Dear Families,

Welcome to a New Week at DPA!

We have officially made it through our first week of school, and what a wonderful start it has been! The energy, passion, and enthusiasm of our scholars have been contagious, and we could not be more excited about the year ahead. There is already so much momentum building across our DPA community, and we are thrilled to keep that momentum going!

As a reminder, the Family Bulletin is your one-stop place to stay informed about what is happening across both our Middle School and High School campuses. Each Monday, we aim to share the bulletin with you so you have everything you need to know for the week ahead—all in one convenient place.

Thank you for partnering with us as we kick off what we know will be an incredible school year. We are off to a great start, and we’re just getting started!

School Year 26-27 Calendar LINK

Here’s What’s Coming Up…

Scholar staff and picture day is this coming Tuesday, August 25th at both the high school and the middle school campuses. Scholars are required to wear their uniforms on this date. Everyone is required to take a school photo.

High School – Football Senior Night this Friday

• DPA vs. Anacostia this Friday 8/28.  We will play @St. James at 7:00pm.

We are so excited to welcome our DPA middle schoolers back to school!  As we begin the new school year, we want to share key reminders to support student safety, learning, and success.  We look forward to working with you this school year.

Hello from DPA’s MS Principal, Ms. Desai!

Welcome, DPA Families! It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you and to begin getting to know your brilliant children!  My name is Neema Desai and I am DPA’s Middle School Principal.  I am here to support you & your child’s journey throughout this academic year, and am grateful for your trust and partnership as we embark on this new year together.  If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out at any time.  I understand it is a tremendous choice to choose DPA as your child’s school and I am committed to supporting an excellent start of the year for your scholars & for you as their greatest champions! Happy 26-27!

On Time & Present Each Day

It is critical scholars are on time (before 8:15 AM) and present for each day of learning.  Each day of learning accumulates, and it is essential scholars receive consistent instruction across all parts of their day.  This consistency and predictability supports scholars’ sense of belonging, confidence, and efficacy.  Thank you for your support in this critical endeavor.

Student Valuables

We strongly ask families to ensure scholars do not come to school with valuable items such as laptops, ipads, or other materials.  Students are often transitioning to activities and items can be easily lost or misplaced in the movement to and from school.  This includes a current favorite, the Spray Ground Book Tags.  DPA will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items or for replacing them.

Our High School scholars have been made aware of several changes for the 2026–2027 school year, and we want to ensure that all HS families are also aware of these expectations. These updates are designed to support scholar safety, minimize distractions, and create an environment where every scholar can be fully present and engaged in learning.

Lockers, Book Bags & Coats

HS scholars were assigned lockers on Thursday, August 20. Moving forward, all book bags and winter coats must be placed in lockers upon arrival and should not be carried throughout the school day.

For the safety of our scholars traveling to and from school, the following high-value coat brands are not permitted at DPA:

Moose Knuckles • Canada Goose • Helly Hansen (HH) • The North Face

We strongly ask families not to allow scholars to wear these items to school. If a family chooses to allow a scholar to wear one of these items to school, DPA will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items or for replacing them.

Clear Water Bottles Only

Scholars may bring water bottles to school; however, all water bottles must be clear/see-through so that staff can easily identify the contents.

Stanley cups and other non-see-through bottles or containers are not permitted in the building.

Meta Glasses & Vlogging Cameras

To maintain a distraction-free learning environment and protect the privacy of our school community, Meta smart glasses and vlogging cameras are not permitted in the building.

If your scholar wears prescription Meta glasses, families must provide appropriate documentation from a medical provider so that DPA can verify the need for the glasses.

Face Masks

Face masks, including surgical masks, are not permitted to be worn in the building unless there is a documented medical need. If your scholar has a medical condition that requires them to wear a mask, please provide documentation from their medical provider so that we can verify the accommodation.

Removing Barriers to Learning

Families, we have big goals for our HS scholars this year! To reach those goals, we must work together to remove barriers and distractions that prevent scholars from being present, focused, and fully engaged in learning every day.

We appreciate your continued support and partnership as we hold our scholars to high expectations and prepare them to become the next generation of innovators.

One Team. One Mission. Moving from Good to Great!

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