The Association of American Geographers has a program called MyCOE Global Connections & Exchange. The focus is on sustainable development (e.g., climate change, food security) and raising awareness in our local communities via collaborative mapping. The program is open to high school students and teachers can earn $300 for their classroom. See more details here and visit: http://www.aag.org/globalconnections.
Did you know Labyrinth Game Shop has a Teacher Wish List program? Tell your teachers they can bring more learning fun into their classroom at a discount. See details here. 
The Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and the Interim Deputy Mayor for Education are preparing the FY 2014 Children’s Budget Report, to be released in March 2013. One of the first steps is to identify the agencies, programs, and activities (in budget parlance) in the budget to be included in this annual report. The Deputy Mayors would like feedback from the public on the draft list of what should be in the FY 2014 Children’s Budget Report.
USE THIS LINK TO REVIEW THE DRAFT LIST AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK: http://dmhhs.dc.gov/event/public-feedback-needed-childrens-budget-report
Thank you!
Susie Cambria
Susie Cambria, MSW | Children’s Budget Consultant
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite 223 | Washington, DC 20004
W (202) 727-7973 | C (202) 832-2339 | susie.cambria@dc.gov | dmhhs.dc.gov
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Maury Elementary School Library
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
1) At-large City Council Candidates Forum (Charles Allen, Councilmember Wells’ Chief of Staff)
2) DCPS Lottery Communications (Alaina Smith, DCPS, Office of Strategic Enrollment Initiatives)
3) DCPS Library Task Force update
3) Presentation on Maury’s game lending library (Vanessa Ford, Maury Think Tank Teacher)
4) Discussion of 2013 CHPSPO Priorities (tabled till next month) – see last year’s priorities here: http://chpspo.org/2012/01/19/chpspo-meeting-notes-january-12-2012/
5) CHPSPO 501(c)3 (Sherry Trafford) (tabled till next month)
Next CHPSPO Meeting: February 19, 2013
Upcoming Events:
COME LEARN, PLAY AND THINK WITH YOUR CHILD!
WHEN: January 24, 2012 from 6:00-7:30pm
WHERE: Maury Elementary Multi-Purpose Room and grounds (1250 Constitution Ave. NE)
WHAT: This year you will find some of last year’s favorite stations, as well as new ones! You will be able to…
Visit with experts from the National Science Foundation, DC Department of the Environment, Living Classrooms, Anacostia Watershed Society, Casey Trees, DC Beekeeper Association, DC WASA, National Capital Astronomers, District CrossFit and more! Learn more about the Think Tank > http://maurythinktank.blogspot.com/.
DC Public Schools’ final consolidation plan was announced on January 17.
What does this mean for CHPSPO schools?
Tommy Wells commends Chancellor Henderson and highlights direct impact to Ward 6 schools and invites the public to attend Chancellor Henderson’s briefing to the Council’s Committee on Education about her “School Consolidation Plan of 2013” on Wednesday January 23 at noon in Room 412 (Wilson Building).
Do you see other impact? How does this impact your school?
Jeffrey Mills was unfairly fired yesterday (January 14) by DCPS in spite of his success, determination and hard work to overhaul school meals, demand accountability from contractors and move toward a more efficient, cost effective, and healthier food program for DC kids.
DO YOU THINK DC KIDS DESERVE BETTER???
I do- contact DC Council to express your concern over Jeff’s firing, your support for his efforts, and ask what Council will do to follow up on their efforts to address the million dollar deficts racked by by the contractor Chartwells and to get Jeff in a place where he can really do his job. Councilmember David Catania is the chair of the education committee and Erika Wadlington- ewadlington@dccouncil.us is the lead staff on the issue.
Also call the member who represents your Ward!
Thanks to the Alaina Smith and the DCPS Lottery team for joining us in January to share this year’s lottery process.
Note there are a few changes coming, particularly around waitlist (hint: apply in order of TRUE preference) and enrollment (no more letter of intent, but be ready to submit enrollment forms w/ proof of address by May 1). More information on DCPS’ website.
The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization will meet on Tuesday, January 15, at Maury Elementary (1250 Constitution Ave., NE) starting at 6:30 p.m.
It’s always good to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments we achieved together in 2012 before we plunge into the new year. In addition to the many wonderful things all of you achieved at your individual schools, collectively last year we:
– Led a city-wide effort to bring attention to cuts DCPS made to school libraries, and our efforts resulted in DCPS establishing a Library Task Force that released a report in December outlining a series of recommendations to strengthen school libraries across the city;
– Organized the largest Walk-to-School Day and Bike-to-School Day in DC;
– Continued to support the DCPS Ward 6 Middle School Plan by participating in the middle school collaboration team meetings and organized a community discussion on the International Baccalaureate middle years and diploma programs (thanks to Joe Weedon’s efforts);
– Created an informative and lively website filled with important school-related information (thanks to Sandra Moscoso-Mills’ blogging and tweeting efforts);
– Provided a forum to discuss food service issues and hosted a screening of the film Cafeteria Man (thanks to Laura Marks’ leadership);
– Helped spread the idea of the Class of 20xx that brings together elementary school students across the middle school feeder patterns;
– Held the only at-large school board member candidates discussion; and
– Filed the paperwork to make CHPSPO an incorporated organization plus opened a CHPSPO bank account.
Thank you all for all you’ve done to support CHPSPO’s mission to promote cooperation among the parent organizations of the public schools on Capitol Hill in order to improve the eudcation received by all children attending our schools!
Our agenda this coming Tuesday will be:
6:30 pm Welcome and introductions
6:35 pm Discussion of 2013 CHPSPO Priorities (All)
7:10 pm Presentation on Maury’s game lending library (Vanessa Ford, Maury Think Tank Teacher)
7:30 pm DCPS Library Task Force update
7:35 pm Company for Causes
7:45 pm CHPSPO 501(c)3 (Sherry Trafford)
If you have other agenda topics, please let me know. See you on Tuesday.
Suzanne Wells
Ward 6 Public School Parents Organization