PARENT NewsSpring 2009

Greetingsfrom the DirectorDear Parents and Families,

As your child grows and learns during the school year, we want to determine what he/she knows, is able to do, and how well your stu-dent performs in the aca-demic program. During the week of April 20–30, 2009 our students in grade(s) 3 through 8 and grade 10 will be taking the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment Test (DC-CAS) to measure their achievement in reading, math, com-position and science. School administra-tors, teachers and staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that all of our students are armed with the academic knowledge, skills, confidence and determination to achieve DC-CAS performance standards success.

We need your help! As we prepare our students for one of the most important exams of the school year, we found out that the Public Charter School facilities allowance has been cut by 24 million in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget submitted to the DC City Council by Mayor Fenty on March 20th. The city has divided school students into two classes – DCPS students and Public Charter School students. DCPS receives $5,248 per student and Charter Schools receive $2,341 per student, resulting in charter schools receiving $2,900 less per student. Is that fair? Of course not! What can we do? Friendship parents and guardians con-tact your ward council member, Chairman Gray, and the four at-large council mem-bers to let them know you want public charter schools facilities funding restored.

Per the No Child Left Behind Act the DC-CAS is the District of Columbia’s standard base skills assessment test for stu-dents in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10. This test is annually administered to mea-sure how well students are learning and results are used to also determine whether a school makes Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The test evaluates student’s annual yearly progress in the areas of math, read-ing, composition and science. This year the DC-CAS will be administered over a two-week period starting April 20 through April 30.

Based on performance, each student is classified as performing at one of four performance levels: advanced, proficient, basic, or below basic. If you would like to review the performance level descriptions, they are available at your student’s school main office or contact Ms. Gail B. Sivels, Director of Parent Relations at 202-280-1700. The performance descriptions will provide a brief summary of typical per-formance for each grade level. The skills identified in each description represent, but are not all-inclusive of the skills a stu-dent should be able to demonstrate at each performance level. Students are required to analyze and compare data; identify clues to problem solving and explain in three to four sentences how they arrive at their answers.

Please use information in this Newsletter to help you and your child.

Who should you contact?• Chair Vincent Gray 202 724-8032

vgray@dccouncil.us• At large David Catania 202 724-7772

dcatania@dccouncil.us• At large Phil Mendelson 202 724-8064

pmendelson@dccouncil.us• At large Michael Brown 202 724-8105

mbrown@dccouncil.us• At large Kwame Brown 202 724-8174

kbrown@dccouncil.us• Ward 1 Jim Graham 202 724-8181

jgraham@dccouncil.us• Ward 2 Jack Evans 202 724-8058

jackevans@dccouncil.us• Ward 3 Mary Cheh 202 724-8062

mcheh@dccouncil.us• Ward 4 Muriel Bowser 202 724-8052

mbowser@dccouncil.us• Ward 5 Harry Thomas Jr. 202 724-8028

hthomas@dccouncil.us• Ward 6 Tommy Wells 202 724-8072

twells@dccouncil.us• Ward 7 Yvette Alexander 202 724-8068

yalexander@dccouncil.us• Ward 8 Marion Barry 202 724-8045

mbarry@dccouncil.us

What is DC-CAS?

Make a call and/or send a email and help us fight for equal funding and equal treatment for students in Public Charter Schools. Please call me if you have any questions. I will be glad to speak with you. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.Let’s blast the DC-CAS!!!!!Let’s Protect our School Funding!!!!Warm Regards,Gail B. SivelsDirector of Parent Relations

Countdown to DC-CAS!

DC-CAS Prep Across CampusesElementary & Middle School

At our Woodridge, Southeast, Chamberlain and Blow Pierce campuses, regular class instruction and homework assignments challenge students to stretch their knowledge across subject areas and demonstrate their understanding with written and oral responses — a skill essential to DC-CAS success. To encourage 100% pro-ficiency, classrooms and hallways are decorated with creative artwork that displays DC-CAS objectives and student accomplishments. Pep rallies and motivational speakers strengthen students’ confidence and encourage all to their best!

Students are encouraged to sharpen their academic skills by participating in the Saturday Learning Camp tutorial and struggling students participated in this year’s Friendship Spring Break Intersession. Additionally, all four campuses kicked off spring break with an energetic DC-CAS rally, complete with t-shirts, food, fun and homework packets.

High SchoolAt our Collegiate Academy the hallways “talk” DC-CAS. Every bulletin board is bright with multi-colored banners promoting excellence.

Students in need of academic support can attend an early morning tutorial before school starts and/or an afterschool study session. Saturday Learning Camp and the Spring Break Intersession is offered to 10th grade students to reinforce their studies and test taking skills.

Tenth grade students measure their mastery of core subjects with the DC-BAS, a practice exam that identifies academic strengths and weaknesses. From this exam, teachers assess ongoing student programs and develop individualized student port-folios in algebra, geometry, science, English composition and vocabulary.

For Students and ParentsParents• Get your child to bed in time to

get a good night’s sleep. • Make sure they have a calm

morning at home on test days. • Make sure they eat a healthy

breakfast. • Make sure they are wearing com-

fortable clothes that are suitable for the day’s climate.

• See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed

• Encourage your child to do the best work possible

Students Preparing for Tests

• Get a good night rest• Pack a few #2 pencils in your

school bag• Talk to your teachers about any

concerns you have about the testDuring Tests• Read and pay careful attention to

all directions• Make sure to record the answer

in the correct place on the answer sheet

• Work as rapidly as possible with accuracy

• After completion of the test, use any remaining time to check your answers

• Don’t spend to much time on any one question

• Keep a good attitude. Think positively!

Test Taking Tips

DC-CAS Breakfast MenuBreakfast is free at all campuses during testing weekElementary and Middle SchoolMon. April 20 - Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links, Fresh Apples and MilkTues. April 21 - Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links, Fresh Pears and MilkWed. April 22 - French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Sausage Links, Fresh Apple and Milk Thurs. April 23 - Sausage & Egg Biscuit, Apple Juice and Milk Fri. April 24 - Pancakes, Orange Juice and Milk Mon. April 27 - French Toast, Apple Sauce and MilkTues. April 28 - Waffles, Apple Juice and Milk Wed. April 29 - Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese, Apple Juice and Milk Thurs. April 30 - Waffles, Pancakes, Apple Juice and Milk

High SchoolMon. April 20 - Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Orange Juice and Milk Tues. April 21 - Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Fried Potatoes, Grape Fruit Juice and Milk Wed. April 22 - French Toast, Grits, Fried Potatoes, Fruit Punch and Milk Thurs. April 23 - Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Apple Juice, Orange Juice and Milk Fri. April 24 - Pancakes, Cheese Eggs, Warm Applesauce and Milk Mon. April 27 - Waffles, Grits, Apple Juice and Milk Tues. April 28 -Vegetable Omelet, Grits, Orange Juice and Milk Wed. April 29 - Mini Danish, Warm Applesauce and Milk Thurs. April 30 - Honey Nut Cheerios, Animal Crackers, Fruit Punch and Milk

DC

-CA

S Testing Calendar

Cam

pus

Cham

berlain

Woodridge

Southeast

Blow Pierce

Collegiate

Mon.

April 20

Reading

Grades 3-7

Reading

Grades 3-8

Reading

Grades 3-6

Reading

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rtsG

rade 10

Tues.A

pril 21

Reading

Grades 3-7

Reading

Grades 3-8

Reading

Grades 3-6

Reading

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rtsG

rade 10

Wed.

April 22

Reading

Grades 3-7

Reading

Grades 3-8

Reading

Grades 3-6

Reading

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rtsG

rade 10

Thurs.

April 23

Reading

Grades 3-7

Reading

Grades 3-8

Reading

Grades 3-6

Reading

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rtsG

rade 10

Fri.A

pril 24

Com

p 4th &

7th gradeScience 5th gradeM

ake ups

Com

p 4th &

7th gradeScience 5th and 8th gradeM

ake ups

Com

p 4th gradeScience 5th gradeM

ake ups

Com

p4th gradeScience 5th grade M

ake ups

Reading/

LanguageA

rts & M

athG

rade 10Science9th gradeM

ake ups

Mon.

April 27

Math

Grades 3-7

Math

Grades 3-8

Math

Grades 3-6

Math

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rts & M

athG

rade 10

Tues. A

pril 28

Math

Grades 3-7

Math

Grades 3-8

Math

Grades 3-6

Math

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rts & M

athG

rade 10

Wed.

April 29

Math

Grades 3-7

Math

Grades 3-8

Math

Grades 3-6

Math

Grades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rts & M

athG

rade 10

Thurs.

April 30

Math

Grades 3-7

Science5th grade

Math

Grades 3-8

Science5th grade M

ath G

rades 3-6Science5th grade M

ath G

rades 6-8

Reading/

LanguageA

rts & M

athG

rade 10

Blow Pierce Junior Academy CampusPrincipal Ralph H. NealGrades 4-8725 19th Street, NE202-572-1070

Chamberlain Academy Principal Carolyne Albert Garvey Grades PreK-81345 Potomac Avenue, SE202-547-5800

Collegiate Academy at Carter G. Woodson CampusPrincipal Peggy PendergrassGrades 9-124095 Minnesota Avenue, NE202-396-5500

Southeast Elementary Academy CampusPrincipal Michelle Pierre-Farid Grades PreK-6645 Milwaukee Place, SE202-572-1980

Woodridge Elementary and Junior Academy CampusPrincipal Crystal ClarkGrades PreK-82959 Carlton Avenue, NE202-635-6500

Mission Statement PARENT RELATIONS is dedicated to facilitate parent-school communication; facilitate community agency referrals; en-courage parent involvement in the school; foster trust between parents and the educa-tion community; and foster higher academic achievement through collaboration with school personnel. The primary role is to EMPOWER parents to become active par-ticipants in the education of their children.

Donald L. HenseChairman, Friendship Public Charter School

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rgGail B. SivelsDirector of Parent Relations202-281-1756gsivels@friendshipschools.orgwww.friendshipschools.org

Important Phone NumbersFriendship Board of Trustees202-281-1700

Health ServicesDianne Harris, Director 202-281-1753

Clinical ServicesDr. Bronwen Millet, Director 202-281-1753

Food ServicesJerry Haley, Director 202-497-5854

Corporate and Community RelationsBarry Lofton, Director 202-281-1754

Friendship CaresShakira Hemphill, Director 202-281-1712

District Office120 Q Street, NEWashington, DC 20002

Countdown to DC-CASWe will blast the DC-CAS!!