School updates: Sheridan’s new addition; UDC’s new signs; Latest journalism from Jackson-Reed

The October 5th ribbon-cutting for the new Sheridan School addition. (photo by Karen O’Connor Floman)

Sheridan School celebrated the completion of its new two-story addition with an October 5th ribbon-cutting ceremony, and has since been showing it off with tours and open houses.

The former view of Sheridan School from 36th Street, and an architect’s rendering of the addition.

The completed addition. (this photo and the following are by Margot Bloch)

Sheridan added an entry vestibule on the ground floor…

And meeting and classroom spaces above.

The addition took years of planning and months of construction.

“Construction rarely feels like it’s for students. It feels like noise, dust, and delay,” Rob Bradford, the head of Sheridan’s middle school, said in a press release. “But it always is for students. Every new wall, every light-filled window, every space we reclaimed or reimagined was built with them in mind.”

And when the work began in December 2024, the independent K-8 school treated it as a learning opportunity for students, who had opportunities to talk to the builders and observe the project – and all of its complexity – first hand.

“[T]his project reflects who we are and what we value: progressive education that is hands-on, inclusive, and future-ready,” said Sheridan Head of School Courtney Martin.

New at UDC: More signs and banners helping visitors find their way to and around campus. You’ll find the latest additions on light poles along Connecticut Avenue, on the UDC Student Center, and a large banner on the side of the university’s Building 38.

The banner on Building 38 is visible on the right side of this photo.

Banners for the UDC law school at 4340 Connecticut Avenue are under review.

Catch up on the news… from Jackson-Reed High School reporters: Stories covered so far this school year by the excellent Beacon newspaper include student and teacher reactions to the DC Public Schools cell phone ban, the impact on international teachers as DCPS stops sponsoring green card holders, and the school community’s efforts to assist those affected by the government shutdown.

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