What was it like in DC-area virtual classrooms the day after the U.S. Capitol riot? The newspaper covering the happenings at Wilson High offers a window on the experiences of students, staff and faculty at the District’s largest school. Recent articles by The Beacon staff cover the return to in-person instruction, the waiving of community […]
School update: As teachers get second vaccine round, concerns about classroom safety remain; State Board of Ed rep calls on DCPS to fund outdoor classrooms
by Mark Moran Approximately 3,100 educators – teachers and staff – were given the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the first week of February, according to District of Columbia Public Schools officials who spoke to educators and parents at a February 8th virtual meeting of the Ward 3-Wilson Feeder Education […]
Virtual auctions, a Read-A-Thon and dining nights: How Hearst, Murch and Deal schools are raising money for their communities
As in-person gatherings shut down a year ago in an effort to slow the pandemic’s spread, the organizers of many a school auction and gala scrambled to move the spring events online. The in-person festivities remain on hold this year. Murch Elementary and Deal Middle Schools are holding virtual auctions. And the PTA at Hearst […]
School update: Mayor Bowser touts DCPS Feb. 1 reopening plan, teachers get vaccinated, and their union takes safety concerns to a mediator
by Mark Moran “We have the best [school] reopening plan in the country, that’s not an exaggeration,” declared DC Mayor Muriel Bowser during a January 11th virtual meeting hosted by the Ward 3 Democrats and teachers and parents from the Ward 3-Wilson Feeder Education Network. Bowser answered questions from attendees about a range of issues, […]
DCPS offering seats 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 […]
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 […]