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DCPS Students Wrap-up the School Year with Recitals and a Special Visit from Michelle Obama

July 16, 2010

Shepherd Elementary School fourth-grader plays the guitar during a May civil rights concert | Photo by Ken Giles

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Bilingual poets celebrate language and learning at second-annual festival
They stepped confidently to the microphone, one at a time or in small groups, dressed in dazzling gowns or stunning suits like miniature movie stars at the Oscars.

Fidgeting under the spotlights, DCPS’ youngest bilingual poets looked to their teachers for direction. Then, gesturing passionately with their hands and stomping the stage with their heels, they filled the Gala Hispanic Theatre with lyrical verse as they recited their award-winning poems.

It was a proud day for dozens of students from six DCPS schools who competed in The Second Annual Spanish Poetry Festival and earned the privilege to perform on stage in front of more than 200 classmates, parents, educators and community members.

“This not only highlights language but demonstrates what it means to be bilingual and creative,” said Arnoldo Ramos, a community and liaison with the DC Office of Bilingual Education and emcee at the Festival de Poesia. “Language is the cheapest and most creative of arts – all you have to do is speak.”

Students from Bancroft, Bruce-Monroe, Cleveland, Marie Reed and Powell elementary schools joined their peers from Oyster-Adams Bilingual School to demonstrate their creativity, mastery of Spanish and knowledge of poetry in one of several end-of-the-year recitals and performances that spotlight student knowledge and skill.

From poetry to visual arts to dance, music, theater, international festivals or academics, student showcases provide more than just a few cute photo opportunities for parents, they also help students build confidence, connect with their peers and prove their knowledge in a variety of subject areas and media.

“It was pretty good, interesting,” said Northwest resident Lamarr Houston, whose son Renard, a 7-year-old from Bruce-Monroe, performed in the festival. “Where we live is so diverse – Latinos, Hispanics and African Americans – that you have to learn both languages. … So I encourage him to aspire to bilingual education.”

Rossana Maximiliano, a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at Cleveland Elementary, said poetry helps introduce vocabulary, builds writing skills and gets students acclimated to the rhythm of the language. The event lets them share their words with a broader audience and connect with their peers from other school while they learn to become comfortable and articulate under the spotlight.

“They’re excited to share and be proud of what they did,” Maximiliano said.

Bilingual programs are becoming more popular at her school, Maximiliano said, and children are showing the gains they’ve made each year.

“At Cleveland, we have a waiting list,” she said. “[Language] helps them overall with learning reading, math and science because they have to speak in both languages and think in both languages. … It opens their minds.”

Sonia Canales, a teacher at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, said such events give children a chance to share what they’ve learned in the classroom.

“They’re happy,” she said. “They feel like they’re No. 1, they’re the winner.”

Lucrecia Almazan-Johnson of Bruce-Monroe Elementary School said bilingual education “is a tool we need to offer kids to have success in life.”

Poetry at CHEC
The poetry club at Columbia Heights Education Campus, sponsored by school librarian Sarah Elwell and Read 180 teacher Andrew Ratner, hosted its finale in early June in the school library. Special guests were Jeff Smith from DC Voice and Grammy-nominated local artist Christylez Bacon. About 25 students shared original poetry and received personalized certificates for their contributions to the club.

The school’s book club, also sponsored by Elwell, had its end-of-the-year luncheon in early June 9, which offered an opportunity for students to reflect on the year, suggest activities for next year, share their summer plans and make the Book Club reading list for the 2010-2011 school year. Each of the 15 students present received a gift bag and certificate as a sign of appreciation for their involvement this school year.

Science at Malcolm X
Malcolm X Elementary School hosted an interactive science assembly June 14 sponsored by Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education. The afternoon consisted of interactive, hands-on assemblies and a professional development program, all designed not only to engage and excite students but also to demonstrate the power of science today and in the future.

Science guru Steve Spangler engaged students with an interactive and hands-on assembly, which will helped reinforce the significant role that science plays in our daily lives. Prominent environmentalist Philippe Cousteau inspired students to harness and cultivate their passions for science during an informative presentation on the immediate and future effects of the recent Gulf oil spill on the environment and our oceans. The presentation was broadcast live exclusively to DC schools. The day concluded with a professional development session led by the Discovery Educator Network that exhibited for teachers the power of project-based learning in the classroom.

Shepherd Elementary Sings
Shepherd Elementary School students performed a civil rights and rhythm and blues concert in May and an International Day celebration in June.

Multicultural Family Night
More than 250 parents and students filled the Harriet Tubman Elementary School’s cafeteria and halls for the District of Columbia Public Schools Parent and Family Resource Center Multicultural Family Night on June 11. The event was designed to bring DCPS families together to celebrate the diversity of their learning community and promote learning throughout the summer.

DCPS families participated in international activities, food tastings and performances, ranging from Spanish poetry to Laotian dance, ballroom dancing and modern twists on Motown hits.

“We are so lucky to have so much diversity in our school system,” said Kate Amburgey, a DCPS parent outreach specialist for Ward 1. “What other people have to learn from books, we can learn from our neighbors.”

The event also encouraged experiential learning and literacy through games like international bingo and the giveaway of hundreds of books to families to help sustain student learning during the summer break. The books were donated by the nonprofit, Books for America.

DCPS parent volunteers helped students and parents express their creativity through activities such as creating masks, making bookmarks and dancing.

Among the evening’s highlights were the DCPS students and community members showcase of talents from around the world. The Minor ES Glee Club sang some of the songs they debuted for first lady Michelle Obama; two students from Marie Reed EC performed a Laotian dance; an animated trio from Cleveland ES performed a poem in Spanish, “La Rana” (or “The Frog”) and the Banneker Ballroom Dance Club performed a number prepared for their upcoming annual gala.

The evening closed with an international food tasting designed to expose parents and students to a variety of foods that included jerk chicken skewers, pot stickers, coconut shrimp, Vietnamese egg rolls, beef kabobs, Italian prosciutto and melon, quesadillas, and pupusas.

Sousa Middle School Dances
Students in Sousa Middle School’s CPA Dance Department performed a dance program June 8 that embraced a variety of cultures, genres, eras and styles, such as abstract or modern dance, ballet, ballroom dance, hip-hop, cancan, cha-cha, tap, and an array of others. Directed by Nakia Espinal, the program featured special guest performers as well as dancers in grades 6, 7 and 8.
The school also held an end-of-the-year Art Show and Silent Auction June 1-11 in the school’s main lobby.

International Day at Roosevelt STAY
Tucked into a hot basement on a rainy Thursday evening, the Roosevelt STAY International Festival was a hub of smiles, excitement and dancing.

The festival, organized by Principal Sean Yisrael and Cheryl Tolbert, encouraged community members to register for classes while enjoying the music of El Zol radio station and food from around the world.
Attendees were given “passports” and encouraged to visit every “country,” where they could sample treats at each table and speak to current students about their home countries. Once the passport was filled with a sticker from each table, the prize was a hot dog, chips and drink from an enthusiastic set of teachers.

One educator who teachers Zumba, gave lessons, while others sold T-shirts and water to benefit the school. Everyone involved was excited to speak about their experiences at Roosevelt STAY.

“When I came here, everyone was very nice,” noted a student from Peru with the help of a translator. “The teachers are great. They don't waste one minute or second of class, and that makes things very interesting."

Venetta Sloane-Akwara, who graduated from Roosevelt SHS and is now a 25-year veteran teacher, said, "We have the world in our classroom." Regarding recruitment, she said "the radio station [El Zol] has a real pull especially with the Latino community." She also noted her love of teaching the students, saying, "The adults are magnificent; they want to be here."

Robin Pashia wanted to graduate high school in '79, but she had her first son in the 12th grade. Tears came to her eyes when describing her experience at Roosevelt STAY and her nearing graduation.

“It's the best thing that has ever happened to me; it's a family environment," said Pashia, who wants to continue on to college and become a counselor for at-risk youth.

Teresa Gonzales, whose son also attends Roosevelt STAY, works during the day, then travels home to prepare an early dinner for her family before attending classes at night. She is appreciative of the program.

“It's a lot of work, but I need the English to find a job," she said with the help of a translator.

Montgomery ES Reads
Scott Montgomery Elementary School hosted its second Reading Level Celebration on Friday, June 18. Every student was recognized with a certificate and applause for their growth on the TRC assessment from the middle-of-year benchmark to the end-of-year benchmark. Some students went up as many as five levels since the middle-of-the-year benchmark. Several families attended the celebration, which concluded with ice cream sandwiches in the cafeteria. Scott Montgomery teachers thanked the families for reading at home with their students.

Ronald Brown MS Celebrates Success
Ronald Brown Middle School held an awards ceremony and lunch Friday, June 18 at Houston Elementary School field in Northeast to recognize and honor students for the academic gains they made over the past year.

Hart MS Holds ‘Hollywood’ Premiere of ‘R Town’
Charles Hart Middle School ended the school year with a Hollywood-style premiere of a student film “R Town,” an original adaptation of Thornton Wilder's classic "Our Town." The film, directed by Tom Mallan, was written by and starred students and alumni of Hart, most of whom are students at Ballou Senior High School. It was presented by the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop.

Moten ES Celebrates Career Day
Moten Elementary School at Wilkinson hosted a career day Friday, June 4, with a variety of about 35-40 professionals, including many members of the U.S. Armed Forces and city government.

Students Perform for Asian Pacific Heritage Month
Students from Aiton, Eaton and Thomson elementary schools joined peers from Jefferson Middle and Wilson Senior High School on May 25 at the DCPS Central Office, 1200 First St. NE, for an Asian Pacific Heritage Month Celebration that included a variety of song and dance performances, including the “Lion Dance with Drums,” as well as delicious food representing a variety of Asian cultures.

Students from Jefferson Middle School opened the performance with a “Fan Dance,” followed by a “Spring Mountain Song” by students from Thomson ES and a “Chinese Ribbon Dance and Chinese Chopstick Dance” by Aiton ES students. Eaton ES students then performed a “Spring Song,” followed by “Clap and Dance” by Thomson ES students, a “Fashion Show” by Eaton ES students and “My Friend Around the World” performance by Thomson students. Wilson SHS rounded out the performance with a “Lion Dance with Drums” that included a colorful Chinese lion that weaved throughout the conference room.

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