CHPSPO meeting on April 16, 6:30-8PM, Riverby Books
| The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization will meet on Tuesday, April 16 at Riverby Books, 419 East Capitol St., SE. Attached is the agenda for the meeting.One of the things we will discuss on Tuesday is the testimony CHPSPO is scheduled to deliver at the DC Council hearing pn April 17 on the DCPS SY14 budget.Suzanne Wells |
CHPSPO March 19, 2013 Meeting at Stuart Hobson – 6:30PM
The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization (CHPSPO) will hold its March 19 meeting at Stuart Hobson Middle School at 410 D Street, NE at 6:30 p.m. We will be discussing the upcoming at-large city councilmember candidates forum and the recently released SY14 proposed budgets. The agenda is attached.
CHPSPO is one of the sponsors for the upcoming at-large city councilmember forum that will be focused on youth and education issues. We would appreciate it if individual schools would co-sponsor the forum, and help spread the word among your parents about the forum. You can let us know at our March 19 meeting, if your school is interested in co-sponsoring the forum. A flyer will be available in the near future to use to advertise the forum.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote on CHPSPO’s 2013 priorities. Attached are the results of your voting.
Suzanne Wells
CHPSPO Priorities-SurveyMonkey-Results 031713.xlsx
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )CHPSPO Meeting Notes – February 19, 2013
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
JO Wilson School Library
February 19, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
1) At-large City Council Candidates Forum (Bonnie Cain, Councilmember Wells’ Education Advisor)
CHPSPO to host forum focused on education and youth issues.
When: Tuesday April 9 at 6:30
Where: Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave NE
Civics club (students) from Eliot-Hine will come up with questions. Will invite other Ward 6 middle schools to participate.
Action: Suzanne Wells to reach out to middle school principals.
2) Bike to school day
May 8, 7:30-8:30 AM at Lincoln Park. All schools are invited.
Register your school: http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/ (especially so DDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator can track – last year, reflectors were distributed to participating schools)
Please get the word out and find coordinators for your school. Contact sandramoscosomills@gmail.com for details.
Can you help w/ the following?:
- Coordinate on behalf of your school (mostly making sure folks know what’s going on)
- Find parents or teachers from your school to lead Bike trains from park to your school
- Map (safe) Bike routes from Lincoln park to Schools
- Reach out to MPD to see if they can participate
- Find someone to donate coffee (BYO reusable cup or $1 for paper cups)
- Reach out to local bike shops to participate, lead bike trains
- Clean up (if necessary)
- ACTION: Sandra to get permit for Lincoln Park (need to confirm construction won’t interfere)
3) Priorities
a. Collectively advocate to DCPS on agreed upon issues
b. Engage with Councilmember Catania on what is working/isn’t working in Ward 6
c. Working jointly to support our middle schools
d. Identify best practices to support math proficiency so students entering Eastern are prepared for high school math
e. Promote vertical articulation and horizontal integration through supporting a program, e.g., Robotics, debate clubs, GeoPlunge, Street Law
f. Promoting more events at individual schools that are open to all schools, e.g., Maury’s Think Tank, Cluster’s Family Game Night
g. More cross-school collaboration that is led by the schools
h. Promote cross-school events, e.g., a Ward 6 field day, music festival, art show, Jumprope for Heart, school zone at H Street Festival
i. Promote Class of XX events to build community; use existing events when possible
j. Promote innovative summer programs at the Hill schools
k. Advocate for open data and more transparency from DCPS, OSSE, and PCSB
l. Support extended day, extended year, summer bridge programs
m. Support building skills
n. Finalize CHPSPO’s 501(c) 3 application
- ACTION: Suzanne will circulate the priorities before the next meeting, and ask everyone to rank the priorities. We will discuss the priorities at the March meeting, and reach agreement on how we want to move forward.
4) 501c3 – Sherry Trafford
- Members in attendance voted to adopt the conflict of interest policy that is listed in the appendix to the 501(c)(3) application
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CHPSPO Meeting Notes – January 15, 2013
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Maury Elementary School Library
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
1) At-large City Council Candidates Forum (Charles Allen, Councilmember Wells’ Chief of Staff)
- In April, District voters will elect an at-large City Councilmember in a special election for a two-year term.
- Eliot-Hine would like to host a student-led candidates’ forum focused on education and youth issues.
- Idea is to get students to organize the candidates’ forum, e.g., invite the candidates, find a moderator, advertise the forum, etc.
- Joe Weeden offered that Defeat Poverty DC would be a co-sponsor. CHPSPO offered to co-sponsor.
- Suzanne Wells offered to let Principals Clemens (Capitol Hill Cluster School/Stuart Hobson Middle School) and Gordon (Jefferson Academy) know about the forum to see if there might be opportunities for their students to participate.
- Charles Allen offered to put together a timeline leading up to the forum.
2) DCPS Lottery Communications (Alaina Smith, DCPS, Office of Strategic Enrollment Initiatives)
- Encourage parents to attend open houses
- Encourage schools to list open houses on DCPS open house list
- Lottery is open Jan 28-Feb 25. Entering early does not mean better chance of getting in.
- BIG CHANGES to waitlist and registration processes. See this year’s guide.
- Lottery website: https://lottery.dcps.dc.gov/
3) DCPS Library Task Force update
- Questions around how recommendations to be implemented, e.g., per pupil funding?
- Task force recommendations here.
3) Presentation on Maury’s game lending library (Vanessa Ford, Maury Think Tank Teacher)
- Think Tank and Science Expo on January 24, 6-7:30PM at Maury Elementary School
- Game lending library at Maury is open to all families in the community. Many families have expressed positive feedback. Games serve as a way to engage children around math, science, problem-solving, cooperation.
- Maury received a grant from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation to start the game lending library.
- Think Tank Blog: http://maurythinktank.blogspot.com/
4) Discussion of 2013 CHPSPO Priorities (tabled till next month) – see last year’s priorities here: http://chpspo.org/2012/01/19/chpspo-meeting-notes-january-12-2012/
5) CHPSPO 501(c)3 (Sherry Trafford) (tabled till next month)
- Bank account is open
- CHPSPO has been incorporated
- Almost there for 501c3
Next CHPSPO Meeting: February 19, 2013
Upcoming Events:
- January 22, 2013, 5:30 p.m., Jefferson Academy Open House
- January 22, 2013, 6 p.m., Ward 6 IB presentation, Westminster Presbyterian Church
- January 22, 2013, 6:30-8:30PM, SHAPPE Meeting, Phelps Senior High School - discussing the impact of the recently announced DCPS school closures on the city’s high schools. CM Wells is guest.
- Lots of other open houses coming up – check here for dates: http://dc.gov/DCPS/Learn+About+Schools/Step+1+-+Get+Ready/Open+Houses
- January 29, 6:30 pm, Living Room Chat with Principal Tynika Young for 2nd grade families
CHPSPO Takes a Break in December
We will not have our monthly Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization on December 18. Thank you all for your hard work to make a difference in our public schools this year. I hope everyone’s holidays are safe and happy. CHPSPO will meet on January 15, 2013.
Suzanne Wells
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )CHPSPO Meeting Notes – September 18, 2012
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Capitol Hill Montessori@Logan
215 G Street, NE
September 18, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
At-Large School Board Member Candidates, Mary Lord and Marvin Tucker spoke about why they are running, their vision.
Walk-to-School Day (George Blackmon)
- Participating Schools – most in Capitol Hill have signed up.
- Food: need donations. Tyler and CHM@L will contribute Cliff Bars.
- Speakers: Confirmed – Tommy Wells, Kathy Pugh (EZ8DC and Girls on the Run), Rita (MAFA). Pending – MPD, Capital Bikeshare (Sandra to follow up), WABA (Shahna to follow up), Josh Morgan (Anthony Allard to follow up), AAA (Peter to follow up)
- Sponsors
Give Social (Kita McCord)
Give social is a platform to bring together groups. (GivSo.com). They are joining forces with Companies for Causes (companiesforcauses.org) and are interested in working w/ like-minded community organizations to work w/ Eastern HS and feeder schools/community. They are looking to understand who the groups are. PTA, out of school time orgs, to bring together community members to pool resources. Companies for Causes are 10 CEOs, staff at RAFA (Tom RAFA) that have committed to contribute. For now, focused on students immediately feeding into Eastern. Focused on most in need.
DCPS Library Funding Follow up (Peter MacPherson)
- Peter to represent CHPSPO in task force that has been assembled by DCPS.
- Provided feedback to task force “TOR’
- Publish librarian budget on CHPSPO site.
CHPSPO Website (Sandra Moscoso-Mills)
- We’re hoping to leverage the CHPSPO site to help get the word out about events, auctions, fundraisers, etc at all schools. Please reach out to your school communities and designate a person (or two) for your school to post content on the CHPSPO site. The site is on a WordPress platform
– Sandra to host WordPress.com workshop in October. Contact Sandra Moscoso – sandramoscosomills@gmail.com.
What do vertical and horizontal articulation mean to us? (All)
- Eastern High School feeder pattern. Based on ideas from July meeting, drafted a white paper. Need to think about how to implement. Need principals to set more of a vision of what they want to see in Eastern feeder pattern. Read White Paper – Provide feedback via email to Suzanne Wells (m.godec@att.net).
Community meetings on IB & feeder school living room chats (Joe Weeden & Suzanne Wells).
- Continuing discussions with Eliot Hine feeder schools. 4 living room chats w/ principal young from Eliot Hine representing feeder schools, so families have opportunity to mingle. Looking for host for 3rd grade parent – (have 2, 4, 5). Reach out to Suzanne (m.godec@att.net) if you want to co-host.
- Tuesday, October 23rd at Atlas Theatre – IB Bob will come w/ Principal Gordon, Young, Skerrit to deliver a session on what is IB. Series of 3 sessions – IB, Academic, how it relates to Common Core Standards. What does my 2nd grader need to know so that they can graduate w/ an IB degree from Eastern? What can we as parents do to support that?
Next CHPSPO Meeting: October 16, 2012 at Amidon-Bowen
Upcoming Events:
September 29 Maury Elementary School’s Yard and Bake Sale. 9AM-2PM. 1250 Constitution Ave., NE
October 1 Deputy Mayor Community Conversation about Quality Schools Wards 2/6, Location Amidon-Bowen, 5:30-9PM
October 3 Walk-to-School Day – 7:30-8:30 AM at Lincoln Park (by 7:15 AM if you volunteer to set up)
October 14 J.O.Wilson Taste of H Street
Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )CHPSPO August 21 Meeting at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan
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
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Meeting Notes – February 21, 2012
Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
J.O. Wilson Elementary School
660 K Street, NE -Library, 2nd floor
February 21, 2012 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
1) Safe Routes to School, Jennifer Heffernan, District DOT
**Congratulations to Brent ES, as Feb 21 was the debut of the Brent Safety Patrols!
First Annual National Bike to School Day is on May 9, Wednesday.
- Supported by DDoT (giveaways will be available to participating schools)
- Soon, schools can register to participate via WWW.Walktoschool.org – (the site is currently being redesigned to provide more biking related material)
- Brainstormed around idea of having a pitstop at Lincoln Park, rather than a W2SD type of party. Plan to record the participants and recognize the schools who participate (maybe shout outs to the schools with most participants). Have multiple pit stops, as long as there are volunteers to ‘man’ them.
- ACTION: Sandra M. to reach out to CHPSPO schools to see who is willing to volunteer to organize pit stops and where.
ABCs of Family Bicycling on Sat, April 21st, 11AM-2PM @ Logan parking lot (215 G St., NE) (rain date is following day).
- Kiddical Mass
- Families w/ experience biking will give demos, showing gear
- Bike shops will show gear
- Bicycle skills rodeo
- Safety
- Bicycle train training (teach skills re: riding in group safely), followed by group ride
- ACTION: Jennifer H. to add to program – how to secure your bikes
- ACTION: CHPSPO will get event into Hill Rag
Bike Racks and Safe Routes to Eliot Hine
- Q: do all schools on Hill have full complement of bike racks? – ACTION: Jennifer to look into those bike racks installed in last year or so.
- Q: Could DDOT look into Safe Routes to Eliot-Hine? ACTION: Jennifer to look into this – Suzanne to connect Jennifer w/ Eliot-Hine
2) Community Parade, Apollo:
- Parade likely 11AM-12PM, in April or May
- To include schools, clubs, teams, music
- ACTION: CHPSPO to reach out to Capitol Hill Classic and Laps for Lincoln organizers; Apollo to flesh out theme/focus of parade
3) Mindful Parenting Workshops, Steven Seiden
- Therapist-led sharing environment w/in parents to feel like we can problem-solve issues and have support and connect
- Eventually, peer-led
- Goal is to make this a DCPS parent-engagement program
- Opening up this opportunity to all Ward 6 schools. On March 9 and March 23 9:30-11 AM (or 1:30-3:00PM); ideally, at each school
- ACTION: Steve to write up invite to circulate to schools
4) IFF Study Discussion: http://dme.dc.gov/DC/DME/Publication%20Files/IFF_Final_Report.pdf
- ACTION: ALL -read and encourage individuals to write letters to encourage Chancellor and Deputy Mayor not to look at this study, but rather at the work that is going on in schools and communities.
- ACTION: Suzanne to circulate DeShawn Wright’s response to IFF.
5) Discussion of 2012 CHPSPO Priorities, All
Middle Schools
- Bring Principals (+ LSAT; PTAs) of middle schools together to identify where they think the community can help
- Reference to Heather’s pitch in example: need to know what volunteer needs are at the school
- Bring PTA leadership together from MS to figure out how to get them more active; bring PTA feeders together w/ MS PTAs
- Have a list of ways we think we can help that principals can consider
- Living room chats w/ feeder families
- Also set expectations
- Leading Tours for Parents
- Have schools hold PTA meetings at EH
- Request from DCPS accountability around MS plan
- Elementary school events at EH (ex: art show of feeder elementary schools at EH)
- Re-engage the collaboration teams
- ACTION: Suzanne to reach out to Principals and PTA presidents to meet w/ CHPSPO/feeders
- Elliot-Hine collaboration team meets first Wednesday of the Month at 5:30 PM @ Parent Resource Center at Eliot Hine
- Eliot Hine PTA = 3rd Thursday of the Month
——————————————-
Next CHPSPO Meeting: March 20, 2012
Upcoming Events:
March 10, Alchemy of Great Taste, Tyler Fundraiser
March 17, School Within School Jazz Gala and Auction
March 24, Maury at the Market, Maury Fundraiser
March 24, A Taste of the Hill, Brent Fundraiser
April 27, A Montessori Night’s Dream, Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan Fundraiser
Visit CHPSPO on the web at http://chpspo.org
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