Newsletter banner

In This Issue
Message from the Principal
ACE Day Honors Ceremony
Lady Timberwolves Basketball
DC ONE Cards
Teacher Feature: Sharif Talib
Boys Basketball Preview
Lunch for Saturday Students
Zealot Fashion Show
Quick Links
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube

Coming up at IDEA:


December 18: Family Conferences

December 19: Senior Picture Make-up

December 20:   Staff professional development (no school for students)

December 23-31:
Winter Break (school closed)

A Message from the Principal

As we prepare for end-of-the-year celebrations, we look forward to sharing time with all of IDEA's students and families at our family conferences and holiday dinner on Wednesday, December 18.

If you haven't already, please make appointments with your child's teachers
between 2pm and 8pm next Wednesday. While you're here, we hope you will join us for a special holiday banquet, served from 5pm to 7pm. The menu includes smoked turkey, shrimp cocktail, spiral ham, potato salad, dressing, collard greens, and cranberry sauce, all prepared fresh by our fantastic kitchen staff. This dinner gathering is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet other IDEA families and get to know the IDEA teachers and staff who work with your children every day.  

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Justin Rydstrom
Principal
ACE Day Honors Ceremony Celebrates Student Achievement in Academics, Service, and Attendance

 

The IDEA school community gathered on November 20 to participate in our first ever ACE Day Honors ceremony. The first quarter at IDEA ended with many students standing out as shining scholars, and we are confident the number will double by the end of  second quarter! We presented 123 awards to students for their outstanding achievement in these categories.

  • 8 students were honored for having PERFECT attendance for the entire first quarter. 
  • 3 juniors and 4 seniors were recognized for earning the top scores for the school on the ACT, SAT and PSAT. 
  • 7 students earned high honors and 18 students earned honors in academic achievement
  • 23 English students and 21 math students were recognized for outstanding achievements on the first interim assessment of the school year.
  • 13 seniors were recognized for already completing at least 100 community service hours by the end of the first quarter.  
  • 26 students from all four grade levels were celebrated with Teacher Recognition and Guiding Principles Awards for their work either consistently exhibiting all of the guiding principles or making the most improvements towards achieving a culture of excellence.

Congratulations to all of our students for their continued hard work! 

Lady Timberwolves Victorious in Season Opener vs. Cardozo Senior High School, Claiming 40-24 Win

Team also defeated Washington, Math & Science PCS 50-16 

 

Basketball season has begun for the Lady Timberwolves of IDEA PCS. The Girls Varsity Team has been practicing hard and is geared up and ready to play. The team, consisting of Moshay Minor (Senior), Monay Minor (Junior), Denequa Smith (Senior), Ebony Ford (Senior), Asia Leath (Senior), Tisha Moorer (Senior), Remani Wideman (Sophomore), India Parker (Junior), and Janiyah Odom (Senior) is prepared to duplicate its successes from last year, making it to the championship.

 

Head Coach Sean Williams, who has been coaching the team for five years, is pleased with how hard the girls have been working. Both Head Coach Sean, Assistant Coach Sade' Hilliard, and the Lady Timberwolves are ready to take on the competition of this season. Check out their schedule here. 

DC One Cards

By now most IDEA students should have their DC One cards, the city's new system for making it easier and cheaper for students to use public transportation to get to school.

With your DC One card, you an take advantage of the Ride Free Program, good for bus trips starting in DC and during certain hours (5:30am to 9:00am and 2:00pm to 8:00pm) on weekdays. In addition to transportation, cards are used at DC libraries and recreation centers.

Teacher Feature: Sharif Talib, Algebra and Saturday Academy Teacher

 

A Teacher Is Born

I've been a teacher or tutor most of my life. In elementary school I would catch on fast and run my mouth, so the teacher would have me help my classmates, so I became a tutor. I became a lifeguard my senior year in high school, because that was the highest paying job I could get. In DC when you're a lifeguard, you're required to teach swimming, so I taught swimming. I've been involved in martial arts since middle school. In college I couldn't pay for my kung fu classes, so they had me teach beginners. In college I was also still a lifeguard and a math tutor. Teaching just came naturally. My grandmother was an elementary school teacher. My mother would send my bro  ther and me to our grandmother's house during vacations, and even on break we had to do school work almost every day.

What You Can Do With Math

I majored in math and physics at Bowie State. I never thought about teaching. My plan was to be an engineer or mathematician. When I was volunteering at a school through my fraternity, someone heard me say that I might teach math after I had an engineering career, and she said, "we need you now!" So after I graduated and I was waiting for a government position, I started substituting at Suitland High School. I was always talking about how African Americans who are successful don't give back to the community, so I realized it was time for me to put my money where my mouth was. I would've been a hypocrite if I didn't. So I taught math for a few years. Then I took a government job as a mathematician. I was working as an actuary. It was good money but boring. The reason I majored in math and physics was to have freedom. I knew I could always get a job. So I thought about what jobs I liked. I had saved up money working for the government, so I took some time off and decided to come back to teaching. I taught at Friendship Collegiate PCS, Community Academy Public Charter School, and Cesar Chavez before I came to IDEA.
 
The Importance of High Expectations

My mother was a single mother. She either worked two jobs or was in school my whole life. My mother expected straight As from me because she knew I could do it. I brought home my first B in high school.

The biggest thing parents can do for their children is make their children believe that education is the most important thing. It's not necessary for parents to have a college education for you to make sure your child is doing their homework and bringing home progress reports. You don't have to know the material your children are working to be able to check to see that they've completed something.

Boys Basketball Season Preview: Beware of the Unknown

This year's boys basketball team will be a little different compared to last year's team. As a team the Timberwolves lost seven seniors, which means they lose experience and leadership with players like Dominque Ross, Paul Taylor, and Tracey Pelzer who graduated. Despite that, the team goals remain the same: the Timberwolves want to play hard, play smart, and play together. This year team is led by tremendous young men like senior forward Tavaughn Lopez and junior guard Aaron Brooks. These two guys have set the tone for the team on the court and off. Sophomore guard Landon Mayo and senior center Jamar Wright bring some varsity experience to a team that lost much of that to graduation. Junior forward Kevin Collins and senior forward Matthew Dixon will look to make an impact after having a good showing on junior varsity last season. This year team has three newcomers in senior guard Rashaun Henry, freshman center Tyree Wilson, and sophomore forward Raquan Ford. All three players look to have a solid impact on this year's team. Many people do not know what to expect from this year's team and because of that Coach Pope has given them the title Beware of the Unknown. Check out their schedule here. 

Lunch Celebrates Diligence of Saturday Students

Students who spent their Saturdays throughout the first quarter determined to improve their math skills were rewarded by a special luncheon on November 20. IDEA recognized 25 10th graders who demonstrated excellent attendance and academic achievement in Saturday Academy. Congratulations math scholars!
Zealot Fashion Show to Display Art and Music Students' Dedication and Creativity on December 18 at 11:30 IDEA music and art students will present the Zealot Fashion Show on  

Wednesday, December 18, at 11:30am, showcasing original handmade fashion clothing and musical talent.

 

The clothing in the show is based on the works of painters from early to modern periods. Student work is inspired by the designs and strategies used in the paintings by the artist they choose.Along with handmade fashions by art students, music students will perform throughout the show. 

 

Admission is free, but $5 VIP tickets entitle you to refreshments and priority seating.