September 2020 Key Communicator Newsletter
Dear Educators
The first week of the school year is coming to a close. We want to thank you, our school partners for prioritizing arts and humanities education opportunities for your students in a time when you are balancing virtual learning. We understand the challenges that you are embarking upon this year and hope that our programming can provide other ways for you to engage your students in the curriculum.

This newsletter contains:
  • AHFES Fall Lottery opens next week!
  • AHFES v2.0 Orientation Recap
  • School Partnership Expectations document
  • Distance Learning Resource Database
Fall AHFES v2.0 Lottery
Calling All Educators: Arts and Humanities for Every Student (AHFES) Fall Lottery Opens on Monday, September 7
The DC Collaborative Team invites DC educators to join us for the Fall AHFES Lottery!

The DC Collaborative is launching a new, more virtual AHFES to bring curriculum-enriching, interactive virtual field trips, workshops and educator professional development to DC students and educators. We are excited to continue to support educators and students with arts and humanities learning during the time of distance learning!

The DC Collaborative Lottery will open for educators to submit their program requests Monday, September 7 - Friday, September 11. Please note that requests are process the week following the lottery and the Collaborative team processes these requests with equity in mind. It is not a first-come, first-served reservation system. Educators can view all of the program offered by our Providers online at DCCollaborative.org/AHFES.

Questions? Contact Schools@DCCollaborative.org.
School Year 20-21 Lottery Registration Dates
Fall Lottery: Week of September 7, 2020
Winter Lottery: Opens week of December 7, 2020
Spring Lottery: Opens week of March 1, 2021

*All Lottery Assignments will be sent out within one to two weeks after the lottery cycle ends.
Register Your School for AHFES
Register your School for AHFES in Two Easy Steps!

  1. Participate in AHFES v2.0 School Orientation
  2. Return the School Partnership Expectations Document
AHFES Orientation Recap

Did you miss the AHFES v2.0 School Orientation? Do not worry! Your school can still participate! View the AHFES v2.0 School Orientation Recap and reach out to Schools@DCCollaborative.org to ensure that your school is in good standing prior to your first AHFES experience. The recap includes all of the meeting handouts as well as the meeting recording and Q&A from the meeting!

Some themes that came up in the Q&A:

  • Most of our programs are free but some do have a cost that the AHFES Provider will invoice the schools for directly. The cost will be clearly stated on the Lottery Request Form.
  • Our cancellation policies are different this year to accommodate virtual learning. Please see the School Partnership Expectations Document (more below).
  • Please direct further questions to Schools@DCCollaborative.org.
School Partnership Expectations Document
School Partnership Expectations document is due prior to each school's first AHFES Experience!

The DC Collaborative requires that all schools return the School Partnership Expectations document prior to their first AHFES experience. This document outlines all of the AHFES policies and procedures! Please view carefully, it is newly adapted for virtual experiences.
Distance Learning Resource Database
View Our Distance Learning Resource Database
On the DC Collaborative's Distance Learning Resource Database you will find a compilation of online and printable arts and humanities learning resources for students, teachers and families. It is our hope that that materials on this database will be used to enhance arts and humanities education, equitably, inside or outside of the classroom.

The database will be continuously updated with curricular guides, virtual field trips, and other educational activities to enhance students’ at-home learning experiences as well as Professional Development for educators. 

These resources are free and accessible anytime! This database will be continuously updated throughout the school year!
AHFES Program Contacts
Questions? Contact Us!

The DC Collaborative Team is here to answer your questions and assist your school in participating in the AHFES this year. Reach out to us!
Trés McMichael- Education Programs Manager
Trés oversees the relationships with AHFES Providers and is the main point of contact for the Programming Committee. Trés advises the community of practice on the quality of an experiential learning experience, prioritizing artistic/humanities merit as well as the connections to relevant curriculum. 

TBD- Manager of School Partnerships
The DC Collaborative is in the process of altering its staffing structure. More information will be coming soon.

Wendy Wang Pisa- Special Projects Manager
Wendy manages relationships with Smithsonian Institutions, assists with program assessment, and assists the School Partnerships Manager with school reminders and confirmations.

BoBeen Chung- Assessment Coordinator
BoBeen manages the AHFES program assessment, including interfacing with the Data consultant in survey design and analytics reporting reports

Yasmine Zinbi, Membership Services Associate
Yasmine tracks Accounts Payable and Receivable for the school partner and provider contacts.

Dr. Anthony Setari- Data/ Evaluation Consultant
Anthony develops the program assessment tools in coordination with the DC Collaborative team, community stakeholders and funders.

Tracey Wyton- Deputy Director, Community Engagement
Tracey oversees the overall community engagement strategy and works with the Executive Director to ensure that the AHFES program connects with the Collaborative’s Collective Impact strategic planning efforts and the mission of the DC Collaborative.

Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe- Executive Director
Lissa oversees the organization's finances, advocacy efforts and operations. Contact our director!
Ways to Give
Donate to the DC Collaborative online or remit payment by check to:

DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

The DC Collaborative is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

  • Are you a government employee? Give through the  CFC Catalogue of Caring. We're CFC#66894
  • Does your company have a matching gift program? Would you like to make a gift of stock or a planned gift? Let us know
The DC Collaborative is a recipient of an FY20 General Operating Support Service Grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The DC Collaborative is proud to receive a grant for its Collective Impact work supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The DC Collaborative is the backbone support organization that leads members of the Any Given Child DC program, part of The John F. Kennedy  Center for the Performing Arts.