Watch Ms. Byrn’s 5th grade class participate in Target Oratory Festival 2016, where they recited Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address at Ford’s Theater earlier this month.

Third through fifth graders from four other area schools also presented famous Lincoln speeches. The fifth graders had been studying the Second Inaugural, as well as public speaking skills with the help of a teaching artist from Ford’s Theater since early last Fall. When the time to perform came, the fifteen students were able to stand proudly on stage and recite from memory each of Lincoln’s famous words, encouraging unity between the North and South as the war’s end neared. Great job!

Miss last night’s PTA meeting?  The presentation from last night, including enrollment data for charter schools frequently chosen by Brent families, and some insight into PARRC scores from Jefferson Academy, is now available.  Thanks to the Middle School Committee for a great presentation.

Middle School Presentation

Tomorrow’s PTA Family night we will be joined by a couple of special guests. Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen’s Chief of Staff, Laura Marks, will join us to talk about the budget process for school modernization and what we can expect (and influence) this year. We will also be joined by Jefferson Academy Assistant Principal Greg Dohmann, who will present a quick analysis of the PARCC scores at Jefferson Academy.
The PTA’s Middle School Committee will also be making a presentation of some research that was done on enrollment trends at some of the Charter middle schools that have been serving Ward 6 Families.
Childcare and dinner for kids provided.

Brent participates in the DCPS early childhood and out-of-boundary lottery to allocate available preschool and prekindergarten spots as well as spots for K-5th. Please visit http://www.myschooldc.org/ to complete an application. All new students to early childhood must apply in the lottery. All returning Brent students in all grades, as well as new in-boundary K through 5th grade students receive placement for the next academic year and need NOT apply through the lottery. If you have any questions, please contact Brent’s registrar, Denise Diggs or at 202-698-3364.

The annual Brent Spring Gala, Taste of the Hill, will be here in just 3 months on April 30th at Skyline Hotel. Before we start thinking about what we want to wear, eat and/or drink, we have to think about our Art! To that end, we wanted to start the discussion on the class art projects. The Gala is an awesome event on many levels and for many reasons. One of the things that makes it great is the donated auction items. and in particular the ones created by the kids. The class art projects are one of the most coveted and fun items we make and sell. The goal is to engage the kids, have fun, make something creative and bring everyone together. While these projects are done by the kids for each class and the teachers are willing to help and facilitate, the responsibility falls upon the parents to organize, coordinate and execute the creation of the projects. In the past, Ms. Gibson has provided some help and oversight as well and used some of her art classes to help prepare the art. She will be supporting us again this year. To start, Ms. Gibson is going to compile a list of students’ artwork that classes can review to get some ideas for this year’s projects. We’ll have that in a few days. Therefore step one of this process is to recruit some volunteers to help manage the project. First each class should find one representative who is willing to be the coordinator for the class art project. That person will be in charge of overseeing, recruiting other volunteers and managing the art. Once each class has selected a representative, the next step will be to decide what type of art project the class would like to create and do. It can be something that can be framed, sculpture, wood work, a mobile, photography, ceramic… whatever the coordinator decides. Once we’ve assigned a parent to each class we can then start the discussions for what you each class wants to do. Ana will send more details, specifications and suggestions at that time Please report back to your room parents in regards to picking the parent representative. If you have any questions or need anything don’t hesitate to contact Ana Townsend or 202-352-4795.