Jackson-Reed eNews: Week of September 10th, 2023

PSAT and SAT Accommodations

If your student has a 504 plan or IEP and will need accommodations for the school day PSAT or SAT test this year, please download and fill out this form to provide consent for the school to request accommodations from College Board. Forms for students with IEPs should be emailed or submitted in person to Dr. Goff (angela.goff@k12.dc.gov; Room 202). Forms for students with 504 plans should be emailed or submitted in person to Ms. Wells (katherine.wells@k12.dc.gov; Room 104j). Please note: if your student was already approved for accommodations in the past, they do not need to resubmit a request. However, we would like to make sure everyone has a consent form on file so unless you are 100% sure you submitted one in the last 12 months, please send in consent form so your student is ensured their accommodations. Please make every effort to submit the form as soon as possible to allow enough time for College Board to make decisions regarding the request before the test.

General NAF Academy Updates

STEM NAF Academy students (IT, Engineering Biomed)

Upcoming Important Dates

• Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is about to start the first round of NATS Prep.
• 9/12-Academy of Hospitality and Tourism will have its first leadership retreat at DCA
• 9/14-Academy of Finance and Graphic Design will have its first leadership retreat
• 9/15- Guest Speaker
• 9/20- Academy of Hospitality students will tour Marriott HQ
• 9/21- Academy, College Tour to American University
• 9/22- Academy College Tour to American University

Virtual Presentation: Applying to UK Schools: Wednesday, September 13, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm

Would you like to host an exchange student for one day or one week this year?

Family Empowerment Series: Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards/Online Training

Saturday, September 09, 2023, from 11 am - 12 pm. This session will be held on Zoom

Our first training in September will focus on the rights of DC families in special education. We will delve into topics such as legal guardian rights, confidentiality, types of complaints, the filing process, and the appeals process. As a legal guardian, you possess rights that schools are obligated to respect. Remember, you are a pivotal advocate for your child, and your voice deserves to be heard!

You'll receive the Zoom link in an email during the week leading up to the training. Mark your calendars for this great training session! 

Register here.

Family Empowerment Series: Introduction to the Special Education Eligibility Process in SPANISH - Online Training

Register here.

Family Empowerment Series: All about Individualized Education Program (IEP) Goals: Appropriate, Ambitious and Attainable - Online Training

Monday, September 18, 2023, from 7pm - 8pm. This session will be held on Zoom.

IEP goal training: What makes an IEP goal appropriate, ambitious, and attainable? Join the SpEd Hub for an education session about developing individualized education program goals for your child and everything you need to know about supporting their learning and progress.

You'll receive the Zoom link in an email during the week leading up to the training. Save the date for this informative session!

Register here.

DCPS central office IT has been creating several fixes for issues that students and staff may have been experiencing the past week. To solve many of the network and keyboard problems you may have been having, please check for and install any updates that you can find.

• Click on the magnifying glass and type “Updates”, click on “Check for Updates” and run any updates you that appear.
• Additionally, click on the “Optional Updates” button. Devices should be plugged in with over 40% available on your battery.

If you continue to have challenges with your network connection or keyboard, stop by the Help Desk in the Atrium, before school, during lunch or after school. Remember, students should have their computer every day for every class.

Community Service Opportunity: Learn about Neurodiversity 

DC Peers is looking for more high school students who are interested in learning about neurodiversity and about themselves, and want to help us make our schools and communities more inclusive and accepting of neurodiversity.*  

 In our Neurodiversity Workshops, all students get community service hours for participating in our discussions and role-plays of teenage social norms, expectations, and challenges, and the misunderstandings and awkward moments created by differences in brain wiring, perceptions, and assumptions.  You don’t need experience with any of these topics, just curiosity, open-mindedness, and willingness to share your perspective.   

We’ll meet every other Monday afternoon at the Tenley library, from September 18th through December 18th, and we’ll have an orientation meeting via Zoom on September 11th.   

Click here to apply  If you need more information first, write to us at office@dcpeers.org!

DCPS Block Party Saturday, Sept. 23 11:00am-2:00pm 

This year, LAD is partnering with Family and Community Engagement in planning the DCPS Block Party, which will take place on Saturday, September 23, from 11:00am-2:00pm. 

Volunteers are needed for following activities: 

• Face painting  
• Applying temporary tattoos  
• Basic Logistics/Helping direct families 
• Playing with our younger students 
• Other duties as assigned 

Students may earn up to 5 hours of community service as volunteers, depending on their availability. Students should sign up here by Wednesday, September 13 and will need to attend one required virtual training session via TEAMs. It will consist of a brief 30-45 minute session in which we discuss the goals of the Block Party, review the layout of the fair and the various roles.  

Murch Elementary Fall Fair

Murch Elementary is seeking volunteers to help with booths, set-up, and clean up at their Fall Fair on October 14th.

Sign-up here.

Goods for Good

All new moms and their babies deserve the best start possible, regardless of circumstance. Join G4G in supporting low-income parents with essential baby items. G4G will partner with Greater DC Diaper Bank and Unity Healthcare/Columbia Heights, two nonprofits that work tirelessly to improve the lives of mothers and babies in the DC area. For high schoolers in need of community service hours, join us on September 27 after school at G4G to put together diaper bags with pre-purchased supplies and to make cards.

This activity will take place at Goods For Good (5830 Nebraska Ave NW) from 4-6pm on Sept 27th. Participants will assemble bags and make cards to celebrate mom and baby!

Community service hours can be provided (students must sign up here AND register on our website by filling out the 2 minute Student Engagement Form on our website.

More DC-wide Volunteer Opportunities can be found here.  

LSAT 

The LSAT will meet on the third Tuesday of the month. Our first meeting will be on the September, 19th from 6-7:30pm. 

PTSO

Jackson-Reed Parent Teacher Student Organization

Ms. Clemmons will be hosting a Club & Activities Fair in the Atrium on September 20, 2023, from 12:00-12:30 pm. More information will be shared at the event.

Please contact her directly for more information @dionne.clemmons@k12.dc.gov.