CHEC bulletin for Week of December 2, 2019
TUESDAY DECEMBER 3RD IS GIVING TUESDAY. COUNTING ON YOUR SUPPORT.
MARIA TUKEVA’S (MT) MESSAGE:
MEETINGS THIS WEEK:
Monday, December 2, 2019
OCC Scholars Internship Program Outreach
Model UN 1:45 p.m. - 40 Juniors
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
SLC Morning Meeting
College Application Workshop
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
SLC Morning Meeting
Nutcracker Warner Theater;
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
34 tickets Middle School
ASVAB Testing at CHEC JROTC Classroom
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
College Bound Taste of College Night
5:30-9:00 p.m. Student Center at UDC
4200 Connecticut Ave NW WDC 20008
DCPS ELA Leap Leaders meet at CHEC and
visit classes – 8:30-12:30 pm
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Faculty Meeting 3:30 p.m.
OSSE/DC-TAG Student and
Staff Presentation Senior Townhall
Auditorium - 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
DCPS Math Leap Leaders meet at CHEC
and visit classes – 8:30-12:30 pm
Friday, December 6, 2019
ALT Meeting 7:30 am
CSP UPDATE - ADVISORY 1 PERFORMANCE ON GRADES
CULTURE OF ACHIEVEMENT GOALS
- Increase student satisfaction index by 2 percentage points to 83% by focusing on responding to students feeling of perseverance, self-efficacy, and self-management.
- Increase daily attendance rate to 90%
- Decrease chronic absence rate to 36%
- Decrease suspensions by 40%
Key Data from Student Survey SY 2018-2019
Perseverance-perceptions of ability to persevere-59% - Up 3% but still in need of improvement
Self-Efficacy – belief they can achieve goals – 51% - up 2% but still in need of improvement
Self-Management – managing emotions and behaviors -63% - Up 1% but still in need of improvement
As we continue to focus on achieving our mission of “preparing 100% of our students to succeed in college and careers,” we are at a critical junction in the school year. The first advisory is over, we have developed relationships with our students, we are aware of their strengths and areas of growth, and we have are continuously receiving feedback on our practices through quantitative and qualitative data. Our quantitative data includes results from our interim assessments and portfolio presentations, and our qualitative feedback includes observations from cluster staff, as well as walk throughs by our ALT team and other faculty members. One key piece of quantitative data is the grade point average attained in the first advisory, and in particular the number of F’s and failure rate of our students.
Data shows that an F in middle school has a lasting impact into high school, and as students go up in years, failing grades are correlated with dropping out of school. In the first Advisory of this school year, 360 students, or 24% of the student body in grades 6 through 12, received one or more failing grade. 76 students, or 5% of the student body, received 2 or more failing grades. With this trajectory, we know that 24% of our students are in danger of not completing high school on time, or not completing high school with the academic and social skills that are needed for success.
“Failure is not an option,” is a quote attributed to Gene Kranz, the flight director of the Apollo 13 Space Shuttle flight. The importance of that mission was such that the idea of failure was not entertained, and all other options were explored. In thinking about the importance of education for all of our students, we need to hold the same belief, and our students need to believe it as well. According to educational research Alan Blankstein, schools that achieve success with all of their students operate professional learning communities and can be described in the following ways:
- Establishing a common mission, vision, set of values and goals
- Ensuring achievement for all students by setting up systems for prevention and intervention and building on student strengths
- Engaging in collaborative teaming that is focused on teaching for learning
- Using data based decision-making for continuous improvement
- Actively engaging families and the community
- Building sustainable leadership capacity
Our school strives to embody all of these attributes, and we are achieving success with many of our students. At this juncture of the school year, we now know the names and grades of 360 students who have failed one or more classes, and who are not succeeding as they need to. Now is the time to focus intently on the second factor above –‘ ensuring achievement for all students by setting up systems for prevention and intervention, and building on students’ strengths.’
In order to intervene with all students who need assistance, it is important for all members of the community to understand what each of us can do individually, what resources are available, how our colleagues can support and collaborate, and what tools we have both internally and externally to intervene. As we progress through Advisory 2, we will be working more intentionally as a CHEC Team to have a more visible and more systematic system of interventions for our students who are struggling.
SHOUT OUTS
- Shout out to all teachers who hosted our Cluster Walk through team – Ms. Ramirez, Ms. Garcia-Carmona, Mr. Shroeder, Mr. Rahman, Ms. Nunez, Ms. Zuccarello, Ms. Ryan, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Navas, Ms. DeVargas, Ms. Velasquez, Ms. Nunez, Ms. Chatalian, Ms. Guillen, Mr. Edmonds! Thank you also to Mr. Smith, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Chiu, Ms. Chatalian and Ms. Abbondanza for helping to facilitate the discussion!
- Kudos to Mr. Molina and all who assisted in gathering Thanksgiving Baskets for our students’ families!!
- Shout out to Ms. Ferguson for coordinating and organizing our 3R’s training and implementation!
DECEMBER’S FACULTY MEETING
This month’s faculty meeting will take place on Thursday, December 5, at 3:30 pm in the Cafeteria. The agenda will focus on the Culture of Achievement domain of our CSP, as we analyze in depth the STAR Rating data from last year, and explore how we can establish more intentional teamwork and systematic interventions for failing students. A full agenda will be forthcoming.
REMINDER ON 3R’S TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION Please see the emails and communication from Ms. Ferguson about the training for the 3R’s Curriculum and the dates for implementing the classes. | ||
GRADE LEVEL | LESSON | DATE FOR LESSON DELIVERY |
| 6TH | "Understanding Boundaries" | 12/5/19 |
| 7TH | "Choose your words Carefully" | 12/5/19 |
| 8TH | "Healthy or Unhealthy Relationships" | 12/5/19 |
| 8TH | "Warning Signs" | 12/12/19 |
| 9TH | "It Isn't My Fault" | TBD* |
| 10TH | "Rights, Respect, Responsibility: Don't have Sex Without Them" | 12/5/19 |
| 11TH | "My Boundaries" | 12/5/19 |
| 12TH | "Is it Abuse if" | 12/5/19 |
| 12TH | "Sexual Rights Who Decides" | 12/12/19 |
INSTRUCTION:
CHEC CHAT AND CHEW WITH MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL
This is the fifth week of the Second Advisory! By the end of this week, all classes should have completed and revised their GRASPS, and have either placed it in the portfolio, or on the bulletin board as an exemplar. Classes should be preparing to launch the second GRASPS by next week. During this week’s SLC and department meetings, student work should be available for tuning and reflection. In addition, by next week, on December 10, term 2 progress reports are due in Aspen by 5:00 p.m.
INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDAR
The Instructional Calendar is a living document that houses all of the major curricular requirements, assessments, and schoolwide events. Please check it weekly, as it changes as events are added or moved. Please note some additions - the specific dates for each interim have been added, so please check out the calendar! The calendar is curated by members of the Admin team, and Mr. Magee, Science LEAP lead, curates and adds events or items that are submitted by Department Chairs. If you have an event or item that you think should be added to the Instructional Calendar, please submit it to your Department Chairperson first, and then your Department Chair will submit for inclusion if appropriate.
FIELD TRIP PROTOCOL REMINDERS AND UPDATES
Field Trips are valuable and important ways to engage and excite students about the content of their classes, as well as to draw cross-curricular connections. However, field trips can also result in a shortage of teachers and difficulty in covering all classes. In order to make sure we are balancing field trip approval with instructional needs, please be sure to follow the field trip protocol:
- All requests for field trips must be submitted two weeks prior to the anticipated trip, and must be approved in writing before further plans are made for the field trip.
- There must be a clearly described purpose and curricular alignment for the trip on the field trip request form.
- Please keep the number of chaperones to a minimum, as it is extremely difficult to obtain substitutes.
- Students must have the permission slip signed by their parents AND the teachers of their other classes, indicating that they are in good standing to attend the trip.
- NEW – All approved field trips will be shown on a google calendar linked to the bulletin, and any field trip that is not on this calendar will not be authorized. The google calendar is under construction, and will be launched by the end of the week.
OPPORTUNITIES:
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION CEREMONY
UPDATES FROM: ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP TEAM I LOCAL SCHOOL ADVISORY TEAM I GRATITUDE AWARENESS I COATS FOR OUR STUDENTS I CHEC MUSIC AND DANCE I PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LINK I COLLEGE AND CAREER I LIBRARY UPDATE I OFFICE DEPOT GIVE BACK I
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Academic Leadership Team (ALT) consists of all administrators, LEAP leads, Department Chairs, and any interested faculty or staff. Meetings are held twice a month, alternating between Early Release Days and morning meetings. The ALT team designs and monitors the Comprehensive School Plan. All are welcome to attend, either for one meeting or for all. At the November 18 meeting, the ALT team reviewed the data collected from our internal walk-throughs, and shared next steps and feedback.
The next ALT meeting will be Friday, December 6 at 7:30 am. During this meeting we will review interim data and draw correlations with the observations from our walk-throughs and the Cluster Walk through feedback.
In the attached link, you can find the entire year schedule of ALT team meetings and proposed meeting focus here
LOCAL SCHOOL ADVISORY TEAM MEETING
The Local School Advisory Team had its first meeting of the year on Monday November 25. The LSAT is comprised of four elected teachers, the Building Representative, 4 or more parents, an elected support staff member, an elected community member, and 4 or more students. During the first meeting the team elected its chairpersons, Ahmad Nurridin and Victor Molina, and the Secretary, Desepe DeVargas. The team discussed enrollment projections for next year and implications for budget, and shared their goals and dreams as a team for the current school year. The minutes of the meeting can be accessed through this link.
CHEC GRATITUDE AWARENESS
CHEC students & staff are sharing what they are THANKFUL FOR during November & December, through an array of GRATITUDE AWARENESS activities!
This week, students & staff created a GRATITUDE WALL during all three lunches, sharing what they are grateful for (see pic below). The top responses included "life", "family" & "food!"
Next week, students & staff will have the opportunity to write GRATITUDE CARDS and share why that person is expressing their thanks to them!
Remember.... there are opportunities for staff to incorporate GRATITUDE ACTIVITIES into the classroom - here is the link for teachers to access materials
(thanks Mr. Stewart!!!): https://bellhighlibrary.wixsite.com/chec/educator-resources
Remember...
Giving Thanks. Showing Appreciation. Recognizing one another.
Why GRATITUDE???
Because POSITIVELY RECOGNIZING SOMEONE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR MAKES THAT PERSON FEEL SEEN & APPRECIATED!
Because its a STRONG WAY TO TEACH POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AS THEY OCCUR!
Because it has a POSITIVE EFFECT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT & SOCIAL INTEGRATION!
COATS FOR OUR STUDENTS
Dear CHEC Staff,
We would love your support to keep our students warm this winter. From now through January we are taking donations for winter coats (lightly used) to share with them and their families if possible.
If you want to find out more ways to help our community please contact Ms. Nunez in room C231
UPCOMING EVENTS CHEC MUSIC AND DANCE:
- December 12 International Night Performance & Dinner
- December 17 CHEC Music Department Winter Concert
GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER LINK
Here is a link for a monthly newsletter from OSSE about PD opportunities for a bunch of subjects/areas.
It has ELL, SpEd, SEL, H & PE, RTI, literacy, math and more.
COLLEGE APPLICATION WORKSHOPS
Time: Wednesday’s after-school from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Beginning October, 2019)
Length: The workshops begin first week of October and end by Christmas Break
Location: Room A204
Students: 25 to 30 students - ALL WELCOME!
Volunteer Duties: Volunteers will provide essay writing support – Common App Essays – helping decide structure, students have stories to share but need help capturing stories in an essay.
Additional Info: There is no need for curriculum/books, but college student volunteers will bring their applications, essays to share with students. A collection of sample Common App and supplemental essays will be provided.
Students will be working to apply to a list of 5 schools they have developed with CHEC College Counselor. Ms. Henry.
LINCOLN LIBRARY UPDATE
Hour of Code
Each December, people around the world participate in Hour of Code during Computer Science Week (Dec. 9 - 15, 2019). This event was created to raise awareness for computer science education and show that anyone and everyone is able to code. The activities update each year and have curricular and career ties in STEM and SEL. Interested in partnering to introduce coding? Contact Ms. Falkenberg (angela.falkenberg@k12.dc.gov) for more information and ideas.
Webinars
Integrating SEL into Everyday Instruction - Tuesday, December 3rd @ 3:00 pm
Academic learning may be the explicit focus of schooling, but what teachers say, the values we express, the materials and activities we choose, and the skills we prioritize all influence how our students think, see themselves, interact with content and with others, and assert themselves in the world. While social and emotional learning (SEL) is most familiar as compartmentalized programs or specific interventions, the truth is, all learning is social and emotional. This edWebinar makes the case for taking a deliberate approach to the “hidden curriculum” already being taught, presenting a five-part model of SEL that’s easy to integrate into everyday content instruction. You’ll learn the whys and hows of:
- Building students’ sense of identity and their belief in their ability to learn, overcome challenge, and influence the world around them
- Helping students identify, describe, and regulate their emotional responses
- Promoting the skills of cognitive regulation critical to decision making and problem solving
- Fostering students’ social skills—including teamwork and sharing—and their ability to establish and repair relationships
- Equipping students to becoming active and involved citizens
Our children’s emotional development is too important to be an add-on or an afterthought, too important to be left to chance. This integrated approach to SEL empowers every educator to help students develop skills that will serve them in the classroom and throughout their lives. This edWebinar will be of interest to campus leaders, teachers, and district-level curriculum coordinators and developers. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
Register here to watch live or at a time convenient to you: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/differentiate20191203/
Classroom Mental Health Strategies for Students and Teachers - Thursday, December 5th @ 3:00 pm
Mental wellness is a key element of a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that equipping students with cognitive-behavioral skills can improve their ability to deal with stress and help to prevent significant mental health issues in the future.
We know that teachers and schools are increasingly asked to take on challenges that exceed far beyond the bounds of the classroom, often with insufficient and outdated resources. This edWebinar will introduce educators to the Mental Wellness Impact Framework, a public-health developed framework for supporting student well-being.
Speakers will offer a breakdown of the current research on student mental health, strategies for supporting student and one’s own well-being, and offer practical ways to put it to use. In addition, attendees will receive access to free blended-learning lessons focused on social-emotional learning and mental health that provide population-level primary intervention for your students.
This edWebinar will be of particular benefit to teachers, librarians, and school leaders of elementary through high school grade levels. There will be time to have your questions answered at the end of the presentation.
Register here to watch live or at a time convenient to you: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/schoolsafety20191205/
BELL LIBRARY UPDATE
Happy Native American Heritage Month! Check out the Bell High School Library website with programs, Native American Heritage Teaching Resources, Content Specific Resources and Faculty/ Staff webinars.
Check out these articles from the Urban Institute!
If you have any questions and/ or would like to schedule a class visit, please email, call or stop by the library | A205.
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Check out the Bell High School Library LGBTQIA Resources for Educators and Staff, Students and Parents!
Exciting Books and Articles are located in the Bell Library!
The CHEC/ Bell High School Library would love to invite teachers and staff to reserve library space (check out the pictures) via our reservation platform, Skedda (https://reservechecbelllibrary.skedda.com/booking). Once booking your first reservation you will be prompted to create a quick login. Users will be able to see when space is available and when space is unavailable. This will allow for transparency and comfort in knowing that the time that you have requested, is available. There is also a space for *notes. If you would like to request AV material (i.e. projector) I can have that available and set-up for you. The first space is the main library and the second space is Peace & Love Room/ Makerspace.
We have some amazing things planned for the 2019-2020 school year! Please check out the Bell Library Website with new programming, resources for students and parents and new faculty webinars.
In our Nations Capital and all over the world we have literary deserts that have prevented many from exploring the beauty of equitable literacy. I had the pleasure of being a part of a Summer Curriculum Development Institute at CHEC taught by Mr. Darry Strickland. Each participant developed a UbD (Understanding by Design), a framework used to improve student achievement. Because of the amazing feedback from all involved in the institute and students as well as new teachers, Bell Library's finished project is Building Through Community Relationships: Providing Opportunities to Literary Deserts. We have developed a new partnership with Christ House, a medical facility with "comprehensive and compassionate health care to sick, homeless persons in the District of Columbia, and to assist them in addressing critical issues to help break the cycle of homelessness." (christhouse.org)
The Bell Library along with students and educators will replenish their living room library and create a library in their 52-bed residence known as Kairos. "The Kairos Program participants are capable of living independently, but due to chronic illness, are unable to hold full-time employment. Volunteer service is a key element of the program and each member serves based on his gifts and abilities. They escort Christ House patients to medical appointments, staff the clothing room, work in the kitchen, and assist with mailings and other administrative activities. Some participants also work part-time jobs at Christ House or in the neighborhood." (https://christhouse.org/services-2/kairos-program/) Students will complete empathetic interviews and create a collection that will be sure to rival University of Michigan's- Cook Research Library. If you are interested in helping expand and create a library, please reach out to me!
DCPL Educator Cards will be in within the next few weeks. For new educators or educators who would like a new card, please email me.
I look forward to seeing you soon for a library tour and, serving you well. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call, email or drop by the library- A205!
OFFICE DEPOT GIVE BACK
Office Depot has a Give Back to Schools program that provides 5% credit from people's purchases to help schools buy supplies throughout the year. Below is more info and our school ID numbers that people can share at in-store or online check out. The site provides graphics to share online as well.
Lincoln: 70020154
Bell: 70229484
CHEC: 70020156
https://www.officedepot.com/cm/school-supplies/give-back?cm_sp=FooterLinks-_-products-_-5PercentBack
'Simply make a purchase of qualifying school supplies, provide your school ID at checkout and your school will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies!'
CLIMATE:
DRUMMER KOJO RONEY PERFORMS FOR CHEC MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDIENCE. AWESOME!
BEHAVIOR REFERRAL LINK
Below is the Google Survey/Referral
link that the entire CHEC school community will be using to send behavior
referrals. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your
appropriate Dean directly.
High School - Dean Boone - dewayne.boone@k12.dc.gov
Middle School - Dean Avila - kathrine.avila@k12.dc.gov
Student Culture Intervention
Form - Behavior Referral: Please use this
link to send any behavior concerns after using the 5-step discipline process
and any care system you have in place to support your student's
social-emotional learning. You may also use this link to bring to the Dean's
attention the need for a restorative circle and/or when students are tardy to
your class more than three times. The Dean Team will actively monitor this live
document to support all teachers.
REMINDERS
Students that are Out-of-Area
During the past school year, we noticed a pattern of middle and high school students wandering into the wrong school. For this new year, please be mindful that Middle School students should not be in the High School at all, and certainly not without a pass. High School students should only be in the Middle School on the Lincoln 3rd floor. The route for High School students to the 3rd floor Lincoln is through the Bell 2nd floor and on to Lincoln 2nd floor landing and up the stairs to the 3rd floor. They should not use the 1st or 2nd floor Lincoln to get to the 3rd floor Lincoln. Students that are not complying should be written a referral, so they can earn a consequence.
Detention
Detention is a first intervention we have for students to check and correct their behavior in your classrooms. Students being informed of this consequence is vital to the effectiveness of the consequence. Remember to use our 5 step process with fidelity so that our students will not earn a greater consequence of ISS and thus lose valuable class time
Dismissal
We always need more support at dismissal from 3:15pm until 3:35pm (High School), 4:15pm until 4:35pm (Middle School). Please follow students all the way out to the front of the building. Students should be encouraged to move on toward their bus stops/metro quickly. Teachers and staff that can make themselves available to stay out front will be greatly appreciated.
Cafeteria Support
All lunches have their ups and their downs. We always appreciate additional supports in the cafeteria on days that teachers are available. Check-ins with students build relationships and adult presence supports our daily procedures in lunch.
WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE
Athletics are an integral part of the educational program and a means to accomplish the goals of education. Our athletic program exists for the welfare of students and the contributions it makes to their educational experience. Athletic participation builds self-esteem and confidence and provides the necessary tools for success. The interaction between individuals on the fields of sport teaches students the value of teamwork, while developing the proper competitive spirit, combined with a sense of fairness.
LINCOLN MS BOYS SOCCER TEAM SY 2019-20
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
No games last week.
LINCOLN
Boys Basketball – 0 – 0
Girls Basketball – 0 – 0
BELL
Bowling:
Junior Varsity Bowling – 0 – 0
Varsity Boys Bowling – 0 – 0
Varsity Girls Bowling – 0 - 0
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Monday, December 2, 2019
MS BB vs. Wheatley at Wheatley @ 4:45
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
VGB vs. DCI at DCI @ 5:00
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
No Games
Thursday, December 5, 2019
MS Wrestling at Deal @ 4:00
JVB vs. CMIT at CHEC @ 5:00
VBB vs. CMIT at CHEC @ 7:00
Friday, December 6, 2019
MS GB vs. Cardozo at CHEC @ 4:45
MS BB vs. Cardozo at CHEC @ 6:00
VGB vs. National Collegiate Prep at CHEC @ 7:30
Saturday, December 7, 2019
HS Indoor Track Invitational at PG Sports & Learning Complex @ 9:00