Families' Role in Retaining CAPCS Charter
Support from CAPCS families will be crucial to ensure that our charter is maintained. The PCSB needs to hear directly from those who have chosen CAPCS to educate their children and want to continue to do so. There are several ways to do this:
We are actively addressing the PCSB's concerns and are implementing recommendations contained in its evaluations. We have developed and implemented a restructuring plan for Rand that includes a number of dramatic changes we are sure will result in significant improvement in academic performance. Other changes have been implemented at all campuses that will promote continued growth and improvement. The PCSB's action came before the results of these changes are evident, but we have already seen strong results of these changes at Rand. For example; Rand's 5th graders improved performance in their interim math assessment from 19% proficient/advanced to 55% proficient/advanced from September to December! In addition, attendance at Rand is currently running at 96%.
CAPCS cares deeply about its families. Your Academy Leader and school administrators value what you have to say and want to hear from you. Don't hesitate to contact them. Also, contact our main office at 202-234-5437 if you would like further information about the PCSB's actions and what CAPCS is doing. Watch for notices about parent meetings at each campus and the date of any PCSB public hearing.
CAPCS will showcase it campuses and programs at the DC Public Charter School Recruitment Expo on Saturday, January 7, from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center. Admission is free. The Expo will provide an opportunity for CAPCS to show why hundreds of DC parents have chosen our school to educate their children over the past 13 years. Representatives from each campus will be on hand to explain our commitment to developing the potential of each child in a caring and supportive environment. They will highlight the quest for excellence from staff, students and families and how we instill a sense of community that goes beyond the school walls.
DC Deputy Director for Education De'Shawn Wright got a firsthand look at all the good things going on at Amos 3 when he visited the campus on October 28. After meeting with CAPCS Founder Kent Amos and Chief Academy Officer Sadia White, Mr. Wright toured the Lower School with Academy Leader Ntaka Wellington and the Upper School with Academy Leader Leonard Upson. During the Upper School tour, the Deputy Mayor visited the classroom of science teacher Jeffrey Palmer where they discussed CAPCS' involvement in Project Lead the Way. From there it was on to the computer lab where math teacher Natalie Vanderbilt described what students were doing with the ThinkLink practice probes which help students build needed skills. Mr. Wright concluded his visit by returning to Ms. White's office where he met with Amos 3 Ambassadors Cornelius Johnson, Cynthia Ramirez, Cheyene Rountree, Leon Savoy, and Camille Stephenson. He expressed his appreciation for all he had seen and praised CAPCS' efforts in providing its students with a firm academic foundation and creative opportunities to develop skills and leadership abilities.
Visit Amos 3 Upper School for more Pictures
The Butler Lower School held its second Family Literacy Night of the year on November 8th. It was a packed house as students and their families enjoyed a math-focused evening in a carnival atmosphere. Students tested their numeracy skills with fun math games in each classroom and looked for math themes in books. Each family took home the math-inspired book, Each Orange Has Eight Slices.
Reading Right at Rand The first Rand Literacy Night will be held on Thursday, November 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. and it promises to be fun for one and all. Children are asked to come as their favorite book character or in their PJs. There will be literacy games like Sight Word Bingo and Word Blast, a spelling bee and read aloud demonstrations by Rand students. Parents will learn about the importance of reading to young children and hear about tutoring opportunities through Reading Partners. Book prizes and book giveaways will send children home with new reading adventures. Contact the Rand main office at 202-723-4010 for further information.
The Amos 2 Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be open until Tuesday, November 15th. There are some exciting new books and you're encouraged to visit and purchase some for home or a gift. The holidays are rapidly approaching and a book is a gift that keeps on giving. Even if you don't have a special little one to buy for we have an opportunity for you to purchase a book for a needy child. If you're interested in doing so, let Office Manager Sondra Henderson know and a special purchase time with the child's teacher will be arranged. The proceeds of the Book Fair support Amos 2's Reading Center Library which means all students benefit.
There was good news for CAPCS when the results of last spring's DC CAS test were announced on August 2 by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Three CAPCS campuses were among the top 11 DC elementary charter schools in either reading or math or both.
Scores at the Butler campus showed the most improvement in both reading and math among all DC charter schools. Some 67.31% of Butler students scored Proficient or Advanced in reading, an increase of 25 points over 2010. Scores were up 21 points in math, with 71.15% of students scoring Proficient or Advanced. Butler was among the 10 DC charter schools that made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as mandated by the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB). The Amos 1 campus and CAPCS Online also made AYP in math, while reading scores at the Amos 3 campus climbed nearly 10 points. CAPCS' overall test scores were slightly higher than those of DC Public Schools.
"The academic strategies we put in place over the last several years are beginning to show results," said CAPCS Founder Kent Amos. "We are determined to see that each child in our school makes progress, academically and socially. Our teachers work hard to meet children where they are and help them to go higher, while the leadership sees that they have the resources to succeed. Our challenge now is to build upon last year's success and to take an even bigger step forward. We're confident that we're on the right path and we are proud of our students."
The Amos 2 Campus is hosting the DC Reggio Emilia Alliance (DCREA) Study Group on Monday, October 24 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. This study group is comprised of about 80 members representing Reggio-inspired schools from all over the DC area, including Maryland and Virginia. The informal discussions consider the overall approach, offer suggestions and insights, and frequently engage in specific activities or presentations that cater to the interests of the educators. This will be the first time a public school hosts the monthly meeting. Guests will have the opportunity to tour Amos 2 before the meeting.
The Amos 1 campus is planting the seeds for healthy eating by creating a vegetable garden on the school grounds. Students, family and friends of Amos 1 are invited to roll up their sleeves and help put it the garden this Saturday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Amos 1 is teaming with Action for Healthy Kids, an organization that organizes grassroots activities at the state and school levels to promote healthy schools through meaningful and lasting change. The Amos 1 vegetable garden is the latest project in CAPCS' overall commitment to promote a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition and plenty of exercise. Come
Eight students from Amos 1 competed in this year's Math Olympiad, joining 150,000 others from around the world. Our Mathletes trained for the Math Olympiad one hour a week beginning in September under the supervision of Tamyka Morant, CAPCS Mathematics Instructional Coach. Between November and March, the Mathletes participated in monthly contests of five problems each, as well as weekly practice sessions. All CAPCS students did well and five won national awards for excellence within Division E for grades 4-6. Camille S. and Gregory H. received the silver pin for scoring in the top 10%; along with Camille and Gregory, Raven B. ad Aiyana E. received the embroidered patch for scoring in the top 50%. Jabari A. received the remarkable improvement certificate for showing the most improvement in their commitment to Mathletes and achievement on the Math Olympiad. Congratulations to all the Amos 1 Mathletes for their dedication and achievement.
Congratulations to Ms. Sharon Thomas who was named Outstanding Parent of the Year by the DC Association of Chartered Public Schools (DCACPS) at the first annual STARS Tribute event held on May 12 in our Eckstine-Ellington Theatre. Ms. Thomas is a middle school parent who also serves on the CAPCS Board of Trustees. She contributes to our middle school and to CAPCS as a whole in a variety of ways and we are pleased to see she received the recognition she deserves. The Tribute, which drew several hundred representatives from DCACPS charter school members, recognizes the outstanding work of charter school students, staff and families in a number of categories. Amos 2 Academy Leader Tanya Morgan was nominated for the Outstanding Principal of the Year award
Sadia White has been named the new Chief Academic Officer for CAPCS. She will be responsible for academic policy, content, instruction and student performance at all campuses. This marks Ms. White's return to CAPCS where she served as Chief of Schools for the 2007-2008 school year. Since then she has worked with the Superintendent of Newark (NJ) Public Schools, first as Chief of Staff and then as Chief Academic Officer. Her school reform efforts yielded significant improvement in both language arts literacy and mathematics. Between 1995 and 2007, Ms. White held a number of positions with DC Public Schools, including school principal and Regional Superintendent, Region 1. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of the District of Columbia and a B.S. from DC Teachers' College. CAPCS is delighted to welcome back Ms. White and offer our full support when she assumes her position in June.
This spring's campus-wide choral program will be a celebration of music in America. Come see singers and dancers from Amos 1, Amos 3 Elementary and Middle School and Rand perform the tunes of Broadway. Appearing with them will be guest artists Markeith Scott and Image SoundStage Studios. The program will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Eckstine-Ellington Theatre at Amos 3. Don't miss this fabulous program.
D.C. Chief Judge Eric Washington is a strong proponent of civic education. In honor of Law Day on May 2 he visited CAPCS Middle School to kick off a civics curriculum for 7th and 8th graders using a series of graphic novels produced by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Over the next several weeks, students will read and discuss The Case of Jury Duty, The Case of Internet Policy, and The Case of Stolen Identity to learn how aspects of the legal system function. Chief Judge Washington met with students and praised Founder Kent Amos and the school staff for educating students on values, including civic responsibility. He described the graphic novels as an innovative educational tool that will help students understand the importance of their role in the judicial process.
Three CAPCS campuses – Amos 1, Amos 2 and Amos 3 – have been selected to participate in "Get in the Action", a large-scale day of service sponsored by Action for Healthy Kids. Only four schools from across the city were selected for this event which will take place sometime in September. Volunteer networks from across the city will work with schools on specific activities that help transform school environments to better support sound nutrition and increased physical activity. Although the specific projects for each campus have yet to be identified, CAPCS' application included activities such as repairing or creating recreation areas and establishing urban garden spaces. "Get in the Action" will be a great way to launch CAPCS' wellness initiatives in the coming school year.
Look around. Are your closets bulging with items that you no longer need or want? Toys your children have outgrown? Gently worn clothes that don't fit your current style? Perfectly good household items that lost their place in your redecorating? Those I-appreciate-the-thought-but-I'll-never-use gifts? That extra appliance? Here's a chance to lighten your load, make more room and benefit the students, classrooms and teachers of Amos 2. The Parent Teacher Action Alliance (PTAA) will hold a yard sale on Sunday, May 15 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 1401 Madison Street, NW. All proceeds will be used to benefit Amos 2. You can support this event in two ways: (a) Donate items that are in good shape and in working order. Call 301-367-1414 (202-492-3106 for Spanish speakers) to schedule a drop-off of items. (b) Come to the yard sale, support Amos 2 and see what treasures you can find for yourself. Click here for a yard sale flyer.
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Reuben Cannon was elected to the Board during the March 9, 2011, meeting. Mr. Cannon has had a legendary 40-year career in the entertainment industry starting in the mailroom of Universal Studios and working his way up to be the first black casting director in Hollywood. He helped launch the careers of some of the best known entertainers including Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, and Michael J. Fox. Even that was just the beginning. Mr. Cannon eventually opened his own casting agency, Reuben Cannon and Associates. From there he was on to success in film production, both for television and the movies. One of his proudest achievements is his success as a business entrepreneur promoting the idea of blacks financing black films. Mr. Cannon currently serves as a producer for Tyler Perry Studios. He serves on many boards and, as a resident of Atlanta, co-chaired the highly successful annual fundraising gala at Morehouse College, which two of his sons attended. Mr. Cannon's election to the CAPCS Board is in keeping with the Board's efforts to bring on new members experienced in resource development. We are fortunate to have Mr. Cannon become part of the CAPCS family.
There's nutritious eating all around at CAPCS every Tuesday and Thursday thanks to the new salad bars at every campus that came courtesy of a grant from the Food Family Farming Foundation and Whole Foods. Another grant from OSSE will provide greens, veggies, and fruit. Students and staff will have their choice of fresh lettuces, tomatoes, carrots, celery, cucumbers, raspberries, and apples, as well as healthy salad dressings. Few of us eat enough fruits and vegetables; these salad bars provide the opportunity not only to increase our intake of these nutritious foods but also our understanding of the importance of good nutrition. Our thanks to the Foundation and Whole Foods.
From the call and response of gospel to the laments of the blues, from the cool riffs of jazz to the scat of swing, from the urban Motown sound to the island rhythms of reggae, from the driving beat of rock and roll to the earthy sounds of soul, from danceable hip hop to spoken rap, African-American music has infused, enhanced and enriched American life and culture for centuries.
As part of CAPCS’ observance of Black History Month, the CAPCS Choral Program will celebrate the legacy and heritage of this music in A Journey through African-American Music on Thursday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Eckstine-Ellington Theatre at the Amos 3 campus. The program will feature singers and dancers from Amos 1, Amos 3 Elementary, Rand, and Amos 3 Middle School.
Come join us for this celebration of the unique contribution of African-American music.
Carlos McKnight, an 8th grader at CAPCS Middle School, attended the Pre-inaugural Youth Luncheon at the Verizon Center on December 27th where he dined with Mayor-elect Vincent Gray. Carlos serves as Vice President of the Middle School Student Government.
CAPCS, in conjunction with the Bernard Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy, will host a viewing of the award-winning documentary, The Boys of Baraka, on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. in the Eckstine-Ellington Theatre at the Amos 3 campus, 1400 First Street, NW. The viewing is part of National School Choice Week celebrations. All are invited to attend.
The Boys of Baraka is a true story of three 12-year old African-American boys from low income areas of Baltimore who are given the opportunity to go to school in Kenya. The documentary follows the boys and their parents as they make life-changing decisions about their education and their future. Following the screening, there will be a discussion about the role of parents and students in making decisions about school choice featuring prominent journalist Michelle Bernard, CAPCS Founder Kent Amos, the three Boys of Baraka themselves and their parents. The event will be filmed by C-Span and will be broadcast live by National Public Radio (NPR).
Amos 1 will host a Science Fair on Friday, February 4 in the school gymnasium. Students in all grades have been performing science investigations for the past several months and are eager to present the results of their work. Projects will be judged and awards presented to participants.
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Early Childhood students
12:30 – 3:30 p.m. 1st – 5th grades
All are welcome to come and support the efforts of our budding scientists.
CAPCS Middle School students soon will have an exciting new lab in which to engage in challenging science/technology/engineering/math-related activities. The Frederick C. Young Pre-engineering lab was made possible by a $200,000 donation by the Zoelimax Foundation, named for three of Mr. Young’s great grandchildren. A check in that amount was presented to CAPCS Founder Kent Amos and Middle School Academy Leader Leonard Upson at a December 30, 2010, memorial service honoring Mr. Young.
Using the well-regarded curricula and activities from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) of Clifton Park, NY, students will sharpen their critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge to creative hands-on projects with real-world applications. They may, for example, design and build cars or robots. The lab will support CAPCS’ efforts to provide middle students with exposure to three career pathways that offer a variety of future vocational options. These include pre-engineering, environmental science, and biomedical science.
The lab is named for Washington native Frederick C. Young, a graduate of Armstrong Senior High (now Amos 3), and Howard University. While at Armstrong, Mr. Young was Captain of Company D, which won the High School Competitive Drill, beating out the renowned and heavily favored team from Dunbar High. He remained active in the community throughout his long life. His surviving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren believe this lab is a fitting tribute to a man who cared so deeply about children and education.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the CAPCS Board of Trustees will be held on Wednesday, December 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Amos 3 campus. The Board is rotating its meeting locations among the campuses to provide parents and staff with the opportunity to meet Board members and to raise any questions or concerns. All those associated with the Amos 3 campus are encouraged to attend.
