Tiger Woods Makes a Surprise Visit to D.C. School (Unveils new surprise for East of the River)

Woods Foundation to Open Two Local Learning Centers

By TOM SHERWOOD

Updated 7:26 PM EDT, Fri, Oct 8, 2010

BUZZ UP!

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It was a Friday afternoon, and the roomful of ninth graders at Cesar Chavez Charter School on Capitol Hill didn't really want to be in yet another school assembly.

But things changed when everyone realized it was golfing great Tiger Woods -- the rumors were true! -- walked into the auditorium.

Woods and his nonprofit foundation were there to announcing that Woods is establishing two Tiger Woods Learning Centers on the Chavez campus, as well as in Parklawn east of the Anacostia River.

Woods -- whose personal problems didn't come up -- said that his foundation wants to help students prepare for higher education and for successful adult lives. He told stories about how professional golf players lose more often than they win, but the point is that even if you fall short, the right thing to do is try again.

The new school programs will offer state-of-the-art computer resources and academic sessions during and after school, as well as on weekends. The program also will be offered to other students in the city system.

Principal Daneen Keaton said the Friday afternoon assembly turned out to be a motivating factor for the students. "We push them pretty hard," she said.

On College Awareness Day, Thurgood Marshall Academy continues its commitment to getting students to college

Today, all over the city, schools (elementary, middle and high schools) celebrated College Awareness Day, which encouraged teachers to inform their students about the importance of a post-secondary education and share information about their Alma maters.

I am a senior at Thurgood Marshall Academy at the intersection of Martin Luther King Avenue and Howard Road, SE. It is the highest performing open-enrollment school not only in Ward 8, but in the entire city, ensuring that 100% of its graduated seniors since its founding (five classes, since 2005) have been accepted to at least college or university.

Everyday at Thurgood Marshall Academy you will see pennants of each teacher's Alma mater hanging outside of their door as a constant reminder to their students of the variety of schools their teachers have attended, from Clark Atlanta University, Bowling Green State University, University of Albany, Cornell University, Harvard University and many others. Bulletin boards across the school feature teachers and their favorite college experiences, new opportunities for scholarships and fly-in programs, colleges TMA's ever-growing list of alumni have attended and profiles of Alumni and THEIR favorite college experiences thus far.

Needless to say, College Awareness Day was almost just another day at TMA. However, teachers made sure to go out of their way to wear their school's paraphernalia and make shameless plugs for their school during short gaps in instruction time.

One of TMA's main missions is to get their students into college and actively participating in our everyday society- and they are succeeding.

Photos from today's activities at TMA for College Awareness Day

Press Release: OSSE Announces 2010 National College Fair

It is not only important to ensure that our students get a good education through High School, but that they are given the opportunity to attain the near-essential opportunity for a post-secondary education.

This is why we encourage all of you, students and parents, to attend the 2010 National College Fair, on October 12, 2010 at the Washington Convention Center. The official press release with more information is below.

September 7, 2010

OSSE Announces 2010 National College Fair

(Washington, DC) – The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), AXA Achievement, National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC), The College Board, and School Guide Publications are partnering to host the National College Fair, Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The National College Fair is one of several College Awareness activities held in the District. The 2009 Fair was the largest college fair held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Over 6,600 students from DC public schools, DC public charter schools, as well as Virginia and Maryland schools attended. Some came from as far as Camden, New Jersey and Colonial Beach, Virginia. Representatives from over 225 universities and colleges throughout the United States, England and Canada were also in attendance. Over 220 colleges and universities have already committed to attend this year’s Fair, and the 2010 National College Fair is expected to exceed last year’s attendance! Students and parents can meet one-on-one with college representatives, visit the Counseling Center to talk with a counselor about choosing majors, and go to the Resource Center to get information on financial aid, grants and scholarships. The College Fair will have workshops covering topics including financial aid, standardized tests, and the college application process. Students should contact their high school guidance counselor for further information on pre-registration. Students and parents are encouraged to pre-register online with the colleges they intend to visit at the Fair. By pre-registering, student information only has to be entered once online, which eliminates the need to fill out numerous information cards during the fair. The 2010 National College Fair will be held October 12, 2010 at the Walter Washington Convention Center from 9am–1 pm and 6 pm–8 pm. The Convention Center is located on Metro’s Green Line at Mt. Vernon Square, 7th and Mt. Vernon Place, NW). For more information, please visit the 2010 National College Fair Website or contact OSSE at (202) 727-2824.