Weekly Field Trip Update

Families, each week Higher Achievement hosts a weekly field trip.  It is our goal to present the scholars with an opportunity to more deeply connect with each other, staff, and the concepts that we learn about at Center. Below you will find some necessary components of a field trip, and the location(s) of this week’s trips.

Where are we going?

5^th grade- Hirshhorn Gallery & The Museum of American History

6^th grade- The Beach (White Tail Shelter)

7^th grade- The Beach (White Tail Shelter)

8^th grade- Duke Ellington School of the Arts (in the morning)/Movie Day at Center (in the afternoon)

What do We Need?

Higher Achievement T-shirt (is provided & must be worn at all times)

A “simple “packed Lunch (nothing that needs heating and/or cooling)

A bottle of water

*Scholars should not bring Money… we do not allow them to visit gift shops or food stands

Report Card Reminder

At our Summer Academy Kick-off event I reminded all families about the importance of data and timely submission of your scholar’s 4^th quarter report card.  If you have not already, please submit your scholars 2013 4^th quarter report card and/or communicate with Mr. Sam that you are in the process of doing so.  All scholars who have not turned in their report card by Thursday July 11^th will not be permitted to attend our weekly field trips.  Please be vigilant and open in communicating with in regards to this matter.

Summer Academy Kick-off

Hello Ward 6 families,


I hope all of you have enjoyed your extended vacation away from Higher Achievement. You should all be well rested and rejuvenated as we prepare to Kick-Off our 2013 Summer Academy. I am excited to welcome all of our new scholars, and our returning families back to Higher Achievement, and look forward to an outstanding upcoming year.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about our upcoming mandatory Kick-off on Thursday, June 27th from 6-8 pm at our Ward 6 Achievement Center. I look forward to seeing all of you there. Lastly, as we approach the end of the year, it will be very important for all families to turn in their scholars 4th quarter report cards. Please turn in your scholars report cards prior to July 1st. Thank you, and I will see all of you at the kick-off on June 27th

Higher Achievement Close-out Responsibilities

As the 2013 After School Academy comes to a close, there are several close-out responsibilities that families need to complete prior to our conclusion. All families can expect a letter in the mail detailing the items listed below, in addition to several grade specific requirements. Please feel free to contact me with any questions that arise.

-3rd quarter report cards for most DCPS schools will be released on April 19th 2013; please be diligent in providing Mr. Sam with your scholar’s report cards prior to May 2nd, the final day of After School Academy.

-Confirm Your Spot Form- Each family must complete a “Confirm your Spot” form to secure their scholar’s spot for the upcoming Summer Academy. This online form can be completed in minutes, or you can complete a paper version by picking one up at Center. The instructions for this process can be found on the sidebar to our blog under “Center Documents.” Please complete this form as soon as possible.

-Extended Study Hall- Scholars who complete the third advisory and are still in danger of failing and/or have a “C” or below in Math and/or Literature will be asked to attend extended Study Hall. Extended Study Hall is designed to support a smaller, more select group of scholars for the month following our After-School Academy. The study hall sessions run from 4-6pm and occur every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from May 9th-May 30th. If you would like your scholars to participate, please complete the contract located on the sidebar or a fill out a paper copy that can be provided at Center.

Early Pick-up at Center

Parents, I know that issues arise that necessitate that scholars be picked up early from time to time; however, scholars should not regularly be leaving Center before 7:45. Please let me know in advance if scholars need to be picked up early in addition to whatever reason is associated with their exit. I have been, and will continue to be very understanding of the need to release scholars early, however, I am asking that you also respect the mentors’ time and planning by not picking up scholars unannounced. As a reference please do the following when scholars are being picked up early. Thank you for your understanding.



-Notify Mr. Sam via phone or e-mail
-At Center, ask Mr. Sam or Ms. Jess to get the scholar from their group
-Sign the scholar out in the sign-in book

Progress Reports

It is our job to support and work alongside you in an effort to support our scholars. Please communicate regularly with your scholar’s Achievement Coach, and provide us with the necessary data to effectively do our jobs. Please share your scholar’s 3^rd quarter progress reports with us.  This information is really helpful in devising supports for scholars.

Progress Reports

As the end of the second quarter approaches, it is important that all families continue to share progress report data with me, and your scholars’ Achievement Coach.  We want to continually be informed of scholars’ progress, and challenges in an effort to more thoroughly support them.  As we return back to the business of Center, please re-establish this communication.

Paperwork Collection

Thanks to all of you thus far for your commitment to getting paperwork into me in a timely fashion. This year a tremendous effort is being made to individualize supports for scholars, and data is integral to the success of this endeavor. Please continue to be diligent in this regard. The next major piece of paperwork is going to be the scholars’ 1st quarter report cards. Please do your best to collect and share the scholars’ 1st quarter report card with me. Finally, please continue to provide our Achievement coaches with progress reports about scholars so we can be proactive in our support of scholars.

Calendar Adjustment

-Our initial Higher Achievement Calendar indicated that we do not have Center on Monday, Nov.19th. We have adjusted the calendar, and we do have Center on Monday Nov. 19th; this will be the final day of Center prior to the Thanksgiving Break; Center will resume on Monday Nov. 26h.

Attendance at Center

Please remember that your scholar’s attendance at Center is integral to facilitating and impactful experience. Scholar absence/attendance also greatly impacts our mentors ability to facilitate a quality lesson. Please communicate with me in a timely fashion in regards to all scholar absences.

Paperwork Reminder

Thank you to all of you who have worked with me in getting me your scholar’s up to date 4^th quarter report cards and DCCAS Test Scores.  I really appreciate the effort. I will formally shout-out the families who are up to date this Friday, and find some special way to say thank you.  If you have not completed this task a formal notification will be sent to notify you of that your scholar must turn this paperwork in prior to retuning to Center. Please do your best to get that paperwork in.

Parent Paperwork Reminder

Thank you to everyone who has turned in their paperwork. It is a huge task to get all of the 4th quarter report cards from last year and current DCCAS test scores. If you have not turned in your paperwork by Tuesday, Cotober 16th or made arrangements to do so, unfortunately your scholar will not be allowed to return to Center until that work has been submitted. Please follow up with me, and help us reach our data collection goal. As a reminder, the paperwork we need is:

• 4th quarter report cards from last year
• 2012 Standardized Test Scores

Reminder! Center Start Date

As a reminder, our 1^st day of Center is this coming Monday, October 1 2012.  We are all looking forward to the coming year of After School Academy and to reaching our goals.  I am confident that our collaborative efforts will ensure that we reach our goal of 80% of our scholars maintaining  A’s and B’s in math and literature and/or improving by one letter grade between the first and fourth quarters.

Paperwork Reminder!

At our yearly Kick-off, I reminded all families of the importance of data.  All scholars must turn in their current test scores and their 4^th quarter report cards by the end of the 1^st week of Center.  Please be sure to turn in both of these documents to ensure your scholar can continue to come to Center.  Expect a call and/or paper reminder to be sent home to remind you of this responsibility.

Parent Paperwork

Report Cards- Parents, if you have not already turned in, or touched base with Mr. Sam about turning in your scholars' report card, please do so immediately. Phone calls will be placed this week to parents, and scholars with outstanding paperwork will not be allowed to continue to attend Center without the required paperwork.


Confirm your Spot Forms- Each "Academy" families must complete a (CYS) “Confirm Your Spot” form to reserve their scholars spot in Higher Achievement. These forms can be done online, and should be available to be completed by Thursday July 19th. Instructions for completion of the CYS form can be found on the blog sidebar under Center Documents. This Friday, at 3:45, in the cafeteria, I will host a session for parents who need a refresher on how to do this and Scholar 360’s as well.

Parent 360 Evaluations- Each "Academy" families must complete a Parent 360 evaluation form to give feedback on their scholar’s progress (or lack thereof). This evaluation will also be completed by teachers and scholars. The 360 evaluation is an important opportunity to objectively look at the scholar’s progress, and begin to formulate effective plans moving forward to better support scholars. These forms can be done online, and should be available to be completed by Thursday July 19th. Instructions for completion of the 360 evaluation form can be found on the blog sidebar under Center Documents. This Friday, at 3:45, in the cafeteria, I will host a session for parents who need a refresher on how to do this and Scholar 360’s as well.


*Reminder: CYS and 360 forms must be done for scholars to attend the College trips, so please complete them BEFORE the deadline of JULY 27th.

End of the Year Reminders

Please remember to complete all mandatory close-out responsibilities, listed below, prior to the May 13th deadline. Please contact Mr. Sam with any questions and/or concerns.

-Confirm Your Spot form for the upcoming Summer Academy. This form is best completed directly in ISIS.

-Parent 360 online evaluations. This evaluation can be completed directly in ISIS.

Instructions for how to log into ISIS to complete these responsibilities can be accessed on the sidebar of the blog.