Bulletin-10-24-2016 - Columbia Heights Educational Campus

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END OF ADVISORY 1 AND STUDENT GRADES

As we reach the end of the advisory, we want to ensure that we are providing all students with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery in your class.  The Portfolios and Exams are a major element in the grading procedure, however you also should have a significant amount of evidence of learning through classwork, participation, quizzes, exams, and homework.  Please ensure that you have been providing timely feedback to students, and allowing them opportunities to make up missed work, or to retake exams.  Our overall goal is to ensure that students master the knowledge and skills. Some students will take longer to do this, and will need multiple opportunities.

Grades have an impact on our students' lives and futures. Although they may not always be aware of it, especially at the younger ages, grades influence the kinds of programs they are accepted into, college applications, and, whether they show it or not, their own self-esteem and confidence. For that reason, in line with our mission of preparing 100% of our students to succeed in college, we have also adopted the position that, "Failure is not an Option.” We do not believe in the bell curve, or other theories that hold that it is inevitable that a certain number of students must fail a course. These are the same theories that have resulted in the achievement gap that to this day keeps many young people from developing their full potential. As a school, we are committed to a “growth mind set.” We teach to the goal of having every student master the standards and be successful. Our goal is a 90% passing rate in every class. To achieve this, we must provide multiple opportunities for mastery.

According to Douglas Reeves and David Stiggins, key researchers in the area of grading, systems must be:

1) Accurate  - the grade must reflect the academic performance of the student, not their behavior.
2) Fair-the grade must not be influenced by factors such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.
3) Specific - the grade must be specific enough to provide information to help to improve the student's performance.
4) Timely - Students must receive a steady stream of timely feedback to help them improve their performance.
5) Provide Interventions - How many and what kinds of interventions were made with the student (conferencing) parent (contact and conferencing) other teachers (consultation) administrator and/or counselor (consultation) Special Education teacher, if applicable (consultation on accommodations and modifications).

In order to promote success and an accurate, fair, specific and timely grading system, the following are guidelines for classroom teachers:

BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR FINAL GRADES, PLEASE REFLECT AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Allow students to retake critical assessments (Mid Term, Final, and Unit Tests) if students meet the requirements of taking a different form of the exam, and participate in study groups or tutoring.Require 100% of students to present portfolios.
  • Portfolio products should be revised until they meet standards.
  • Timely feedback on all critical, standards based assignments should be provided, with opportunities for redoing provided
  • Parent contact through phone calls, Aspen, and other modes of communication must be regularly maintained
  • No F’s can be given unless the parent has been notified in writing ahead of time
  • Interventions and teamwork with counselors, social workers and administrators have taken place
  • Arrange for restoring time and work for students that have been absent

Make opportunities for students to make up and hand in missing homework and assignments

FOCUS ON ATTENDANCE

One of our school wide goals is to improve attendance to 95% per day for all grade levels. Right now, the Middle School is leading, and for last week, the 8th grade met that goal. Kudos!
Here is the data for last week:

  • 6th grade - 92% attendance (2% excused and 6% unexcused absences)
  • 7th grade - 94% attendance (2% excused and 4% unexcused absences)
  • 8th grade - 95% attendance (2% excused and 3% unexcused absences)
  • 9th Grade - 86%
  • 10th Grade -83.7%
  • 11th Grade -82.2%
  • 12th Grade -79.5%

Let’s focus on our high school students and get them to step up their attendance!

IMPACT UPDATES

Impact Cycle I is now in full swing. Formal observations have begun, and will serve as a tool to plan for growth throughout the year. We also have informal and LEAP observations in an ongoing fashion, as a way to support teacher growth. The Commitment to School and Community, and Core Professionalism Rubrics have also been finalized, and have been uploaded to the Impact site In order to be ready for CSC conferences, which will be in late November, it is recommended that you keep an electronic or paper file of your accomplishments.
October 24 - October 28, 2016

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

Congratulations to Edgar Ayala for placing first in the Cross Country meet last week.  The middle school volleyball team defeated Hardy but lost to McKinley.  The high school girl’s soccer team defeated Cardozo but lost to Wilson.  The high school boy’s soccer team defeated Cardozo and Wilson.  The high volleyball team defeated Anacostia and Banneker. The high school football team defeated Roosevelt.  Playoffs and championships take place this week for all fall sports except for football. Let's congratulate and support our 1st place boy’s soccer team, 2nd place girl’s soccer team. For detailed statistics on each high school game go to allmetsports.com or maxpreps.com and search Bell.

Lincoln
VB 2-5

Bell
BSOC   -  9-0-1
GSOC  -   8-2
FB        -   5-3
VB        -  9-2
THIS WEEK'S
SPORTS SCHEDULE  

Monday
GSOC vs. SWW at 4:00
@ Roosevelt (playoff semifinal)
HS VB vs. Cardozo at 6:00
@ CHEC (Senior night)
BSOC vs. Roosevelt at 6:00
@ Cardozo (playoff semifinal)

Tuesday
MS VB vs. Johnson at 5:30 @ CHEC

Wednesday
HS VB playoffs TBD
HS GSOC championship
at 5:00 @ Wilson
HS BSOC championship
at 7:00 @ Wilson

Thursday
XC championships at 12
@ Ft. DuPont
MS VB playoffs
HS VB playoffs TBD

Friday
No Games

Saturday
HS FB vs. Phelps at 12:00 @ Cardozo
WEEKLY
CALENDAR         
 
Monday
SLC Morning Meeting

Tuesday
SLC Morning Meeting
Department Meeting

Wednesday
Department Meeting
Data Meetings

Thursday
Thanksgiving Holiday
 
Friday  
Thanksgiving Holiday
UPCOMING EVENTS
AND ACTIVITIES












SHOUT OUTS
  • Shout out to Ms. Brown and Ms. Castro for coordinating the PSAT and sat last week, and to all high school counselors for assisting!
  • Shout out to Dr. Barnett, Ms. Lydia, Mr. Petree, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Onley, Ms. McCulloch, Ms. Shaw, Mr. Daniels and Ms. Garcia for organizing an outstanding culminating event for Hispanic Heritage month!!!!
  • Kudos to the following teachers for welcoming the CityBridge visitors into their classes, and serving as panel members – Mr. Talarico, Ms. Tamdem, Mr. Shoenthal, Ms. Ferguson, Ms. Nakpil, Ms. Martinez, Ms. Abbondanza, Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. McCulloch, Ms. Athmer, Ms. Coleman, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Alvarado, Ms. Patkus, Ms. Blair and Dr. Barnett!
  • Shout out to the CHEC Band for performing at the DCPS state of the schools!!!!
  • Shout out to Ms. Yanguas for inviting outside panelists for portfolios!!!!

RED RIBBON
  • Red Ribbon Week is this week ---Oct 24th-28th! This week, CHEC is uniting to take a visible stand against drugs
  • This years Red Ribbon Week theme is....YOLO - You Only Live Once!
  • Red Ribbon is designed to be an awareness campaign which gets information to the general public about the dangers of drug abuse.
  • Red Ribbon is designed to create CRITICAL MASS which is necessary to reduce destructive social norms/behaviors and promote positive social norms/behaviors.
  • Red Ribbon is designed to be positive and fun— two things necessary to maintain good mental health.

Please Inform your students:
We will have a Red Ribbon Table during all lunches on Wednesday with information and an opportunity to sign the pledge to be drug free!

Materials in your mailboxes:
  • 1- a YOLO (You Only Live Once) Flyer to remind everyone about this week’s events
  • 2- a True & False Fact Sheet to share with your class daily (please read 2 per day)
  • 3- a YOLO bracelet

**Students will have the opportunity to earn a YOLO bracelet after signing the pledge and taking a quiz on Wednesday (in Cafeteria, before school & at lunch! **

ADVANCING LATINAS INTO LEADERSHIP (ALL) MENTORING PROGRAM @ CHEC
Submitted  by Paula Crivelli Diamond

A select number of CHEC Latina female students are being partnered with prominent Latina professions in the DC area that will be providing ongoing mentorship for the rest of the school year until graduation day!  The ALL mentoring program was created by a law student at UDC's David A. Clarke School of Law and focuses on high school Latina girls who are in need of a mentor for guidance in college preparedness, self-empowerment and leadership. Check out their website at www.advancinglatinasintoleadership.com.

COLLEGE AWARENESS MONTH

October is College Awareness Month! There are lots of activities, including many college trips and college representatives. This month we focus on a key part of our mission – preparing 100% of our students for college! Stay tuned for more details.
November 14- Virginia Tech

CHEC ARTS UPDATE

Upcoming Kennedy Center Dates

San Francisco Ballet - Wednesday, October 26, 1:30 pm
50 of our CHEC Arts performers will attend a performance of the San Francisco Ballet performing Cinderella. Students will depart at 12 pm, and return at 4 pm.

Debbie Allen’s Freeze Frame - Thursday, October 27, 11 am
100 of our 9th graders will attend Debbie Allen's Freeze Frame. Students will depart at 10 am, and return at 2 pm.
CHEC BAND NEWS

CHEC Marching Band will perform for the 8th year at the Marine Corp Marathon.  The band this year will be located at Jefferson St & 7th St NW from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday, October 30.  Please come out and join us in celebrating the runners and our inspired band.
OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES

The Leadership Team will continue to meet every other Friday this year, and the Academic Leadership Team (ALT) will meet every other Wednesday. The ALT will met last Wednesday, October 19, and our next Leadership Team meeting will be Friday, October 28th. At this meeting we will begin to track progress on the comprehensive school plan, and analyze the results of the first advisory portfolios and interim assessments. 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!

2017 SCHOOL YEARBOOK PICTURES
  • Friday, October 28, 2016 - 12th graders - A to L. Green - 8AM to 2:30PM
  • Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - 12th graders - R. Green to K. Ortiz -  8AM to 1:30PM
  • Thursday, November 3, 2016 - 12th graders - E.Osorio to Q. Zhang - 8AM to 2PM
  • Monday, November 14, 2016 - 6, 7, 9, 10, 11th graders - 8AM to 3PM
  • Eighth grade yearbook pictures TBD in Spring

CLIMATE

The beginning of the year is the most powerful moment in establishing climate, norms, and routines.   Remember our goal of consistency so that students experience consistent expectations and support.  Please also remember our shift to Restorative Justice.    Use CHAMPS and PBIS to support your classroom climate! The Deans will be chairing the School Climate and Culture Team.  Please join to make your voice heard on the School Climate and Culture.

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!


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