Category Archives: Education

RSVP for National Building Museum Ward Day – August 14

Posted by nextstoprp in Education, Recreation

Residents of Wards 4 and 5 get free entrance to the National Building Museum’s Fun House exhibit on August 14 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Reserve your spot in advance.

From the website:

D.C. residents are invited to visit Fun House and all National Building Museum exhibitions with complimentary admission from 9–11 am on their specific Ward Days. Explore our newest summer installation, create your own creative construction with Community Forklift, and  enjoy story time and mobile library book check-out provided by DC Public Library.

  • Fun House opens at 9 am on each Ward Day; other Museum exhibitions open at 10 am. Ward Day hours last from 9–11 am.
  • All visitors must use the main F St. NW doors between 4th and 5th Streets NW.
  • Your Ward Day eligibility is determined by your zip code; please bring a valid form of I.D. with zip code.
  • The general public will be admitted to Fun House and the Museum starting at 10 am.
  • All visitors must check in at the Museum’s admissions desk to receive their complimentary admission wristband.

D.C. Ward Days
July 24
Ward 1: Brianne Nadeau
Ward 3: Mary Cheh
At-Large: Robert White, Jr.

July 31
Ward 7: Vincent Gray
Ward 8: Trayon White, Sr.
Chairman Phil Mendelson
At-Large: Elissa Silverman
At-Large: David Grosso

August 7
Ward 2: Jack Evans
Ward 6: Charles Allen

August 14
Ward 4: Brandon Todd
Ward 5: Kenyan McDuffie
At-Large: Anita Bonds

Help Name the New Ward 4 Middle School!

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

From DCPS:

A new middle school, unofficially referred to as ‘New North MS’ or ‘Coolidge MS’, will open on the campus of Coolidge HS in SY19 – 20. DCPS is asking the public to submit nominations to officially name the school that will serve the Brightwood, LaSalle-Backus, Takoma and Whittier school communities. This public process is driven by the DCPS school naming policy you can find online. DCPS will be looking for a name that lends prestige to an institution of learning, symbolizes a contribution to society and local community and reflects the DCPS mission and values. The instructions and form to submit your nomination can be found here in  English and Spanish. If you have questions about the process, please contact the DCPS school planning team: dcps.planning@dc.gov. For more information on the background of this school opening, please visit the DCPS School Planning blog.

Volunteer for LaSalle-Backus Career Day on June 1

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) will hold its second annual Career Day on June 1, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. The school is seeking volunteers to attend to discuss their careers with students. All careers are welcome. If interested in volunteering, contact Ms. Hurtado at senovia.hurtado@dc.gov or call the school at (202) 671-6340 and leave a message for Ms. Hurtado.

Know a Budding Scientist? Tell them about this internship!

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

Know a Budding Scientist? Tell them about this internship!

Guest post by David Kosub*

Does your daughter ask to swab the inside of your cheeks just because she wants to culture the microbes living inside you? Does your grandson ask you to spit in a cup because he wants to extract DNA and sequence the family genes? Does that neighbor kid keep going on and on about the pharmacokinetics of proton pump and potassium ion channel inhibitors? Does your mom’s cousin’s hair-dresser’s dog-walker’s new temp go on and on about their Bio and Chem classes while playing with their phones? Well, read on then….

To all the budding biomedical scientists out there, this is a great opportunity for you! The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently accepting applications from area high school students for their summer internship program until March 31.

If you were like me many, many, many years ago, you fell in love with science and all the amazing things that come from it. Even after working at NIH for over a decade, I am still in awe of the amazing things that are done on its campus and through the research it supports across the country. And, because I feel so strongly about this place, I wanted to spread the word about how others can get involved—as the next generation of biomedical and behavioral scientists may be right here in Lamond-Riggs!

Though I’m not directly affiliated with the specific summer programs, I have no doubt they are likely pretty cool! You can experience directly what it means to be an actual researcher. Learn from real world-renowned scientists about their projects. Do experiments that your lab mates design. Get training on how science is done. Receive important career and college advice. Present your actual laboratory work at a poster session (these are so much fun!). And, you may get paid too!

There are a couple opportunities to consider for those interested. Please check out the High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0 programs—these are meant specifically for  Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia high school students. HiSTEP participants, though not directly working in the lab, will gain an understanding of how science, STEM professional careers, leadership experience, college advising, and personal skills intertwine. The individuals selected to be part of HiSTEP 2.0 will receive eight weeks of hands-on training in a biomedical research laboratory. While working at the NIH campus in Bethesda, you will also experience    weekly workshops devoted to improving your scientific capabilities as well as professional and personal skills. HiSTEP is focused on juniors in high school, while HiSTEP 2.0 is for seniors.

Interested? Note the following first:

  1. Watch the Applying Successfully Video
  2. Read the FAQs carefully and suggestions for creating a successful application
  3. Must be sixteen years of age or older by June 15, 2018
  4. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  5. Application must include a resume, list of coursework and grades, cover letter expressing your interest, and two references

With the NIH basically in your backyard, this is a great opportunity for you to learn from the experts. I’m also happy to talk to any students about pursuing a career in biomedical research should you have questions.

And to my other neighbors, who too may be far, far removed from high school, I invite you to announce any similar opportunity’s available where you work too. I have no doubt that the diverse, educated, and dedicated neighbors in Lamond-Riggs will prove to be an ample asset for the next generation of leaders in our midst.

David is a newcomer to Lamond-Riggs and is looking to do what he can to enhance his community in as many ways as possible – and yes, he hugs trees too.

*If you are interested in being a contributor to Next Stop…Riggs Park, email nextstopriggs@gmail.com.

LaSalle-Backus teacher is the 2018 DC Teacher of the Year

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

Congratulations to LaSalle-Backus history teacher Paul Howard for being recognized as the 2018 DC teacher of the year, a wonderful recognition for the entire LaSalle-Backus school community.

Lowe’s gives to Lamond area charter school

Posted by nextstoprp in Education and tagged with

According to the Washington Business Journal permit report, Imagine Public Charter School received a grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement to replace playground equipment:

6200 Kansas Ave. NE: Lowe’s Home Improvement (NASDAQ: LOW) has yet to open at Dakota Crossing, but its entry to the District is already benefitting some D.C. residents. The playground equipment on the Imagine Public Charter School Lamond Campus will be replaced in-kind, thanks to a grant from the District and Lowe’s.

January 13: Brookland Middle School Principal Selection

Posted by nextstoprp in Education and tagged with

On January 13, 2015, in partnership with the Brookland Civic Association and DCPS, the Ward 5 Council on Education is hosting a meeting on the selection of a principal for the new Brookland Middle School.

The meeting will be 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Lamond Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE). If you have questions prior to the meeting, contact Andrew Katz-Moses with DCPS.

Mamie D. Lee School Building awarded to Bridges and Briya Public Charter School

Posted by nextstoprp in Education and tagged with ,

The Mayor’s Office issued a press release announcing that the Mamie D. Lee school building, located at 100 Gallatin Street NE, was awarded to Bridges and Briya Public Charter School. Mamie D. Lee, which serves special needs students, will close at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. The release provides a few details about the new school:

Bridges and Briya are partnering to offer a full spectrum of education programming from infant and toddler to adult programs. Bridges, which will serve 400 students at capacity, will provide a pre-Kindergarten and elementary school program with a focus on serving a high proportion of students with special needs in an inclusive environment. Briya will offer GED and vocational education for adults as well as infant and toddler programs for children of students attending Briya’s adult programs.  At capacity, Briya will serve 225 adults and 36 infants and toddlers.

Bridges and Briya will also partner with Mary’s Center, which will provide medical, dental and mental health services. Mary’s Center will be equipped to address early intervention for infants and toddlers and will offer athletic and wellness opportunities for community members.

Bridges and Briya presented their plans at an ANC 5A meeting in October.  During that meeting, a couple of commissioners expressed public safety concerns about operating a school beyond traditional school hours (as Bridges and Briya plan to do) because the immediate area around the school, including the paved path leading to Fort Totten metro station, is not well lit at night. ANC 5A ultimately decided to support the application of a different school.

Bridges and Briya plan to add on to the Mamie Lee school building. They anticipate being open for the 2015-2016 school year in their new home.

 

Site options for new Brookland middle school to serve Ward 5

Posted by nextstoprp in Education and tagged with ,

DC’s Department of General Services has proposed three site options for an arts-focused Ward 5 middle school in Brookland.  A few weeks ago, DGS proposed co-locating the middle school with Turkey Thicket rec center.  That idea was met with strong opposition.  Now, DGS has proposed three standalone site options, but the school would still be placed in close proximity to the rec center.  Visit the DGS Brookland middle school site to see a presentation on the options and a list of FAQs.  Embedded in the presentation is a link to let officials know what you think of the plans.

On a couple of Ward 5 listservs, there is still discussion about putting the middle school in a different location than Brookland (e.g. at UDC Community College Backus campus, which used to house a middle school), but it’s not clear if that is really a consideration at this point.

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