Principal’s Corner

Dear Parents and Guardians,

My name is Dr. Harold McCray, Jr. and I am so excited to introduce myself as the principal of Stanton Elementary School. It is my belief that in order for any school to be successful there has to be a strong relationship with the parents and the community. Relationships are what drive society forward, and our scholars deserve the best. We are excited to welcome our scholars each day to our school filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning. It is our priority to help every child feel safe, welcomed, and connected. Additionally, we strive to push our students to grow academically while supporting their development and social-emotional needs.

Our school no longer has a charter partnership with DC Scholars. We are a fully operated public school with the District of Columbia. With that being said, there will be some changes made for the upcoming school year. One immediate change is that all students will wear one uniform. The uniform is a navy-blue polo style shirt and tan khakis bottoms (pants or knee length skirts). 

It is important that your child is here and on time each and every day. I am setting this expectation to ensure all of our scholars are receiving a high-quality education. Our doors will open at 8:15 a.m. for students to get breakfast. Instruction will begin at 8:45 a.m. daily. Anyone who arrives after 8:50 a.m. will be considered late. Also, school ends at 3:15 p.m. If for any reason your child has an early dismissal, please pick them up prior to 2:30 p.m. There will be no early dismissals after 2:30 p.m. I have to ensure we have a safe and structured dismissal process and that will not work if we have people not following school policy. It is our responsibility to develop critical thinkers and responsible citizens, and that is why I insist that our scholars, staff, and parents exemplify the core values of PRIDE (Perseverance, Resilience, Integrity, Discipline, and Empathy) which aligns to the components of Social and Emotional Learning. I have high expectations for behavior, academic success, and family engagement.

This year our scholars will be engaged in rigorous learning experiences while participating in various activities such as a Mental Health Fair, College and Career Day, field trips, and more. It is my belief that all students can succeed with the right amount of support, effective instruction, and love.  I look forward to a great school year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Harold A. McCray, Jr – Principal