Family Bulletin
Week Of December 15th, 2025
Dear DPA Families,
As we enter the final week of school before our holiday break, we want to take a moment to thank our families and scholars for their continued commitment and partnership. While excitement is certainly in the air, we are approaching this week with strong focus and high expectations. We will be working exceptionally hard all the way through the last day, and excellent daily attendance is essential to ensure scholars finish the end of the calendar year strong and fully prepared for what’s ahead.
As we look forward to the holiday break, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and restful time together. We hope our scholars are able to truly rest and rejuvenate so that they return in January refreshed and ready to hit the ground running. Thank you for your support in prioritizing attendance and learning this week—we are excited to start the new year with momentum and purpose.
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Calendar Notifications |
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25-26 School Year CALENDAR (linked here) December 15th – Winter Spirit Week Competition- Week of 12/15 – 12/19
(Christmas Tree, Reindeer ears, Elves ears)
December 15th-19th – Middle School Afterschool Programming is canceled this week (Tutoring, Bike Club, Student Government, Art Club, POWER, Robotics)
December 22nd-January 2nd – NO SCHOOL – Holiday Break January 19th – NO SCHOOL – MLK Day January 26th – NO SCHOOL – Professional Development ***UPDATE: Originally, Friday, February 13th was NOT a School Day: Please note that Friday, February 13th is now a school day! Scholars must attend school on Friday, February 13th!*** |
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26-27 School Year Lottery Opens on Dec. 15th |
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The DC and DPA Lottery Application opens on December 15th. If you have other children you’d like to join the DPA community, now is the time to apply. Your trust and partnership mean the world to us, and we’d love for all your children to benefit from DPA. Apply at myschooldc.com Lottery Deadlines High school deadline is February 2, 2026 Middle school deadline is March 2, 2026 Why Apply Now? As a current DPA family, your children receive sibling preference, giving them a higher chance of being matched if you apply by the deadline. In recent years, demand for DPA from families has been higher than the available space, so we encourage you to apply by the deadline and remember to select DPA as your #1 choice. Thank you for being a valued part of the DPA community. We look forward to continuing this journey with your family for years to come! |
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Athletics Update – Week of 12/15/25 |
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High School Athletics
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Camp Canopy Information Session – Wed., Dec. 18th |
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We’re thrilled to announce that Camp Canopy is back for its fourth summer with Digital Pioneers! After three incredible years together, we can’t wait to continue offering scholars an unforgettable two-week sleepaway experience filled with nature, team-building, leadership, and joy. Camp Canopy has proven to be transformative — fostering confidence, curiosity, and connection. 85% of Digital Pioneers campers said they’d return if they could, and 83% of all campers found activities fun and engaging! We invite you to join us for our Camp Canopy Family Info Session on Wednesday, December 18th! This virtual session is a chance to meet our team, learn what to expect for Summer 2025, review important logistics, and get answers to any questions you may have as we prepare for another joyful season. 📅 Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 🕒 Time: 6:00–7:00 PM EST 💻 Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/ We look forward to connecting with you and sharing all the exciting things ahead for Camp Canopy! |
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High School – Calling All Creative Scholars! |
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We’re collecting original artwork, poems, and songs for this year’s yearbook!
“We’re all in this together!”
Challenge expectations. Inspire change.
Be true to who you are.
Go after what you love, even if it’s not what others expect. Deadline: January 15 Please make sure your work is school-appropriate (nothing vulgar or offensive) and include your name and grade with your submission. Email your submission to DPAYearbook@ Seniors, It’s Baby Photo Time! We’re collecting baby pictures from the Class of 2026 for a special “Guest Who” yearbook feature! Show us how far you’ve come! Please make sure your photo is school-appropriate and include your name when submitting. Email your submission to DPAYearbook@ Deadline: December 15 Let’s celebrate your journey, Class of 2026 |
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Family and Scholar Wellness Resources |
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Food Access Resources We know times can be challenging, and some families may be facing extra difficulty putting food on the table. You are not alone, the DPA Wellness Team is here to help connect you with local food resources and support. Click here for resources available for families in need, along with updates as they become available. Please take a moment to review them and share with anyone who may benefit. Family Resource Guide Please see the linked guide HERE, curated by the DPA Wellness Team. It includes information on community-based organizations, grief and loss support, substance use support, food pantries, and more. Printed copies are also available in the main office. The Balance Bulletin A space created by your school social worker to share tips, tools, and resources that support the well being of our entire DPA community. Each month, you will find insights for parents, teachers and students, along with highlights, updates and inspiration to help you feel balanced, supported and seen. Find the December edition HERE! Monthly Mental Health Newsletter Please check out the monthly mental health newsletter that is published by our Paving the Way Mental Health Therapists. |
