I hope that you’ve enjoyed the lovely weather today and Happy Mother’s Day!

My best,

Jen

Quick Updates

• Thursday, May 18, is a half day and students will be dismissed at 12:15. 
• Friday, May 19, is Step-Up Day.  In order to close out the academic year and learn how to prepare your child(ren) for next school year, families will have the opportunity on the 19th to meet with their kids' current teachers and teachers of the next grade.  Please see your class's weekly update for the time of your meetings and because there is no school for kids on the 19th, know that childcare will be provided for kids while families are meeting with teachers. 
• Hearst Recreation Center will be closed on Friday, June 2, 2017 for DPR Professional Development.

Upcoming Focus Groups

Thank you for responding to our core values survey. We've narrowed down the values you've identified to the top ten most common responses and now would like your input on how to narrow down these values even further to create 3-5 core values for our school community. We'll hold two core values focus groups, one on 5/17 and one on 5/24.  Additionally, Flamboyan researchers would like to interview 5-8 families who have participated in home visits this school year in order to better understand family engagement practices and how these practices inform family-school relationships.  The sign-ups for all three focus groups are below:

Wednesday, May 17 Core Values Focus Group from 5:00-6:00 in the library: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A49A4AB29A0F49-family

Wednesday, May 24 Core Values Focus Group from 5:30-6:30 in the library: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A49A4AB29A0F49-524

Wednesday, May 31 Flamboyan Home Visit Focus Group for Families from 5:30-6:30 in the library: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A49A4AB29A0F49-531

Hearst Science Fair Winners

Congratulations to our Hearst Science Fair winners! The students below will be representing Hearst at the district-wide STEM fair on June 3^rd:

Evelyn Hartless

Xavier Lopez

Marisa Cobb

Jane Nawrocki

Nicola Klarfeld, Chaniyah Hector, and Mason Hodges

These students will need to keep their tri-fold boards at school to use at the district-wide fair. All other student and class projects will be sent home by this Thursday, May 18^th.  Thanks to everyone for their hard work in making our science fair such a success and good luck to the Hearst representatives at the STEM Fair!

PARCC Testing

5^th grade students will conclude PARCC testing on Monday, May 15. 3^rd grade students will be testing from May 15-22.  All testing, with the exception of make-up tests, will be given in the morning so it is imperative that students arrive on time each day.  If a student arrives at school even a minute after the test session begins, s/he will be unable to participate in that morning’s session and will have to make up the session in the afternoon.   Please know that there will be no interruption to the specials schedule during the PARCC testing window.

Every Day in May Challenge

Hearst is participating in the Every Day In May Challenge.  There are 21 school days in the month of May and our challenge is for all students to attend all 21 school days in May. The class with the highest in-seat attendance rate for the month will receive a prize at the end of the month.  Help your child’s class win the special treat by sending her or him to school every day in May!

Spirit Week May 22-26, 2017

Please note upcoming Spirit Week.  Student Council looks forward to seeing teachers and students participate during this week.  

Monday – Bow Tie Day

Tuesday – Twin Day

Wednesday – Owl Gear

Thursday – PJ Day

Friday – Field Day

Field Day

Hello Owl Family!

Hearst Field Day (formerly known as Starnival) is Friday May 26th, 2017! This day consists of a morning filled of athletic activities pitting Blue vs White in friendly competition and sportsmanship from 9:15-Noonish.

WHAT TEAM?

Pre-k through 2nd grade will travel with their classes through the stations while 3rd-5th grade have been combined and split into 12 equal teams (6 blue teams and 6 white teams). Please see the attached list for your owl!

VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteers are always appreciated and needed anywhere from 9am to 1pm. If you would be interested in supporting please let me know, I will need help with water stations and providing coverage to various stations throughout the day so teachers running stations can rest!

FIELD DAY GEAR!

Please have your owls show their school spirit accordingly in their blue or white on Field Day! The more blue or white the better! And if you'd like you can even purchase for the first time ever a Hearst Field Day Shirt!

If you're supporting blue team use this link: https://www.customink.com/g/myz0-00b0-k2f2

If you're supporting white team use this link: https://www.customink.com/g/myz0-00az-y71x

If you're supporting both buy lots of shirts! Its a good deal! Anything else please let Mr. Coleman know at[email protected]

 News and Announcements from DCPS

We the Girls: Young Women’s Leadership Conference & Pep Rally (6/3)

As part of the Reign: Empowering Young Women as Leaders initiative, DCPS is hosting the first annual We the Girls: Young Women’s Leadership Conference & Pep Rally at Howard University on June 3^rd. The conference will serve girls and young women in grades 5-12 and DCPS teachers with workshops and panels focusing on identity, health and wellness, leadership and equity.   Please help spread the word to our young women and their families by distributing the flyer.  Register now, space is limited.  We are also looking for volunteers!  Please sign up to volunteer here.

OSSE Event

OSSE is hosting their “It Takes a City: DC Does it Best!”  LEA Institute at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on Thursday, May 25, 2017 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. This institute is for you if you are an education professional serving DC students pre-K 3 through age 22. Participants will reflect on high quality and innovative evidence- and research-based practices in education and learn new strategies for success in improving outcomes for all children in the District. Detailed descriptions of all 75 breakout sessions are now listed on the event website. The event is open to all schools, and Priority and Focus schools are strongly encouraged to attend.

Parkour Jam at Deal MS (6/8)

On June 8^th, the Health and PE Team and American Parkour will host the inaugural Parkour Jam event at Deal MS. All students who learned Parkour skills in their physical education course are invited to join expert American Parkour trainers in an open-session to practice skills and refine technique. The event will run from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The event will be open to the first 200 DCPS students who register here. For questions, contact Miriam Kenyon. Promote the event with this flier.

DCPS Music Festival (5/15-5/17)

From 5/15-5/17, over 1,600 students in more than 60 ensembles from across DCPS will perform on the Millennium Stages at the Kennedy Center as a part of the 2017 DCPS Music Festival. The three-day festival will showcase the range of experiences in which students are engaged in music programming throughout the district. Performances include traditional vocal and instrumental ensembles as well as ukulele, stage bands, and keyboard ensembles (showcasing the new DC Keys instructional practices).  Performers will be adjudicated by professional musicians.  The event is open to the public and will take place from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day. For questions, contact Ray Mueller.

Walk with DCPS in the Capital Pride Parade (6/10)!

DCPS is committed to making our schools safe and inclusive for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students, staff, and families.  As an annual tradition, DCPS is walking in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 10, and invites all schools to join in the fun and walk with DCPS. This is a fun opportunity to show our pride and support for the diversity across our school community, and our commitment to inclusive schools.  Interested participants should register online HERE so we know how many people to expect and how many t-shirts to bring for participants (same shirt as last year). On June 10, meet up at 4pm at the corner of 23^rd and O, NW. For questions, please contact [email protected]

WMATA SafeTrack Surge 15: Orange Line closure from Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton station

Starting Tuesday May 16^th – Thursday June 15^th, the Orange Line Metrorail service will not operate between Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton stations.  As a result, the Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood stations will be closed and there will be no eastbound trains from Stadium-Armory. This SafeTrack surge is expected to be in effect about one month. Please be aware of how this shutdown may impact your students’ commutes to school.  Limited shuttle bus service will be provided between Stadium Armory and the Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood Stations.  Additional information about travel alternatives will be shared with schools, families, and students over the next few weeks and will also be posted on https://www.wmata.com/service/SafeTrack.cfm.  You may also reference the “Supporting Materials” and “Surge 15 Student Flyers” PDF documents.

DC One Card and Fare Enforcement by WMATA

Starting on Monday, May 1, 2017, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will lock emergency gates at the Fort Totten and Gallery Pl-Chinatown stations. This initiative is being carried out by WMATA to address fare evasion and will be accompanied by increased enforcement by the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).  Assuming this pilot is successful, the locking program will be introduced throughout the Metrorail system.  Students must tap their DC One Card on the Metrorail fare gate and Metrobus farebox when using the Metro system. If they do not have a working DC One Card with the Kids Ride Free pass, they will need to use a SmarTrip card with the appropriate fare.   While Metro Transit Police will evaluate situations individually, students must have fare media (DC One Card or SmarTrip) to ride the bus or rail systems.  ID administrators should ensure requests related to the DC One Card are quickly addressed as students may be denied entry to the Metro system without a working DC One Card. If the student’s card does not work, the student should contact the Customer Service Center at (202) 637-1328 anytime Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. regarding card issues.

PTA Corner 

Hello Owl Families! Thanks to everyone who was able to come out to the PTA meeting and vote for next year’s budget. And thanks to all of the parents who weighed in and helped us build our budget for next year. We are going to have another excellent year!

Upcoming Events:

·         Order School Supplies: It’s time to start preparing for next school year! The SchoolKidz School Supply Kit Program opens on May 19. School supply kits are made up of items approved by our 1^st-5^th grade teachers, with each kit customized by grade level and delivered right to the classroom before the start of the school year. Further information and the web link with our school’s account number will be available online at:http://www.hearstes.org/2017_18_school_supplies. For questions or to volunteer, please contact Jessica North Macie at [email protected]. 

• Community Dining Night: It’s Pete’s Apizza time! Please join us on Monday, June 5, for a fundraiser at Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza (4940 Wisconsin Ave NW). Between 11 am and 9:30 pm, join us for some tasty pizza (dine-in or take-out) and mention you are with Hearst at the counter.  25% of the proceeds will go directly back to the PTA.
• PTA Meeting: The PTA will hold its next regular meeting on Wednesday, June 7 at 6pm in the library. This is the FIRST Wednesday of the month instead of the usual second Wednesday. It gives us one last time to gather as a PTA and we will talk about priorities for next school year. Pizza and childcare will be available for all potty-trained kids. Please check the website and listserv for sign-up information. 
• Washington Nationals Game: Join your Hearst friends on Saturday, June 10 at 12:05pm to see the Washington Nationals play the Texas Rangers. Tickets are $19 and $5 comes back to Hearst! To purchase your tickets, please click here: https://groupmatics.events/s/email/Hearstelementary7

File attachments:
FieldDay3rd-5thLists.docx
FieldDayPreK-2Lists.docx