Principal's Message...

Middle school is full of independence "markers" for children: their first dance, getting dressed up for a debate or a basketball game, or having their first locker. Another marker, especially in cities, is that first time riding the bus - not the school bus, mind you, but the city bus. At Deal, we add the subway to the list, but the idea is the same. Parents wave farewell and a child enters the transportation system with thousands of other independent neighbors.

That independence comes with responsibility, of course, and the need to maintain vigilance. The reason we are cautious with having our children on public transportation is that, once on the way to school, they occupy a nebulous ground between adults who care for them. Bus and subway drivers do care for our children, of course, but they don't share the commitment that parents and teachers do for each and every ward. When dealing with our transit system, I am reminded how much has changed since my sister, a kindergartner in Tokyo, walked to the Tokyo metro and crossed the city by herself on her way to school. While we aren't in that same position anymore, we do want our children to be able to safely and efficiently use the DC transportation system.

Last week, the two bus superintendents who manage our D31, D32, D33, and D34 bus lines came to speak with students who ride these buses each day. They had asked to meet out of concern that some students had reportedly not paid their fares. As I noted last year (and earlier this year), bus behavior is a concern, and Deal stands with WMATA in insisting that students know what is expected of them on the buses. What was remarkable about the meeting this week, however, is that the concern demonstrated by the superintendents was matched by that of the students.

In a question and answer period that followed the superintendent's presentation, Deal students complained that buses on occasion passed them by when they were waiting at regular stops; that buses came earlier than expected on some days; and on other days not at all. They reported that when they were left without the expected bus ride, parents had banded together to drive a group to school. A number of students felt the keen reliance they have on WMATA being a consistent provider of services - the students don't like being late to school.

With aplomb, the WMATA superintendents (Ms. Neils and Ms. Coleman-Hill) took it all in (the atmosphere was, of course, polite). They expressed their concern about the missing buses and the lack of stops, and gave their direct phone lines to me to give to the community. They want to know when there is a problem - the sooner the better. I have added information about the bus service here - you can find the phone numbers and a link to the route information. I appreciated both sides in this discussion - the WMATA staff for expressing their concern for both riders and the system, and students for standing up for what they are concerned about.

Let me conclude by asking families to ensure that you remind students to follow safe traveling practices before and after school. Students should travel as a group, when possible; they should have expected times to be home; and they should be going straight home when dismissed. Tell them to always pay attention to their surroundings whether it is the Deal parking lot or the subway, and to take steps to avoid being vulnerable. For example, they should keep phones, Kindles, and laptops out of sight when possible. Above all, they need to be smart about being safe - people are worried at both ends of the travel route.

 

NB. In the main body of the bulletin you will find some pleas for parental support. Being an involved parent in middle school looks different than it does at the elementary level; there aren't as many room parents and classroom volunteer positions. What we do have in abundance is the need for your expertise and time in pursuit of the curriculum. For example, our science fair needs judges. Do you work in a science-related field? Here is your chance to help. If you work in the technology field, our art teachers are pioneering a unit on building an iPad app - and they need judges as well. Part of many of our IB activities is reflective feedback from informed audiences. This is Washington, DC; we have a LOT of people who are informed around here. Let's set you and them up in support of our educational mission.