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Week of:
September 6
Bell Schedule
Monday - Holiday
Labor Day
Tuesday - Bell T (DCBAS - Reading)
Wednesday - Bell T (DCBAS - Math)
Thursday - Bell I
Friday - Bell I
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| Upcoming Dates |  | |
September 6
Labor Day
(school closed)
September 7
DCBAS - Reading
Costa Rica Trip Parent Meeting 5:30pm;
Back to School Night
6 - 9 pm
September 8
DCBAS - Math
WTU Chapter Meeting
Department Chair Meeting; 3:30 pm
September 9
DCBAS Makeup
SCAC Meeting
September 14
6th Grade
Hemlock Field Trip
(Team Rio)
September 15
6th Grade
Hemlock Trip
(Team Istanbul)
September 16
6th Grade
Hemlock Trip
(Team Manila)
Deficiency Notices Due to
Homeroom Teachers
Science Project Part I Due
Faculty Meeting; 3:30 pm
September 17
PD Day for Teachers and Aides
(No School for Students)
September 22
Deficiency Notices Due to Administrators
Department Chair Meeting
IB Curriculum Night; 6:30 pm
Soccer Game vs Barrie
@ Deal; Girls 3:30 pm
Boys 4:30 pm
September 23
First Advisory Midpoint
September 24
IB MYP Committee Meeting; 8:10 am
September 27 -
October 1
Spirit Week September 29
WTU Chapter Mtg; 3:30 pm
September 30
Buddy Day October 1LSRT meeting; 7:30 am Diversity/Peace Assembly (Bell T) October 6 Department Chair Meeting; 3:30 pm Family Math Night; 6:30pm October 7Buddy Day Viking Time New to Deal Meeting; 3:30 pm International Night; 6 - 9 pm October 88th Grade Humanities Trip to Mount Vernon October 11Columbus Day (school closed) October 13NHD Workshop; 7 pm October 15Portrait Day Science Fair Project Part 2 Due October 18Parent Conferences (No School for Students) October 20LMC Book Groups Department Chair Meeting;3:30 pm October 21Viking Time Faculty Meeting October 22MYP Committee Meeting October 28End of 1st Advisory Records Day 12:15 Dismissal for Students
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Back to School Night
this Tuesday!
6 - 9 pm
The purpose of Back to School Night is to meet your child's teachers, learn about course objectives, grading policy, homework expectations, upcoming projects, as well as meet the other parents of the children in your child's classes!
Students will be preparing their schedule for parents to follow in their homeroom classes. All parents need to know before coming tonight is who your child's homeroom teacher is! The homeroom teacher is your child's 1st period teacher and they will hand you a schedule to follow during 1st period!
6:00 - 6:30 - Principal's Welcome in the auditorium
6:40 - 7:07 - Period 1
7:11 - 7:24 - Period 2
7:28 - 7:41 - Period 3
7:45 - 7:58 - Period 4
8:02 - 8:15 - Period 5
8:19 - 8:32 - Period 6
8:36 - 8:49 - Period 7 |
Stay Informed!
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Zeroes Are Not Permitted
(ZAP)
Starts on Monday, September
13th
ZAP will begin next week! Originally scheduled for this coming week, our DC
BAS testing will push it back a week. This lunch-time support program provides
students with a place to work on outstanding assignments or to get support for
work that was just assigned. Here's how it works:
Students come to the ZAP! room with their assignment and needed supplies.
The ZAP! teacher gives each student a ZAP! pass and sends them to lunch. After
the student has eaten, they present their ZAP! pass to be excused from the
cafeteria and they return to the ZAP! room for the remainder of lunch. It is
just that simple.
This year, 6th grade ZAP! will be held in Ms. Buerkle's room, E104, with
Mr. Albright and Ms. Hernandez; 7th grade ZAP! in Ms. Wickersham's room, E200
with Dr. Shanklin and Ms. McFarland; and 8th grade ZAP! in Ms. Sweeney's room
W305, with Dr. Shanklin and Ms. White |
Library Media Center General Information
Library Hours
8:00 am - 5 pm
Before School
8:00 am - 8:40 am
After School
3:30 pm - 5 pm
*Students must have parent permission to stay after school
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Alice Deal Promotional Sponsors
1. Steve Agostino of Taylor Agostino Group, Long and Foster Real Estate
2. Ethan and Chris Landis, of Landis Construction Corporation
3. Bertin Radifera, of Radifera Design Group, LLC
Interested in being
a Deal Sponsor? For more
information about becoming a promotional sponsor, please contact Diana Rojas,
nogroj@yahoo.com or Lisa Oakley, oakleyhome@rcn.com
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Deal Fundraiser
Donate Your Old Textbooks on Back to School Night
Trying to unload your used extra textbooks from last year? You can donate
them to Deal's new book exchange!! We are collecting gentlyused textbooks
for sale so students can keep a set at home. We willhave a donation table
at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 7, and starting at 8:30 p.m. you
can shop for books you need at home forthis school year at Deal's new store.
We will be selling textbooks ata reduced price with proceeds to go to
Deal.
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Community information...
Orchestra Day
All advance HS and especially advanced MS musicians from
the entire city are invited to participate in a full day of masterclasses with guest clinicians from NSO, sectionals and rehearsals centered around
Dvorak's New World Symphony, which will be performed in concert at the end of
the day, all at Eastern. No
commitment to the program is necessary, just registration for and commitment to
the one day. For further
information and to register please visit www.dcyop.org.
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The Weekly Bulletin
"Think Globally. Listen Compassionately. Act Inclusively." |
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Our Mission:
Alice Deal Middle School inspires excellence, curiosity, and compassion through intellectual and social engagement. |
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Thought for the Week
" Fall seven times, stand up eight."
-Japanese Proverb
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Principal's Message...
Can you remember your middle school days? Tuesday night, you have the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of your middle schooler as you walk through a truncated day during Alice Deal's Back-to-School Night!
What can you expect?
At 6 pm, we will gather in the auditorium for brief comments and introductions. At 6:30 pm, you will go from class to class to visit each of your child's teachers. Just like your children, you will have 4 minutes of hallway passing time. I specifically ask that you do not go to classrooms before 6:40 pm because the teachers will be preparing until that time.
How will you know where to go?
Your child will be leaving a schedule with his or her first period teacher. So all you need to do to be prepared is to know who your first period teacher is (also known as your homeroom teacher) and then you can pick up the schedule to follow during first period. During your child's lunch period, you are welcome to meet in the cafeteria with your child's assistant principal and counselor, as well as special education coordinator and IB assistant principal. You can also take the lunch period to check out the library and meet with our librarians.
The first two weeks of school have been pretty fantastic. We have had the good fortune of getting to know your children, and now we are looking forward to meeting you!
As is the case with all night events, the parking lot will be full with staff vehicles. So please plan the additional time it will take for you to park on side streets. If you can, take the Metro or an evening stroll!
I hope you enjoyed the wonderful weekend weather. See you on Tuesday night!
Principal Kim |
DC-BAS
All
Deal students will take the DC-BAS on Tuesday (Reading) and Wednesday
(Math) this week. The make-up day will be Thursday. Students must bring two # 2 pencils and a calculator
(7th and 8th grade only).
Helpful Hints
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Answer every question. If you are not sure of an answer, use the process of elimination to make an educated guess.
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Get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast.
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Come to school on time and prepared to do your best.
DC-BAS Schedule (Bell T)
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8:40 |
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Warning Bell | |
8:45 |
8:55 |
Students report to Homeroom - students must leave all items (except #2 pencils and calculator) in their lockers | |
8:55 |
9:00 |
Students report to alternative testing sites | |
9:05 |
10:20 |
Testing | |
10:20 |
10:42 |
Return testing material
Students who need extended time - escorted to cafeteria | |
10:46 |
11:21 |
1st period | |
11:25 |
12:00 |
3rd period | |
12:04 |
12:39 |
4th period | |
12:43 |
1:18 |
5th period | |
1:22 |
1:57 |
6th period | |
2:01 |
2:36 |
7th period | |
2:40 |
3:15 |
2nd period |
Please contact Ms. McFarland if you have any questions.
Back - to - School Night Prep
HR teachers, after taking the DC BAS this morning, please have your students fill out their schedule form for their parents to follow for Back-to-School Night tonight. The students should leave their schedules with you so that you can pass them out to their parents during 1st period tonight.
Costa Rica Trip Parent Information Meeting at 5:30 Tuesday
If you are interested in having your 8th grader attend the Costa Rica Trip this Spring, please come to the 1st information session about it Tuesday at 5:30 before Back-to-School Night. The session will be held in Ms. Henderson's classroom.
Thank You!
Thank you to all of the 6th grade parents who participated in the 6th Grade Workshops last week. We certainly hope that you found them informative. A special thanks to Ms. Buerkle, Ms. Clements, Mr. Downing, Mr. Geremia, Mr. Gueltig, Ms. Jackson, Mr. Kirschenbaum, Ms. Kinzer, Ms. Mason, Mr. Ngwa, Ms. Ortiz, Ms. Philip, Ms. Ruiz, Mr. Albright, Ms. Patton, and Dr. Shanklin.
EdLine Update
This is the first week of the new year in which student grades will be
posted on EdLine (www.edline.net). A number of grading and display changes have
been implemented for EdLine for the 2010-2011 school year. Please be patient as
we roll out the new system - teachers have been working hard to adjust their
grading to a more transparent alignment with DCPS subject standards.
Please contact Deal's EdLine team at DealEdLine@gmail.com if you or your child are having problem
accessing their EdLine page
Choir Rehearsal
All of
the choirs will begin to meet this week! Students should be in the choir
room (CG04), ready to go at the appointed time - this means show up about 5
minutes early so you can be ready to go when the rehearsal starts.
- 6th Grade
Chorus: Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:45 am
- Concert
Choir (for 7th/8th graders): Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:45 am
- GLEE!: Wednesdays
at 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Boys' Soccer Try-outs
Try-outs for the championship Deal Vikings Soccer team
will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.
Students must bring signed permission slips.
Team Bablyon Study Hall
Team
Babylon students needing help with homework or a quiet place to complete
assignments are invited to drop by room W201 Tuesdays after school from
3:30 - 4:30 pm.
Congratulations to the 2010 Girls Volleyball Team!
All players must see Ms.
Ortiz after school on Tuesday to pick up an eligibility packet. There
will be no practice onTuesday. Practice will be on Wednesday and Thursday of this
week. Make sure to bring clothes for physical activity.
Robotics Club
The
Deal Robotics Club will have its first meeting on Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in room E301. Students will have the
opportunity to construct and program their own robot to compete in a robotics competition
this November.
Team
Istanbul After-school Academic Assistance
Every
Wednesday from 3:15 - 4:30 pm, Team Istanbul teachers will be offering
academic assistance to any Istanbul student who wants help or a quiet place to
do homework and/or study. Students can also receive tutoring, studying
tips, and/or work on organization. If interested, come to room W-101 (Ms.
Mason's room) after school on Wednesdays.
Student
Council Representatives
Our first Student Council meeting will be on
Wednesday in Room E205 (Mr. Kirschenbaum's classroom) from 3:30-4:00 pm.
Ms.
Mason and Ms. Hovancsek's Running and Walking Club
Interested in walking or running after
school around Deal with your friends? Ms. Mason and Ms. Hovancsek's
Running/Walking Club is an excellent opportunity for students to work on or
maintain fitness and have fun. All students are welcome and participants are
encouraged to work at their level.
Students will be walking, jogging or
running within a 2 mile radius of Alice Deal Middle School. The sessions will
provide students with a chance to get exercise and meet new friends within the
Alice Deal Middle School community. Ms. Mason and Ms. Hovancsek's
Running/Walking Club is a co-ed activity and the intensity will be modified
according to fitness-level. Our goal is for all students to have the chance to
spend time outdoors, exercise, and have fun!
Sessions are tentatively scheduled for
Monday afternoons from 3:20 pm - 4:30 pm. An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday (due to
Monday's Labor Day Holiday) at 3:15 pm in Ms. Mason's room - W101.
MATHCOUNTS
Mathcounts will take place on Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in E103 (Ms. Philip room) We will meet every Wednesday at the
same time. Miss Milikin and Ms. Philip want you to come join the best
club Deal has. You will be able to develop mental skills and challenge
your mind. Come exercise your mind and develop the abilities necessary to
become a successful mathlete.
Team Cairo IB Science Fair Preparation
Ms. Hampton's 8th grade science classes
will kick off preparing for the annual IB Science Fair project with guest
speakers from NIH. Dr. Yolanda Mock Hawkins, Director, NIH Academy Office of
Intramural Training and Education and several of her staff members will make
presentations to Team Cairo students Wednesday on how to find
science fair topics using NIH resources and other websites.
Cross Country Practice
Cross Country practice will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday this week from 3:30-5 pm. Please meet outside of the locker
rooms, changed and ready to go by 3:30 pm. If you need any forms, please
see Mr. Geremia or Mr. Jenkins.
Fencing Club Begins this Wednesday
The Deal Fencing Club begins this week after school in room
W207 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 3:20 until 5 pm. Deal supplies all the equipment: weapons and
protective uniforms. You need no experience. The club is open to all boys and
girls, grades 6, 7, and 8. You must have a signed permission slip to attend,
which you may pick up from Mr. Hughes in room W207 any day after school.
Roman
Holiday
Romans that are interested in getting help with their assignments,
please visit with your teachers during Roman Holiday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm on
Thursday.
Round 2
of Spanish "Catch Up" Sessions
Last
week's catch up session for Spanish I students was so successful that we are
doing it again this week. Whether or not you attended last week's session,
please be sure to join us in room C315 after school on Thursday, for a brush up
on those language skills! ¡Hasta luego!
Digital Photography
There
will be a short meeting for students interested in joining the Digital Photography Club on Thursday in E105 (Mr. Gueltig's room). We will
meet after school one day each week from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. We will learn new
techniques and explore the local area with our eyes on creating beautiful
pictures to be displayed around the building!
DC 1 CARD PICTURES
Photos for DC 1 Cards for 6th graders
will be taken on Thursday during the 6th
grade lunch period in the gallery. The photographs will be taken by homeroom, so students
should listen for their homeroom teacher's name to be called and then report to the gallery.
DCPL Card Drive and Raffle
Deal LMC is celebrating National Library Card Sign-up Month with a
raffle. Students can enter by showing their library card to a librarian
during Friday lunch periods throughout September. Five students will win
gift cards at the end of the month. Need a library card? Pick up an
application in the LMC.
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Student and Parent information..
Telephone in the Welcome Center
Parents, please remind your student that the office phone is only for emergencies. Please communicate arrangements for after school with your child in the morning.
Needs
Assessment
The
counseling staff is planning to offer weekly small group counseling activities
for students on a variety of social skills and mental health-related topics.
In order to identify students who may benefit from participation, we are
asking that teachers and students complete a Needs Assessment form. Teachers
should have their students complete the Student Form during Homeroom on
Tuesday during homeroom. Teachers should complete the Teacher Forms during team meetings on Wednesday. All forms are to be placed in Ms. Banal's
mailbox in the Welcome
Center by Thursday.
Geoplunge
Geoplunge
will begin on Monday, September 13 (due to the Labor Day holiday) from 3:30
to 4:30 pm in Ms. Buerkle's room, E104. Geoplunge is a card-based United States
geography game that is academically challenging and FUN! Last year Deal's
teams placed in the DC Geoplunge competition. All grades are welcome and
encouraged to come, although only 6th graders may compete.
Study Hour with Ms. Gill and Mr. Stewart
Ms. Gill and Mr. Stewart will hold a study hour from 3:30 - 4:30 pm on
Monday afternoons beginning next Monday, September 13. This is in addition to
scheduled extra help days. Study hour is open to all Team Manila students who
want homework/study help or who simply want a quiet place to get work done.
Journalism 101
There will be a meeting for
all students interested in writing for the Northwest Current weekly paper on Monday, September 13 at 3:30pm in room
C130 (Ms. Wylegala). We will meet for an hour to establish a schedule for
reporters, review deadlines and to discuss how to write a great school
dispatch! Please plan on attending this meeting if you'd like to join our
team of intrepid reporters!
EQUALITY FOR ALL
At Alice
Deal Middle School we appreciate all. The Gay/Straight Alliance will help
promote and spread the idea that "all [people] are created equal". The
club will create a safe space for ALL students who wish to participate. The club aims to stop inappropriate language and to create a safe school
environment. The club will consider all peoples' opinions and encourage people
to express what they feel and hear during the school day that is negative OR
positive towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight people. The Gay/Straight Alliance will meet on Mondays in W206 at 3:30. The first meeting will be held on Monday, September 13. If
you have questions or concerns please contact Mr. Geremia or Mr. Lotts.
Debate Team
The Debate Team will have its first meeting on Tuesday
September 14 in room W305 at 3:30 pm. All interested students are welcome. The
schedule of debates is not available yet but we will begin teaching the process
of debating to new students and welcoming back returning students. Any
questions? Please see Ms. Ruiz, Ms. Sweeney or dealmiddleschooldebate@gmail.com.
8th Grade Book Group
There will be an information meeting for all 8th grade girls and boys
interested in joining Ms. Wylegala's afterschool book group on Wednesday,
September 15 at 3:30 pm in room C130. 8th Grade Book Group is an
opportunity to read fabulous novels, enjoy spirited discussion with your fellow
readers and to enjoy some delicious treats! At this first meeting we will
determine whether we will have a co-ed book group or separate boys' and girls'
groups (which would meet on alternate Wednesdays). Research tells us that
students who read a lot are more successful in school -- so please encourage
your 8th grade student to join us!!
Library Book Groups
Library Book Groups will meet on Wednesday, September 29 to discuss fantasy fiction. Students should eat their lunch first and then join us in the library
to discuss the book.
6th grade - The Titan's Curse by Rick
Riordan
7th grade - Spellfall by Katherine Roberts
8th grade - The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
Immunization,
Health, and Dental Records
Please
bring in your updated immunization record, health, and dental forms to Nurse
Pringle or make an appointment with your health care provider as soon as
possible. ALL students attending DC
Public Schools must be properly immunized. If you have any questions or concerns about your immunization compliance
please contact Nurse Pringle at 202-939-2009. Thank you for your cooperation.
Eighth
Graders Go to Mount Vernon
on Friday, October 15
The
entire eighth grade class and faculty will travel to Mount Vernon, Virginia
on Friday, October 15. Information about
the itinerary, assignments, and fees will be distributed through the US
History and Geography classes next week. Mark your calendars and save the date!
September is National Library Card Sign-up
Month!
Students are encouraged to pick up a DC
Public Library card registration form at the Deal Library
Media Center.
Instrument Checkout/ Audition
Are you interested in joining the band, but you don't have your own instrument? Come to the band room (CG20) anytime before
or after school this week to check one out. See Mr. Phelps for additional information.
Band Audition
Any student interested in participating in the Jazz/Concert Band this
year should come by the band room in order to pick up audition materials.
Physical Education Uniforms
Students who will have physical education for the first semester will need to bring $20 for a physical education uniform this week. Please prepare for physical activity beginning Tuesday.
Athletic Department Fundraiser
Please purchase your ESPN The Magazine subscription and support our athletic program. The 2 year subscription is $40. The school keeps $30 and ESPN gets $10. Help our school and give the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round. Sign up with Coach Downing (202) 327-4875 cell or coachdowning@yahoo.com Make checks payable to: ALICE DEAL (MEMO Team ID# 87885)
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DCBAS
All homeroom teachers should pick up DCBAS materials in room C104 by 8:15 am on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please remember to arrange rooms to reflect a testing environment.
Back - to - School Night Prep with Students Today
HR
teachers, after taking the DC BAS this morning, please have your
students fill out their schedule form for their parents to follow for
Back-to-School Night tonight. The students should leave their
schedules with you so that you can pass them out to their parents
during 1st period tonight.
Back to School Night
All Deal staff members are asked to gather in the auditorium at 6pm as we do annually. Please sit in the front 2 rows. You will be introduced at 6:00 pm and then released to your classrooms to prepare for Pd. 1 with the parents at 6:30. Back to School Night will begin promptly at 6:30. All classrooms should reflect the wonderful work that teachers and students have been doing. Have a wonderful time!
Edline is live!
Thanks for all of your preparations. Please be sure to update homework each week by Sunday night and update grades every other week! We appreciate it!
Viking Time Selections
Homeroom teachers will receive Viking Time information for their students on Wednesday. Students' Viking Time selections should be submitted to Ms. Neal by Tuesday, September 14.
Period by Period
All teachers are reminded that Period by Period attendance must be completed by 4 pm daily.
Grade-level Department Chairpersons Meeting
The grade-level department chairpersons meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 8 at 3:30 pm in the conference room.
Monthly Faculty Meeting
Our faculty meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 16 at 3:30 pm.
Progress Reports and Deficiency Notices
All teachers are asked to submit deficiency notices and progress reports (for students who are not on EdLine) to homeroom teachers by Thursday, September 16. Homeroom teachers are asked to submit sealed deficiency notices and progress reports to their grade-level administrators by September 22. Additionally, homeroom teachers should give a copy of all deficiency notices to the appropriate grade-level counselor.
Bulletin Announcements
Please email information for the bulletin to Ms. Baxter by 1:30 pm on Thursdays. The subject should be bulletin in your email.
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IB Middle Years Program
Our students are grappling with a wide number of unit questions this week
across all grades and subjects, including: What does it mean to be successful
(6th grade Humanities)? How does music communicate emotion (Music)? Is learning
a second language a necessity or a luxury (Beginning Spanish)? How do I want the
world to see me (7th grade English)? How do I meet my needs (7th grade
Sciences)? How can we use language to describe perceptions (8th grade Visual
Arts)?
IB Curriculum Night - Wednesday, September 22 Topics: IB Program Model, MYP Assessment Practices
The first of this year's four IB curriculum nights will be held at Deal
from 6:30 until 8:00 pm on September 22. Through these evenings we hope to
describe IB assessment, vertical planning, units, areas of interaction, and many
other elements of the program. Different topics will be covered at each of the
four nights.
IB MYP Committee meeting - 8:10 on Friday, September 24
Teachers who serve as "MYP masters" for their teams are to attend our first
committee meeting on Friday, September 24 at 8:10am in the Library Media Center
(tentative). Please note this on your calendars. |
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Before & after school activities this week...
Tuesday AM
Concert Choir, 7:45 am - RM CG04
Tuesday PM
Real World, Real Relationships, Real Solutions, 3:30-4:30 pm - counselor's office
Team Bablyon study hall, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM W201
Boys' Soccer try-outs, 3:30 - 5 pm
Wednesday AM
6th Grade Chorus, 7:45 am - RM CG04
Wednesday PM
Girls' Soccer practice, 3:30-5 pm - RM CG07
Real World, Real Relationships, Real Solutions, 3:30-4:30 pm - counselor's office
Middle Eastern Club, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM E307
Volleyball practice, 3:30-5 pm - gymnasium
Glee cub, 3:30 - 4:30 pm, CG04
Robotics Club, 3:30 - 4:20 pm - RM E301
Team Istanbul Academic Assistance, 3:15 - 4:30 pm - RM W101
Student Council, 3:30 - 4 pm - RM E205
Mathcounts, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM E103
Cross Country practice, 3:30 - 5 pm
Fencing Club, 3:20 - 5 pm, W207
Thursday AM
Concert Choir, 7:45 am - RM CG04
Thursday PM
Volleyball practice, 3:30-5 pm - gymnasium
Roman Holiday, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM E205
Spartan Barracks, 3:30-4:30 pm, RM W200
Spanish Catch Up Sessions, 3:30 pm - RM C315
Digital Photography, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM
Boys' Soccer try-outs, 3:30 - 5 pm
Cross Country practice, 3:30 - 5 pm
Fencing Club, 3:20 - 5 pm, W207
Friday AM
Peer Mediators meeting, 8 am - RM N103
Friday PM
Cross Country practice, 3:30 - 5 pm
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DCPS Letter to Parents about DC BAS
Dear Alice Deal Parent/Guardian,
On September 7th-9th, we will be administering an
assessment called the DC Benchmark Assessment System (DC BAS). The assessment is being administered to
students district-wide in grades 3-8 and10.
Your child is scheduled to participate in the assessment.
The assessment is an important component of our educational
program. It will provide us with
information on how our students are progressing on each of the categories in
reading and math that are assessed on the end-of-year state exam, the DC
Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS).
If you have any additional questions regarding the DC BAS assessment or
your child's subsequent results, please contact us. If you have specific questions on the DC BAS
that you would like answered by the central office, you are also welcome to
contact Valen Cayetano at valen.cayetano@dc.gov.
Sincerely,
Melissa M. Kim
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Food for thought...Which Comes First in Math - Skills
or Concepts?
In
this interview with Harvard psychologist Jon Star in Math Hub Blog, Carolyn Kaemmer asks about what the priority should be
in math classrooms - conceptual understanding or procedural fluency. The "math
wars" have revolved around this question, says Star. "It doesn't seem to matter
so much where we start, as long as we're going back and forth and recognizing
they develop iteratively and they inform each other." It's not true, he
believes, that if students do only procedures (even if they practice something
a thousand times), they'll attain conceptual understanding - or if they work
only on concepts they'll become competent at procedures. Both are essential. How
can we measure conceptual understanding? asks Kaemmer. Star replies that if
students could do a procedure accurately, it meant they knew what they were
doing. Now there are doubts about that. One theory is that we need to ask
students questions and get them talking about math problems to gauge their
understanding - we know students understand only when they are able to explain
verbally what they're doing. Star thinks this separates knowing and doing and
he doesn't agree. "I feel like intelligent performance, intelligent action
should be something we are looking for," he says, "and we have to design
careful prompts and look for it..." Star also believes it's possible to design
multiple-choice questions that measure understanding. "Q&A
with Jon Star, Ph.D., on Conceptual Understanding in Math" by Carolyn Kaemmer
in Math Hub Blog, Scholastic/Tom
Snyder Productions, July 16, 2010 ©
Copyright 2010 Marshall Memo LLC
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