A LETTER FROM THE DCPS CHANCELLOR

 June 16, 2016 

Dear Miner Elementary School Community: 

Every year, DC Public Schools conducts a nationwide search for the best principals to lead our schools. To deliver a high-quality education to all students, it takes a strong school leader who is laser-focused on raising student achievement, while also ensuring the school community is a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable place for all. Astounding advances are possible when the right principal is leading a school. Many of you have engaged in the principal-selection process for Miner Elementary School by examining the candidates and making a recommendation to me, and I sincerely appreciate your time and efforts on behalf of our students. 

After balancing your input and recommendations with the needed experience and skills that research links to success, we concluded that your recommendation, Andrea Mial, is the strongest candidate to lead the Miner Elementary school community. We are happy to report that Ms. Mial has accepted the offer to be the Miner Elementary School principal. Her official appointment begins on June 26, 2016. 

Andrea Mial began her career as a literary support specialist at Department Of Defense Education Activity, Pacific District in Japan. While in Japan she became an Assistant Principal at two different schools over a three-year span. In 2011 Ms. Mial returned to the States where she transitioned into the role of principal at Bowley Elementary School for three years, and then principal at Johnson Primary School in North Carolina. In 2015, Andrea Mial served as the Vice President of Education Services at Catapult Learning, where she provided consultative services to school leaders and teachers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in science and technology and special education from Chaminade University. She holds a master’s degree from University of Cincinnati in educational leadership. 

I want to thank everyone who participated in the principal-selection process, especially the school-community panel that interviewed a number of qualified candidates. Ms. Mial is excited to meet all of you, and I hope you will give her your warm welcome and support as she works with you to lead your children toward success. 

Sincerely, 

Kaya Henderson
Chancellor - District of Columbia Public Schools

Myrtilla Miner Elementary School
GO FOR THE GOLD – READ
DC Public Library Summer Reading
 
Last week we kicked off our 2016 Summer Reading Program.  Students in pre-K through fifth grade registered for DC Public Library Summer Reading program and they received a summer booklet to record their reading hours.  Students in kindergarten through fifth grade also received new books to take home.  If you would like to use the electronic reading log, access recommended books for your child, or register additional family members, visit www.dclibrary.org/summerreading. 

Participants will receive prizes including a voucher for 2 tickets to a Washington Nationals Baseball Game, a coupon for a FREE Chipotle Burrito, and entry in a grand prize drawing.

Log into your child's account using the login information below and HAPPY READING! 

The table below has each class username. 

The password is bearsread. 

This password is the same for all classes.
 
Teacher’s Name
Username

Ms. Betts
Miner1

Mrs. Blackstone
Miner2

Ms. M. Harris (PK)
Miner3

Ms. Tolbert
Miner4

Ms. Cummings
Miner5

Ms. Jones
Miner6

Ms. Luttmer
Miner7

Ms. Olazo
Miner

Ms. Mears
Miner01

Ms. Esdaile
Miner02

Ms. Parker-Morrison
Miner03

Ms. Miller
Miner04

Ms. Hopkins
Miner05

Ms. G. Harris (first grade)
Miner06

Ms. Fashion
Miner07

Ms. Ottley
Miner08

Ms. Gunter
Miner09

Mrs. Jensen
Miner10

Mrs. Jalloh
Miner11

Ms. Hicks
Miner12

Mr. Williams
Miner13

Ms. Coles
Miner14

Ms. Hammond
Miner

 
Summer Reading Activities
 
Here are recommend grade level reading lists and interactive reading activities to keep our kids reading all summer long and well into next school year.
 
Summer Reading Lists
http://www.adaptedmind.com/reading.php
 
Math Activities
http://www.adaptedmind.com/Math-Worksheets.html?gclid=CK_D0MPFpc0CFU0vgQodPsAOhA
 
Reading Resources
http://www.rif.org/about-us/read-for-success/summer-learning/
 
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/btl07-ex/?topic_id=806&utm_source=lmnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mktg_2016
 
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/the-electric-company/?topic_id=1204&utm_source=lmnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mktg_2016
 
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/super-why/?topic_id=440&utm_source=lmnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mktg_2016
 
http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/forparents/a/summer.htm
​

Parents,

Please be aware that there is a 3-step process to enroll in Miner’s After-School Program for 2016-17:

1. Enroll for next school year at Miner. Forms are available in the Miner front office. Forms are also available here: http://dcps.dc.gov/node/1166844
2. Wait 2 days, then register for the DCPS Afterschool program. This can only be done online here: https://octo.quickbase.com/db/biyh8vu5v. If you don’t have access to a computer, there are computers available in the library to do this registration. There are only 52 spaces left (as of June 15, 2016)
3. Sign up with Miner’s new Afterschool provider to transfer your DCPS Afterschool registration eligibility to the new program. Forms are available in the Miner front office or below. 

Miner’s new Afterschool program provider is an organization called "People. Animals. Love.” (PAL) . We are very excited to have them aboard, and look forward to their unique programming for Miner’s students next year!

Please note that once you’ve completed Step 2, you are GUARANTEED a spot in Miner’s Afterschool program.  Parents are highly encouraged to complete the PAL registration in the near-term, but the forms aren’t required until school starts in the fall. 

If you choose to print these forms and fill them out, return the completed forms to the Miner front office.If you choose to fill out these forms electronically, email the completed forms to our Assistant Principal: Tiffiany.Torrence@dc.gov.

• June 14 // PK4 Promotion Ceremony [10am]
• June 14 // Staff vs. Parents Kickball Game [3:15pm] Sign up in the office or find Mr. Gee! 
• June 15 // Farmer's Market [3:30pm - 5:30pm] Lots of berries, kale, herbs, and tomatoes will be on sale. Proceeds go to fund the school garden. 
• June 17 // LAST DAY OF SCHOOL [Students dismissed at 12:15pm]

Would you like to volunteer, add an item to our calendar or share news about Miner Elementary? Please email us at minerpto@gmail.com! ​

Dear Miner Families, Teachers, and Staff,
​
As we enter the final stretch of the 2015/16 school year and look toward next year, we would like to take a moment to stop and reflect on all the amazing things this school has accomplished working together. All of this has been possible because this year we intentionally set out to increase the collaboration between families, teachers, staff, and the school administration.

Below is a short list of our accomplishments and attached is a much longer list of what we have done this year and what we plan to do next year. It is amazing what we can do when we work together toward our common goal of making Miner a truly great school!

• Increased family participation and support // two wildly successful fundraisers, great PTO meeting attendance, a holiday toy/clothes drive, and multiple teacher appreciation events.
• Improved communication and outreach // including a revitalized website, Facebook page and Twitter feeds (school & PTO); monthly calendar and newsletter; monthly Q&A session with the principal/assistant principal; Miner t-shirts and yard signs; multiple play dates for prospective parents.
• New partnerships // Folger Library & Theater (our official DCPS “Adopt-a-School” partner), Cultivate the City, revitalizing our garden and hosting farmers markets, NASA Science & Engineering Club.
• Stronger collaboration relationships and advocacy at all levels // Held weekly meetings between PTO leaders and school administration; Established a Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for real parent, teacher, and staff input into the school budget and planning process (all of the LSAT’s priorities were approved for the SY16/17 budget!); continued our involvement in the Capitol Hill Public School Parent’s Organization (CHPSPO); built strong relationships with our DCPS Instructional Superintendent, DCPS Deputy Chief of Elementary Schools, School Board representative, and Ward 6 DC Council member; testified at DC Council hearings to advocate for Miner’s interests during the annual DCPS budget process.
• Established a “Vision Team” made up of parents teachers, staff, and community members to collectively determine what we want Miner to be in one year, two years, and five years. The Vision Team held multiple forums and conducted an extensive school/community survey to solicit feedback from all of Miner’s stakeholders. Their work will be ongoing in SY16/17 in order to conduct a Needs Assessment and develop a Strategic Plan to guide Miner’s future.

Although we have accomplished much, we also know many challenges and much work remains. We are in the midst of the selection process for a new Principal, and Miner is well prepared for this transition. Parents, teachers, staff, and community members are all integral participants in this process and we’re confident that Miner’s leadership team for SY16/17 will be amazing. But it takes more than just great leadership. We hope that every student, family member, teacher, and staff will be a part of the great things that will soon be happening at OUR Miner next year!

• Community School model // A newly hired Manager of Strategy & Logistics will help with school operations, assist in developing and executing our new Strategic Plan, and establish new partnerships under the Community School model to bring needed services and supports for students, teachers, and families.
• New after school and before care programs // We have already laid the foundation for a new partnership with the organization “People, Animals, Love” (PAL) to revitalize our after school programming for SY16/17. We are working to reestablish a robust before school program for SY16/17. Miner’s administration and parent leaders are committed to bringing in quality, affordable programs accessible to ALL our families.
• Communication // We are committed to improve communication at all levels, and ensure that it is timely and transparent. This will include the creation of a comprehensive and accessible school planning calendar.
• Ensuring all feel welcome and respected // We will be implementing Move This World and other programs to build skills for reducing stress for both students and teachers, and for improving Miner’s climate and culture. We will also continue to ensure the availability of ASL interpretation and try to include more Spanish interpretation, where needed. Our goal is to ensure that all voices are heard and that all feel able to share concerns and ideas and to fully participate in all aspects of school life.
• Excellence // We commit to fostering a spirit of commitment and excellence in students, parents, teachers, and staff.
• Academic supports // A new Reading Resource Teacher will be hired for next year to help struggling readers in the higher grades. There will also be additional Reggio Emilia support for PK3/4 teachers.
• Family engagement // Family engagement improved this year but we want to recruit even more parent and teacher volunteers to help us achieve even greater things! We also hope to hold several fun family engagement events.
• Health and safety // We will continue to hold DCPS accountable for testing the school’s water for lead contamination and ensure proper communication with families. Additional efforts will include helping the School Wellness Committee blossom to its full potential, bringing recycling and food waste reduction programs to the school, and improving the drop off and pickup process.

If you would like to be involved and help us start planning for next year, we’d love to have you!
Please come to the June 7 PTO meeting at 6pm in the cafeteria.

We have never been more excited about the future of Miner and hope you feel that excitement, too. Our school has so much incredible potential! But we can’t do it without you, the family members, teachers, and staff who are dedicated to our students and to our community. Together we can keep building on our strengths and successes to make OUR Miner a neighborhood school of choice!

Thank you!

Tiffiany N. Torrence
Assistant Principal

Carol Betts
WTU Representative

Kyle Serrette
LSAT Chair

Tammy Alexander
PTO CoPresident

David Treat
PTO CoPresident

Reach us at minerpto@gmail.com 

• June 6 // Field Day [K-5] 
• June 6 // LSAT meeting [6pm]
• June 7 // PTO Meeting [6pm]
• June 8 // Grades 1-4 Awards Assembly [9:30am]
• June 8 // Farmer's Market [3:30pm - 5:30pm] Lots of berries, kale, herbs, and tomatoes will be on sale. Proceeds go to fund the school garden. 
• June 8 // 5th Grade Class Picnic 
• June 8 // LSAT Voting Begins [Look for ballot in backpacks]
• June 9 // Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony [9:00am]
• June 10 // LSAT Ballots Due to Office
• June 10 // 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony [10am]
• June 12 // Miner Garden Work Day ​[10am - 2pm]

Looking Ahead:

• June 14 // PK4 Promotion Ceremony [10am]
• June 15 // Farmer's Market [3:30pm - 5:30pm] Lots of berries, kale, herbs, and tomatoes will be on sale. Proceeds go to fund the school garden. 
• June 17 // LAST DAY OF SCHOOL [Students dismissed at 12:15pm]

​Download our complete calendar. 

Would you like to volunteer, add an item to our calendar or share news about Miner Elementary? Please email us at minerpto@gmail.com! ​

​There will be 3 farmers markets at Miner before the end of the school year that support our gardens and Cultivate the City, out wonderful garden partners. See the attached flyer! 

Markets are tomorrow, Friday, June 3, and Wednesday June 8 & 15th, 3:30-5:30 pm! Lots of berries, kale, herbs, and tomatoes will be on sale. Proceeds go to fund the school garden.

Also, our garden partner, Cultivate the City, is still taking members for its summer fruit and veggie CSA which costs $25/week. More information here - http://www.cultivatethecity.com/. They are doing wonderful things to green the east side of Capitol Hill.