Originally Uploaded to flickr by GenBug
I can’t believe Monday is already the first day of school! Where did the summer go? I haven’t even gone to the beach yet! (In fairness, one of the nice things about being childless is quiet September beach vacations, which I’ll be enjoying in two weeks.)
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is dedicated to creating a smooth transition back to school and has established, “a comprehensive webpage and is utilizing the Critical Response Team (CRT) to help families navigate the district’s various services and requirements.” You can find information regarding the upcoming school year on the DCPS First Day of School webpage, where you’ll find everything including enrollment forms, applications for free and reduced meals, immunization requirements and school supplies lists. In addition, there have been videos posted daily (in both Spanish and English) to the DCPS YouTube Channel, which will continue through Monday. DCPS also has a Twitter account and a Facebook page.
Internet down? No problem. You can reach the CRT weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at (202) 478-5738. You’ll get a live person immediately and CRT staff will relay feedback directly to DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee.
Is it me, or is it pretty amazing to think that all we went back to school armed with were Trapper Keepers and Scooby Doo lunch boxes, and now families have twitter accounts, You Tube videos and websites to help ease them back into school! Good luck out there!
Is “transitioning” back to school more difficult now?
Sec Ed to walk kids to Maury ES next week– from http://www.edu.gov website– U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty, Washington, D.C., Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee and U.S. Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez will join 100-150 students and parents in “walking to school” Tuesday along a two-block route from Lincoln Park to Maury Elementary in the nation’s capital.
The “Walking School Bus” event is intended to promote the importance of safe, healthy lifestyles, as well as welcoming students back to school. Maury Elementary’s initiative is part of its local Safe Routes to School Program, a federal effort administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation to encourage more students to walk and bicycle to school. The event will also highlight AAA’s School Safety Patrol program which has been helping get students safely to and from America’s schools for 90 years.
Duncan, Fenty and Rhee will begin walking to school, surrounded by students, at 8:30 a.m. Once there, they will hold a press conference at the Maury Elementary playground at 8:45 a.m. Following greetings by Maury Principal Carolyne Albert-Garvey, the mayor, chancellor, administrator and secretary will welcome students back to classes and discuss the value of fitness in maintaining safe and healthy lives.
Interestingly, as of right now that website is down for maintenance. Thanks DCPS…
Apologies, I should have clarified that I was referring to the DCPS First Day of School website, linked in the second paragraph above.
My kids were slightly more prepared when a Fenty campaign worker handed them “Vote for Schools. Re-Elect Fenty” pencils at drop-off today. I found it interesting that a fairly high number of parents declined to let their children accept them.