Alice Deal Middle School Think globally - Listen compassionately - Act inclusively |
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The Weekly Bulletin
Our school mission:
Alice Deal Middle School inspires excellence, curiosity, and compassion through intellectual and social engagement.
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Principal's Message...
It makes an odd form of sense to have a holiday right after the first week of school. Students and teachers had an intense five days together, and now that we all know what awaits us this year, it is time to catch our collective breaths and get to work. Labor Day serves to remind us of the many elements of our work lives that we owe to others - how important these are to our health and well-being. Here in the DC area it is frequently the last day of the summer beach trips. The weather definitely cooperated for those trips; for the rest of us it was a nice reminder of the pleasant summer we have had. Now that we are getting into our first advisory rhythm, there are some critical parent-focused activities that need your attention. First, for our 6th grade parents we are running two nights of workshops (see below). These are important, useful, and well-attended. With the exception of the special education session which runs on Tuesday, every session will be repeated on Thursday - no need to go to both nights. Tomorrow night's workshop is preceded by the first PTA General Meeting at 6pm. This meeting will end by 6:30, in time for interested parents to attend the workshops upstairs. Second, Deal's Back-to-School Night is the following Tuesday (September 10). This night should not conflict with other BTS Nights in the area. Again, a popular and crowded event. That evening is preceded by our Music Information Night at 5:45 - parents with children interested in ensemble performance can meet our choir and band leaders and get information about the year's activities. We have added some new talent to our music leadership pool - I think you will be as excited as I am. Finally, a big week for activities, clubs, sports, and Period 8. We have over 60 different activities planned for your children. Below you will see that some of our activities and clubs are getting going this week; a full list will be attached to the Edline pages next week. Before trying out for sports, make sure that the correct medical forms and permission slips are turned in to the coaches - this is a must! We have added a new sport to our ever-expanding array - field hockey. This will be done in conjunction with Koa Sports. The addition of American football two years ago provided more opportunities for boys (and, of course, the girls who have come out for that team); field hockey gives us another sport to help balance our offerings. News about Period 8 can also be found below. For those who are interested in having their child sign-up for the next round (Advisory 2), we will be announcing the sign-up process in a few weeks. With all of these activities and the regular academic demands of school life, how is a child to make choices and choose the best path? As a school, we want to provide as many opportunities as possible - this reflects the many different interests your children bring to Deal. Where possible, we reduce conflicts - either through scheduling carefully or by being flexible. Almost all of our clubs and activities are drop-in; no formal sign-up is required. Where there is an unavoidable conflict, please check with both activity leaders to see where there is flexibility. As parents, sometimes you will have to guide your child to choose - this is your chance to help them develop a critical skill. Thank you to all of our parents and students - we had a very good opening week. Our new teachers remain overwhelmed (shocked, sometimes!) at how wonderful your children are - eager to learn, socially appropriate, cheerful, and generally nice. When we meet new teachers I tell them this is a fact of our student community - this is who they are - but until they see classes, lunches, recess, fire drills, and dismissal, it remains hard to believe. Thank you for doing your part. James Albright Principal NB. Thank you to the parents who reached out about concerns about the buses, Deal, and DCOne Cards. All of us rely to some extent on the smooth operation of the transportation system - we will continue to work to make this better on our end.
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PTA Goings On
General Meeting Tuesday, September 3, 6:00 - 6:30
(before 6th grade workshops)
Executive Board Meeting
7:00 - 9:00 @ Brickman's home
See you there!
Deal Support Week!
Back To School Night -
Tuesday, September 10 at 6:30 pm
Support the PTA - Donations will be accepted!
Deal Family Night at Pete's APizza
Wednesday, September 11, 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Location: 4940 Wisconsin @ Fessenden St. NW
25% off your Family Meal! Just say, "I am from DEAL!"
Support the PTA - Donations will be accepted!
Donate by Friday, September 13th (mail or on-line) and win a chance to receive a Gift Card from Pete's Pizza or an iPad!!!
The drawing will be held at Deal Movie Night, Friday September 27, 2013!
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Stay Informed!
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Week of
September 2, 2013
Bell Schedule
Monday - No School
(Labor Day)
Tuesday -Bell I
Wednesday - Bell I
Thursday - Thursday Bell
SSR
Friday - Bell I
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Upcoming Dates
September 2
Labor Day
No school for staff and students
September 3
PTA meeting, 6:00 pm
6th Grade Parent Workshop, 6:30 pm
September 5
6th Grade Parent Workshop, 6:30 pm
September 6
LSAT meeting, 7:30 am
New to Deal meeting, 3:30 pm
September 7
Saturday Detention
9 am to noon
September 9
PTA dues week
September 10
Team Leaders, 3:30 pm
Music Info Night, 5:45 pm
Back to School Night, 6:30 pm
September 13
Student Council officer elections
September 16
Teams Sydney/Timbuktu to Hemlock
September 17
Team London to Hemlock
September 18
Team Rio to Hemlock
September 19
Team Santiago to Hemlock
September 21
Saturday Detention
9 am to noon
September 23 - 27
Spirit Week
September 24
Principal's Coffee 9 - 10 am
Team Leaders 3:30 pm
September 25
8th Grade Parent Workshop
6:30 pm
September 26
Faculty meeting, 3:30
September 27
Family Movie Night, 6:30
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Library News
Library Media Center Hours
Before School 8 - 8:40 am
After School 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Students must have parental permission to stay after school
The Alice Deal Library welcomes students for reading and homework after school! Students must have a permission form on file in the library to use the space after school. Students may pick up a form in the library, or may download it from the library website (Library Pass).
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PTA Sponsors
The following are the Deal PTA 2013-2014 business sponsors.
The Broad Branch Market
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Taylor Agostino Group
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Radifera Design Group
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W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtor
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Pete's New Haven Style Apizza
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Second Wind CrossFit
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edCount, LLC
Math Medics
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Elements Fitness and Wellness Center
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Discount Vacation Rentals for Deal Families
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Capitol Language Services
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6th Grade Parent Workshops This Tuesday & Thursday (September 3rd and 5th)
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What: Multiple workshop sessions (same both days)
- Student Support Meet/Greet (IEPs & 504s)
This session offered only on Tuesday
- Edline: Basic Set-up and Use
- This workshop will introduce Deal parents to Edline. We will cover account activation, the basic features of Edline, and discuss strategies for families to use Edline to support student success at Deal.
- Writing Across the Curriculum
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Whether it's a comparison of two artists in art assignment, a 5 paragraph essay in Humanities, the results from a science project, or a reflection about a math problem - students at Deal are writing all of the time. In this workshop, Ms. Clements will focus on ways parents can support their child's writing at home.
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Understanding the Common Core Standards for Math
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The IB Middle Years Program at Deal: An Introduction
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Challenging (but Expected) Development: the Middle School Years
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What to Expect from Your Reader and Writer
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Our 6th grade English teachers will discuss the Readers-Writers Workshop at Deal, what their homework looks like, and how parents can support and reinforce the learning in the classroom at home.
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Getting Organized
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The supply list for each 6th grade class will be reviewed and explained. Parents will learn about the expectations for a student's use of their agenda. Recommendations will be made regarding how students can keep their notebook and locker organized. Parents will be given the opportunity to ask teachers questions about suggested strategies for completing homework assignments and independent projects.
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Athletics at Deal
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Our coaches will provide details about interscholastic and club sports offered at Deal by season, which sports require tryouts, and information about the tryout process and how this affects 6th graders. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions about our athletic program.
When: Tuesday (3rd) & Thursday (5th) 6:30 - 8:15pm
Where: Deal Middle School Don't go hungry!
Tuesday: BBQ truck out front of Deal: 5 - 6:30
Thursday: Ice Cream truck outside of Deal 5 - 6:30
School Store open both evenings!
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DCOne cards
Based on our first week's experience, please make sure your child has bus fare until they receive their DCOne card from school. All replacements have been reshot or ordered and we are moving through photographing the remaining 6th graders this week. Although some buses have let students on without a fare and in the absence of a card, this has not been universally true. The cards have been processed faster than expected, so some students have already been receiving theirs. Cards are being distributed for 6th graders through their home rooms as quickly as we receive them.
Update on Bus Information '13-'14
 This has been a busy week for Metro bus issues. The buses have been somewhat irregular in the morning (a derailment didn't help on Friday) and far more popular than last year to judge by the crowds. As the month progresses, I'll be collecting data on how full the buses are and sharing this with WMATA. In addition, the NextBus app (pictured to the right) has not been updated with the D buses yet, so it is hard to know when they are on or off schedule. Keep on letting us know, we will keep on sharing the information.
If your child travels on the 4 bus routes that WMATA makes available for Deal students, here are some important phone numbers for you.
If the D31 or D32 bus is late, misses a pick-up, or never shows up, please call the Western District Superintendent, Ms. Jacqueline Smith, at 202-962-5684 as soon as possible. Her email is jbsmith@wmata.com. Students who are passed should try to get the bus identification number. If your child rides the D33 or D34, the Northern Division contact is Ms. Priscilla Alston, and she can be reached directly at 202-309-0783. Her email is paslston@wmata.com. As always, please send an email about a bus problem or concern to james.albright@dc.gov. Here is a link to the bus route schedule.
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Student & parent information
New: Edline
Again this year, all Deal teachers will be using Edline (www.edline.net) to communicate homework assignments and report student progress. Activation codes for new student and parent accounts were sent home last week via students. If your child has misplaced this information, don't worry - email either your team leader or dealedline@gmail.com. Returning students and parents will use the same accounts as last year. If you have not yet activated your account, please do so soon! Teachers will begin to update homework and progress reports by the start of next week. If you have questions about Edline access, email dealedline@gmail.com.
New: Period 8
Deal's inaugural Period 8 classes start this week! This pilot program combines a one-day-a-week session with online work. The planned class schedule is as follows:
- Monday - Journalism & Nature Around the World
- Tuesday - Philosophy & The Stock Market
- Wednesday - Storytelling in Video Games & Traveling Our Nation's Past
- Friday - Immigration
Due to this week's holiday, Journalism will shift to Wednesday and Nature Around the World will shift to Tuesday. Enrolled families should have received more information via email. Not enrolled in this session? Stay tuned for future session enrollment information. If you have questions about Period 8 please email dealperiod8@gmail.com.
New: The Deal Library is OPEN for business!
Students can choose to come to the library:
- before school, at 8 am (by getting a pass in the cafeteria)
- during recess (by getting a pass in the cafeteria)
- after school until 4:30 (with permission form on file)
After school permission forms will be required beginning Monday, September 9th. Students can pick one up in the library or can download one from: https://sites.google.com/a/dc.gov/alice-deal-library-media-center/library-passes
The library keeps adding exciting new books for our students - have your child ask about what has just come in!
New: Volleyball Forms and Tryout Schedule
Girls interested in playing on the Deal Volleyball Team should turn in their forms to Coach Downing or Ms. Spann. The first tryout will be September 9th.
New: Physical Education Uniforms
All students in Physical Education classes are required to have a school gym uniform. The shirts cost $7 and the shorts cost $13. Accountability for uniforms will begin Tuesday, September 2nd. Uniforms can be picked up in the cafeteria after 8:00 am.
New: Scrabble Club
Can you unscramble the letter s w o e e m a to make a seven-letter word? If you can, then you are "awesome" and should think about joining the Scrabble Club. We will meet every Monday after school in Prof. Schloss' room (CG07). The first week will be September 9th. All levels of ability are welcome.
New: African Drumming Club
West African music is a rich and diverse aspect of the culture of Africa. Every Monday (starting September 9th), Mr. Assael will host the African Drumming Club in CG21 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. The club will explore specific musical types and styles, with an emphasis on basic vocal and instrumental performance techniques.
New: Target 2013 Give with Target Campaign
We need your help! Target's 2013 Give With Target Campaign is providing schools with an easy opportunity to raise money. All it requires is a Facebook account and about a minute of your time. We have the potential to raise up to $10,000 for Alice Deal MS.
To participate: Visit the Give With Target Facebook page and vote for Deal Middle School once per week through September 21st when the program ends. Once Deal receives 25 votes, Target will donate $1 per vote to the school, with a maximum donation of $10,000. Go to your Facebook Account, search for the Give With Target application, search for DEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, and vote! Please vote once per week - each vote raises $$ for Deal!
New: GeoPlunge!
Calling all new and returning GeoPlungers! Our first meeting of the year will take place Tuesday, September 10th, after school from 3:30 - 4:30pm in Mr. Martini's room (C130).
New: 2014 World Language Trip to Costa Rica
If you are the parent of an 8th grade Spanish student and are interested in traveling with Alice Deal to Costa Rica over Spring Break, visit eftours.com and type in tour #1365514 in the box provided. There, you can register and find information about the itinerary, destinations, and accommodations. If you know you are interested in having your student participate on this tour, please register as soon as possible to avoid an increase in price. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Henderson at hendersonak@gmail.com.
New: Team Rio Study Hall
Team Rio will hold after school study hall all year, every Monday starting Monday, September 9th from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. We look forward to seeing all of the Rio Rockstars. Keepin' it Rio!!!
Back-to-School Night
Deal's back-to-school night will be held September 10th at 6:30 pm. This is a popular event, so come a bit early to find parking. You will meet your child's teachers, hear from Principal Albright, and get a feel for the curriculum your children will work on this year.
Aftercare at Deal: Early Stages
Early Stages Learning Center aftercare program is a fee-based program and will have an on-site manager. The program runs from 3:30 until 6:00 pm. Please check out this link for more information: Early Stages Aftercare at Deal MS
Hemlock Field Trip - 6th Grade Teams
All 6th grade students will participate in our 11th annual community-building outdoor educational enrichment activity at Hemlock Overlook Center in Clifton, Virginia this month. At Hemlock, students participate in physical activities designed to help them form relationships with their peers and teachers. Through these activities, students get to know each other better and gain trust in each other.
On the day of the activity, students should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that they won't mind getting dirty and footwear that is appropriate for a day in the woods. Students are also encouraged to bring a poncho or raincoat in case of rain. Flip flops, sandals, large earrings, long necklaces, and accessories will not be allowed. Students should pack a lunch with a couple of bottles of water.
On the day of their trip, students should arrive to school by 8:00 am so that our buses can leave on time. Students will return to Deal by 6:30 pm.
- Monday, September 16 - Sydney (dealsydney@gmail.com)
- Tuesday, September 17 - London (deallondon13@gmail.com)
- Wednesday, September 18 - Rio (teamriodeal@gmail.com)
- Thursday, September 19 - Santiago (dealteamsantiago@gmail.com)
Students were given permission slips on the first day of school. If you have any questions, please contact your child's team.
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This Week at Deal...
Tuesday - Thursday: Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation
On Tuesday - Thursday after school, Ms. McFarland will be available to talk with students who have been referred or are having conflicts in school or out of school. Parents can refer a conflict by calling Ms. McFarland directly at 202-939-2014.
Tuesday - Friday: Football Practice
Football practice will be held Tuesday - Friday from 3:30pm - 6:00 pm this week.
Tuesday and Thursday: 6th grade Parent Workshops
On Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm, Deal will offer parent workshops for 6th grade parents. The schedule will be repeated each night, so you do not need to come to both. Topics will be announced soon, but typically include how to communicate with your team, special education at Deal, the IB Middle Years Program, and how grading works at the middle school. You won't want to miss this!
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday:
Tardes de Espaņol
Sra. Cadavid is looking for students who are eager to practice and use Spanish in different settings. We will read fantastic Spanish books, watch Spanish movies, learn how to cook traditional Latin American food, listen to Latin American singers, and even learn how to dance salsa and merengue. Please stop by Sra. Cadavid's classroom (C314) after school on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday this week to discuss ideas and plans for a fabulous year. This will be a full immersion Spanish experience. The students who visit Sra. Cadavid this week to enroll in her club will receive a treat!!!
Tuesday: Gay/Straight Alliance
Mr. Helsabeck is excited to take over the post of GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) advisor this year! The GSA's first meeting will be immediately after school on Tuesday, September 3 in room N116 in the Cottage. The mission of Deal's GSA is to foster and promote a safe, inclusive, and welcoming school community for ALL students through discussion and community action. Mr. Helsabeck looks forward to meeting all interested students soon!
Tuesday: History Club
Any student interested in participating in History Club please come to an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 3rd at 3:30 pm in room W304 with Ms. Trenkle. Our theme will be "DC History: Then and Now".
Tuesday: Music Interest Meeting
We are excited to start a wonderful year of music and performance with all students here at Alice Deal. There will be an interest meeting on Tuesday, September 3rd from 3:30 to 3:45 pm in the auditorium. All students interested in any musical ensemble (including 6th Grade Concert Band, 7th/8th Grade Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Pep Band and Chorus) should attend this short information session about our upcoming school year.
Wednesday: New 7/8 Grade Student Luncheons
Mr. Albright, Ms. Abrams, and Mr. Rottman will be welcoming our new 7th and 8th grade students with a pizza lunch in the media center/library during the Wednesday lunches. Students will receive an invitation through their homeroom classes which they should bring with them to the media center at the start of their respective lunches (7th grade: 4th period, 8th grade: 5th period).
Wednesday: Team Babylon
The teachers of Team Babylon welcome all our new students! We're off to a great start and are very excited to be working with you this year. Our team tutoring will start this week on Wednesday afternoons in room W207. Come if you want help, need to make up work, or just want a quiet place to do your homework!
Wednesday: Team Mumbai Tutoring.
Our team tutoring will be held on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.
Wednesday: Deal's NEW Competitive Swim Team
We are excited to announce that Deal will have a competitive swim team this year. The swim team will be separate from the swim club in that it will compete competitively with other schools in the area. We will practice alongside the Wilson High School swim team on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, swim exhibition alongside Wilson High School at their home swim meets, and hold dual meets against other middle schools. The season will start mid October. Mr. Helsabeck and Ms. McCarron will be the swim coaches. Both have several years experience as swim coaches and swam competitively for most of their lives.
There will be a brief meeting for all interested students after school on Wednesday, September 4th in Mr. Helsabeck's room in the cottage (N116).
Thursday: TAGS DC!
Teachers and Geography Students (TAGS) is a club where students and teachers learn to use GIS digital mapping technology to create maps! Working alongside a mentor from National Geographic, we take field trips around the city to collect data and make useful maps of DC to solve community issues. TAGS will meet once a month on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 pm in Mr. Martini's room (C130). Our first meeting will be on September 5th. All students are welcome!
Thursday: Cheerleading Tryouts
Cheerling tryouts will be held Thursday, September 5th from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the gym. You must wear shorts and tennis shoes. Please be on time.
Thursday: Field Hockey Meeting
If your daughter is interested in field hockey, there will be an interest meeting Thursday, September 5th at 3:30 pm in the gallery. We plan to field a team to play in a league on Sundays at Deal. All skill levels are welcome.
Friday: Cheerleading Practice
Cheerleading practice will begin Friday, September 6th at 3:30 pm in the gym for returning cheerleaders. Please be on time.
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Staff information ...
Homeroom Teachers
Please submit your pink homeroom attendance sheets to the Welcome Center by 9:15 am everyday this week.
SRI Testing
6th and 7th grade SRI testing (measuring reading comprehension) will take place this week
Wednesday: Grade-Level Chair meeting at 3:30 (C130)
Friday: New-to-Deal meeting at 3:30 (Location TBD)
Friday: Final class balancing information due
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(all activities begin at 3:30 pm unless otherwise stated)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
Football practice to 6 pm
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Football practice to 6 pm
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Football practice to 6 pm
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Football practice to 6 pm
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GSA club
RM N116
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Team Babylon tutoring
RM W207
| TAGS DC
to 4:30
RM C130 |
Cheerleading practice to 5 pm
Gym
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| History club
W304 | Team Mumbai tutoring to 4:30 | Field Hockey interest meeting
in the gallery |
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| Music interest meeting to 3:45 | Competitive Swim Team interest meeting RM N116
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Cheerleading tryout to 5 pm
Gym
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Community Information
(Items in this section are not sponsored by Deal)
DC PARENT & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT
DC Parent & Family Engagement Summit will be held on September 7 at the Washington Convention Center. This is an extraordinary opportunity for parents, principals, and school staff to attend a free day of parent engagement activities, workshops, and programs.
Office Depot will have a booth in conjunction with our new partners, SPC Educational Solutions, demonstrating our new program, YOU: Your Child's First Teacher.
The author and founder of the company, Sunny Chico, will be the Keynote Speaker at the event from 10:00 - 10:30 am. Please stop by and visit us in the Parent Resource Room throughout the day of the event. Please see the attached flyer to register: Parent & Family Engagement Summit Registration
Whole Foods' Kids Day of Service
Whole Foods-Tenley is sponsoring a kid's day of service. This is a perfect time to earn community service hours for organizations like Junior Honor Society. There will be a stream clean-up in Rock Creek Park on Saturday, September 7th from 10 AM-12 PM. To register, visit http://wfmstreamteam1-es2.eventbrite.com/?rank=3
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