As we approach this holiday season, I would like to update you on the latest PGCPS news, events and school highlights. Copies of this newsletter are also available at all District 3 schools.
I wish your family all the best and look forward to seeing you around District 3.
It is a pleasure to work towards the continued success of students in Prince George's County!
Amber P. Waller
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Coming Home to District 3: Board Member Amber Waller participates in Northwestern High School's Homecoming festivities with King Christian Simmons and Queen Semira Tesfai.
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 Students at Nicholas Orem Middle School are taking advantage of opportunities to show off their science and math skills.
The Hyattsville school recently received a $40,000 innovative technology grant to help students get hands-on experience with multimedia presentations. The school added 30 document cameras, which are similar to overhead projectors; 30 projectors with speakers and 30 technology carts. Teachers showcased students' work at the PGCPS Powering Up with Technology Conference.
Last month, students participated in the annual Final Frontiers science and engineering competition sponsored by the Maryland Space Business Roundtable. They placed second in the Micro-Mass Tower and third in Newton's Nightmare contests.
Nicholas Orem also offers the Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS) program, a partnership between the University of Maryland and the College Park chapter of the American Association of University Women. UM students serve as mentors to GEMS participants and work with them on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities. The afterschool program targets seventh- and eighth-grade girls, hoping to spark their interest in STEM-related careers. GEMS is in place at three other middle schools -- Buck Lodge, Hyattsville and William Wirt.
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 More than 60 trees were saved through the 7,260 lbs. of materials recycled at Board Member Amber Waller's community shredding event in November.
* Click here to view video.
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Fitness first at University Park ES
University Park Elementary School is encouraging students to get moving.
This year's Family Gym Night attracted more than 450 attendees. Activities included the Dash for Cash Relay, Math Bingo, Bean Bag Shoe Tag, Pedometer Craziness, Jump Rope Skip Count and more.
Students also tried to break the record for doing the most jumping jacks in 24 hours by participating in the National Geographic Kids "Let's Jump" challenge, part of the national "Let's Move" campaign to fight childhood obesity. Approximately 580 University Park students and teachers spent one minute doing jumping jacks on Oct. 11. National Geographic estimated that 20,000 people were needed to break the record.
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Through a partnership with The Mall at Prince Georges, the Prince George's Arts & Humanities Council and Washington Gas, students from 12 high schools in Prince George's County participated in the High School Mural Program. They will share the results of their creative efforts with the public during an unveiling ceremony and reception on Wednesday.
The High School Mural Program provided a unique opportunity for students to work collaboratively in showcasing their drawing and painting skills. Using the theme "Gorgeous Prince George's: Then and Now," students integrated art with history to research life in the county from colonial times to the present.
Participating schools include Suitland High School's Visual & Performing Arts Center, Bowie, Central, Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr., Frederick Douglass, High Point, Largo, Laurel, Northwestern, Oxon Hill, Potomac and Surrattsville.
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District 3 Schools Join National Green Schools Program
Nicholas Orem Middle School, and Hyattsville and University Park elementary schools have joined the Lockheed Martin and Alliance to Save Energy's Green Schools Program.
Students at Green Schools are educated about energy and the importance of energy efficiency, as well as trained to use a diagnostic toolkit that assesses the energy usage in their school. The school building becomes a learning lab for students to apply science, math and even language arts to solve a global problem. Board of Education Member Amber Waller attended the kick-off at Nicholas Orem in November. "The program is beneficial on various levels. The schools save money on energy costs, students are allowed to participate in the process and it protects the environment. This program provides a valuable educational effort that also helps to create a better more sustainable future," said Amber Waller, District 3 board member. Launched in 1996, the Green Schools program has helped participating campuses to achieve as much as 15 percent in energy use reductions and encouraged students to take the program's lessons home and to their communities. Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York are among the states with schools in the program. Through Lockheed Martin's support, the Alliance provides participating schools with materials, teacher training, workshops and energy tracking reports among other items.
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César Chavez Elementary School kicked off the opening of the new Mary's Center and March of Dimes Health Mobile.
This collaboration represents a significant step forward in helping families receive affordable health care and improving overall health and wellness.
Click here to view photos.
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Board approves new student-athlete GPA requirement
Athletes no longer have to pass all courses to remain eligible for high school sports, according to a new policy recently approved by the Board of Education. They must maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to participate. Excerpts from the policy are listed below:
Interscholastic and Extracurricular Activities
Academic Requirements for Participation
A. Interscholastic Eligibility
1. The curriculum content for high school students participating in interscholastic athletics must be in accordance with the minimum Maryland high school state requirements for graduation.
2. High School students participating in interscholastic athletics must maintain a minimum high school grade point average (GPS) of 2.0 or equivalent according to PGCPS' grading criteria.
3. Students matriculating to the 9th grade must adhere to the high school interscholastic athletics eligibility requirements.
4. There will be no waivers of the 2.0 academic requirement to participate in interscholastic athletics.
5. If a course is repeated in summer or evening high school, the new grade will replace the existing grade for purposes of determining eligibility only. If a course is taken for original credit in summer or evening school, that grade will be averaged with existing grades for purposes of determining eligibility.
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PGCPS Launches Student Based Budgeting
Parents and residents are encouraged to learn more about Student Based Budgeting (SBB), which gives principals and the community more input in funding decisions. SBB aims to provide clearer information about how and why dollars are being allocated.
Schools and communities will have a clearer understanding of how and why dollars are being allocated. SBB differs from our traditional funding system that allocates resources to schools based on staffing formulas and school-specific programs.
Schools will be funded per child, and the amount of funding attached to each child will vary based on his or her needs. Furthermore, schools will also have more flexibility in deciding what to do with those resources.
* Click here to view SBB website.
* Click here to view a video explaining SBB.
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Wednesday, Dec. 13
6:30 p.m.
Sasscer Administration Building
The Board of Education and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. will recognize outstanding students, employees and community volunteers.
NORTHWESTERN HS ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT
Friday, Dec. 15
7 p.m.
Northwestern High School, Hyattsville
The concert will feature performances by the jazz band, gospel ensemble, show choir and steel drums band. The cost is $3 for students and $5 for staff. Tickets will be sold at the door. Contact Leona Lowery at 301-985-1820 ext. 2269 or leona.lowery@pgcps.org.
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
Thursday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Dec. 26 Schools and offices closed
Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 29 Schools closed for students and teachers
Friday, Dec. 30 through Monday, Jan. 2
Schools and offices closed
Click here to view school calendar.
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