Bulletin-05-1-12-2017 - Columbia Heights Educational Campus

Go to content

Main menu:

ABOUT > CHEC Bulletin


We Appreciate You

Teacher Appreciation  Week is a week to celebrate the profession of teaching.  We celebrate the teachers we have had, we have known and that we have become. Each of us was formed in part by one or more influential teachers in our lives. In some cases, they were teachers we had in school, in other cases, they were mentors or family members who served as teachers. The key attribute of all teachers in our lives, has been to open doors, open our minds, and build our belief in ourselves. As a teacher, this is what you are now doing for the students and families in our school.  You have taken on a role which involves knowledge and passion for academic content and skills, caring and understanding young people and their development, and management and organization of data, student information, and curriculum – as well as myriad other duties! You go beyond your job responsibilities in sponsoring  clubs, sports, and tutoring.  You contribute your time and expertise to various committees and leadership roles.  It is  a huge and complex job – and we appreciate you!

CHEC ONCE AGAIN ON THE REGIONAL TOP 50 LIST FOR MOST CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOLS

This year, CHEC is one of 50 local high schools, including only 3 other DCPS high schools (Walls, Banneker and Wilson) who have ranked as the top schools for providing rigor and challenge.  CHEC is number 35 of the top 50, and has the highest level of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch (90%). The next highest FRE level is Banneker at 65%, and after that the rest are 40% and below. This is one more indication that we are living up to our mission of preparing ALL students to succeed in college, through exposing them to college content while in high school.  It is evidence of our core belief that socioeconomic status must not dictate the rigor and challenge we put in front of our students. We provide the challenge, and the students rise to the occasion.  Congratulations to all CHEC Faculty and Staff.  Please see the full article here:

PARCC AND AP UPDATE

Thanks to the teamwork of all, and the leadership of our Test Coordinators, Mr. Lessek for PARCC, and Mr Jones for AP, supported by all administrators and our great counseling team, we are halfway through our testing period, and have had fantastic collaboration, a smooth process, and extremely high participation rates.

Here is an update on our test participation rates:

  • MS ELA -97%
  • 9th Grade ELA – 95% tested, Makeup only needed for 7 students for session 1, 8 students for session 2, and 18 students for session 3
  • 10th Grade ELA – 95% tested, Makeup only needed for 5 students for session 1, 5 students for session 2, and 13 students for session 3

Advanced Placement

  • AP English Literature – 92%
  • AP Spanish Language – 91%
  • AP Computer Science – 100%
  • AP Chinese -100%
  • AP Chemistry -100%
  • AP Environmental Science -82%
  • AP Physics – 100%
  • AP History – 91%

These are the highest rates of participation we have ever had this early in the testing process! We will have makeups until we reach 100% participation in all! Thank you to all!

JOSEPH TALARICO RECEIVES FULBRIGHT AWARD

The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced that Mr. Joseph Talarico of Columbia Heights Education Campus in Washington, DC has been offered a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant to Greece. He will be studying the Greek educational system, and will design and implement a project which he will implement when he returns to CHEC.

Mr. Talarico is one of approximately 35 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program in 2017-2018. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries that are needed to solve global challenges. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. Congrtulations to Mr. Talarico!
May 1 - May 12, 2017

IN THIS ISSUE
Focus on Instruction
Leadership Team and Other Updates
Shout Outs
Opportunities and Updates
Ambiente, creating a climate for learning
Sports - Griffins Update!
Thought for the Week
Weekly Calendar
Upcoming Events and Activities
SPORTS UPDATE - LAST WEEK'S RESULT
The middle school softball team defeated Hart and Hardy.  The high school softball team lost to Wilson and SWW.  The high school baseball team defeated Phelps and Cardozo but lost to SWW.  The tennis team defeated Anacostia but lost to Wilson.  The boy’s rugby team lost to Landon.  Playoffs take place this week for high school baseball, softball, and boys rugby.  Track championships also take place this week for middle school.  

Lincoln
BB 1-1
SB 2-0
 
Bell
BB 9-4
Boys Rugby 4-2
SB 5 - 4
Tennis 6-2
THIS WEEK'S SPORTS
SCHEDULE  

Monday
MS BB vs. Whittier at Maury Wills @ 3:30
MS SB vs. Deal at Upshur @ 3:30
Tennis vs. Roosevelt at CHEC @ 4:00

Tuesday
HS BB vs. TBD at Ft. Greble @ 4:00 (Playoffs)

Wednesday
MS BB vs. Hardy at Taft @ 1:00
HS SB vs. SWW at TBD @ 4:00 (Playoffs)
Tennis vs. Cardozo at CHEC @4:00
Boys Rugby vs. Gonzaga at Gonzaga @ TBD (playoffs)

Thursday
MS SB vs. Walker Jones at Walker Jones @ 4:00
Tennis vs. HD Woodson at CHEC @ 4:00
HS BB playoffs continued at 4:00

Friday
MS Track Championships at Spingarn @ 12:00  
MS BB vs. Jefferson at Jefferson @ 4:00
MS SB vs. Johnson at CHEC @ 4:00
HS SB Championship at Nats Academy @ 5:00

Saturday
DCIAA SHS Track Invitational at HD Woodson @ 9:00
WEEKLY CALENDAR         
 
Monday
SLC Morning Meeting HS

Tuesday
SLC Morning Meeting HS

Wednesday
No Department Meetings Due to Testing
Thursday
No Department Meetings Due to Testing

Friday  
No Meetings
UPCOMING EVENTS
AND ACTIVITIES










PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS EXCEL
Submitted by Mandy McCulloch

The following students had their photographs chosen for a curated art show at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum:

  • Andres Alcala
  • Zakiya Brock
  • Daniel Rivas Ibanez
  • Pedro Ramirez
  • Nilson Mejia
  • Emely Marchena
  • Galiea Soriano​

Students submitted photographs and written statements that explore the question, “What does it mean to be the other?” through the lens of race/ethnicity, gender, class, age, and/or religion.  The photographs will be on display through the month of May.  
 
Invitation and/or reminder: Come spend an hour with the YOGA TRIBE!  
Special 15 minute Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep)* at the end of the practice (end time is 5:45).

De-stress and laugh a little.
Tap into your personal drive - it'll help you finish the year strong.
Keep the practice alive in your body and at CHEC!
Bring a friend (or a foe) to share the JOY!

See you in D122 | 4:30 - 5:45 TOMORROW!
We have all the supplies you need. Only bring yourself.

*Yoga nidra (Sanskrit: योग निद्रा) or yogic sleep is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping, like the "going-to-sleep" stage. Deep relaxation.  After this, you will never be the same.

Suzannah
Dance... Sweat... Move... Transform...
 
THEATRE GROUP
Submitted by Paula Crivelli

I just wanted to THANK YOU all so much for your support with the Theatre Troupe students and their performances!!! We were able to impact approximately 240 audience members who were a part of this peer intervention program!!! A special shout out to Mr. Pankaj and Mr. Gallion for your support with the many, many days needing to reserve the Model UN this school year!






 
  • Kudos to all test administrators, proctors, and coordinators for an ongoing smooth testing week!!
  • Kudos to Ms. Baker’s breakfast team for their fabulous breakfasts during testing season!!
  • Shout out to Ms. West and Ms. Thweatt for a great college signing day, and for all who assisted!
  • Shout out to Ms. West, Mr. Bufford, Mr. Alexander, and all those who accompanied students on college trips over the break!
  • Shout out to Ms. Hartwill who chaperoned 5 students in the Bahamas over the spring break!!
  • Shout out to the hospitality academy for once again achieving distinguished status!!
  • Kudos to Ms. Crivelli for the theatre group!
  • Shout out to Ms. Gonzalez for the middle school pep rally, and Mr. Molina for the high school pep rally
 
PERSONAL GROWTH TEAM
Feeling stressed out?  Want to take a break and practice mindfulness?  Come to Room A136 during lunch and afterschool from 3:15-4:15 for ZEN!

Gracias and Happy Testing Weeks!

Maria Del Rosario Gomez, LICSW, LCSW-C
School Social Worker
Columbia Heights Education Campus- Bell Multicultural HS
3101 16th Street NW
Washington, DC  20010
202-939-7700 x 5104
maria.gomez2@dc.gov
Library Programs and Testing

The CHEC Library Program is committed to assisting students and teachers have a productive and low stress testing season.  For your convenience, here are some notes about the library and testing.

  • The library is often used in a variety of ways during testing (for class displacements, as a testing site, as a base of operations…), please call before sending students down to make sure we can accommodate them (MS- 4018, HS 5118)
  • The Bell and Lincoln ZipLibs will be out in full force during testing.  Since students can read when they are finished testing, please encourage them to visit the ZipLib, or library, to get some books to read before tests begin.
  • If you need any resources or texts for units during or after testing let your friendly school library know how we can best assist you.

Library Programs and Testing

The CHEC Library Program is committed to assisting students and teachers have a productive and low stress testing season.  For your convenience, here are some notes about the library and testing.

  • The library is often used in a variety of ways during testing (for class displacements, as a testing site, as a base of operations…), please call before sending students down to make sure we can accommodate them (MS- 4018, HS 5118)
  • The Bell and Lincoln ZipLibs will be out in full force during testing.  Since students can read when they are finished testing, please encourage them to visit the ZipLib, or library, to get some books to read before tests begin. New shipment of books are also here! Come browse the new collection.
  • If you need any resources or texts for units during or after testing let your friendly school library know how we can best assist you.
  • End date for book circulation will be made available soon. Please encourage students to return books or schedule a class visit to the library.

Note: Lincoln and Bell libraries will be closed Friday, May 5th as we both will be out.

LIBRARY UPDATE

Canvas News

Testing season brings with it interrupted classes and odd schedules. Canvas is a great way to ensure that all your students can work through the same content at their own pace. It also allows you to deliver class content to student continuously, even if you have to proctor or half your class is taking a PARCC test. Teachers can upload a full unit or a series of lessons onto modules then add discussions and quizzes to check students’ understanding. Students could then work on content on their own outside of the school building or a sub could guide them through content. For more information or guidance in setting up your online Canvas classroom please contact Angela Martinez.

Have a great day,

Angela Martinez
Library Media Specialist
Columbia Heights Education Campus

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE UPDATE
Submitted by Sandra Cabral

Thank you for joining efforts and making the Italian Bachata event such a success last week.

Special kudos to Ms. Docena for preparing and printing the color posters (they looked beautiful), Ms. Arango, Mr. Pankaj and Galion for helping with set up the station, Ms. Daza for lending us the Venetian Masks, Ms. Ermis for lending us equipment, Ms. Liu and everyone in the Multicultural Fridays Support group for helping us planning the event.

The students seemed to have enjoyed, it was gratifying to see them dancing and at the same time being introduced to Italian language through songs in such a fun way.

Grazie Mille a Tutti!
Ms. Cabral

OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES

The Leadership Team will continue to meet every other Wednesday this year, and the Academic Leadership Team (ALT) will meet every other Wednesday.   The next meeting of the ALT will be this Wednesday, May 10, at 3:30 pm.  The agenda will include planning for Departmental Meetings for the remainder of the year, summer planning and curriculum development, and learning goals for students over the summer.  The ALT met on Wednesday, April 5, to discuss the process of logistics and scheduling for the PARCC and AP exams. The team also discussed next year’s master schedule. The notes and minutes from all meetings are available on the CHEC Portal. The Academic Leadership Team is a group of teachers, counselors, and administrators who meet every other week to discuss school needs, and plan for improvements.  The Leadership Team designs the school’s comprehensive school plan, and helps in its implementation.  Please consider joining the Leadership Team this year.   It is open to all faculty and staff.  We need the involvement and voices of all.    Remember, Leadership team meetings are open to all who are interested in schoolwide decision-making and leadership.  You can come once, or as many times as you like, but please make your voice heard!

CHEC BUDGET FOR SY 2017-18

We continue to advocate for a more equitable budget for CHEC.  Due to rising costs, and the low student allocation for CHEC, we have had to eliminate 4 positions from our budget, and reduce non-personnel costs by 27%. CHEC has the lowest per pupil allocation of any high school in the District, in spite of having many high needs students.  If you would like to become involved in our advocacy for a more equitable budget for CHEC, please contact M. Tukeva or V. Molina. We will continue by taking the issue to the Chancellor, City Council and to the Mayor.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Submitted by Suzannah Weiss


WHY DO PEOPLE DO YOGA?
Submitted by Suzannah Weiss

More than 90% of people come to yoga for flexibility, stress relief, health, and physical fitness. But, for most people, their primary reason for doing yoga will change. Many yoga students and yoga teachers have a change of heart regarding why they do yoga — most often changing to spirituality or self-actualization, a sense of fulfilling their potential. Yoga offers self-reflection, the practice of kindness and self-compassion, and continued growth and self-awareness.

Yoga's health benefits are also very real. Yoga can increase your flexibility, improve your balance, and many studies show that yoga reduces the risk of heart disease as much as conventional exercise. On average, yoga participants lost five pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their low-density (“bad”) cholesterol by 12 points.

The long and short of it is that most disease is related to stress and its adverse effects on the mind and body. No matter why you do yoga, you are doing yourself some good.

Come join the Yoga Wednesdays Tribe. 4:30 - 5:30 in D122

CLIMATE – FOCUS ON PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE

As spring, as sprung, we are emphasizing punctuality and attendance.   In order to make sure that students are prepared for PARCC and AP, we have to make sure they are in class and on task every day.  Thank you to everyone for supporting our hall sweeps, follow up calls to parents, and detentions.  We have already greatly reduced the number of tardies and class cutting!   Please continue to support all school wide norms, including uniforms and cell phone use.    Use CHAMPS and PBIS to support your classroom climate!  INVITE MS. CAMPBELL TO YOUR CLASS DOJO SO THAT SHE CAN HIGHLIGHT YOUR GREAT PBIS WORK.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Please do not cover up the windows to your classroom or office doors. This should only be done in the event of an active shooter drill or event.  Other than that, it is a safety hazard to cover the windows.  Administrators will be checking on this periodically and asking maintenance to remove any windows that are covered.

NOMINATE A STUDENT OF THE WEEK!!!
This IS A REMINDER ABOUT THE Student of the Week Program. Any staff member can nominate a student, for academic or mission related accomplishments.

Please send your nominations by email to M. Tukeva.

PLEASE NOMINATE STUDENTS OF THE WEEK!
Back to content | Back to main menu