Classroom News and Updates, October 6th


As part of our celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, we are hosting a special event called “La Tarde Latina” on October 16th from 3:45 PM to 6:00 PM. This event will feature music, dance, and activities celebrating the rich heritage of Hispanic cultures.

To make this event even more memorable, we are requesting food donations from our families. We would love to offer a variety of traditional Hispanic foods for everyone to enjoy. If you are able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate your support!

Suggested items include: Traditional dishes (such as tamales, empanadas, tacos, arroz con pollo, etc.), Desserts (like flan, tres leches cake, churros), Drinks (such as agua fresca, horchata, or other traditional beverages), Snacks (chips, salsa, guacamole, etc.)

We also welcome decorations such as flags, artifacts, or items representing Hispanic culture. Please let us know if you are able to donate a dish or dessert by completing this form by October 10th. 



The kindergarten classes will attend a field trip to the Kennedy Center on Friday, October 17th, to view the performance Super Cello! The bus will depart from school promptly at 9:45 a.m., and we will leave the Kennedy Center at approximately 11:30 a.m. Upon our return, students will eat lunch at school. Please complete Parts Two and Three, and return the field trip form by Monday, October 13th. Students must have a signed form on file to participate.


Our Parent–Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conferences will be held in person, but if a virtual option works better for you, that is perfectly fine. Please indicate your preference when signing up. I have also included the meeting links for our Specials teachers, should you wish to meet with them: Latin and Art with Mr. Edwards, Physical Education with Mr. Collins, and Music with Mr. Snead. 


Ms. Lowe-Watson's Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up


Latin and Art with Mr. Edwards


Physical Education with Mr. Collins


Music with Mr. Snead



The JFEC Costume Parade is scheduled for Friday, October 31st. All students are welcome to wear (appropriate) costumes!  PK3/PK4 & K will parade on the 1st and 2nd floors from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. 

-MASKS, CROP TOPS, RIPPED JEANS, HOODIES, TANKTOPS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. 

-PK3-8th grade- Students are welcome to wear their costumes over their uniforms and can change in uniform clothes for after the parade.

-No scary props, equipment, or weapons, including replicas, will be allowed


Your child’s regular prompt attendance at school is crucial to their success. Please send your child to school daily and ensure they are on time. A written note must be provided if your child is out for an excusable reason. A written note may be submitted via email. All written notices must be dated, include the reason for absence, and specify the dates your child was or will be out of school. Please submit documentation to the SWWFS Attendance Point of Contact, Dawn Vest (dawn.vest@k12.dc.gov), and Ms. Watson (rahshita.lowe-watson@k12.dc.gov).









Classroom News and Updates, September 22nd


Beginning-of-year testing data will be sent home on Friday, October 3rd.


I have attached our Back-to-School Presentation slides for your reference: 

Kindergarten Back-to-School Presentation Slides 



On Friday, October 17th, the kindergarten classes will visit the Kennedy Center to see the performance- Super Cello! More information will be shared soon. 



DCPS students access their learning apps through the Clever portal at https://www.clever.com/. To log in, students use their Student ID as their username and their 6-digit birthday (mmddyy) as their password. Through the portal, students can access a variety of educational software, including I-Ready Reading/Math, Lexia, and BrainPop. I will send student ID numbers home when I return the week of September 29th.

 

Please consider supporting the Home and School Association (HSA) and participating in school-wide functions sponsored by our parent/family board and faculty. Please see our HSA website and this letter from our HSA Board for more

     information.


Kindly see the link to the DCPS Clearance Process. If you're interested in supporting our class through volunteering or chaperoning this school year, please complete the requirements!


Our 2025-2026 community handbook can be Found Here and on our school's website at https://www.johnfrancisec.org/. Important school information and expectations are conveniently available in this digital book for your access.


Join DC Health for their 6th Annual Books and Blocks Party on Saturday, September 27, from 12-4 p.m. at the Ferebee-Hope Recreation Center (700 Yuma St. SE, Washington, DC 20032), for a joyful celebration for expectant families and caregivers of children ages 0–5! Enjoy a day of play, learning, and community connection that supports early childhood development. To register, visit here and learn more at www.helpmegrow.dc.gov. 

POC: HealthServices.DCPS@k12.dc.gov 




Classroom News and Updates, Welcome to School!

Please join us for an HSA-hosted back-to-school bash on September 5th from 5-8 pm. We'll have pizza, games, and more! Click here to RSVP. See the attached flyer for more information and mark your calendars now for this fun event!


     This year, we will host two Back to School Night events due to our increased enrollment and community 

     parking.  This will provide easy access for families to engage with our program teams and school leadership without the 

     rush.   ECE/ES Grades PK-Grade 5: September 9th (event flyer)


I would like to inform you that I will be undergoing surgery on Thursday, September 11th, and I will be out of the building until September 29th. During my absence, Mr. Derek Ramdin, known to the children as Mr. D, will be leading the class alongside Ms. Moore. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Ms. Moore at india.moore@k12.dc.gov  or Assistant Principal Gbenro at Olamide.Gbenro@k12.dc.gov I look forward to seeing you all at our Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 9th! 


    Data will be shared upon grade-level completion.

iReady ELA Assessment—On September 3rd, Students will complete the beginning-of-year iReady ELA assessment. This adaptive assessment identifies students' phonological awareness, vocabulary, and reading comprehension skills. 

iReady Math Assessment—Students will complete the beginning-of-year iReady math assessment on September 9th. This adaptive assessment determines students' current understanding of Kindergarten math topics and will be used to plan and adjust instruction based on individual student's needs. 

DIBELS Assessment, ongoing throughout September—DIBELS is a quick assessment that determines students' foundational reading skills, such as phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, accuracy, and fluency. It will take place over the next four weeks.


The D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education’s Out of School Time Office is seeking feedback on families' needs, interests, and any barriers to their student's participation in afterschool and/or summer programming. Families can provide feedback via the survey linked here. Sample language to send to families (English and Spanish) and links to the survey are available here.


Your child’s regular prompt attendance at school is crucial to their success. Please send your child to school daily and ensure they are on time. A written note must be provided if your child is out for an excusable reason. A written note may be submitted via email. All written notices must be dated, include the reason for absence, and specify the dates your child was or will be out of school. Please submit documentation to the SWWFS Attendance Point of Contact, Dawn Vest (dawn.vest@k12.dc.gov) and Ms. Watson (rahshita.lowe-watson@k12.dc.gov).


The building will open at 8:30 a.m. for all students. Students will enter through the East Wing (cafe doors) at 8:30 a.m. and proceed to the cafeteria (assigned seating). Breakfast will be consumed from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. In-seat attendance and instruction start promptly at 8:45 a.m. Kindergarten students are dismissed at 3:20 p.m. 



Pre-K—5th graders should wear a black polo shirt, khaki bottoms (e.g., pants, skirts, shorts), khaki jumper dresses, and closed-toe shoes. Children should always wear closed-toe dress shoes or sneakers for safety, and sneakers should be worn on Physical Education days. Our Physical Education days this semester are Monday and Tuesday each week.


Please visit our school's website, www.swwfs.org, under the "For Parents" tab, for Wonder's before and after-care services. Care programming includes supervised activities, instructional homework help, arts and crafts, and tons of other fun and play opportunities. Program Director: Stephanie Dyson Phone: (240) 274-0508 Email: johnfrancis@wonderslearning.org  


    Our classroom newsletter will be sent bi-weekly. The newsletter will include learning goals, curriculum  

    information, online learning details, our class schedule, classroom activities, updates, reminders, upcoming 

    dates, field trip information, pictures of your child engaged in school lessons, and more. Our newsletter will 

    be shared on Monday unless it falls on a holiday or a no-school day, in which case it will be shared on the      

    next business day.


Homework will begin the week of September 15th. Students will receive (1) math practice and (2) a reading log. Homework will be sent home on Monday. Please return homework assignments by the following Monday. If Monday is a Non-School Day, homework will be sent on the next school day. Homework aims to review, reinforce, and practice skills presented in class. It helps children learn self-discipline and allows them to take responsibility for their learning. Homework allows you to see what is being learned in school. 


Each child will be responsible for a Take-Home Folder.  This folder will include items such as homework, assessments, school notices, and important reminders. Please be sure to go through your child’s Take-Home Folder every day after school and return it with any required forms or notices as soon as possible.



Please consider joining the Home and School Association (HSA) and participating in school-wide functions sponsored. You can find more information about the HSA at www.swwfs.org or by clicking here.


    Birthdays and holidays will be celebrated in our class. If you would like to bring in treats for the   

    class, they will be welcomed and enjoyed in the afternoon. For planning purposes, please let me   

    know if you are bringing treats at least two days in advance. To ensure the safety of the children,  

    please be mindful of students with allergies and/or dietary restrictions and consider healthy   

    treats. 


    Here at SWWFS, we strive to promote academic excellence as well as stellar behavior.  School   

    rules include the 5 R’s, which will be reiterated to students daily.  Please talk with your child   

    about our school’s expectations.

5 R’s:

1.     Respect for Self.

2. Respect for Others.

3. Respect for Property.

4. Respect the Rights of Others to Learn.

5. Respect for Racial Differences.

We also live by the 7 Habits of Happy Kids

*Habit 1, Be Proactive – (You’re in Charge of Your Actions, Attitudes, and Moods)

*Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind – (Have a Plan and Set Goals)

*Habit 3, Put First Things First – (Work First, Then Play)

*Habit 4, Think Win-Win – (It’s Not Just About You, Everyone Can Win)

*Habit 5, Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood – (Listen Before You Talk)

*Habit 6, Synergize – (Working Together is Better)

*Habit 7, Sharpen the Saw – (Balance Feels Best)


The FoodPrints program integrates gardening, cooking, and nutrition education into the curriculum. This is done through standards-based lessons, cafeteria connections, and food access. Expert educators teach hands-on lessons that get students excited about growing, preparing, and enjoying fresh, local whole foods. The goal is to improve the health outcomes of children and families by bringing science, math, and social studies to life. Students will have an opportunity to participate is these fun sessions throughout the school year. Our first FoodPrints class will be begin soon. You can learn more about FoodPrints at https://www.freshfarm.org/foodprints.