The village

Up in the Morning  & off to School...

By David Roffman

September 2008

Last week, the DC public schools opened for business. School Chancellor Michelle Rhee has worked overtime “fixing” our school system – closing schools, repairing schools, getting textbooks to schools, reworking teachers’ tenure and paychecks. The time has come for results, and this year will prove critical to Mayor Fenty and Michelle Rhee in revamping the tired old school system.

Here in Georgetown, the Anthony Hyde Elementary school, having just celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, welcomed students to a refurbished playground, a new wall (no longer a wire fence, but rather a handsome brick structure separating the playground from O Street traffic), and the adjacent former mental health clinic well on its way to being an adjunct to Hyde, the award-winning teachers are ready to continue the record of academic excellence.

My sister-in-law, who heads the Philosophy Department at Trinity College, told her three sons and my three sons the same thing when school began each year. It is still the best advice I’ve heard: Show up, ask questions, do your homework.

If your child is having problems with a particular course, you should be thrilled to hear about the latest addition to academic excellence in the neighborhood. A new Huntington Learning Center is scheduled to open in a brand new, state of the art facility in Glover Park at 2233 Wisconsin Avenue.

Huntington is a hands-on educational service. It is just what it says it is: a learning center, where young people can go to get help in achieving their full academic potential.

The Gover Park branch of Huntington is headed up by Faith Ezrailson, and Janine Davey, former DC Public School teachers who have a combined total of almost 25 years teaching experience, and reside in the neighborhood.

Huntington Learning Center of Washington will offer instruction in reading, writing, math, spelling, phonics, study skills, state testing prep, and one-to-one SAT and ACT exam prep. All instruction begins with a thorough diagnostic test to pinpoint a student’s exact academic needs. Based on the test results, an individualized learning program is prescribed. Frequent conferences with parents and ongoing motivation for students are an important part of Huntington’s method, Davey said.

Parents who would like additional information, or who are concerned about a specific aspect of their child’s academic performance, are encouraged to contact Janine Davey at 202-337-8080.

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