Paul Public Charter School
5800 8th Street N.W
Washington DC 20011
202-291-7499
202-291-7495(FAX)

Parent Page

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PARENT ACTION GROUP
A         UPDATES
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        Staying Involved and Connected
           STAYING INVOLVED & CONNECTED
        PARENTACTIONGROUP@PAULCHARTER.ORG

Hello Paul Parents and Guardians,

This week ends the first advisory. Please review the upcoming events and calendar changes.

October 29 - High School Fair at Paul 6:00 to 7:30pm

For those of you who missed High School Information

Night, there is a High School Information Process

Packet that is available in the counselor's suite.

PLEASE SEE THE BELOW LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE PRESENT.

October 31 - Picture Day!! (Flyers went home on October 24)

Parent Volunteers are needed. Please email Joy

Alexander at PARENTACTIONGROUP@PAULCHARTER.ORG,

if you are available Friday morning to help.

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Charter/Public/Private/Parochial/Independent

High School Fair 2008 – Confirmation List

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 @ 6:00 – 7:30pm

Maret

Booker T. Washington PCS

McLean School of Maryland

Cesar Chavez PCS

Queen Anne Catholic School

Hospitality PCS

Woodberry Forest

Hyde Leadership Academy PCS

National Cathedral

IDEA

Gonzaga High School

Phelps Architecture PCS

DeMatha High School

Wilson Senior High School

Edmund Burke

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School

Georgetown Day School

McKinley Technology High School

Chelsea School

Don Bosco Cristo Rey School

The Barrie School

Thurgood Marshall PCS

Peddie School

Sandy Spring Friends School

Capital City PCS

Washington International School

Saint Anselm’s Abbey School

Elizabeth Seton High School

Sidwell Friends School

*A Better Chance

*Capital Partners for Education

* Denotes funding organization

Confirmation List (as of 10/22/08)

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November Calendar (May Be Subject To Change)

3-Advisory 1 Report Cards Mailed

5 - Two Hour School Delay due to Election Day Project

for Students on November 4, Election Day.

Students will receive an assignment packet for this

historical event prior to Election Day.)

(The Social Studies teachers will advise.)

7 - Parent Teacher Conference -12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

(School Closed)

(4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Teachers’ Dinner Break)

11 – Veteran’s Day – School Closed

12 – Staff Meeting (No Extended Day)

13 – Awards Assembly

Parent Action Group Meeting (PAG) 6:30 p.m. - school Library

18 – Family Literacy Night 6:30 p.m.

21 - Staff Development (Students dismissed at 12:15 p.m.)

26-28 - Thanksgiving Holiday – School Closed

Thank You!

Your Chairs: Joy Alexander Senta Boardley Troy Isreal

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DC Parent Smart
DC ParentSmart helps parents take advantage of public education options available to their children. We provide resources, training, outreach, and individualized assistance to all DC parents, with special attention to those whose children attend schools designated "in need of improvement." A program of The Center for Student Support Services, DC ParentSmart is made possible by a grant from the US Department of Education.

Family Math Night/Matemáticas de la Familia-Sponsored by the Math Department
Students and their families are invited to attend and engage in hands on activities related to various basic math concepts. The goals of the program are to encourage mathematic skill building allowing parents insight into the topics being taught in the classroom to better assist students at home; provide opportunities for family bonding; and to have fun as a family while participating in educational exercises. Family Math Night is open to students at all grade levels and their families. Contact your child's math teacher for more information

Special Education Family Night-Sponsored by the Special Education Department
Special Education Family Nights provide an opportunity for parents to voice their opinions and concerns regarding academic achievement and wrap around support for students. Paul PCS will provide guest parent speakers with intense discussion sessions on current local and national issues surrounding special education.

ESL Family Night- Sponsored by the ESL Department
ESL Family Night is designed particularly for parents of our second language learner students. The workshops will provide parents with detailed information regarding school rules and policies, interpreting student report cards and classroom progress, effective teacher communication and community issues.

High School Information Night
These information sessions include general discussions about the high school application process as well as specific criteria students must meet in order to attend specialized, private and parochial high schools. Information about testing, interviews and application procedures is also provided. Representatives from local high schools and financial aid institutions are usually available to answer specific questions about application deadlines and monetary support.

Other Parent Websites and Resources:
www.dcparentsmart.org
www.ed.gov/parents
www.dcparentsforschoolchoice.com
www.baeo.org (Black Alliance for Educational Options)
www.greatschools.net

Parents Encouraging, Assisting and Caring Everyday

Tips for the Month:

Keep your child involved in positive activities. Help them channel their energy into sports, hobbies, religious activities and youth groups.
Be a good example. Your behavior sets the tone in your home.
Use the language of character. Clearly distinguish between right and wrong.
Punish with a loving heart. Children need limits. Let them know that you want what's best for them.

Community
For children to excel academically and personally, they must be socially, emotionally, and physically healthy. Paul PCS relies on a vast array of community resources and organizations to provide students with sufficient structure and support. Parents—the school’s most important partners—are expected to monitor schoolwork, communicate effectively with Paul PCS, and ensure that students arrive on time every day. Paul PCS keeps families involved and well-informed through an orientation, Family Nights, parent/teacher conferences, newsletters, frequent academic progress reports, evening programs, and the Paul PCS Parent Action Group.

Paul PCS Parent Action Group (P.A.G.)
Paul PCS is a partnership between the school leadership, teachers, students, and parents. Although the job of making decisions about school policy belongs to the Board of Trustees, parent involvement is not only welcome, but absolutely necessary for the success of the school. All parents are encouraged to participate in the PAG.

The PAG:

• Connects parents to volunteer opportunities at the school
• Develops and implements special programs for parents
• Sponsors events for the entire school community
• Works with the Director of Development to raise money

Family Involvement Activities
In addition to frequent progress reports, Paul PCS family-school relationships are maintained through:

• The Paul PCS Parent Action Group
• Frequent communication between advisors and parents
• Conferences with students, parents/guardians, and teachers
• Family Night
• Frequent academic progress reports
• Parents/guardians who serve on the school's Board of Trustees
• Volunteer opportunities
• Saturday and evening programs for students and parents

Extended Day Program
Paul Public Charter School is pleased to offer an Extended Day Program again this year. Our energetic staff members are delighted to sponsor enriching experiences for children after school. This program consists of the following key components:

• Positive relationships with adults and peers
• Enriching activities
• Developing leadership skills
• A safe place

The Extended Day Program has both academic and recreational content. It is a high-quality program that will allow young people to explore topics, skills, or projects that interest them deeply but may not be explicitly tied to the school curriculum; such exploration will enhance their capacity for creative thinking and problem solving. The variety of activities allows students to have an opportunity to learn for the sheer joy of learning.

The recreational components will help students develop important skills that are not always or directly taught in the classroom, such as good sportsmanship. Promoting social competence is a major goal of the extended day program. The informal setting of these activities helps students develop positive peer relations, social skills, and a sense of group belonging.

It is our belief that the Extended Day Program will prove to be a rewarding opportunity for all students.