CHPSPO Meeting Notes – October 17, 2012

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO)

Amidon-Bowen ES, Library – 401 I St., SW

Oct 16, 2012, 6:30-8PM

 

1) Pace Car Program – Dan Hoagland, WABA (did not attend). More here.

Decision: should be disseminated to principals/schools and driven by schools/neighborhoods.

Next Steps: Suzanne will ask Jennifer Heffernan to get list of schools in the Safe Routes to School program & find coordinators.  We’ll work through the coordinators to promote the Pace Car program.

 

2) White Paper – Suzanne Wells/All

Discussion:

  • There may not be critical mass at individual schools to offer programs, e.g., a debate club, but hosting at a library and attracting students from multiple schools is a possibility.
  • This is the conversation that principals NEED to have.
  • Music as unifying force, especially with DC Youth Orchestra Program at Eastern HS.
  • Running programs from multiple schools might  compete at nats stadium or have a field day on track at Eastern HS
  • Frame as not asking DCPS to take lead, but to guide principals to see this as an opportunity.
  • Attachment to white paper w/ statistics to better understand individual school offerings … ex: all elementary schools provide track… why does this not roll up to MS or HS level?
  • How do we remove competition? How to we work together to ensure all children in all schools are at reading level? How do we share resources?
  • My kid is going to be going to school w/ that kid in MS, so I need to help…

Next Steps:

 

3) Class of 20XX

Discussion:  Idea is to get students thinking from an early age that they are the high school graduation class of 20XX, and that the Eastern feeder pattern expects there to be a 100% graduation rate.  Bigger goal is to help support any student not on track to graduate, and identify students early on so they have greatest chance of graduating from high school.  Look for sponsors to support initiative. Tshirts, reunions, pre-unions, Ward 6 scavenger hunt.

Next Steps: Reach out to Drew Golin(Maury) for a framework/details.

4) DCPS Library Funding Follow Up

  • DCPS has only agreed to one recommendation  by establishing task force
  • Protest/rally on Friday, October 19 at the Wilson Building – 8:45 AM – 2:00 PM

5) Learn about IB Middle Years Programme (Joe Weedon)

  • October 23, 6PM at Atlas Performing Arts Center, including principals from Eliot-Hine, Jefferson and Eastern. More here.
  • Need volunteers to set up and help sign participants in – contact Joe Weedon (joeweedon@verizon.net)

 

6) Eliot-Hine Living Room Chats – Suzanne Wells

– Looking for 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th grade parents to participate, co-host. Contact Suzanne (m.godec@att.net)

– NOTE: Eliot-Hine set to get bicycle racks!

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting: November 20, 2012

Upcoming events:

  • Oct 19:  Support School Libraries Rally/Protest, 8:45 AM-2 PM @ Wilson Building. More here.
  • Oct 21: Brent’s Ward 6 Fall Safety Festival, 11 AM- 4 PM (all donations to support the Meslin Family). More here.
  • Oct 23: Learn about International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, 6PM @ Atlas Performing Arts Center. More here.
  • Oct 27: Tyler Fall Harvest. 11 AM- 3 PM. More here.
  • Oct 27: Maury Fall Festival. More here.
  • Oct 27: Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan Haunted Harvest, 6-9PM. More here.
  • Nov 8: Cluster Family Game Night & Wine Raffle. More here.
  • Nov 10: Amidon-Bowen Fun Day.  11 AM-2PM

 

Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan’s Haunted Harvest is Sat, Oct 27,6-9PM

 

More details: http://capitolhillmontessorischool.org/

Tyler’s Harvest Festival is Saturday, Oct 27, 11AM-3PM

 

More info at: http://tylerelementary.net/headline/harvest-festival-2012/

 

Ward 6 Fall Safety Festival at Brent ES is on Sunday, Oct 21!

Save School Libraries Protest on Friday, October 19 – Wilson Building

 

 

Can’t make the Rally? What else can you do to help Save School Libraries?

  • Read this fact sheet –> Library Facts Handout 9-19 and reach out to the Mayor Gray, your Councilmember and Chancellor Henderson.
  • Support Council Member Jack Evans’ bill to restore DCPS funding for librarians, art and music teachers.
  • Encourage local leaders to support this effort, like ANC6B’s Resolution.
  • Sign the online petition.
  • Tell the world you support our DC Public School Librarians. ‘Like’ CHPSPO on Facebook, follow @CHPSPO on Twitter, tweet #SaveSchoolLibraries. Keep up with updates via http://chpspo.org

 

 

October 16 CHPSPO Meeting, 6:30 PM @ Amidon-Bowen

The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization will meet on Tuesday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School (401 I St., SW). The meeting will be in the school’s library.

We will be discussing the upcoming Ward 6 IB meeting, a white paper with ideas for strengthening the Eastern feeder pattern, supporting school libraries, and more. Hope to see you on Tuesday.

Suzanne Wells

IB Atlas – FINAL.pdf

THE MASTER FLYER.pdf

White paper 080812.docx

101612 CHPSPO Agenda.docx

Learn about the IB Middle Years Programme‏ – October 23

When: Tuesday, October 23, 6 PM

Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St., NE

 

Please join Principals:

  • Rachel Skerritt, Eastern HS
  • Tynika Young, Eliot-Hine MS
  • Natalie Gordon, Jefferson MS

and Bob Smith, DCPS’s IB Manager to learn more about the International Baccalaureate Programme in our neighborhood schools.

For a preview of the progress in implementing this new, rigorous academic program, check out Eliot-Hine Radio: http://www.live365.com/stations/tyoung1

What is International Baccalaureate? Ask These Students…

Eliot-Hine Middle School is implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program. What is IB? Watch  these children and educators…

Learn more on Tuesday, October 23, 6:00 PM, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street Northeast).

Capitol Hill Schools Celebrate Walk-to-School Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, September 30, 2012

 

Contact:  Suzanne Wells, m.godec@att.net

 

 

Capitol Hill Schools Celebrate Walk-to-School Day

 

Come Celebrate with Us at Lincoln Park and See the Role Walking to School Can Play in Student Health and Safety

 

Washington, DC- On Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 7:30 a.m., students from thirteen schools (Brent Elementary, The Capitol Hill Cluster School (Peabody Early Childhood Center, Watkins Elementary, and Stuart Hobson Middle School), Capitol Hill Montessori@Logan, Eastern High School, Eliot-Hine Middle School, J.O. Wilson Elementary, Ludlow-Taylor Elementary, Maury Elementary, Miner Elementary, Payne Elementary, School-Within-School@Logan Annex, and Tyler Elementary) will gather at Lincoln Park (13th & East Capitol Streets, SE) to celebrate International Walk-to-School Day and the simple act of walking to school.  The Walk-to-School Day event at Lincoln Park will be the largest in Washington, DC.  By 8:30 a.m., everyone will be walking to their respective schools in order to arrive on time!

 

The Walk-to-School event at Lincoln Park will feature guest speakers Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and Chef Alli Sosna.  Fitness coach Rita Floyd and running coach Kathy Pugh will get the crowd moving, and the Maury and Miner cheerleaders will perform.  There will be food provided by Revolution Foods, Long Meadow Farms, and Clif Bars.  Whole Foods is donating bags and DC Water is supplying water bottles.  Coffee will be provided for the adults (bring your own mug to help cut down on waste).  The Capitol Hill Community Foundation is generously supporting the event, and the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization is organizing the event.

 

Walk-to-School Day raises awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasizes the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment.  The event builds connections between families, schools and the broader community.

 

Now in its 14th year, this one-day event in the U.S. is a part of an international effort in more than 40 countries to celebrate the many benefits of safely walking and bicycling to school and to encourage more families to consider getting out of the car and onto their feet on the way to school in October.  In 2011, Walk-to-School Day was celebrated at more than 4,000 events across the United States.