Welcome to Simon Elementary School

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Greetings Simon Family!

I hope this letter finds you and your families in good health and well rested. I also hope that you and your student(s) have made some wonderful memories this summer and are excited for the upcoming school year! I am ready to continue forging a path towards success for all our students as we welcome you back to Simon for SY 23-24!

The first day of school for grades K-5 is Monday, August 28th, 2023.

The first day of school for grades PK-3 and PK-4 is Thursday, August 31st, 2023.

Doors will open @ 8:25 AM daily!

As you know, we are the Simon Lions and we R.O.A.R! This year’s theme is “R.O.A.R. out L.O.U.D”, with an emphasis on Learning Observing and Understanding Data. Won’t you help us, help your child by being an active participant in their learning? I know you can, and I know you will! It is going to be a phenomenal year here at Simon Elementary School!

Please continue reading for some pertinent information pertaining to the start of school...

We have several new staff members joining us this year. We are happy to welcome the following:

• Krystal Brenneman, ELA (English Language Arts) Coach

• Kia McCardell, Math Coach

• Tameshia Henry, LEA-D/SPED TLI (Teacher Leadership Innovation)

• Mary Balla Interlicchio, ESL (English as a Second Language)

• DaMara Robinson, SPED (Special Education Inclusion)

• Heide Rosales, ECE (Early Childhood Education) CES (Communication Education Supports)

• Raven Joyner, Dance

• Briana Gralia, 4th Grade Math/Science

• Aliyah Williams, Reading Teacher

• Catherine Johnson, Urban Teacher Resident (Kindergarten)

• Dominique Satterwhite, Urban Teacher Resident (5th Grade)

• Alfonso Franklin, Restorative Justice Coordinator

• Delante Lucas, Paraprofessional

• Stephanie Jennings, Paraprofessional (ECE CES)

• Shaniece Clemons, Paraprofessional (ELL)

• Olusegun Adelegan, 5th Grade Math/Science

· We also have returning staff that have a different role this year:

• Gleness Pujoue, K/1 ELA Teacher

• Amelia Bernard, K/1 Grade Math Teacher

• Elayna Diggs, 3rd Grade Math

As we begin our work this year, I would like to share with you “What’s New” at Simon and/or DCPS:

1. DCPS (District of Columbia Public Schools) has launched a new instructional focus on Mathematics for SY 23-24. As such, ALL Simon Students will engage with new curriculum, resources, and materials purposed for promoting mathematical competency.

2. In continuance of our pursuit of implementing Science of Reading aligned literacy instruction,

3. Simon Teachers (K-2) will be partnering American University to pilot UFLI Foundation Intervention to support foundational literacy skills.

4. Simon will implement the “Simon Support Model” to support ALL students with purposeful and consistent Needs Based Small Group Instruction. Simon will be offering both Before and Aftercare for our students, which will be staffed by US! Please contact Ms. Nelson if you have any questions and see the attached flyer for more details. ALL seats are first-come/first-served. The first day for these services will be September 5, 2023.

5. Simon will offer Dance as an Inner core Class.

6. Athletics are back! We are happy to offer Winter Cheerleading and both Girls/Boys Spring Track.

7. Simon will be partnering with The Georgia Avenue Family Collaborative via Show Up Stand Out, and A.T.T.E.N.D program with The Office of the Attorney General to combat our chronic absenteeism issues.

8. Simon will implement Restorative Justice Practices as our primary approach to classroom management and discipline. Out of school suspensions will be an anomaly for SY 23-24.

Simon’s major priorities for SY 23-24 will include the following…

1. Building relationships, routines, and resiliency with and among our students, staff, and parents.

2. Implementing structured literacy instruction aligned to the Science of Reading.

school-wide mathematical fluency.

3. Promoting school-wide mathematical fluency.

4. Increasing our daily In-Seat-Attendance. I know that you may have lots of questions as we embark upon a new year of teaching and learning. I am hopeful that many of those questions have been answered with this communication. However, if you still have questions, I invite you to reach out to me directly via email, text, call, Class Dojo, etc.

Additionally, we have two upcoming outreach efforts to help acclimate you to the new school year...

1. Please join us next Friday, August 25, 2023, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm for our “Take a Peek at Your Seat!” This will be a chance for you to complete your enrollment, sign up for before/after-care, meet the staff, sign up to be a principal, get connected via Class Dojo and Remind 101, meet our community partners, meet other families, and get prepared for the First Day of School!

2. Our first Principal Huddle will be a Chat and Chew during arrival on Friday, September 1 on the front steps.

3. Our “Back to School Night” will take place on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m.

Please read the attached flyers for more information about Before/After-Care, “Peek at Your Seat”, and uniform!

Take care, enjoy what is left of the Summer. See you on Friday, August 25, 2023, at 1:00pm for our Peek at Your Seat event!

Best,

Mrs. Franchita J Eborn, Principal

Bullying Prevention
The Citywide Youth Bullying Prevention Program – created in June 2013 – aims to reduce incidents of bullying across the District by emphasizing prevention and proper procedures for responding when incidents occur. The program works with youth-serving government agencies, District schools and youth-serving government grantees to ensure bullying prevention policies are adopted and implemented in ways consistent with the best practices adopted by the Youth Bullying Prevention Task Force. The best practices are demonstrated in the Task Force’s District-wide Model Bullying Prevention Policy, released in January of 2013.

Immunization Information

To attend schools, students must be current with their immunizations. Immunization compliance is documented by submitting a completed Universal Health Certificate to the school at the time of enrollment. A series of medical forms, DCPS School Enrollment Packet.pdf, should be turned in to the school as part of the enrollment process, and any updated forms throughout the school year should be submitted to the school nurse.

DCPS Anti-Discrimination Statement

DCPS recently issued a new DCPS Anti-Discrimination Policy. To ensure our school communities are aware of DCPS’ commitment to preventing and addressing discrimination, all schools are required to update their school websites with this anti-discrimination statement and translations
https://dck12my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/ahsaki_anokye_k12_dc_gov/
EY1SghlAn21CgWCyLZLR3LMB12ezBdE6hwp3ad9WGEaqEQ?e=I1P1OA
and submit confirmation of their update using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uUVDaL0mkSlvFQBiXDPixyBfXtmV62nDVCMFdIX5j4w. Please note that this information must be placed in a highly visible location on your school’s website and changes must comply with website accessibility standards. Website accessibility standards require that web content is accessible to blind users, deaf users and those who must navigate by voice, screen readers or other assistive technology. (Update: Spanish, Amharic and Chinese translations now available)

Lion's Den Library

Upcoming Events

Quick Links

Partnership & Program

Hello Partners,

We are continuously recruiting volunteer tutors to support our school partner sites across the city. This school year we are working to engage over 2,000 plus volunteers to serve our students. We are soliciting your assistance in this endeavor and asking if you can please share our recruitment needs in your flyers, newsletters, parent announcements, weekly emails, etc. Our Program Coordinators, Program Managers and other staff on-site can also provide assistance and answer any immediate questions if needed.

Please find below our QR code that directs individuals to our website to register to volunteer. If emailing is preferred, individuals can also send an email to volunteerDC@readingpartners.org. Please share with your network and community.

We also would like to invite your network and community to participate in our family workshops.

RP Child Psychology Workshop: Child Play Therapy and Rational Sign Up

This initial general session will preview how trauma can impact the behaviors we see in our students and how we can use child play therapy principles to redirect these behaviors and help establish good relationships with our students. Please share and use the above hyperlink to register.

Thank you in advance for your support and sharing this with your network.