I would be remiss to begin this week's letter with anything other than a celebration of a successful Back to School Night. Thank you to our teachers and staff for their careful planning, and to our parents for their active participation - we boasted a 97% attendance rate! Teachers shared their expectations for the year, and the session in the multipurpose room allowed for a broader perspective of school goals, activities and events. For those parents that missed the brief talks in the multipurpose room (administrators, our two instructional coaches, the special education coordinator, the school nurse, the counselor, the instructional liaison, and the science specialist spoke), their words will be published on the Janney website. I also mentioned that any questions/answers from the informal session would be posted, but most were family-specific and therefore not relevant to the whole community.

The one exception was inquiries around the recently announced budget cuts. As most of you know, students brought home a letter from Chancellor Rhee (copies of the letter are also available in the main office) about the DC Public Schools need to realign school-based budgets with the Council's current allotment of funds. Unfortunately, these cuts will affect Janney. Although additional details will be forthcoming, I am confident that in conjunction with the LSRT, we will be able to make decisions that will allow us to continue to serve our students at the highest levels.

In the upcoming week we will be observe National Flavor Week, a celebration of local foods in our cafeteria and classrooms. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Janney Fall Picnic on Friday, September 25th from 6pm - 8pm. Finally, I encourage families to attend the National Book Festival on the Mall on Saturday, September 26th. This annual event for readers of all ages includes author talks and an occasion to explore the reading programs of all 50 states, and is a fantastic opportunity to bolster the love of literacy.

At this point in my letter, I often share more information about a theme or practice that will drive our work as a school. In order to respect the limited space in the newsletter, these articles will now be available on the Janney website. For this week's topic - How the DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework Will Support Student Learning - please visit the Principal's Page or click here. I appreciate your continued interest in these commentaries as they allow for a common understanding of our purpose and goals.

Have a wonderful week, Jaguars!

Sincerely,

Norah Lycknell
Principal

Janney Picnic

Come join us Friday Night 9/25 from 6-8pm at the Janney Picnic. Hotdogs & drinks for sale. Families with last names A-K bring a side dish or salad, L-Z dessert. (Store bought is fine!)

See you Friday. Val Alten & Julie Slattery

Order Your Fresh Indian River Citrus Now!

Do you love fresh oranges and grapefruit in winter? How about offering a holiday gift that is healthy and delicious? Janney's PTA is taking orders for oranges and grapefruit from Florida's famous Indian River Groves for delivery in December. Prices are pretty good - so bring cash or a check to this Friday's Fall Picnic where Allison Scuriatti and friends will have a table set up. If you miss this chance, we'll also be taking orders and payment at the Fall Carnival on October 17th, as well as at a handful of drop-offs and pick-ups. Dates will be announced. Prices are as follows:
- 10 lb bag of navel oranges or red grapefruit, or a mixed bag of both, is $18
- 20 lb bag of navel oranges or red grapefruit, or a mixed bag of both, is $25

Local Flavor Week This Week at Janney

The Janney Healthy Foods Committee is proud to announce that Janney Elementary School is participating in Washington DC's first ever "Local Flavor Week" this week September 21-25. Local Flavor Week is a celebration of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables grown in and around Washington DC organized by the DC Farm to School Network (www.dcfarmtoschool.org). The Janney Healthy Food Committee has been working with Principal Lycknell to organize classroom events, speakers, and hand out resources for Janney families on how we can all incorporate more locally grown, fresh foods into our lives - improving our minds, bodies, and our planet.

On Friday at the end of Local Flavor Week ask your children what they learned this week, and in the meantime the Janney Healthy Foods Committee asks that parents participate in Local Flavor Week as well-by taking these three steps:

1. If you pack your child's lunch, involve them in the selection of the foods they will eat and try to pack at least one fresh fruit or vegetable every day.

2. If you buy hot lunch for your child, or even if you don't but you do care about the hot lunch option available to all our DCPS students, contact Chartwells this week to tell them what you think about the food they provide our students - or what you expect as a parent they would provide. (Chartwells is the company with an exclusive agreement with DCPS to provide hot breakfast and lunch to all DCPS students - they also provide food service to the Chicago Public School system, among others.) Chartwells is recognizing DC Local Flavor Week by offering a select number of DCPS schools (of which Janney is not one) locally produced lunches during Local Flavor Week. Whitney Bateson, the head dietitian for DCPS Chartwells, should hear your thoughts! Her email is: Whitney.Bateson@compass-usa.com and her direct line is 202-510-8267. A flyer with Chartwell's monthly offerings (September is on orange paper) is always found on a file holder on the wall next to Janney's front office door - or you can ask the front office for a copy.

3. Contact DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and let her know how you feel about the exclusive relationship that Chartwells has with DCPS. Tell her if you are satisfied with what Chartwells offers. Chancellor Rhee's email is michelle.rhee@dc.gov .

Thank you!

Janney Healthy Foods Committee

Contact: Lucy Roberts at lucysmiles99@yahoo.com

Soup Kitchen Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23

Don't forget that tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23, is soup kitchen day. Please don't forget your lasagnas, green beans, lettuce, bread, and icecream. All items need to be in first thing in the morning. And teachers don't forget to have your parents bring in cookies, salad fixings and items to prepare your snacks. All items should be brought to the front lobby and put on the soup kitchen table (except items to use to prepare snacks). Please look at the "soup kitchen sign up" poster in the lobby to sign up to bring food for the new school year. Thanks so much for your time and generosity, it is greatly appreciated. Any questions please call Camille Martone at 362-7555.

Janney Website Looking for Website Graphic Designer

A group of Janney parents are undertaking a website redesign this year. We are in need of a graphic designer who could volunteer a few hours to help us with the overall look of the site. If you have such experience and would like to help, please contact Karen Harris (karenh@gmail.com) as soon as possible. If you would like to get involved with this project on the developer or writing side, please contact Karen as well.

A Call for Janney Artwork

Every fall, the school needs Janney artwork for use in the school directory, yearbook, calendar, and sometimes sportswear. Take a moment to draw something about Janney. It can be a jaguar, the school building, the Jamboree, your classroom, kids playing on the playground, whatever you think represents Janney. Verticle pictures are suggested but not required. Black and white strongly suggested. Email or put your submission in the Janney PTA box by September 25, marked to the attention of Rennie Anderson, rennie.anderson@stanfordalumni.org, or Anita Seline, amseline@aol.com.

Please Join the Janney Elementary School Parent Listserve

This group has been created to facilitate an exchange of information between Janney families about issues of interest to Janney families. Such issues would include, for example: DCPS news, Janney news, after school opportunities, Janney events and fundraisers, and items of interest that are being given away such as karate uniforms or cleats. It's easy! Just go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janneyelementary/
and Click on Join Group!
Thanks,
Emily Gustafsson-Wright , Group Moderator

Are You Looking For a Creative Way to Volunteer This Year?
The yearbook committee is looking for people like you to help document the school year. Last year for the first time, we created the yearbook using the free computer software provided by the yearbook publisher. It was fast, fun and easy. Amateur (and professional) photographers, copy writers/editors, layout artists, graphic designers and anyone else who would like to help out are all welcome! If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please contact either Rennie Anderson (Rennie.Anderson@StanfordAlumni.org) or 237-1832 or Cynthia Schiffrin (Cynthia.Schiffrin@Comcast.net) or 244-7445.

Counselor's Corner

Peer Mediators:
Peer Mediators are starting to take up their duties this week at Janney. The peer mediation program has trained students to help their fellow students resolve their problems in a non-judgmental manner. This year, we welcome back our returning peer mediators: Annie Brennan, Sarah Burch, Jana Cohen, Nicole Davies, Matthew Dulaney, Carmen Hall, Mica House, Tana Palomino, Tony Smole, and Sarah Thompson.

Attendance:
A reminder to parents that you need to send in a letter with your child when they return to school after being absent. If your child is out more than four days, you will need to provide a letter from your child's doctor about the absence. Below are the DCPS lawful reasons for student absences:
- Illness of the student
- Illness or other family emergency which requires the presence
of the student in the home
- Death in the student's immediate family
-Exclusion by direction of the authorities of the District of
Columbia due to quarantine, contagious disease, infection,
or other condition requiring separation from other students
for medical health reasons
-Necessity for a student to attend any judicial proceeding as a
plaintiff, defendant, witness, or juror
-Observance of religious holy days by the member of a
religious group
-Lawful exclusion or expulsion from school by school
authorities pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 25
-Temporary closing of facilities or suspension of classes
due to severe weather, official activities, holidays,
malfunctioning equipment, unsafe or unsanitary conditions,
other condition(s) requiring closing or suspension of classes
-Other absence(s) approved in advance by the principal upon
written request of a parent/guardian or others who have legal
custody or control of the student

Tardiness:
School starts at 8:40 a.m. and students are late at 8:50 a.m. If your student's class is coming in from the Jamboree at 8:50, you can join the class and not be tardy, however, if the class has entered, your student needs a late pass and is considered tardy. Please do everything you can to ensure that your child attends school regularly and on time so they don't miss out on academic instruction.

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY):
If your child scored at or above 95% in the DC-CAS, Johns Hopkins CTYinvites you to attend a meeting to learn about programs and services CTY offers your child. The next meeting will be held in the Great Room at Kingsbury School, 5000 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 on Thursday, October 8th at 6:30 p.m. For information about CTY, stop by Mrs. Leventhal's office to pick up a brochure.

Parent Encouragement Program (PEP):
PEP is offering many parenting classes for parents of children of all ages from babies and toddlers to teenagers. For more information about their fall classes, visit their website at www.PEPparent.org.

Safety Patrol Tip of the Week

Practice extra caution in adverse weather.

--Tala Anderson, Junior Officer

In the Neighborhood

Back to School BBQ at Turtle Park

Councilmember Mary Cheh will host the 3rd annual "Back to School BBQ" at Friendship ("Turtle") Park located at 4500 Van Ness Street, NW, On Saturday, September 26 from 11am-4pm. The event will feature the District's own award-winning firefighter barbeque team and information tables from the DC government and public and private organizations. The BBQ will be filled with activities for the entire family including a moon bounce, wacky family races, and great giveaways from our local ward 3 business community and area professional sports teams. Don't miss the giveaways. The Joy of Motion Dance company will also be on hand to energize the crowd and teach a little hip hop dance with music played by Ward 3's own DJ Moosic. The day will end with a game of kick ball between Team Cheh and the Hearst Recreation Center teen club. Come out and enjoy a day of fun, great food, and exciting activities. For information please contact (202) 724-8062

Janney Shopping

www.shoptoearn.net/Janney

Contributing to the E-Newsletter

All submissions to the PTA newsletter should be emailed to Janneynewsletter@yahoo.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday at 3:15 pm. Because the newsletter is reviewed by several individuals before distribution, we must adhere to this deadline in order to get the newsletter to you every week on time.

Please include all text in the body of your email (rather than as an attachment). Small jpeg thumbnails may be attached and can be included in the newsletter. All links or email addresses will be made active (clickable).

If a notice should be run for more than one week, please indicate the dates the notice should be run, or resubmit the notice by the Friday deadline for each week.

Please note there is no longer a box in the Janney office where hard copy newsletter submissions can be turned in. If you have prepared fliers to be included in the Take Home Tuesday envelope, those should be turned into the school office by COB Monday.

We will run notices about community or other non-Janney events of interest to elementary school children as space permits. It is the PTA's policy not to carry for-profit advertisements or classifieds. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Editors