Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School

PK3’s beloved food unit in progress. Their faces say it all. Thank you families for bringing deliciousness to our classrooms!

March is already off to an exciting start with very special learning experiences beyond the classroom!

📸 #1 & 2– Our 4th grade Whale class visited the Wilson Building to watch Dr. Clopton testify before the council. What an incredible way to see legislation and advocacy in action! A special surprise—Councilmember Robert White stopped by to greet our students!

📸 # 3-5 – Yu Ying leaders took the mic to testify, sharing our Yu Ying story and all the important perspectives on education in DC.

📸 #6-7 – DC Math League stars! 🎉 Huge congratulations to Ronan (Gr. 5), Lukas, and Alexander (Gr. 4) for earning top placements in the competition!

February at Yu Ying, as we honored Black History Month together.

Yu Ying is full of 💗 today and everyday - Happy Valentine’s Day!

Building Closed: Asynchronous Learning Day | Wednesday Feb. 12th.

Please see your email for more information.

Stay safe and warm on this snowy day! ❄️☃️

When Mario, our elementary campus principal, was 10-year-old, he attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. He remembers meeting Astronaut Leland Melvin—a moment that stuck with him. Even though his path didn’t lead to the stars (and glad he’s with YY!), he never forgot the astronaut who sparked his curiosity and sense of possibility.

Yesterday, we had the incredible honor of welcoming to Yu Ying to share his journey to space, and introduce his newest book, Space Chasers! He reminded our students that they could be part of the first generation to live and work on Mars—and that reaching for the stars takes a community coming together to make it happen.

Astronaut Leland’s impact reaches far beyond space—he ignites dreams, curiosity, and possibility in all who meet him, like the 10-year-old Mario Clopton. Thank you, Leland, for inspiring the next generation at Yu Ying! 🚀🌟

is in full swing at Yu Ying! Meet Haley, Sarah and Rebecca Laoshi (not pictured) - guiding our students from garden to table with hands-on cooking and nutrition lessons. As the first charter school to launch this program for YY elementary students, we’re excited to see our students learning, cooking, and of course, sharing health & delicious meals together.

Have you tried any of the recipes yet? The sweet potato biscuit is a staff favorite!

This morning, Yu Ying students had the HUGE HONOR of performing at the Smithsonian National Zoo’s public debut of the newest Giant Pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao! ✨

Braving the chilly January temperature, our students celebrated this special moment through art, performance, and joyful cheering during the opening of the Asia Trail. The students were thrilled to share their talents and celebrate this momentous occasion with the community.

Thank you, , for allowing us to be part of this event with distinguished guests like Director Brandie Smith, Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, Ambassador Xie Feng, and Mayor Muriel Bowser!

Thank you to our teachers and students for all the effort they put into preparing for this special moment. 🌏

Year 2 of YU HELP is here! 🎉 Our high-impact after-school tutoring program, led by YY alums and Harvin-Conner Laoshi, is back to support and empower our students. Thank you alums for building the special connections and making a difference in the Yu Ying community! 💙💛

Welcoming today for today’s author visit at Yu Ying! Thank you, Gale, for bringing such creativity and inspiration to our school and encouraging us all to keep reading & drawing! We loved every minute of your visit. A special shoutout to for making this opportunity possible! 📚✍🏼✏️

This week, we had the honor of welcoming back Maquita Alexander and her mother, Ms. Maureen—both of whom will always hold a special place in the Yu Ying community. During her 13 years at Yu Ying, Maquita served as principal, head of school, and executive director, leading efforts to secure the partnership and building acquisition for our new Early Years Campus. We’re so grateful for their continued connection and for being part of our community.

With classrooms ready for January 2, staff got a sneak peek of FoodPrints’ in-school field trip program, and we celebrated Amy’s birthday.

Endless thanks to our Operations team for making all of this possible—you are the true heroes of move week!

A message from our Executive Director, Carlie Fisherow:

Dear Yu Ying Family,

This Giving Tuesday, I’m filled with overwhelming gratitude for our incredible community. As we prepare to open our new Early Years Campus in 30 days (!!), I’m deeply thankful for the trust and support you’ve shown us.

Your generosity does more than build a campus. It nurtures the dreams of our young learners, supports our dedicated staff, and strengthens the vibrant Yu Ying community we’ve built together. Each gift is a testament to our shared commitment to education and growth.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in our students, our mission, and the power of community. 💛

With deep appreciation,
Carlie Fisherow

Yu Ying has so much to be grateful for this season

1️⃣ The heart of Yu Ying—our alumni!
2️⃣ Our incredible staff (special shoutout to Brian, who just had his final reunion concert with Velocity Girl)
3️⃣ 39 days until the opening of Early Years Campus (playground logs are installed!)
4️⃣-9️⃣ Highlights from today’s alumni visit and Books are Magic at YY
🔟 Our beloved annual Friendsgiving tradition

Thank you to everyone who makes this community so special.

💙💛

As we close out National Principals’ Month, we’re sending a huge thank you to our amazing principals, Amy Quinn and Mario Clopton! 🌟 They serve Yu Ying students with excellence, care, and passion every day.

Yesterday, our Executive Director, Carlie Fisherow, delivered a powerful testimony at Chairman Mendelson’s hearing on teacher and principal retention, shining a light on the dedication of our school’s leaders and staff. We’re endlessly grateful for the energy Amy and Mario bring to our community and for all they do to support our students’ growth and success.

Watch Carlie’s full testimony to learn more about their impact! 🎥

Yu Ying shone with all the colors, lights, and joy of Diwali! 🪔✨ Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Huge thanks to our incredible Diwali committee for creating a celebration filled with festive spirit and beauty.

Grade 4 wrapped up their exploration unit with a ‘live museum,’ while 2nd graders studied healthy bodies. Special shoutout to families who show up, volunteer, and make these experiences even richer for our students!