1/23/11: free screening of LUNCH LINE at Busboys & Poets – 8:00 pm

Free screening of LUNCH LINE: The Documentary Film!

Parents for Better DC School Food invites you to join the conversation about what we can do right here in DC to improve school food.

Join us for a Focus In! Film Series screening at Busboys & Poets of the nationally-recognized documentary LUNCH LINE, which reframes the school lunch debate through an examination of the program’s surprising past, uncertain present, and possible future. After the film, stick around for a discussion with parents and school food advocates to find out more about what’s happening with school food in Washington and how you can get involved.

WHEN:

Sunday, January 23 at 8:00 pm
WHERE: Busboys & Poets – 2021 14th Street, NW (14 & V – green/yellow lines: U Street metro stop)

Contact Tara Flakker at tflakker at gmail dot com with any questions or for more information.

Sponsored by Parents for Better DC School Food and DC Farm To School Network.

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – January 18, 2011

The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization meeting was held at Watkins Elementary School on January 18, 2011, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

1.   Middle School Collaboration Teams update (Eliot-Hine, Jefferson, and Stuart Hobson)

 Jefferson  (Update by Jason Townsend and Eve Brooks)

  • Things all set to go for 6th grade academy in a designated part of the school, element of phase in, phase out w/ grades
  • Principal has not been hired for 6th grade academy
  • Collaboration team reps going to each school to encourage kids to attend from feeders.
  • Applications will be required from each child (even from feeder schools)
  • Recruitment campaign outside of the feeder schools
  • Dual program approach – (6th grade academy + 7&8th grade will coexist). Good collaboration w/ existing school and budget of existing school along w/ 6th grade academy
  • 6th grade academy will be IB from beginning, but 7&8th grade students will have to test in to IB. Testing = proficiency
  • Action – Jason Townsend to circulate write up of the structure of the Middle Years Program (IB MYP)

 Eliot Hine (Update by Suzanne Wells and Heather Schoell)

  • Meeting every other week since teams were formed.
  • Outreach to feeder schools (plan for letters to go out to each 5th grade family encouraging to consider Eliot Hine, school representative to meet w/ 5th grade classes, etc.)
  • IB: Currently in “year 0” in moving toward IB MYP
  • Plan to implement math test to 5th graders to place students at appropriate math level in 6th grade, and to offer remedial math over summer school, as necessary to get students prepared for 6th grade math

 Stuart Hobson (Update by Clayton Witt)

  • Trying to implement a math evaluation process for rising 6th graders
  • Collaborating with Eastern HS to set up continuity of curriculum from SH to Eastern
  • Outreach to Ludlow Taylor and JO Wilson (feeders) to start ‘recruiting’ students.
  • Eastern principal will be at Cluster PTA meeting in January

2.  CHPSPO Priorities and ANC Support Brainstorming Session (outcomes are still under discussion and will be posted soon – please check back)

 ACTION:

  • Contact Claudia Lujan to come in to discuss Collaboration teams.
  • CHPSPO Table at MS Fair – Clayton Witt and Heather Schoell.

Other News:  Article on Principal Skerritt to come out in February Hill Rag with information on plans for and the structure of Eastern. Open House on Feb 5. Noon to 2 PM @ Eastern

 Next CHPSPO Meeting:   February 22, 2011

 Upcoming Events:

  • Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m – DCPS Middle School Fair, Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution, NE.
  • February 5, 12-2PM. Eastern High School Presentation/Tour Open House with detailed information around Eastern HS curriculum
  • Meeting with Vincent Gray on Middle School Plan TBD

CHPSPO Meeting on Tuesday Jan 18 at Watkins

The Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization will hold its January 18th meeting at Watkins Elementary School (12th & D Streets, SE) in the library on the 2nd floor. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Attached is the agenda for the meeting. We will spend a good portion of the meeting brainstorming and discussing our priorities for 2011. We expect a number of Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners who share an interest in education issues will attend the meeting to participate with us in the discussion about 2011 priorities.

See you on Tuesday.

Suzanne Wells(See attached file: 011811 agenda CHPSPO.doc)

011811 agenda CHPSPO.doc

Eliot-Hine MS to host DCPS Middle School Fair

DCPS Middle School Fair – DC Public Schools, Washington, DC.

Want to find the right middle school for your child and do something fun with him or her at the same time? Head to the Middle School Fair on Saturday, January 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eliot-Hine Middle School.

The Middle School Fair is a great place to learn about DCPS middle schools from all across the city and explore what options may be best for your child. We encourage all families of 4th and 5th grade students to attend.

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Events/Special+events/DCPS+Middle+School+Fair

 

DCPS Preschool and Pre-K lottery kicks off on January 28

Learn more at DCPS.dc.gov and check out the FAQs here: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Link%20Collections/PS%20PK%20Lottery%202011-2012%20FAQ%20Final.pdf

Maury Elementary Wins DC Farm To School Week Award

Maury Elementary School’s Farm toDC Farm to School Week 2010 School Week effort was recently named “Most Creative” by DC Farm to School for the wide variety of activities related to local, healthy eating during the week-long celebration.  A visit from Captain Vegetable talking with classes about the local produce being served in school lunches started the week and was followed by a parent-led science lesson on plant parts with a Kindergarten class.  The 4th and 5th graders were treated to an interactive cooking demo of caramelized onion and chard quesadillas by parent/chef, Jessica Lowther.  The cooking demos were so successful that students asked Chef Jessica to cook the quesadillas for birthday parties.  A nutrition education station during Maury’s Family Fitness Night focused on eating healthy, seasonal foods with food provided by Sweet Green.  The week ended with a school-wide apple tasting and vote on three varieties with the overwhelming majority selecting Fuji apples as the favorite.  Way to go, Maury!

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – Nov 16, 2010

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization Stuart Hobson Middle School 410 D Street, NE Room 106 November 16, 2010 6:30 – 8 p.m.

  1. MOTH School Information Night (Wednesday, Dec 1 @ Eastern Market – 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM). CHPSPO will develop a 1 pager about the Ward 6 Middle School Plan. The following folks signed up: 5:30-6:30 Sandra M, 6:30-7:30 Suzanne W, 7:30-8:30 Lillian R (anyone want to join us, we could use the company!) Contact Suzanne Wells (m.godec@att.net).
  2. Middle School Collaboration Teams update • Reported on Eliot Hine (meets every 2 weeks) and Stuart-Hobson (has had 3 meetings) collaboration team work.
    o Eliot Hine:  Stretch goal = 100% of 5th graders in their feeder pattern to go to Eliot Hine.  6th grade summer transition program to ensure kids are at grade level in Math.Want to meet w/ 5th grade teachers in feeder schools so they know how to prepare students.
    o Stuart-Hobson:  Identified need to hire Museum Magnet coordinator. Maria Marable-Bunch has expressed interest in meeting with the admin team after the winter break to discuss how she can support our efforts to revitalize the Museum Studies program. 

    • Outreach ideas for Middle Schools:
    o Principals going to feeder elementary school PTA meetings, encouraging prospective families to go to open houses. o Letter home to each 5th grade family. (in feeder schools and local charter schools).
    o Kid-friendly section in Newsletter.
    o Get current 6th grade students to go back to PTAs to talk about Eliot Hine. o Buddy day for students

    • CHPSPO outreach for middle schools
    o 1 pager to distribute on MOTH SIN and to all schools/neighborhood o Hill Rag Series
    o Press Releases

  3. 501(c)3 status, bylaws (Sherry Trafford and Barbara Riehle) • Discussion and suggestions on membership and voting. Sherry to circulate next draft for Jan meeting.
  4. Meeting with Vincent Gray on Middle School Plan • In process of scheduling 2 meetings
  5. Next CHPSPO Meeting: No meeting in December, next meeting January 18, 2011

Upcoming Events:

MOTH School Information Night – Wednesday, December 1, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Eastern Market North Hall

Various Open Houses in December: See the CHPSPO Calendar or the DCPS Open House page. PLEASE follow up w/ individual schools in order to confirm details.

November 16 CHPSPO meeting

The Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization meeting will be on Tuesday, November 16 from 6:30 – 8 p.m @ Stuart-Hobson MS (410 D St., NE), Room 106.

Attached is the agenda, an updated CHPSPO brochure, and draft by-laws and articles of incorporation for our 501(c)3 effort.

See you on Tuesday!

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

111610 agenda CHPSPO.doc

CHPSPO Brochure 111010.doc

Draft CHPSPO By-Laws.doc

draft Articles of Incorporation.docx



MOTH School Information Night – Dec. 1 @ Eastern Market

The MOTH School Information Night is a great opportunity to learn about area pre-schools, elementary, private, and middle schools.

When: Wednesday, December 1, 5:30-8:30 PM

Where: Eastern Market North Hall

http://www.hillschoolinfonight.org

See you there!