Wildcat PTSA News: Enrollment Is Up | Fall Fest | New Chef

Posted on by smittyjd23

MORE STUDENTS, MORE iPADS

Payne enrolled 8 percent more students this year than initially projected for a total of 347 kids. With more students, D.C. Public Schools’ enrollment team provided an additional 25 iPads for students to use. The iPads have arrived at the school, and Ms. Oxendine said the administration are distributing them among the classes.

***

MATH HELP … FOR PARENTS

Common Core math is foreign to a lot of parents. To help, Payne has grade-specific tip sheets available for Kindergarten through 5th Grade. Pick them up from envelopes on the bulletin board between the cafeteria and the front desk. Math “homefun” – it’s not just for the kiddos.

***

FALL FEST ALMOST HERE

Come have some fall fun at the 2018 Payne Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the school with pumpkin decorating, face painting, bounce houses and more. Meet mascots for the Nationals and D.C. Water and enjoy chili and baked goods. Organizers still are looking for volunteers, especially for the face-painting table. Please sign up to volunteer.

***

NEW CHEF ON STAFF

Meet new Cafeteria Chef Calvin Coleman. A native of Washington, D.C, with familial roots in the Carolinas, Chef Coleman joined Payne last month. He most recently worked as a chef at the Verizon Center. His favorite things to cook include Caribbean food, mac and cheese and seafood salad. “I’m looking forward to upgrading the food and putting a new twist on it,” Coleman said. He replaces Chef T, who transferred to Jefferson Middle School.

***

MORE ON AMERICORPS

Payne will have a new resource for the next three school years: a full-time member of the AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America Program (VISTA). Amy Thomas has started working at Payne for the first year of the program. AmeriCorps VISTA members work with communities to ensure poverty is addressed in a manner that builds community, generates self-sufficiency and establishes economic, health and educational security. The program was founded in 1965 by a bi-partisan Congress to help eliminate widespread poverty within the U.S.

Amy’s goals for her year at Payne include:

  • Recruiting STEM partnerships
  • Updating parent, staff and partner contact information
  • Streamlining communication, volunteer and partner systems
  • Building a sustainable community within Payne
  • Tracking and updating partnerships

***

WALK TO SCHOOL … LOUDLY

Walk to School Day begins with a rally with several Capitol Hill Schools at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 10 at Lincoln Park. Bring some noisemakers to show the community how well-represented Payne is.

***

PRETZEL POWER

Thank you for participating in the Pretzels for Payne fundraising event this week. We earned $168 for the school. Do you know of a local business that would be interested in a proceeds-sharing event for Payne (like we have done with The Pretzel Bakery, East City Books, and Mr. Henry’s)? If so, contact PTSA fundraising chair Kerry DeVooght, kerrydevooght@gmail.com.
***

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY IS COMING

Interest is building to establish a Little Free Library at Payne and to decorate it on Literacy Night, Nov. 8. Want to help? Email Carolyn Bowen carolyncbowen@gmail.com.
***

SHOPPING SALE ENDS SOON

Shop at primary.com now through Tuesday to save 20 percent and earn 10 percent back for Payne. Use our unique URL: www.primary.com/school/payne with promo code PAYNEWEEK.
***

MORE IMPORTANT DATES

Friday: Coffee with Principal Byrd, 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.

Oct. 4: Monthly LSAT Meeting.

Oct. 8: No school.

Oct. 10: Walk to School Day, 7:30-8:15 a.m. at Lincoln Park.

Oct. 13: Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Payne.

Oct. 16: PTSA meeting, 6 p.m. in the Auditorium. Principal Byrd will speak.

Oct. 25-26: No school.

Nov. 8: Literacy Night.

Nov. 7-9: Scholastic Book Fair. Interested in volunteering at the fair or helping to coordinate? Email Carolyn Bowen