Charter Chat 1/25/2012
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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VOICES UNITED FOR FAIR FUNDING
FOCUS is mobilizing supporters to fight for funding equity for public charter schools. Watch our video here from yesterday’s council hearing on fair funding and then get involved! There are many ways to support public charter schools in D.C. Find out more here: http://www.FOCUSdc.org
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CHARTER SCHOOL EVENTS
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ATTENTION PARENTS! It’s enrollment season for D.C. public charter schoools. Don’t miss the open house or enrollment deadlines! Find public charter school open house information here: http://focusdc.org/content/public-charter-school-enrollment-deadline-and-information and the schedule for January here: http://focusdc.org/content/january-dc-public-charter-school-open-houses
Follow us on Twitter for daily updates on the open house schedules: www.Twitter.com/FOCUSdc
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WHAT: National College Football Signing Day Ceremony and Future Knights Open House
WHERE: Friendship Collegiate Academy Gymnasium 4095 Minnesota Ave NE Washington, D.C. 20019
WHEN: Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
9:00am to 10:00am- Future Knights Open House
10:00am to 12:00pm- Signing Day
DETAILS: In addition to at least eighteen of our seniors signing their letters of intent for the college program they will be joining next year we will host a very special OPEN HOUSE for seventh and eighth grade students and their parents/guardians. The OPEN HOUSE will start at 9:00 am and will include a tour of the school and the Early College program, Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Health Careers, and the Academy of Polytech. Meet FCA Football Coaches and Players, Meet Faculty/Staff and Tour of School, Participate in the FCA Scholarship Signing
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CHILDREN’S EVENTS, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
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WHAT: The OSSE “Smart College Choice” EXPO will be a twice yearly event designed to expose DC high school students to the complete college landscape. OSSE is moving away from the once a year mammoth college fair event and concentrating on two, smaller, more focused events. One will be in the spring and one in the fall.
WHEN: The first “Smart College Choice” EXPO will be held on the campus of Trinity University ( on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The EXPO will be much more than a college fair. DETAILS: Representatives from the 40 top institutions where DCTAG students do well
One on one time with college representatives, DCONEAPP registration workshops for students and parents. Topics to include: Financial Literacy, College Survival, Financial Aid (DC, Federal and other) and College Selection (Making the Smart Choice).
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WHAT: Sitar Arts Center Early Childhood Classes in music and dance are still available for children ages 0 to 5!
WHERE: Sitar Arts Center is located at 1700 Kalorama Rd NW, Suite 101 (across from Harris Teeter).
DETAILS: You and your little one will enjoy Sitar Arts Center's Early Childhood Classes in music and dance for infants to five-year olds. Explore a new activity with your child to foster development and skill building. Choose from a variety of age appropriate classes that encourage socialization and create a space to interact with other parents and children. Classes also provide parents and caregivers with a variety of ideas and strategies to continue the exploration beyond the weekly meeting, allowing for interactions to strengthen the bond with one another and to continue fostering curiosity and inventiveness.
INFORMATION: Please visit our website <http://www.sitarartscenter.org/early-childhood-arts> to view our current class listings.
REGISTER: Email mailto:trisha@sitarartscenter.org or call Trisha at (202) 797-2145 ext. 118 to register!
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WHAT: LifeSmarts Training Camp: LifeSmarts is the nation’s premier consumer education and financial literacy competition for youth.
WHEN: Friday, January 27, 2012 10 am – 2:30 pm Team Camp: Students should attend in teams of 4 or 5 accompanied by an adult, to spend the day participating in team activities to prepare for their state LifeSmarts Competition.
Saturday, January 28, 2012 10 am – 3:45 pm Coach Camp: Adult coaches will gain new strategies to use LifeSmarts in the classroom and incorporate meaningful consumer activities into student and community groups.
WHO: Educators and 6-12 grade students
WHERE: American Farm Bureau Federation 600 Maryland Avenue SW Ste. 1000W Washington, D.C. 20024
COST: FREE! Meals provided. Advance registration required.
REGISTER: Now at www.lifesmarts.org
DETAILS: Space is limited. Prompt registration is encouraged. For details, visit http://www.lifesmarts.orgwww.lifesmarts.org. NCL may be able to cover substitute teacher fees for January 27, 2012.
CONTACT: Brandi Williams at the National Consumers League for more information at (202)835-3323, xtn. 821, or at brandiw@nclnet.org
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SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
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WHAT: The DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation is proud to announce the One City Summer 2012 grant competition.
WHO: This grant competition invites high-performing, non-profit youth development organizations in Washington, DC that serve young people between the ages of 5-24 with programming that address key developmental outcomes to apply for summer program funding.
INFORMATION: http://www.cyitc.org/grants/nofa.asp to view notice of funding availability and to register for grant technical assistance sessions listed below. Awards will be announced (via email) on April 16, 2012.
Grant Technical Assistance Sessions:
WHEN: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
WHERE: Columbia Heights Youth Club 1480 Girard St, NW
WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00pm
WHERE: Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School
2427 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE
DEADLINE: Notice of Intent to Due February 3, 2012
Proposal Submission Deadline February 17, 2012 4:00 p.m.
Click http://www.cyitc.org/grants/rfp.asp or contact 202-347-4441 for more information.
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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| http://www.focusdc.org
Facebook| www.facebook.com/focusdc
Twitter| http://www.twitter.com/focusdc
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