In This Issue
IDEA Students Earn Scholarships
Freshman Earns Microsoft Certification
Teacher Feature: Shomari Jennings
Defying the Odds
DC-CAS Testing
Spring Break Math Academy
New Student Work Online
Young Women's Conference
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Coming up at IDEA:

 

April 1-5: Spring break

April 16: No school for students because of staff professional development

April 23: DC CAS testing begins (grades 7-10)

   


IDEA Students Honored with Scholarship Offers
 

Congratulations to the following IDEA students on the scholarships and scholarship offers they've received! We applaud them for their hard work and dedication and wish them the best.

  • Denzel White won a $10,000 college scholarship from the Economic Club of Washington.
  • Denzel White, Alexis Williams, and Diamond Gillespie are pre-finalists for the DST Federal City Alumnae Chapter Scholarship.
  • Kimonie Hayes, Markia Moton, Diamond Gillespie, and Alexis Williams were all offered generous scholarships to attend Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Freshman Shola Suleiman Is First IDEA Microsoft Academy Student Earns Microsoft Certification

IDEA is proud to announce that just a few months after the launch of our Microsoft Academy, IDEA freshman Shola A. Suleiman has earned his Microsoft Word certification, making him eligible to compete in this summer's Microsoft Challenge for the opportunity to win cash and prizes.

"I decided to go for this certification because of the opportunities such as jobs that came along with it," Shola said. "I prepared for the test by playing around in Office, opening the advanced options, trying to learn something new, and completing Mrs. Jordan's Challenge worksheets in class."

 

In addition to the benefits of having the certification under his belt, Shola is excited, but nervous, about the prospect of competing against other certified students in the Microsoft Challenge this summer. "I am really nervous about it because for a reward that much, there should be hundreds of people way smarter than me, feverishly studying for it."

 

Congratulations, Shola and good luck this summer!
Teacher Feature: Shomari Jennings, Algebra and Geometry and Math Department Lead Teacher

Making Math Relevant   

 

My students' favorite thing to ask is 'How is this going to help me in the future?' So I try as much as I can to bring in some real world problems for them to solve, which are often more difficult than what we were working on in the first place.

For example, we just got done learning systems of equations. You have two equations and two unknown variables and you have to find both variables. They say 'There are so many steps. Why am I doing this? What's the point?' So I gave them the example of a person who started a small business. In order to find out their revenue, they had to solve for variables. The goal was to help the business owner figure how to make the most money in the shortest amount of time. The group of students that figured that out first won. As much as possible, I infuse the lesson plans with those kinds of problems.    

 

READ MORE>> 

IDEA Works to Defy Trend of Stagnating Test Scores
 

A recent report by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute explained the "uphill climb" faced by DC public schools and DC public charter schools based on achievement-or lack of achievement-on the DC CAS, the standardized test by which the proficiency of all DC students is measured.

 

IDEA Public Charter School, which was nearly closed last spring by the DC Public Charter School Board because of a history of increasingly poor performance among its students, plans to defy the odds by demonstrating significantly improved student achievement this year. IDEA, now headed by a completely new administrative team, has taken an intensive, all hands on deck approach to tightening the focus on the highest caliber academics and transforming the school's culture to one that requires respect and rewards hard work and discipline.

 

READ MORE>>
What You Need to Know about April's DC-CAS Testing

 

Our annual DC-CAS testing window is right around the corner! This year, students at IDEA in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 will take the DC-CAS between April 23 and May 2. Since this year the DC-CAS will again be administered after Spring Break, we hope the vacation provides plenty of time for your child to rest before testing begins.

 

It is important for your child to be on time and present each day, especially during the DC-CAS. Ensuring your child's academic success is a joint effort. Below are some ways you can help increase the success of your student during this time:

  • Arrive each day at 8:15am to ensure your student has enough time to eat a balanced breakfast and get settled before testing begins
  • Plan ahead by not scheduling appointments for your child during the testing period
  • Make sure your child is able to get a full night's sleep
  • Continue to work each night with your child on their homework and reaching out to teachers for extra support when needed

There will be an incentive for those students who are present, on time, and working hard each day during the testing window. We would like all of our scholars and cadets to be able to celebrate their hard work with some great field trips in May, such as roller skating, laser tag, and Six Flags. We want to "show what we know" on the DC-CAS as we've already had a lot of academic achievements at IDEA this school year. With the hard work of your student and the support of staff and families, we will meet both your student's and our school's high academic goals for this school year. Remember, every second of learning counts!

Math Academy Offers Math Help During Spring Break

IDEA is offering a special Math Academy over spring break this weekend and next week to help students who may need or want extra instruction to boost their understanding of math. The sessions will be an excellent opportunity for your child to get some one-on-one attention with math while working on critical skills to reach proficiency before the DC-CAS.

Math Academy dates:

*    Saturday, March 30 - 9:00am to noon
*    Monday, April 1 - 10:00am to noon
*    Wednesday, April 3 - 10:00am to noon
*    Friday, April 5 - 10:00am to noon
*    Saturday, April 6 - 9:00am to noon

Breakfast and/or lunch will be provided for students at each session. If you have any questions please call Math Lead Teacher Shomari Jennings at 202-399-4750 x242 or Dean Rydstrom at 202-281-0001 (mobile).
New Student Work Featured on www.IDEAPCS.org

Seventh-grade students in Ms. Reintgen's art class studied utilitarian art by making folk art quilts out of paper. See more student work here.

IDEA Students Attend Young Women's Conference 

On March 22, girls from high schools across DC participated in the the 2013 Young Women's Conference 2.0: College, Careers and Your Future, hosted by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and held at Gallaudet University.
 
Participants attended workshops, met dynamic speakers, received valuable resources, and learned important information to help navigate their future endeavors. More than 300 young women from public and charter schools enjoyed the one-day conference and gained critical insight into college and career opportunities. 

Representatives from colleges including Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, were on hand at the conference, and CSU offered scholarships to five IDEA students: Decie Bowens, Diamond Gillespie, Kimonie Hayes, Markia Moton, and Alexis Williams. Congratulations!