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In This Issue
Message from the Head of School
Mayor Celebrates IDEA's Growth
We Got the Beat
Saturday Academy
English Teachers Become Students
International Cooking Club
Family Thanksgiving Dinner
IDEA Athletics
Skating Trip
Vote for IDEA
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IDEA in the News

WAMU 88.5 reporter Kavitha Cardoza spent some time at IDEA this week to learn more about the school's turnaround following the Mayor's visit. Listen to or read the piece at

bit.ly/IDEAonWAMU 

Coming up at IDEA:

 

December 22-

January 5: Winter break (school closed)

January 5: Staff professional development (no school for students)
January 6: School resumes for all students
January 15: Progress report
January 19: MLK Jr. Day (school closed)
January 23: End of second quarter/first semester
January 26: Start of third quarter
January 29: Second quarter report cards


SAT Test at IDEA

The SAT at IDEA is scheduled for February 25, 2014! Scholars may now begin signing up in the College and Career Center with Ms. Briscoe and Mr. Nelson on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 10am-2pm.


IDEA's Guiding Principles

Each student is an important and valued member of the IDEA community.  

 

In order to be a community member in good standing, one must embody in word and action the following principles that guide who we are and how we behave as members of the IDEA community:

  1. We are prepared to learn and do our best.
     
  2. We respect ourselves, each other, and our community.
     
  3. We take responsibility for our actions and learning.
     
  4. We work together to resolve challenges in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
     
  5. We celebrate our individual and collective successes.


A Message from the Head of School

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Vincent Gray, Executive Director Scott Pearson and the entire DC Public Charter School Board, Deputy Mayor for Education Abigail Smith, the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, our partners at TenSquare, our board of trustees, and especially our staff, families, and students who have made possible our school's significant turnaround in the past three years.

It was wonderful to celebrate these achievements with Mayor Gray, Mr. Pearson, Ms. Smith, and other education leaders in a ceremony on Tuesday where Mayor Gray officially announced the release of IDEA from probationary status one year early because of our accomplishments.

We want all of our friends and supporters to know, however, that we're just getting started. We are determined to continue to dedicate ourselves to the success and well-being of our scholars and confident that we will soon become a Tier 1 school.

From our IDEA family to yours, we wish you safe and happy holidays and the opportunity to relax and enjoy family and friends at this season.

Yours,
Justin Rydstrom
Head of School 
Mayor Gray Calls IDEA Turnaround "Remarkable"
On December 16, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Deputy Mayor for Education Abigail Smith, DC Public Charter School Board Executive Director Scott Pearson, and other education leaders and supporters in DC gathered to help IDEA celebrate our extraordinary student achievement over the past three years, creating a culture of success from a school once on the brink of closure.

 

"It's a new day for IDEA," said Pearson, who called IDEA teachers "masters of their craft." Mayor Gray said IDEA's transformation was "remarkable" and he was proud to be able to release the school from probationary status one year early because of IDEA's rapid success meeting growth benchmarks.

 

A highlight of the celebration was four student speakers who shared what IDEA's turnaround has meant for them and what they aspire to do after graduation. Hearing from a future family lawyer, veterinarian, entomologist, and architect inspired Deputy Mayor for Education Smith to say that she felt hopeful about the future.

Luis Garay Percussion World Brings the Beat to IDEA
 
 
 

At a recent town hall meeting, IDEA students and staff enjoyed an amazing performance by Luis Garay Percussion World, and some of us even had the opportunity to participate! Luis Garay is a classical, jazz, and Afro-Latin percussionist,

composer, recording artist, and educator. Check out videos and more photos on our Facebook page
Saturday Academy Helps Ninth Graders Boost Math Skills
I was so proud of those who attended the 9th grade Saturday Math Academy last Saturday. Students were engaged with first discussing things that hinder their success and learning in class to set the tone and help mindsets for the week ahead. Then students were engaged with connecting equation, graph, and table when graphing linear equations. Students were totally in control of the learning and making sure that each person understood these aspects.

Our motto is "There is no I in team or group." This means that no member can say "I" am finished. When someone is finished he or she must see why everyone else is still confused or working.
 
~Mr. Talib, IDEA math teacher and Saturday Academy teacher
Teachers Become Students at National Council of Teachers of English Conference at National Harbor

IDEA's English teachers were recently afforded the opportunity to attend the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) conference at National Harbor. Our entire department was able to participate in several workshops and trainings over the course of four days. Members of our science and social studies teams were able to attend as well to gain additional knowledge on literacy strategies to help some of our reluctant readers as we prepare for our PARCC assessment in the spring.

The conference offered over 100 workshops and small group discussions around authentic evidence of learning, shared leadership in the classroom/school, collaboration, inquiry-based teaching and learning, and close reading. Teachers received not only a plethora of new knowledge, strategies, and techniques but also free resources for the classroom. All of our teachers completed a reflection that showed their valuable takeaways and action plans for moving forward in their practice.

~Nicole McCrae, IDEA English Department Lead Teacher

International Cooking Club Explores Italian Cuisine, Making Chicken Alfredo and Dining Out at Olive Garden
 
 
IDEA Helps Families Celebrate Thanksgiving with Family and Staff Harvest Dinner and Delivery of Food Baskets

Last month IDEA helped local families enjoy Thanksgiving by serving a delicious Harvest dinner at school for many students and their families. IDEA administrators served the meal and student volunteers, including the cheerleading squad, greeted guests and served dessert. We also conducted a raffle and gave away prizes to eight families. We also  delivered boxes of healthy ingredients for traditional Thanksgiving meals to 25 families in need and partnered with a local church to provide 10 turkeys to families. Thanks to everyone who helped shop, cook, prepare, serve, and deliver food to make holidays in our community brighter.
Timberwolves Trying to Stay on The Right Track
 

The Timberwolves start the season off 2-2 with wins over King George High School in Virginia and Anacostia High School in DC. The Timberwolves' two losses came from Stafford High School in Virginia and Coolidge High School in DC.

 

The first game of the season turned out to be a barn burner as the game was back and forth with Stafford High School in the Stafford Tip-Off Tournament. Up one with 30 seconds on the clock the Timberwolves were trying to seal the win by knocking down free throws, but were unable to and Stafford took advantage on the missed free throw and came down to covert on an and-1. By doing that they gave the Timberwolves their first loss of the season.

 

The Timberwolves were able to bounce back the next day by beating King George High by playing as a team and causing many problems for King George with their pressure defense. With that win the Timberwolves finished in third place in the tournament.

 

>>READ MORE>>

Winter Athletics Update

The winter athletics season has began and this year we are offering the following sports:
  • Indoor track
  • Boys JV and varsity basketball
  • Girls varsity basketball
  • Cheerleading
Indoor Track

The indoor track team will have practice every day afterschool at 4:30pm, except Wednesdays when they will practice at 1pm. All students interested in participating in indoor track please see Coach Johnson or Coach Travis.

 

Girls Varsity Basketball

The IDEA Lady Timberwolves look to bounce back this year in the PCSAA Red Division after finishing second place last season. Losing five seniors in the offseason, the Lady Timberwolves will have a young team heading into the 2014-15 season. Look for junior guard Remani Wideman and senior forward Monay Minor to lead the Lady Timberwolves this season. The ladies opened up their season with a close loss to Cardozo 37-35. They will resume play after the holiday with a home game against Washington Math & Science on Tuesday January 6. 
Following Guiding Principles Earned a Chance to Skate!

More than 100 students who earned positive points for following IDEA's five guiding principles were rewarded with a fun roller skating trip last month. We're excited to take even more students out for next quarter's trip!

Vote for IDEA to Present Our Success Story at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference
 

Please take a moment to vote for IDEA to present at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools #NCSC15. This is a huge opportunity to present in front of more than 4,500 charter school professionals, and IDEA love to have your support! Voting ends 12/19. Vote here for Mr. Rydstrom's session titled Improving Your School's Performance- A Case Study of a DC Turnaround here: http://bit.ly/13yQYAs