Charter Chat 5/30/12
Welcome old and new subscribers! Charter Chat is published weekly by Friends of Choice in Urban Schools, better known as FOCUS, a nonprofit organization that supports quality public charter schools in the District of Columbia. We hope that you find the resources and information in this e-newsletter useful.
Feel free to forward this email to other parents and community members who might benefit from the information and wish to subscribe directly. If for any reason you don’t receive an edition of Charter Chat, please visit our website and sign up to subscribe. It’s quick and easy: http://focusdc.org/join-movement. Of course, should you decide that this newsletter is not beneficial, you may opt out at any time. See the bottom of this message for links to subscribe, forward, and unsubscribe.
Submission Instructions: The more submissions we have, the more useful this e-newsletter will be! Email us at charterchat@focusdc.org to submit youth-oriented and family-friendly events and resources to include in future newsletters with “for charter chat” in the subject line. Please submit entries in the format found in the newsletter below. Entries must be received by COB Monday to be included in the Wednesday edition that week. We generally include entries three weeks in advance of the event date, deadline, or activity start date. We may provide more lead-time for contests, scholarships, competitions, etc. where time for preparation is required.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT: OSSE’s Mediator Search
WHEN: Ongoing
WHERE: 810 First Street NE, Suite 2001
DETAILS: The Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Student Hearing Office, is seeking individuals who are interested in serving as Mediators for disputes related to the provision of special education services for District students. Mediators will be compensated and training will be provided. Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity by sharing this link with those who you believe may be interested: http://app.ocp.dc.gov/pdf/DCGD-2012-R-0082_Main.pdf
CONTACT: Call 202 481-3458
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WHAT: Family and Community Health Expo
WHEN: Thursday, June 7 from 10 am to 4 pm
WHERE: 1731 Bunker Hill Rd NE (shuttle services will be provided from the Brookland Metro Station)
DETAILS: A family fun filled day hosted by the HSC Pediatric Center!
CONTACT: For more information, please contact Mr. Cecil Doggette at 202 835-2771.
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Reminder
WHAT: Sally Mugabe Lives Forever: A Children’s Play Written by Obi Egbuna Jr.
WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 1:30 pm
WHERE: Roots Public Charter School (15 Kennedy St NW)
DETAILS: Join Roots Public Charter School and the Sankofa Home School Community as they present a post-African Liberation Day Celebration.
CONTACT: Email rootspcs@rootspcs.org.
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Reminder
WHAT: The Inaugural Chavez Public Policy Symposium
WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2012. 2:00pm-4:00pm
WHERE: US Department of Labor - Cesar Chavez Auditorium (200 Constitution Ave. NW)
DETAILS: Join us at the historic Cesar Chavez Auditorium on Wednesday June 6, 2012. Our top student public policy analysts present their findings on issues relevant to young people. Topics include Mandatory Minimum Sentencing, Same-Sex Marriage, Human Trafficking, and more!
CONTACT: Visit http://chavezpublicpolicysymposium.eventbrite.com
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Reminder – tonight!
WHAT: Teach Plus Washington, D.C. Event: How Do We Measure School Quality?
WHEN: Wednesday, May 30, 2012. 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Pew DC Conference Center (901 E St NW)
DETAILS: The Deputy Mayor’s office, DC Public Schools, and the Public Charter School Board are examining how we report school quality, and they want teacher feedback about what really matters. Learn more and RSVP at http://bit.ly/phPT49.
CONTACT: Contact Tammy Whyte at twhyte@teachplus.org or 202.266.7859.
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SCHOLARSHIPS / CONTESTS / AWARDS
Reminder
WHAT: Express Yourself! A Juried Exhibition of Teen Art
WHEN: Submissions can be dropped off on Friday, June 8 from 10 am to 7 pm and Saturday, June 9 from 10 am to 4 pm
WHERE: Submissions should be dropped off at the Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722
DETAILS: The Brentwood Arts Exchange announces a call for entries for its first show of youth artists, Express Yourself!, on display in the gallery from June 25 - August 10, 2012. Open to young artists ages 13-18 with a passion for creating visual art, the Brentwood Arts Exchange invites teens living or attending school in Prince George's County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, the City of Alexandria, the City of Arlington and the District of Columbia to submit one original artwork in any media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital media and/or video. A first place award of $500, and a second place award of $300, and a third place award of $100 will be handed out. Materials should be delivered in person to the Brentwood Arts Exchange, located on the first floor of the Gateway Arts Center. Artists are responsible for transporting work to and from the gallery. Artwork must be delivered ready to hang and appropriately presented. For digital media, please submit a CD/DVD containing image or video, no longer than five minutes in duration. Artwork not ready for gallery installation may be rejected. Along with your artwork, please provide:
• Your name and contact information, including address, telephone number, and email.
• Title of artwork, media, dimensions, and sales price.
• *Optional: An artist's statement
CONTACT: Call 301 227-2863
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Reminder
WHAT: James (Jim) Schalk Memorial Association of Conservation Engineers Scholarship
WHEN: Deadline for submissions is Sunday, June 3
DETAILS: ACE is an international organization of engineers and allied personnel employed by conservation and natural resource agencies and consultants with specialized interests in the areas of fish, wildlife, parks, forests, and related conservation/recreation fields. The selection shall be restricted to undergraduate sophomore, junior, senior class, and graduate level students enrolled in an accredited course of college study directed toward a degree in engineering, any of the natural or cultural sciences, or agriculture. The student shall submit a technical paper of 1250 words maximum but not less than 750 words written in essay form. The paper’s topic shall relate to the conservation, preservation, and/or restoration of natural, cultural, or renewable resources. A recommendation letter, on university letterhead, from one of the student’s instructors shall accompany the submitted technical paper stating the student’s qualifications for this scholarship. The monetary value of this scholarship shall be $1,500.00 (one thousand five hundred dollars) paid directly to the recipient.
CONTACT: Apply at http://conservationengineers.org/downloads/ACE_Scholarship_form.pdf. Submissions may be sent by email to beicher@lawson-fisher.com. The instructor should send a separate email for their recommendation using their University email address.
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YOUTH PROGRAMS / WORKSHOPS / CLASSES / CAMPS
WHAT: The Lady in Me Personal Enrichment Camp for Teenage Girls age 14-18
WHEN: Monday, July 16th through Friday, July 20th, 2012 – 9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily
WHERE: ImageWorks Training Center – 517 H Street, NE
DETAILS: ImageWorks presents the 2012 Lady in Me personal enrichment camp for teenage girls. Image and style would be nothing without self-esteem, confidence, and the right attitude. The Lady in Me week-long summer camp will teach your teen how to love herself and build self-confidence. The camp will feature open discussions, professional guest speakers and hands-on demonstrations. The final act will include a graduation brunch to showcase how far they've come. This is not your ordinary day camp...the Lady in Me summer camp is geared to inspire, motivate, enhance and empower young women ages 14-18. Our mission is to transform girls into ladies from the inside out.
The camp experience will teach your teen girl to look good and feel good about who they are. Workshops include:
• Image and Style
• Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
• Interview Skills
• Modern Manners and Etiquette
• Dining Tutorial Luncheon
• Skin Care and Makeup
• Self-Esteem and Confidence
• Poise, Posture and Perception
CONTACT: Email carla@isyourimageworking.com for details. Additional information can be found at www.isyourimageworking.com.
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Reminder
WHAT: 2012 STEM Summer Camp Classes
WHEN: Session dates vary
WHERE: The (Computer) Lab @ Uplift, Inc. (1500 D Street, SE)
DETAILS: Registration for our 2012 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Summer Camp classes is OPEN! Students will have an amazing time in this hands-on, project-based STEM Camp. Open to DM, MD, VA residents and those visiting from other places for the summer. This summer, our camp is divided into four (4) sessions.
Session One:
June 25 – July 20
Monday-Friday
9am-5pm
Ages: 8-(early) 12
4 weeks (STEM) = 4 projects
Students are expected to bring their own lunch, snacks, and books/magazines to read.
Session Two:
June 25 – Aug 3
Monday-Friday
5pm-9pm
Ages: 16 – 21
6 weeks (Computer programming, Research) = 1 large project
Session Three:
July 23 – Aug 17
9am-5pm
Ages: (late)12 – 17
4 weeks (STEM) = 4 projects
Each week will feature a project that each team is expected to start on Monday and finish and present by the end of the camp day on Thursday. Fridays are field trip days.
Students are expected to bring their own lunch, snacks, and books/magazines to read.
Session Four (Young Builders):
All Summer Long
Saturdays ONLY
Ages: 4-7
11am Session
2pm Session
4 Weeks (4 Saturdays)
You can enroll in whichever week(s) interests you and your child(ren). No prior experience is necessary.
CONTACT: Visit http://www.studystem.com/contact-us/
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
WHAT: 20th Alexandria Armenian Festival
WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 1 pm to 6 pm
WHERE: Market Square (301 King St)
DETAILS: The festival provides an opportunity to share Armenian culture with the local community through Armenian food and entertainment. Funds raised will be used for charitable projects in Armenia.
CONTACT: Contact Jake Bournazian by phone at 202 586-5562 or by email at jbournazian@verizon.net. Visit http://armenianfestivals.wordpress.com/.
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WHAT: CycleFest 2012
WHEN: June 9, 2012 from 12 pm to 4 pm
WHERE: National Harbor, MD 20745
DETAILS: Formerly known as Bicycle Safety Day, families are invited to this free event to prepare their bicycles for a safe and fun summer. The day will include bicycle rodeos, maintenance workshops and bicycle and nameplate decorating, and we’ll be giving away helmets and offer free sizing, as well as raffling off bicycles courtesy of the Alexander Lance Booker Child Safety Foundation. Families can also enjoy face painting, live music and giveaways courtesy of our community exhibitors.
CONTACT: Make sure to visit http://www.ncm.museum/home to stay up-to-date on the latest CycleFest information!
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WHAT: Medical Museum Science Café: “Reconciling the Past: Recovery and Identification of the Missing in Cyprus” – a presentation by Istenc Engin, Maria Chrystalla Kyrkimtzi, Erdinc Usta and Maria Constantinou
WHEN: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 from 6 pm to 7 pm
WHERE: Montgomery College, Health Sciences Institute and Center (7977 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910), Room 222
DETAILS: Join the scientific staff from the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) for an in-depth talk about their work on the recovery and identification of missing persons in Cyprus. The CMP investigates cases of persons reported missing as a result of armed conflict during the 1960s and 1970s. A total of 502 Turkish Cypriots and 1,493 Greek Cypriots were officially reported as missing. Hosted by the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Open to the public; no RSVP required.
COST: Free!
CONTACT: For more information, call 301-319-3303 or visit http://medicalmuseum.mil.
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Reminder
WHAT: 29th Annual Museum Walk Weekend
WHEN: Saturday, June 2 from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, June 3 from 1 pm to 5 pm
DETAILS: Dupont Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend is the perfect excuse to explore D.C.'s "off-the-mall" museums. In addition to a wide variety of exhibitions, many sites are offering special programs. Enjoy period music and bring a picnic to the gardens at Dumbarton House, stop by The Textile Museum's Celebration of Textiles, take part in Jazz 'n Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection, come tell your stories about your family circle at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History or get your picture taken in a vintage automobile at Wilson House.
COST: Free!
CONTACT: For more information, call 202 387-4062 ext 41222.
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NETWORKING ONLINE
FOCUS is online and awaiting to further connect with you and the charter school community. Find and follow us on the following links.
Official Website| www.focusdc.org
Facebook| www.facebook.com/focusdc
Twitter| www.twitter.com/focusdc
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