Quick Updates
- The forecast is calling for snow Monday evening into Tuesday. For information about the DCPS Inclement Weather Policy, see: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/inclement-weather-guidance. If there is a school closing or delay on Tuesday, the best source of information is the DCPS twitter account (@dcpublicschools). Information will also be shared on the DCPS website (dcps.dc.gov), DCPS social media accounts, and local TV and radio stations.
- Please see attached for the Hearst Dispatch from Ms. Boyle’s 1st grade class.
- All identified English language learners will be taking DCPS-mandated ACCESS language assessments with Mr. Ibrahim and Mr. Garfield beginning on Monday. For questions or additional information, please reach out to Mr. Ibrahim ([email protected]) or Mr. Garfield ([email protected]).
Congratulations to our Hearst basketball teams! Both teams played hard on Friday with the girls taking home the Citywide Runner-Up trophy and the boys the Citywide Champion trophy. A special thanks to Coach Bernards, Coach Settles, and Coach Coleman for working with both teams, and thanks also go to all of the families and staff who supported the teams over the season.
Stay Warm,
Jen
News and Announcements from Hearst
Water for South Sudan and H2O Challenge
Dear Parents, Teachers, and Students,
We would like to announce that on April 10th to 14th, our school will be taking part in the H2O Challenge. If you take part in this challenge, it means that you, instead of spending money on coffee or soda throughout the day, will drink only water. After taking part in this challenge, the money you save in the four-day period is put in the school well, or directly donated to waterforsouthsudan.org. This cause is very important. It is important because some girls spend all day just walking back and forth to fetch water that isn’t even clean, as in animals drink from it. Waterforsouthsudan.org builds precious water pumps in small towns. Those water pumps can change the lives of many a person. We were inspired to do this when we finished our book club book, A Long Walk to Water, we found that when Nya, a fictional, but based off the lives of real people, character, and her village got a water pump built right outside their doorsteps, they all of a sudden could think about building schools and clinics to support their town residents. Everybody in our book club feels greatly that this situation in South Sudan needs to change, and we fully accept that we can’t wait for someone to do it for us. We all thank you so much for donating or even simply reading this email and becoming aware of how much we take for granted and how much we need to help those who do not have what we have.
Thank you so much!
The members of the Long Walk to Water book club,
Beatrix Stone, Sydney Adamske, Colette Bernards, and Acaden Lewis
News and Announcements from DCPS
School Year 2017-18 Calendar Released
The official calendar for School Year 2017-18 is now available on the DCPS website. We are in the process of developing additional resources and communications, including translations in 5 languages, an electronic calendar, a glossy flip calendar, and a letter to send home to parents. Please watch for these additional resources. For questions, contact [email protected].
Everyday DC
“Everyday DC,” a photography exhibition on view at the Southwest Arts Club in Washington D.C., from March 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017, visualizes daily life in Washington, D.C., through the eyes of over 100 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from seven DCPS middle schools. The Everyday DC exhibition is the culmination of a multi-week photojournalism unit designed by the DCPS visual arts department and the Pulitzer Center. The unit, which is inspired by the Everyday Africa project from journalists Peter DiCampo and Austin Merrill, is supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Here is a link to the event page to RSVP for the opening and find out more information about the program. For any additional questions, please contact Kristy Esparza at [email protected].
Youth Voices for Diversity Summit (3/18)LAD is happy to announce the Youth Voices for Diversity Summit to be held March 18, from 9:00-1:00. This event will bring together 400+ students from DC and MD to discuss youth leadership and action, the value of having a diverse voice and valuing all cultural backgrounds. We are working with school staff and CBOs to identify students within DCPS who will be participating. Please share the following link to help students register: We are also recruiting DCPS volunteers to facilitate student discussion groups and to provide support with logistics. Please use the following link to volunteer. A google hangout training for facilitators will be held on March 13, from 11:30-12:30. For questions, please contact [email protected].
Public Lecture: The Search for Life in Oceans Beyond Earth (3/29)
Where is the best place to find living life beyond Earth? Dr. Kevin Hand will explain the science behind why we think we know these oceans exist on moons of Jupiter and Saturn and what we know about the conditions on these worlds. Dr. Hand will also show how the exploration of Earth’s ocean is helping to inform our understanding of the potential habitability of worlds like Europa. Along with nine dives to the ocean floor, Dr. Hand was a scientist onboard James Cameron’s 2012 dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and he was part of a 2003 IMAX expedition to hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The lecture will be start at 7:00 p.m. on 3/29 at the National Academy of Sciences Building (2101 Constitution Ave. NW). This lecture is free, and NAS encourages science teachers, students starting in 4th grade, and families to attend. Register here: http://oceans-beyond-earth.eventbrite.com.
PTA Corner
Hello Owl Families!
Raise the Roof!! If you procrastinated and haven't bought your auction tickets, we're giving you one last chance to buy them before prices increase! But don't delay - ticket prices increase March 14, so you have another day to buy them at the discounted rate. Buy your tickets here: http://www.hearstes.schoolauction.net/2017. We hope to see you on March 25 at the UDC Student Center. We have some amazing items to bid on!
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].
The spring enrichment season is nearing. Please watch the listserv for information regarding classes and registration.
Upcoming Events:
• Community Dining Night: Our next Potomac Pizza night will be tomorrow, 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. Discussions have begun over how we should spend our PTA funds during the next school year. At the March 15 PTA meeting we will continue those discussions while we wait on some key cost estimates. We will propose a formal budget in April.
• 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].