Capitol Hill Cluster School

Home
United States
Washington D.C., DC
Capitol Hill Cluster School

ABOUT CAPITOL HILL CLUSTER SCHOOL

The Cluster School got its start in the 1970s when our founding principal, Ms. Veola M.
(22)

The Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA supports the Peabody Primary Campus, Watkins Elementary and Stuart-Hobson Middle School through parental involvement and activism. Jackson, worked with parents and the community to initiate a series of changes at several Capitol Hill schools to break down historic barriers and create a community-centered school that would serve students from the early childhood

years through early adolescence. The school was officially chartered in 1986. Today, the Cluster School—Peabody, Watkins, and Stuart-Hobson—is a strong and diverse PK3-8th grade learning environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Today, Peabody and Watkins Principal MScott Berkowitz and Stuart Hobson Principal Eric Fraser work with their teams to maintain high academic standards and provide stable, consistent leadership across the Cluster. The Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA is a strong organization devoted to supporting the schools' programs and providing a deep level of parental involvement and activism.

08/26/2024

It’s the most wonderful time of thr year! Happy First Day to all who celebrate.

Clusterinos, tag us in your First Day pics!

07/04/2024

The Cluster was on parade at Barracks Row this morning. Happy 4th of July!

05/22/2024

Pics from the Capitol Hill Classic 10K are up and available for free download! Thank you Roberta Stewart for capturing the smiles, miles, and memories!

https://capitolhillclassic.smugmug.com/Capitol-Hill-Classic-2024

05/20/2024

Congratulations to 3rd grader Natalie Bucks, who was the top Cluster fundraiser through our Capitol Hill Classic 10K “Fund My Run” campaign. Natalie brought in $1,746 from 25 donors to help support her school. Thank you, Natalie! 🐾❤️

04/30/2024

While the Caps season might be over, our fun with them is just beginning. The Washington Capitals have donated game tickets and Darcy Kuemper bobble heads to be given out as prizes to Cluster students who participate in “Fund My Run” and help raise money for the Cluster ahead of the Classic (May 19 - link to register in bio). More info coming this week so keep an eye on the school listservs and backpack flyers! 🦅🐾🏃🏿‍♂️♥️

03/29/2024

🌞 Cluster families!🌞

We urgently need the the DC Council to hear your voices regarding the critical funding situation for our Cluster schools. Specifically, Stuart-Hobson Middle School faces a precarious position in the initial proposed budget, which could result in the loss of 6 full-time employees.

But fear not! Our Council contacts emphasize that the more they hear from our school community, the stronger their position becomes to restore funding.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

1️⃣ Contact Sara Chieffo at sarachieffo[at]gmail[dot]com if you encounter any issues using the provided materials.
2️⃣ Join us at the LSAT meeting on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30pm. Karen Pence, Amber Williams, and Carmen Coles Tull will lead discussions on this crucial topic.
3️⃣ Stand with the group of Cluster caregivers testifying before the DC Council on Thursday, April 4 regarding the proposed budget. If you wish to join, reach out to Danielle Drissel at danielle_drissel[at]yahoo[dot]com.

Your engagement matters! Let’s rally together because it truly takes a village, and our Capitol Hill Cluster school community is resilient and united! 🌟🏫🌟

03/01/2024

To cap , and in collaboration with the PreK-3 Teacher Team, the PTA was proud to sponsor today’s visit from Uncle Devin, who brought the joy of Go-Go music to the Assembly.

Thank you to all the generous PTA Donors who help make such events possible!

02/26/2024

The traditional 5th grade ski trip continues! Lots of first timers braved the hill and lived to tell the tale. Great day at with these panthers!

02/22/2024

📣📣📣 Announcing the 2nd Annual Watkins Panther Party 🎉🎉🎉!

FREE for all Watkins families, the CHCS PTA will be providing pizza 🍕 for all, a Mad Science 🧪 show for our young scientists, and lots of music 🎶 and dancing 💃🏽!

Thursday, March 7 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in the cafeteria 🍕. See you there!

02/21/2024

📣📣📣 It’s time for one of CHCS’s biggest fundraisers and parties of the year‼️

🎉🍾The Cluster Auction and Party on Friday, March 22nd 2024! 🎉🥳

Click the link in bio to purchase your tickets.

We are also accepting donations from families and friends! Below are some ideas:
• Hosting parties and want to sell tickets to a wonderful themed event
• Do you work at some place amazing and can auction off a tour or majestic swag?
• Do you have an astonishing skill or really cool hobby that you could auction off your skills or services?
• Do you own an Airbnb or vacation home and would be willing to auction off a weekend?

These are just a few ideas, we are open to them all! Click the link in our bio to donate an item, service, and/or experience‼️

Stay tuned for updates and information on the party and all the amazing things up for auction - we hope you’re able to join us!

Let’s get ready to PARRRRRTTTAAAAAAYYY!

02/09/2024

❤️🖤💚 Black History Month ❤️🖤💚
📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣

STUART-HOBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Located at 410 E Street, NE DC

Stuart-Hobson Middle School is part of the Capital Hill Cluster School and teaches 6th through 8th grade students. The former Stuart Junior High School, Stuart-Hobson was designed by architect Albert L. Harris, and constructed between 1925 and
1927. It served white students in the northeast
section of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in the
District of Columbia. As an institution, then Stuart Junior High School was housed in several older elementary schools on Capitol Hill. It was named in honor of Alexander Tait Stuart, superintendent
of District of Columbia Public Schools from 1908 to 1911. When the building was completed, the school relieved overcrowding in the area’s smaller schools housing the seventh and eighth grades in addition to the ninth grade. In 1986, a reorganization of the Capitol Hill schools resulted in the creation of the Stuart-Hobson Middle School to serve grades 5 through 8. The renamed school honored
Julius Hobson, member of the DC Board of Education and civil rights leader.

Julius W. Hobson was born on May 29, 1919, in Birmingham, Alabama. Hobson a fiery, outspoken civil rights activist, battled the District of Columbia establishment to reform education, housing, and
employment for the city’s African- American population.

He was elected to the DC Board of Education in 1968, and the City Council in 1974. Hobson was a key founder of the D.C. Statehood Party. In the national political arena, he was a leader in major civil rights organizations, an early advocate of black power, and the Vice Presidential candidate on the People’s Party ticket with Dr. Benjamin Spock in 1972. A World War II veteran, Hobson died on March 23, 1977.

02/08/2024

The PTA is proud to host Foodprints at Watkins. Today’s menu: Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili! 😋😎

02/01/2024

❤️🖤💚As we enter Black History Month, take a look at a DC Public School named after Benjamin Banneker. Discover more about him below, especially if you’re an 8th grader at CHCS planning for high schools. ❤️🖤💚

Benjamin Banneker School, located at 800 Euclid Street NW, was constructed in 1939 with alterations and additions in 1950. Designs for the colonial style
building were prepared under the leadership of architect Nathan C. Wythe.

Built as a school for blacks, this classical
structure was closed from 1952-1955 after the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision, when its students were transferred to other schools. In 1955 the school desegregated. Since 1981 the building has been used to provide rigorous
curriculum for the District of Columbia’s top senior high school students. The school was named in honor of Benjamin Banneker.

Benjamin Banneker was an African-American mathematician, astronomer, clockmaker, and publisher who was instrumental in surveying the District of Columbia. He was born in Maryland on November 9, 1731. Banneker was one of the the
first African Americans to gain distinction in science. He taught himself astronomy by watching the stars and learned advanced mathematics from borrowed textbooks. In 1752, Banneker garnered public acclaim by building a clock entirely out of wood. The
clock, believed to be the first built in America, kept precise time for decades. He published an almanac
annually from 1791 to 1802. Benjamin Banneker died on October 9, 1806.

01/28/2024

Are you ready for the return of the annual Cluster Family Game Night… if not then get ready because it’s coming THIS Wednesday 1/31! Hope to see you there! 👀😎🎯

01/25/2024

The Peabody Pajama Jammy Jam was off the hook! Epic dance party. Bodacious bounce houses. Sensational story time. And pizza as far as the eye could see. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped make it happen. The Cluster PTA is thrilled to sponsor great family events like these!

01/08/2024

CHCS 8th Grade Important Dates and Events - January 2024

12/09/2023

🎭✨ Join us for a spooktacular night of laughter, music, and eerie delights as Stuart-Hobson Middle School proudly presents "The Addams Family" musical! 🕷🎶 Get ready for a hauntingly entertaining performance by our talented middle schoolers.

🗓️ Date: This weekend Dec. 8-10
🎟️ Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players
📍 Location: Stuart-Hobson Middle School

🔥 Secure your tickets now and experience the magic of this kooky and mysterious musical! Don't miss out on the fun – bring your family, friends, and fellow Addams enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening. 🌟

11/21/2023

🐞🦟🪲🪳 Good job Peabody…keep on exploring! We always enjoy checking out Peabody’s garden and finding insects and seeing what is growing in the Foodprints garden beds!

11/19/2023

📣📣 Support our Lady Panthers 🐆 🏀

11/17/2023

📣📣 ORDER IN THE COURT! Fresh off their unit on democracy, Watkins 3rd graders took a field trip to the Federal District Court (living in DC for the win!) to watch a mock trial. They got to sit in the jury box, speak with a judge, and issue a verdict. They were all found guilty of having a great time. The free ride on a bus was also a highlight!

11/15/2023

📣📣Feeder Day for the SHMS Adaams Family Musical 🎤 🎭. Stuart-Hobson is proud to invite all feeder families to the Saturday, December 9 matinee show of The Addams Family. Come experience the magic of Stuart-Hobson's theater program for yourself! After the show, Stuart-Hobson Principal Eric Fraser is hosting a special reception for feeder school families. Families from Peabody, Watkins, J.O. Wilson, and Ludlow-Taylor are all invited to join in some spooky fun and get to know our amazing neighborhood middle school!

Tickets can be purchased here: www.tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players.

11/12/2023

👻🧛🏻 This is a can’t miss event! Come and check out the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Drama Players as they star in the award winning winter performance, The Addams Family!

Experience the ghoulish characters who bring us a story of friendship through adversity.

December 8-10
(Fri 6:30 PM, Sat 1:00 PM & 6:30 PM, Sun 3:00 PM)

Tickets link is also in the bio:
tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players

11/10/2023

Ready… Set… let’s roll! Check out Ms. Keck, Mr. Nagbe, and Ms. Rachel competed in relays at the pep assembly at Stuart-Hobson Middle School today, representing Watkins ES!

11/09/2023

It’s almost time to Level Up to middle school… Thank you Stuart-Hobson MS for welcoming our Watkins ES 4th and 5th graders today! Thanks to Principal Fraser and others for a successful program!

11/08/2023

📚 How about kicking off the long holiday weekend with a good book!? The East City Book Shop hybrid book fair is HERE and it’s GREAT!

From November 6-12 (that’s today through Sunday), ECB is donating 20% of pre-tax purchases back to the Cluster PTA! All you have to do is mention the Cluster when you make your purchase in person or online.

In addition to shopping for your personal needs, you can also help stock some shelves in our Cluster classrooms.

Teachers had the opportunity to create an ongoing wish list for their classroom and you can shop just like a gift registry. You’ll find teacher wish lists online here. (Pro tip: these lists are also great inspiration for gifting to your own kiddo!)

Proud of your kiddo for the hard work they put in during Term 1? Book gift to your kiddo! #

Been curious about Kerry Washington’s memoir? Book gift to yourself!

Thankful that your kiddo’s teacher is awesome and want to say thanks? Book gift to a teacher!

East City Book Shop is a local, woman-owned small business and it regularly contributes to the silent auction at our annual Spring Party and Auction. We’re grateful that they offer this mini-fundraiser opportunity to local schools like the Cluster.

11/08/2023

📚 CHCS READING TIME‼️

Packed house at the Watkins library tonight for author (and Watkins family alum!) Sean O’Brien to discuss his new book White House Clubhouse. Thanks to and Librarian Langley for making tonight’s event possible. Remember to shop at ECB this week and mention the Cluster for 20% of the proceeds to benefit our school! Shoutout to Mr. O’Brien for his amazing vintage Watkins t-shirt! Should we bring this design back?”

11/07/2023

Congratulations to the Stuart-Hobson Middle School girls volleyball team for a great season! You fought hard in the playoffs… but we will be ready for next season! Let’s go Panthers!

11/07/2023

📣📣📣The PTA helped Watkins teachers celebrate their newly renovated break room last week by providing refreshments during Records Day. Shoutout to the Watkins Executive Committee for helping to assemble the furniture and add a some flair to the decor!

What’s your thoughts on the new renovations?

Address

420 12th Street SE
Washington D.C., DC
20003

Website

http://www.capitolhillclusterschool.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Capitol Hill Cluster School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Capitol Hill Cluster School:

Videos

To cap #BlackHistoryMonth, and in collaboration with the PreK-3 Teacher Team, the PTA was proud to sponsor today’s visit from Uncle Devin, who brought the joy of Go-Go music to the #RocktheRed Assembly. Thank you to all the generous PTA Donors who help make such events possible!

“Say hi to the Cluster!” On this beautiful July 4th holiday, dozens of Cluster families joined the annual Capitol Hill July 4th parade.

Our 8th graders wrapped up their Stuart-Hobson Middle School careers (and a very unconventional 8th grade campaign) with a Sneaker Ball! Congratulations to all the graduates 🧑🏽‍🎓👩🏿‍🎓👨🏾‍🎓👩🏼‍🎓👨🏿‍🎓! We’re so proud of you! 🐾❤️🐾❤️

Teacher Appreciation Parade

We love our teachers! Yesterday, Cluster families caravaned across Capitol Hill honking horns and waving signs in appreciation of our wonderful teachers. How did you celebrate #TeacherAppreciationWeek? Share your pics and videos in the comments!

“I have a Dream...” Watkins 5th graders delivering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic words from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial last Thursday. A tradition unlike any other. #MLKDay

¡Celebramos el mes de la herencia hispana! Watkins celebrates #HispanicHeritageMonth!

Good morning from the Peabody Book Character Costume Parade! Did your kiddos dress up? Post pics here!

Full speed ahead at Watkins!

Summer isn't the only thing that went by in a blur. Check out the scene at Watkins this morning!

Enjoy this video of Watkins 2nd graders singing “This Little Light of Mine” during the Black History Program yesterday evening. ❤️🐾🕯❤️

Need a little appreciation to get through the middle of the week? Check out this cute Peabody video!

Shortcuts

Our Story

ABOUT CAPITOL HILL CLUSTER SCHOOL The Cluster School got its start in the 1970s when our founding principal, Ms. Veola M. Jackson, worked with parents and the community to initiate a series of changes at several Capitol Hill schools to break down historic barriers and create a community-centered school that would serve students from the early childhood years through early adolescence. The school was officially chartered in 1986. Today, the Cluster School -- comprising Peabody Primary Campus, Watkins Elementary School, and Stuart-Hobson Middle School — is a strong and diverse PK3-8th grade learning environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Today, CHCS Principals Comeforo and Bell work with a team of Assistant Principals assigned to each campus to maintain high academic standards and provide stable, consistent leadership across the Cluster. The Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA is a strong organization devoted to supporting the schools' programs and providing a deep level of parental involvement and activism.