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Thursday, October 27, 2016

DCIS Connect Newsletter Oct. 27-Nov. 2

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students
October 27–November 2, 2016

(Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.)
Every Thursday, you'll receive this DCIS Connect newsletter in your email inbox to keep you up to date on all the events and happenings at our school. It's also available on the DCIS Connect app, which you can download at the Apple Store or Google Play.

If you don't wish to receive the newsletter, click the Unsubscribe link at the end. If you're receiving multiple copies of the newsletter, please email dcis.connect@gmail.com to report the problem; be sure to indicate your first and last name and preferred email address so we can update our records.

Newsletter submissions are due by 10 am on the Tuesday preceding the issue date. Email submissions to dcis.connect@gmail.com
STAFF WISH LIST ... UPDATE AND THANKS!
 
The Staff Wish List Drive was a success, as we were able to fulfill 90% of the needs on the list! If you want to bring us over the finish line, the remaining items are digital cameras, Italian magazine subscriptions, furnishings for a break-out room, art supplies and funds for college acceptance T-shirts. To help with this final 10% and/or with staff needs for assistance, click here. Also, keep in mind that this Staff Wish List is ongoing ... please keep checking back to see what new needs have arisen!

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to the parents and community members who have donated so far: Wende Abrahm, Whitney Andreasen, Larry Borosky, Bosworth Family, Donna Bryson, Sarah Christian, Orah Fireman, Jen Gabel, Karen Gentzler, Fred Glick, Ben Graf, Melanie Grant, Alejandra Gutierrez, M. Hoff, John Kundts, J.R. LaPierre, Phil & Linda Lidov, Amy Marshall, Vivian Masket, Jenny May, Marie Meyer, Karen Mortimer, Lisa & Mateo Pardo, Terri Porter, Alejandra Rascon, Melvena Rhetta-Fair, Andrew Schavonni, Ron Smith, Tanya Tribelhorn, and those who donated anonymously. (Forgive us if we overlooked anyone, and please let us know if we did!) Thank you so much!

HAPPENING THIS WEEK ...

  • MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE AND HAUNTED HOUSE: Thursday, Oct. 27, 6–8 pm, DCIS cafeteria
  • NATIONAL SECURITY LANGUAGE INTENSIVE FOR YOUTH applications due Thursday, Oct. 27. More information here.
  • NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: Friday, Oct. 28
  • GREEN DAY, Monday, Oct. 31 (instead of usual White Day; rest of week follows the usual schedule)
  • CLUB EXPO for students, Monday, Oct. 31, 8–9:20 am, DCIS cafeteria
  • PICTURE RETAKES, Tuesday, Nov. 1
  • OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7:30-9 am
  • 8th GRADE CAREER FAIR, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 9:30 am–1:30 pm, National Western Complex (map)
  • PARENT-PRINCIPAL COFFEE (English), Wednesday, Nov. 2, 8:15–9:15 am, DCIS Community Room (103)
  • FALL STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 2-3, 3:30-7:30 pm
  • DCIS FOUNDATION FALL FUNDRAISER featuring award-winning author Helen Thorpe. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6 pm, Four Mile Historic Park. More information here.
  • PARENT-PRINCIPAL COFFEE (Spanish), Thursday, Nov. 3, 8:15–9:15 am, DCIS Community Room (103)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ...

  • DPS FAMILY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, Thursday, Nov. 3, 9 am–12:30 pm, PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St, Denver (map)
  • MODEL UNITED NATIONS (MUN) CONFERENCE, Saturday, Nov. 5, all day, St. Mary's Academy, 4545 S. University Blvd., Englewood (map)
  • FALL BACK! Daylight Savings Time ends. Sunday, Nov. 6.
  • SHADOWING FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS on the following Mondays: Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Dec. 5.
  • DCIS DATA NIGHT, RESCHEDULED to Tuesday, Nov. 8, 6–7 pm, DCIS auditorium
  • ELECTION DAY! Tuesday, Nov. 8.
  • DEBATE TOURNAMENT: Saturday, Nov. 12, all day, Aurora Central High School, 11700 E. 11th Place, Aurora (map)
  • PTSA FAMILY NIGHT: "How to Support Your Middle- and High-School Students," Monday, Nov. 14, 5:30–6, dinner/socializing; 6–7, presentation and Q&A, DCIS Community Room (103); simultaneous interpretation and child care provided 
  • OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6-7:30 pm
  • CITYWIDE DRAMA FESTIVAL for high school students, Thursday, Nov. 17, 10 am–4 pm, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
  • DRAMA CLUB FUNDRAISER, Thursday, Nov. 17, all day, Patxi's Pizza, 185 Steele St., Denver (map)
  • CSC MEETING, Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30–6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room (103)
  • DCIS DRAMA FALL SHOW, "She Kills Monsters," Thursday–Saturday, Nov 17–19, 6–8 pm, DCIS auditorium, tickets
  • FALL BREAK: NO SCHOOL! Week of Nov. 21.

DCIS FOUNDATION FALL FUNDRAISER
It's almost here!

Featuring Author Helen Thorpe
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6 pm, at the Four Mile Historic Park in the Grant Family Education Center. Featuring guest speaker Helen Thorpe, award-winning author of Just Like Us and Soldier Girls; a student panel; a silent auction; and food and cocktails. Tickets: $25/students and alumni,$35/all others. Purchase tickets.
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...                   

Dear DCIS Parents,

Happy (almost) Halloween! With student-led parent-teacher conferences and Halloween, next week promises to be a busy one! If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a conference appointment yet, please contact your child's adviser today to set up a time to meet. Conferences will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next week from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. During the conference, parents meet with their student and the student's advisement teacher, and students tell their parents how they're doing in each class, their accomplishments, where they could improve and how they plan to do so. Advisers comment as appropriate. Parents can ask questions of their student and, as needed, the student's adviser. We hope to see you then.

A word on costumes … we do allow students to dress up for Halloween if they wish, but face masks of any kind or costumes that obscure faces are not allowed for safety reasons. Please help your children make an appropriate choice for a costume if they choose to dress up for the day.


Also, a reminder that, although DPS students have no school on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 27 and 28, DCIS students are off only on Friday, Oct. 28. The same is true on Friday, Nov. 4, when DPS students will not have school but DCIS students will. By having our students attend on these two days when DPS students are off, we'll be able to extend our winter break. The official last day of the fall semester for DPS is Wednesday, Dec. 21, but because DCIS is "borrowing" these two fall holidays (Oct. 27, Nov. 4), our last day will be Friday, Dec. 16, which actually extends the winter break by four days because it gives us an extra weekend in addition to the two borrowed days. We hope this will give families more time to travel and to enjoy the holidays. Take our survey by Friday, Nov. 11, to let us know what you think (the survey will also be available on the app in a day or two). Your opinions matter and will help us as we plan next year's calendar.

Finally, I hope to see you at one of our Parent-Principal Coffees next week (see calendar). I hold two every month: one in English and one in Spanish. All parents are welcome at these informal meetings. We'll have coffee and breakfast treats and will discuss whatever topics you would like. There's no formal agenda — it's just a time for me to answer your questions and address your concerns. Please join us!

Theresa McCorquodale
DCIS Principal
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS / DAY OF THE DEAD
 
The DCIS Latino Student Alliance is helping advisements learn about and possibly observe Día de los Muertos on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 1-2, by setting up an advisement altar/offering. This is an opportunity for some advisement bonding and an acknowledgement of our raza community at DCIS. LSA will also be setting up an offering in front of the main office. Learn more about Día de los Muertos altars here. Also, the LSA and PTSA are arranging a field trip to the Botanic Gardens' Día de los Muertos event on Saturday, Nov. 5. Look for more details in next week's newsletter.
RAISE YOUR HAND ... 

There are many ways for families to "raise their hand" to make a difference at DCIS and in the community. Check out these volunteer opportunities for the whole family.

PHILANTHROPY FIELD TRIPS: FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY
Please join us for a day of giving on Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 am–noon, at History Colorado (map). We'll be:
  • Making fleece scarves for youths who are homeless
  • Decorating bags for delivering meals to people with life-threatening illnesses
  • Creating a kindness banner
  • Making bracelets for survivors of domestic violence
  • Plus a few surprise projects (including one that involves real flowers!)
This is a great way to start off the holidays while benefiting your community and having fun! All participants will receive free access to the History Colorado museum, which has excellent exhibits, including the hilarious Awkward Family Photos! And, of course, students can get community service credit. Click here to register, or call Michelle at 720-854-8401.

REFUGEE FIRST THANKSGIVING DINNER
The ECDC African Community Center (ACC) is looking for volunteers to help out at its 11th Annual Refugee First Thanksgiving Dinner on Monday, Nov. 21, 6–9 pm, at Assumption Greek Cathedral in Denver (map). Every year, ACC welcomes more than 575 refugees to the Denver-Aurora area. To properly welcome and unite refugees with an age-old tradition in the United States, ACC created a Thanksgiving potluck for Denver's oldest and newest community members. People from everywhere gather with their families for a night of delicious food, community, international song and dance, and laughter. Community members, volunteers and staff bring food to share, and volunteer spots for the whole family are still open for setup and decorations, transportation, table hosts and cleanup. Click here to sign up. Even if you can't volunteer, feel free to attend the event and bring a grocery store gift card. All donated gift cards will be given to refugee community members to help them with food purchases this holiday season.

CABINET IN THE COMMUNITY
The Denver Mayor's Office has an Office of Community Affairs to help neighborhoods, residents and Registered Neighborhood Organizations communicate with the city regarding issues of concern, problem solving and local and city-wide events. As part of that effort, Mayor Michael Hancock and his Cabinet and department heads hold quarterly neighborhood Cabinet meetings at which you can hear a firsthand account of what's happening in your community and around the city. Following the meeting, all attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in a one-on-one dialogue with Mayor Hancock and his leadership team. The next meeting is Saturday, Nov. 19, 9–11 am, at Cole Middle School (map). For more information: English  Español

SPREAD THE WORD TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS ...

Know any parents or students who might be interested in DCIS for the 2017–18 school year? Please let them know about our Open Houses and shadowing opportunities.

OPEN HOUSES
The next Open House is Tuesday, Nov. 1. Two evening Open Houses will also be held, on Nov. 15 and Jan. 18, 6–7:30 pm. 
Check out this page for details on the morning and evening agendas.

SHADOWING 
In addition to Open Houses, the DCIS Student Ambassadors have launched a shadowing program to provide prospective students a glimpse of a typical day at DCIS. Middle and high school students considering DCIS have the opportunity to shadow a current DCIS student, giving them an inside look at all our school has to offer. A limited number of shadowing spots are available on selected Mondays between now and December: Nov. 7, Nov. 14 and Dec. 5. Click here for more information and a link to register.  

COUNSELORS' CORNER ...


DPS 8TH GRADE CAREER FAIR
The DPS 8th Grade Career Fair is on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 9:30 am–1:30 pm, at the National Western Complex. All 8th graders are required to attend. The Career Fair helps students explore and plan their future and serves as a transitional link between ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plans) activities begun in the 6th grade and the more structured guidance curriculum students will fulfill in high school. It is a high-energy event attended by more than 4,000 students, 180 businesses and organizations, 20 postsecondary institutions, 25 DPS high schools, and 100 adult and student volunteers. More information here. Transportation is provided by DPS. Any questions, email Ms. Monteon.

JUNIORS AND SENIORS: SEAL OF BILITERACY
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award DPS gives in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages by the time of their high school graduation. The seal appears on the transcript and diploma of the graduating senior and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions. Interested in applying for the seal? Log in to Naviance and click on the link on the left-hand side. Click here for more information. 

SENIOR COLLEGE APPLICATION DAY was a success! Thank you to all the seniors who attended.

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
Are you a junior or senior interested in taking community college classes off campus? This is the time to start looking into concurrent enrollment for next semester. Please visit your school counselor for more information.

TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...


TRAVEL CENTER HOURS, WEEK OF OCT. 31–NOV. 4: The Travel Center will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:45 am–2:55 pm. The Travel Center will be closed Nov. 7-17 but will be available via email.

We have added two possible teacher-sponsored trips to our list of offerings for high school students this spring. Please contact the sponsoring teachers for more information and details. Be sure to check the Travel Center page on the DCIS website and Travel Center Facebook page for updates.
  • PANAMA - GLOBAL ISSUES NETWORK CONFERENCE (MARCH 7-13, 2017): Open to high school students who want to change the world. Sponsor: Ms. Hilborn (email)
  • PERU - INCA TRAIL AND PERUVIAN HEARTS (JUNE 9-19, 2017): Open to high school students. Sponsor: Ms. Finnegan-Doyon (email). This is a strenuous trip. Students should be prepared to camp, carry 30-40 lbs and hike!

TRAVEL CENTER 
Geri Zabitz Badler
Travel Center and Community Partnerships
geri_badler@dpsk12.org
NEW Office Phone: 720-423-9043

Mondays: 7:45 am–12:15 pm
Wednesdays, Fridays: 7:45 am–1:30 pm
Room 204
PHOENIX FUN ... 

The answer to last week's question, "What president kept an alligator as a pet?" is B: John Quincy Adams. The winner of the Starbucks gift card is Andrew Schiavoni, parent of Naomi Fireman Schiavoni, 6th grade, and Max Fireman Schiavoni, 10th grade.

This week's question is inspired by the historic World Series that started this week between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs. And the question is ...

How many times, on average, will a pitcher throw the same baseball before the ball is removed from the game?  

A. 32  
B. 19  
C. 11  
D. 7

Submit your answer here. All correct entries will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Starbucks gift card!

CONNECT ...

DCIS Website
DCIS Facebook Page
DCIS Parents Group (closed, non-school-sanctioned) on Facebook
DCIS Drama Club Facebook 
DCIS Travel Center Facebook
DCIS Foundation Facebook
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