Principal Selected to Welcome Eastern High Class of 2015

Rachel Skerritt

Rachel Skerritt

September 30, 2010

Principal Selected to Welcome Eastern High Class of 2015

Boston native brings broad education perspective, including classroom and administrative experience

Contact: Safiya Jafari Simmons | 202-724-6689 |

WASHINGTON, DC – DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced today the appointment of Rachel Skerritt as principal of Eastern Senior High School in Northeast Washington, DC beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. The appointment was made after an extensive search and a significant engagement process that involved all parts of the Eastern community, from alumni, to the parents of current and potential students, to interested members of the broader community.

The Eastern community came together in February 2008 to begin re-imagining the school both physically and programmatically. Regular meetings continued through the principal selection process; a thirty-member cross-section of the community group advised on the job description, prepped for and interviewed every candidate, and sent extensive feedback to Chancellor Rhee.

“Eastern High School is a school of exceptional history and promise. Rachel Skerritt is a leader of exceptional caliber,” said Chancellor Michelle Rhee. “Next school year, Principal Skerrit will welcome ninth-grade students to a re-imagined Eastern, designed with extensive input from alumni and the current and future Eastern communities.”

Principal Skerritt began her career in education as a secondary English Literature teacher in a Boston public high school. After teaching for seven years, she moved into school leadership positions at her school and then into a principal fellowship program. With her experience in teaching and school leadership, she became a principal at a college-preparatory Boston public high school before moving into a central office role as the Chief of Staff for Boston Public Schools. Principal Skerritt holds a bachelor’s degree in English and African-American Studies, a master’s degree in secondary education and a master’s in educational administration.

“Principal Skerritt’s broad perspective on leading highly-effective schools from the classroom to the central office makes her a perfect fit for principal at Eastern Senior High School,” said Mayor Adrian Fenty. “We are pleased to have found her.”

Principal Skerritt will spend the 2010-11 school year planning, and will transition into the principal’s office in July 2011. Eastern’s current principal, William Chiselom, is in his third year with the Eastern community and has brought consistency and a positive student culture to the school. He was critical in the school’s successful move into its new, state-of-the-art facility. Chancellor Rhee and Principal Chiselom have discussed several school leadership options and will confirm his new position in the spring of 2011.

Eastern recently has undergone a $77 million modernization and now boasts new state-of-the-art science and technology labs, Internet and cyber cafes as well as a working ambulance in the new health/science practical lab for real-world emergency medical assistance training.

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http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Press+Releases+and+Announcements/Press+Releases/Principal+Selected+to+Welcome+Eastern+High+Class+of+2015

Capitol Hill Walk to School Day 2010 – Wed 10/6

Capitol Hill Walk to School Day 2010

Wednesday, October 6, 7:30 am – Lincoln Park

Join the Capitol Hill school community for Walk to School Day, an annual celebration of our walkable, bikeable neighborhood, healthy bodies, a cleaner environment, and safe routes to school with a kick-off event and breakfast in Lincoln Park.  Wear your school t-shirt, grab a healthy breakfast, and join students, staff, administrators, and families for a walk together from Lincoln Park to school.  Let’s get moving!

Please help to get the word out by forwarding on to your respective schools.  Many thanks for your help and hope to see you there!

http://www.walktoschool.org/

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – September 21, 2010

Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization (http://chpspo.org)
Middle School Subcommittee Meeting
September 21, 2010
Tyler Elementary School
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

  1. Naval Lodge Fun Fair Proposal (for 2011) – contact Michael Webb (mwebb_tone@yahoo.com).  Michael presented a proposal to join forces with and make CHPSPO the recipient for funds raised in next fun fairs going forward (For which the Naval Lodge provide ‘sweat equity’ and cover cost for amusements and food to raise funds for a cause). Click here for a description of last year’s fun fair. This year, the Naval Lodge will participate in Barracks Row Festival. Key Q’s raised: Where to host fun fair next year? What would be the cause? I: Need 25-20 volunteers average to serve refreshments, run amusements. Typically done around end Sep, early October. Rachel Klein from Ludlow-Taylor will look into it for the school and keep this on the CHPSPO agenda. 
  2. Walk to School 2010  – contact Jerome Young (jerome.young@dc.gov), Maury parent. The Cluster and Maury are teaming up to put on this event. Wednesday, October 6 is Walk to School Day. Schools will meet at Lincoln Park at 8:00 for the festivities (food from Wholefoods, Music, Safety info, more…). Need volunteers for set up and clean up and to promote the event. Jerome will share posters/promo materials w/ each school via the principals. Wear your school T-shirts and show your school spirit.
  3. Middle School Collaboration Teams – contact your school’s principal. Deadline was September 10 to express interest in participating in the teams to implement the plan. Of the schools represented in this meeting, none seemed to have kicked off yet.
  4. Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidates – Lisa Raymond shared the description of and her experience in the role of the DC State Board of Education (http://sboe.dc.gov/). Monica Warren-Jones shared her platform. Melissa Rohan was unable to attend.
  5. Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidates forum – contact Barbara Riehle (barbara@erols.com).  CHPSPO will collaborate with other groups to bring a candidates forum to Ward 6 in the next few weeks.

Next CHPSPO Meeting:   October 19, 2010

Upcoming Events:

  • September 23  Discussion with SW Parents and Educators for Education Excellence, Now; 6:15 p.m., 401 4th Street, SW (ID required)
  • September 24  Capitol Hill Community Foundation Fall Grant Deadline
  • September 26   Film screening of “Two Angry Moms” followed by discussion of DC school food,  3 pm – 5 pm, Whole Foods Market – Georgetown:  2323 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
  • October 6  Walk to School Day, 8 a.m., Lincoln Park
  • October 11 – 15 Local Foods and School Garden Week

CHPSPO September 21 meeting at Tyler

The Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization will hold it’s September 21 meeting at Tyler Elementary (1001 G Street, SE). The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The agenda is attached.

We will have a discussion with Ward 6 school board candidates Melissa Rohan and Monica Warren-Jones. Each school board candidate will have 5 minutes to share their reasons for running for the school board position; the issues they will work to address, if elected; and the role they see the school board playing in ensuring high quality education in DC. We will then have a Q&A session with the candidates. Lisa Raymond, our current Ward 6 school board member, will also attend.

If you have changes to the agenda, please let me know.

Suzanne Wells

Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org(See attached file: 092110 agenda CHPSPO.doc)

092110 agenda CHPSPO.doc

October 16, 2010: Three Capitol Hill Schools To Be Featured On School Gardens Tour

The conclusion of DC School Garden/Farm to School Week will be two school garden tours, one by bus and one by bike, on Saturday, October 16. Information on the bus tour, which includes 3 Capitol Hill schools, is below. The bike tour itinerary will be posted when it is available.

Come out and see Tyler, Peabody and Miner!

BusTourFlyer2010-1.pdf

Middle School Collaboration Teams

Dear Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization Members,

I wanted to remind everyone that DCPS is establishing “collaboration teams” to support the implementation of the DCPS Ward 6 Middle School Plan. Collaboration teams are being established for Stuart Hobson, Eliot-Hine and Jefferson middle schools. Each team is to have two parent representatives and two teacher/staff representatives selected by each school’s principal, and the principal or assistant principal from each school. Attached are the sheets DCPS prepared with information about the collaboration teams.

The deadline for parents to express their interest in being a member of the collaboration teams is Friday, September 10. Parents should contact their school’s principal, if they are interested in being on the collaboration team. Please help spread the word on your school list serves, and newsletters, about this opportunity to be involved in implementation of the Ward 6 Middle School Plan.

Also, wanted to remind everyone that CHPSPO will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 21. The two Ward 6 school board candidates will attend this meeting for an informal discussion.

Suzanne Wells

DCPS-BOM-Ward-6-Jefferson-Collaboration-Team.pdf

DCPS-BOM-Ward-6-Eliot-Hine-Collaboration-Team.pdf

DCPS-BOM-Ward-6-Stuart-Hobson-Collaboration-Team.pdf

CHGSI Hosts DCPS Food Services Roundtable

The Capitol Hill Green Schools Initiative, CHPSPO’s school greening subcommittee, hosted DCPS Food Services Director Jeff Mills and DCPS Health and Wellness Director Diana Bruce for a roundtable discussion with Hill parents on Tuesday evening at Peabody Elementary.

Many thanks to Peabody for hosting, Sweeetgreen for providing food, and Andrea Northup of the DC Farm to School Network for moderating.  Contact Laura Marks (lauramarks at gmail dot com) for more information or find CHGSI on Facebook and Twitter (CHGSI).

Ward 6 Council Candidates’ Forum – Thank You

The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) thanks Councilmember Tommy Wells and candidate Kelvin Robinson, who did a fantastic job at the Candidates’ Forum held on August 24, 2010. Our goal was for our members and the community to hear their views on issues of special significance to families. We feel that goal was met splendidly.

We are grateful to our moderator, Mark Segraves, for his guidance, expertise and overall terrific job of setting the tone and pace for the event.

Finally, a huge thank you to the community, to our partners, Sports on the Hill (SOTH) and Eastern Market Metro Community Association (EMCCA), and our volunteer organizers for making this event such a success.

We hope to continue the discussion around these issues in the weeks and months to come.

Click here for a transcript of the discussion. For a summary posted by The Hill Is Home, click here.

 

A Step in the Right Direction – Secretary Duncan Promotes Safe Routes to School at Maury Elementary

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Press+Releases+and+Announcements/Press+Releases/A+Step+in+the+Right+Direction+-+Secretary+Duncan+Promotes+Safe+Routes+to+School+at+Maury+Elementary

August 24, 2010

A Step in the Right Direction – Secretary Duncan Promotes Safe Routes to School at Maury Elementary
Chancellor Rhee and Mayor Fenty Join Nearly 100 Students, Parents in Walk, Bike to School

Contact: Safiya Jafari Simmons | (202) 480-0857

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee, U.S. Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, and State Superintendent of Education Kerri Briggs joined nearly 100 students and parents in a “Walking School Bus” commute to school Tuesday, along a two-block route from Lincoln Park to Maury Elementary in Ward 6.

The event promoted the importance of safe, healthy lifestyles and the value of pedestrian safety for school-age children who share the road with cars, bicyclists and buses.

Gathered at Lincoln Park with their parents and siblings, Maury students played on the nearby playground while parents socialized before the walk at 8:30 a.m. Duncan, Fenty, Rhee, Mendez and Briggs walked with the students to begin their second day of the 2010-11 school year.

Principal Carolyne Albert-Garvey thanked parent Jerome Young for his work as the lead parent coordinator of the school’s Safe Routes to School team that shepherded the program from planning to implementation. The team began working last November to create a dedicated, safe walking route to the school, including the addition of pedestrian signals and marked crosswalks. The Maury Safe Route to School Walking Bus convenes every Wednesday morning at 8:15 a.m.

Tuesday’s event also supported first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative, aimed at confronting the problem of childhood obesity through fitness and proper nutrition.

“Student safety is our highest concern, and each of our teachers, principals and staff members share that commitment,” said Chancellor Rhee. “Through this program, children develop safety skills they can apply on the way to school and in other contexts throughout their lifetimes. It also aims to make parents and community members aware of the goals of their school’s Safe Routes to School program and how their behavior impacts safety conditions around the school.”

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CHPSPO Meeting Notes – August 17, 2010

Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization (http://chpspo.org)
Middle School Subcommittee Meeting
July 20, 2010
Brent Elementary School
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

  1. Walk to School 2010  – contact (for now, as coordinators are not yet finalized) Heather Schoell (heysassy@yahoo.com) and Mandy Bassow (abassow@gmail.com) Co-Chaired by Maury and the Cluster. Food coordinated by Capitol Hill Green Schools Initiative (CHGSI)/Laura Marks (capitolhillgreenschools@gmail.com).
  2. Ward 6 School Board Candidates forum – contact Barbara Riehle (barbara@erols.com).Looking into whether other organizations are sponsoring a forum. Will also invite Lisa Raymond to talk to CHPSPO about the role of the DC State Board of Education (http://sboe.dc.gov/).
  3. DC CAS Test Scores – A 2-page document released by the Chancellor’s office, which is a snapshot of each school that tracks progress from SY07/08, was circulated.
  4. Ward 6 Democratic Councilmember Candidates Forum – contact Barbara Riehle (barbara@erols.com).
    Sponsored by CHPSPO, Sports on the Hill (SOTH) and Eastern Market Metro Community Association (EMMCA) – Mark Seagraves will moderate. Ward 6 Candidates (Tommy Wells and Kelvin Robinson) have agreed to address the community on Tuesday, August 24 @ Southeast Library. Candidate questions which were formulated at the meeting are: What would they do for Hill Schools? Do you support DCPS’ middle schools plan, and what assurance can you give that the plan will be implemented? Would you support mayoral governance of schools, and how do you think this has worked? What is your focus, and what changes would you like to see? What are your priorities for school funding in the coming years?  How is there no money left? What are your priorities for serving the health and education of Capitol Hill families and for Ward 6? What would you say Ward 6 offers for families with children, and how would you improve it?
  5. CHGSI to host DCPS Food Services Roundtable Tuesday, August 31, 6:30 PM @ Peabody ES -contact Laura Marks (capitolhillgreenschools@gmail.com)

    The Capitol Hill Green Schools Initiative will be hosting a roundtable discussion on DCPS food services, the Healthy Schools Act, support for school gardens and schoolyard greening, August 31, from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Peabody ES Library (4th Floor), 425 C Street, NE.Joining us from DCPS will be:

    Jeff Mills, Director of Food Services
    Diana Bruce, Director of Health and Wellness
    Paula Reichel, Program Coordinator, Office of Food and Nutrition Services

  6. By-laws Discussion and 501(c)3 – contact Barbara Riehle (barbara@erols.com) and Sherry Trafford (sherry_trafford@hotmail.com).  The following 3 things need to be answered in crafting CHPSPO bylaws.
    – What is the membership of CHPSPO? Does each school have a designated rep with voting rights, or can it be anybody?
    – Who are the officers, and how are they chosen? Elected from schools?
    – How are decisions made generally? By the board or by membership?

Next meeting – Tuesday, September 21.