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Stuart-Hobson General Information | Stuart-Hobson Teachers | Stuart-Hobson Administrative Team
- Stuart-Hobson Modernization Plan: Upcoming Meeting
Stuart-Hobson Modernization Plan: The Future Of The Cluster Is Up To Us!
Mark Your Calendar for Two important upcoming meetings:
School Improvement Team Meeting: Wednesday January 11, 6:30 – 8:00, S-H Room 102Attend a Public Presentation Of Draft Concept Plan: Thursday, Jan. 19, 6:30 – 8 pm, S-H Auditorium
The long-anticipated modernization and expansion of Stuart-Hobson Middle School will begin this spring – and now is the time for Cluster families to have a voice in decisions that will affect our children and our community for decades to come. Don’t miss your opportunity for input!- Learn about the developing Arts Integration and Museum Program from Principal Dawn Clemens.
- Get the first public look at the architect’s draft plans for a substantial renovation to the existing building and gymnasium plus the addition of an arts wing.
- Provide feedback that will help shape detailed design decisions.
- Find out how parents can show our support for sufficient funding so current Cluster students can fully benefit from the exciting improvements.
If you are interested in reviewing and giving input to the draft plan before it’s presented to the community, join the School Improvement Team for a meeting at Stuart-Hobson on Wednesday, January 11, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in room 102.
- CHCS Launches Winter Reading Program: Reading Takes You Out of this World!
Capitol Hill Cluster School has launched a 3-campus winter reading incentive program, “Reading Takes You Out of this World!” The program will span the next three months that lead up to Dr. Seussʼ birthday on March 2, 2012. The goal: Cluster students will read — outside of classroom reading — a combined total of 1 million minutes over the 3 winter months!
All student “astronauts” will start at the sun and read across the universe from planet to planet until they reach Neptune. For Peabody, SWS and Watkins families, students will move to a new planet each time theyʼve read 300 minutes. Stuart Hobson reader astronauts will move to a new planet each time they’ve read 450 minutes outside of classroom reading. Those who reach Neptune before March 2 can dash around the Milky Way and do it all over again!
Fun theme-related prizes will be given to students as they travel the galaxy of reading, and some schools will be giving away a grand raffle prize to one of the participants who reaches Neptune. Peabody, SWS & Watkins will blast off on Monday, December 5 and Stuart-Hobson will blast off the following Monday on December 12. Please support this program by encouraging your child to participate and to show you their reading logs. Happy reading!
- CHCS School Food Information
Food Accommodations
Students with special dietary needs including food intolerances and allergies should submit Students with Special Dietary Needs Form to their school’s nurse. The Dietary Needs Form must be signed by a licensed medical provider, unless the student is requesting an accommodation for lactose intolerance, in which case the signature of a parent or guardian is sufficient.
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2011-12 Meal Prices
Elementary (Pre-K-5th grade) Lunch $1.35 Secondary (6-12th grade) Lunch $1.60 Adult Breakfast $3.00 Adult Lunch $4.00 Meal Payment
Students and school staff can pay for meals three ways:
- By bringing cash or check made payable to the D.C. Treasurer to the cafeteria staff before, in between, or after meal periods.*
- By paying with a credit or debit card at mylunchmoney.com**, an online prepayment service.
*As of August 22, 2011 DCPS will no longer be taking cash during meal service
**Parents or guardians will be charged a $1.95 fee per transaction._________________________________
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Watkins Salad Bar Menu (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays — all grades)
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- Fall Sales Fundraisers: Ecotulips and Greenraising
Please do your part to help meet our goal of $15,000 for our school!
This year we have two terrific programs: Ecotulips offers organic bulbs grown in Virginia; Greenraising offers a range of environmentally-friendly products from wrapping paper to water bottles to jewelry to gifts. Both programs have great products you can be proud to sell to your neighbors, friends and family. Parents should have received a packet home with your child(ren) on Sept. 29. Orders are due by Thursday, October 20.
Questions? E-mail Mandy Bassow at abassow@gmail.com. Thanks and happy selling!
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ONLINE PURCHASE INFORMATION:
ECOTULIPS
1. Visit www.ecotulips.com and pick out your organic bulbs.2. Go to your Shopping Cart and enter the Coupon Code: “clusterschool“ on the right hand of the screen.3. Proceed to checkout : Double check your order. Under your subtotal you should see: “Coupon clusterschool-$2.95″. If you don’t see it, there is a space to add your code at the bottom right. Then wait for your bulbs to arrive in time for fall planting.GREENRAISING1. Visit www.greenraising.com .2. On the left side of the screen, where it says “My Affiliate”, click on “choose”. For the state, select “Washington DC” and for the affiliate, select “Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA – 2123”.3. Now you’re ready to shop! Choose from the categories on the left, or simply browse. When you’re ready to checkout, you can create a login, or skip the registration and checkout like you would at Amazon or any other online store. Then wait for your order to be delivered directly to your home._____________________
SAMPLE FAMILY & FRIENDS EMAIL FOR ONLINE SALES:
Hello Family and Friends!
I’m hoping you can help me raise some money for my school, the Capitol Hill Cluster School. The Cluster School is a unique D.C. public school that strives to ensure that graduates value the arts, community involvement, diversity, and a healthy lifestyle, and have the critical thinking, writing, problem solving, and interpersonal skills needed to attend the high school of their choice, in preparation for success in college and life. This year we are selling great environmentally-friendly products through two companies, and 40% of all online sales go directly to support the terrific programs at my school!
Ecotulips
Ecotulips are the only American source of organic, pesticide-free tulip bulbs – and they are grown locally in Virginia. You can choose from over 40 varieties of tulip bulbs, along with other organic flower bulbs!! But hurry, this offer only lasts until October 20, 2011! Follow these simple steps:
1. Visit www.ecotulips.com and pick out your organic bulbs.2. Go to your Shopping Cart and enter the Coupon Code: “clusterschool“ on the right hand of the screen.3. Proceed to checkout : Double check your order. Under your subtotal you should see: “Coupon clusterschool-$2.95″. If you don’t see it, there is a space to add your code at the bottom right. Then wait for your bulbs to arrive in time for fall planting.Greenraising was started by the parents of elementary school children who watched how their school’s parents associations struggled each year to raise the funds necessary to provide an excellent education, and who bought their share of cookie dough and magazines to help that happen. At the same time, they noticed that their children were coming home with concerns about the environment, pollution, global warming and living conditions in the world, and were feeling helpless to change things. A little research yielded a host of small things each family could do to help the situation, and a light bulb went off (well, technically a compact fluorescent bulb). Greenraising was created to help solve both problems: raise money for schools and give children an opportunity to learn that their actions can change the world. To shop at Greenraising.com, following these simple steps:
1. Visit www.greenraising.com .2. On the left side of the screen, where it says “My Affiliate”, click on “choose”. For the state, select “Washington DC” and for the affiliate, select “Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA – 2123”.3. Now you’re ready to shop! Choose from the categories on the left, or simply browse. When you’re ready to checkout, you can create a login, or skip the registration and checkout like you would at Amazon or any other online store. Then wait for your order to be delivered directly to your home.Thanks so much for supporting my excellent school!!Sincerely,
[your name]
- Stuart-Hobson Middle School
Toussaint Tingling-Clemmons, Stuart-Hobson’s In-School Suspension Supervisor, was recently featured in a Washington Post article about a summer program for foster kids in DC. Mr. Tingling-Clemmons is the Summer Program Coordinator for Lifting Voices, a DC non-profit that teaches critical thinking skills to underserved youth.
Read the full article, which details the dramatic effect Mr. Tingling-Clemmons has made in these children’s lives in just a few weeks, here. - Stuart-Hobson Spring Book Fair
Stuart-Hobson Middle School will have its spring book fair starting next Tuesday, the 17th - Friday, the 20th, in the Stuart-Hobson lobby. Please be sure to stop by and check us out!
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the book fair, please contact librarian Anne Ledford at anne.ledford@dc.gov.
- Stuart-Hobson Middle School
President Obama and the First Family visited Stuart-Hobson to participate in Greater DC Cares’ annual Day of Service. The family was invited by Greater DC Cares to join in service with over 100 volunteers in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. President and Michelle Obama each painted “active apples” on two columns in the cafeteria while their daughters Malia and Sasha painted canvasses with college logos on them. Stop by and see the President’s and his family’s artwork!
- DCPS Youth Local Wellness Policy
DCPS Wellness Policy
The DCPS Wellness Policy applies to all schools and includes guidelines for snacks and meals offered and sold at school, nutrition education, and physical activity. DCPS Food Services strives to adhere to all aspects of the Wellness Policy in an effort to maintain and promote student and school wellness. - Sandra Day O'Connor Visits Stuart-Hobson History Class
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor recently stopped by Ms. Trenkle’s 8th grade U.S. History class at Stuart-Hobson to chat with students and answer questions. Justice O’Connor was at the school to film a segment for PBS NewsHour and graciously took some time afterwards to visit with students. Ms. Trenkle’s class prepared for the experience by doing research about Justice O’Connor, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. judicial system. They prepared questions for the former justice based on what they had learned. Ms. Trenkle says “The students were outstanding! They were very excited to have a living legend in our room… there were audible gasps from them when she entered.” Students later wrote about their experience on their class blogs.
- Stuart-Hobson Gardens
Stuart-Hobson’s garden program is the Cluster School’s newest, but it is no less ambitious than those at Watkins and Peabody. The Nancy Cunningham Memorial and Native Plant Garden is a habitat for native birds and insects and includes a monarch butterfly habitat. Parents, students, and teachers are currently working on creating the Bird Walk, which will incorporate a student-made fused-glass birdbath, bird feeders and houses, and a patio and bench, all nestled among native plantings. The tile mosaic overlooking the garden was created by students as a part of an arts integration project. In addition, a sloping concrete wall was replaced by a Terraced Garden helping prevent storm water overflow, a major cause of pollution in the Anacostia River, and teaching students about the ways to better manage storm water in urban areas.
If you are interested in helping to grow the Stuart-Hobson gardens, please contact Suzanne Wells at m.godec@att.net.
- Stop in and visit our gardens
Students at the Capitol Hill Cluster School are as likely to find their classrooms outdoors as inside. Our extensive gardens are living classrooms that support lessons on art, science, math, literacy, and geography. Stop by and visit our gardens at each campus: play, explore, relax, and learn.
Peabody Early Childhood Center
The gardens at Peabody were developed nearly fifteen years ago. There are sixteen distinct areas wrapping around three sides of the school building and edging the playground. The gardens include a diverse array of plants, including many native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers that promote biodiversity and attract pollinators such as insects, butterflies, and birds. Students use them for everything from art projects to science lessons.The newest, the Louise Chapman Children’s Garden, was dedicated in Spring 2010 in honor of retiring teacher Louise Chapman’s enduring passion for gardening with children. This “Edible Schoolyard” area features thirteen raised vegetable beds, allowing each classroom to design, plant, maintain, and harvest its own garden. An additional nine boxes near the playground were just completed in August. This Playground Garden is being used with the school’s new garden-based literacy curriculum, “The Story of Food: Growing Healthy Readers,” which features hands-on gardening projects, field trips to local farms, a focus on nutrition and healthy eating, basic ecology education, and classroom cooking experiences for students.
Watkins Elementary School
The Watkins Living Classroom is a labor of love begun over twenty years ago by parent Molly Dannenmaier, who had the vision and energy to transform what had once been a neglected, weed-choked space into what is now a thriving garden program. Work in this space is continued today by Master Gardener and former Cluster parent Barbara Percival. In one of the most active school garden programs in the city, Watkins students grow healthy food in the Edible Schoolyard (modeled after Alice Waters’ original “teaching garden” in Berkeley, California) which they later cook and eat.They also engage in hands-on learning about the impact plants, and people, can have on the Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia Watersheds in the Wetland Garden, and observe how seasonal and other climate changes affect plants in the Gardens of the Seasons. Finally, students study the way that plants, animals, and insects depend upon each other for food, shelter, and reproduction in the Wildlife Garden and can let their imaginations run wild in the Dinosaur Garden, playing among plants that haven’t changed in (literally) eons!
Stuart-Hobson Middle School
Stuart-Hobson’s garden program is the Cluster School’s newest, but it is no less ambitious than those at Watkins and Peabody. In 2006, Stuart-Hobson students won a garden design from local non-profit DC Appleseed for their submissions in an idea competition entitled Solving DC’s Problems. The nationally-known naturalist landscape design firm of Oehme, van Sweden and Associates developed a plan for a Native Plant Garden that could become a habitat for native birds and insects, and also memorialize beloved sixth-grade science teacher Nancy Cunningham, who died in 2002.Phase One of the garden was completed last year and now hosts monarch butterflies. Phase Two, to be called the Bird Walk, will incorporate a student-made fused-glass birdbath, bird feeders and houses, and a patio and bench, all nestled among native plantings. Phase Three, a Water-Permeable Path coming from the school’s entrance will follow as funding becomes available. The tile mosaic overlooking the garden was created by students as a part of an arts integration project.
In addition, a sloping concrete wall was replaced by a Terraced Garden helping prevent storm water overflow, a major cause of pollution in the Anacostia River, and teaching students about the ways to better manage storm water in urban areas.
Our Partners
The Capitol Hill Cluster School garden program has been made possible by the tireless efforts of parents and former parents, teachers, students, community members, and volunteers from numerous organizations, as well as contributions of time, money and expertise from groups including the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Casey Trees, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Concern Inc., the DC Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Program, Environmental Concern, Frager’s Hardware, FRESHFARM Markets, Greater DC Cares, Hands on DC, Lands & Waters, Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, and the National Wildlife Foundation. The Cluster School owes them an enormous debt of gratitude for making the gardens grow and helping the students grow their understanding of the natural world. - Summer Reading for 5th & 8th Graders
Stuart-Hobson English teacher Sandra Burst asks each incoming fifth grader to read at least 3 books from the DC Public Library’s summer reading list on the intermediate list or higher. Students will record books read in a reading log that they create.
Fifth Grade Summer Reading List | DC Library Reading List
Eighth grade English teacher Ms. Tingling-Clemmons asks students to pick two books from the list below to read. The first project of the new school year will be about summer reading.