Last week I was thrilled to share with the staff that Hardy is one of two DCPS middle schools approved and chosen by Chancellor Henderson to pilot a gifted and talented program for the upcoming 2012-13 school year, using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model designed by Joseph Renzulli. Hardy will receive a full-time gifted and talented teacher to assist in the implementation of the program. Funding for the program will also include professional development for the SEM teacher, the Hardy staff and administration. At the end of January I will be visiting the Howard County Schools with Dr. Carey Wright and others as a first step to observe their SEM programs at several school sites as well as meeting with the curriculum staff.

“The Schoolwide Enrichment Model(SEM) is widely implemented as an enrichment program used with academically gifted and talented students and a magnet theme/enrichment appproach for all schoools intersted in high-end learning and developing the strengths and talents of all students. The major goal of the SEM is the application of gifted education pedagogy to total school improvement. The SEM provides enriched learning experiences and higher learning standards fora ll children through three goals; developing talents in all children, providing a broad range of advanced-level enrichment experiences for all sudents, and providing advanced follow-up opportunities for young people baed on their strengths and interests. The SEM focuses on enrichment for all students through high levels of engagement and the use of enjoyable and challenging learning experiences that are constructed around student interess, learning styles and preferred modes of expression. The research on the SEM suggests that the model is effective at serving high-ability students in a variety of educational settings and in schools serving diverse ethnic and socioeconomic populations.”

As I learn about the program and begin implementation for next year I will be sharing next steps and progress. Although I am new to Hardy this year, the faculty and staff have a rich history of integration across subject areas and so I believe the SEM will only enhance what instructionally has been occurring. Perfect timing I believe for Hardy to add another layer of instructional enrichment….thank you Chancellor Henderson and Dr. Wright!

DCPS will host a middle school fair Thursday, February 9, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3101 16th St. NW.

Read the PDF version of the DCPS flyer

DC Public middle schools, education campuses & DCPS community partners will showcase their academic programs & extracurricular activities for parents.

For more information visit the DCPS website. You can also call Nancy Iheanacho at (202) 719‐6595 or email her at nancy[dot]iheanacho[at]dc[dot]gov.

To our valued DCPS community members,

We are excited to share the opportunity to help the students of Takoma Education Campus and Cardozo Senior High School move into their respective school buildings this December 28, 29 and 30.

These school communities have spent several months preparing for these important moves and need your help to finish the work.

For Takoma EC, we are fulfilling the promise made a year ago to restore a school building devastated by a fire. We are proud to report that the Takoma school building on Piney Branch Road has been completely repaired and is ready for students and staff to return.

For Cardozo HS, this move is the first step towards a complete modernization of their historic high school. Students will attend school at the Meyer building across the street from Cardozo until the modernization project is complete next school year.

We have two schools, two weeks and one purpose: to ensure that Cardozo and Takoma students have a successful school opening in January.

Takoma and Cardozo are an important part of the DCPS family, and we’d sincerely appreciate any time that you can spend working with us to prepare these buildings.

Here is how you can help:

All individuals, families and groups can sign up to volunteer here: School Opening Volunteer Registration. Choose the day, site and time block that you are able to volunteer. A member of the DCPS School Operations team will reach out to you directly with confirmation and directions for the day of volunteering.

Thank you for volunteering your time to support our educators and students. For questions, please contact Bryant Sewell at (202) 442-5438 or via email at Bryant.sewell@dc.gov.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Cobb
Coordinator, Volunteers and Donations

Dear Parents and Families of DCPS students,

The last day of school for DC Public Schools has been changed from Friday, June 17, 2011 to Monday, June 20, 2011. The change is required by law and allows us to make up the instructional day we lost on January 27, 2011 when schools were closed due to inclement weather.

Please note that Friday, June 17, 2011 will now be a full-day of school and Monday, June 20, 2011 will be the last day of school with a 12:15 p.m. student dismissal. Monday, June 20, 2011 was designated as a make-up day when the school calendar was originally issued and published last year.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Kaya Henderson

Acting Chancellor

DCPS will continue to offer enriching, rigorous and engaging summer school programs for students in kindergarten through grade 8 and high school students within three credits of graduating (this will be determined by the school counselors). Please be aware that due to a limited capacity and available spaces at each site, enrollment will be on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to DCPS students.

——–

More detail and all the forms you need are on the DCPS website — just follow the link above. If you have trouble with the link, paste this text into your browser:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Beyond+the+Classroom/Summer+School+2011

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT ROUNDTABLE

BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON

“THE SELECTION OF KAYA K. HENDERSON AS NEXT DCPS CHANCELLOR:

A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION”

THURSDAY APRIL 7, 2011

6pm

LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (CAFETERIA)

5701 BROAD BRANCH ROAD, NW

WASHINGTON, DC 20015

Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown announces the scheduling of a public oversight roundtable by the Committee of the Whole on “The Selection of Kaya K. Henderson as Next DCPS Chancellor: A Community Conversation.” The roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 6pm at Lafayette Elementary School (Cafeteria), 5701 Broad Branch Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20015. The purpose of the roundtable is to allow District residents to discuss Mayor Gray’s nomination of Kaya K. Henderson as the next Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to testify at the public oversight roundtable are asked to telephone Priscilla McIver, Administrative Assistant to the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or via e-mail at pford@dccouncil.us and furnish their names, addresses, telephone numbers, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. They should also bring 20 copies of their written testimony or submit one copy of their written testimony to the roundtable. Persons presenting testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard.

If you are unable to testify at the roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 508 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.

Parents and Community Members!

Join Councilmember Mary Cheh and Chancellor Kaya Henderson at State of the Schools: Ward 3, a meeting co-sponsored by DCPS and Councilmember Cheh

Thursday, March 17, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Alice Deal Middle School, 3815 Fort Drive, NW

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

You will have the opportunity to:

• Learn more about Ward 3 DCPS schools
• Interact with Ward 3 school leadership
• Meet fellow parents and community members

For more information contact Bryant Sewell at bryant[dot]sewell[at]dc[dot]gov

DC State Board of Education Holds Public Meeting on Health And Wellness Programs in Public Schools

Washington, DC – The District of Columba State Board of Education will hold a public meeting on the health and wellness programs in public schools.  The public discussion will include presentations on school programs and activities, including athletic programs and healthy food initiatives as well as school-based health centers.

The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at 441 4th Street, NW, in the Old Council Chambers, located on the lobby level of the building.

Constituents who wish to comment at the meeting are required to notify the State Board of Education in advance by contacting the Staff Assistant, Jamikka Kendrick, by phone at (202) 741-0888 or by email at Jamikka[dot]Kendrick[at]dc[dot]gov forty-eight hours before the scheduled meeting time. Please provide one electronic copy in advance and bring fifteen copies to the hearing for the State Board members to view.

The meeting will air live on District Knowledge Network (DKN) Comcast Channel 99, RCN Channel 18, and Fios Channel 12.

Visit http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Calendars for more information and a quick, easy download.