by Shivani Nelson I am 16 years old, and I live in Forest Hills. Prior to the COVID pandemic, I volunteered in the free preschool program at Martha’s Table and was looking forward to returning there last summer. With those plans derailed, I have been looking for other ways to help families hit hardest by […]
DCPS to begin offering seats this week for a Feb. 1 return to in-person learning
This week, DC Public Schools will begin contacting parents and guardians with offers of in-person classroom seats for the next term, which begins February 1st. “[E]very school will offer a range of in-person learning options and services for students,” said DC Public Schools in a January 10th update. A mid-December agreement between DCPS and its […]
You have until Dec. 11th to weigh in on 7 names under consideration for Wilson High
A years-long push to rename Woodrow Wilson High School could be over by the end of this year, according to a report in The Wilson Beacon. The November 14th article is a thorough rundown of the renaming process, and the timing and people involved. The renaming is now at a public feedback stage. From 2,000 […]
School update: No Nov. 9 return to school but DCPS continues to plan for “CARE Classrooms”
by Mark Moran This was to have been the first day of in-school instruction for thousands of DC children. Instead, DC Public Schools (DCPS) has withdrawn plans for the November 9 partial reopening after outcry from parents, teachers, and school administrators. In a November 2 email to the DCPS community, Chancellor Lewis Ferebee wrote that […]
Sheridan School resumes in-person classes with the aid of a new outdoor classroom (Sponsored)
This post is sponsored by Sheridan School. Sheridan School has a new addition on its playground — a classroom. After a long sabbatical due to Covid-19, students at the progressive, K-8, independent school have returned to on-campus learning four days per week. The new, covered classroom on the playground is just one of the elements […]
Emmy, our canine correspondent (semi-retired), would like to have a word or two with us – about words
When we launched Forest Hills Connection in 2012, one of our early contributors was Emmy Elfin. Emmy has emerged from her retirement – still quite opinionated for someone of the canine persuasion. Hello, it’s Emmy again. I am coming out of retirement because of my concern for the spoken language which I think has been […]
School updates: Reopening concerns; Teacher attrition, Submit ideas for Wilson High’s new name
Ruth Wattenberg represents Ward 3 on the DC State Board of Education. This is adapted from her October 16th newsletter. Subscribe by contacting her at ruth4schools@yahoo.com. Contents Calendar events SBOE monthly meeting Council hearing on school staff attrition Renaming Wilson News Reopening plans and problems Pressure on principals Getting data on teacher attrition Calendar Events […]
At Ward 3 school advocates meeting, concerns about tech equity and DCPS plans for in-person learning
by Mark Moran Skepticism and disillusionment about purported plans to return to in-person learning in November marked comments by parents in the Ward 3-Wilson Feeder Education Network (W3EdNet) during a virtual meeting of the network on September 21st. Parents also expressed concern about “digital equity” and what many said was the failure of DC Public […]
What virtual back to school looks like; Murch student reporters share Covid diaries; No break for Wilson reporters
The 2020-2021 school year begins as the last one ended: with instruction taking place virtually. For students at Hearst, Murch, Deal, Wilson and other DC Public Schools, this will last at least through November 6th, when the first term ends. There are a few constants, however. On this, the first day of school, students will […]
Teachers take “Not until it’s safe” school reopening protest to CM Mary Cheh’s home
DC teachers have been conducting home visits. But not of their students. Yesterday, teachers gathered in front of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s home. #OnlyWhenItsSafe chanted outside of @MayorBowser home by @dcpublicschools teachers. Demanding better care and response to #COVIDー19 @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/Be9Qk8eQi9 — Jesse Burkett-Hall (@BurkettHall) July 20, 2020 Members @WTUTeacher drove protest car caravan through DC […]