CHPSPO Meeting on August 30 – Location, TBD

Quick reminder that the next CHPSPO meeting is on August 30, 6:30-8PM. Stay tuned for location information and agenda.

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – July 19, 2011

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

Miner Elementary School
601 15th St., NE
July 19, 2011
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.


New PTA/PTSO Presidents Introductions: New Presidents from Ludlow-Taylor (Anthony Allard), Tyler (Liz Weeden), Payne (Janice Brown) attended and were introduced.

Race to Nowhere Screening: We have volunteers to coordinate this. Brainstorm session included:

  • Possible Locations – Eastern, People’s Church, H St. Playhouse, Stuart-Hobson, Jefferson, Brent, Eliot-Hine
  • Dates: ACTION: Schools, please share your calendars to coordinate dates. 
  • Cost/Childcare: Tickets will be $10.

Eliot-Hine Principal Selection: Quick discussion around the status of this. At the time of the meeting, the principal had been hired, but not announced. The Eliot-Hine principal hiring process did not include feeder school input. Since the meeting, DCPS announced Principal Tynika Young was selected. She held a feeder school meet and greet even on July 28.

Lisa Raymond meeting re: Ward 6 middle schools: Joe Weedon, Maury parent arranged for a meeting with Lisa Raymond (held on July 22). 


CHPSPO By-lawsDiscussion – discussion and updates will be reflected in the next version of the bylaws.

Next CHPSPO Meeting: August 30, 2011 (NOTE: this will be the last Tuesday)

CHPSPO Meeting on Tuesday, July 19 at Miner Elementary

We will have our next Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization meeting on Tuesday, July 19, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. We currently don’t have a meeting location, so if your school isn’t being modernized this summer and you’d be willing to let us hold our meeting at your school, please let me know. UPDATE: Meeting will be at Miner Elementary

This meeting will be an opportunity to meet the new PTA presidents. Other items on the agenda will be a review of the draft CHPSPO by-laws and a discussion of CHPSPO hosting a screening of the movie Race to Nowhere. If you have other items you’d like to see on the agenda, please let me know.

Sherry Trafford drafted the attached by-laws. It would be much appreciated if you could compare the draft by-laws with the by-laws of your school’s PTA to see if there are things you think should be added or taken out.

Finally, if you’d like your name taken off the e-mail distribution list for CHPSPO or if there are other parents whose name you’d like me to add, please let me know.

Thanks. I will send out an agenda and the meeting location prior to July 19.

Suzanne Wells

CHPSPO Bylaws July 7 2011 draft.docx  UPDATE: 071911 agenda CHPSPO

July Fourth Parade – see you there!

Hope to see our CHPSPO schools walking in the July 4th parade on Barracks Row – details here – http://fourthofjulyparade2011.eventbrite.com/

A Plan for Evaluating the District of Columbia’s Public Schools: From Impressions to Evidence

The National Research Council (NRC) recently completed and released a report entitled A Plan for Evaluating the District of Columbia’s Public Schools: From Impressions to Evidence. This report, which details the first phase of an evaluation of the District of Columbia’s Public Schools, recommends the establishment of a sustainable system to analyze and guide continuing improvement in the city’s public school system. The George Washington University is glad to have been asked by the Academy to plan the next phases for the development of this initiative and to plan for the development of a consortium on research and evaluation.

As a part of GW’s work this summer, we are inviting parents and community members to offer their views on the direction and related indicators that should be included in an ongoing evaluation of the education reform agenda established by the 2007 PERRA legislation. To determine this information, we are setting up a focus group to be held during the month of July.

During the focus group session, we will ask participants a number of questions, including how they currently learn about school performance in the District of Columbia. We will then seek recommendations on the types of school data that should be gathered and shared with the community as part of an evaluation system.

Our session will be held on the following date:

Focus Group:
Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Refreshments: 5:00 – 5:30
Time: 5:30 – 7:00
Location: Early Stages Center
Walker Jones Elementary School
1125 New Jersey Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001

Please contact Taunya Nesin (tnesin@gmail.gwu.edu) to RSVP. Ms. Nesin can respond to related questions.

No meeting doesn’t mean no work – upcoming CHPSPO initiatives



No meeting doesn’t mean no action. Please read about what we’re up to (and how you can contribute).


 




    

  1. Identify the new SY2011/2012 PTA president at your school. Please send their contact information to Suzanne Wells so they can be included in communications (m.godec@att.net).
    2. 

  2. Hosting a screening for the movie Race to Nowhere http://www.racetonowhere.com/. Know anyone who might be interested in helping to organize? Please send Suzanne the names of parent volunteers who would be interested in helping organize the screening, including finding a location to show the film and advertising the screening
    3. 

  3. Attend a double-feature book talk and film screening about THE POWER OF PARENT ORGANIZING FOR SCHOOL REFORM. June 28, 6-8PM @ Busboys and Poets. http://www.teachingforchange.org/events/hong_fruchter 
    4. 

  4. The Capitol Hill Fourth of July parade will take place again at Barrack’s Row. Register your school or group here: http://tiberdc.com/4thofjuly/
    5. 

  5. There will be a Save Our Schools & National Call to Action national conference and rally in Washington, DC July 28 – 31.  If you are interested in attending the conference, you can register at http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/event_info/conference/. Consider registering for the Save Our Schools Conference and/or hosting a family.
    6. 

  6.  Bylaws are still underway.

    See you in July!
    7. 


	


	





	

		
Walk with DCPS in the Capital Pride Parade on June 11
	


	
	

		
Walk with DCPS in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11.


DCPS is working to make our schools safe and inclusive for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students, staff, and families. We are committed to engaging the community in our work, including walking in the Capital Pride Parade.


You and your school community are invited to join the DCPS community in walking together in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11, 2011.


The DCPS contingent will line up at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Francis-Stevens Education Campus (2425 N Street, NW, near both Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle Metro stops).


If your school is participating, here are a few suggestions


    

  1.  Create a school-specific banner or sign to bring to the parade.
    2. 

  2. Send home a letter to parents to let them know of your school’s participation in Pride.
    3. 

  3. Have your students, families, and staff march in Pride with the Chancellor wearing your school t-shirts.
    4. 

  4. Instruct your participants to arrive for the parade on June 11 no later than 4:30 p.m. DCPS’s contingent will line up in front of the Francis-Stevens Education Campus (2425 N Street, NW, near both Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle Metro stops).
    5. 

  5. Post this announcement in your school and PTA newsletter/at the entrance of the school building.
    6. 

  6. Encourage staff to announce your school’s participation to students. (LGBTQ resources for teachers)
    7. 



For more information, go to http://bit.ly/ks3l7P


Hope to see you there!






	


	





	

		
DCPS Stakeholder Survey + Hopes and Dreams Exercise = Feedback opportunities for you!
	


	
	

		
Help DCPS identify opportunities, voice your concerns and help your principal prioritize by completing the DCPS Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey by June 3. (Note you’ll need an access code – instructions are on the link).


Help to lay a foundation for DCPS’ future by participating in the Hopes and Dreams exercise. Contribute to the shared vision of the DCPS community.: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Hopes+and+Dreams

	


	





	

		
CHPSPO Meeting Notes – May 24, 2011
	


	
	

		
The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization was held at Maury Elementary School on May 24, 2011, 6:45 – 8 p.m.


1. Discussion on Redistricting – contact Barbara Riehle (Barbara@erols.com). Letter was discussed and signed by participants. Key points: As we encourage families to go to Eliot-Hine and Eastern, the redistricting would create another artificial barrier/line to discourage parents; Will reach out to Commissioner Alexander (Ward 7) to understand the gain for Ward 7 in having EH/Eastern if the families feeding into EH are Ward 6?


2. Race to Nowhere Possible Screening http://www.racetonowhere.com/ (Ms. Albert-Garvey). CHPSPO will coordinate a screening. Principal Albert-Garvey will engage professionals to moderate the discussion after the film. Private screening is a possibility w/ enough community interest. Screening planned for Fall. Contact Suzanne if you are interested in organizing this event – Principal Albert Garvey can help in identifying and soliciting experts/facilitators.


3. Parents Across America http://parentsacrossamerica.org/ contact Gina Arlotto (citymom92@yahoo.com). DC Chapter being opened by 2 parents: Check them out, consider attending their conference in July (held in DC). Interested in hosting conference participants?

4. Shakespeare at Schools Program Followup – contact Todd Cymrot (todd.cymrot@gmail.com). June 9 and June 10, 9 a.m. – noon – George Didden Shakespeare Festival at the Folger Shakespeare Library stage (the following schools will be performing: Ludlow-Taylor,Maury, Miner, Stuart Hobson, Tyler, Watkins, and Center City)

5. Articles of Incorporation Status – contact Sherry Trafford (sherry_trafford@hotmail.com) Articles of incorporation are underway. Plan is to pass by-laws this summer.

Upcoming events:


June 9 and June 10, 9 a.m. – noon – George Didden Shakespeare Festival at the Folger Shakespeare Library stage (the following schools will be performing: Ludlow-Taylor,

Maury, Miner, Stuart Hobson, Tyler, Watkins, and Center City)


Other issues raised:

– Qs for DCPS: W/ national level standards that will be in use in September. How are thematerials going to be used and will there be an alignment? When will DCPS be doing a textbook adoption? Is there a bridge document to align the current curriculum with the new standards for math and for reading?

– Special Ed: coordinators will be taken out of the schools and principals will become responsible for coordinating Special Ed. How would a principal operationalize this along w/ the other work a principal is responsible for?

	


	





	

		
Vote Against the Proposal to Divide Wards 6 and 7 at 17th Street from Benning Road to Barney Circle
	


	
	

		
The following was send to Councilmembers Mendelson, Evans, Brown with copies to CHPSPO members on May 25, 2011.


————————


Vote Against the Proposal to Divide Wards 6 and 7 at 17th Street from Benning Road to Barney Circle


As members of the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO), we are voicing our extreme concern about the D.C. Council’s consideration of the proposal to divide Wards 6 and 7 at 17th Street from Benning Road to Barney Circle which would effectively move Eliot-Hine Middle School and Eastern High School from Ward 6 to Ward 7. We are opposed to this move because of the impact it would have on our neighborhood cohesiveness and the community’s efforts to strengthen our neighborhood public schools.


 


CHPSPO started over six years ago, at a time when some Capitol Hill public elementary schools were bursting at the seams and others were woefully under-enrolled. A group of active parents from each school joined together to share common concerns and great accomplishments. It quickly became clear that our shared interests far exceeded any superficial differences. CHPSPO has established a strong record of working to support our neighborhood’s schools. The School Libraries Project, a $2.4 million public/private partnership with the DC Public Schools that renovated eight public school libraries on Capitol Hill was CHPSPO’s first success at supporting our neighborhood schools. This was followed by efforts to start 3 and 4-year-old programs at our elementary schools, and most recently a proposal to strengthen the middle schools. DCPS has said they want to replicate the community-driven process started by CHPSPO in wards across the city.


With the success of our elementary and middle schools and the renovation of Eastern, the Ward 6 public schools are becoming the schools of choice for families in Ward 6. Currently, many of the Ward 6 elementary schools feed into Eliot-Hine Middle School and then to Eastern High School. Splitting up Ward 6 would create a misalignment between the school feeder patterns and the political oversight of the schools.


Building on the academic gains Eliot-Hine has achieved, under the leadership of Principal Willie Jackson, is the cornerstone of CHPSPO’s — now DCPS’s — Ward 6 Middle Schools Plan. Our neighborhood schools have become a community. Drawing a political line at 17th Street removes Eliot-Hine and Eastern from our community at the very moment that our success at the elementary level is poised to spread into Eliot-Hine and Eastern High School.


We strongly encourage the D.C. City Council to keep the close, successful community that is Ward 6 intact and look to other less drastic solutions to realign the city’s ward structure. This proposed redistricting undermines the democratic representation we deserve and expect, and jeopardizes the progress being made to attract families back to the DC public schools.


 


 


 


Signed by the following on 5/24/11


 


Suzanne Wells, Tyler Elementary School


George Blackmon, Maury Elementary School


Elizabeth D. Festa, Maury Elementary School


Sandra Moscoso, Montessori @ Watkins/Logan


Rachel Klein, Ludlow Taylor Elementary School


Sherry Trafford, School Without Walls


Isabella Harris, Brent Elementary School


Clayton Witt, Stuart-Hobson Middle School


Barbara Riehle, Montessori @ Watkins/Logan


Heather Schoell, Maury Elementary School


Shahna Gooneratne, School Within School at Peabody