Capitol Cluster School Newsletter: Foodprints On To Next Round -- Bottle for Art Please! -- Plan Now for Prom
Cluster Weekly Newsletter Issue 68, Sunday, May 3, 2015.
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Calendar
Monday, May 4
Staff Appreciation Week
— Watkins, Chinese Acrobats (Grades 1-2,) 10 a.m.
Grades 3-5, 2 p.m.
— Stuart-Hobson
Boys Soccer Practice, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Baseball vs Johnson at Jefferson,
4 p.m.
Boys Baseball Practice, 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer vs Whittier at Coolidge HS,
5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5
— Stuart-Hobson, Boys and Girls Outdoor Track, 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6
— Stuart-Hobson
Boys Soccer Practice, 3:45 p.m.
Boys Baseball vs Hart at Kimball, 4 p.m.
Boys and Girls Outdoor Track, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 7
—Stuart-Hobson
PARCC small group testing
Boys and Girls Outdoor Track, 4 p.m.
Camp Hoop Heroes,
5 p.m.
Friday, May 8
— Stuart-Hobson
PARCC small group testing
8th Grade Trip to Six Flags (Math & Science Day)
Rainforest Animals Program, 2 p.m.
After a decade as a Cluster parent, there are certain school memories that are indeliably etched upon my mind: seeing Honor Society students walk across the stage at Stuart-Hobson, watching students dunk teachers into the water at a booth behind Watkins, and eating Thanksgiving meals at Peabody after listening to young students sing about being thankful.
Another one of those perfect memories involves laughing as Michael Recycle and Litterbug Doug explain to our Pre-K and K students why it pays to put litter in its place. I watched it 5 years ago, before the pavement was put in next to Peabody. Thanks to Mrs Bloom, Mrs. Jones and Mrs, Cushman and if you haven't seen it stop what you are doing and watch it now.
Have a great summer-like week!
Vince Morris
President, Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA and father of Stuart-Hobson 7th-grader and 5th- and 3rd-graders at Watkins Elementary
Learn about our school and take a look at what the PTA does for students
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Bike to School Day Is May 6
It's that time again! Bike (or Walk) to School Day is Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 a.m. at Lincoln Park. It's time to celebrate our bikeable, walkable, scootable neighborhood together with friends and neighbors! Read more here.
Join the Capitol Hill Cluster School and the entire Capitol Hill community at Lincoln Park starting at 7:30 a.m. Wear your Cluster t-shirt! Healthy snacks will be available for the kids. At 8:15, join other Cluster families as we bike or walk caravan together to our respective campus.
Help Celebrate Cluster Staff
This Week -- and All Year Round!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.This week is Teacher Appreciation Week at all our campuses. Your PTA is paying for lunches at each campus. Please consider expressing appreciation for our great teachers, with cards or flowers, or in some other way. Other ideas: an IOU or personal "gift certificate" for volunteer time in the classroom, a gift certificate for a favorite restaurant or coffee shop, a favorite snack, or anything you and your kids are moved to create.
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Just Two More Weeks 'til the
2015 Capitol Hill Classic
The clock is ticking on registration for the Classic! It's May 17 and that's two weeks to go! Register now here!
Did you know that 100 percent of the money raised from the Classic goes back into the Cluster? The money you raise directly supports a wide range of services, programs and materials throughout all three of our campuses. Books for our libraries! New music, art and science lab materials! Food Prints! Playworks! And much, much more!
*Don’t plan to run one of the races?* No worries. You can still raise money that will directly support our school. Let’s ALL make the Cluster and the Classic a success!
Take the time today or this weekend to set up your *scholar’s own fundraising page* and begin asking for donations. All donations are *tax-deductible*. And remember that if your scholar raises *$40 or more in pledges on or before May 12*, s/he gets a *free race registration*. The coupon code for free race registration will be emailed to you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Jill Wasserman at pledges2015@capitolhillclassic.com for any questions about the Classic Pledge Program.
"Like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter & Instagram at @caphillclassic
Save the Date: Renovator's House
Tour 2015, October 17
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Filling out enrollment may already have you thinking a little bit about fall. Take out your calendar right now and pencil something important in: The Renovator's House Tour on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This will be the 15th year of the tour! It's an important fundraiser for the Cluster, and a great way to see some of the most interesting homes on Capitol Hill. See you in October!
Peabody News
See the Magic of Our Specials Teachers on Earth Day
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The Earth Day celebrations April 22 were pretty amazing and included all sorts of creative ways to teach Peabody students the importance of caring for the planet. Thank you to our Specials Team to making it fun and educational! Watch the video here to see the highlights.
Kindergarten Sneak Peek! Pre-K4 parents are invited to attend an information session about Kindergarten on Wednesday, May 27. Please join Kindergarten teachers after morning drop off from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Peabody cafeteria.
Clay Bowl Open House is May 20 Peabody students are very excited about the Clay “Knee Bowl” Open House to be held on Wednesday, May 20, from 5:30-7 PM in the Art Room at Peabody. The young artists have decorated invitations that have been sent home. Parents and families are invited to come out and see all the amazing bowls on display.
This week the students made tiny little pinch pots with Model Magic. They made them beautiful and magical with beautiful magic marker colors, glitter and beads!
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Headed to the Judging Round for Foodprints Funding Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Foodprints got enough online votes to move on to the judges' round (1 of 50 to do so) of the Seeds of Change grant program. Final decisions will be made by May 12, according to the Web site. Fingers crossed!
Watkins News
State Superintendent of Education Celebrates Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: Bravo, Ms. Kellogg!
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On May 1, DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education celebrated the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) award finalists. Congratulations to our own Watkins teacher Ms. Kristina Kellogg who was a finalist for this year’s award!
The PAEMST is the nation’s highest honor for teachers of math and science. Read more here.
Top 5 Classes Rock iReady
Here are our top five classes making their targeted growth in iReady:
#1 – Ms. Perna’s class with 95 percent of her students proficient or making their year’s targeted growth
#2 – Ms. Bower’s classes with 91 percent of her students proficient or making their year’s targeted growth
#3 – Ms. Mackie’s class with 90 percent of her students proficient or making their year’s targeted growth
#4 – Ms. Toor’s class with 90 percent of her students proficient or making their year’s targeted growth
#5 – Mr. Miller’s class wit 88 percent of his students proficient or making their year’s targeted growth
Congratulations to all these students and teachers for their continued hard work!
Fantastic First In Math Superstars
Watkins Elementary continues to lead all of DCPS in First in Math, surpassing the 900,000 sticker count mark on our way to 1,000,000 stickers!
Our top five First in Math Students vying for the $100 end-of-year cash prize are:
#1 – Beverly Lee
#2 - Richard Evans
#3 – Tyler Kenney
#4 – Elijah Rice
#5 - Chukwumalobim Iwobi
Girls on the Run and Taking Strides
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The group of Watkins girls participating in the 10-week program Girls on the Run ran the end-of-season 5k at Anacostia Park Sunday. It was a great time for the team of spirited and sweet girls. The coaches say they are enjoying the challenge of practice and are feeling proud at their progress. Go, girls, go!
Water Bottles Needed
Ms.Reintgen is planning a fantastic recycled project for Watkins. She built a chicken wire and hoop structure and showed it to the kids. Before revealing to the students what they will be creating, Ms.Reintgen would like families to collect at least 500 clean and empty plastic water bottles, with caps. Please send some bottles to school with your child. Bottles can be brought to each child's classroom or dropped off at the Art room with Ms.Reintgen.
Panther Pride Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Don’t forget to talk to your child about Panther Pride, which stands for Positive Attitude, Respect, Integrity, and Dedication to Excellence. We hand out Panther Paw tickers from students who are caught showing Panther Pride! Each week we raffle off brand new published books!
Volunteers at Recess Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.We would love more parent volunteers at recess. Check out the times below and come play with us!
1st Grade- 11:15-11:45 a.m.
2nd Grade 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
3rd Grade 12:00-12:30 p.m.
4th Grade 1:35-2:05 p.m.
5th Grade 12:30-1:00 p.m.
Stuart-Hobson News
Fame is on the Way! Make sure you get your tickets to Fame soon! Stuart-Hobson students will take the stage May 29-30 in the renovated auditorium for this foot-stomping musical. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m.
8th Grade Dinner Dance and Cruise is June 12
Get your Prom tickets ASAP. The event sold out last year and is expected to this year as well. Note that partial payments are accepted. Please submit your cash or money orders made out to SHMS to Ms. Brock in the main office.
Yearbooks (text from listserv email)
For those who still want to order yearbooks, bring $29 cash in an envelope with the name, grade and advisory teacher marked to Ms. Conley (Room 112 or drop into her mailbox).
What You Need to Know: Cluster Communications At Your Service
Communication is a highly valued tool here at the Cluster. Here are a variety of ways to make sure you have all the information you need each week.
Join a Campus-Specific Listserv There are Yahoo group listservs for each campus. It's a helpful way to have an online dialogue about school activities and events. You may even find a gently used nap-mat! Here's where to start.
PTA Communications You can find out the latest and greatest about the Cluster on Facebook and Twitter and on the Web site, www.capitolhillclusterschool.org.
LOOKING AHEAD . . .
IMPORTANT PTA DATES FOR 2015 Capitol Hill Classic, May 17
Family Reading Night & PTA Meeting, June 3
Renovator's House Tour, October 17
