Eastern High School’s principal is passing the torch to a new leader prior to the upcoming school year.
Sah Brown will lead the school in the 2016-2017 academic year, according to a D.C. Public Schools press release. Brown will take over for outgoing principal Rachel Skerritt.
Brown recently led Roosevelt High School as interim principal and served as an assistant principal at Cardozo Education Campus. He also formerly worked at Hardy Middle School.
Read the full DCPS announcement below:
Eastern High School (1700 East Capitol St. NE) is looking for local professionals to share stories about what they do for a living later this month.
The school seeks people to visit on May 27 and tell students about their jobs as part of its fifth annual career day. Those interested must fill out a short survey in order to participate.
More than 100 people took part in last year’s career day.
Photo via Facebook / Eastern High School
Locals can get a free lunch from Sweetgreen if they help work on a Capitol Hill-area school garden this weekend.
The salad and grain bowl purveyor’s “Capitol Hill Service Day” at Eastern High School’s garden is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the complimentary meal from 12:30 to 1 p.m. The school is located at 1700 East Capitol St. NE.
Sweetgreen is paying for gardening supplies with money it raised during a celebration it had in January when it reopened its location at 221 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
An email from the eatery adds:
RSVP here to join us for a morning of preparing harvest boxes for the season, pruning perennials, improving the greenhouse, planting delicious produce.
By Natalie Gross
Lena King stared into a handheld mirror, watching carefully as cosmetologist Crystal Corbie used a soft brush to blend the colors along her cheek.
It was King’s first time wearing makeup, and she wasn’t sure whether she would like it. She just knew she wanted to look beautiful because she was going to her first high school prom.
King is a 17-year-old senior at Eastern Senior High School. She has braces, likes to read books and frequently weaves movie references into casual conversation. She has a remarkable knack for reading facial expressions and remembering people’s names.
If you ask her about school, she gushes about her teachers and says, “I’m learning to be a responsible adult.”
King was one of about 80 students and young adults with special needs who attended a prom hosted by Waterfront Church DC at Nationals Park on Friday, Feb. 12. The Navy Yard congregation received a grant from the Tim Tebow Foundation to throw the Night to Shine bash, one of more than 200 proms for people with special needs happening simultaneously around the world.
Volunteers came from as far as Texas for the event, which included limousine rides and a red carpet entrance with paparazzi for guests and their caregivers. Later in the evening, all guests – many from D.C. Public Schools and the local chapter of Young Life, a non-denominational Christian group for teens and adolescents – were crowned kings and queens of the prom.
As students danced the “Macarena,” formed conga lines and got “low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low,” to Flo-Rida’s popular hit, many parents, teachers and volunteers joined in. Others stood by taking in the scene – the meaning of songs like “Firework” and “What Makes You Beautiful” not lost on them.
Ricki Perry stood near the dance floor, beaming as she watched King and four of her other students move with the music. Perry leads a class of nine students with autism at Eastern, teaching them life skills in addition to academics.
“I’m always really emotional when I see this,” Perry said. Students with autism thrive on routines, she said, but these students had embraced a situation with no predictability. Some had even navigated an unfamiliar Metro route to get there.
Zillah Wesley, a social worker at Dunbar High School, was thankful for Night to Shine’s focus on people with special needs. Though hesitant at first, two seniors she works with, Angel Blake and Brandon Johnson, decided to attend.
“I think that it’s extremely important for all children to feel like they’re important and that they come to events like this. They get to dress up, get to get in the limousine, they get wonderful food,” she said. “I feel it’s really helped their self esteem a lot.”
King, too, got a boost of self-confidence Friday. With all eyes on her back in the hair and makeup room, she flashed a big smile. “I look nice!”
With that, she declared herself a “makeup person” and changed into her navy blue dress, eager to show off her new look on the red carpet – and to her crush.
To her, it was all like something out of a Julia Roberts film.
Visitors to Google could soon see an illustration by a Eastern High School student on the site’s homepage.
Sophomore Akilah Johnson is a finalist in Google’s annual doodle contest, in which grade-school students compete to have their artwork featured on the search engine’s homepage. The theme of this year’s contest is “what makes me… me.”
Johnson’s illustration, titled “My Afrocentric Life” was selected as the best entry from D.C. and will now compete against the winners from all 50 states and two other territories.
In her illustration, Johnson used a box braid to spell out Google and surrounded the word with symbols of black pride and Afrocentrism, including a picture of Africa and a person holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign.
Johnson told the Washington Post’s Michael Cavna that the illustration took her about two weeks to complete and was inspired by her time as a child at Roots Public Charter School and Roots Activity Learning Center.
Supporters can vote for Johnson’s illustration online until Feb. 22.
The vote will select five finalists, from which a panel of judges will pick the winner. In addition to having their artwork featured on Google, the winner will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship and the winner’s school will receive a $50,000 Google for Education grant.
Photo via Google
Police arrested two teens after they stole a car near Eastern Market last night.
A woman was sitting in the passenger seat of a car near the intersection of 7th and D streets SE when a man opened another door of the car. The woman left the car immediately and two other men took her purse from the car.
One of the men then stole the car while the other two ran away with her purse toward the Eastern Market Metro station.
Plainclothes police officers who were in the area came into contact with the victim shortly after the carjacking and canvassed the area. Officers quickly located the car on the 800 block of E Street SE and arrested the thief.
Later, Metro Transit Police Officers saw one of the men attempting to throw the purse away inside the Metro station and arrested him as well.
Police did not release the names of the suspects who were arrested because they are minors.
Earlier yesterday, a student at the Capitol Hill campus of Center City Public Charter School threatened another student with a knife. There were no injuries reported and the suspect later turned the knife in to the principal.
Metro Opens On Most Lines With Regular Fares in Effect — Metrorail stations opened at 5 a.m. this morning with service on all lines except the Silver Line and the Orange Line between Vienna and Ballston. Trains will run every 12 minutes. Metro buses are on a “severe” snow service plan, with 81 bus routes operating. [WMATA]
‘Snow Dragon’ to Melt Snow at RFK Stadium Lots — A borrowed “snow dragon” truck will be used to melt snow that has been dumped at parking lots around RFK Stadium. [WUSA9]
Few People Take Advantage of Hot Meals at D.C. Schools Yesterday — Yesterday, several schools across the District, including Eastern High School and Jefferson Academy Middle School, offered free breakfast and lunch for students and their families, but few people showed up to take advantage of the offer. The schools will offer free meals again today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [WUSA9]
Capitol Hill Home of Early 70s Lesbian Feminist Group Could Become Historic Landmark — A rowhome at 219 11th St. SE could be designated a historic landmark because it was the headquarters of a lesbian feminist separatist group called the Furies Collective in the early 1970s. [Washington Blade]
Thanks to reader Cynthia Wei for sending the photo above of her snow-covered car masquerading as a storm trooper on Sunday. Email or tweet us your best snow pictures as we continue to dig out!
(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) Metro to Offer Limited, Free Service Today — Metrorail opened this morning at 7 a.m. with limited service. Trains on the Red, Orange and Green lines are running every 20-25 minutes. At 11 a.m., Metro will extend service on all three lines to include some above-ground service:
- Orange Line is running between Ballston and New Carrollton
- Red Line will run between Medical Center and Glenmont
- Green Line will run between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue
Some Metro bus lines will also operate between noon and 5 p.m. today. Buses on the following routed will operate in D.C.: 32, 33, 36, 53, 70, 90, A6, A8, S4, U8, V4, X2. [WMATA]
Despite School Closures, Eastern High School and Jefferson Middle School Will Serve Breakfast, Lunch Today — D.C. Public Schools and charter schools are closed today as the District works to clear snow-covered roads, but schools throughout the District, including Eastern High School at 1700 East Capitol St. NE and Jefferson Middle School Academy at 801 7th St. SW, will still serve breakfast and lunch for students and their families today. D.C. Public Schools is asking for volunteers to help put together meals between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. [WTOP]
Water Main Break Causes Overnight Water Outages on Capitol Hill — Houses near the intersection of A and 6th streets SE lost water for most of last night as DC Water repaired a broken water main near the intersection. [DC Water]
Trash Collection Cancelled for Monday, Tuesday — The District Department of Public Works announced that it will not be able to complete trash pickup today or tomorrow and is currently assessing its ability to collect trash for the rest of the week.
Eastern High School Set to Increase After-School Security After Shooting Last Week — D.C. Public Schools and the Metropolitan Police Department are reevaluating security for after school events after three people were injured in a shooting outside Eastern High School last Friday night. [Hill Rag]
Designs Changed for Office Building Along Half Street SE — Developers have submitted revised designs for the office building project at 25 M St. SE that include multiple rooftop terraces. [JDLand]
Metro Says Moisture in Coupler System May Have Caused Green line Train Separation at Navy Yard — Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld revealed that moisture in a pneumatic line on the system that connects train cars may be responsible for the decoupling of a Green Line train near the Navy Yard station last week. [WTOP]
Fresca Taqueria Open on H Street — Fresca Taqueria, which opened at 701 H St. NE earlier this week will be oipen from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends. [District Cuisine]
Three juveniles were injured in a shooting near Eastern High School Friday night.
The shooting occurred about 10 p.m. on the 1900 block of East Capitol Street, according to an email from Metropolitan Police Department First District Commander Jeff Brown. When police arrived, two victims were found with gunshot wounds to the leg and foot. Later, a third victim arrived at a hospital with similar injuries.
The Washington Post reported that the two victims on the scene were two girls who were leaving a basketball game at the high school when they were shot at from a passing car. Police do not have a suspect description in the shooting.
On Saturday, a man was robbed on the 600 block of Orleans Place NE, near Gallaudet University. The man reported that he was approached by three men who demanded his property about 8 p.m. Saturday.
The man gave the thieves his cell phone and money. Police officers were on the scene in less than two minutes and placed all three suspects under arrest. The victim’s cell phone was found on one of the suspects and returned.
There were two robberies reported in the Capitol Hill area on Sunday. The first happened about 7:15 p.m. near the intersection of H Street NW and North Capitol Street.
A woman reported that she was approached by three men, one of whom stole her cell phone and shoulder bag. The three suspects escaped on North Capitol St. NE, according to police. Police did not provide a suspect description in this case.
The second robbery happened two hours later about 9:15 p.m. on the 1200 block of D Street SE. According to police, a person reported that they were approached from behind by two men, one of whom was armed with a gun. The thieves stole money from the person and fled on D Street SE.
Both suspects were described as black men in their early 20s. The man with a handgun was described as 6 foot 2 inches tall with a thin build and wearing a ski mask and dark, baggy athletic suit. The second suspect was described as 6 foot 3 inches tall wearing similar clothing.
Over the weekend, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier also sent out a citywide alert warning about robberies in which victims were targeted after agreeing to buy or sell items on a online retail site.
Though there have been no reported robberies of this nature in the Capitol Hill area recently, Lanier advised that people using online retail sites like Craigslist meet in a well-traveled and well-lit area when making transactions.
(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) Police have reopened two blocks of East Capitol Street that were closed for over an hour this morning due to a suspicious package.
The stretch of East Capitol Street that closed, between 17th and 19th streets, runs in front of Eastern High School. An employee at the school said that the building was evacuated for a short period of time but that classes have resumed.
A police spokesperson said that the scene has been cleared and the roads reopened.
Police received a report of the package about 9:25 this morning, according to a police spokesperson.
Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen announced the winners of the ninth annual Brickie awards celebrating the contributions by individuals and organizations to the Capitol Hill area community.
The five awards will be presented at a ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the Eastern Market North Hall.
Eastern High School principal Rachel Skerritt won the Public Service Award for helping lead the transformation of the high school, according to a statement from Allen.
“The energy she brings to the school to create award-winning programs, to inspire young learners and grow the confidence in public education is motivating a generation of school leaders and communities,” he said in the statement.
The Business Award went to Eastern Market gourmet kitchenware store Hill’s Kitchen, while the Community Organization Award went to the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, an organization formed in the 1960s to advocate for residents of Southwest. The organization also publishes a monthly newspaper The Southwester.
“SWNA may have just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, but the organization gets stronger every day,” Allen said. “Whether advocating for fair housing, preserving neighborhood history or helping chart the course of the Southwest Waterfront’s future, SWNA and its neighborhood leaders are a group I can count on.”
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6E Commisioner Rachelle Nigro, who represents parts of Mount Vernon Square and Shaw won the Neighbor Award. The D.C. Public Library will take home the Civic Pride Award for the work of the various library branches throughout Ward 6.
Councilman Allen will present the awards to the winners at the ceremony today from 6-8 p.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public and will include free food and drink from area restaurants.
Photo via Twitter/ CharlesAllenW6
District Government Moves Closer to Closing D.C. General — The District took another step toward closing the homeless shelter at the former D.C. General hospital when Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans for between six and eight new shelters across the city. [WAMU]
Owner of Taxi Involved in Crash With Police Questions Police Speed — Rock Creek Cab Company owner Mo Rahim is questioning how fast a police car was traveling when it collided with a cab on H Street NE Friday. [WUSA 9]
Building Intended as Site of H Street NE Bar Back On the Market — The building at 1336 H St. NE is back on the market after plans for a sports bar, Sin Bin Sports Bar and Restaurant, fell through. [District Cuisine]
Developers Submit Revised Designs for Apartments Near Potomac Avenue Metro Station — Developers have submitted new designs for an apartment building at 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE after city planners suggested that they make the building appear shorter. [Washington Business Journal]
Eastern High School Wins Second Straight Gravy Bowl — The Eastern High School football team won the Gravy Bowl championship last night with a 45-8 win over Bell High School. [Eastern HS Football]
Starting at a new school can be hard for kids and parents. As parents start gearing up for school enrollment season in the Spring, several Capitol Hill area schools are holding open houses. These open houses will give parents a chance to check out their kids’ prospective new schools and meet some of the teachers and other parents.
Here is a rundown of all the school open houses happening later this week and in the next couple months:
Watkins Elementary School
420 12th St. SE
Open: Nov. 18, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Stuart-Hobson Middle School
410 E St. NE
Open: Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Van Ness Elementary School
1150 5th St. SE
Open: Nov. 19, 9-10 a.m.
Miner Elementary School
601 15th St. NE
Open: Nov. 19, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Dec. 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Feb. 18, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Jefferson Academy Middle School
801 7th St. SW
Open: Nov. 20, 9:30-11 a.m.
Brent Elementary School
301 North Carolina Ave. SE
Open: Nov. 23, 9-10:30 a.m.
Maury Elementary School
1250 Constitution Ave. NE
Open: Nov. 30, 9-10:30 a.m.
Capitol Hill Day School (PreK-8th grade)
210 South Carolina Ave. SE
Open: Dec. 8, 9-11 a.m.
Tours also available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Schedule a morning tour by emailing [email protected]
Ludlow Taylor Elementary School
659 G St. NE
Open: Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m.
Feb 11, 9:30 a.m.
School Within School
920 F St. NE
Open: Jan. 14, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20, 9-10:30 a.m.
Eastern High School
1700 East Capitol St. NE
There are currently no open houses scheduled, but families can make appointments to tour the school at [email protected]
H Street Businesses Complain of Parking Crackdown Around Still-Closed Streetcar — District parking enforcement have towed more than 300 cars and issued more than 1,000 tickets for streetcar-related parking violations, which business owners say have hurt business. [Washington Post]
Preservation League Seeks Historical Designation for Railway Express Building in NoMa — The D.C. Preservation League has nominated the Railways Express Agency Building at 900 2nd St. NE for historical preservation in an attempt to preemptively protect it from alteration as part of the Union Station expansion. [Washington Business Journal]
Southwest Building Camden South Capitol Abandons Plans for Ground-Floor Retail — Camden South Capitol, the building that opened on the corner of SOuth Capitol Street and O Street SW in 2013 has abandoned plans to put a restaurant on the ground floor, receiving a permit to build five additional apartments instead. [SWTLQTC]
Books by Local High School Students to Be Released Thursday — Reach Incorporated, a program that hires teenagers to be elementary school reading tutors, will release four children’s books written by local high school students on Thursday. [Hill Now]
