Get your Wildcat ready for the new school year and purchase Payne t-shirts, hoodies, and water bottles directly online!
Reminder: Payne t-shirts may be worn as part of the school uniform.
A portion of all sales will go to the Payne PTA and will be used to support the school. The Web site to purchase your Payne gear will be live until August 16, so order now at:
Hello, Wildcats!
ONE WEEK LEFT. But before you hit the beach, the ball field or the snooze button, let’s catch up on what’s happening at Payne Elementary.
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FIFTH GRADERS EXCEL
Ms. Randolph and Mr. Bergfalk reported many of their fifth-grade students have demonstrated exceptional improvements to math and reading scores during iReady testing.
iReady is administered three times a year (September, December and June) and shows what grade level each student is operating on. Many fifth graders have jumped multiple grade levels over the course of the year, and some already are operating on a sixth-grade level. Students Jacore Braxton, Quiron Davis, Sebastian Frederick, Khloe Lovelace, Khloe Wilson, and Grant Opara all scored above the 90th percentiles on a national level in either math or reading.
Grant, age 10, scored in the 99th percentile in reading and 97th in math. He sat down with the PTSA to share his thoughts on Payne, reading, and Super Potato.
Q. What do you like about Payne?
A. I like what it provides, it provides good food, and it has caring teachers.
Q. What do you like about reading?
A. It takes me to a different adventure. It’s like my own space to just be myself.
Q. What are your favorite books?
A. Mostly novels and comic books like Muhammad Ali vs. Superman, or Super Potato.
Q. What is Super Potato?
A. It’s this comic book about a potato that became a superhuman by DNA generation.
Q. Any advice you’d have to the younger Payne students?
A. Stay strong, and keep on moving.
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NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NEXT YEAR. Assistant Principal Jason Ward is leaving Payne at the end of this school year, moving back to North Carolina to be closer to family. Principal Byrd said seven candidates were interviewed to fill his vacated position, and the LSAT committee provided input on four finalists. A new assistant principal has been selected, but his or her name won’t be announced until human resources has approved the hire.
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THANKS FOR SHOPPING. The PTSA raised nearly $600 after last Saturday’s fundraiser at East City Bookshop and Mr. Henry’s. Thanks to all those who bought books and dinner, and a special shout-out to Principal Byrd for leading storytime. The Payne Library also received several book donations, which you can see below.
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FIELD TRIPS FUNDED. The PTSA Board unanimously approved spending $1,142 to support two fifth-grade field trips next week. Students will visit the Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns in Virginia and also Assateague Island in Maryland where they will not only have fun, but also see how they connect with recent lessons about the New Deal. The school also provided funds to supplement the trip, and parents will make a contribution. Thanks to fifth grade teacher Mr. Bergfalk for organizing the trips.
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MORE IMPORTANT DATES
June 7: Fifth grade promotion, 9:30 a.m.
June 11: PK4 Promotion, 9 a.m.
June 14: Last day of school
Aug. 26: First day of school for Kindergarten through fifth grade
Aug. 29: First day of school for PK3 and PK4
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:
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
Payne Elementary School 