Hearst Weekly Update
February 9, 2020
Principal's Message
Hello, Owls!
It's another busy week ahead at Hearst with conferences and ongoing discussions focused on next year's DCPS and PTA budgets. Our initial DCPS budget allocation for next year, FY21, was released last week and can be found here. I'll be at the PTA meeting on Wednesday to discuss Hearst's budget and look forward to answering questions you have about how we will fund our growing school next year. You may also see me this week supporting our survey station in the atrium, where we'll have laptops set up to give you easy access to completing the DCPS Panorama Family Survey. Thanks to all those who have responded to the survey and if you haven't yet done so, I hope you can make some time to do so this week.
Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for your continued support of our school community,
Jen
What I'm reading this week: Leading Change Together by Eleanor Drago-Severson and Jessica Blum-DeStefano
About Us
Email: attendance@hearstes.org
Website: www.hearstes.org
Location: 3950 37th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (202) 282-0106
Facebook: facebook.com/hearstes
Twitter: @hearstes
News and Announcements from Hearst
Upcoming Key Dates
- 2/11- Boys Basketball vs. Shepherd @ Hearst
- 2/12 - LSAT Meeting, 4:30-5:30, Conference Room; PTA Meeting, 6:00-7:30, Library
- 2/14 - Panorama Family Survey Due
- 2/17-2/21 - February Break, no school for students
2/24-25 - Musical auditions; 3:30 -6:00 PM
2/26 – Musical call backs; 3:30-5:30 PM
2/28 – Black History Month Celebration, 9:00-9:30, Gym; Musical cast list posted
Please check the Bloomz calendar for other important dates.
ICYMI: Information About Parent-Teacher Conferences This Week
Why is Hearst doing conferences in February instead of on the DCPS conference day?
We have historically seen low attendance at Parent Teacher Conference Days prior to Monday holidays and unfortunately, the DCPS calendar reflected this scheduling for the January conference day. The DCPS conference day was also scheduled just two weeks after winter break and in the middle of the mid-year Benchmark testing window. Report cards will be sent home this week on February 5th and will include mid-year data reports as well. We will be holding conferences the week after we send home these reports so that you can review this information prior meeting with teachers for conferences. Our hope is to make the conferences more meaningful for all.
Does my child still have school in February when their homeroom teacher has conferences?
Yes! There will be a sub in the classroom and students will have school as usual.
What day is my child’s teacher holding conferences?
- Monday, 2/10 - Clark, Marber, Loughead
- Tuesday, 2/11 - Boyle, Prince, Dilley
- Wednesday, 2/12 - Schiers, Haith, Levin
- Thursday, 2/13 - Burleigh, Dawkins, Diaz, Stacey, Wiggins
- Friday, 2/14 - Moss, Shea, Duvall
Where can I sign up for conferences?
Your child’s teacher will be creating a Bloomz sign up. Please reach out to your child's teacher with any scheduling questions.
Can I schedule a conference with an Inner Core teacher?
Yes! Inner Core teachers will be holding conferences. See below for days and times.
Spanish:
Ms. Cantillo-Show
Monday 2/10 from 8:45-10:45 am
Please see the sign up on Bloomz to schedule your conference.
Physical Education:
Mr. Coleman
Monday 2/10 from 12-12:45 pm
Tuesday 2/11 from 12-12:45 pm
STEM:
Mr. Munz
Tuesday 2/11 from 8:45-10:45 am
Open hours; come on by!
Music:
Ms. Baker
Thursday 2/13 from 8:45-10:45 am
Art:
Mrs. Dittamo
Thursday 2/13 from 8:45-10:45 am
How can I give feedback after my parent teacher conference?
A survey will be sent out both digitally and offered in paper form. Please plan to complete a survey after your conference and before you leave the building!
News and Announcements from DCPS
New Tool: DCPS Pocket Budget Guide
This week, Mayor Bowser launched the District of Columbia Public Schools’ (DCPS) Pocket Budget Guide, a first-of-its-kind resource for school communities to better understand the budget process. At the release of the Pocket Guide, the Mayor also announced that her DCPS FY 2021 budget will include a 4% increase to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) over last fiscal year’s amount, which will result in DCPS schools, on average, receiving an 8% local budget increase.
The DCPS Pocket Budget Guide is the latest tool for school communities to understand how dollars are allocated across all DCPS schools. DCPS kicked off planning for next year’s budget in October with a student roundtable discussion, a public budget hearing, and two community budget forums. In addition to the Pocket Budget Guide, school communities can visit the DCPS Data Center for a video tutorial on how school budgets are made and see their school’s budget with year-over-year comparisons. DCPS also released a Family and Community Guide.
Learn more HERE.
Feedback on the DC School Report Card (note: this is about DCSchoolReportCard.org, not the DCPS report cards)
News and Announcements from Other Organizations
#BlackHistoryDC: Black History Month
Across all eight wards, for many generations, African Americans have made significant contributions to the civic, cultural, and economic prosperity of Washington, DC. As the Bowser Administration celebrates Black History Month 2020, join us in telling the stories and honoring the rich legacy of #BlackHistoryDC.
Visit MOAAA.dc.gov for upcoming Black History Month events, and follow the Mayor's Office on African American Affairs on Twitter to learn more about DC history and upcoming events.
Registration for DPR Spring Programming Opens Monday, Feb. 3
Registration for the Department of Parks and Recreation's (DPR) spring programming will open on Monday, February 3. From sports programs to leisure activities to senior fitness classes, we have something for everyone.
To register for a program:
- visit DPR’s Registration Portal;
- select an age group;
- browse location and program type; and
- select a program, add to cart, and proceed to checkout.
For more information on DPR spring programming, go todpr.dc.gov.
Next W3EdNet Meeting on February 10 at 7pm at Tenley-Friendship Library
Our next Ward 3 - Wilson High School Feeder Pattern Education Network (W3EdNet) meeting is on Monday, February 10 at 7pm in the large meeting room of the Tenley-Friendship Library (4450 Wisconsin Ave NW). We will be hosting Amy Maisterra (https://dcps.dc.gov/biography/dr-amy-maisterra), Deputy Chancellor for DC Public Schools, to talk about DCPS budgets and answer questions. This would be a particularly good meeting for members of LSATs to attend.
We hope to see you there!
March's meeting will be on Monday, March 9 at 7pm, also at the Tenley-Friendship Library. Our topics will include hearing from Judith Ingram on the campaign to change the name of Wilson High School.
Brian and Melody
Co-Chairs, W3EdNet
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The Ward 3 - Wilson High School Feeder Pattern Education Network (W3EdNet) is a group made up of PTO Board and LSAT members as well as other interested community members. We aim to work together to support schools in the Wilson feeder pattern, host community events of common interest, and advocate for better schools across the city.
New DME Edsight about changes in enrollment at 4 and 5 STAR-rated schools by grade level
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) released a new Edsight that examines the changes in enrollment at 4 and 5 STAR schools by grade level (elementary, middle, and high school). Nearly half of all audited elementary grade students in SY2018-19 were attending either a 4 or 5 STAR rated school, and the number of PK3 to 5 students living in every ward and attending 4 or 5 STAR rated schools increased from SY2017-18.
Check out the latest Edsight here. Read other Edsight briefs here.
Spread the news! View the DME’s post on Twitter here and Instagram post here.
If someone you know would like to receive future Edsight briefs, please email us to be added to the distribution list at edsight.dme@dc.gov.