The Parents Teachers Association
For more information about PTA Meetings or pdf versions of The Chalkboard, please see the Newsletters/Meeting Notes section
March 20
Greetings, Stoddert Families!
It’s
been a very busy season! Here are some updates on the
projects we have in progress:
Demountables:
The
“wheels are rolling,” meaning we will be
getting some extra space for this next school term. We
welcome the oppor- tunity to make Stoddert’s students
and staff more comfort- able and to provide them with
additional resources that can enhance their learning
experience.
Foreign-Language
Program:
We are looking at options for a foreign language program at
Stoddert and await the DCPS review of our proposal. Please
be aware that we are continually looking to expand our cur-
ricular and extracurricular programs in order to provide
the students with the best that they deserve.
Shakespeare
on Calvert Street:
Lots of
excitement came from the 4th grade presentation of
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As
part of the production preparations the students were able
to use our new Mac laptops to access and share information.
What a great sight to see our students so eager to explore
the tech- nology while learning about the world of
classics. Good job teachers, parents and students!
DBAS
#3:
Stoddert
students took the DBAS last week. When the results are
available, we will share them with you promptly.
Keep Up the good (Home)work!
Research (Miller, 2000) indicates that homework needs to be
productively linked to our learning programs. As ad-
ministrators, parents and teachers we can build on prior
knowledge, allow students to explore new horizons and add
learning through diverse means. Our goals as teachers and
parents are to assist our children with their homework,
working with them to make sure they truly understand the
concepts. We must maintain a healthy balance between
schoolwork, homework and extracurricular activities. Re-
member too, to keep open communication with the school when
you have a concern or question. In an age of school re-
form and emphasis on testing, we don’t want to take
away the beauty of learning.
Thanks again for your help in our endeavors. Parent and
community support are our best allies when it comes to a
successful school. Let’s help our children grow and
excel in a productive, stimulating, motivating and joyful
environment.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andriana Kalapothakos, Principal
Dear Stoddert Family,
Another
winter is on its way out. Mother Nature has been kind with
a very mild winter. But for the cancellation of a Winter
Concert, we’ve not had to miss much school due to
weather. With the onset of Daylight Savings, it’s
lighter out at the end of the day. That’s all good!
Our children can play outside longer after school!
In the meantime, kids are growing and lots of things are
happening at school. Le Big Chili is coming. It will be
held on Sunday, April 27th from 5-8 pm. We have a special
treat this year because the event will be held at La Maison
Française (the French Embassy’s cultural center).
Hmmmm...chili at La Maison—now that’s an
interesting combination. Please donate your talents in
participating in our annual auction. The PTA’s annual
funding is largely raised through this annual event.
Finally, it is with a bit of concern that I want to let the
Stoddert community know that Dr. K., our esteemed principal
who works her heart out for our children, was hospi-
talized again with a recurring respiratory illness. We need
everyone to not only wish her well but to perhaps come and
spend sometime at school to help out. Dr. K and her
Stoddert team put in 150% effort in keeping the school
running effi- ciently and effectively but sometimes the
stress can be too much. Whatever we as parents can do to
help out would be most appreciated.
Chantale
Wong, PTA Co-President
.
Le Big
Chili
Le
Big Chili: There’s still time!
...time to get those Big Chili donations in!
Though
we’ve gotten some great stuff in so far for the Big
Chili, we’re still lagging far behind where we need
to be. During Spring Break you can still donate
online:
www.stoddert.org/07BC/07BC.html
We
welcome all your creative, interesting, and/or delicious
donations! Please contact Molly Evans or Terri Thompson if
you have a large item to donate or if you need some ideas.
Molly will be available during spring break for questions
or to receive any donated items. We need
participation from the whole Stoddert family to make this
the best Big Chili ever.
Thank you!
Your Le Big Chili 2008 Co-Chairs
Molly
Evans | evans.cohen@gmail.com Terri Thompson |
stoddertmom360@yahoo.com
Get
Your News Sign up
to receive Stoddert updates by email. Just send a request
to Wendy Sefsaf at wfelizali@aol.com
and you
will be added to the list
Stoddert Summer Camp Rules!
Dear Parents:The Stoddert aftercare program is looking to run a summer camp at Stoddert again this summer. The dates will be June 23 – August 8 and cost $200 per student per week. However, there are still many jobs and details to work out, so in order to make this happen we will need significant help and support from the parents who want to take part. We also need to know who will use the camp! This year we will also require one-half of the tuition as a downpayment, and payment in full on the first day of camp. It is the only way to ensure sufficient staffing and planning.
The camp will include weekly field trips, karate, basketball, library, arts and crafts, swimming at the Georgetown pool and Fun Fridays!
If you are interested in using the camp please send an email to Mimi Laver (laverm@staff.abanet.org), so we can determine if there is sufficient interest.
Thanks! The Stoddert Aftercare Board
Do You Want to Help Stop Global Warming?
Here are some ideas to help:
• you can walk to school if you live close by.
• you can turn off the air conditioning and heat when you don’t need it.
• you can recycle and re-use and repair instead of throwing things away.
• you can bring grocery bags from home instead of getting them at the store.
• you can turn your car off when you wait more than one minute somewhere.
• you can turn off all your lights during earth hour: 8:00–9:00 p.m. on saturday, march 29th.
• you can replace old lightbulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (cFls)
• you can tell your friends!
Call Theo and Eliot Bilski (202-337-2590) or Razi Beresin- Scher (202-333-0477) if you’d like to join our student-run group: STOP GLOBAL WARMING.
Our next meeting will be at 3814 Benton Street (Theo and Eliot’s house) on Sunday, march 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call if you are planning to attend.
A Note from Miss Bruce and the National Reading is Fundamental Organization: RIF Needs Your Help!
RIF is a terrific program at Stoddert and at schools across the country. Founded in 1966, RIF is the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the United States. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year.
However, rIf is in danger of losing its funding. Please act now to help RIF continue to build support in Congress for its funding. Please act now to help RIF continue to build support for its funding. Send an e-mail to your members of Congress asking them to support RIF during the appropriations process. The funding is critical to support the programs at nearly 20,000 locations nationwide.
for more information and to send a message, visit http://www.rif.org/get-involved/advocate/what/
Thank-You Corner
Spring Open House
Many thanks to all of the parent volunteers and teachers who helped make our Spring Open House a success! A special thank you to Ms. Bruce for allowing the PTA to use the media center for the presentations, and to Liz Ludgin for organizing the events. As always, the visitors really enjoyed seeing our students engaged in learning with the wonderful teachers we have here at Stoddert.
Stoddert Celebrates RIF Week and Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
Stoddert was invaded by a band of well-dressed characters on Monday, March 3, in celebration of the 104th anniversary of Theodore Seuss Geisel’s birthday. The day featured readings, projects in the library and in the classrooms, and free books for all students! Costumed students got their pictures taken and enjoyed a slice of cake. Special thanks to the volunteers who read in classrooms, to Miss Bruce for organizing the full day of activities, to photographer Lely Constantinople, to Kay Langenbacher for picking up the cake, and to readers Jodi Ferrier (The Lorax) and Anastasia Miller (Horton Hears a Who).