Recap Shaed School Building Surplus Meeting

The meeting was packed into the small field house that we call the Edgewood Recreation Center- it was crowded, hot and hard to hear so I was not there for the whole meeting and did not hear everything said while I was there either.  If you had a better seat or were able to hear more please add your input in the comments for this post.

The general message from DGS is that DCPS has released the building and any charter schools that are interested in using it have until August 30th to file an application.  While I was told in the past that there were no charter schools interested it seems that now there are including some Montessori schools.  The first rights for the building go to a charter school.  I know that there are quite a few families with young children (or children on the way) in the neighborhood that would love to be able to walk their children to a Montessori school.  In fact some neighbors have moved because of the lack of quality schools in our neighborhood.  While there is a whole separate debate about charter schools and what they mean for our school system I do not feel the need to engage in that and simply want to support what is best for our community.  A great school that we can walk to would be a terrific amenity.  That said the push should be to get a great school and then to ensure that there is a neighborhood priority for enrollment.  It does us no good to get a great new charter school and then be unable to get neighborhood children enrolled in it!!

There was also a lot of loud opposition to a charter school and talk of use of the building for a recreation center.  The idea of making a community center (one that I have been advocating for over the years) out of the building that includes DPR use as well as nonprofit use and programming would be a community amenity whose value would be immense if run properly.  But if that cannot be done as there may be a new school going into the school building then the community needs to come together and demand that we still get an improved recreation center and programming.  There is no reason that we cannot have both a great school and a new recreation center.  The land use for the Edgewood neighborhood is poorly designed and maintained with proper planning we could keep our outdoor space and create a new recreation center with indoor space as well.  Within the past five years there was $14-15 million in the DC budget to do just that but that money was moved to another community.  We need to fight to get the money back in the budget and create the space that can be enjoyed by all ages.

I did hear the people in the front of the meeting say they need to hear from the community about what we want-  my thoughts on this is that they are just not listening!!  For years many different people and groups, myself included, have been advocating for improved recreational facilities and programming in the Edgewood neighborhood and it is time the city takes action! 

Please contact CM McDuffie and ensure that he is taking action and supporting our needs!  He needs to be a leader on this issue!

DPR Summer Camp Registration

Please see the email below. Note the camp at the Edgewood Rec you must register in person.

http://dpr.dc.gov/DC/DPR/Programs+and+Services/Youth+Camps/DPR+Summer+Camps/2013+Summer+Camp+Season

2013 Summer Camp Season


The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is set for another great summer of swimming, field trips, creative activities, and new experiences in the District of Columbia. The 2013 Summer Camp season will offer four sessions from June 24, 2013 through August 16, 2013. Session dates are:

Session 1: June 24, 2013 – July 5, 2013 (Holiday July 4th)
Session 2: July 8, 2013 – July 19, 2013
Session 3: July 22, 2013 – August 2, 2013
Session 4: August 5, 2013 – August 16, 2013
*Some sites will offer an additional session for one week only from August 19, 2013 to August 23, 2013.

Most camps are open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
DPR also offers a Before & After Care package for an additional flat rate. Before-Care is offered 8:00–9:00am, and after-care is offered 5:00-6:00pm.

Summer Camp Registration
DC Resident Priority Registration
DPR has made significant changes to the registration process for 2013. This year, the agency will offer a rolling registration period beginning Monday, February 4, 2013. Each day until February 14th, a small group of sites will be open for registration beginning at 10:00am. Registration can occur through our web site, summercamps.dc.gov, or in person at the Summer Camp Office. Registration during this period will be open to DC residents ONLY.

Below is the rolling registration schedule. Please read carefully to ensure you are prepared to register for the camp of your choice on the correct day. Once a camp opens for enrollment, it will not close until full.
Please Note: Only some sites will offer camp August 19th - August 23rd.

Monday, February 4th (beginning at 10:00am)
Banneker Recreation Center
Stead Recreation Center
Chevy Chase Community Center
Emery Recreation Center
Brentwood Recreation Center
Sherwood Recreation Center
Benning Park Recreation Center
Bald Eagle Recreation Center
Tuesday, February 5th (beginning at 10:00am)
Columbia Heights Community Center
Kennedy Recreation Center
Chevy Chase Playground
Fort Stevens Recreation Center
Joe Cole Recreation Center
Rosedale Recreation Center
Benning Stoddert Recreation Center
Douglass Recreation Center
Wednesday, February 6th (beginning at 10:00am)
Kalorama Recreation Center
Volta Park Recreation Center
Friendship Recreation Center
Langdon Park Recreation Center
Watkins Recreation Center
Fort Davis Recreation Center
Fort Stanton Recreation Center
Thursday, February 7th (beginning at 10:00am)
Parkview Recreation Center
Jelleff Recreation Center
Guy Mason Recreation Center
Lafayette Recreation Center
North Michigan Park Recreation Center
Hillcrest Recreation Center
Friday, February 8th (beginning at 10:00am)
Rose Park Recreation Center
Hardy Recreation Center
Lamond Recreation Center
Trinidad Recreation Center
Deanwood Aquatic & Recreation Center
Monday, February 11th (beginning at 10:00am)
Palisades Recreation Center
Petworth Recreation Center
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Tuesday, February 12th (beginning at 10:00am)
Raymond Community Center
Wednesday, February 13th (beginning at 10:00am)
Hearst Recreation Center
Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center
Thursday, February 14th (beginning at 10:00am)
Mitchell Park Recreation Center
Takoma Aquatic & Recreation Center
Please Note: DPR will not process any transfer requests or refund requests until February 18th, after the rolling registration period has ended.

Registration for REC Camps, regardless of location, must occur in person at the recreation center. REC camps will not be included in the online rolling registration. Registration for camps must occur in person at the recreation center beginning Monday, February 4th during regular hours of operation:

Columbia Heights Community Center (REC Camp only)
Parkview Community Center (REC Camp only)
Hamilton Recreation Center
Upshur Recreation Center
Arboretum Recreation Center
Brentwood Recreation Center (REC Camp only)
Edgewood Recreation Center
Ferebee Hope Recreation Center (REC Camp only)
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
King Greenleaf Recreation Center
Rosedale Recreation Center (REC Camp only)
Benning Stoddert Recreation Center (REC Camp only)
Ridge Road Recreation Center
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
Douglass Community Center (REC Camp only)
The following sites will NOT be participating in the rolling registration. Registration for camps must occur in person at the recreation center beginning Monday, February 4th during regular hours of operation. These camps also require an assessment that will be facilitated by DPR staff:

Therapeutic Recreation Center
Southeast Tennis and Learning Center
Summer Camp Open Registration: March 4th at 10am
As of March 4, 2013, and for the remainder of the summer, registration into any available spaces will remain open to residents, residents applying for reduced rate fees, and non-residents. DPR does not maintain waiting lists for summer camps.

Note: Although DPR Summer Camp 2013 Registration can be completed in-person, it is highly recommended that DC residents who are not applying for reduced rate fees and non-resident registrants complete their registrations online. Coming to the Summer Camp Office in-person DOES NOT guarantee a spot in summer camp. It is also recommended that customers requesting a reduced rate finalize their reduced rate applications during the pre-qualification period in order to register the same time online registration opens for camps.

DPR Summer Camp Offerings
DPR continues to offer a variety of summer programming across the District. In addition to aquatics and sports, DPR partners with community groups and organizations to enhance the diversity and quality of programs for our youth. Some of our summer programming will include:

Full Summer Camp Listing
Little Explorers Camp (ages 3 to 5)
Discovery Camp (ages 6 to 10)
Tween Camp (ages 11 to 13)
Aqua Day Camp (ages 6 to 13)
GOAL! Soccer Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Nothing but Net: Basketball Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Score! Multi-Sport Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Spirit: Cheerleading/Tumbling Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Tennis Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Boxing Camp (ages 8 to 13)

Therapeutic Recreation Camps:

Let’s Play Together: Little Explorers (ages 3 to 5)
Let’s Play Together (ages 6-10, Inclusion camp located at Fort Stevens, Turkey Thicket, and Sherwood)
Camp Adventure (ages 6 to16, located at TR Center and Rosedale)
Camp Funward Bound (ages 21+)
DPR Specialty Camps:

Verano Spanish Camp (ages 3 to 10)
Outdoor Adventure Camp (ages 8 to 13)
Camp Healthy Kids (ages 10 to 17)
Please note that DPR Specialty Camps follow a different fee structure than other camps. Click on the Full Summer Camp Listing to find out specific fee information for each specialty camp.

Please visit our web site in March for information about DPR PARTNERSHIP CAMPS.

To register for DPR TEEN CAREER CAMPS, please contact DOES Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3492.

Summer Camp Fees

DPR maintains low-cost recreational summer programming for District residents.

Resident Rates Non-Resident Rates
Sessions 1-4:
$100 per session
$10 Field Trip Fee
$20 Before and After Care
Sessions 1-4:
$225 per session
$22.50 Field Trip Fee
$45 Before and After Care
Additional Session (August 19th - August 23rd):
$50 for session
$10 Before and After Care
Additional Session (August 19th - August 23rd):
$112.50 for session
$22.50 Before and After Care
Before and After-Care Registration
Before and After-Care registration will begin in March and will NOT be included in the rolling registration period. Once registered for a summer program, DPR will contact you via email with information and instructions for Before and After-Care registration. If you are able to register for a space in a DPR summer camp, you are guaranteed a space in Before and After-Care.

Payment Information

Sessions can be purchased all at once or one at a time, but camp fees are due in FULL for all selected sessions when registering. This applies to both in-person and online registrations regardless of registration type.
Payments can be made online using a credit, debit, or gift card that has a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card logo (no AmEx).
Payments in-person can be made by the previously mentioned method, as well as certified check, or money order. All certified checks and money orders should be made payable to DC Treasurer.
No payment plans will be offered during registration for DPR Summer Camp 2013.
Both Not-for-Profit Agencies and the DC Department of Child and Family Services should contact the Summer Camp Office directly for registration and payment instructions.
DC Resident Proof of Residency

In order to prove DC residency, please plan to provide the following:

A government issued photo ID, listing your current DC address AND at least ONE of the following:
Pay stub (issued within the last 45 days)
Utility bill (gas, electric, or water within the past 2 months)
Unexpired DC Motor Vehicle Registration
OR

A government issued photo ID including your name AND at least TWO of the following, listing your current address:
Pay stub (issued within the last 45 days)
Utility bill (gas, electric, or water within the past 2 months)
Unexpired DC Motor Vehicle Registration
Unexpired lease or rental agreement
A notarized letter signed by the persons with whom you reside that includes your name, your child(ren), and address. Two pieces of mail with your current name, address, and date, must accompany the notarized letter.
Reduced Rate

Reduced Rate pre-qualification period will begin on January 22, 2013. During this period, customers may come to the Summer Camp Office to complete a reduced rate application. The goal of the pre-qualification period is to assist residents with completing their reduced rate applications so that they can easily register for camp when registration opens on February 4, 2013. However, reduced rate applications will be accepted throughout the entire Summer 2013 season. If you would like to be considered for a reduced rate, you must apply PRIOR to registering for camp. We will not issue a reduced rate refund once a registration has been completed. Also, please note that a reduced rate does NOT apply to before and after-care fees.

In order to qualify for the DPR Summer Camp 2013 reduced rate, applicants must provide proof of residency and proof of income below the poverty level according to federal guidelines. You must be a DC re

Music Class: World Drumming at Edgewood Recreation Center

There is a new offering at the Edgewood Recreation Center by the Friends of Edgewood Rec every Wednesday.  Here are the details for the World Drumming Class:

Title: Music Class: World Drumming

Date: Wednesdays
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every week.
Street: Class is taught by Michael Henderson
Notes: No experience necessary. For all ages.

Potential Closing of Shaed in Edgewood

***Update*** Thanks to Aaron for sending in a copy of the letter sent from DCPS. I have attached a picture of it above. Also, note there is a community meeting scheduled for January 11th at 6:00 p.m. at Shaed.

I tweeted about the potential closing of Shaed in Edgewood last week, but wanted to followup with a post and the article. Due to the poor performance at Shaed and low enrollment I would be for this if they transformed the building into a library and recreation center combination for the community. I am not sure if the money for the Edgewood Recreation Center will remain in the budget or not with the cuts, but if it does I would think this could be an ideal solution. Everyone who lives here knows that the recreation center is inadequate and the nearest libraries are in Woodridge and Shaw. We are adding many new residents to the area and I really think this building could fill a current and future need for Edgewood and surrounding neighborhoods.

Here is the article:

DCPS wants to close Shaed, River Terrace; open Montessori
By Bill Turque

DCPS has proposed a series of closures and consolidations that would take effect this fall. It wants to shutter two lightly-enrolled schools in Northeast and open a Montessori school at the old Logan Elementary building near Union Station.

According to notices posted on the school system web site, River Terrace Elementary in Ward 7 would close at the end of the current academic year and merge with Thomas Elementary in Parkside. Students at Shaed Education Campus, a PS-8 school in Ward 5, would join those at Emery Education Campus PS-8,in relocating to the former Langley School building next to McKinley Technology High School.

In a letter to the Shaed community, Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson said Shaed's current enrollment of 146 makes it difficult to sustain a full PS-8 program. Emery's building, she said, lack some of the physical amenities of a PS-8 school. Both, she said, would benefit from the move to Langley, which is vacant.

Twenty-seven schools were closed or consolidated in the Fenty-Rhee era, generating considerable political pushback. Henderson will likely get her share when she meets with both school communities after the holidays. A final recommendation to the mayor's office will follow.

Expansion of Montessori, a response to burgeoning demand, is part of a larger set of moves in the works for Ward 6 schools. The current Montessori program, housed at Watkins Elementary, runs through fourth grade. DCPS wants to move it to Logan and extend it an extra year, through fifth grade. Watkins would then pick up the fifth grade currently housed at Stuart-Hobson Middle School.

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Edgewood Rec Center Football Field Dedication

The official dedication ceremony for the newly renovated Edgewood Recreation Center Football Field will be held Saturday, May 15th at 11:00 a.m. on the field. There will some political and Washington Redskins bigwigs in attendance. Beacon House, DPR and the Washington Redskins teamed together to renovate the field that is home to the Beacon House youth football program and part of the Edgewood Recreation Center. The improvements include: new lighting, leveling the field, an underground irrigation system, new turf and bleachers. The Washington Redskins are also providing five years of maintenance for the field.