Welcome back! Our students engaged in their routines this week as we returned to school after the break. We only have three full weeks left before we say goodbye to 2021!

Given the international news, it's important for all of us re-emphasize our health and safety measures to ensure we all are staying safe. Even as our old students get the 2nd vaccinations (yes!) mask-wearing and social distancing is essential. Even more important is that students and staff stay at home when they are not feeling well. We are still in this pandemic and we are still in it together. For families that have not taken the opportunity to vaccinate their children, there are many free opportunities almost every day.

• Dec 3 - Cluster Staff Holiday Party (thank you PTA!)
  
• Dec 8 - Picture day
• Dec. 11- Virtual EdFest: 10am- 1pm
• Dec 22 - Last day of 2021! Pajama Day.

New Asymptomatic Student Testing Schedule!

Every Friday: Asymptomatic COVID testing for students.

9:15 for Watkins

9:15 for Peabody

Reminder: Picture Day will take place next week on Wednesday, December 8th at Peabody and Watkins. Classic Photography and Imaging will be taking pictures. Picture day packets detailing package options and other important information were sent home early this week. If you have not received it, please contact your school's main office.

If you choose to order pictures, please be sure to send your child with the completed packet on picture day. You can also skip the form and order online before picture day by:

1. Visiting www.classic-photo.com

2. Click "Schools" then "pre-order now"

3. Access key: peabodyprim21 (Peabody)/ watkins21 (Watkins)

Please note: due to COVID, we will not do class pictures. However, the photography company is working on a composite image that will compile all of the individual student pictures, with their homeroom teacher, on one card. Pricing and more info to come in January.

EdFEST, DC’s annual public school fair, will be virtual this year on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 10a.m. – 1p.m. All current and prospective families are invited to learn more about Peabody and Watkins, chat directly with school representatives, and learn about the public school lottery – all from your device. With the launch of the public school lottery application on Dec. 13, 2021 for the 2022-23 school year, EdFEST is a timely event to help you make informed choices.

REGISTER HERE. Need registration support? Call the My School DC Hotline at (202) 888-6336, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Music Kids offers:

• Weekly 30 min lessons on site
• Lessons on guitar, piano and violin
• Small group lessons (2-3 students)
• Students can participate in Spring Recitals
• Rental instruments included

If you are interested and would like more information please visit their website at www.musickidsprogram.com or contact their office at office@musickidsprogram.com

Accepting applications now until January 2022

All can join! Please read more here. Most important is that we have a diverse and representative set of voices making key decisions for our schools' future apart of this work.

Are you interested in advancing equity at Peabody and Watkins? New Kindred dialogue groups launching soon!

The Cluster’s Partnership With Kindred: Kindred supports communities in collaborating toward the creation of an anti-racist and liberated society. The Cluster began partnering with Kindred last year to bring caregivers, staff, and leaders together to advance educational equity and racial justice in our community. This work took the form of two diverse dialogue groups and the ongoing development of an equity team. This year, our partnership will include three new dialogue groups to grow the community of caregivers and staff working together to cultivate a Cluster culture in which everyone experiences a sense of belonging and can thrive.

More About This Year’s Dialogue Groups: Recruitment has begun for two new caregiver dialogue groups and one new staff dialogue group. Over the course of ten sessions, participants will come together to build trusting relationships, examine their own and learn about each other's multifaceted identities and histories, and explore how racial inequity shows up in our society and our school community. After the dialogue experience, group members will join the Kindred Equity Team. This team was formed by members of last year’s dialogue group and represents a space for equity-driven collective action, as well as for continued community building and identity processing.

How To Get Involved: If you are interested in joining one of the dialogue groups, please reach out to Ryan Jones (ryan@kindredcommunities.org) or Meredith Morelle (meredith@kindredcommunities.org) from the Kindred team to schedule a one-on-one conversation and learn more about the dialogue process.

Caregiver Curriculum Guides are now available for DCPS curriculum K-8. Read more about what our students are learning here.

In addition to our weekly newsletters, we have list serves at each campus! The list serves are another source of information for parents, created by the Cluster PTA.

Please take a few moments to sign up for your school:

https://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/listservs

Our kitchen is fully and safely back on line and hot food service has resumed!

The Health Suite is open! The Health Technician is Alicia Gray. Ms. Gray serves Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Other days we have phone coverage. Welcome Ms. Gray! She can be contacted at agray5@cnmc.org and by calling the school's main office.

Telephone Coverage - Tieshia Edmonds, LPN

Thursday and Friday

Contact #202-698-3834