DCPCS students in grades 4 to 9. More than 60 prizes will be distributed across the city. Essays are due May 7th. Coaches are available upon request to help a student with his/her essay.
The theme is student friendly. Specifically, the theme is: "During the pandemic, what has been most challenging for you, and how did you respond? In your essay, share with us what you have learned about yourself and others over the last year. The theme encourages a student to share his/her story over the last year.
The full announcement is attached. The announcement is also on our web site at www.globalharmonyexcellence. Or you may call Dorothea Brady at 202 244 1682 with questions.
We would be delighted and honored to have the participation of your students.
Thank you for all you do. May you be healthy and well. May our city recover with greater wisdom and caring for everyone.
With respect and appreciation,
Anita Read
www.globalharmonyexcellence.org
https://www.facebook.com/GlobalHarmonyThroughPersonalExcellenceInc/
Instagram: Globalharmonydc