ward 6

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

Ward 6 State of the Schools – May 14 @ Eastern HS

Ward 6 State of the Schools

Saturday, May 14, from 10:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.
Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street, NE

Join Councilmember Tommy Wells and Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson

The work of improving our schools is too hard for anyone to do alone.
Everyonehas a role to play in this effort!

You will have the opportunity to:
-Learn more about Ward 6 DCPS schools
-Interact with Ward 6 school leadership
-Meet fellow parents and community members
-Share your ideas about how to improve Ward 6 DCPS schools

Read the Agenda for more details.

Refreshments will be served & childcare will be provided

Questions? Contact Bryant.Sewell@dc.gov

Discussion with Mayor Vincent Gray on Ward 6 Education Issues

Mayor Vincent Gray joined the CHPSPO community and others in an informal discussion on Ward 6 education issues. Adam Clampitt kicked off the event, introducing the Mayor and Suzanne Wells. CHPSPO’s Suzanne Wells briefed the Mayor and participants on CHPSPO’s role in the Ward 6 Middle School plan.  Mayor Gray delivered remarks and shared education plans including expanding the measure of excellence beyond standardized testing, offering education to infants and toddlers, providing in-school special education resources, and commitment to education facilities improvements. Deputy Mayor of Education, De’Shawn A. Wright and Acting State Superintendent, Hosana Mahaley Johnson also addressed the group.

The discussion then turned to Q&A, with questions and requests for support around:

  • communicating and spreading the word about the good things that are happening within DC Public Schools
  • the implementation of the Ward 6 middle school plan
  • concerns about the adequacy of facility improvements for schools receiving phased renovations instead of full school renovations
  • holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools regarding provision of services to children with special needs
  • support for the reconstitution and strengthening of Amidon-Bowen elementary school
  • rigor around education through middle school
  • a solution to save the Capitol Hill Classic
  • a request to revisit the no distance preference policy around Logan
  • setting a tone around culture for middle schools (specifically, Jefferson)

The event and discussion will be televised via the DC Office of Cable Television.

Thank you to Mayor Gray for spending the time with our community and to participants for contributing to the discussion and advocating for our schools.

CHPSPO Delivers Ward 6 Middle School Briefing to Chancellor Henderson

On March 23, CHPSPO parents representing collaborations teams from Eliot-Hine MS, Jefferson MS, Stuart-Hobson MS, and the Montessori Committee (Watkins/Logan) presented a briefing to Chancellor Kaya Henderson on the implementation of the Ward 6 Middle School Plan. Click here for the presentation.

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – March 15

The Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization meeting was held at Maury Elementary School on March 15, 2011, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

1) Reviewed Briefing for Kaya Henderson, March 23, 5:30 p.m. Action: updated slides to be submitted to Suzanne Wells (). Click here for the final version of the presentation.

2) Ward 6 Middle School Communication Strategy (Jason Townsend)

  • Incorporate into presentation to Chancellor Henderson (ask for help from Comms Team/Peggy O’Brien)
  • Maury parent Amy W to help develop strategy
  • - School notes on Rag – CHPSPO
  • Get enrollment numbers from Moody’s group -Ask Claudia for this info
  • eMail SW if you want to go

3)  SWS Budget: CHPSPO will draft and sign a letter supportive of as much full-funding as possible for programs. Taking into consideration large wait list, large enrollment, expectation of libraries, expectation of art programs

Next CHPSPO Meeting:   April 12, 2011 (note:  Moved to 2nd Tuesday of month because 3rd Tuesday falls during DCPS Spring Break)

Upcoming Events:

March 18:  Ludlow-Taylor’s Spring Gala, Atlas Performing Arts

March 23: Kaya Henderson Briefing, 5:30 p.m

March 26:  Maury at the Market, Eastern Market

April 1:Hill Community Foundation Spring Grant Deadline

April 2:  Brent’s Taste of the Hill Gala

April 9:  School-Within-School at Peabody’s Jazz Gala & Auction

April 30:  A Montessori Night’s Dream:  Second Annual Silent Auction

Meeting with Vincent Gray on Middle School Plan TBD