Greetings Stuart-Hobson community,

I want to give a huge shout-out to our students, families, and staff who have participated in this summer's in-person learning and enrichment activities - thank you all! In addition to helping us begin reconnecting and building back together, those sessions have helped us to practice the most current health and safety routines as we gear up for a full reopening in just over two weeks!

We will welcome our teachers and staff back this coming Friday to kick-off six days of pre-service learning and preparations for the upcoming school year. We will be working hard to continue preparing our school building and learning opportunities for a safe and supportive student experience. Please find information below about opportunities to prepare students for the year; supply lists, uniforms, immunization clinics, after-school and athletics sign-ups, and other action items and information are shared below.

We have postponed our school opening family information sessions until the week before school starts so we can share the most up-to-date information available. The new dates and times are below and we still invite you to share any questions ahead of time so we can make sure that the content meets your needs and gives you everything you need to know to get ready for the first day of school.

With this week's newsletter we resume our weekly distribution and hope that everyone enjoys their last few days of vacation as we shift our full attention to the first day of school. Have a great week everyone!

Warm regards,

Eric Fraser

Principal

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• August 19, SHMS hosts a Vaccination Clinic, 1:00-7:00 PM
  
• August 24 (rescheduled), School Opening Info Session w/Families, 6:00-7:00 PM (virtual)
• August 25 (rescheduled), School Opening Info Session w/Families, 12:00-1:00 PM (virtual)
• August 26, SHMS hosts a Vaccination Clinic, 1:00-7:00 PM
• August 30, Term 1 Begins - First Day of School for Students!
• September 6, Labor Day Observed, no school for staff or students
• September 22, SHMS Back To School Night, 6:00-8:00 (in-person & virtual options)
• October 7, Parent-Teacher Conferences (tentative), no school for students
• October 8, Professional Learning Day for staff, no school for students
• October 11, Indigenous Peoples' Day observed, no school for staff or students
• November 2, Election Day, no school for students
• November 5, Last day of Term 1, Professional Development and Records-Keeping Day for staff, no school for students

Thank you to the students, staff, and teachers who have joined us for our different summer programs so far this year!

Enjoy the rest of your summer break!

***The information and action items below should help everyone prepare for a successful first day of school on August 30th! ***

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new incentives that will be available to DC youth who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The incentive program will kick off on Saturday, August 7.

The incentives are only for youth who receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which is highly recommended but not currently considered a required vaccine. Currently, approximately about 25% of all eligible DC youth, or about 8,100 young people, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The District is also making it easier for families to get children their required pediatric immunizations before the start of the school year. Beginning Monday, August 2, families will be able to use vaccinate.dc.gov to make an appointment to get their child’s required immunizations at 37 sites across DC. Families will be able to schedule their children ages 3-18 years-old for their routine childhood vaccinations that are needed to go back to school. Additionally, families will have the option to add on a COVID-19 vaccine at the time of scheduling.

On-Site Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Prizes
Beginning Saturday, August 7, on-site prizes will be available to youth and their parents at three DC Public Schools: Brookland Middle School, Sousa Middle School, and Johnson Middle School*. All DC youth can claim their free COVID-19 vaccine at these sites regardless of which school they attend. At these three schools, youth who receive their first dose can receive a $51 VISA gift card. Additionally, the first 400 youth to get vaccinated at each site will have the option to forgo their gift card and instead receive a pair of AirPods. The AirPods will be available to District youth ages 12 to 17 as well as students ages 18 to 21 and currently enrolled in a DC school seeking a high school diploma.

Parents or guardians who bring their children to one of these three sites are also eligible to receive one $51 VISA gift card per child who gets vaccinated. These sites will operate four days a week from August 7 to September 30.

*When these three sites are open, families can walk-up, no appointment needed to claim their child’s free COVID-19 vaccine. If a family would also like their child to get their required pediatric immunizations at these sites, they will be able to make an appointment through vaccinate.dc.gov. Appointments are needed for required immunizations so that providers have time to access a child’s immunization history.

Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Raffle
All students in DC who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will also be eligible to win an iPad or a $25,000 college scholarship. Each week, for four weeks, 10 names will be drawn from a database of students between the ages of 12 and 17. Eight names will be drawn to win an iPad and two names will be drawn for a $25,000 college scholarship that can be used at any college.

Starting this week, DCPS is partnering with DC Health to offer vaccination clinics. We are excited to host a clinic here at SHMS on Thursdays from 1:00-7:00 PM through the beginning of school, when the schedule will shift. You can make an appointment at vaccinate.dc.gov to get your student their required vaccinations. Immunization forms must be submitted within 20 days of the start of school. You can find the required forms in the 2021-2022 School Year enrollment packet.

To make an appointment, follow these steps or call the Vaccination Call Center at 1-855-363-0333 to make an appointment:

1. Visit vaccinate.dc.gov and click the "Pediatric Vaccination Pre-Registration” button.

2. Complete the form provided with information about your child, including if they have health insurance.

3. View the map of immunization clinics and select the school where you would like to make an appointment.

We are excited to continue partnering with After-School All-Stars (ASAS) for the 2021-22 school year! ASAS will provide enrichment and learning opportunities for about 25 students per grade level starting in mid-September. The program will run from 3:30-6:00 PM, Monday-Friday for students who register. Please find ASAS' welcome letter attached to the newsletter below.

Registration is first-come, first-served for the upcoming school year and opened on Wednesday, August 4 at noon.

Please click this link to register for After-School All Stars.

For questions regarding After-School All-Stars programming, please contact Evroy.marrett@as-as.org

The following general school supply list will support your student in a successful start to the school year.

General School Supplies

• Headphones with microphone
• Black or Blue Pens
• Pencils and Pencil Sharpener
• 2-4 Composition Books
• 2-4 Spiral Bound Notebooks
  
• Crayons, Color Markers, and Color Pencils
• Black Sharpie Marker
• Scissors
• Glue Sticks

*Please contact school leadership or a member of the student support team for support with procuring school supplies*

Additional supplies may be required based on individual courses. These supply lists will be provided by teachers directly to their students/class.

Uniform Policy

School uniforms are required while on school property, field trips (before or after school day hours), while attending After-school All Stars and school-approved activities after 3:15 pm, unless athletic, dance or other specific apparel is required by the coach/leader.

Uniforms include:

• School swag including Cluster gear, SHMS t-shirts/sweatshirts or other Stuart-Hobson apparel
  
• Long or short-sleeved solid red polo shirt/t-shirt
• Plain black cotton sweatshirts (front zip or pullover) and knit vests
• Khaki pants, skirts/shorts worn at waist level
• Comfortable closed-toed shoes or sneakers covering the entire foot
• Any non-SHMS logo on uniform shirts or sweatshirts must be the size of a $1 bill (1 dollar) or smaller
• Small purses or fanny packs

Please avoid wearing:

• Hoods over student heads while inside school
• Metal studs on headbands and other accessories
• Outerwear (vests or jackets made of fleece or other coat-like materials) in the building
• Khaki colored leggings/ tights (worn in place of Khaki pants).

An SHMS logo is not required for any uniform attire. School uniforms may be purchased via Lands End, Target, Old Navy and other retailers. More information regarding our school uniform policy will be shared via our school handbook.

Here are a few reminders about KRF Cards and public transit:

• SY20-21 cards will remain valid through September 30th
• Face coverings are required at school and on all modes of public transit
• Tap the KRF card, always
• Don’t leave home without the KRF card
• DC Student Ride Guide is available online with safe rider tips
• There is no fee for replacement cards

Questions? Students, families, and school staff can visit KidsRideFree.dc.gov or call (202) 673-1740.

If any SHMS students or families need a card or have questions, please reach out to Ms. Hargrove, clara.hargrove@k12.dc.gov

While we expect the overwhelming majority of our students will return to full-time in-person learning, we know there are a few who have a documented medical condition who need to continue virtual learning. To support these students, DC Public Schools will offer virtual instruction for those who meet medical eligibility requirements.

The only way to access remote learning is by submitting a completed medical eligibility form signed by your child's doctor. You can review the form and read a FAQ for families at https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/sy21-22/virtual.

If you are interested in virtual learning for a student with a medical need, families should complete by registration process as soon as poosible, by following these steps:

1. Complete student enrollment for SY21-22. You may submit enrollment forms electronically online or complete them at the school you will attend next year.
2. Download the COVID-19 Medical Consent and Certification for Distance Learning prepared by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) or pick up a copy from your school.
3. Contact your child’s medical provider so they may complete and sign the medical consent form for virtual learning. Forms must be signed by a physician or nurse practitioner, or they will not be accepted.
4. Complete the virtual learning registration process by uploading your student’s medical consent form signed by their doctor by July 6. You can just take a picture of the signed form if you do not have an electronic copy. The form will ask for your student’s ID number. If you do not have the ID number, please contact your school.
5. Our Student Health Services team will follow up with you if your form is incomplete, or to notify you if your form has been accepted.

If you have more questions about virtual learning, please let us know. For general questions on virtual learning in SY21-22, you can reach out to the Office of Integrity at dcps.cio@k12.dc.gov or call 202-442- 5885 (Option 2). If you have questions about medical eligibility for virtual learning, or the medical consent and certification form, please contact the Student Health team at medicalconsent@k12.dc.gov.

Translated COVID-19 Medical Consent and Certification for Distance Learning prepared by the OSSE:

• Español

• Amharic (አማርኛ)

• French (Français)

• Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

• Korean (한국어)

• Chinese (中文)
  

Translated DCPS online registration forms for virtual learning:

• Online registration form (SPANISH)

• Registration form for families who speak AMHARIC (school must complete on behalf of family)

• Registration form for families who speak CHINESE (school must complete on behalf of family)

Thank you to the many students and families who have already returned their student devices. We are in the process of inventorying, refurbishing, and preparing them for use at the beginning of the coming school year. If you still need to return your student's device you can bring it back to the school any weekday between 9:30-3:30 PM. If you need to schedule outside of this window, please reach out to Mr. Howard at devin.howard2@k12.dc.gov

If you are new to the Capitol Hill Cluster School (CHCS), which includes Stuart-Hobson MS, please know that the Cluster PTA is here to support you and provide opportunities to get involved with volunteering. See the flyer above, the attached "Welcome Letter", and or the Capitol Hill Cluster School website for more information.

Social distancing doesn't mean fashion gets thrown to the wind. Show your Panther pride during your next class, meeting, or virtual friend meet-up. Check out the clothing and gear that are available at our new school store!

Families, staff, and students will be able to buy custom Stuart-Hobson Panther gear. You can find the latest name brands on your custom SHMS gear.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Howard, devin.howard2@k12.dc.gov

If your student is an English language learner (ELL), has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, or you are interested in learning about these different supports, please know that our team is ready to connect with you to answer questions and connect you with supports.

Please see the points of contact for each type of inquiry below:

Tamara Lovelock (tamara.lovelock@k12.dc.gov): Special Education and IEPs

Molly Smith (molly.smith@k12.dc.gov): 504 Plans

AP Rennie Taylor (rennie.taylor@k12.dc.gov): English language learners, IEPs, or 504s

If you are interested in participating in any of the following sports at Stuart-Hobson during SY 2021- 2022 please fill out the interest form for that sport. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Strong, SHMS Athletic Director, at richard.strong@k12.dc.gov

Football Interest Form

Girls Soccer Interest Form

Boys Soccer Interest Form

Archery Interest Form

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

***Everything below this section of the newsletter has been announced in previous editions***

This summer, youth 18 and under have continued access to grab-and-go meals at several DC Public School locations throughout the city. Effective July 6, youth, or parents/guardians on their behalf, can receive up to 3 breakfast and 3 lunch meals at a time at the following locations. Meal site hours will remain Monday – Friday (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) and you can find information about locations and menus here.

Lastly, additional food resources can be found here.

DCPS Athletics Community:

The following are key updates regarding the operations of DCPS Athletics programs, which align with the declaration and guidance on the return of all sports outlined by the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Mayor’s Emergency Health Order 2021-069. Updates and guidance on summer athletics preparation and fall sports is included below.

Indoor Athletic Space – Gymnasiums and Weight Rooms
Skill development, conditioning activities, and workouts in indoor spaces (gyms and weight rooms) may begin immediately. Athletic Directors and coaches must review and implement all protocols and guidance outlined in the DCPS Athletics Return to Play Plan.

Fall Sports Season Update
DCPS Athletics is planning for a full return to in-person athletic operations for the fall season of SY2021-2022. Tryouts and practices for fall sports teams start on August 2, 2021; details will be outlined through each school and team(s). Completed student-athlete participation forms are currently being accepted in preparation for the fall sports season.

COVID-19 Vaccination
As we prepare for the full return to sports this fall, everyone should do their part to lessen their risk of acquiring or spreading COVID-19. The safest way to resume play is to get vaccinated. We encourage everyone to get the vaccine. Get in the game and take your shot!

Communication and Resources
DCPS Athletics will continue to evaluate and implement the latest safety measures. Updates and guidance will continue to be provided and are available in the DCPS Athletics Return to Play Plan.

Mr. Strong, the SHMS Athletic Director, is seeking interested candidates to coach some of our sports teams for the upcoming school year. The following sports are most in need of interested and qualified candidates, please spread the word!

Girls Head Basketball Coach (winter sport) --$2,000.00 stipend (approx.)

Boys Assistant Basketball Coach (winter sport)- $1,000.00 stipend (approx.)

Head Lacrosse Coach (Spring sport) -- $800.00 stipend (approx.)

Qualifications: CPR Certified, DCIAA Coaches Certifications, Cleared Criminal Background Check

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest to Richard.Strong@k12.dc.gov.

Thanks to the SHMS English Language Arts and Reading (ELA-R) Department for compiling some resources and recommendations to keep students engaged as readers during the summer. Please bookmark this link and check back throughout the summer to keep up with the many ways that you can maintain the joy of reading throughout the summer months.

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) School Mental Health Program is hosted by Stuart-Hobson Middle School to support students’ mental and emotional well-being. Reach out to Ms. Harrington if you feel your student would benefit from support such as, individual therapy or group grief therapy.

These services are provided via telehealth during partial and full distance learning.

DBH's services are a public health model. Services are provided to families at no charge regardless of insurance. For more information or to enroll, please reach out to Ms. Harrington using the email or phone number below.

Kimberly Harrington, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker

School Mental Health Program, Department of Behavioral Health

kimberly.harrington@dc.gov, 202-557-6404