Thanks to everyone for a great week and hope you’ve had a great weekend.
Thanks for your continued support,
Jen
Quick Updates
· The girls and boys basketball teams are in the playoffs and both teams will be playing Monday, tomorrow, at Lafayette. The girls play at 3:30 and the boys play immediately afterward. We hope to see you at Lafayette tomorrow!
· We’ll be having an Armed Intruder Lockdown Drill on Tuesday. This drill will last approximately 5 minutes, during which students will be cleared from hallways, and directed into classrooms, away from windows and doors. The School Emergency Response Team will check hallways, restrooms, etc. to ensure that everyone is in classrooms and accounted for, after which time the all clear notice will be given and instruction will resume as planned.
· Thursday is Read Across America Day. Stay tuned for more information about how Hearst will be celebrating!
Ski Trip Cancelled
Due to the abnormally warm temperatures the ski trip originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, will be cancelled. Please contact Hunter Coleman regarding a refund of the costs and for any questions you might have. He can be reached at [email protected].
4th Grade NAEP Testing on Thursday
Hearst Elementary School has been selected to represent schools across the District of Columbia and the nation by participating in the 2017 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the NAEP 2017 program, students in grades 4 and 8 will participate in mathematics and reading assessments. National and state-level results will be released as The Nation’s Report Card.
Most students will take the assessment on tablets with keyboards, commonly referred to as digitally based assessments (DBA), provided by NAEP representatives. A subset of students will take the paper-and-pencil (P&P) version of the assessment. NAEP is administering the assessments via both tablets and paper booklets to evaluate any differences in student performance across testing modes. Each student will be assessed in only one subject and in one type of administration on the same day. NAEP representatives will provide significant support, bring all materials and equipment, and administer the assessments alongside Hearst staff. Please reach out to Janna Walker, [email protected], if you have any questions.
Typing Agent Log in from Clever
DCPS purchased licenses for all students to a program called Typing Agent, which teaches students how to type using a fun and interactive series of games. Information about the program can be found here: http://typingagent.com/tour.php. All students can access Typing Agent as well as Lexia and iReady at home by logging in via the Clever log in page, found here: https://clever.com.
News and Announcements from DCPS
DCPS Supports Transgender Students
DCPS is committed to supporting and protecting transgender students. Please read Chancellor Wilson’s letter to the DCPS community, and please share the letter with all school staff and your school community. If your school needs training or technical assistance in implementing DCPS’s Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Policy Guidance, please contact Diana Bruce, DCPS’s Director of Health and Wellness, at [email protected].
Chancellor Wilson Community Engagement
Next week, Chancellor Wilson will launch a series of engagements with the DCPS community to hear input on a new DCPS strategic plan. Later this week, your school will receive hard copies of a flyer describing how families can participate. Flyers will be sent home with students on Mon. Feb. 27th or Tues. Feb. 28th. Please contact [email protected] with questions.
Summer Learning 2017
The Chief of Schools Academic Planning and Support team has been finalizing the structure of Summer School 2017, namely its redesign to Summer Learning 2017. We hope the innovative Summer Learning program will engage and inspire students, families, and staff alike this summer. Summer Learning 2017 is open to all current Kindergarten through 8th grade students (rising 1st through 9th grade students) and takes place from June 26th through July 28th, 2017. The Summer Learning site your students will attend has not yet been finalized; this information will be released soon and publicized on the DCPS website. Registration for Summer Learning will begin Monday, February 27th online. More program information, including summer course descriptions, can be found at this link. Information on all DCPS summer programs can be found at dcps.dc.gov/summer.
PTA Corner
Hello Owl Families!
Thank you so much to the Long Family for hosting a wonderful wine party on Saturday!
We are planning a “Pi” fundraiser for our regular March PTA meeting to be held on March 15, just one day after “Pi Day.” If you would like to bake or purchase a pie to donate, please contact Judy Goodstein at [email protected].
Upcoming Events:
· PTA Budget Meeting: The PTA will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, March 8, to discuss budget issues for the 2017-2018 school year. The meeting will be held in the library. Pizza and child care will not be provided.
· Community Dining Night: Our next Potomac Pizza night will be Monday, March 13. Please join us from 4-9pm at 19 Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase, Md. Dine in or carry out but please make sure to mention you’re with Hearst and our school will receive 20 percent of our proceeds.
· PTA Meeting: The PTA will hold its next regular meeting on Wednesday, March 15 at 6pm in the library. Pizza and childcare will be available for all potty-trained kids. Please check the website and listserv for sign-up information and don’t forget to email Judy Goodstein at [email protected] if you would like to bake or purchase a pie to donate for our “Pi Day” fundraiser.
· Open House Tours: Looking for an opportunity to share your Hearst experience? Look no further than the next Open House on Friday, March 17. If you have time to help out by greeting visitors, giving a tour or just setting up, please email Kay Parry at [email protected].
· Hearst Auction: The annual Hearst auction will be held on Saturday, March 25 at the UDC Student Center, just one mile from Hearst! Please check out the auction website at: http://hearstes.schoolauction.net/2017/homepages/show for information on how to purchase tickets, make donations and get involved. For more auction information please contact Emily Olesh at [email protected]or Adrienne Allen ([email protected]).