Please see some reminders and important information before our extended break next week.

• The next Jackson-Reed eNews will be sent on Sunday December 31st.​

• Student Progress Reports for Term 2 are now available on the ASPEN Parent Portal.

• Covid Test Distribution: Each student will receive a COVID-19 test kit for the holiday break. Students are not being asked to share or upload negative results as these test kits are being provided as a public health resource. COVID-19 test kits will be delivered to classrooms on Wednesday,12/20 and Thursday,12/21 during 2^nd Period at 10:20 am.

• Holiday Building Hours of Operation: Holiday building operational hours are set to guarantee the safety, security, and cleanliness of the building during the holiday season. The building will be open from 9:00 AM– 3:00 PM on 12/22 and 12/26-12/29.​

• Please see an additional “Addressing Recent Concerns” message below from Principal Brown, with clear next steps for the Jackson-Reed Community:

In staying genuine to my commitment to transparency, I wanted to clarify the intent behind the instructional decision to postpone a particular unit of study.

In October of 2023, the Jackson-Reed 10th grade English teachers proposed moving the ELA unit that includes Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus and Elie Wiesel’s Night from Term 2 to Term 3 to allow our teachers to plan thoughtfully and intentionally around this unit, in light of the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war. I approved the proposed adjustment in support of teachers and provided them with the district-approved list of resources at the end of October.

As mentioned in the most recent eNews this week, there have been ongoing conversations between students, teachers, and staff about creating safe spaces to discuss the events that have unfolded since the beginning of the war. As part of our school-wide commitment to holding courageous discussions, the DCPS Equity Team will host a Professional Development workshop on January 2nd to provide additional strategies to ensure all educators feel equipped to facilitate difficult classroom conversations.

We will continue working thoughtfully with our teachers to ensure all students understand norms and expectations around productive classroom conversations. Students should feel safe sharing their ideas and opinions in any classroom, and teachers should feel confident facilitating discussions around difficult topics.

As we progress through this process, we are exploring opportunities to partner with outside organizations to support students and staff in having conversations about this topic. I look forward to working collaboratively with all Jackson-Reed stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and positive space for our community.