Welcome!
Welcome to Miner Elementary School! The Miner staff members are investing long hours shaping Miner into a community school focused on preparing students to thrive personally, socially, and academically deep into the 21st Century. Our staff takes positive steps daily towards translating our mission into day-to-day activities and instruction that results in substantial student achievement.
We are pleased you are joining us on this website. Please use it as a resource for connecting with our community and learning how you can fully participate in the Miner total experience.
Contact miner.es@dc.gov
Welcome to Miner Elementary School! The Miner staff members are investing long hours shaping Miner into a community school focused on preparing students to thrive personally, socially, and academically deep into the 21st Century. Our staff takes positive steps daily towards translating our mission into day-to-day activities and instruction that results in substantial student achievement.
We are pleased you are joining us on this website. Please use it as a resource for connecting with our community and learning how you can fully participate in the Miner total experience.
Contact miner.es@dc.gov
April 28, 2017
Over the past few months, Miner Elementary stakeholders have engaged in a series of activities designed to address gaps in our academic achievement. The work is not easy or meant for the weary; but, it is critically important that our school focuses on ensuring that every Miner student has access to the best educational resources available in DCPS.
Recently, Miner’s leadership, in conjunction with community members, submitted our 2017/2018 school year budget. DCPS has continued to be generous to Miner Elementary by funding the large majority of our requests. Budget priorities and funding levels change from year to year, but thanks to the collective hard work and smart ideas, Miner was able to maintain and add to the menu of services and support geared toward the academic success of our students.
DCPS publishes each school’s budget at the following website www.dcpsdatacenter.com.
We encourage you to visit the site to review Miner’s budget. Community members are also encouraged to attend one of the several budget discussion meetings that I will facilitate for parents in the coming weeks. Some of the many highlights that community members will notice in our 2017/2018 budget include:
Our 2017/2018 budget addresses many of the priorities needed to ensure that Miner students benefit from the resources available to them in a world-class school system. Our focus is to ensure that every Miner student has an opportunity to engage in the 21st century by preparing them academically, socially and emotionally. That work is not easy nor is it ever completed but these are good steps toward our goals.
While this has been a long and challenging school year, I am excited about SY17/18 and look forward to working with you. Come and talk with me at the Monday Morning Mochas with Mial at Miner (M5) on May 8th and 22nd at 9:00am in the Parent Center. I will also host a few “Can we Talk” sessions at the Rosedale Recreation Center. Stay tuned for more information about the dates, times, and topics.
Thank you for your support and know that I welcome and value your feedback and input.
Recently, Miner’s leadership, in conjunction with community members, submitted our 2017/2018 school year budget. DCPS has continued to be generous to Miner Elementary by funding the large majority of our requests. Budget priorities and funding levels change from year to year, but thanks to the collective hard work and smart ideas, Miner was able to maintain and add to the menu of services and support geared toward the academic success of our students.
DCPS publishes each school’s budget at the following website www.dcpsdatacenter.com.
We encourage you to visit the site to review Miner’s budget. Community members are also encouraged to attend one of the several budget discussion meetings that I will facilitate for parents in the coming weeks. Some of the many highlights that community members will notice in our 2017/2018 budget include:
- Miner is fully budgeted to staff teachers in grades PreK-5 based on enrollment.
- Miner’s Art, Music, PE, World Language (Spanish) and Library programs are fully funded for next school year.
- Miner’s budget allows for the extension of the school day to 7.5 hours in grades 2-5.
- Miner’s budget will continue funding its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program.
- Miner’s budget dedicates special funding for student field trips.
- Miner’s budget increases our investment in student computers and education technology.
- Miner’s budget increases our investment in Special Education Services by hiring a Special Education Manager tasked with ensuring that students are fully integrated into classroom activities and receive necessary services.
- Miner’s budget increases our commitment to closing the reading gap by hiring a Reading Specialist to work directly with struggling readers.
- Miner’s budget funds the hiring of Math and Reading Coaches who will work directly with Miner’s staff to implement effective teaching and learning strategies in the classroom.
- Miner’s budget funds the hiring of a Behavioral Technician to help students and teachers apply behavioral intervention strategies in the classroom.
- Miner’s budget funds staff and student training to address bully prevention, conflict resolution, and introduce restorative justice and social, emotional learning concepts and techniques.
- Miner’s budget funds an Assistant Strategy and Logistics staff member to identify grant and other opportunities for before and after school care.
Our 2017/2018 budget addresses many of the priorities needed to ensure that Miner students benefit from the resources available to them in a world-class school system. Our focus is to ensure that every Miner student has an opportunity to engage in the 21st century by preparing them academically, socially and emotionally. That work is not easy nor is it ever completed but these are good steps toward our goals.
While this has been a long and challenging school year, I am excited about SY17/18 and look forward to working with you. Come and talk with me at the Monday Morning Mochas with Mial at Miner (M5) on May 8th and 22nd at 9:00am in the Parent Center. I will also host a few “Can we Talk” sessions at the Rosedale Recreation Center. Stay tuned for more information about the dates, times, and topics.
Thank you for your support and know that I welcome and value your feedback and input.
April 7, 2017
We need your help!
We have noticed an increase in student use of cellphone and other portable electronic devices during school hours. Please know that students should only bring a cellphone to school if absolutely necessary. We recognize that cell phones can be a safety/security resource; however, they are also a disruption to the learning environment and in the event of an emergency affect our ability to manage situations in a safe manner. As such, if brought to school, during the hours of instruction, 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., electronic devices must be turned off and stored out of sight.
This guidance as outlined in the in DCMR Chapter 25 Student Discipline regarding unauthorized use of portable electronic
devices during school hours (e.g. mp3 players, cell phones).
Students who bring cell phones or portable electronic devices to school do so at their own risk. If a student is displaying or found using a cellphone or other electronic device during school hours, the phone or device will be confiscated, placed in a labeled envelope, and delivered to the Dean of Students. To be clear, Miner Elementary School, staff and administration are not be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen cellphones and other portable electronic devices (i.e., ipod, ipad, handheld gaming devices). Thank you in advance for working with us.
We have noticed an increase in student use of cellphone and other portable electronic devices during school hours. Please know that students should only bring a cellphone to school if absolutely necessary. We recognize that cell phones can be a safety/security resource; however, they are also a disruption to the learning environment and in the event of an emergency affect our ability to manage situations in a safe manner. As such, if brought to school, during the hours of instruction, 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., electronic devices must be turned off and stored out of sight.
This guidance as outlined in the in DCMR Chapter 25 Student Discipline regarding unauthorized use of portable electronic
devices during school hours (e.g. mp3 players, cell phones).
Students who bring cell phones or portable electronic devices to school do so at their own risk. If a student is displaying or found using a cellphone or other electronic device during school hours, the phone or device will be confiscated, placed in a labeled envelope, and delivered to the Dean of Students. To be clear, Miner Elementary School, staff and administration are not be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen cellphones and other portable electronic devices (i.e., ipod, ipad, handheld gaming devices). Thank you in advance for working with us.
March 10, 2017
There is probably not a school in America that does not claim to exist to enrich the social and academic lives of its students. Saying so doesn’t make it so; and some schools live up to the claim better than others. But whatever side of the spectrum a school may exist, most schools adopt a belief that their existence is associated with fostering student achievement.
Schools often attempt to translate their beliefs and a host of other values and goals into a succinct statement in an effort to develop an identity. Some organizations treat these crafted mission and vision statements like marketing campaigns while others wholly buy into the statements as both anchors and guides. To prevent a vision statement from becoming rhetoric, process is critical. There must be buy-in. Buy-in comes from seeking consensus and the consensus develops from focused conversations with diverse groups of people.
What results is an organizational vision statement that respects individuals’ collective vision and wisdom. What results is a statement that each person in an organization can relate to because it mirrors their input. What results is an organization that is organized around common themes, goals, and values. What results is an organization with an identity better prepared to ful ll its mission.
Miner’s Vision Statement (in draft) is a reflection of the voices of its students, teachers, parents and the greater DCPS community. The conversation began by simply asking questions and recording responses. Simple questions that sparked the conversation (e.g. Who are we, Where are we, Why do we exists, What is important?) were enough to produce the following:
Miner Elementary Vision Statement (Draft)
Miner Elementary School is a student-focused community school of choice within a unique DC community that serves as its classroom, where values of shared communication with empathy, diversity, and inclusion fosters an environment for all students to thrive academically in programs that offer critical needs foreign language, STEAM, in which educational success is realized and Miner is recognized for excellence.
At Miner, we believe students:
What makes this vision unique to Miner? For starters, this vision reflects hours of data point responses. Students envisioned a quiet, clean and safe school with advanced technology, better WiFi, Smartboards, field trips, and yes, a bigger playground. So, the visioning committee translated this data into a STEM focus statement and sought to leverage our opportunity to expand the classroom throughout the National Capital Region.
When Miner teachers were brought into the conversations about our school’s purpose, they overwhelmingly responded that they valued the structure and professional pride needed to fulfill DCPS’s mission. The teachers also expressed commitment to engaging students in deep and meaningful student work, engaging colleagues in positive and productive collaborations, and renewing its focus on achieving high test scores. The visioning committee was able to capture the essence of the teachers’ responses by emphasizing that students must be capable of demonstrating what they have learned and that teachers must be able to communicate what they know and what they want both students and peers to know.
Miner’s parents also want what is best for students. They envisioned Miner as a place where their student could speak to others through the language of empathy in addition to communicating in another critical language. Parents also want partnerships with school staff, administration, teachers, aides, vendors and even their kids. This all presumes that Miner is a safe, effective, clean, academic-oriented campus. Not incidentally, these were the values expressed by students and teachers.
So by asking and engaging a broad array of students, teachers and parents, Miner’s vision is a reflection of the themes common to us all. Miner’s vision becomes “our” vision. Our vision becomes our purpose; and our purpose becomes our guide. Not a bad start toward transforming and improving our school! There is still an opportunity for you to comment on the Vision Statement. Be sure to stop by the campus and provide your feedback.
Schools often attempt to translate their beliefs and a host of other values and goals into a succinct statement in an effort to develop an identity. Some organizations treat these crafted mission and vision statements like marketing campaigns while others wholly buy into the statements as both anchors and guides. To prevent a vision statement from becoming rhetoric, process is critical. There must be buy-in. Buy-in comes from seeking consensus and the consensus develops from focused conversations with diverse groups of people.
What results is an organizational vision statement that respects individuals’ collective vision and wisdom. What results is a statement that each person in an organization can relate to because it mirrors their input. What results is an organization that is organized around common themes, goals, and values. What results is an organization with an identity better prepared to ful ll its mission.
Miner’s Vision Statement (in draft) is a reflection of the voices of its students, teachers, parents and the greater DCPS community. The conversation began by simply asking questions and recording responses. Simple questions that sparked the conversation (e.g. Who are we, Where are we, Why do we exists, What is important?) were enough to produce the following:
Miner Elementary Vision Statement (Draft)
Miner Elementary School is a student-focused community school of choice within a unique DC community that serves as its classroom, where values of shared communication with empathy, diversity, and inclusion fosters an environment for all students to thrive academically in programs that offer critical needs foreign language, STEAM, in which educational success is realized and Miner is recognized for excellence.
At Miner, we believe students:
- Learn to communicate in a critical needs foreign language.
- Have a diverse experience where the unique DC community is our classroom.
- Thrive academically in the S.T.E.A.M. areas.
- Relate to others by developing empathy in an inclusive environment.
- Are a part of a community that shares and values communication.
- Demonstrate what they know and are able to do in a variety of ways.
What makes this vision unique to Miner? For starters, this vision reflects hours of data point responses. Students envisioned a quiet, clean and safe school with advanced technology, better WiFi, Smartboards, field trips, and yes, a bigger playground. So, the visioning committee translated this data into a STEM focus statement and sought to leverage our opportunity to expand the classroom throughout the National Capital Region.
When Miner teachers were brought into the conversations about our school’s purpose, they overwhelmingly responded that they valued the structure and professional pride needed to fulfill DCPS’s mission. The teachers also expressed commitment to engaging students in deep and meaningful student work, engaging colleagues in positive and productive collaborations, and renewing its focus on achieving high test scores. The visioning committee was able to capture the essence of the teachers’ responses by emphasizing that students must be capable of demonstrating what they have learned and that teachers must be able to communicate what they know and what they want both students and peers to know.
Miner’s parents also want what is best for students. They envisioned Miner as a place where their student could speak to others through the language of empathy in addition to communicating in another critical language. Parents also want partnerships with school staff, administration, teachers, aides, vendors and even their kids. This all presumes that Miner is a safe, effective, clean, academic-oriented campus. Not incidentally, these were the values expressed by students and teachers.
So by asking and engaging a broad array of students, teachers and parents, Miner’s vision is a reflection of the themes common to us all. Miner’s vision becomes “our” vision. Our vision becomes our purpose; and our purpose becomes our guide. Not a bad start toward transforming and improving our school! There is still an opportunity for you to comment on the Vision Statement. Be sure to stop by the campus and provide your feedback.
February 24, 2017
Over a century ago, an educator named Myrtilla Miner incubated an idea that African-American girls deserved the opportunity to receive a formal education in the District of Columbia. The vision was radical for its time. Her efforts were met with some opposition. However, with persistence and assistance from partners like Henry Ward Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Johns Hopkins and you and me, Myrtilla Miner’s legacy endures today - 166 years later.
While the demographics of Miner Elementary has expanded to be inclusive of families with diverse ethnic, racial, religious, gender and national backgrounds; the mission to provide a world-class education for our students has not fundamentally changed since 1851.
How the Miner staff and community go about fulfilling its mission and preparing this generation of students for success in college, career, and life in the 21st century is the most important question we ask ourselves. Fortunately, our community was up to the task four months ago when teachers, parents, and students began participating in Visioning sessions to identify the guiding principles needed to develop Miner’s vision.
This generation of Miner students will learn to communicate in a critical needs foreign language, thrive in Science, Technology, Engi- neering and Math disciplines, and be capable of demonstrating and communicating their knowledge while functioning in a diverse and inclusive environment. This vision of Miner students informs our every decision from staffing and instruction to budgeting, partnerships and programs.
As a member of this community, you have an open invitation to actively participate in the daily ongoings at Miner in addition to PTA and LSAT events. Over the next two weeks, you have a specific opportunity to assist Miner’s Visioning committee. As we prepare to finalize Miner’s draft Vision Statement be sure to leave your comment, suggestion or reaction on one of the many Vision posters the next time you visit the campus. Your feedback is critical and welcomed.
The Miner school community continues its evolution towards Myrtilla Miner’s “radical” vision that all of our students today deserve the quality education that she envisioned in 1851. We add to her vision our own daily commitment, dedication, talent and sweat equity. In doing so, we adopt her vision and make it a reality for our students and community in 2017. If we do this right, someone will be talking about us in 2051.
While the demographics of Miner Elementary has expanded to be inclusive of families with diverse ethnic, racial, religious, gender and national backgrounds; the mission to provide a world-class education for our students has not fundamentally changed since 1851.
How the Miner staff and community go about fulfilling its mission and preparing this generation of students for success in college, career, and life in the 21st century is the most important question we ask ourselves. Fortunately, our community was up to the task four months ago when teachers, parents, and students began participating in Visioning sessions to identify the guiding principles needed to develop Miner’s vision.
This generation of Miner students will learn to communicate in a critical needs foreign language, thrive in Science, Technology, Engi- neering and Math disciplines, and be capable of demonstrating and communicating their knowledge while functioning in a diverse and inclusive environment. This vision of Miner students informs our every decision from staffing and instruction to budgeting, partnerships and programs.
As a member of this community, you have an open invitation to actively participate in the daily ongoings at Miner in addition to PTA and LSAT events. Over the next two weeks, you have a specific opportunity to assist Miner’s Visioning committee. As we prepare to finalize Miner’s draft Vision Statement be sure to leave your comment, suggestion or reaction on one of the many Vision posters the next time you visit the campus. Your feedback is critical and welcomed.
The Miner school community continues its evolution towards Myrtilla Miner’s “radical” vision that all of our students today deserve the quality education that she envisioned in 1851. We add to her vision our own daily commitment, dedication, talent and sweat equity. In doing so, we adopt her vision and make it a reality for our students and community in 2017. If we do this right, someone will be talking about us in 2051.
February 10, 2017
Despite February being the shortest month, Miner staff members are investing long hours shaping Miner into a community school focused on preparing students to thrive personally, socially, and academically deep into the 21st century. Our staff continues to take positive steps toward translating our mission into day-to-day activities and instruction that results in substantial student achievement.
Miner staff and community have met many of our present challenges by participating in many firsts. In the first seven months, Miner established a Visioning Committee, an Academic Leadership Team, Grade Level Chairs, a Master Scheduling Committee, Before and After School Care, Student Recognition Programs, and a Culture and Climate Committee to improve student satisfaction and reduce student discipline. In the next few months, Miner will develop its fiscal budget while continuing to establish productive and supportive relationships with its parent organizations and community.
Although we have always to go before realizing the vision, the most important task is to establish a road map for success.
This newsletter is an effort to keep you informed and involved in the activities and on-goings at Miner. As the title of this newsletter reminds us - Miner Matters.
Miner staff and community have met many of our present challenges by participating in many firsts. In the first seven months, Miner established a Visioning Committee, an Academic Leadership Team, Grade Level Chairs, a Master Scheduling Committee, Before and After School Care, Student Recognition Programs, and a Culture and Climate Committee to improve student satisfaction and reduce student discipline. In the next few months, Miner will develop its fiscal budget while continuing to establish productive and supportive relationships with its parent organizations and community.
Although we have always to go before realizing the vision, the most important task is to establish a road map for success.
This newsletter is an effort to keep you informed and involved in the activities and on-goings at Miner. As the title of this newsletter reminds us - Miner Matters.