May 2017
Dear Friends of Center City,
April and May have been busy and exciting months for Center City. Our students and staff have been hard at work participating in the Center City Science Fair, working on their Capstone Projects, and taking the PARCC Assessment. We have also been recognized several times for the outstanding work that we do for students each day building character, promoting academic excellence, and generating public service

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Brightwood Teacher, Ashley Walton, Is Recognized as Fishman Prize Finalist
Brightwood Teacher, Ashley Walton, was selected as a finalist for the TNTP Fishman Prize. The Fishman Prize is a $25,000 award recognizing the nation’s most effective PK-12 teachers working in high-need public schools. It is extremely selective, boasting thousands of nominations each year and nearly 800 teachers’ applications in 2017. The prize celebrates educators who have the ability to create challenging and engaging classrooms that help propel their students to success later in life.​ 
Center City Staff Presented Our Work at
Panel Discussion  and Friends Reception
Russ Williams, our CEO and Nazo Burgy, principal of the Petworth Campus, participated in a panel discussion about charter schools for U.S. Department of Education staff on May 4th. Other panelists included a charter school parent from our Brightwood Campus and Amanda Fenton, Director of State and Federal Policy at the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. That evening, we held our Center City Community Friends Reception to introduce new friends to our schools. The featured speaker was Stefan Huh, Director of the Charter Schools Program at the U.S. Department of Education.
Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, Visits Congress Heights
Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, celebrated National Charter Schools Week by visiting our Congress Heights Campus on May 5th. Ms. Devos toured the campus, talked with teachers and staff, and read to our students.
Students Study Social Issues Through Capstone Project 

All students at Center City complete a yearly Capstone Project, which provides students with an opportunity to study a local or global social issue and complete a related project. The Capstone Project themes are related to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. For example, 2nd and 3rd- grade students at Shaw are studying immigration and interviewing immigrants about their experiences. Middle school students at Capitol Hill are creating a Google web site about missing children and are also fundraising for the cause. Fifth-grade students at Trinidad are gardening and learning about sustainable communities. Every campus will hold a Capstone Celebration of Learning to showcase students' projects.

Shaw Staff Makes the News in Support of  Student  
The Shaw staff were recently featured on the local news, WUSA9, for supporting DeVontae Gliss after his mother was killed in 2015. The Shaw Community has come together to support DeVontae and provide him with extra coaching, tutoring, and emotional support. Principal Brandy Tyson started a Go Fund Me Account to raise money for tuition to help DeVontae attend a private high school. All of the staff are helping to spread the word. DeVontae also participates in Shaw's  global studies and service-learning program, Global Ambassadors.
Students Compete in Annual Science Fair 
All Center City students in third through eighth grades  participate in science fairs at their campuses.  Students in elementary grades participate in small group projects, while middle school students work individually or in pairs. Students pick a topic and choose their experiment. They use the scientific method to conduct an investigation, collect and analyze data, and then draw conclusions. Students then demonstrate their projects on poster boards. The winners move on to the district-wide competition. 
Spotlight on Character, Excellence, and Service at Center City PCS!
Character: Capitol Hill Students Selected for Summer Camp by Demonstrating Character
Areyana Martin, Damita Atkinson, and Chester Pearson from the Capitol Hill Campus were selected to participate in the City Kids Wilderness Project. The application process included a trial camping trip where students had to demonstrate kindness, an openness to new activities, and positive behavior. The City Kids program provides students with seven years of enriching, outdoor experiences to support them in leading a successful life and contributing to their communities. The students will participate in a two-week wilderness camp in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the next four summers and will have the opportunity to participate in after-school programming and college and career readiness activities. 
Excellence:  Letters About Literature Winners
Each year the Library of Congress sponsors the Letters About Literature contest. Students in grades four through twelve are asked to read a book, poem, or speech and write a letter to the author about how it affected them. Center City students were among the winners and finalists of the contest this year. Congratulations to Aria Summers, who was the 2nd place winner in the level 2 competition. Congratulations to Rosa Alvarado from the Brightwood Campus and Lizay Abarca, Karen Ruiz, Irvin Mendez-Santana, TaKayla Grant and Siraj Carter from the Shaw Campus for being finalists. 
Service:  Congress Heights Students Prepare Care Packages for First Responders 
Congress Heights students are putting together care packages for local first responders. The school community noticed an increase in calls in the neighborhood and wanted to raise the spirits of the first responders and show them they are appreciated.  The packages include two student messages of encouragement and a variety of items that would be useful to first responders as they make their calls such as lotion, water, hand sanitizer, and tissues.
Here's How You Can Support Center City PCS!
Do More 24
Center City is participating in Do More 24 on June 8th, a 24-hour day of giving powered by the United Way of the National Capital Area. Please consider donating and help us spread the word by sharing our Do More 24 page with friends and family. Let them know they can make a difference on June 8th! Please also show your support on Facebook and Twitter.
Center City Public Charter school expands extra curricular and professional
development offerings thanks to generous contributions from our supporters.
Thank you!
 
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