Since his appointment, Chancellor Lewis Ferebee has been engaged on topics that matter to DCPS families, students, staff and community members.
This summer, Ferebee hosted a series of small “DCPS Dialogue” gatherings at schools, libraries and community centers across the District, gathering feedback on the outset of the new school year and listening to DCPS stakeholders to better understand their experiences.
The format of these events involved small group discussions with attendance capped at 20 to keep the conversations intimate.
Ride Cancellation Notice
Previously planned summer distribution events for 2019-20 Kids Ride Free (KRF) SmarTrip cards have been canceled.
The new cards will be sent directly to all D.C. public and charter schools for distribution starting Aug. 26.
Cards from the previous school year are valid until Sept. 30. The new (2019-20) cards will be provided to students by their school’s DC One Card administrator.
Students who have lost or misplaced last year’s card can receive a replacement card at the Deanwood or Judiciary Square DC One Card Centers through Aug. 23.
DCPS Goes to College
Over the past year, Jaydn Nickie, a 2019 graduate of Phelps Architecture, Construction, and Engineering High School, worked on “The Axis Smart Glove,” an invention he developed and patented as part of his engineering senior capstone project.
The device allows individuals to use hand gestures to control their electronic devices without physically touching the device. Through the Axis Smart Glove, individuals can control their phone or computer with a simple wave of the hand or snap of the finger.
Jaydn will continue to explore his interest in robotics engineering when he enrolls this fall in the University of Toronto.
“I got into my dream school and I was just ecstatic,” Jaydn said while recalling when he found out he was accepted.
Jaydn said he is most excited about the school’s labs and the technology that he will have access to that will help him to further his education as an engineer. At Phelps, Jaydn said that Ms. Teyibo, director of the NAF Academy of Engineering, supported him and provided him with opportunities he didn’t previously have access to.
“She helped me realize you don’t have to be some big, special guy with some crazy origin story to be whatever you want,” he said. “The way I see it, if you want to do something great, do it.”
School Modernization
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Aug. 21 in celebration of the modernization of Hyde Addison Elementary School in the Georgetown community.
The celebration, attended by Mayor Muriel Bowser, included food and games for all ages.