Ellington Express

From the Principal's Desk Greetings Ellington Team!

I hope all is well and everyone is staying safe. This week we begin conducting Family Interviews for prospective students. Thanks again to everyone who has assisted us in this process!

That's it for now. Thank you for your attention, stay safe, and have a great week!

V/r Principal Sandi M. Logan "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." - Maya Angelou

Calendar of Events

March 1, 6:30 p.m.

Show Choir Parent Meeting March 2, 8 a.m.

Read Across America Day; learn more at www.readacrossamerica.org March 3, 5 p.m.

Senior Parent Meeting, contact: Suwana Reavis, suwana.reavis@k12.dc.gov March 3, 6:30 p.m.

S.H.A.D.E. General Meeting, contact shade@ellingtonarts.org March 3, 7:30 p.m.

VM Sophomore Songfest, contact Monique Spells, monique.holmes@k12.dc.gov March 5, 8 a.m.

Parent Teacher Conference Day (No school for students) March 8, 8 a.m.

Term 3 Progress Reports March. 9, Arts Parents Meetings • Dance, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Instrumental Music, 7-8:30 p.m.

• Technical Design & Production, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Theatre, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Visual Arts, 6-8 p.m.

• Vocal Music, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

March 10, 6:30 p.m.

LMC Parent Meeting March 11, 7:30 p.m.

IM Wind Ensemble String Concert, contact Heather Haughn, heather.haughn@k12.dc.gov March 17, noon Duke Girls Rock; contact: Angela Jones, ajones@ellingtonarts.org March 17, 5 p.m.

Junior Parent Meeting; contact: Suwana Reavis, suwana.reavis@k12.dc.gov March 18, 6:30 p.m.

Museum Studies Parent Meeting; contact: Marta Reid Stewart, marta.stewart@k12.dc.gov March 19, 5:30 p.m.

Dance Senior Showcase; contact Charles Augins, charles.augins@k12.dc.gov, and Katherine Smith, katherine.smith@k12.dc.gov

We have spots open in Dance, Instrumental Music (Instrumental Music, students who play wind instruments, Theatre and Vocal also ARE NOT approved to return. All other IM students ARE approved to return.), LMC, MS and TDP. The targeted group of students for Term 3 are based on high curriculum and programming needs for graduation requirements for the included departments. Scheduling is below:

Mondays, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS • Instrumental Music: strings, • Building closed for deep percussion, music theory cleaning support Thursdays, 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Mondays, 2:35 p.m.- 5:20 p.m.

• Dance: sophomores, seniors • LMC: juniors and seniors Thursdays, 1 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, 1 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

• Museum Studies: juniors • TDP: seniors Fridays, 2:35 p.m.- 4:45 p.m.

• Visual Arts: seniors Each Arts department meets in-person once a week and the other three days of weekly instruction will resume for our students virtually. Please note that in-person attendance for participating students is reflected in Canvas.

Classroom maximum occupancy is 11 students to one instructor. The numbers in each classroom will be determined by square footage and social distancing requirements. Please note as we approach Term 4, the opportunity for in-person learning will increase from 25% to 50% of our student population.

Contact Mr. Walker today and please specify your area of support for in-person learning!!

DC Health will manage on-site testing of students who attend CARE Classrooms at their schools. Students may receive a PCR nasal-swab test, administered by DC Health medical staff, approximately every 10 days. A testing consent form signed by the student’s parent or guardian will be required, and schools will provide those documents to families.

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Asymptomatic testing administered by DC Health is completely separate from the symptomatic COVID-19 testing that is administered by the CSS school nurse.

Students will be offered asymptomatic tested by a DC Health contract nurse at their schools approximately every 10 days.

Families will need to complete an asymptomatic testing consent form every 90 days in order for their student to participate in testing.

If you’re interested in your student being tested, please complete the consent forms below and return to jevelle.branch@k12.dc.gov ASAP!!

Rapid testing: English | Español | Français | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ Asymptomatic testing: English | Español | Français | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ Testing will be provided to students who have a completed consent form and display symptoms. If this consent is not provided by the family, a Covid-19 test will not be administered even if a student is showing symptoms; the student will be asked to see a doctor before returning to the classroom. The schedule for asymptomatic testing will be sent to everyone who signs the consent form.

Click here to download the IOS app.

Click here to download the Android app.

GENERAL REMINDERS SCHOOL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (SERT) Volunteers are welcome to join SERT, which is responsible for the safety of students and staff during dangerous situations such as a bomb threat, evacuating the building, shelter in place etc. If you’re coming back to teach in Term 3, please join SERT by sending an email to jevelle.branch@k12.dc.gov.

Senior Class News & Updates

Class of 2021 parents, you now may begin paying your student's senior dues.

Just go to Student Fees at your departmental link and select the 2021 Cap & Gown Package.

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Dance – DESADance.flipcause.com Instrumental – DESAInstrumental.flipcause.com Literary Media & Communications – DESALMC.flipcause.com Museum Studies – DESAMuseumStudies.flipcause.com Technical Design & Production – DESATDP.flipcause.com Theatre – DESATheatre.flipcause.com Visual Arts – DESAVisualArts.flipcause.com Vocal Music – DESAVocalMusic.flipcause.com

Also, the deadline for Graduation Photos is rapidly approaching! Walk-up appointments are prohibited at this time. Seniors must call 410-644-7700 to schedule a photoshoot at one of two LifeTouch locations, either 15720 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville MD; or 7128 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA.

Help Available

Remember, none of us are in this alone, neither as students nor family members. Be sure to avail yourself of every possible resource (Wednesday meditation sessions are on hiatus until further notice), including members of Ellington's fabulous Wellness Team: Mr. Perry Camp, School Psychologist, perry.camp@k12.dc.gov Ms. Megan Crowley, Specialized Instruction, megan.crowley@k12.dc.gov Mr. Troy Cudworth, Specialized Instruction, troy.cudworth@k12.dc.gov Ms. Nicole Frazier,Social Worker (11th/12th grades), nicole.frazier@k12.dc.gov Ms. Donna Hollis, Director of SEL & Shepherding, donna.hollis@k12.dc.gov Ms. Delphenia James, School Nurse, delphenia.james.CHN@k12.dc.gov Mr. Marquis Mathis, Counselor (9th/10th grades), Ms. Suwana Reavis, Counselor (11th/12th grades), suwana.reavis@k12.dco.gov Mr. Ben Smith, Specialized Instruction, ben.smith@k12.dc.gov Ms. Crystal Sylvia, School Social Worker (9th/10th grades), crystal.sylvia@k12.dc.gov Mr. James Walker, Dir. of Student & Parent Engagement, james.walker4@k12.dc.gov

The DC Department of Behavioral Health and DC Public Schools are working together to bring District schools more mental health support through community-based organizations. Ellington has been selected as a participating school, which is perfect timing given the current state of affairs.

This expansion is using a three-tiered system of supports: • Tier 1 is available to everyone in the Ellington Community.

• Tier 2 is more targeted mental health supports, including small groups, professional development, and parent training.

• Tier 3 is focused on individuals who might need more intensive supports, including individual and family therapy, community supports, and possibly medication management for Ellington students, families, and staff members.

Tier 3 services are provided through Maryland Family Resources, Inc., which has assigned Ms. Stephanie Waters, MSW, LGSW, LMSW, as Ellington’s dedicated community-based clinician for all three tiers of support. An upcoming Universal Referral process will provide access the Wellness Team and any necessary tiered supports.

Based on the needs assessed by referrals, rollouts will continue through this partnership, including therapeutic and support groups, and other programs for the Ellington Community.

With your assistance, we can help guide and develop this partnership to maximize its usefulness. Please contact Ms. Hollis for more information.

Wellness Wednesdays, an online support group, is an opportunity for parents to learn about how to take care of themselves and how to foster resiliency for their children in these challenging times, share experiences and ask questions of school-based clinicians and early childhood specialists. The topic this week is "Active Listening" at 5:30 p.m.Click here to join the meeting. There's also an on-demand library that features virtual workshops, videos, and other tools and community resources.

Building Access Protocol

Ellington utilizes the “Ask, Ask, Look” protocol recommended by DC Health and Office of the State Superintendent of Education to support daily screening for staff and students. All employees have been provided with separate guidance related to this protocol for adults before reporting to work in person. The following information will implement the protocol with students through a home-school partnership.

Steps Conducted at Home Ellington and DCPS expects families to implement the “Ask, Ask, Look” protocol DAILYbefore students depart for school, as follows: •

1) ASK: Parents/guardians should ask about and/or inspect their child for the following symptoms consistent with COVID-19: Fever (subjective or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) or chills; cough; congestion, runny nose; core throat; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; fatigue; headache; muscle or body aches; new loss of taste or smell; or otherwise feeling unwell. Please note: If the symptoms are related to a chronic medical condition, and the healthcare provider has submitted written or verbal documentation that the symptoms are not Covid-19, the student should not be excluded based on those symptoms.

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2) ASK: Parents/guardians should ask and note whether their child has been in close contact with a person who has Covid-19.

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3) LOOK: Parents/guardians should inspect their child for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.

Staying Home or Going to School If the answer is “yes” to any of the above, the student should stay home. The family should contact the child’s healthcare provider to determine if testing is needed. The student may not return to school until they meet the criteria to do so, as articulated above.

Ellington's GSA meets weekly via Zoom, every Friday at 12:20 p.m. Attendance is not taken and students can come whenever they wish. The GSA is a community and safe space grown to support and encourage LGBTQ+ students AND allies to lean in, step up, and speak out for themselves, their community and those who will follow them. To receive GSA updates, complete this form. And check out the highlights bubble on Ellington's Instagram account. Here's the info for meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3743766344?pwd=Mm10YTRMVFgvN3YxZUdGdGNMd3Fldz09

Meeting ID: 374 376 6344. Passcode: 484851.

The GSA has shared this attachment to help explain why and how to support transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender non-binary people, particularly when using pronouns (he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, etc.). Ellington is working with DCPS to help give

students the ability to change their own names and add pronouns to their accounts on Teams.

For support, families and students can contact the Registrar/GSA Advisor, Mr. Dana Nearing, at dana.nearing@k12.dc.gov.