Hearst Weekly Update

On Friday our K-5 students started our second cycle of SEM, our Schoolwide Enrichment Model groups. Two weeks ago, students were presented with a variety of topics and chose three that they were interested in learning more about in a SEM group. From there, our staff worked to assign all students to a one of their preferred topic groups and on Friday afternoon, students met with their groups for the first time. The first meeting is one in which kids, with adult support, work to answer several questions:

• What do people with an interest in this topic do?
• How do they do it for?
• Why do they do it? Who do they do it for?
• How will we use this SEM to he lp others?

The kids' answers to these questions will guide the activities that they undertake in their SEM groups through the end of this cycle. Over the next few weeks, our goal is to create a SEM display in the library so that families can see each groups' answers to these questions and know what all of our kids are learning about this cycle. We also hope to use this display to pique your curiosity and capitalize on the talents that you, your families, and your friends can lend to our Owls. Thanks in advance for your support of our SEM groups!

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, February 15 - 4:00-5:00 Boys Basketball vs. Takoma @ Hearst; 6:00-7:00 Hearst Arts Night

Friday, February 16 - Professional Development Day, No school for students

Monday, February 19 - President's Day Holiday, No school for students

Wednesday, February 21 - 4:30-5:30 LSAT Meeting; 6:00-7:30 PTA Meeting

Thursday, February 22 - 4th/5th Grade Ski Trip

Email: attendance@hearstes.org
Website: www.hearstes.org
Location: 3950 37th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (202) 282-0106
Facebook: facebook.com/hearstes
Twitter: @hearstes

With the adoption of our core values, we decided to change the Hearst Pledge from the previous version to a new, updated pledge. Below is our new pledge, one that was created by our very own Hearst Student Council. We will begin teaching this to students tomorrow morning and incorporating it into our morning announcements this coming Wednesday. If you'd like to preview and/or practice it with your child, please do!

Hearst Pledge

I am a Hearst Owl and today I pledge to RISE.

I will RISE to be Resilient.

I will RISE to be Inclusive.

I will RISE to be Service-Oriented.

I will RISE to Empower.

I will support everyone around me to RISE.

Today, we will RISE.

Hoot! Hoot!

Calling all Pre-K and K parents…

Did you know there is a Daisy Girl Scout Troop at Hearst? Well, there is! Daisy Troop 42025 started late in the 2016-2017 school year and will continue through 2017-2018.

However, we’re going to need your help to keep the Daisy momentum going. The current Daisies will bridge over to Brownies next school year and we are looking for two parents to take over the Daisy troop as we transition our girls to the next step in their Girl Scout Journey.

If you’re interested, please email Jillian Lane or Andrea Saunders at hearstdc.gsdaisies@gmail.com. We’re happy to show you the ropes and assist you and making it your own for the 2018 -2019 school year.

We look forward to answering your questions or seeing you at one of our future Daisy meetings.

Thank you,

Andrea Saunders

Jillian Lane

As previously noted, beginning in February, all field trip chaperones will need to be cleared through the DCPS clearance process. We’re working with DCPS to schedule a clearance event here at Hearst in early March. If you're interested in getting your clearance, please see prior updates for information on how to do so and thanks to all those who have gotten cleared thus far!

• Attend the IB Showcase at Eastern High School (May 31)

The DCPS Office of Family and Public Engagement is convening a Citywide DCPS Grading Policy Taskforce to provide recommendations for updating and improving the “DCPS Secondary School Grading and Reporting Policy.” The Taskforce will be made up of DCPS parents, their students, and informed stakeholders who will discuss and advise around possible policy changes to take effect beginning in SY18-19. If you are an interested parent who can commit to attending three meetings between mid-February and early April, preferably with your middle or high school student, please fill out the interest form at bit.ly/2GsrbxP.

Our next Ward 3 - Wilson Feeder Education Network Meeting is Monday, February 12 at 7pm at Hardy Middle School (1819 35th Street N.W.). Thank you to Principal Cooke and PTO President Abi Paulsen for hosting us! Please note that you should enter at the 35th Street entrance.

We are very happy to be hosting Mary Filardo, the Executive Director of the 21st Century Fund (http://www.21csf.org/csf-home/aboutus/mary.asp). Mary will be talking about the enrollment study that the DC Auditor has commissioned to look at enrollment projections and methodologies (both for budgets and longer-term) and to provide 5- and 10- year projections for all education sectors in the city. The money for this study was provided by the DC City Council under the leadership of Councilmember Mary Cheh.

You can view contract, proposal, and press release for the enrollment study here: http://www.dcauditor.org/sites/default/files/DCPS%20Enrollment%20Press%20Release%2C%20Proposal%2C%20and%20Contract.pdf

If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to w3ednet@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Brian and Melody

Upcoming meetings!

March 12 @ 7pm @ Georgetown Neighbourhood Library (3260 R St. NW): Sara Goldband (https://dcps.dc.gov/biography/sara-goldband), Chief Business Officer at DCPS will talk about the DCPS budget and possible future changes to the funding formula.

April 9 @ 7pm, Location and Topic TBD

May 14, @ 7pm, Location and Topic TBD

June 11 @ 7pm, Location and Topic TBD