kids&family
Radio broadcast at Eliot-Hine Middle School goes big time! Photo: Elizabeth Nelson.
cast LIVE from the Lincoln Memorial for the “National Action to Reclaim the Dream March.” Students from the Eliot-Hine broadcast team put in many practice hours during their summer break for what will be an historic event. They are: radio personalities Samone Mack, Tatyanna Liggins, Jayah Morse, Cahlyl Rollins, and board operator Taniya Henderson. All are seventh graders except Cahlyl who is in 8th. Eliot Hine Radio was selected by The Center for the Study of Civil and Human Rights Laws as the official news organization for the civil rights conference, scheduled for Aug. 27 and the commemorative march to be held on August 28. See www.50thann iversarymarchonwashington.com/featured/officialnews-organization-for-the-civil-rights-conference/ for more information. The radio broadcast program, taught by technology instructor Mandrell Birks, has been a successful element of Eliot-Hine’s technology curriculum, and will continue as part of the IB Middle Years Programme framework. Check them out at http://www.live365.com/stations/tyoung1. Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave., NE. 202-939-5380 or eliothinemiddleschool.org. - Mandrell Birks and Heather Schoell.
St. Peter School Celebrating 145 years
St. Peter School kicked off the new term celebrating our 145th anniversary! Established in 1868 with a faculty comprised of the Sisters of the Holy Cross from Notre Dame, Indiana, the milestone was recognized by the Archdiocese of Washing146 H hillrag.com
ton during the start of the school year Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The entire St. Peter School community is honored to be part of a legacy of learning that offers students a Catholic education grounded in faith, service and academic excellence. In the spirit of the School’s first educators, St. Peter School continues to innovate and inspire. Students greeted the new academic year with an enhanced math program including hands-on resources across all grade levels; enriched Spanish and religion curricula with student-centered materials and a range of integrated technology updates. Happy anniversary, St. Peter School - looking forward to the next 145 years! –Sally Aman. St. Peter School, 422 Third St, SE.; www.stpeterschooldc.org
School-Within-School
This year School-Within-School is growing by about 40 percent, adding two second grade classrooms, two preschool classrooms, a medically fragile classroom and a high-functioning autism program. They have moved out of the cozy temporary space from last year, and are settling into a permanent home in the airy and spacious Ann B. Goding building, 920 F St NE. An impressive bunch of talented educators, both as lead teachers in the Reggio-Emilia inspired classrooms and as ateliers were hired such as a librarian, physical education teacher, and movement, science and music teachers. The school also has new teachers for its preschool program, a new pre-kindergarten teacher and a new second grade teacher...
-- Second-grade teacher Erika Bowman earned her teaching certificate four years ago from the Center for Inspired Teaching, taught in DC for two years, Myanmar for one and returned last year to complete a master’s degree in early childhood education. -- Prekindergarten teacher Laura McCarthy comes to us from the Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School, where she taught preschool. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies with a minor in Spanish from Clark University. -- Physical Education teacher Andrew Chapman is working full-time with DCPS, splitting his time between SWS and John Burroughs Educational Campus. This year there will be specialty after-school classes coordinated through the Bridge Extended Day Program. A sampling of the offerings will include yoga, Tippi Toes dance and Board Game Days facilitated in part by staff at Capitol Hill’s own Labyrinth Games & Puzzles. - Allison Klein. SWS, 920 F St NE; 202-727-7377. http://www.schoolwithinschool.org/–
Amidon-Bowen Elementary Test Scores See Marked Improvement
After four years of falling or stagnant DC CAS scores, the hard work of Amidon-Bowen teachers and students is beginning to bear fruit. In 2012, 16.8 percent of Amidon-Bowen students tested proficient or higher in math, and 21.8 percent tested proficient or higher in reading. In 2013, those numbers had risen to 20.6 percent and 30.9 respectively. While the improvement in math scores tracked with the average improvement across DC public schools of 3.9 points, students’ reading scores increased 9.1 points, far exceeding the DC average of 4 points, and reflecting a 45 percent increase over last year’s results. “In math, we grew, in reading, we leaped,” said Amidon-Bowen Principal, Izabela Miller. “We are hoping to see a leap in math in the coming year.” Indeed, under Principal Miller’s guidance, the school has focused its efforts on improving reading skills and as the numbers attest, the strategy is paying off. For the 2013-2014 school year Amidon-Bowen’s focus will be on close reading and evidencebased writing. These skills will be taught and applied across subjects, including math and science. With an extremely strong team in place for the school year, Amidon-Bowen seems well positioned to continue its trajectory of improving student performance. - Lucy Rojansky. http://profiles. dcps.dc.gov/amidon-bowen+elementary+school 401 I St. SW.