CHPSPO August 21 Meeting at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan

The August 21st Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization meeting will be at Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan (215 G Street, NE) in the nap room.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm.  Below is the agenda.


Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan (nap room)
215 G Street, NE
August 21, 2012
6:30 – 8 pm


Mission Statement:  To promote cooperation among the parent organizations of the public schools on Capitol Hill in order to improve the education received by all children attending our schools.


6:30 pm     Welcome & Introductions
6:35 pm     Update on meeting with Chancellor Henderson on School Libraries – Peter MacPherson
6:45 pm     Options Public Charter School Expansion – Miner Elementary representative
6:55 pm     DC Education Fund – Cathy Townsend Pine (invited)
7:15 pm     CHPSPO By-laws Business – Sherry Trafford
7:45 pm     Walk-to-School Day – George Blackmon
7:55 pm     Wrap up and Next Steps


Next CHPSPO Meeting:  September 18, 2012


Upcoming Events:
August 25     School Beautification Day
October 3     Walk-to-School Day


Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org

1000+ Signatures‏ to Save School Libraries

Great News! The Restore Librarians to DC Schools petition on change.org has received over 1000 signatures! Add yours to support DCPS Libraries.

Live in DC? Weigh in on Children’s Budget and More!

Residents and stakeholders should jump on these three opportunities for input into District government programs and practices.

The DC government has two surveys open. The first is about improving the utility of the annual Children’s Budget report.****   The second is about your experience calling 211 on a cell phone (available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Amharic, and Vietnamese).

There’s also a survey inquiring about what residents and stakeholders want to know about the city’s budget process.

The surveys close by mid-September so be sure to participate soon!

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – July 17, 2012

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE, Library

July 17, 2012 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

1. DCPS Library Funding Follow up, Suzanne Wells

  • June 15, July 4, and July 11 Bake Sales were successful in generating awareness (media, Washington DC Teacher’s Union, DC Council, general public)
  • CHPSPO and ‘in ward parents’ have had a presence at all ‘State of the Schools meetings (all Wards) and have raised the libraries issue in all meetings.
  • CHPSPO requested meeting to present check to Kaya Henderson of $ raised by bake sales – were instructed by DCPS to submit online
  • CHPSPO requested meeting with DCPS (Kaya Henderson) to discuss libraries, and were told because of her busy schedule she could not meet with us. Follow up requests stressing the need for a thoughtful discussion with DCPS on the library issue has gotten no response

Discussion:

  • Money is there (example: prove what’s possible grants), but “cuts” are really about choices

Next Steps:

  • Reach out to Deputy Mayor Wright, since DCPS is not responsive

 

2. What does vertical and horizontal integration mean to us? (Brainstorm)

  • Much of this was captured in Ward 6 Middle School Plan (math, languages, IB to feed from feeder ES to MS, then from MS to Eastern)
  • In our current feeder pattern, principals don’ t currently have to talk to each other; principals operate their schools as separate “islands”
  • 2-3 languages should be offered at middle schools (and the elementary schools that feed into them should offer at least one of those languages). Currently, misaligned; JO Wilson offers award winning French, but Stuart Hobson (it’s feeder MS) offers Spanish…
  • Math: Algebra for 7th graders; plan to get ES kids up to speed so they are prepared for Algebra. What happened to summer bridge programs for rising 6th graders?
  • Robotics programs across all feeder schools; similar sports/other programs that can be offered across all schools, and coordinated so schools can share resource
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Lucy Kulkins writing workshops
  • Responsive classroom

Next steps:

  • Draft a white paper (Suzanne Wells to kick off) on what we think should be expectation for Eastern feeder pattern and what needs to happen to make these expectations possible; gather community input (via voting/survey); outlines responsibilities (parents, principals, students, DCPS)
  • Follow up w/ DCPS re: Ward 6 MS plan implementation point person (raised again at State of Schools and still no follow up)
  • Follow up on communications among principals that cut through current ‘clusters’ model – need teachers, principals to communicate with each other and align. Currently, many feeder schools do not coincide with clusters, so principals (and staff) have no incentives to talk to each other.

 

Upcoming Events:

  • August 21, Next CHPSPO Meeting:
  • August 25, School Beautification Day
  • October 3, Walk-to-School Day – NEED COORDINATORS!!! Contact George Blackmon (gblackmon@hewfcu.com) if you can coordinate on behalf of your school

 

Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org

CHPSPO meeting July 17 2012 – 6:30 PM @ Maury ES

The Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization will hold its July 17 meeting at Maury Elementary (1250 Constitution Ave., NE) starting at 6:30 p.m.

We will be discussing our continued follow up on the library funding issue, and will start a discussion on what vertical (K-12 collaboration within a feeder pattern) and horizontal (alignment and collaboration of teachers across schools within a particular grade) articulation means to CHPSPO members.

Attached is a draft list of the principals, PTA presidents and CHPSPO representatives for school year 2012/2013. Please let me know if there are changes for your school. Also, if you no longer want to receive e-mails about CHPSPO, please let me know, and I will remove your name from the e-mail distribution list.

Thanks!

Suzanne Wells

071712 agenda CHPSPO.doc

CHPSPO School Year 2012 2013 Representatives.docx

Help Save School Libraries – sign our online petition!

Dear Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization members and friends of school libraries,

Channel 7 news aired a piece on the cuts to school libraries. Bella Dinh-Zarr (Ludlow-Taylor parent), Laura Marks (Capitol Hill Cluster School parent), and Simone Woodard (Ludlow-Taylor librarian) were interviewed. You can watch the story on line at:
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/07/d-c-public-school-librarians-funding-cut-at-some-campuses-77726.html.

A petition to show support for school libraries is posted at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3Y8Z682.

Our goal is to get a 1000 signatures on the petition. Please sign the petition, and forward it to other school library supporters.

Thanks again to everyone for your support of school libraries.

Suzanne Wells

For Immediate Release: Baked Goodies to Support DCPS Libraries – July 11

Photo Credit: Caroline Angelo

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Wednesday, July 11

  Contact:  CHPSPO, chpspo@gmail.com, Bella Dinh-Zarr (dinhzarr@dinhzarr.org) or Robert Zarr (RLZARR@yahoo.com)

 

 Parents and Students Hold Baked Goodies Event to Support DCPS Libraries 

 

Washington, DC- On Wednesday, July 11, 2012, parents and students from across Washington, DC will be raising funds to support funding school librarians in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).

Baked Goodies to Support DCPS Libraries
Wednesday, July 11, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW (Penn side)

DCPS says they can’t support their school libraries, so let’s help them.  Bring a dozen baked goods with you to the Wilson Building on Wednesday morning (July 11).  All donations will be donated to Kaya Henderson for the school libraries.  It’s a great way to involve your children…they can help you bake, practice their math as they count money on that morning, and learn some civics about what it takes to be an involved citizen in our world.

We want DCPS to:

–      Budget a librarian in every school (at least ½ time in smaller schools).

–      Move librarian position to core staff category (not flexible/optional).

–      Provide a “per student” budget allocation for books/materials.

–      Make their budget more transparent!

What You Can Do:

–      Come to the Wilson Building on July 11th

–      Contribute a baked good (see below)

–      Tell the media (press release available)

–      Tell the Mayor and Chancellor!

More details here –> Librarians Flyer 7-11-12.

——————–

Photo Credit: Margaret Holwill (H St DC)

UPDATE – Thanks for your support on the 4th of July bake sale. We raised $90 in donations and sales.  To date, $346 has been raised in support of DCPS libraries… Have we managed to raise awareness? You decide. Tell the Chancellor and Mayor you support DCPS Libraries!

Tweet #SaveSchoolLibraries

Walk in the July Fourth Parade on Barracks Row!

Photo Credit: Madame Meow

Walk, ride, scoot, bike, dribble, (do it all!) in this year’s July Fourth Parade on Barracks Row!

What: Annual July Fourth Parade on Capitol Hill

Where: 10:00 AM on Barracks Row (if you’re walking with your school, no later than 9:30 AM)

Want to help Save School Libraries?: Carry a “Save School Libraries” sign while you walk in the parade – pass it on!  After the parade, stop by the CHPSPO table on Eastern Market Metro Plaza, say hi and show your support of DC Public School Libraries!

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – June 19, 2012

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

Tyler Elementary School Library

June 19, 2012

6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

 

  1. DCPS Library Funding Followup, Peter MacPherson
    • Ludlow-Taylor meeting with DCPS on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.  Request is to move librarians out of flexible categoryto core staff; , check if Mary Levy and DCPS are willing to meet to discuss discrepancies in budget; ask about ‘in-class’ libraries and what that looks like on the ground; Peter MacPherson and Robert Zarr to attend June 20 meeting.
    • Bake Sales: Add petition to sales; July 4 @ Barrack’s Row; July 11 @ Wilson Building (organized by Ludlow Taylor); look for other wards to support other bake sales; Future bake sales: have other wards host, request mtg w/ Kaya Henderson to deliver donations check.
    • Enjoy Reading (http://enjoyreading.org/), (Ali Hoffman): Stanton Elementary in Ward 8; at schools 2 days/week
    • Children’s Budget report (smoscosomills@hotmail.com): Points raised: How are the Mary Levy report and DC budget discrepancies addressed? Request granularity around DCPS budget vis a vis libraries; Why is DC Parks and Rec not represented if they are now running aftercare in many schools? TAKE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLINE: www.dmhhs.dc.gov
    • Grade DC (www.grade.dc.gov) (lauramarks@gmail.com) Raise that DCPS should be included in agencies to be graded and raise library issue here, too.

 

  1. Ward 6 State of the Schools Followup, All
    • What are DCPS’ next steps? Suzanne to draft letter back w/ key points we heard and want follow up (to be sent on behalf of CHPSPO).
      • Vertical and horizontal articulation: convene all principals w/in feeder pattern to discuss what this means
      • At young grades, start thinking of themselves as class of 2023; Introduce feeder-wide activities – Ex: robotics
      • Ward 6 MS Plan Liaison
      • Libraries
      • Ask to publish consolidated list of follow up items that were recorded in the meeting
      • School foods expectations
      • Afterschool programs
      • How can we hear from the kids, who no doubt have opinions re: librarian, food, aftercare? Video recorded interviews of children w/ their feedback on all of the above

 

  1. 4th of July Parade on Barrack’s Row. July 4 @ 10 AM.
    • Sign up your school at http://4thofjulyparadeoncapitolhill.eventbrite.com/
    • Line up at 8th and I SE at 9:00 AM.
    • CHPSPO to participate. We love school libraries car. CHPSPO; bake sale, generate interest, petition, table… (Sandra has registered CHPSPO)
    • Walk with your school, then walk with CHPSPO!

 

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting:   July 17, 2012

 

Upcoming Events:

  •  July 4th Parade
  • July 11 Bake Sale at Wilson Building to Support Libraries

CHPSPO June 19 Meeting, 6:30PM Location TBD

The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization will meet on Tuesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. I don’t have a location yet, and will send a note around before Tuesday with the location. We’ll be discussing what we want to do to follow up on the library funding issue and the Ward 6 State of the Schools meeting. If you have other agenda items, please let me know.

The Bake Sale to protest the funding cuts DCPS is planning to make to school libraries raised $264, and was on Channel 9 news on Friday evening! Thanks to Peter MacPherson for his continued leadership on the libraries issue, and to Laura Marks and Sandra Moscoso-Mills for their help in organizing the bake sale.

Suzanne Wells

061912 agenda CHPSPO.doc