Charter Chat 10/26/11
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: www.FOCUSdc.org/get-involved 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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Get Involved with FOCUS!
The stakes for education reform have never been greater in DC. The time is now for YOU to get involved. Sign up today to join the movement at FOCUS. www.FOCUSdc.org/Join-Movement
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UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
WHAT: Mayor Vincent C. Gray's Youth Town Hall
WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2011; 12:00pm-2:00pm
WHERE: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20012
DETAILS: Come have your say and get your questions answered by the Mayor. Community service hours are available for all DC youth. There will be refreshments, raffles, and giveaways as well.
CONTACT: The DCYAC at 202.727.7966, or email dcyac@dc.gov If you require translation or interpretation services, please call 202.442.8150
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WHAT: Youth Education Professionals, The Flamboyan Foundation and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) present “Family Engagement: Bridging the Classroom-to-Living Room Divide”
WHERE: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 325 (Accessible via Union Station Metro)
WHEN: Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 6:00pm-8:30pm
RSVP: http://bit.ly/YEPDCFamilyEngagement
DETAILS: The research is clear: family engagement is critical to the success of our education system – from implementing large-scale reform to improving individual student achievement levels. Across the board, there is agreement among education leaders and stakeholders that parents and family members are central to the success of a school, a teacher, and a student. There is less agreement and less clarity around what family engagement is, what family engagement is supposed to look like, and what effective, replicable models of family engagement exist. Please join YEP-DC, the Flamboyan Foundation, and Senator Michael Bennet at the panel event “Family Engagement: Bridging the Classroom-to-Living Room Divide” where we will explore the role of educators, schools, districts, and the federal government in developing, identifying, and scaling up best practices in effectively engaging parents, families, and community members in a child's education.
Sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet, with support from the Flamboyan Foundation
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WHAT: Run Walk Roll Against Bullying
WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2011 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
WHERE: Rock Creek Park (Next to tennis courts at 16th and Kennedy Street, NW)
DETAILS: Check in at 7:30 am, Walk Run Roll starts at 8:00 am
CONTACT: Camille Fountain (202)678-8060
REGISTER: online at www.aje-dc.org
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YOUTH PROGRAMS / CLASSES / CAMP
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WHAT: TOMORROW! "New" Out-of-School Youth Program, Academic Remediation and Technical Arts Employment and Training for DC Youth "Only", Ages 16 - 21 - Who Meet Federal Poverty Guidelines and are Seeking Employment Training, Licensing & Career Placement.
WHO: Friends of Carter Barron Foundation of the Performing Arts (Friends) in partnership with Parklands Community Center and the Award Winning Bennett Career Institute present a new youth program that is now accepting applicants.
1. Cosmetology - 5 slots remaining
2. Barbering - 4 slots remaining
3. Information Technology - 30 slots remaining
WHERE: At The ARC - 1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC
ORIENTATION: Thursday, October 20th at 10AM until 12 Noon
MORE INFO CALL: (202) 678-6500 or (202) 232-5610
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WHAT: Medical Museum Science Café: “Insect Mimicry,” a presentation by Research Entomologist Mike Turell
WHEN: Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Silver Spring Civic Center, Fenton Room 1 Veterans Place Silver Spring, MD 20910
DETAILS: Ever wonder why some insects blend into their surroundings or look like other bugs? Join Mike Turell, research entomologist at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, for a creepy and crawly evening as he explains why certain bugs look the way they do. Learn about mimicry and camouflage and see all types of insects, including hissing cockroaches. Attendees may also get a chance to hold a live walking stick insect. Presented by the National Museum of Health and Medicine. For more information, call 301-319-3303 or visit www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum.
COST: Free
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WHAT: You’re Invited—Become Part of the School Leaders Network!
DETAILS: New Leaders is excited to continue our partnership with the School Leaders Network (SLN) to offer a transformative leadership development experience for DC charter school principals! The DC New Leaders Charter School Network will be facilitated by Dr. Sheila C. Gray, a former school and district leader, with extensive experience and training in facilitation. The network will meet once a month (November through June) for a dinner meeting to explore issues that directly impact your work as educational leaders.
WHEN: The first network meeting will take place on Monday, November 14, 2011, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
WHERE: Embassy Suites-Washington, D.C., 1250 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.
MORE INFO AND RSVP: Interested principals should contact Dr. Sheila Gray at drsc_gray@yahoo.com by Wednesday, November 9, 2011. For more information about the School Leaders Network, visit www.nslnetwork.org.
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WHAT: The National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids invites children to enter their photographs in four categories: animals, people, scenery, and humor. Maximum award: a trip to Costa Rica for the Grand Prize winner and up to three of his/her immediate family members.
ELIGIBILITY: legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) between the ages of 6 and 14 on October 31, 2011.
DEADLINE: October 31, 2011. Click on link below for more details.
MORE INFORMATION: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/contests/photo-contest/
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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