A Note from Principal Brittany Wagner-Friel:
Dear E.L. Haynes Elementary School Families,
To all of our new families, welcome to the E.L. Haynes community, and to all returning families, welcome back! We are excited to kick off the start of the 2025-2026 School Year with you in just a few short weeks.
We have several important start-of-school announcements to share with you below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
See you soon!
Brittany Wagner-Friel
Principal
E.L. Haynes Elementary School
Pre-K Staggered Start
The first day of school for students is Monday, August 18, 25. However, during the first week of school, we stagger the start dates for all Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students to ease their transition to school. See the Pre-K staggered start schedule below.
On half-days, school hours are 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. There is no before- or after-school programming (EDP) during the first week of the school year for Pre-K3 or Pre-K4 students.
Pre-K3 Students
| Date | PK3 Students, Last Names A-J | PK3 Students, Last Names K-Z |
| Monday, August 18 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | No school |
| Tuesday, August 19 | No school | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
| Wednesday, August 20 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | No school |
| Thursday, August 21 | No school | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
| Friday, August 22 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
| Monday, August 25 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.; EDP now available | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.; EDP now available |
Pre-K4 Students
| Date | PK4 Students, Last Names A-J | PK4 Students, Last Names K-Z |
| Monday, August 18 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | No school |
| Tuesday, August 19 | No school | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
| Wednesday, August 20 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
| Thursday, August 21 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
| Friday, August 22 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
| Monday, August 25 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.; EDP now available | 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.; EDP now available |
New Family Orientation Playdates
We are hosting orientation play dates to new Haynes families before the school year begins. We encourage all new-to-Haynes families to attend one orientation playdate with their student, if possible, to help their child with their school transition, hear key information, and get answers to any questions they have before the year begins. No RSVP is needed.
- Thursday, June 31 at 10:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, August 1 at 10:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 13 at 4:00 p.m.
Sign Up for Extended-Day Programming (EDP)
We offer extended-day programming (EDP) for all interested families. Before-school runs from 7:00 – 8:15 a.m., and after-school runs from 3:45 – 6:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, after-school programming begins at 1:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, after-school programming is free of charge until 4:00 p.m.
E.L. Haynes staff manage and run EDP, the cost for which is based on a sliding scale. All families should sign up for EDP in case of emergency. To do so, go to the EZChildTrack Haynes site. Please contact Valarie Upton, Out of School Time Director, at esedp@elhaynes.org with any questions.
School Meals Available Free of Charge
Every student will receive free breakfast in their classroom every day, and a free hot lunch will be available to any student who needs it. We also provide snacks during the school day, including during after-school EDP. If you send your child to school with a home lunch, please do not use any products with nuts or shellfish. Yes, this does include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
Health and Immunization Requirements
DC law requires all students to provide up-to-date immunization, health, and dental records, or proof of medical or religious exemption. Visit osse.dc.gov/immunization for additional guidance from the DC Department of Health and the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. If you have any questions about your child’s health requirements, contact Health and Wellness Director Melissa Beasley at mbeasley@elhaynes.org or (202) 276–7431.
What to Bring
Most school supplies will be provided to students, including pencils, markers, and other classroom materials. Students should bring a backpack and a water bottle with them, each labeled with their name. Students in Pre-K3, Pre-K4, and Kindergarten should bring a change of clothes, labeled with their name, in case of a bathroom accident. Finally, students in Pre-K should bring a blanket to school with them for naps.
Download the ParentSquare App
E.L. Haynes uses a family communication system called ParentSquare. This platform helps streamline communications between you and the school, provides automatically translated messages, has Family-Teacher Conference sign-ups, and more. We strongly encourage families and students to download the free app so you can message staff and other families directly. See below for download links.
- Apple / iOS: bit.ly/parentsquare_apple
- Google / Android: bit.ly/parentsquare_android
Class Assignments
Throughout the next few weeks you will receive more details about your student’s class assignment, including teacher contact information and their classroom number.
Back to School Night: Mark Your Calendar
We will hold Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Free childcare will be provided as well as snacks for students and families. We hope to see you there!