ENROLLMENT FORMS
Hello, Payne community. You may be getting a call or message from Payne’s office in the next few days with questions about your enrollment paperwork. DCPS annually audits enrollment forms and this year identified 80 discrepancies or issues that need attention, according to Payne administrative assistant Mrs. Mobley Cox-Asante, who is making calls and sending messages.
Please respond by Tuesday with necessary updates to your paperwork. If you need to visit the school in person, you can get copies or drop off paperwork from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the school week. The best email address for enrollment questions or responses is PayneESenroll@k12.dc.gov.
THIRD GRADE CARE CLASS
Many Payne families received calls from the school this week to gauge interest in having child attend a CARE classroom, a physical seat in the school building with a staff member to facilitate virtual learning.
The school needed at least eight kids per grade to launch a CARE class, and only third grade met that threshold, Mrs. Mobley Cox-Asante said. The third grade CARE classroom will launch Nov. 18 with 11 students. Payne is not preparing another CARE class at this time, but it hasn’t been ruled out, either.
TIPS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING / KID MOVIE NIGHT
Payne Social Worker Alice Keaney shares the following information about a special session for parents and a movie night for kids 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18:
The Payne Mental Health Team is thrilled to be partnering with Megan Lestino, a counselor from Maryland Family Resources, Inc. Megan will be facilitating a session for parents to discuss optimizing your child’s experience of virtual learning on Wednesday 11/18 at 6pm. We will play an age-appropriate movie through a separate Zoom link if your children want to join their friends for some fun while their parents learn. Please see the attached flyer for details and reach out to Ms. Keaney at alice.keaney@k12.dc.gov with questions.
Zoom link for adults: https://bit.ly/payneparentslearn
Zoom link for children: https://bit.ly/paynemovienight
Participants in the learning session can win one of three $25 Scholastic Book Fair gift cards courtesy of the PTSA.
SPIRIT WEEK
- Monday, Nov. 16: Express Yourself (T-shirts with messages, crazy hair/ hat/ socks)
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: I’m Getting Ready (College/high school/Payne gear)
- Wednesday, Nov. 18: Dreamer’s Day (Dress in your dream career attire)
- Thursday, Nov. 19: Throwback Thursday (Choose clothes from any era)
- Friday, Nov. 20: Class Colors Day/Field Day (Class colors – check with your child’s teacher)
ARBORETUM FUN
Payne families gathered at the National Arboretum last weekend for the first of three Payne Family Days. If you missed it, this Saturday, Nov. 14, is the second.
Visit the Arboretum from 9 a.m. to noon for activities such as scavenger hunts, wildlife watching and nature walks. Enter via R Street, off of Bladensburg Road, and there will be a table with materials set up in front of the Arbor House labeled “Payne Elementary.” This is an unstaffed event, and masks are required.
The last Payne Family Day will be Nov. 21, also 9 a.m. to noon.
This Arboretum staffer noted a lot of Payne families showed up last Saturday.
BOOK FAIR UPDATE
Payne’s online Scholastic Book Fair is underway through Nov. 22. Visit this link, and a portion of sales will benefit Payne’s own library and classrooms:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/payneelementaryschool2
Because it’s online, there are more book options (6,000+) than in-person book fairs. Books will be delivered to your home, and book purchases of more than $25 have free shipping. Note: non-book items don’t count toward free shipping.
Do you have a spouse, neighbor or friend who isn’t receiving the PTSA newsletter? Send a note to Tony Lombardo, who can add them to the email group: tonylombardo1@yahoo.com.
IMPORTANT DATES
Saturday, Nov. 14.: 9 a.m.-noon, Payne Family Day at the Arboretum
Wednesday, Nov. 18: 6 p.m., Virtual Learning Session/Movie Night
Nov. 21: 9 a.m.-noon, Payne Family Day at the Arboretum
Nov. 25-27: No school: Thanksgiving break
Dec. 23-Jan. 1: No school: holiday break
