Jennifer Gibbs Phillips, Founding Member and First Headmistress, Celebrates Retirement
We had one basic question for WMSG’s beloved Headmistress, Jennifer Gibbs Phillips, as we prepared this article on her upcoming retirement. “What message do you want to give the girls of WMSG? What would you say to them?”
“What would I say? They all know what I would say. I tell my girls every day that education is the key—the key to a good life, to satisfying work, to understanding the world around them. I would tell them how fortunate they are to have a school like this. And that the way to express their gratitude is by doing their best, growing to their fullest potential, and then by contributing—giving back to their community as they have been given.
“What would I say? I’d say that success is not about material things; so much else in life is more important. They need to learn how to love, how to take time and enjoy the blessings all around them. They must learn to use words thoughtfully and carefully, never to hurt, but to express their best selves, and to influence others positively.
“What would I say? I’d tell them that even beyond a good education, they need to develop resilience, fortitude, compassion, and an awareness of the political and social issues that will impact their lives. They need to be part of the solution when challenges arise—and challenges will arise for them throughout their lives. I would tell them to make me proud.”
WMSG’s Board Chair, Paul Warren, announced that the Board has established a “Jennifer Gibbs Phillips Scholarship Fund” to honor one of our beloved founding members who served as our first Headmistress.
The Arts Are Alive at WMSG!
This past year has been a banner year for the arts at The Washington Middle School for Girls. Our partners at THEARC have guided our girls in ways of expressing their hopes, dreams and experiences, and we are proud of their accomplishments.
In April, 2006, a 5th grade student won second prize in Lockheed Martin Company’s annual art contest. WMSG students competed with other students from schools all around the DC metro area. Volunteers from Lockheed Martin are steadfast volunteers at our Saturday Academy, and have encouraged their company to provide uniform sweaters for each one of our students.
During this past semester, under the guidance of Dr. Ben Foreman of the Washington School of Psychiatry’s Community Outreach Project, a group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders began a photo narrative course, which taught them about photography, encouraged them to take pictures of themselves, their friends, families, and neighborhoods. This activity was remarkable in that it gave them a chance to find their own voices – to tell their own stories. All of the pictures are compelling, and speak to their yearnings, fears, achievements. All speak of an effort to find meaning. On June 12, 2006, there will be an exhibit of their work, and a reception held at THEARC in their honor.
This past quarter, our 6th grade class worked with the Corcoran ArtReach’s Director, Laura Pasquini, to produce their own artwork consisting of paintings and silk screens, as well as a paper-making project. Many of the pieces reflected images of their school, homes, and community. Through the generosity of the National Cooperative Bank, this work was displayed at the bank’s annual Board Meeting at THEARC, and following an opening exhibit on June 5, 2006, are now on display at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
WMSG Inaugurates Literacy for Life - Parent Connection™
- Borders Books joins in to help families teach kids to read
- Students and families go home with books and new tips on reading with one another
WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AND THE SCHILLINGER GROUP, LLC PARTNER ON LITERACY FOR LIFE™ - INAUGURAL “PARENT CONNECTION” RECEPTION – January 31, 2006, from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at WMSG located in THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Avenue, Washington, DC 20020
The Washington Middle School for Girls (“WMSG”), a progressive urban middle school (5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grades), located in the heart of D.C., and The Schillinger Group, LLC, a New Jersey-based education consulting firm, have partnered to implement a comprehensive literacy initiative developed by The Schillinger Group called PROGRAM FOR POWERFUL LEARNING®. The “Parent Connection” reception held at WMSG’s Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC) Campus on Tuesday evening, January 31st is the inaugural event in the Program’s LITERACY FOR LIFE™ campaign whose purpose is to create meaningful home-school connections designed to increase student achievement and learning through increased parental involvement in children’s intellectual development.
LITERACY FOR LIFE™, one of the lynchpins of the PROGRAM FOR POWERFUL LEARNING® initiative, is a program designed to assist parents and guardians with information, tips and techniques to help their children continue their literacy development while at home. The “Parent Connection” reception on January 31st kicked-off this initiative by offering parents and guardians a chance to hear what this program will provide for them throughout the 2005-2006 school year and beyond by way of workshops, literary resources and other family-oriented professional development opportunities that can be helpful to their children.
Rene Schillinger, President and Founding Partner of The Schillinger Group has done extensive research that shows the overarching benefits of parental and community involvement with K-12 education. According to Mr. Schillinger, “Parental and community involvement directly and powerfully affects student learning. It has been shown time and again that students benefit in all facets of their learning when communities and home are brought into a collaborative relationship with the school. We are thrilled to be involved with such forward thinking educators as those at The Washington Middle School for Girls.”
Borders Books, recognizing the value of this literacy initiative agreed to make material contributions to this special night. “We foresee a strong collaboration with Borders to leverage vital resources to other similarly situated learning institutions here in D.C. and beyond,” stated Mr. Schillinger.
Ms. Jennifer Gibbs-Phillips, Headmistress of The Washington Middle School for Girls says “We are proud of all that this school has been able to accomplish in the 8 years since we started, and feel this ongoing commitment to literacy and our students will achieve our goal of empowering these girls to continue on their path of intellectual inquiry and spiritual growth. We want these children to respect education, respect their individual gifts and respect themselves.”
Sr. Mary Bourdon, Director of The Washington Middle School for Girls says "I can't think of a more worthwhile venture for our students and their families. When our school first opened in 1997, we wanted to be based in the community. This project extends our educational program right into the homes of our students. It brings the whole community of WMSG together around the written word. I look forward so much to the day when the whole WMSG Community (parents, teachers and students) gathers together to discuss a favorite book.”