Hello, Wildcats.

A keen-eyed Payne mom spotted new parking signs posted on 15th Street, between C and D streets,  designating an area for school drop off (8-9 a.m.) and pick up (3-6 p.m.). Meanwhile, a parking enforcement officer was ticketing again in the area this week.

A view of the new signage:

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JUDGES NEEDED FOR SCIENCE FAIR

It’s crunch time for the Science Fair, and science teacher Ms. Henson needs a dozen volunteers to serve as judges. Do you have a basic understanding of the scientific method? Can you provide positive feedback to our burgeoning Payne brainiacs? That’s great: You qualify!

Judging will take place 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 30. The school will provide judging sheets and criteria. You will be invited, but not obligated, to attend the 2:30 p.m. award ceremony that day.

Ms. Henson also needs volunteers to help with a STEM Fair on Wednesday, May 29. Students will be building homemade thermometers, solar ovens and solar cars. She’s also looking for donated pizza boxes to help build solar ovens.

Please email Ms. Henson right away if you can help with any of the above: shanita.henson@dc.gov

Students in Ms. Ferguson’s kindergarten class learn about water displacement in preparation for the science fair.

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PTSA ELECTION RESULTS

The PTSA elected four officers May 21:

• President: Mark Jordan, parent of a first grader and PK4 student. Mark is the current president and was elected to a new term.
• Parliamentarian: Michelle Chapman, parent of a Kindergartner and an incoming PK3 wildcat next year, elected to a two-year position.
• Secretary: Nancy Parris, parent of a third grader, elected to a two-year position.
• Treasurer: Carolyn Bowen, parent of a first grader and PK4 student. Carolyn is the current secretary and will be the treasurer for one year to complete the term for Aisha Lee, who has served as treasurer this school year.

All four races were uncontested. In a speech before the vote, Mark said one of his priorities for the 2019-2020 school year will be to encourage parent involvement in the school.

From left: Mark, Michelle, Nancy and Carolyn

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FLEA MARKET FUNDRAISER

Payne will host a flea market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8 on the tennis and basketball courts to benefit the Story of our Schools project. The school is seeking vendors to sell anything from clothing and baby gear to used books, antiques and crafts. The $40 vendor fee will benefit the project, and 100 percent of sales will go to the vendor. Concessions at the event will benefit Payne. More details are here.

Would you like to reserve a booth? Email Ms. Monich Brown at monich.brown@dc.gov or Ms. Juanita Stokes at juantia.stokes@dc.gov. Know a friend or neighbor who has a small business or side hustle? Please forward this newsletter and let them know tables are available.

The PTSA is considering managing a flea market booth with donated items with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the project. Is there a volunteer out there who would like to head this initiative? You would lead efforts to collect goods and coordinate other volunteers to help work the booth. Parents had significant interest during this week’s PTSA meeting, so there’d be no shortage of donated items. If this sounds like a project you’d like to be involved with, email tonylombardo1@yahoo.com.

The Story of Our Schools Club at Payne spent the better part of the school year researching Payne history. The Story of Our Schools organization is a non-profit that has designed a museum-quality exhibit for the school’s lobby, informed by the students’ research. Principal Byrd stopped by Tuesday’s PTSA meeting to share photos of Payne students that will be incorporated into the exhibit. Click here to donate to Story of our Schools. The project will cost $30,000, and it is about halfway to reaching the goal.

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BIG THANK YOU

The school community appreciates those who volunteered at and attended the Spring Carnival. The PTSA raised $8,000 to benefit our school. It could not have been done without the tireless work of our volunteers: parents, grandparents, teachers, staff and members of the school community.

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SPRING SHOWCASE. Payne’s Spring Showcase is Friday, May 31. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for refreshments, a student art gallery and a robotics demonstration. Musical performances will begin at 5 p.m, and all grades will participate. The showcase also will feature a performance from The Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University.

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MORE IMPORTANT DATES

May 27-28: No school

May 30: Science Fair

May 31: Spring Concert

June 3: Picture Day

June 7: Fifth grade promotion

June 14: Last day of school