Art to Remember

Hopefully, by now, most of you have received your child's Art to Remember packet. When you are looking for that special gift for that special someone, think about purchasing an Art to Remember keepsake. At least 25% of the cost of each item (and as much as 33%) goes to RCF. The Art to Remember orders will arrive at RCF between Dec. 15th and Dec. 17th. If you have any questions or need additional paper for siblings, friends, nieces or nephews, please contact me at raehaas00@yahoo.com. Or you can pick up another order packet, which includes the paper, in the office.

Happy Shopping!

Rachel Haas

Staff appreciation luncheon a huge sucess

Thank you to all of the parents -at every grade level- who contributed to the event. The tables were literally full of delicious food including lots of homemade and international dishes! There were: homemade tamales, Indian lemon rice, spinach lasagna, Mexican stew, Cuban beans rice, pasta with pesto, quiche, Napa cabbage salad, Peruvian chickens, Greek salad, rosemary foccacia, sandwiches, beef roast, olive bread, fruit salads, dulce de leche, cheesecake, chocolate, cider, sparkling waters, and much much more! With your $ contributions we were also able to buy ceviche, shrimp, a vege tray, desserts, a bouquet of peppers, and additional serving items that we needed.

At 5 pm, RCF staff members were still stopping in to grab a plate before evening conferences. Additionally, teachers definitely have a lot to enjoy tomorrow! Thank you to the so-many of you who contributed, and a special thanks to Teresa Chavez, Sorayda Carbajal and Rachel Haas who helped set up or serve during the day.

If you left a dish or serving utensil with us, please find them-clean-on the small table in the staff lounge. Please try to collect them on Friday before or after school.

The next Staff Appreciation potluck is on Wednesday, March 3rd and the theme is Italian. Please earmark your favorite recipes for that!

Regards,
Elizabeth Sadqi

This morning's paper brought a rude shock on page 3 of the Metro section journalist Nelson Hernandez reports that MCPS could be required to pay between 16 and 64 MILLION dollars in fines due to a compromise hashed out last spring between the county and the board of education to meet state spending requirements.

The story is so convoluted but here is what I understand. The state sets minimum levels of funding for its counties and in the last year, as the county faced a huge budget crisis, the board of education asked the state to allow them to reduce spending. The state BOE denied the request citing the similar circumstances around the state. The county scrambled to find a way to bring its spending in line with the states expectations and yet also be fiscally responsible. The county council ultimately ordered the board of education to pay back the money owed on school construction, which typically the county would pay for.

Doug Gansler, the state Attorney General has issued an opinion that this solution is "artificial" and therefore illegal since it gives the appearance of spending more money while not actually spending the money on education. It is now up to the state board of education to decide what, if anything, the fine should be.

For what it is worth, Prince George's County hit upon a similar solution. We will have to wait and see how that plays out.

What impact will this have on our little corner of MCPS. It's hard to say at this point. On the one hand, it could force the county and the BOE to fund MCPS more fully. On the other hand, I also like to have police and a fire department. What do you think?

Mind the Gap

I recently heard this radio documentary called Mind the Gap on the how the achievement gap plays out in one economically and racially diverse New Jersey suburb. It was a fascinating overview of everything from the differing expectations parents bring to early education to the role of class in student performance to the impact of tracking on high school students. I highly recommend it. It is an hour long, but riviting and well worth the time.

http://www.prx.org/pieces/40313-mind-the-gap-why-good-schools-are-failing-black-s