Goals

After completing the City by Design program students will:

• Have an increased awareness of the communities in which they live.

• Understand how people’s use of land and buildings affects the built and natural environment.

• Understand the numerous forces that shape cities and communities.

• Understand the impact of transportation choices—walking, driving, riding trains, buses or Metro, and biking—on the natural and built environment and on the way people live.

Objectives

During and after completing the City by Design program, students will be able to:

• Identify functions and places that people need and want in a city.

• Categorize buildings and places by use.

• Identify issues facing modern cities, such as pollution, traffic, transportation, waste disposal,

and urban sprawl.

• Propose solutions for environmentally friendly and livable cities.

• Construct buildings for a model city out of recycled materials.

• Identify various ways that cities grow and change over time.

Skills

• Identification

• Analysis

• Problem solving

• Cooperative learning

• Experimentation with art materials

• Evaluation

• Application of art-making techniques

This has been a very productive year at the Cluster and I would like this opportunity to outline our accomplishments over the last nine months.  Please take the time to review our “State of the Cluster” outline below and feel free to email me with your comments.  Above all, I hope that you come away with a sense of the major strides we have made this year and the important academic work your children are doing as well as the community we have created through work with the PTA.

Also, please note that Stuart-Hobson was featured last week on the front page of Ed Week Magazine for our work on the Common Core.   Our eighth grade ELA Chair, Dowan McNair Lee was shadowed for the past six months by Ed Week reporter Catherine Gewertz, resulting in a series of four articles to continue throughout the summer.  Good work is being done at the Cluster.  The link to this article is (http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/22/32common_ep.h32.html)

Thanks and have a great summer!

Principal Clemens

STATE OF THE CLUSTER

SY 2012-2013

WATKINS

Academics

• Piloted Read 180 in preparation for SY 2013-2014
• Purchased $27,000 Leveled Reading library ensuring all students will be challenged and met at their level
• Continuation of Winter Reading Incentive Program
• Fifth grade participation in Project Based EdLab’s $200,000 grant through the Smithsonian
• Math curriculum/manipulative materials purchased for use at all grade levels (Envision Math, Accelerated Math, First in Math)
• Major gains in number of children using Math Buddies before and after school
• Major gains in working toward math fluency at all grade levels through fidelity to First in Math
• New Dean of Students resulting in proactive approach to discipline resulting in dramatic reduction of suspensions and disciplinary referrals creating a climate conducive to learning
• Parent Curriculum Nights at all grade levels to ensure small groups and encourage parent participation/education of school goals
• Use of Reading extension guides at various grade levels
• Math lab for struggling Math students
• Second Grade Math Nights (2) for parents
• Fidelity by entire faculty to Guided Reading to ensure student achievement in reading at every level supported by the Leveled Reading Library
• $42,000 Responsive Classroom professional Development for Faculty
• Piloted STEM program sponsored by the Boston Museum of Science- Engineering is Elementary at second Grade
• Implementation of the Differentiation Bloc three times per week
• Four Classroom Aides at First grade to support academic achievement paid for by PTA
• Smaller class sizes at second grade to support learning
• Teacher fidelity to Bursting, DIBELS and TRC progress monitoring
• Family Math night, ELA night, Principal Meet and Greets and Differentiation night to support family academic engagement
• Doubled instructional technology in less than 2 years, 34 lap top computers, one for every faculty member to support academic achievement, 10 Thin client computers for library use
• Purchase of document cameras and LCD projectors for every staff member to ensure availability of on-line leveled teaching materials
• Significant strides in Central office support of technology implementation
• Extension of Food Prints to 5^th grade
• Teacher participation at the 4^th grade in the Harvard Math Study
• Teacher fellowships to participate in writing Common Core Curriculum at the District Office this summer

Watkins Operations and Community engagement

• Three lunch periods to ensure enhanced environment
• Work with Cafeteria staff to ensure quality preparation of meals
• Working groups for PTA, Building representatives, parent-organized lost-and-found, running club, Reading and Math Buddies, First Cluster Wide Auction
• Robust communication with parents/community- monthly calendars, weekly Robo’s and fidelity to back pack fliers
• Multiple OST enrichment offerings
• Robust Music program
• OSSE Garden grant
• BOKs exercise program daily before school
• Family Nutrition Nights through OSSE Nutrition Grant
• ELA night Featuring Author Katie Kelly May 23^rd

STUART-HOBSON

Academics

• Common Core Math Textbook series purchased, New Spanish textbooks purchased with on line capabilities
• Extended day program for Technology, PE, and Music
• Read180 double periods for struggling Readers
• MAC’s for all students (Academic Conferences with the Administration each quarter to review grades and individual progress)
• Saturday tutoring sessions six weeks prior to the DC CAS
• New Dean of Student position with proactive approach to discipline resulting in dramatic reduction of suspensions and disciplinary referrals and a climate conducive to learning
• Seventh grade participation in Project Based EdLab’s $200,000 grant through the Smithsonian
• $42,000 Developmental Designs professional Development for all Faculty
• Use of Reading extension guides at various grade levels
• Student Science project chosen for NASA International Space Station
• Continuation of Winter Reading Incentive Program
• Awarded six medals at city-wide STEM fair
• Major gains in working toward math fluency at all grade levels through fidelity to First in Math
• Math lab for struggling Math students
• Family Math night, ELA night, Principal Meet and Greets and Differentiation Night to support family academic engagement
• Robust Music program including Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced and Jazz band
• 20 students participating in the City Vision Partnership with the Building Museum
• 15 Students to state National History Day Competition, 7 students to National Competition

Operations and Community engagement

• OSSE Garden Grant partnership with Lands and Waters
• BOKs exercise program daily before school
• ELA night Featuring Author Katie Kelly May 23^rd
• Suspensions decrease of 79% over SY 2011-2012
• PIA parent nights (2) to review and explain interim assessment data to parents
• Monthly Pep Assemblies
• Robust Sports program including award winning teams:  1^st place Ski Team, Football quarter-finals, Volleyball 2^nd place, Girls Soccer 2^nd place, Baseball this year for boys, Basketball for both boys and girls, Track
• Use of Engrade by all staff allowing for progress monitoring by parents
• Marketing done at six elementary schools to enhance community awareness of the SH program
• Grade-level parent meetings throughout the week with staff members
• Restructured Parent Teacher Conferences allowing for more time for parent meetings
•  Adopted Uniforms for entire student body
• Parent Curriculum Nights at all grade levels to ensure small groups and encourage parent participation/education of school goals
• BOKs exercise program daily before school
• Modernization of the Gym, first floor and infrastructure of the building
• Four Students chosen to attend City-wide Diversity conference
• Introduction of Common Core, Complex text and Close reading at all grade levels.
• Introduction of the House System and Advisory at all grades

Peabody

• 45% of students met literacy the end of year benchmarks at middle of year
• Five teachers working with the $200,000 Ed Lab grant through the Smithsonian
• OSSE Nutrition Grant
• OSSE Garden Grant
• General Mills Grant
• ANC Grant
• Capitol Hill Community Foundation Grant for Scholastic Leveled Readers
•  Modernization summer of 2013
• Library transition to Center based curriculum
• Cooking Coordinator to ensure participation of Story or Food each month
• Gardening Coordinator
• Half time Music Teacher paid for by PTA
• Parent Curriculum Nights at all grade levels to ensure small groups and encourage parent participation/education of school goals
• Initiation of Parent Teacher Book Club

Interested in getting involved?  Contact Thonya Nelson or one of the PTA Fundraising Chairs to learn more and help out.

POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

Tour Chair Person –

Manage and coordinate entire House Tour.  Oversee all other event positions to ensure that:

-       details and deadlines are met for ads and printing of materials,

-       Tour homes are appropriate and readied for the event,

-       Tour homeowners receive effective communication and coordination,

-       ticket sales, community outreach, volunteer coordination and other promotions occur appropriately and in conjunction with the Cluster Schools, and

-       Tour day flows smoothly.

Home & Sponsor Coordinator –

Identify 10 appropriate Tour houses and 10 Sponsors, through: a) word-of-mouth and engaging home owners directly, b) asking past years’ sponsors for home suggestions, and/or c) contacting architects/contractors/realtors [potential Sponsors] etc. who may have a house in mind.  Identification of potential Sponsors with homes already in mind can achieve two goals – a Tour home and a Sponsor.  Liaise with homeowners and Sponsors in preparation for the Tour.

(This position’s responsibilities can be divided and shared by two people.)

Ticket Sales/Treasurer –

• Coordinate with the Cluster School PTA’s Treasurer to ensure accurate financial tracking and deposits.
• Organize ticket sale strategy and implementation (i.e. Barracks Row or H St. festivals; via students’ families; Groupons; etc.).
• Coordinate with the Volunteer coordinator for ticket sales/distribution support.
• Work with “distribution centers” such as Schneiders, Hill’s Kitchen, and (historically) Frager’s Paint Store on sales logistics.
• Manage authorizations for credit card ticket purchases and monitors PayPal.

Volunteer Coordinator –

Identify, engage, and manage 100 volunteers/docents for events prior to and on the day of the Tour.

Business Listings –

Solicit businesses for Tour booklet advertisement and manage all details associated with this, including related portion of Tour booklet layout.  Email, hard copy, and phone-based outreach needed, some financial accounting involved.

(This position can be done easily from home.)

House Tour Editor (along with 3-4 Writers) – [FILLED]

-       Work with Home/Sponsor Coordinator to provide Tour homeowner names to Writers

-       Provide Writers with direction for interview/pre-Tour home visits in terms of what kind of information to cull and how to draft 500-word home description.

-       Edit submissions and create consistency amongst descriptions.

-       Work with Writers to garner homeowner approvals on content.

Poster Distribution –

Coordinate a small group of people to distribute posters throughout the Hill.

Communications –

Manage traditional and new media outreach to build excitement and boost ticket sales for the Tour.  Traditional communications to MOTH, Cluster communications vehicles, Hill Rag, Washington Post.  More emphasis on viral and social media-based outreach, in addition to Groupon, Living Social, etc. encouraged this year.  Advanced planning needed for long-lead publications.  Identify other area house tours and discern additional outlets for communications outreach.

PK3 students pose in front of the new hand print wall.

Peabody students had a full-day event following up on the Election Day vote to decorate the Garden Shed with hand prints.

In November 2012, Peabody students held a special election, not to vote for Obama or Romney but to vote on an issue more tangible and relevant to their every day lives: they voted on whether to decorate the plain and boring blue garden shed with hand prints or with painted bugs. There were voting booths, ballots, “I VOTED” stickers and everything!! While the final outcome was close, the hand print design won.

SH student volunteers worked with Peabody students. The shed wasn’t the only thing that got handprinted by the Peabody kids!

Take a moment to get to know the board members, and think about ways you would like to pledge your support for the 2013-14 school year. Every board member works hard to for our kids and our schools, and we can’t do it without all of our wonderful parent volunteers. Thank you board members for volunteering your time, skills and knowledge to the Cluster!

Join the PTA

Meet the 2013 – 14 PTA Executive Board

President                    

Vince Morris

I think this is a great time for our school and our students, and I am excited and humbled by the prospect of serving as PTA President. This will be my first elected position with the PTA but I’m a frequent volunteer (beautification day, painting, moving furniture, pottery mover, etc.) and know how important it is to have involved parents.  I served as LSAT Chairman in 2010-2011 and led the principal selection process.  My wife, Julie, and I have lived on the hill since 2000; our oldest daughter will be at Hobson next fall and our two younger daughters attend Watkins. We also have one cat.

First Vice President   

Beth Bacon

With a rising 3rd grader at Watkins, I am focused on supporting strong academics and a collaborative community in the Cluster. I served this year as Watkins Working Group co-leader, facilitating input into PTA funding priorities; working with teachers, parents, and administrators on project ideas and execution; and advocating for the budget and modernization. I look forward to next year’s work on the PTA to support academics and other student-centered programs, distribute funds responsibly, and engage the campus-based working groups and broader school community.

Second Vice President                       

Matt Crozat

I currently am serving as the CHCS Treasurer.  I hope to carry my experience from this year into next and to continue to build upon the approach of using the campus-based working groups to set priorities within the Cluster.  My children, Aimee and Nicolas, are in second and third grades at Watkins having previously spent three great years at Peabody.

Treasurer Chair

Ann Whetstone

I am interested in serving as PTA Treasurer Chair for the 2013-2014 school year, after serving this year as the Treasurer Co-Chair.   My goals as Treasurer are to manage the PTA’s finances, applying my background and professional expertise in Finance/Accounting, providing accurate financial information in a timely and organized manner.

Treasurer Co-Chair                             

Frankie Thompson

I have been a Cluster parent for 6 years and the Watkins social worker for 2 years. For the past two years, I have served on the PTA and provided assistance to the treasurers. I am ready to move into the co-treasurer role as I am already familiar with the tasks this job entails. I am at Watkins every day and am in a convenient position to communicate with teachers, staff, and admin. I look forward to continuing to serve cluster parents and students as PTA co-treasurer.

Secretary

Allison Viola

As a medical records professional I understand the value and importance of capturing information and storing it for future use.  The ability to refer to notes, votes, and other information that has been written down is not only important for decision-making but also for those individuals who were unable to participate in meetings or other events.  I am a detail-oriented person and feel that I can serve well in this role.

Communications Chair

Kate Doherty

My family has been part of the Cluster since 2006. My background is in the high tech and education industries, where I have held a variety of product marketing and marketing positions. I currently consult for past employers on a part-time basis so I can maintain a flexible schedule for my family, while managing to stay current on marketing and communications best practices and technologies.

Communications Co-Chair

Jill Cashen

I have been a proud Cluster parent since 2004 and have served the PTA in several capacities. My professional expertise is advocacy communications and I seek to serve the Cluster schools by streamlining communications to the broader public about the accomplishments of our scholars and teachers as well as keeping parents informed about our school community.  I have lived on the Hill for 15 years and am the parent of a rising third grader and rising seventh grader.

Fundraising Chair

Karen Wilson

Having lived on Capitol Hill since 1994 and with two sons at the Cluster, I am looking forward to serving as fundraising chair.  I have been involved in grant-writing to support the school, including the “Story of Food” at Peabody in 2011, and the Quality Schools Initiative at Stuart-Hobson in 2012. When not at a soccer practice/game, school event, violin lesson or at a hockey rink of some sort; I earn a living as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I have 18 years’ experience in improving effectiveness and risk management of government programs.

Fundraising Co-Chair

Lisa Miller

I am excited about the opportunity to serve as the fundraising co-chair because the funds raised by the PTA are used in such a meaningful and impactful way.   Currently, I am an event planner at a boutique PR firm and I served on the Cluster Rocks Auction committee last year.

Membership Chair

Ebon McPherson

A mother of rising 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th graders, we have been part of the Cluster family for going on nine years. I have spent my career working for children and families, first as a data and research specialist making recommendations for child welfare standards and then as a teacher, dedicated to closing the achievement gap in our less-supported or empowered communities.  I look forward to bringing what I have learned about analyzing data, the needs of students, and the importance of family and community support to the position of Membership Chair for the 2013-14 school year. 

Membership Co-Chair 

Julie Scofield

My oldest daughter is back in the Cluster as a 6th grader at Stuart, after going through Montessori program.  I’ve always enjoyed the supportive community within the Cluster.  I was a membership manager in the past, plus I bring my friendly self.   I look forward to working with the PTA and its membership.

Family Event Chair

Lona Valmoro

As one of the newer members of the Cluster family, I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the PTA and support the solid system that families, faculty and administrators have worked so hard to create for our children.   I am currently a PK4 Room Parent and have served on the board of my daughter’s federal day care facility for the last two years.  Having lived on Capitol Hill now for almost a decade, my husband and I have two children, both of whom will be attending Peabody next year.

Family Event Co-Chair           

Toya Carmichael

I have been a cluster mom for two years. Having experienced the wonderful and enriching activities put on by the PTA, I would like to bring my knowledge of event planning and city wide resources to the PTA next year. I have planned events for Georgetown Law Center and various local non-profit organizations including Young Lives.

Campus-Based Representatives

Stuart Hobson

Stuart Hobson Working Group Chair

Valerie Jablow

I am the parent of a rising 3rd grader and a rising 7th grader and have been part of the Cluster since my oldest was in preK. This past year, I was a member of the Stuart-Hobson working group and hope to be part of it again next year as co-chair. I have also volunteered in a number of other capacities for the Cluster over the years and am looking forward to our school’s bright (and modernized!) future, building on its many decades of great kids, teachers, staff, and parents.

Stuart Hobson Working Group Co-Chair

Sharon Jeffress

I have been a cluster parent for 10 years and currently have a rising 8^th grader and a rising 3 grader.   I have been interested in serving the cluster in an official capacity so I am eager and excited to serve as the Stuart Hobson Working Group Co-Chair.

Watkins

Watkins Working Group Chair

Kevin White

I am the proud parent of a rising 3^rd grader and have been a cluster parent for four years.  I hope to build upon the efforts made by so many in making Watkins great and am particularly focused on doing all that I can to ensure that there are no further delays in modernizing our wonderful school.

Watkins Working Group Co-Chair

Jennifer Thorpe Lewis

I am currently a 2nd grade Room Parent, the Coordinator for Afternoon Math Buddies, The Book Nook, the Cluster Ambassadors, and the Lost And Found cleanup.  I have been dedicated to supporting a clean, safe, and nurturing environment at Watkins that encourages the academic and citizenship development of each scholar and look forward to serving as the Working Group Co-Chair.

Peabody

Peabody Working Group Chair

Katie Baptiste

Next year will be my family’s second year at Peabody, with my two older sons entering pre-k 3 and pre-k 4. Their younger brother will keep our family continuously at Peabody through 2017-18! I have really enjoyed being a room parent this year and helping Arrow Augerot run this year’s yard sale. I look forward to working with Arrow and Katie Niehaus on the Peabody PTA team next year.

Peabody Working Group Co-Chair

Arrow Augerot

I am the mother of a rising PK-4 student and a long time Capitol Hill resident.  I am interested in being Peabody Working Group Co-Chair because I want to help the Cluster Schools become the best that they can be, both to ensure that my children get a great education in the neighborhood, but also to contribute to the continued improvement of Capitol Hill for all families.  I work at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where I run/organize programs and coordinate and communicate with others on a daily basis.  This work experience will help me in serving in this position, but probably not as much as the skills I’ve developed being a full-time working mom of two kids.

Summer Reading Lists and Summer Reading Information will be available, too.

What’s the good word? READ
Many thanks, and see you at the fair!
Currie Renwick
Watkins Librarian

For families and students entering PK3: Thursday, June 6, 5:00-6:45
For families and students entering PK4: Tuesday, June 4, 5:00-6:45

*5:00-5:30 Children and families play on the playground and meet new friends.
5:30-6:00 Adults come to the second floor lobby to meet teachers while children stay on playground supervised by other Peabody staff.
6:00-6:45 Families are welcome to bring picnic dinners to enjoy on the playground.

Families and students entering Kindergarten will receive written information from the Kindergarten team following the PK4/Kindergarten “Buddy Day” activities. If you have a Kindergarten child who is new to Peabody, please feel free to attend the PK4 Information Night.

Questions? Please contact the Main Office, Ms. Howard (PK3), Katherine.howard@dc.gov, Ms. Houghton (PK4), Rachel.houghton@dc.gov, or Ms. Dorsey (K), Sharon.browndorsey@dc.gov.

Please save the date:
*Monday, August 26 – First Day of School – Parent/Child/Teacher conferences 8:30am to 3:30pm
*Wednesday, September 4 – Peabody’s Curriculum Night – Learn about the academic program for School Year 2013/2014.
*Tuesday, September 10 – Peabody’s Back to School Night – Classroom teachers will share the plans, projects, trips and experiences that students will be a part of for School Year 2013/2014.

BK said he started to paint when he was in 2nd grade, and hasn’t ever stopped. Even his bicycle is a work of art! With BK, students “sculpted” paper: One class created a long, colorful, spotted worm. Other students made bow ties, fans, basketballs, the Washington Monument, and even Nats Stadium, out of paper.

We’re looking forward to working with the artist on an outdoor sculpture at Watkins this coming fall 2013.

A special thank you to the CHCS PTA for funding this opportunity.

PTA MEETING DOCUMENTS>>

- 2013-14 PTA Board Nominees (pdf)

- 2013 – 2014 Budget Proposal (word) and Draft budget proposal_May22 (xls)

Also see Post about Summer Reading>>

Find suggested reading and websites to check out from our amazing Cluster librarians: Ms. Bloom, Ms. Renwick, and Ms. Ledford, and download this Summer’s Reading log.

Help support Stuart-Hobson’s library and books for classroom libraries!

Stuart-Hobson students – purchase your Shannon Draper books to help meet your summer reading goals!!!

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