Good evening, folks.

A reminder that Fall Field Day is this Thursday. Temps will be in the 50s and skies will be clear until the evening. Dress your kids in Payne gear or their class colors.

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PAYNE SHIRTS: LAST CALL

The PTSA’s t-shirt sale is ending Friday. Visit this page on Custom Ink. We need to sell 11 more items and we make our goal of 50.

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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ANNOUNCED.

The first day for the 2020-2021 school year will be Aug. 31.

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SAFETY PATROL, ASSEMBLE!

For the second year, Dr. Crumb has assembled a team of students and deputized them with badges and PT belts. Together they are … SAFETY PATROL. You’ll see this eight-student team of third, fourth and fifth graders at the end of the school day, making sure classes maintain their lines and wait patiently to be picked up. Safety Patrol students also pick up odd jobs around the school, ranging from cafeteria cleanup to handing out programs at events. They do not direct traffic or work outside school grounds.

D’Mari Farmer, a fourth grader, said he feels like a police officer when he dons the badge, but he really wants to be an engineer when he grows up. As a member of Safety Patrol, he knows he has an important mission:

“It’s about saving the community,” D’Mari said. “Helping children be good.”

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BE A BUDDY, NOT A BULLY. Payne social worker Taiya Gregory took the opportunity last month to discuss bullying with the students and to encourage kindness. Students took the “Anti Bullying Pledge”:

I will not bully others.

I will not leave anyone out.

I will help others being bullied.

If I cannot help a bully, I will tell an adult.

I will stand up for what is right.

The end of bullying begins with me!

I CARE. I CAN HELP. I CAN MAKE A CHANGE.

In this photo, students sign the anti-bullying pledge banner.

Students also participated in a bullying prevention poster contest. One of the top artists produced this fantastically friendly T-Rex. You can see all the posters in the hallway on the way to the cafeteria.

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LIBRARY NIGHT.

Family and students are invited to visit Payne’s library 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. Read together and select a book to check out and read at home. Follow school librarian Tim Gordon on Twitter: @MrGordonLibrary

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ELIOT-HINE OPEN HOUSES

Come to one of Eliot-Hine Middle School’s open houses this winter. You will get an overview of the school, hear a panel discussion and get a classroom tour.

• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Nov. 19
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Dec. 19
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Jan. 23
• 6-7:15 p.m. Jan. 23
• 10:15-11:30 a.m. Feb. 26
• 6-7:15 p.m. Feb. 26

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NATS (AND PAYNE) ON PARADE

Tens of thousands of D.C.-area fans gathered Nov. 2 to cheer on the Nationals for their World Series victory. Joining in the excitement was a contingent of Payne students, teachers and staff who got to march in the parade, too, with other D.C. Public Schools. The Payne baseball field will receive up to $25,000 in grant money for field improvements courtesy of Major League Baseball. Payne’s participation in the MLB project led to the parade opportunity.

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A Note From One of Our Fall Festival Gold Sponsors:

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IMPORTANT DATES

Nov. 7: Field Day

Nov. 11: Veterans’ Day (no school)

Nov. 13: Library Night, 4-5 p.m.

Nov. 14: Middle School Fair 5-6:30 p.m. in the Payne Auditorium with a prize drawing and multiple giveaways.

Nov. 14: Second grade field trip

Nov. 16: East City Bookshop fundraiser; details to come

Nov. 16: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feeder Fest at Eastern High School

Nov. 18: 9 a.m., open house for prospective families

Nov. 19: PTSA meeting, 6-7 p.m.

Nov. 21: Second grade field trip

Nov. 22: Picture Day

Nov. 26: No after care. Please pick up students no later than 3:20 p.m.

Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving Break (no school)

Dec. 18: Payne Night at Temple Hills Skate Palace; details to come

Dec. 23-Jan. 3: No school

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Have you joined the PTSA? Please join us and help support our school and students.