01-20-2020 - CHEC BULLETIN

CHEC BULLETIN
A weekly update on our professional learning community

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CHEC bulletin for Week of January 20, 2020
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE DAY - JANUARY 17, 2020
MARIA TUKEVA’S (MT) MESSAGE:
This week we will receive our  recognition as one of the 10 OSSE All-Star Schools for 2018-19.  On Tuesday, January 22nd, State Superintendent Hanseul Kang and other OSSE officials will come to CHEC  to visit classes, talk with faculty and staff, and present us with our All-Star Banner.

In our December Faculty meeting we looked at our areas of success in the STAR rating,and highlighted successful practices and activities.  Some of the practices and structures different departments identified were:

  • Data Analysis, Action planning and student ownership of data through POP sheets
  • Differentiation for ELL and SPED students, literacy strategies
  • Read 180 and reading intervention for students
  • Wrap Around Services for students
  • Robust Parent Involvement
  • Rigor and AP for All
  • Diverse Faculty and Staff
  • Strong Arts Program serving as “a home base for arts students.”
  • After school and Avance programs
  • Attendance interventions and incentives
  • College and career support

The visitors will be here during the time of portfolio presentations on Tuesday, and will visit classrooms to observe how the presentations serve as a culmination of the learning process.  Following the visits to classes, they will meet with members of the ALT team to discuss our initiatives in more detail. I would l like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for all of your hard work and commitment to our school mission and students.  The OSSE All-Star recognition is a testament to the teamwork and expertise of the entire faculty and staff!



SHOUT OUTS

  • Kudos to all teachers, proctors, counselors, administrators and support staff for an excellent team approach to HS Affirm testing last week!
  • Shout out to Mr. Molina, Ms. Lemus, and all faculty and Administrators for an outstanding Parent Teacher Conference Day on Friday.  610 Parents attended!!!
  • Kudos to Ms. Perez, Mr. Lopez, Mr. Diaz, Ms. Velasquez, Ms. Guillen, Ms. Ramirez, Ms. Nunez and Ms. Garcia-Carmona for opening their classroom to visitors from OSSE who are coaching us on our dual language implementation! The visitors were impressed and excited with what they saw!
MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

Monday, January 20, 2020
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School for students, teachers, and staff

Tuesday, January 21, 2020
SLC Morning Meetings
Portfolios Presentations (Periods 1 and 2)
9th Grade MOY RI – Periods 3 and 4
Bilingual Academy Open House – 5-7 pm – Model UN

Wednesday, January 22, 2020
SLC Morning Meeting – Schoolwide Mandatory Sexual Misconduct Training
Department Planning Period Meetings
Portfolio Presentations (Periods 3 and 4)
9th Grade HS MOY RI Periods 1 and 2
CAPSTONE Night – 5:30 pm

Thursday, January 23, 2020
Department Planning Period Meetings
Final Exams (Periods 1 and 3)
AP English MCQ Interim In Class
AP Science Interims
AP Music Theory Interim In Class
9th Grade RI MOY Make-ups
MS RI MOY

Friday, January 24, 2020
Final Exams (Periods 2 and 4)
AP English MCQ Interim In Class
AP Science Interims
AP Music Theory Interim In Class
MS RI MOY
INSTRUCTION:
LARISSA DUNN RECEIVES HORATIO ALGER SCHOLARSHIP
This is the last week of the Second Advisory!  This week and next are both short weeks, and the focus is on a smooth process for portfolios and final exams. This week we will welcome parents on Tuesday and Wednesday to our portfolio presentations. Please designate one or two students as greeters, who will welcome parents into your classroom.

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.


OPPORTUNITIES:
2020 BELL HOSPITALITY CLUB
UPDATES FROM: ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP TEAM I BILINGUAL CAREER ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE I ELL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I DONORS CHOOSE I PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LINK I COLLEGE AND CAREER I LIBRARY UPDATE I SUMMER EDUCATION CAMP 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 January 10 meeting, the ALT team reviewed the data collected from our internal walk-throughs, and planned for January Walk-throughs.

The next ALT meeting will be Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 pm. During this meeting we will receive a training from central office on the TEAMS platform in Office 365, so that we can house all of our documents and plans in an accessible place.

In the attached link, you can find the entire year schedule of ALT team meetings and proposed meeting focus here



CHEC BILINGUAL CAREER ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE TUESDAY JANUARY 21 5-7 PM

This academic year, CHEC initiated a fully articulated Bilingual Career Academy as one of our schoolwide career pathways for students.  Students in the Bilingual Academy can take a sequence of courses including Linguistics, Culture and Identify, Translation and Interpretation, and Introduction to Pedagogy. They can prepare themselves for future careers as bilingual teachers, government employees, and a myriad of other professions.  The BCA has an advisory board consisting of professionals in the fields of intelligence, education, and other careers.  During the open house, these professionals will discuss how we can enhance our curriculum, and will provide students and parents with information on how to enter these career fields.

Please join us on Tuesday evening as we inaugurate the Bilingual Career Academy in the model UN, with a panel discussion, refreshments, and question and answer period.



JANUARY 27 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY – FOCUS ON ELL’S

Monday, January 27 is a half day professional development day and half day records keeping.  In line with our Comprehensive School Plan, the half day professional development is focused on enhancing our strategies for English Language Learners through the intentional use of the strategies available on the Ellevation platform.  

This professional development has been designed by Mr. Aguilar and Ms. Emilius in collaboration with the Ellevation staff, and will be differentiated according to each teachers proficiency and previous exposure to Ellevation.  By the end of this week you will receive an email indicating if you are in a morning or an afternoon session. Your department chairperson will assist you if you need an Ellevation log in and password.  For the professional development, please bring a lesson plan or unit plan you would like to revise to provide more accommodations for ELL’s.




DONORS CHOOSE

Donors Choose is a great resource for all teachers. You can receive a mini grant to support a special project or initiative.  Please see some of our recent Donors Choose grantees! You can reach out to them for support in obtaining your own grant!

Ms. Warren has a project funded by DonorsChoose.org

Ms. Warren had her classroom project "Dictionaries to Support Vocabulary Expansion!" recently funded.  The resources for this project include:
  • Webster's Everyday Spanish-English Dictionary x 30
  • Webster's American English Dictionary x 30

MY PROJECT
Developing a robust vocabulary is a must for every student. Additionally, when students encounter words they are unfamiliar with, it is imperative that they have a resource to help them understand. A class set of dictionaries will ensure that no student has to be confused. I also teach students who are in the process of learning the English language. Spanish to English dictionaries are a necessary part of their language development.

The ability to employ diverse diction is a skill that my students are learning, but need your help and support in order to continue with their learning journey.


Ms.Carcia-Carmona has a project funded by DonorsChoose.org

Ms. Garcia-Carmona had her classroom project "Hey, Look Ma, I Made It!" recently funded.  The resources for this project include:

  • 24 Pockets - SimpleHouseware Crystal Clear Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer, Gray (64'' x 19'') x 1
  • Hasbro Connect 4 Game x 1
  • Mattel Games: The Official Uno Tin [Amazon Exclusive] x 1
  • Loteria Mexican Bingo Game Kit –Set of 20 Jumbo Boards - Game for 20 Players – with 2 Decks of Cards and Boards – Includes 240 Free Markers – No Age Limit – Great for Improving Spanish x 1
  • Jenga Classic Game x 1
  • Frito-Lay Fiery Mix Variety Pack, 40 Count x 4
  • OREO Mini Sandwich Cookies, Assorted Flavors, 20 Snack Packs (15 Chocolate Minis, 5 Golden Minis) x 4
  • Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Chocolate Chip, 58 Bars x 2
  • Sharpie Electro Pop Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 24 Count x 1
  • Carson Dellosa – Hipster Stars Colorful Cut-Outs, Classroom Décor, 36 Pieces x 14

MY PROJECT
As the school year is in full swing, I am constantly looking for ways to praise our students when they pass exams/quizzes or excel in an area that was once difficult for them. Recently, I have been hanging stars with the names of my students on it on my door to share their progress. I also send pictures home to inform parents of the amazing work their students are doing. Parents/Guardians also love the pictures and being involved in the daily progress of their students.

The materials I am requesting are for more stars to include all of my students on the wall of progress. I am also requesting snacks as incentives when they pass an assessment.
The games requested are also for an incentive opportunity to allow students to work together. The show-storage is to store our materials in a visible area, so that students have access to them as well.



GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER LINK

Here is a link for a monthly newsletter from OSSE about PD opportunities for a bunch of subjects/areas.
Please take a look … it may have something they could use!   http://eepurl.com/gBFkKw

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

#WinterRead2020 Challenge
Welcome to the third annual Winter Reading Challenge! We join hundreds of other schools and libraries across the United States as participants in this exciting event. We challenge you to read at least 5 books during the month of January and track those books here in Beanstack. Share your progress on social media using #WinterRead2020!

Iconic publishing imprint Penguin Random House (PRH) is sponsoring this third annual Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge in support of public libraries, school systems, and YOU achieving your reading goals! Last year’s Winter Reading Challenge enrolled 65,323 readers nationwide, who logged over 150,000 books and 13.5M minutes of reading.

Top-performing libraries and schools will earn the Golden Penguin and Random House awards. PRH pledges to donate $50,000 in prizes, including author visits and new books, to be shared among the winners.

Let's light up the mind this winter! Happy reading, LINCOLN KNIGHTS!

We Need Diverse Books Giveaway

Staff Technology Lessons
Do you want to implement more technology in your projects or with your departments but are unsure what to use? Are you wondering how to create or navigate using the tools shared by your school librarians? Contact Ms. Falkenberg (angela.falkenberg@k12.dc.gov) or pop by the library to schedule technology lessons. Lesson ideas include Office 365 apps, PPT alternative tools, book talks, video creations, podcasts, DC Library databases, and more. Library media specialists are both your instructional partners and technology navigators, engineers, and cheerleaders. When you are more confident using tech, students will be as well.

Teach Central America Resources
October 7-13 was recognized as Teach Central America Week but resources and lessons are applicable year round. "More than four million Central Americans reside in the United States and migration from the region is headline news. However, most schools teach very little about Central America, including the long history of U.S. involvement in the region." Find more resources about Central America here, including social justice books.

Local Events
Exploring Race, Representation, and History in Children's Literature
Saturday, January 11 @ 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant Library

"Many teachers face either the pressures to avoid difficult topics or to plunge in with little consideration of what is best for children at each stage of their development. This session will be a time for teachers to explore and discuss these issues surrounded by children's books in preparation for D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action." More information here.

DC Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action
February 3- 7, 2020

"From February 3-7, 2020, Teaching for Change's D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice, D.C. area educators, and community members will collaborate on the D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. This week of action is built on the momentum of past local weeks of action and the National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action campaign taking place in cities across the U.S. to promote a set of national demands based in the Black Lives Matter guiding principles that focus on improving the school experience for students of color.

The Black Lives Matter movement is a powerful, non-violent peace movement that systematically examines injustices that exist at the intersections of race, class, and gender; including mass incarceration, poverty, non-affordable housing, income disparity, homophobia, unfair immigration laws, gender inequality, and poor access to healthcare." More information here.


BELL LIBRARY UPDATE

Check out the Bell High School Library Website to watch the newly uploaded video, Our Tomorrows: Teenagers Around the World Share Their Fears and Dreams.  

Please visit the Creative Teaching tab of the library website to explore 2020 (winter, fall and summer) funding opportunities before the deadline.

Third quarter is fast approaching, I am excited to be teaching A Conversation: Critical Approaches to Race, Ethnicity and Representation during 2nd period. We will visit some amazing places including, the Supreme Court to explore landmark cases, the Rayburn House Office Building, Russell Senate Office Building, University lectures and DC State Board of Education.  Students will write an anthology that will be published during the start of the 2020-2021 school year and throughout the course, students will discover and rediscover humanity as a familial force.  




OPPORTUNITY: SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER EDUCATION CAMP - ORNITHOLOGY

Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week
Instructors share favorite methods/activities for engaging children and adults with nature

The scholarship opportunities for the following can be found here:

July 12-17, 2020

Learn practical approaches and add inspiration to your environmental education curriculum during this action-packed program. Our experienced and enthusiastic instructors share their favorite approaches, methods, and activities for engaging both children and adults with nature.

Workshops using techniques in art, music, theater, journaling, and other disciplines will be presented, as well as a host of classic Audubon Camp field trips, including a boat trip to the restored Atlantic Puffin and Tern colony on Eastern Egg Rock, intertidal explorations, and hiking through Hog Island's unspoiled spruce-fir forest. These experiences provide a wonderful opportunity to be learning outside in a beautiful setting, while also considering how you can take back some of these insights and methods to your students back home. We'll be exploring citizen science, creating some inquiry-based lessons on birds and other topics, and demonstrating both low and high-tech methods of teaching.

"Best workshop I have ever attended. No teacher left inside. All teachers deserve summer camp! Total stress relief, FUN, FUN, FUN!" - Deb, teacher, Alabama
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are available for completing the course from the University of Southern Maine (Please bring $20 for 4.5 credits to camp with you).

"I have been teaching for 25 years and have never experience a more well rounded and useful program than that offered to educators on Hog Island. It is nothing short of out of this world. The scope, variety and depth of material we learned was extensive, exciting and so much fun. The people were top notch and the food will make you sorry you have to go home!" - Tracey, teacher, NY

Questions: For questions regarding the program, registration, lodging or meals, contact the Audubon Camp registrar at hogisland@audubon.org or (843) 340-8673. Additional information about accommodations can be found on the lodging and frequently asked questions pages.

Please note that for these programs, there are NO prerequisites, and less experienced/enthusiastic spouses/friends are more than welcome to enroll in all sessions!


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


'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:
VICTOR MOLINA - ALUM LEILA VILLACORTA - SENIOR KEYRI REYES - MS. WEST
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.
BELL SHS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM SY 2019-20
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
The middle school girls basketball team defeated Francis Stevens, West, and Whittier.  The middle school boys basketball team defeated West and Whittier but lost to Francis Stevens.  The high school basketball teams lost to Roosevelt and HD Woodson.  
BELL
Bowling
Junior Varsity Basketball: 5 - 9
Varsity Boys Basketball: 7 - 7
Varsity Girls Basketball: 2 - 12
LINCOLN
Boys Basketball: 4- 7
Girls Basketball: 11 - 0
Wrestling: 0 - 0
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Monday, November 11, 2019
No Games

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
MS Wrestling Meet at Hardy @ 4:00
HS Bowling vs. HD Woodson at Bolling AFB @ 4:00

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
No Games

Thursday, November 14, 2019
MS Wrestling Meet at Johnson @ 4:00
MS Swim Meet at HD Woodson @ 5:30

Friday, November 15, 2019
JVB vs. Phelps at CHEC @ 5:00
VBB vs, Phelps at CHEC @ 7:00

Saturday, November 16, 2019
No Games
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