Dear Janney Community,

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work towards reopening school for some students beginning November 9.  We hosted our first info session for first-third grade parents this morning.  You can view the recording on our Janney SharePoint site and the slides will be uploaded soon.  The RSVP link for tomorrow’s 4/5 grade and Thursday’s PK/K sessions is open and will remain open until 5:00pm today.  Attendees will receive a Zoom link via after 5pm this evening.

This email update is lengthy and thank you again for taking the time to read until the end.

I want to share a few reminders about our reopening plans below – further explanation of each FAQ will be explained in the information sessions this week.

• You do not need to take any action to be considered for in-person learning or for the CARE classroom opportunities. Your child will automatically be entered into the lottery and you will be notified by email if your child is offered a spot on F, 10/23.
• Once an in-person learning spot is offered, you will have two business days to make a decision on whether your family will accept or decline this spot.  I will host optional office hours for families who received an invitation on M, 10/26 and 10/27, allowing the chance to ask final questions before you will need to decline or accept a spot.
• You will likely not know who your child’s in-person learning teacher will be at the time of your decision.  We hope to release staffing assignments by 10/30.
• We will have to place some students at each grade level in a new homeroom class.  We will provide families of students in the impacted class the chance to provide thoughts on the new class placement via an optional survey.
• We will do not have details about how many CARE classrooms we will host and who will staff those rooms. I hope to have more information soon.

More information is forthcoming, and all information will be posted on our Janney SharePoint site.

Please continue to read this email for information about an upcoming LSAT-sponsored teacher information session to take place this week.  You can view this month’s LSAT meeting minutes here.  The last announcement is a call for parent volunteers to serve on LSAT.

LSAT-sponsored Teacher Information Session, 10/22 @ 6pm
The Janney LSAT gathered virtually for its regular meeting on October 13th at which parents on the Janney LSAT had the opportunity to listen to, speak with, and ask questions of teachers at the school. At the meeting, LSAT learned that neither principals nor teachers were consulted before DCPS announced its plan to reopen schools. Due to the thoughtful questions and concerns Janney teachers shared, and in an effort to share as much information with the parent community as possible, the LSAT is sponsoring a virtual Teacher Information Session on Thursday, October 22 at 6:00pm.

This information session is a space for parents and caregivers to hear Janney teachers share their questions/concerns, and do their best to answer some questions from families. Teachers will not be offering any thoughts or guidance on what decision might be best for your child, should you be offered a spot in the in-person learning or CARES program. You must RSVP here to receive the Zoom link.

LSAT Elections – Call for Volunteers
The LSAT is looking for parent volunteers to serve on the LSAT.  The elected parent representatives will serve a two-year term and we hope to hold elections in November.  Interested parents should reach out to Principal Lutz.

The LSAT (Local School Advisory Team) advises the Principal on issues related to the Local School Plan: what is needed at the school, where we want to be as a school, whether we are there, and if not, how we should get there.

The Janney LSAT is composed of the Principal, six teachers, six parents, and, at times, a student representative and a community representative. The LSAT supports the Principal’s implementation of the DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework by advising the Principal on matters related to teaching and learning, leadership, job embedded professional development, resources, safe and effective learning environments, and family and community engagement.

The LSAT is an elected body that serves in an advisory capacity to the Principal by:
1. Receiving and making appropriate recommendations regarding the development of the Local School Plan,
2. Monitoring and assessing the implementation of the Local School Plan,
3. Using assessment results to develop and modify specific strategies for school improvement, and
4. Ensuring compliance with established guidelines, contracts, and District rules.

Sincerely,

Alysia Lutz, Principal