Charter Chat 04/25/12
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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ATTENTION PARENTS! We’ve included some open houses in this newsletter, but you can find more here: http://focusdc.org/content/upcoming-public-charter-school-open-house-dates. You can find public charter school open house information here: http://focusdc.org/content/public-charter-school-enrollment-deadline-and-information. Follow us on Twitter for updates on the open house schedules: www.Twitter.com/FOCUSdc.
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CHARTER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES
WHAT: Ideal Academy PCS Open House
WHEN: Saturday, May 5 from 10 am to 2 pm
WHERE: 6130 North Capitol St. NW
CONTACT: Call 202 729-6660
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Reminder
WHAT: AppleTree Early Learning PCS Open House
WHEN: Thursday, May 3 from 4 pm to 5 pm
WHERE: All campuses (visit http://www.appletreeinstitute.org/schools for specific locations)
CONTACT: Email info@appletreeinstitute.org
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Reminder
WHAT: The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. (Grades 6-12) Parent Information Sessions and Tours
WHEN: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 26
WHERE: 4300 C St SE
DETAILS: Applications accepted for students entering the 6th grade only
CONTACT: To RSVP call 202-248-3025 or email admissions@seedschooldc.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT: Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s Youth Town Budget Hall Meeting
WHEN: Saturday, May 5 from 12 pm to 1:30 pm
WHERE: The Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives (1201 17th Street NW)
DETAILS: If you are 21 years old or younger and want to share your opinions on what’s happening in your city, then come out and be heard!
CONTACT: Contact the DC Youth Advisory Council at 202 727-7968 or dcyac@dc.gov.
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WHAT: Elsie Whitlow Stokes School's Gala Celebrating Excellence in Education
WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
WHERE: Meridian International Center (1630 Crescent Pl NW)
DETAILS: On May 17, Elsie Whitlow Stokes School will host its annual gala, Celebrating Excellence in Education. Part social event, part awards ceremony, and part fundraiser, the annual gala has come to be a much-anticipated springtime event at Stokes. This spring, the gala is honoring two incredible forces in DC education: Katherine Brittain Bradley of CityBridge Foundation and Malcolm "Mike" E. Peabody of Friends of Choice in Urban Schools.
CONTACT: Contact Amy Dickson, Director of Development at Stokes School, at amyd@ewstokes.org. Purchase tickets or become an event sponsor by visiting http://ewstokes.givezooks.com/events/gala-celebrating-excellence-in-education
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WHAT: Get Your Skill On Workshop Series
WHEN: Dates vary
WHERE: Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative Council, 1112 11th St NW, Suite B
METRO: Mt. Vernon Square (Green line)
DETAILS: You’re invited to “Get your skill on!”, a new series of affordable workshops. The new series includes five workshops. They are:
• Who does what in the legislative and executive branches? (May 10, 10:00 am – Noon, $40)
• Getting the word out (May 17, 10:00 am - Noon, $40)
• The basics of social media for advocacy (May 24, 10:00 am - Noon, $40)
• Making the most of public hearings (May 31, 10:00 am - Noon, $60*)
• Advocacy communications beyond testimony (June 7, 10:00 am - Noon, $60*) [*See blog for details]
Any individual registering for all five workshops receives a 15% discount!
CONTACT: Details about the workshops are on the Helping Others Better blog.
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Reminder
WHAT: DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative - Community Dinner
WHEN: Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30pm - 8:30 pm
WHERE: Kenilworth Elementary School (1300 44th Street NE)
DETAILS: Community dinners bring together residents, partners, stakeholders, and other supports of DCPNI to foster fellowship and share the progress of our initiative. In addition, as a collective we plan the future endeavors of DCPNI.
CONTACT: Visit www.dcpni.org
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Reminder
WHAT: Washington Latin Public Charter School Annual Spring Carnival
WHEN: Saturday, May 19 from 11 am to 3 pm
WHERE: 4115 16th St NW
DETAILS: We are planning to have carnival games/activities, face painting, a fortune teller, tattoo artist (fake tattoos, of course), stilt walking performance, lots of food and plenty of fun for the kids. This year we are also planning to have a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for students of both the Upper School and Lower School campuses.
CONTACT: Email LCampbell@aila.org
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SCHOLARSHIPS / CONTESTS / AWARDS
WHAT: The 31st National Congressional Art Competition
WHEN: Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 6
WHERE: Deliver artwork submissions to: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, The National Press Building, 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20045.
DETAILS: All District of Columbia students, grades 8 through 12, are eligible to participate in the competition. Submit original artwork and a competition entry form. Entry forms and competition guidelines can be obtained from your art teacher or from the address below. Artwork submitted for the competition must be original and created entirely by the contestant. A copy of the Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Only two- dimensional artwork will be accepted. Three-dimensional artwork is not eligible. The maximum total dimensions of framed artwork are 28”X28”X4” and unframed artwork is 26″X26″X4”. The content, condition, and production of artwork must be suitable for public display as determined by the Architect of the Capitol. Artwork created by the District of Columbia First Place winner will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol along with other First Place winners from across the country in the Congressional Art Competition national exhibition for one year. Other awards and prizes include scholarships from the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Corcoran College of Art and Design, gift certificates, tickets to sports and entertainment events, a computer and much, much, more! All participants will receive an invitation to attend a special reception and awards ceremony Coordinated by D.C. Congressional Art Committee and hosted by Congresswoman Norton. All District of Columbia artwork submissions will be display at this exhibit, and winners will be announced at the ceremony.
Competition Categories
• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
• Collage: must be two-dimensional
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, blockprints
• Mixed media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolors, etc.
• Photography
• Computer generated art
CONTACT: For more information, contact Thomas Atkins at 202 783-5065. You may obtain additional applications at http://www.norton.house.gov/.
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Reminder
WHAT: National Education Startup Challenge
WHEN: Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, May 1
DETAILS: On February 1, 2012, ED launched a National Education Startup Challenge at http://nesc.challenge.gov. ED is inviting students to develop innovative, real-world solutions to help students to be college and career ready. Students are invited to submit a business plan and a video clip promotion for a for-profit or non-profit startup that includes an innovative strategy, product or service designed to address one of the following four topics: helping middle school students’ transition to high school and graduate; developing skills for success in postsecondary education; choosing affordable colleges that best suit student needs, consistent with their education and career goals; and increasing the likelihood students completing their college degrees on time or early. If you are in 6th grade through postsecondary or an out-of-school youth, you are eligible to participate.
CONTACT: To learn more about this and other exciting competitions, visit the Challenge.gov website at http://challenge.gov. If you have questions regarding the National Education Startup Challenge, email EDStartupChallenge@ed.gov or for assistance, please contact Scott Hess at 202-245-7772 or scott.hess@ed.gov.
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YOUTH PROGRAMS / WORKSHOPS / CLASSES / CAMPS
WHAT: College Preparedness Workshop
WHEN: The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Light refreshments will be served.
WHERE: Perry Street Prep PCS (1800 Perry Street NE)
DETAILS: Students and parents from throughout the DC metro area are invited to attend! This workshop is a MUST for first generations going to college. Perry Street Prep is partnering with the HBCU Council of Shiloh Baptist Church to host the Workshop. Princeton Review is conducting the SAT Workshop. Parents, grandparents and guardians are encouraged to also attend and meet the experts on admissions, financial aid, scholarships, etc.
CONTACT: We ask that you register online so we know how many people to expect.
To register online, please click here. For more information, or to register by phone, please call 888.210.8501 (x555 for students and x666 for parents).
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WHAT: Children's Defense Fund - Freedom Schools Program
WHEN: Starting June 18, 2012-Ending August 3, 2012
WHERE: Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Middle School Campus (5600 East Capitol St. NE)
DETAILS: A free summer enrichment program operating Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm, Freedom Schools offers students a program which boost student motivation to read and generates a more positive attitude towards learning and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. Students will receive free books to add to their personal libraries, free breakfast and lunch, free weekly field trips, exposure to social justice projects and high engagement for all participants.
CONTACT: For more information on the Freedom Schools, please contact Atlantis Browder at abrowder@seeforever.org or 202-232-2885.
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Reminder
WHAT: Health Fair and Open House
WHEN: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 12pm-3pm
WHERE: Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Middle School Campus Gymnasium
DETAILS: DC families are invited to receive free information from local health professionals while meeting star MAPCS students and staff at our annual Health Fair/Open House Extravaganza. This is an excellent two-in-one opportunity to focus on the health and education of the children you love. Over a dozen health professionals will be on site, and the Who’s Who of MAPCS students and staff will be available to answer questions about the academics, programs and extracurricular activities that make our middle school the very best the District of Columbia has to offer. We look forward to seeing you there!
CONTACT: For more information on the Health Fair, please contact Gregory Hill at ghill@seeforever.org. For information on the Open House, please contact Melanie Holmes at mholmes@seeforever.org
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Reminder
WHAT: Punk Rope for Kids Demo Class and Certification Workshop
WHEN: Demo class: Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am; Certification workshop: Saturday, May 12 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
WHERE: Washington DC JCC (1529 16th Street NW)
DETAILS: Punk Rope is like a cross between recess and boot camp. It's the most
popular rope jumping class in the US. RJMax is our newest class, which blends rope jumping with high-intensity, interval training. Punk Rope for Kids is our rope-jumping program for children of all ages, which blends rope jumping with a variety of fun and creative fitness games. Teachers around the country give it a big thumbs up.
At the certification workshop, you’ll learn how to teach rope jumping to anybody in 4 easy steps; how to troubleshoot the most common jumping errors; jumps to improve agility, coordination, power, and speed; tips on how to jump faster, longer, and with less impact; sweat and smile-inducing fitness games and partner drills; and how to make run-of-the-mill calisthenics exciting and fun. The workshop includes lifetime certification to teach RJMax and Punk Rope, a PDF Instructor’s Manual, an adjustable jump rope, and CECs (ACE, AFAA, ACSM, NASM, and ISSA).
COST: The Demo class is free and the Certification workshop is $169. Save $100 on the workshop registration fee by using the discount code CRAZYRATE51212 when checking out from this link: http://punkrope.myshopify.com/products/51212.
CONTACT: Details about the demo class and workshop are below plus more
information can be found at www.punkrope.com. To attend the demo class, simply RSVP to tim@punkrope.com and let us know your height. We'll bring a rope for you to borrow.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
WHAT: JAM-min’ Family Day
WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 11:30 am to 3 pm
WHERE: Kogod Courtyard, American Art Museum (8th and F St NW)
DETAILS: American Art celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM)! Baltimore Jazz Alliance’s Jazz for Kids band presents an introduction to jazz music, with a family-friendly mini-concert including audience participation. Children can also visit a “petting zoo” of musical instruments, where they try out some or all the band’s instruments—drums, flute, saxophone, clarinet, recorder, bass, violin, guitar, trumpet, and trombone. Try your hand at sheet music origami, make a Jazz Nickname Name Tag, and visitor our face painters to jazz-up your afternoon!
COST: Free!
CONTACT: Visit http://si.edu/Events/Calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Dseries%26seriesid%3D495319#/?i=1.
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WHAT: 2nd Annual USA Science and Engineering Festival
WHEN: Saturday, April 28 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, April 29 from 10 am to 4 pm
WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mt Vernon Place NW)
METRO: Mt. Vernon Square Station (Green Line)
DETAILS: Don’t miss the largest celebration of science in the US: the 2nd USA Science & Engineering Festival will feature over 3,000 fun, interactive exhibits, more than 100 stage shows and 33 Author Presentations. New this year: the USA Science & Engineering Festival Book Fair, and a Career Pavilion for high-school students that includes a College Fair, a Job Fair and a Meet the Scientist/Engineer Networking area. Major Science Celebrities including Bill Nye the Science Guy, Mayim Bialik from the Big Bang Theory, and Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from the hit TV Series MythBusters will be performing. The event is open to all ages.
COST: Free!
CONTACT: Visit http://www.usasciencefestival.org/index.php.
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Reminder
WHAT: Great Events for DC Area Educators
WHEN: Ongoing
WHERE: Busboys and Poets bookstore (14th and V)
DETAILS: Teaching for Change operates the bookstore at Busboys and Poets and coordinates the Zinn Education Project. Teaching for Change has scheduled a series of author events geared toward educators, where we will be giving away free books to teachers. The organization has also planned an educator appreciation weekend with discounts for K-12 educators in our bookstore.
CONTACT: The details of these items and more education-themed events can be found at http://teachingforchange.org/educatorevents.
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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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