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In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2013 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to: THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
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Working Hard to Achieve Our Goals By Kaya Henderson, Chancellor DC Public Schools On August 25, District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) students will return for the 2014-2015 school year. This is my fifth full school year as Chancellor and my 17th as a resident of the District of Columbia. I am proud not only to be the Chancellor of DCPS, but a DCPS parent as well. I feel proud when I see a student come alive when she learns a concept. I feel proud when I see teachers visiting homes and connecting with families on a deeper level. I feel proud when I see children solve equations, read complex and engaging texts, tend school gardens, assemble robots, lift their voices in the choir, receive acceptance letters to top colleges, hit home runs—and so much more. We’re working as hard as ever to achieve our five-year goals to make DCPS the best urban school district in the country—we’re working hard to increase enrollment, achievement, and graduation rates, invest in struggling schools and improve student satisfaction. With these goals in mind, this year will be our best yet and I want to tell you a few reasons why. First, we’ll begin this school year with thousands more students than last year. That’s because school communities took to the streets this summer, knocking on doors in their students’ neighborhoods, encouraging families to enroll and re-enroll their children and sharing what makes their schools great. Parents told me they felt touched and encouraged by their school’s willingness to go above and beyond. And school staff shared how inspiring it was to talk to families in a new setting. Second, as more families choose DCPS, our charge to ensure all of our students graduate from high school ready to compete in college and in life, remains our top priority. From pre-K to Grade 12, when you walk in our classrooms, you will see engaged teachers, focused on helping all of our students achieve at the highest levels. You will see principals committed to doing whatever it takes to help our students succeed. You will see support staff helping to create environments where learning can thrive. In fact, 26 schools will offer an extended school day in some capacity in the upcoming school year so that students will have more time and opportunities to learn. In addition, we are also doubling the number of schools with blended learning programs, which combine technology with face-to-face instruction to customize and personalize learning for each student, and help them become more comfortable with technology. Students see and feel content in a much different way than the traditional classroom. This type of instruction sets a foundation for their future, where technology is a core component. Furthermore, to meet the demands of an ever-changing economy, we’re offering programs to help high school students gain real career skills. This school year, six high schools will launch new career academies, made possible through a $2.8 million commitment from Mayor Gray. Our students will learn what it takes to succeed in high-skill, high- demand jobs in the District, including engineering, hospitality and information technology. Students will reap the benefits of strong college and industry partnerships, work-based learning experiences including internships, and rigorous academic content. When students finish their coursework, they will receive an industry-recognized certification that will help them secure high-wage jobs. In addition, this year, HD Woodson High School will kick off its first STEM learning community, with 120 10th and 11th grade students who will use and build on their academic skills to solve problems and tackle projects in topics such as renewable energy in the neighborhood. The goals are to develop critical thinking skills, engage in rigorous academics, and apply them to daily life. Through internships and job shadowing, students will connect what they learn in the classroom with the real world. We’re also growing the college-level, Advanced Placement courses, offered at all of our high schools. Our student AP enrollment is at an all-time high, and this year, our high schools will offer over 150 AP classes in a variety of subjects, including AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP Environmental Science, AP Studio Art/Drawing, and AP Computer Science. School is also more than academics—it’s a second home. In our middle grades, we are increasing staff to support our adolescent students’ unique social and emotional needs. We’ve also committed $5 million to making schools more fun. From clubs to arts and sports and field trips, students will have more reasons than ever to love school and love learning. But don’t take my word for it—I encourage you to visit our schools, follow us on social media (@ dcpublicschools on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), get involved, and see for yourself ! After all, we’re your schools, and we’re ready for you! Working together, I know all of our students can and will succeed. We are DCPS and we can do this.
BS-2 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT | AUG 2014 | WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Learning via the Internet can be a real family affair as is evident with this young child and her mother. /Photo courtesy of Comcast
Comcast Commits to Eliminating Digital Divide Students, Families Benefit from Low-Cost Broadband Service By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer Minority students, low-income families and even jobseekers continue to learn that without access to information and communication tools such as the Internet, their chances for success can be daunting. But as broadband service providers in the U.S. rollout more affordable programs, it appears that navigating the digital divide may become just a little easier. “Learning how to use the Internet is no different than getting started with any new tool or resource,” said Donna Rattley Washington, Comcast regional vice president of government and community affairs, Beltway Region, Largo, Maryland. “Through Internet Essentials, we offer multiple options for digital literacy training in print, online and in person, to learn skills that help with searching for jobs, finding health care services, accessing educational resources and staying connected to family and friends.” In 2011, Comcast launched Internet Essentials – a broadband adoption program that since its inception has connected more than 350,000 families, or about 1.4 million low-income Americans, to the power and possibilities of the Internet. Citizens in 39 states and the District now benefit from the program. Students that receive a free lunch through the National School Lunch Program can automatically apply for Internet Essentials. The broadband service costs $9.95 per month. Comcast also includes an option by
which families may purchase an Internet-ready computer for less than $150. “Internet Essentials is about transforming lives and inspiring a new generation of leaders to be digitally ready to access the information and tools all students need to succeed in the 21st century,” said David L. Cohen, Comcast executive vice president. The term “digital divide” refers to the gap or discrepancy between people with access to digital devices such as computers, tablets and cell phones and those without. The divide often impacts the level of an individual’s skills, knowledge and abilities to use the technologies and can exist between those living in rural and urban areas, between the educated and uneducated, between economic classes and on a global scale between more and less industrially developed nations. Comcast recently decided to extend its three-year program while at the same time adding yet another way for families who have been locked out from technological advances to bring the Internet into their homes. The program could prove invaluable to millions of children in the U.S. particularly this fall when, for the first time, American public schools are projected to have more minority students than non-Hispanic whites. Still, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while the nation’s population becomes more diverse, schools are becoming more racially divided, reflecting U.S. housing patterns. The disparities are even evident in the youngest of black, Hispanic and Native American children who on average enter kindergarten academically behind their white and Asian peers.
A group of students illustrate how engaging the Internet can be while participating in an educational environment. /Photo courtesy of Comcast
“We announced the indefinite extension of Internet Essentials earlier this year because we believe every household in America should have access to the Internet,” Washington said. “New families who have not yet applied for [the program] and are approved between August 4th and September 20th will receive up to six months of complimentary Internet service.”
In addition, Comcast has instituted an amnesty program for customers who have an outstanding bill that is more than one year old and are now eligible for the broadband service. Washington said families in the District have taken full advantage of the Internet Essentials program. “Since 2011, we have connected more than 8,100 Washington, D.C.
market families or about 32,700 low-income residents to the Internet at home,” Washington said. “With students increasingly relying on the Internet to complete schoolwork and many companies only accepting online applications, children need to be digitally ready.” BTS To learn more or to apply, call 855-8468376 or go to www.InternetEssentials.com.
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Top Coders from the National Capital Region Capture High School Computer Competition Submitted by Perry Carter, President, BDPA Washington, D.C. Regional High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Champions from the National Capital Region, BDPA-DC, and BDPA NoVA competed with other top coders from across America during the National High School Computer Competition’s scholarship rounds at the JW Marriott Indianapolis during the National BDPA (NBDPA) Technology Conference The nation’s top five HSCC teams for 2014 are Washington (DC), Greater Columbia (SC), Southern Minnesota (MN), Atlanta (GA), and Cincinnati (OH). National HSCC Scholarship rounds include information and communication technology (ICT) theory question and answer sessions with industry trivia or current events, application design, development, and test sessions upon receiving real-world desktop or mobile
app requirements, followed by oral presentations with technical demonstrations to industry panels judges, sponsors, hiring managers, or technical recruiters. Giving Back Regional stakeholders provide financial support, in-kind services, volunteers, keynote speakers, industry panelists, competition judges, and role models enabling local HSCC and IT Showcase teams embrace technology, travel to technology conferences such as BDPA14 in Indianapolis to compete for scholarships, and tour corporate technology centers and headquarters venues within the region. This year’s corporate engagements from industry and BDPA’s local mission partners include the following. BAE Systems, bdpatoday, Best Buy, Bowie State University, Cape Fear Productions, Capitol College, Concur, CSC, DC Chamber of Commerce, DC Courts, FireEye, Groupsite.com, Honesty Gourmet,
National BDPA’s 2014 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Championship Team from BDPA-DC: (L-R) Ms. Naomi Matthews [NOVA], HSCC Coordinator and HSCC Alumna; Ms. Lauren Battle [Charles County]; Zion Emanuel attends the [Academy of Health Science at PGCC]; Mr. Johnathan “JC” Legrant [Oxon Hill Science & Tech, Prince Georges County]; Mr. Alex Li [Poolesville High School, Montgomery County]; and Mr. Michael Wood [PGCC], HSCC Chaperon and HSCC Alumnus. Not pictured is Ms. Beleicia Bullock [The Maret School, District of Columbia]. photo by BDPA-DC | bdpatoday © 2014
H.O.P.E. DMV, Howard University, HP, IHOP, Joint Educational Facilities (JEF), Lighthouse Limousines, Lindsay Cadillac, Lindsay Lexus, Maryland Cyber, Microsoft, Microsoft Store, Morton Media, National BDPA, National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), Northrop Grumman, Oracle, Patriots Technology Training Center (PTTC), Pepco, Prince Georges Community College (PGCC), Ross Technologies ,Inc. (RTGX), SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Splunk, United States Air
Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, YMCA of Metropolitan Washington and other Defense agencies. National BDPA and BDPA Chapter cities across the United States celebrate NBDPA’s 40th Anniversary in 2015. The District of Columbia and NBDPA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter will host an International Technology Conference & Career Expo at the Washington Hilton next year, August 18-23, 2015.
www.NCACBSA.org/Cool 301-530-9360 BS-4 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT | AUG 2014 | WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
About BDPA The mission of BDPA (formerly Black Data Processing Associates) is to bridge cybersecurity, information technology (IT) and telecommunications competency gaps in urban and underserved communities. Local chapter goals in the National Capital Region (NCR) are to provide technology and IT training programs with educational outreach services for professionals and youth in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in direct support of technology inclusion (TECH-Inclusion) initiatives, next-generation workforce (NGWF) thrusts, and regional economic development. Regional BDPA Chapters and BDPA Chapter Interest Groups (CIGs) also work with information communication and technology (ICT) industry partners to develop workforce pipelines in the National Capital Region (NCR). Regional and local efforts directly support the President’s CNCI (Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative), federal agency ICT staffing requirements, and public sector ICT pipelines. BTS web site: www.bdpadc.org Founded in 1978, BDPA-DC is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Older Adults Can Play a Role as Kids Get Back to School By Lester Strong Recently America’s Promise Alliance announced that for the first time in our nation’s history we achieved an 80 percent graduation rate. Hundreds of nonprofit and government partners celebrated that achievement. While we should celebrate that success, we still have a long way to go. Many believe that we can increase graduation rates by improving grade-level reading scores. The Annie E. Casey Foundation Report, Early Warning: Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters draws attention to the reality that children who are not reading proficiently by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma, and are also more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as truancy and aggression. Older adults can help assure a legacy of strong graduation rates by supporting the work of schools in their communities,
both directly and indirectly. Here are three ways you might consider contributing as the school year gets underway: Volunteer Your Time and Talents: There are many nonprofit organizations that work with children and youth. Take the next step and find a volunteer opportunity in your community. AARP Experience Corps has impacted the lives of thousands of children from kindergarten through third grade in 22 cities across the country. Here in the DC metro area, adults 50 and over can serve in classrooms as reading tutors. You can visit www.aarp.org/ecwashingtondc or call 202-434-6495 for more information. Give Kids the Tools to Learn: School supplies are always in demand so get involved by hosting a Book or School Supplies Drive in your neighborhood or through your church or social group. Create the Good has a step-by-step how-to guide on getting started. http://www.createthegood.org/ equipped-to-learn
Donate to the Cause: If you have more money than time, look for ways to help support education and nonprofits who work in this field. Make sure you donate to an organization that you can trust. AARP offers a few tips on what to look for when donating to charities: http://bit.ly/1pkbKfk. No matter how you partici-
pate in the effort to create better opportunity for our nation’s children, know that you’re leaving a lasting legacy and that your contributions are critically important in children’s lives.BTS Lester Strong is Chief Executive Officer of AARP Experience Corps, a program which utilizes the time and talents of adults fifty and older as reading tutors and mentors for children
in kindergarten through third grade. AARP Experience Corps serves nearly 30,000 students in 22 cities across the United States. The program is recognized as the one of the most effective in-school reading interventions in the country. Learn more about Experience Corps, and the 22 communities we serve. Visit www.aarp.org/ experiencecorps.
MURIEL BOWSER. DEMOCRAT. MAYOR. In Washington DC, Kids Ride Free on Metro Bus is not just about getting kids to school on time... it’s about helping working families. Muriel Bowser created Kids Ride Free. Now ALL DC students – attending private, public or public charter schools – get free bus rides to remove the all-to-common barrier to attendance and end truancy. As your Mayor, Muriel will: H Work with the Chancellor for a total transformation of four District middle schools by 2020. H Focus on our brink schools: those that are close but not yet achieving their potential. Muriel will work to double the number of high-quality neighborhood schools across the District.
VOTE MURIEL BOWSER FOR MAYOR ON NOVEMBER 4TH Please call 202-832-0403 for more information or to volunteer. MURIEL FOR MAYOR HEADQUARTERS • 4300 Georgia Ave NW • Washington, DC 20011 Paid for by Muriel Bowser for Mayor, PO Box 60385,Washington DC 20039. Ben Soto,Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.
H Require new school assignment plans to maintain current crosspark and cross-river boundary and feeder patterns; establish predictable, by-right school assignments at every level; and accelerate citywide middle school improvements. WWW.MURIELFORMAYOR.COM
MURIEL FOR MAYOR
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Dr. Robert W. Simmons, III, Ph.D. recently joined the leadership team of D.C. Public Schools after taking a sabbatical from Loyola University Maryland and brings proven experience helping black males succeed. /Photo courtesy of Andy Le
Dr. Steve Gallon, a Miami-based educational consultant and former New Jersey public school superintendent, said reaching black males happens by establishing positive relationships. /Photo courtesy of Steve Gallon
Educator Takes Aim at Achievement Gap D.C. Schools Seek Ways to Help Academically Challenged Youth
By D. Kevin McNeir WI Contributing Writer
Young black students, particularly males, continue to fall behind their peers in the classroom and often drop out before completing high school. Meanwhile, black males find themselves filling up the nation’s prisons in disproportionate numbers. Now a fresh approach has been taken by D.C. Public Schools [DCPS] with the recent hiring of a Loyola University Maryland professor of education and African-American studies whose creden-
tials, experience and personal history suggest that he may be the spark needed to reduce the achievement gap, low test scores and dropout rates. “I hope to contribute to the academic, social and emotional development of youth in D.C. and to do it in a collaborative and thoughtful way that honors the hard work that has occurred before my arrival by teachers, principals, custodians, administrators and the chancellor,” said Dr. Robert W. Simmons, III, Ph.D. DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson tapped Simmons to serve as the chief of in-
novation and research for the school district which has 47,000 students, 4,000 teachers and 111 schools. With a long list of academic credentials, Simmons, 39, has taught K-12 youth and college students, served as a consultant to schools in places that include Detroit, Minnesota and the Dominican Republic and has contributed to more than 30 publications and penned one book. Simmons, who joined DCPS in late June, has taken a sabbatical from his post as the director of the Center for Innovation in Urban Education at
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Loyola University Maryland – a program that he founded. “The Center began as an idea – it was just a dream and I’m very proud of the work we’ve done,” he said. “I grew up in Detroit and so I have a blue collar mentality that taught me that you have to do things collectively with respect and humility. At Loyola many others supported my dreams – now I’m here to help students in the District dream bigger and then achieve those dreams.” Tremendous attention has been given to the achievement gap in the nation’s public schools with statistics
for black males still among the most disheartening. The Public Broadcasting Service recently reported that only 54 percent of blacks graduate from high school, compared to more than 75 percent of their white and Asian American peers. Black males make up just 5.5 percent of all college students and of those who do make it to college, only one in six will graduate. “Much of my work examines the challenges facing black boys in public and Catholic schools and because See EDUCATOR on Page 7
Excerpts from President Obama’s Speech to Parents and Students EDUCATOR continued from Page 6 of the challenges males face, they’ll be a significant part of my focus,” Simmons said. “The gap in education is complicated and nuanced because it takes place at the intersection of so many other factors like race, economics, even the lack of access to nutritious food.” Simmons said that while he celebrates the achievements of his life, including being the proud father of a threeyear-old son, he didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. In fact, drugs and drug dealers dominated his neighborhood on the west side of Detroit where many men, including his father, made decisions that would cost them their freedom. “My father had a Morehouse degree and was deeply involved in social justice movements but he made some poor choices and has been locked up most of my life,” Simmons said. “People have said that I should be dead or in a cell next to him – I think that’s what drove me the most. For black males in particularly it’s all about having access to opportunities. Someone gave me a chance – we have to do the same here in D.C. for young boys and girls.” One longtime public school teacher and administrator who grew up in poverty in one of Miami’s most notorious neighborhoods, Liberty City, said the schools cannot help more black youth succeed without the assistance of the community and its leaders. “In the past the tendency was to isolate the educational experience outside of the adversity faced by youth, especially black males, in the urban core,” said Dr. Steve Gallon, Ph.D., a 20-year veteran of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and president and CEO of Tri-Star Leadership, an educational consulting firm in Miami. “You have to address the other gaps and at the same time schools must engage the community and collectively address the multiple issues on all fronts.” “As for black males, we have
to find ways to captivate their attention, engage and motivate them and then build relationships with those boys,” said Gallon, 45. “A football coach can have close to 100 boys on his team – four times the number of students in a classroom but he finds success because he’s able to persuade them to work for one goal and they see how practice pays off. We need to take that philosophy into the classroom,” said Gallon, the only child among six other siblings to graduate from college. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal schools did not provide equitable academic opportunities for all students. Simmons said making sure all youth have access to quality education remains his first priority. “It is our moral, ethical and professional responsibility to give students access to the tools they need so that whenever parents say they have dreams for their children, the resources are at hand to make their dreams and the dreams of their children within their reach,” Simmons said. Simmons spends more time on the streets than in his office, talking with and listening to school officials, parents and students. He said that after witnessing the commitment of the District’s educators since coming on board, he believes that he has joined a team that can prove the naysayers wrong. “I knew after high school that I wanted to be a public school teacher – many of the people who work for DCPS have that same passion for the job,” Simmons said. “We know what challenges we face but when the collective comes together, then it is possible for us to build up students’ self-esteem, efficacy and sense of agency. We can make them believe in their own abilities. I’m here until the job is done.”
One of the most important things any of you can do this year [is] to begin preparing yourself for an education beyond high school. Higher education is the surest ticket to the middle class. To all you young people, now that you’re heading back to school, your education is something you have to take personally. It’s up to you to push yourself; to take hard classes and read challenging books. Science shows that when you struggle to solve a problem or make a new argument, you’re actually forming new connections in your brain. So when you’re thinking hard, you’re getting smarter. Which means this year, challenge yourself to reach higher. And set your sights on college in the years ahead. Your country is counting on you. Good luck on the year ahead.
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Loucace Ampe accepted her diploma which she earned from the Academy of Hope, an adult charter school in Northeast. /Photo courtesy of the Academy of Hope Academy of Hope Executive Director Lecester Johnson with the 2012 graduating class at the Academy of Hope. /Photo courtesy of the Academy of Hope
Academy of Hope Offers Second Chance
Adult Education Available at District’s Newest Charter School By Stacy M. Brown WI Contributing Writer After graduating from Cardozo Senior High School, James Chase started a construction apprenticeship. On his first day of work, he recognized his biggest shortcoming. He wasn’t comfortable with his math skills and he had difficulty figuring out measurements needed to properly perform his tasks. “I remember when my lead foreman told me I was stupid. I was so upset,” Chase said. “Am I stupid? That’s when tears came down my eyes, not for what the foreman said, but for not paying attention to my weaknesses ahead of time.” Chase represents a compelling statistic. One in five adults in the nation’s capital lack a high school diploma and one in three adults cannot read a newspaper or a map, much less complete a job applica-
tion. That’s where the Academy of Hope plays a vital role. “The Academy of Hope is like coming home to me because when you are home you feel comfortable. There are no barriers, all your mindset and fears, your doubts, everything you have to put it down. When you come here you put it all down,” said Loucace Ampe, who moved to the United States from West Africa 18 years ago and, in just 18 months, conquered the General Education Development (GED), and graduated from the academy in May. Ampe, a married mother of two, has started studying for a bachelor’s degree at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and said her interests lies in working with people and on computers. She said the Academy of Hope has instilled in her a sense of pride and an ability to reach for and obtain her goals. “I didn’t think that I would learn
Howard University Public Charter Middle School of Mathematics and Science
so much after not being in school for 18 years, and I didn’t think that everything [previous knowledge] would come back to me,” she said. “But, the people here (at the academy) were a tremendous help to me.” Headquartered in Northeast, the Academy of Hope received approval for a charter late last year and will launch as the seventh adult charter school in the District in September. “We’re going from a small nonprofit with 20 staff members to about 40 full-time staffers,” said Daquanna Harrison, the school’s instructional director. “We will have 300 students on a consistent basis,” said Harrison, who noted that the recent economic downturn actually resulted in being a blessing in disguise for adults without a high school diploma or GED. She said the Great Recession showed that even those with ed-
(MS)2
…do something extraordinary™
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATION!
Howard University Public Charter Middle School of Mathematics and Science is currently accepting application for SY2014-2015. If you reside in the District of Columbia and have a th th th student entering the 6 , 7 or 8 grade with an interest in S.T.E.M. come be a part of something extraordinary! For additional information please visit our school located on Howard University’s campus at 405 Howard Place, NW or call 202-865.0282.
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ucation degrees and comfortable jobs were also susceptible to economic and other problems, factors that have led to more adults seeking educational assistance. Founded in 1985, the Academy of Hope offers evidence-based academic instruction which school officials couple with strong workforce training. Earlier this year the academy’s executive director Lecester Johnson received the Georgetown University’s Legacy of a Dream Award which salutes and celebrates excellence among emerging nonprofit leaders who work to solve key issues to help improve and positively shape the District. “Adult education and literacy are such fundamental pieces of our social fabric, and this is a tremendous opportunity to shine a light on the need of thousands of adults who are looking for quality education and literacy services to improve their lives and those of their children,” Johnson said during her acceptance speech at Georgetown University in Northwest. Harrison said the academy offers adult basic education, the general education development, an external diploma program and pathways to college success. The academy also offers education services to assist adult learners in attaining their educational goals including, computer training, workplace literacy proj-
ects and career assessment and planning while also offering a range of student support services to help break down barriers that may stand in the way of a student achieving his or her goals. “Our students can earn up to four college credits with matriculation to the University of the District of Columbia,” Harrison said. Chase, a 2012 alumni of the Academy of Hope, began to reflect on his foreman’s comments and to think about his future. “The first thing on my list was to catch up on what I missed in high school. Second, I needed to refresh my mind and get certifications that would help me to be a better professional and I found the Academy of Hope and immediately signed up. I finally conquered the math I had been having problems with,” he said. Chase has now started taking college preparatory courses at the Academy of Hope and he said he hopes to join the Air Force and train for a career in computers and Internet Technology. “My message here is that people make mistakes,” Chase said. “But, there is a second chance for everybody.” BTS For more information, or to inquire about signing up or volunteering at the Academy of Hope, visit www.aohdc.org, or call 202-2696623.
PGCPS on a Roll toward a Great School Year! By Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph. D. Schools Chief Operating Officer This is a time of excitement and energy. As families finish up their summer vacations and descend upon stores to purchase school supplies, staff in Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) are preparing schools and teachers for the new school year which begins Tuesday, August 26. On that day, more than 126,000 students will walk through our doors to begin the 2014-15 school year. Even before August 26, some of our students will be visiting their schools in preparation for new adventures in elementary, middle and high school. Our prekindergarten and kindergarten students will be attending an Orientation Day on August 21. Students will meet their teachers and become familiar with moving into an elementary school setting. On Monday, August 25, 6th and 7th graders entering middle school and 9th graders entering high school, will visit their classes and receive import-
ant information during our first systemic “Transition Day.” We are also putting finishing touches on the brand new Edward M. Felegy Elementary School in Hyattsville, Maryland. The school was named after former superintendent and educator Edward M. Felegy, who served PGCPS for more than 37 years. Its comprehensive program features a creative and performing arts theme with vocal and general music, and the school was built to achieve LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency. To help our families keep in touch with their student’s academic progress, we are rolling out a mobile version of the SchoolMax Parent Portal. This new mobile version allows parents to access their student’s assignments, grades, and attendance from their mobile device. Parents may sign up to use the mobile version from our website’s family portal link. To help streamline payments for school meals and tuition payments for before and afterschool programs, we have partnered with “MySchoolBucks” to pro-
Kevin M. Maxwell, CEO Prince George’s County Public Schools. /Photo courtesy of Prince George’s County Public Schools
vide a new, secure online system. Parents may set up automatic payments to ensure that funds are available when their child needs them. We urge parents to check their child’s immunization records to make sure they are ready to attend school. For the 2014-15 school year, all students entering kindergarten must have had two varicella
(chicken pox) vaccinations, and all students entering 7th grade must have had one Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccination and one meningococcal (meningitis) vaccination. If parents have questions, they should contact their child’s physician. This school year also brings new programs to strengthen our students’ academic success.
We will be offering Spanish Immersion at three schools; online credit recovery at all high schools; more opportunities in our French Immersion, Montessori, and Talented and Gifted programs; International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme at John Hanson French Immersion and Melwood Elementary; IB Middle Years Programme at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School and an IB Diploma Programme at Frederick Douglass High School. We have also added instructional supports to strengthen our second graders’ literacy skills and to help our ninth graders succeed in high school. Several elementary schools in the county’s “Transforming Neighborhood Initiative” areas will now have all-day prekindergarten programs. We encourage you to visit our website and your child’s school to find out more about what our school system has to offer. BTS
5 Tips for Mom’s Back-to-School Sanity
By Jennifer Keitt Author, Shake Up Your Life: 30 Steps To Powerful Brilliant Living 1. Heal self-defeating thoughts: “I stunk at math and my kids will stink too!” Replace the negative “Jimmy isn’t going to “get” math thought with “Jimmy is smart, resourceful and able to do it!” (Plus Mom, you can hire a tutor or grab a homework coach to support him). Repeat these “healing” thoughts and strategies every time those old self-defeating ones come up. 2. Have patience with yourself: Life takes patience—especially life as a Mom! Take a deep breath, slowly exhale and give yourself the gift of having patience with YOU every day this school year. 3. Attend to your own needs: Grab that cup of coffee with a friend for girl talk. Take a long bath locked behind closed doors at midnight! Attending to your own needs first is taking the time to honor you, and preparing to be the best Mom possible for your kids this school year. You can’t be who you haven’t nurtured and you can’t give what you don’t have.
4. Know what makes you smile: We lose sight of how much joy our children really do bring into our lives. This school year, remember over and over again what you love about your children. What do your kids do that only they can do to make you smile? 5. Put everything in perspective: Before you know it, the kids are gone. Stroll slowly through this school year rather than trying to get through it in a dash! It can be hard to keep the bigger picture in mind when they won’t get out of bed in the morning; but trust me it’s worth keeping a lifetime with your child in mind every single day this school year. Jennifer Keitt empowers and educates more than one million listeners across the globe each week as the host of Today’s Black Woman Radio Show and, her new talk show, THE JENNIFER KEITT SHOW. She currently resides near Atlanta, GA. Visit www.jenniferkeitt.com
Council Member
Ingrid M. Turner, Esq.
Welcomes You to the 2014- 2015 School Year.
“Back-to-School is a very exciting time for students, parents, educators in Prince George’s County. New students gather in new classrooms with new teachers. This is a time of promise and anticipation for the school year ahead. I will be visiting schools all across Councilmanic District 4 and I hope to see you working hard this year!”
Prince George’s County Council, District 4 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr. Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(301) 952-3094 www.princegeorgescounty.gov/District4
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Artist rendering of the new Friendship Technology Preparatory Academy in Ward 8
Forging Ahead for the Children of Ward Eight: Preparing Students for Careers in Engineering, Technology and Environmental Sciences This school year, an exciting new opportunity for a college preparatory middle and high school public education opens on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, in the Congress Heights neighborhood. On August 26th, a brand new $22 million stateof-the-art Technology Preparatory Academy school campus enrolling students from the sixth through the twelfth grade will open its doors for the start of the new school year. Specializing in STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—subjects and environmental sciences, the new campus will provide students with the high-quality education and 21stcentury skills necessary for success in today’s high-tech global economy. The presence of the new facility will be felt in a community that has long been underserved for adequate educational, job and housing opportunities. It is so important for minorities--for too long marginalized in the job market-to access the emerging field of environmental sciences. The new facility includes a SMART—science, math and research technology—lab, allow-
ing students to complete projects across a wide array of subject areas using the latest technology. The building also includes a robotics lab, two chemistry labs, two biology labs and a rooftop greenhouse for career opportunities in environmental sciences, engineering and technology, including computer-aided design, 3-D printing and gaming. Next door, on the site of the old St. Elizabeth’s hospital, is the new headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security, offering the potential for career-oriented alliances for children in this historically neglected community. That site also will be home to a prestigious university or college presence, and will also be a high-tech hub for international technology names, such as Microsoft. Additionally, the Tech Prep campus has been chosen as a site for a career academy in information technology. This city investment allows further resources to be provided for students keen to enter this growing and often lucrative field. Becoming lifelong IT learners will allow our students to use their skills to benefit from technology, rather than de-
pend on jobs and careers that are increasingly displaced by it. Every 11th and 12th grade student will be dual enrolled at Tech Prep, which, as a public charter school, is tuition-free and open to all District of Columbia-resident students, and in college, at no cost to themselves—an important benefit in this low-income community. Students will earn both a high-school diploma and credit toward a college degree. The first 12th graders will graduate in the summer of 2015. Tech Prep is one of six tuition-free public charter campuses operated by Friendship Public Charter School, which serves nearly 4,000 students in the District-resident students from preschool through the twelfth grade. Adjacent to the new campus and also on Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. is Friendship’s Southeast Academy, an elementary school campus serving students from pre-Kindergarten to the fifth grade. This school year, 650 students will be enrolled at Tech Prep. The aim is that this campus replicate in D.C.’s Ward Eight what has been achieved in Ward Seven by Friendship’s
BS-10 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT | AUG 2014 | WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Collegiate Academy, which has an on-time graduation rate of 95 percent. To place that in perspective, the rate for regular D.C. high schools is 56 percent, which in turn is significantly higher than most D.C. high schools in Wards Seven and Eight. Fully 100 percent of Collegiate’s graduate class is accepted to college. College-bound students have recently headed to Princeton, Columbia, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina, Morehouse, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Bucknell, and University of Maryland, among many others. At Friendship, we understand that being accepted to college is insufficient for students from many families to attend the higher education institution of their choice. Accordingly, with our assistance, Collegiate Academy students have earned over $50 million in college scholarships since our first graduating class earned their high-school diplomas 10 years ago. Nearly 700 Collegiate Academy students have been award-
ed D.C. Achievers Scholarships, making college a reality for hundreds of students. Some 25 students have earned coveted Posse scholarships, which provide a full-ride through college. Some have earned Gates Millennium Scholarships, which pay a fullride through undergraduate and postgraduate studies. One student recently earned a scholarship worth $260,000. Tech Prep aims to emulate this success by providing the academic, mentoring and emotional supports routinely available to children whose families have the means to finance college without scholarship money. These include academically rigorous Advanced Placement courses, college courses for college credit, college tours, and a culture of college-readiness as the key to success in life. BTS To learn more about enrolling at Tech Prep’s new campus, email the principal at dtindle@friendshipschools.org – and see how we are forging ahead for the children of Ward Eight.
Vaccinations Curtail Spread of Diseases By Dorothy Rowley WI Staff Writer With the first day of classes for District public schools students just around the corner, parents and guardians are reminded of the importance of ensuring children are properly vaccinated. In the District, the new school year begins on Monday, August 25, and in order to protect the health of all students from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases like polio, measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox, school and health officials are continually encouraging up-to-date vaccinations prior to enrollment. “Over the past few decades, vaccines have been effective at stopping diseases,” Dr. Saul Levine, a former interim director of the DC Department of Health, said, referring to the Healthy Schools Act, signed into law in 2010. “Because we do not see these diseases very often, it can be easy for us to forget how serious diseases like measles, mumps and polio can be,” Levine said in a statement. “Records show that [as of 2012] some diseases like measles
and the chicken pox [have started] to come back as the number of children getting vaccines in some school districts has dropped.” To that end, all school-age children need vaccinations, and those attending District schools can be prevented from attending classes until the vaccines are administered. Otherwise, while children ages 4 to 6 need shots of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), chicken pox, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and polio, all children ages 6 months and up – including preteens and teens – need TDap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis), HPV (human papillomavirus), and MCV (meningococcal conjugate virus) vaccines. In Prince George’s County, school officials have announced new immunization requirements for the upcoming year that starts on Tuesday, August 26. Those requirements, involving students entering kindergarten and the 7th grade, have the kindergarteners receiving two doses of the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, and the older students receiving a single dose of the TDaP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) vaccine
Students are required to be properly vaccinated prior to the first day of school in both the District and Prince George’s County./ Photo courtesy of PGCPS
along with a dose of the Meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine. However, all students from kindergarten through grade 12 must have received two mumps and rubella vaccines – and any student without appropriate documentation will have 20 calendar days to comply. “Thanks to vaccines, most of these diseases have become rare in the United States,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. “But many still exist here, and they can make children very sick, leading to many days of missed school, missed work for parents, and even hospitalization and death.” Schuchat added that getting
children all of the vaccines recommended by the CDC’s immunization standards is one of the most important steps parents can take to protect their children’s health and that of classmates and the community. However, some parents have reservations about inoculating their children, fearing that the shots can lead to autism. Others cite religious beliefs and medical reasons for foregoing the vacccinations, and interestingly, many of those parents tend to be white and well-educated, according to a national study conducted in 2010. Doctors on the other hand, contend that research backing claims of danger surrounding vaccinations has yet to be proven. Nancy Ejuma, Immunization Program director at the District’s health department, said the vacci-
nations are particulary important considering the city “has visitors from all over the world.” “This makes us susceptible to many more kinds of diseases and when we ensure that the vast amount of our population is vaccinated, we don’t have additional people in the community who could become carriers and then spread the diseases to others,” Ejuma said. Meanwhile, CDC officials said that in 2012, more than 48,000 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) were reported in the United States, and at the same time, of the 20 deaths that were reported – the majority of them involved children younger than 3 months of age. “Without vaccines, these numbers would be much, much higher. That’s why kids still need vaccines,” Schuchat said. She added that children who aren’t vaccinated are at increased risk of diseases which can be spread to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions.BTS
Envision Taking AP courses Earning up to two years of college credit while attending high school Earning a full scholarship to college Graduating from College Now, see yourself at
Friendship Public Charter School Collegiate Academy
Now Enrolling 9th Grade Scholars Visit us at www.friendshipschools.org Congratulations Ms. China Green Friendship Collegiate Academy, Class of 2014 Stephen Joel Trachtenburg Scholarship Reciepient $260,000 Full Scholarship to attend George Washington University Friendship Collegiate Academy Class of 2014 has received over $17 million in Scholarships
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DC’S CHARTER SCHOOLS: LEADING EDUCATION REFORM IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL! WARD 1
Apple Tree Early Learning PCS - Columbia Heights • Briya PCS (2 campuses) • Carlos Rosario International PCS • César Chávez PCS for Public Policy – Chávez Prep Creative Minds International PCS • DC Bilingual PCS • DC International PCS • E.L. Haynes PCS - Georgia Avenue • Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science PCS LAYC Career Academy PCS • Meridian PCS • Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS • Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS • The Next Step / El Proximo Paso PCS • YouthBuild PCS
WARD 2 BASIS DC PCS
WARD 4
Bridges PCS (2 Campuses) • Briya PCS • Capital City PCS - Lower School • Capital City PCS - Middle School • Capital City PCS - High School • Center City PCS - Brightwood Center City PCS - Petworth • Community Academy PCS - Amos 1 • E.L. Haynes PCS - Kansas Avenue - Elementary School • E.L. Haynes PCS - Kansas Avenue - High School Hope Community PCS - Lamond • Ideal Academy PCS • Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS (LAMB) • Paul PCS - Middle School • Paul PCS - International High School Roots PCS • Sela PCS • Washington Latin PCS - Middle School • Washington Latin PCS - High School
WARD 5
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WARD 6
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WARD 7
AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Oklahoma Avenue • Cesar Chavez PCS for Public Policy - Parkside Middle School • Cesar Chavez PCS for Public Policy - Parkside High School DC Prep PCS - Benning Elementary • DC Prep PCS - Benning Middle • DC Prep PCS - Edgewood Middle • DC Scholars PCS • Friendship PCS - Blow-Pierce Elementary Friendship PCS - Blow-Pierce Middle • Friendship PCS - Collegiate Academy • IDEA PCS • KIPP DC – Arts & Technology Academy PCS • KIPP DC - KEY Academy PCS KIPP DC - LEAP Academy PCS • KIPP DC - Promise Academy PCS • KIPP DC – Quest Academy PCS • Maya Angelou PCS - Evans High School Maya Angelou PCS - Young Adult Learning Center • SEED Public Charter School of Washington, DC • St. Coletta Special Education PCS
WARD 8
Achievement Prep Academy PCS - Elementary • Achievement Prep Academy PCS - Middle • AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Southeast [Parklands] AppleTree Early Learning PCS - Southeast [Douglass Knoll] • Cedar Tree Academy PCS • Center City PCS - Congress Heights • Community College Preparatory Academy PCS Democracy Prep Congress heights PCS • Eagle Academy PCS - The Eagle Center at McGogney • Early Childhood Academy PCS • Excel Academy PCS - DREAM Excel Academy PCS - LEAD • Friendship PCS - Southeast Elementary Academy • Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory Academy • Ingenuity Prep PCS KIPP DC - AIM Academy PCS • KIPP DC - College Preparatory PCS • KIPP DC - Discover Academy PCS • KIPP DC - Heights Academy PCS National Collegiate Preparatory PCHS • Somerset Preparatory Academy PCS • Thurgood Marshall Academy PCHS
Visit Our Website: www.dcacps.org or email us: redelin@dcpcsa.org
BS-12 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT | AUG 2014 | WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM