Calendar Notifications

25-26 School Year CALENDAR (linked here) – Updated on 2/22/26

April 6 – NO SCHOOL – Teacher Professional Development Day, End of Quarter 3

April 13-17 – NO SCHOOL – Spring Break

May 5-21 – DCCAPE Testing

May 20 – College Decision Day

May 25 – No School Memorial Day

Action Requested: “DC Says” Family Survey (5 minutes)

DPA families,

DPA values your feedback! We are inviting you to take a brief 5 minute survey to share your experience with us.

Your input helps us continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our scholars and prepare them for college and beyond. We truly want to hear from you.

The survey is open now through April 3rd. You can complete it by scanning the QR code on the LINKED flyer or visiting:

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/osse/family/surveys?language=en

After accessing the site:

• Select “Take the Family Survey for a DC Charter School”

• Choose your child’s school

  • Digital Pioneers Academy PCS – Capitol Hill (High School)

  • Digital Pioneers Academy PCS – Johenning (Middle School)

Scholars will also complete the survey at school. To request an opt-out form, please email data@digitalpioneersacademy.org.

Special Announcement – Attendance (Middle School)

DPA Middle School Families,

We have ambitious goals. We want every scholar to be on the path to college and career. Do you believe in this mission? If yes, everyday counts.  In addition, the Public Charter School Board recently released a new accountability framework in order to make sure that D.C’s Charter Schools are doing everything possible to make sure that their scholars are on track for college and career. One of the new metrics is centered around Chronic Absenteeism. A scholar is deemed Chronically Absent if they miss more than 10% of the entire school year or more than 17 school days in 180 days. Scholars that are Chronically Absent are more likely to drop out of school, face being retained in their current grade level, and overall not be on track to college and career.

There are 54 days left in the school year. Your scholar cannot miss more than 3 days (roughly one per month) for the remainder of the school year in order to maintain 95% attendance for the rest of the school year. ATTENDANCE MATTERS and we need your scholar at school everyday if we are to accomplish our academic goals. We understand that there are legitimate reasons why your scholar cannot make it to school, but that should only be reserved for extreme and rare circumstances.

WHEN MY SCHOLAR MUST COME TO SCHOOL.

• My scholar woke up late

• My scholar has an early dismissal from school today

• My scholar has allergies, and they are not feeling 100%.

• My scholar is tired.

• My scholar has a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon.

• My scholar has a doctor’s appointment in the morning.

• The bus/train is running late.

WHEN MY SCHOLAR SHOULD NOT COME TO SCHOOL

• Death in the immediate family (Limited to 3 days)

• A doctor’s note STATING that the scholar CANNOT be at school.

COMMON BUT UNSATISFACTORY EXCUSES

• My scholar needs to watch their younger siblings.

• My scholar doesn’t want to go to school.

• My scholar doesn’t feel 100%.

• Bad weather

• Delayed Public Transit

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SCHOLAR IS CHRONICALLY ABSENT AND/OR TRUANT?

DPA follows OSSE regulations around attendance and truancy. While understanding that both sickness, emergencies, bereavement, and other reasons apply to scholar absences, it is critical that scholars and families ensure absences from school are minimized. Per the DPA attendance policy, the following protocol for consecutive or consistent absence from school:

1. Scholars who reach 3 absences during one quarter, or 5 absences during the year, may be required to complete an attendance recovery plan, a plan intended to make up learning time missed while out of school.

2. If a scholar has 10 or more unexcused absences (consecutive or nonconsecutive), DPA will report the absences to Child and Family Services.

3. If a scholar has 20 or more consecutive unexcused absences, the scholar may be unenrolled from DPA.

4. Attendance data will be reported to Court Social Services and/or the OAG Juvenile Division and Child and Family Services as requested.

5. Retention (repeating a grade) will be considered regardless of academic performance.

6. These referrals can also affect your public benefits including TANF and WIC.

WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED HELP?

Reachout! We will do everything in our power to help get your scholar to school, we have a wide range of resources at school that your scholar can engage with when they are present.

If you would like to schedule an Attendance Meeting with the Team – Please Sign Up Here

WHO DO I REACH OUT TO?

Middle School

• Sarah Hanson – Director of Operations Sarah.hanson@digitalpioneersacademy.org

• Aliya McCants – Social Worker aliya.mccants@digitalpioneersacademy.org

• Derrick Williams – Dean of Culture derrick.williams@digitalpioneersacademy.org

Let us know how we can best support you and your scholar so that they can show up for school on time every day.  There are also community resources we can help connect you with that can provide additional support and assistance.

• East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc (Ward 7)

• Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative  (Ward 8)

Athletics Update – Week of 3/23/26

High School Athletics

After School Clubs and Activities

High School After School Clubs

• Elegant Grace Society – Room 110
  Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

• Barber Club – College Suite Basement
  Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

• Art Club – Room 109
  Tuesdays | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

• Dapper Posh – Room 209
  Mondays | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

• Crochet Club – Room 206
  Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

• Python Playback – Room 111
  Mondays & Tuesdays | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

• Cosmetology Club – Room 101
  Mondays & Fridays | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

• Best Kids – Room 106
  Wednesdays | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

• Step Team – College Suite Basement
  Mondays & Thursdays | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Middle School After School Clubs

Tutoring- Mon, Tue 4-5

Bike Club- Tue- 4-5:30

Best Kids- Wed 1-2

Art Club- Thur 4-5

Robotic Thurs 4-5

P.O.W.E.R- Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 3:45- 6

Middle School Youth Poetry Contest

The Junior League is hosting the 27th Annual DC Youth Poetry Contest.  The contest is for 4th-8th grade students, and this year’s theme is “Imagine.” The contest is a great way for students to practice writing and express themselves creatively. Find all of the details on the contest WEBSITE.

Family and Scholar Wellness Resources

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.

Monthly Mental Health Newsletter

Please check out the monthly mental health newsletter that is published by our Paving the Way Mental Health Therapists.