December 2015 - Capital City Public Charter School

1/8/2016
#KNOWCapitalCity - Dec. 2015 Parent News (English Version)
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Parent News ­ English Version
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KNOWCapitalCity ­ Monthly Parent News Thank you to all who joined us for our
15th Anniversary photo celebration!
Free commemorative “15” photos are
available at the front desk, or email
Molly Whalen at [email protected].
Students to Participate in Hour of Code
During Computer
Science Week (Dec. 7­13
& yes, there is such a
thing!), all students will
participate in The Hour
of Code: a “one­hour
introduction to computer
science, designed to
demystify code and show
that anybody can learn
the basics.” Hour of Code includes tutorials for ages 4­104
(you can learn to code, too!) that introduce students to
basic coding. During this week, students in the Lower and
Middle Schools will participate in age­appropriate activities
that involve coding during their library time. High School
students will participate together as a campus on Dec 9th.
Special thanks to Middle School parent, Venus Valladares,
who first introduced us to the hour of code and Chip Chase,
Director of Library Services & Technology Integration, who
is leading the school­wide initiative to teach students
coding. And don’t forget Capital City’s Girls Who Code Club ­ held
Tuesdays after school. Open to any girls in grades 5­12;
meetings are with local female coding experts who lead the
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Upcoming
Events Dec 10, 8:15­
8:45am PSA Coffee Dec 10, 8:45­
9:45am PARCC Parent Info
Session
Dec 11, 2:30­
3:30pm MS Talent Show Dec 11, 5­6:30pm Family Fitness Night (All LS Families
Invited) Dec. 15, 6­7pm LS Community Sing Along Dec 16, 10am­
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girls through engaging computer science curriculum
focused on artificial intelligence, graphics, game design,
cryptography, and mobile development. Contact Ms. Dunn
([email protected]) for information.
Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of inclement or severe weather, Capital City
will usually (but not always) follow decisions of DC Public
Schools (DCPS). We announce Capital City’s closings and
delays through major news outlets even when the decision
is the same as the District’s. Currently Capital City closing
announcements can be heard on WTOP (107.7 FM, 1500
AM, 820 AM, and WTOPnews.com). You can also check TV
channels 4, 5, or 9. School closing information will also be
posted on our school website. You can call the main school
number (202­808­9800) for a recorded update.
Some weather situations may call for delayed opening
rather than school closure. On days when the opening of
school is delayed, there will be no before school activities
including Before Care and homework centers. Students
should not plan on arriving sooner than 15 minutes
before the delayed start time. Read the full Inclement
Weather/School Cancellation Policy.
Free To Be You & Me
On Nov. 20, a 17­
member middle school
cast performed songs
and scenes from the
musical “Free to Be You
and Me” for the Capital
City community. Ms.
Lewton, Arts Director
and Director of the
performance, noted that “The cast teased me about the
show being a bit ‘corny’ but to me the message is timeless:
that gender does not define or limit a person and that life
should be lived as a series of individual choices, not by
choices dictated by being born female or male.”
High school students from the drama and dance classes
performed original productions titled, “Fitting In & Standing
Out” to integrate with the MS drama’s production of “Free
to Be You and Me”. The audience of 150 loved the
production as students’ hard work and talents were fully on
display.
Author Visit - Marquita Bradley
12pm MS Celebration of
Learning * Come hear from
students about their
learning this fall Dec 16 Last Day for LS Fall Activities Dec 17, 9­
10:30am Open House Learn More Dec 18, 12­2pm HS Alumni College
Fair Dec 18 Last school day
before break Dec. 21­Jan. 1 Winter Break *Please note that
the school building
will be closed from
Dec. 19­ Jan. 3 *LS Showcase
Dates* Join us to learn what
students have been
learning & creating
this fall.
Pre­K: Dec 16,
11:30am ­12:30pm Kinder: Dec 15, 9­
10am 1st Grade: Dec 11,
5­6:30pm 2nd Grade: Dec 18,
9­10:30am 3rd Grade: Jan 28,
2:30pm 4th Grade: Dec 17,
2­3:30pm
PARCC Data
Parent Information
Session
We will be hosting an
information session for all
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#KNOWCapitalCity - Dec. 2015 Parent News (English Version)
On Nov. 24th, 40 high
school girls had the
special opportunity to
meet with Marquita
Bradley, author of
Lessons from my
Twenties, a book about
her life experiences and
self­discovery through
challenging times in her
twenties. Marquita talked with students about healthy
relationships, having confidence in yourself, and the
importance of putting value on one’s goals and education.
She also discussed what it was like to be the younger sister
of Belicia Reaves, High School Principal, to many smiles and
laughs. Marquita’s visit was the kick­off event to Girl Code,
a Capital City initiative that encourages girls to gain self­
confidence and fosters respect for others. The program
culminates in the spring with an annual girls’ overnight
gender retreat that has been quoted as one of the most
memorable student experiences at Capital City.
2nd, 4th and 6th Graders Work
Together to Explore the Milky Way!
One of the great benefits of our Capital City school
community is the opportunity for many different grades to
work together and offer a range of viewpoints. As part of
the 6th grade’s recent study on Earth Science (aligned with
Next Generation Science Standards), 6th grade students
connected with Lower School students from Ms. Thesing’s
2nd Grade & Ms. Korinek & Ms. Duane’s 4th grade classes.
6th graders introduced younger students to galaxies,
including the Milky Way, through their
brochures. Brochures were created through multiple drafts
that included peer review and feedback and presenting to
Lower School friends provided an important audience for
the final products. (The final products will be displayed at
the Middle School Celebration of Learning on December
16th.)
“Students spent a
considerable amount of time
on this project,” says Ms.
Clark, 6th Grade
Math/Science Teacher, “We
wanted them to have an
authentic audience. Having
the opportunity to share with
other grade levels gave the
6th graders a chance to practice their presentation skills.”
And younger students loved spending time with the older
students, as one 4th grader says, "It was fun to learn about
space!"
Capital City’s Got Talent!
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parents on Dec. 10th
from 8:45 ­ 9:45am to
discuss the recent release
of DC PARCC results for
2015. Learn more about
this event and read Head
of School Karen Dresden's
letter to parents on 2015
PARRC data.
Staff Spotlight John Forys
This month, meet John
Forys! Mr. Forys has been
a part of the 5th grade
team since the middle
school campus was formed
in 2012. He is a member
of the Middle School
Instructional Leadership
Team (ILT), soccer coach,
and according to Middle
School Principal Cox, "is
super funny”.
PSA Reminders
Parent Coffee ­ Dec 10,
8:15­8:45am. Please join PSA Officers
and fellow parents for
coffee and connections,
before the PARCC Data
Parent Information
Session (scheduled for
that morning, 8:45­
9:45am).
A huge THANK YOU to
Zeke’s Coffee for providing
the delicious coffee for our
parent coffees this school
year! Equal Exchange
Fundraiser Items are targeted for
arrival on Dec 10th.
Please look for
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#KNOWCapitalCity - Dec. 2015 Parent News (English Version)
What hidden talents do
our students have? What
skills have they been
secretly perfecting (or
maybe not­so­secretly
perfecting) that they are
just waiting for the world
to see? The Capital City
community will soon find
out at the first­ever MS
Talent Show on Friday,
Dec. 11th during the Middle School All­School Meeting from
2:30­3:30pm. The show will feature singers, dancers,
comedians, and magicians. Ms. Kaiyoorawongs, who is
organizing the event, says, “Our students need as many
opportunities to shine as possible. Last year, so many
students showcased their talents during the 8th Grade
Promotion Ceremony. Here I had been teaching them and
never even knew that the students had such great talents." Oh, we also hear that teachers will be performing as well ­
now that’s talent! We cannot wait!
Seniors Feel the Bern at the Capitol
While visiting the U.S. Capitol
Building during a recent U.S.
Government 12th Grade fieldwork
trip, Capital City students sat in
on a Senate debate and witnessed
Senator Bernie Sanders, (and
Democratic Presidential
candidate), speak in support of
the Affordable Care Act as part of
a Senate budget reconciliation
bill. “You never think about going
somewhere and then seeing
someone who is running for president,” says senior Raul.
“It was a cool experience!” The students also had a tour of
the building (and clearly selected favorite statues in
Statuary Hall to pose with!) and learned about the current
renovation on the Capitol Dome.
Capital City Annual Giving
It is that time of year again, to
support your favorite
organizations, and we hope you
will consider Capital City! Parents
will soon receive our end­of­year
appeal sent to our community. If
you give now, it will count
toward the 2016 Capital City
Family Campaign (March 14­25).
And speaking of the Family
Campaign… we are looking for
volunteers! Class Captains, Challenge Donors, Co­Chairs,
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announcements for pickup
times.
CHAMPIONS!
The Middle School Girls’
Soccer team took home
the Fall 2015 DC Scores
Capital Cup for the first
time. In a dramatic finish,
the girls’ team held off
Columbia Heights
Educational Campus, 2­1.
DC Scores captured Middle
Schooler Tati’s crucial
second goal on video.
Check it out, and congrats,
Lady Eagles!
LS Family Fitness
Night ­ Dec. 11
LS Families ­ the First
Grade classes will be
hosting a Family Fitness
Night on Friday, Dec 11,
5­6:30pm. Come and
experience new fitness
activities ­ learn from our
first grade experts about
yoga, tennis, martial arts,
salsa, soccer, and
capoeira. Watch them
demonstrate what they
have learned over the past
few months. The First
Grade Showcase will take
place in classrooms
following Family Fitness
Night.
Who’s Got Spirit?
Capital City’s LS DC
Scores Soccer team, that’s
who! Congrats to our poet
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Callers for Campaign Call Night and more! Complete this interest form for more information!
athletes who won the
Spirit award at the fall DC
Scores Poetry Slam on
Dec. 2.
Have You Seen our Inner-courtyard
Lately?
Our courtyard is undergoing a
magical green transformation
thanks to support from the
Riversmart program of the DC
Department of Energy &
Environment. Anacostia Watershed
Society and Casey Trees provided
plants, trees, and guidance as
middle and high school students
spent the fall prepping and planting
the area for the redesign. You may
recall being asked to vote for the
redesign, which all students
participated in as well. The chosen
design can now be seen developing in the courtyard. Be
sure to check it out the next time you visit our school,
especially come springtime!
Volunteer Opportunities
There are many ways to volunteer at Capital City ­ here are
a few. We especially need parents to support us during our
Open Houses this school year. We need parents to staff our
welcome table, help check in prospective parents and to
share their Capital City experience. What Weighs
1,328 pounds?
All of the fruits & veggies
sold at this fall’s School
Garden Market! Thank you
to all who supported our
school garden through the
market this fall. The
market raised $1,320 in
profit, which goes directly
to support our school
garden program. Our
School Garden Coordinator
is working with students to
decide how the funds will
be spent. The market will
return in late spring ­
dates will be posted in
Parent News.
Interested? Please contact Lisvette Garcia at
[email protected] or 202.808.9719. Our schedule for Open Houses is: December 17, 9:00­10:30am January 14, 9:00­10:30am February 11, 9:00­10:30am (LS & MS only) April 21, 9:00­10:30am *note ­ current parents are welcome to attend any Open
House to learn about the Middle & High Schools!*
Help support our families in need this
holiday season!
We are collecting financial donations to support Capital City
families this holiday season. If you would like to contribute,
please give a check or cash in an envelope to your campus
counselor (names below) or campus office manager (Angel,
Veronica or Yanira). Please give your donation directly to
the counselor or office manager. Do not leave it
unattended. Please make checks out to Capital City and
clearly label your donation “for families in need.”
Donations can also be made online. Select “Families­in­
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Saturday Winter
Sports
Parents ­ Saturday Winter
Sports for Lower School
students will begin in
January, (Saturdays:
January 16­March 5). We
need volunteers to help
coordinate and coach!
Please contact Jessie
Lowry if interested in
volunteering.
Spring Break
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#KNOWCapitalCity - Dec. 2015 Parent News (English Version)
Need” under “I want my donation to be designated toward”
to ensure it supports our families­in­need drive.
Reminder
As a reminder Capital
City’s scheduled Spring
Break this year is April 11­
15, 2016, parents should
note that this is different
from DCPS spring break
(which is March 28­April
1). However, Capital City
will be closed on Mon.,
March 28, 2016.
All donations need to be received by Wednesday, Dec. 16th
so that we can provide families with support before the
winter break.
If your family is in need, please contact your campus
counselor: LS: Jamie Peterson, [email protected] or 202­808­9715 MS: Lindsay Damon, [email protected] or 202.808.9733 HS: Pamela Jordan, [email protected], or 202.808.9770
Thank you for your generosity!
Students Speak Up about Technology
This Dec., Capital City students in grades 3­12 will be
taking a national technology survey called Speak Up. This
survey gives students the opportunity to share their
viewpoints about key educational issues, particularly
concerning digital learning and the use of technology to
support future ready schools. We will be able to compare
our students' results against national standards, and from
these results we will create long­term technology plans that
take into account student perspectives.
United Way
# 8529
Important Phone Numbers Front Office ­ 202.808.9800 Lower School ­ 202.808.9701 Middle School ­ 202.808.9728 High School ­ 202.808.9751 Important School Links School Calendar Sports Calendar Parent Resources PSA Bulletins No­Cost Giving Programs
Support Capital City when you shop this holiday season
Register your Giant Card and choose Capital City Public Charter
School (ID 03838) as your school of choice.
Stop by a local Harris Teeter and link your VIC Card to Capital
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City's account number 7091.
Make online purchases using AmazonSmile and choose 'Capital City
Public Charter School' as your charitable organization to support.
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Copyright © 2015, Capital City Public Charter School, All rights reserved.
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