A few notes for this week:

- Parent conference sign ups will be posted this Tuesday, January 24, at 8:30pm on the Janney website. Please remember to refresh the page by pressing the F5 key on your computer at or after 8:30pm to access the link. The updated password was sent out in this letter to your email accounts last night. Conferences will be held from 12pm - 7pm on Monday, February 6th. Each slot is 15 minutes, the maximum time allowed given the number of families. If all conference slots are full or in the case of extraordinary scheduling conflicts, please contact your classroom teacher directly. Make-up conferences will also be 15 minutes to ensure equity and out of respect for our teachers' demanding schedules. You are encouraged to sign up for conferences not only with your classroom teacher, but also with special subject teachers and special service providers (look for them by name in the main menu) - these instructors can often add dimension to your understanding of student progress. Please note that 4th and 5th grade teachers have communicated conference guidelines as applicable via their newsletter and website.

- We will also distribute report cards on conference day. Report cards should be collected from the office in advance of your conference. Please give yourself a moment to review the report card prior to your scheduled time, noting any questions or observations to address in your meeting with the teacher. Any uncollected report cards will be sent in Take Home Tuesday on February 7th.

- We've been having lots of fun at recess with new space, active recess leaders, Mr. Librizzi our new activities coordinator, fun adults on duty and lots of things to explore! To make recess even better, please make sure to send students in weather-appropriate gear, including hats, gloves, coats, scarves, boots and rainwear. We go outside whenever possible and, even if they are resistant to wearing that coat, it is important to be prepared for some fresh air. To keep things interesting outside, Mr. Librizzi is installing two tetherball poles and he needs your help - if anyone in the community has access to a post hole digger, he'd like to borrow it for a week. He can be contacted at librizzi.janney.movement@gmail.com.

- Both of our basketball teams have games this week, with the girls playing home games on Tuesday and Friday at 4pm and the boys playing Lasalle-Backus EC away at 4pm on Thursday. Come cheer on our Jaguars!

- Our next spirit day is...Idol Day! Hosted by student council, students are encouraged to "be who've they've always wanted to be" by dressing as their idol. Classes with the highest rates of participation will enjoy a visit from the Jaguar.

- As we confront our first days of winter weather, we have been working out the snags of indoor Jamboree. Though the space has proven to be more than sufficient, we want to improve the flow to and from the gym. To achieve this goal, grades 3 and 1 will line up at the rear of the room, grades 4, 5 and K in the middle and PK in the front - if all else fails, be sure to look for your classroom sign. In addition, we ask that families who arrive after the start of Jamboree gather in the atrium. By making sure that classes can then exit efficiently, ou can catch your class as it proceeds to the classroom.

And a couple of notes for the weeks ahead:

- The PreK and Out Of Boundary lotteries open on January 30th. Please pass on the word to friends and neighbors. For more information, visit www.dcps.dc.gov.

Praise