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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.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK ...
OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES: Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:30–9 am, DCIS
PTSA BEAUTIFICATION TEAM TOUR and Hallway Decor Planning, Friday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7:45 am; meet just inside the doors off the East parking lot to help us with ideas to transform the school hallways from "meh" to "WOW!!"
GIRLS SOFTBALL at Henry Middle School, Friday, Oct. 7, 3:45–4:45 pm, 3005 S. Golden Way, Denver (map)
BOYS SOCCER vs. Morey, Friday, Oct. 7, 3:45–4:45 pm, Congress Park, Denver (map)
MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE: Saturday, Oct. 8, Boulder
ADOLESCO YOUTH EXCHANGE MEETING: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2–4 pm; applications due Oct. 23. More info here.
SHADOWING FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Monday, Oct. 10.
DCIS FOUNDATION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP INTERVIEWS: Oct. 11, 13 (after school)
FAMILY NIGHT:"College 101," Tuesday, Oct. 11, 5:30–6, dinner/socializing; 6–7, presentation and Q&A, DCIS Cafeteria; simultaneous interpretation provided
PTSA BEAUTIFICATION TEAM TOUR and Hallway Decor Planning, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 pm (following the Family Night presentation). Meet in the cafeteria to help us with ideas to transform the school hallways from "meh" to "WOW!!"
TRAVEL CENTER CLOSED: Wednesday, Oct. 12. See below for modified hours this week.
PARENT MEETING FOR ITALY TRIP(Spring Break 2017), Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-7 pm, DCIS Community Room (103). Email Mr. Tabano for more information.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS ...
PTSA FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS team meeting, Thursday, Oct. 13, 6-7 pm, DCIS Community Room (103)
YEARBOOK COVER DESIGN CONTEST deadline, Friday, Oct. 14. Submit to Ms. Hoffman (room 216A) by the end of the day
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY applications due (grades 10-12), Monday, Oct. 17. Contact Mr. Brown or Mr. Pomponio with questions.
OPEN HOUSES FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES: Monday, Oct. 17, and Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7:30-9 am, DCIS
DEBATE TOURNAMENT, Saturday, Oct. 22, Manual High School, 1700 E. 28th Ave., Denver (map)
SHADOWING FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS on the following Mondays: Oct. 24, Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Dec. 5.
8th GRADE TRIP: DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 9:30 am-2 pm
LOCAL COLLEGEAPPLICATION DAY, Tuesday, Oct. 25, periods 1 and 2
DCIS DATA NIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6–7 pm, DCIS Auditorium
SUPERINTENDENT PARENT FORUM: A Foundation for Success — Early Literacy and Bond/Mill Discussion, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 10 am–noon, Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center, 15500 E. 40th Ave., Denver (map)
NATIONAL SECURITY LANGUAGE INTENSIVEFOR YOUTH applications due Oct. 27. More information here.
Thank you to the parents who attended the Parent/Principal coffees this week. I will host these meetings once a month and would love to hear what you have to say. There are lots of ways for parents to get involved at DCIS, including a couple of upcoming opportunities I would like to highlight.
One is next Tuesday's DCIS Family Night, "College 101," during which parents and students will learn about the ins and outs of what college is, what kind of college might be right for your student, what to expect in college and lots more. It's never too early to learn about and plan for college, so both middle school and high school parents and students are encouraged to attend.
Another opportunity is DCIS Data Night on Oct. 25. While maybe not as fun as date night, it'll give you an opportunity to learn more about our school, particularly in the context of the School Performance Framework (SPF). The SPF is our school's official rating, which DPS will release during the third week of October. The rating is based on various data such as PARCC, ACT, PSAT and AP exam scores, and Parent Satisfaction Survey and Student Perception Survey results. We'll talk about each of these components as well as the SPF rating, share celebrations and areas for growth, and allow time for any questions you might have. I hope you'll attend this important and informative event.
It's hard to believe we're nearly halfway through the first semester! Ask your sixth grader about their independent reading book, or your seventh grader about carrying water back and forth across the field to simulate the experiences of the characters in A Long Walk to Water. Ask your eighth grader about the public service announcements they created to align with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Ask your ninth grader to sing you the "Five Themes of Geography" song, or your tenth grader to define "happiness" for you. Ask your eleventh grader about credible sources on the internet, or your twelfth grader about their senior service project.
As always, thank you for sending your students to DCIS. They make each day a joy.
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
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 today, Oct. 6, 7:30–9:00 am. Others will be at the same time on Monday, Oct. 17, and 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 are launching a shadowing program this fall to provide prospective students with a glimpse of a typical day at DCIS. Middle and high school students considering DCIS will 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 October and December: Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 7, Nov. 14 and Dec. 5. Click here for more information and a link to register.
SPORTS ...
DENVER WEST BOYS BASKETBALL
Head Coach Mike Brookhart and the Cowboys coaching staff invite all prospective players to their fall season workouts. More information here, or call/text Coach Brookhart at 303-589-6046.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR SOCCER!
The soccer program is selling T-shirts and hoodies with the DCIS Soccer logo on them. Funds will be used to purchase equipment, fix the field and fund other soccer-related needs. T-shirts, $20; hoodies, $40. Order here.
RAISE YOUR HAND ...
There are many ways for parents to "raise their hand" to make a difference at DCIS. As the saying goes, "It takes a village." Whether you have time, a little money, a lot of money or particular skills to offer, it all helps. The more people who raise their hands, the more your children benefit. Here's how you can make a difference for your DCIS student:
STAFF WISH LIST: Looking for specific ways to help out DCIS? Here's your chance! We have an awesome staff and a not-so-awesome budget. Our staff members could really use your help with providing much-needed classroom supplies, volunteering in the classroom or helping with the yearbook, and helping in the front office. Please click here to see if you can meet even ONE of these needs. THANK YOU!!
SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION TEAM: Right now, when you enter the building from the parking lot (which 99% of people do), it is a bland scene. We want everyone who enters our kids' school and walks the halls to say, "Wow ... that's beautiful ... that's amazing! This is clearly an international school." We would covet your participation in helping to bring life to the halls of DCIS. We'd love to see if you could spare one of the following three half-hour slots to do a quick tour and then brainstorm:
This Friday, Oct. 7. 7:45-8:15 am (swing in after drop-off)
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7:00-7:30 pm (right after Family Night)
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7:45-8:15 am
To RSVP, call or text School Beautification Team Lead Karen Mortimer at 303-910-6698 or reply online.
THE DRAMA CLUB needs props and set pieces for She Kills Monsters. Please let us know here if you can lend or give us any of the following and, for borrowed items, whether there are any special instructions or precautions you want us to take. Thank you!!
PVC pipe
Fog machine
Cot or inflatable mattress
Black reclining chair
Black cushions
Small table and four chairs
Photo frame
Dice
Pillows
Blankets
Christmas lights
Toy weapons (plastic or wooden) (battle ax, swords, a trident, fake knives)
Blank discs
Black leather gloves
Halloween decor
Foam
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
COLLEGE 101
As part of DCIS Family Night on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6–7 pm, Counselor Melisa Monteon will present "College 101" on what college is all about, the different types of colleges, how do you decide what to major in, and lots more! The presentation will be in the cafeteria following dinner/socializing from 5:30 to 6 pm. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided, and we encourage Spanish-speaking parents to attend!
LOCAL COLLEGE APPLICATION DAY
Oct. 25,8-10 am in the DCIS cafeteria. All seniors are required to attend and are strongly encouraged to be there at the beginning in order to make the most of the limited time available. The following schools will be working with students on filling out applications, answering questions and, in some cases, admitting students on the spot:
Adams State
Arapahoe Community College
Community College of Denver
Emily Griffith
Front Range Community College
Hastings
Johnson & Wales
Metropolitan State University
Regis University
University of Colorado–Boulder
University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
University of Colorado–Denver
University of Denver
University of Northern Colorado
SENIORS NEWSLETTER!
Be sure to check out all the information on scholarships in our Senior Newsletter.
OCTOBER IS DPS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MONTH
Team DPS members across the district are working hard to achieve our Denver Plan 2020 goal of ensuring our graduates are college and career ready, and we're celebrating their progress throughout October! Students from across the district will be sharing how they are making their college and career dreams a reality — such as by taking challenging courses, mapping out an academic plan with their school counselor, visiting a college campus or participating in strategic extracurricular activities. Each day, the Office of College and Career Readiness and CareerConnect will highlight one student's plan on www.dpsk12.org, Facebook, and Twitter. But it doesn't stop there: We want students of all grade levels to share their career and college aspirations using the hashtag #myplan. DPS educators and school leaders can also join the conversation by celebrating their students using #everychildsucceeds.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
All juniors and seniors interested in taking college courses on a college/community college campus, please see your school counselor as soon as possible to discuss dates and deadlines for concurrent enrollment. Juniors can take up to 3 credits and seniors up to 6 credits. It is first come, first served, as funding for tuition is limited. Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation, books and additional fees. Parents/guardians will also be responsible for tuition if their student's grade is lower than a C or if the student withdraws from the class after the deadline.
TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...
THE TRAVEL CENTER WILL BE CLOSEDon Wednesday, Oct. 12. It will be open Monday, Oct. 10, and Friday, Oct. 14, 7:45 am-2:55 pm.
DCIS FOUNDATION TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP INTERVIEWS will take place after school on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Thursday, Oct. 13. Travel scholarships are for middle-school group trips and high school students. Students will be contacted if they are to be interviewed.
NATIONAL SECURITY LANGUAGE INTENSIVE FOR YOUTH (NSLI-Y)
High school students ages 15+ interested in a summer or yearlong language intensive in Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, Turkish, Russian, Arabic or Persian ... check out NSLI-Y! This is a U.S. State Department program with full-ride scholarships. Information and applications available online. Deadline to apply for 2017–2018 programs is Oct. 27!
The answer to last week's question: "What is Gia Millan's favorite TV show?" is The Bachelorette! The winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card is student Reyna Esquibel.
NEW PHOENIX FUN: INTERNATIONAL TRIVIA TIME!!One of these statements is true. Three are false (but trickily so!). Choose the true one:
A: Less than 1% of the Caribbean islands are inhabited. B: The shortest place name is 'Å' — located in Sweden. C: Vatican City and San Marino are the only countries completely surrounded by one other country. D: There is only one river in Saudi Arabia.
Submit your answer here. If you are correct, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Starbucks gift card!
