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Every Thursday while school is in session, 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.
TODAY/TONIGHT
MANDATORY TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP ORIENTATION
To fulfill its mission of taking global education beyond the classroom, the DCIS Foundation grants travel scholarships to students of all DCIS schools who are going on a DCIS school-sponsored trip. Every student who wants to apply for a scholarship for travel through this fall MUST attend an application preparation orientation meeting (parents are welcome to attend) and participate in interviews. There will be another orientation meeting in the fall for students traveling later this year who wish to apply for a scholarship then.
The application preparation orientation dates for DCIS-Baker students are:
TODAY: Thursday, Jan. 18, 12:30-1:30 pm, DCIS Community Room (103)
TONIGHT: Thursday, Jan. 18, 5:30-6:30 pm, MUN Room
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: Friday, Feb. 2 (staff professional development day)
DCIS Drama Auditions for Spring Musical: Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 5-6, 3-4:30pm, (sign ups on Auditorium door)
Open House for Prospective Students: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7:50–9 am
Drama Club Fundraiser: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 4–8 pm, Pizzeria Locale, 550 Broadway, Denver
Coffee with the Principal: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 8:15–9:15 am, DCIS Community Room (103)
DCIS Fairmont 5th Grade Students Tour: Wednesday, Feb. 7
DPS Superintendent Parent Forum: "Strengthening Partnerships with the City, Business Leaders, Nonprofit Organizations and Community Groups," Thursday, Feb. 8, 9:30–11:30 am, Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape Street, Denver
DCIS Drama Callbacks for Spring Musical and Tech Applications due: Thursday, Feb. 8, 3-4:30 pm
RAISE YOUR HAND ... 8TH GRADE CAREER EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are looking for parents or community members who would be interested in helping to engage our 8th graders by speaking, teaching or leading workshops on various careers and pathways. We tentatively plan to have a career event at the beginning of March. Please email Tami Schmidt at tamara_schmidt@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-9006 if you are interested or know someone who would like to participate. Thank you!!
CSC MEETING Join the CSC on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 4–6 pm, in the DCIS Community Room (103) for its monthly meeting. As always, meetings are open to the public, and the committee would love to see you there! If you have a comment or suggestion for the committee, public comment time is the first 10 minutes of each meeting, or you can contact one of your representatives. Contact information and meeting minutes are available here.
ART ROOM WELCOMES DONATIONS Have extra "stuff" cluttering up your home? Chances are, the DCIS Art Room can use it! See our wish list here. Thank you to those who donated their extra "clutter" when school began! If you have donations for the new semester, they can be dropped off in the art room (117) at your convenience. Thanks for your support of the DCIS art program! For questions, email Susan Marion: Susan_Marion@dpsk12.org.
SCHOOL SERVICE CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES Looking for school service credit? Email dcis.connect@gmail.com to learn about opportunities.
Many of you have inquired about a tribute to honor your student. Our senior families receive special discounts, with tributes starting at $10. The deadline for full-page tributes ($80) is Friday, Feb. 2. All other tributes must be purchased by Thursday, March 1!
BUSINESS OWNERS: If you would like to get exposure for your business or company and support DCIS yearbook at the same time, consider purchasing a full-color ad in our yearbook! Prices start at $25. Deadline is Thursday, March 1.
Yearbooks are available for pre-order for $50 in room 216A or online.
TRAVEL FAIR REDUX Did you miss out on the Travel Fair in December? Keep an eye out in this space for photos and highlights of the organizations that were represented and what they have to offer DCIS students and families.
This week we're featuring Meet the Middle East. Their Youth Ambassador Program is a five-month program during which students learn about identity, conflict resolution and negotiation, listening and dialogue, the regional religions of the Middle East and, finally, the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict as a case study.
At the end of the five-month program, MTME staff guide students on a 10-day immersion trip to Palestine and Israel. Over the course of the trip, students have the chance to apply the knowledge they've gained in the previous five months through service projects for local communities in the two countries. Students stay in a centuries-old monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, sip tea in the shade of a Bedouin tent in the desert, dine on fish from the Sea of Galilee and float in the Dead Sea just outside Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world. They meet with Palestinians and Israelis who represent a range of perspectives, and visit museums as well as religious and archaeological sites. They also visit settlements and refugee camps.
The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 9. In addition to this program, Meet the Middle East offers local classes and other events, including cooking, calligraphy, Islam 101 and panel discussions.
COSTA RICA Our program to Costa Rica is a tailored itinerary unique to our group and DCIS students and teachers. This 10-day program will offer your child the opportunity to spend time working with international researchers at a field research station on the Osa Peninsula surveying mammals such as monkeys, river otters, kinkajous, turtles and sloths with local researchers. We will immerse ourselves in Costa Rican culture, hike through the rainforest, engage in recycling projects with the local school in Ojachal, and study the conservation work at La Cusinga Lodge. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy the beach and explore the National Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, where we'll learn how to surf.
Participating students will receive service hour certification for their volunteer hours, grow their social skills, make real-world connections to their science and global learning, and participate in an experience that will set them apart when applying to college and on their future educational and professional career paths. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested students should plan to attend the informational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 12:30 pm in DCIS Room 217B. Questions? Please email Ms. Kerrigan at meghan_kerrigan@dpsk12.org.
ADOLESCO YOUTH EXCHANGE Learn French in France, German in Germany or Spanish in Spain! We will match you with a student about your own age for a unique two-way exchange to France, Germany or Spain as part of our flexible and affordable nonprofit language immersion and cultural exchange program for qualifying U.S. students ages 9–18. YOU DECIDE when to exchange and for how long (up to three months). Find other upcoming informational events and sign up for more info. Applications are due by Thursday, March 15.
YOUTH SUMMIT TRIP IN EAST AFRICA The Global Leadership Institute will be hosting the 5th annual Entusi Youth Summit Trip to Uganda and Rwanda. Click here or check out GLI's website for more information.
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS Tami Schmidt: Middle School Ted Brugman: 9th and 10th Grades Melisa Springsteen: 11th and 12th Grades Aly Bortle: 12th Grade Post-Secondary Coach, Wednesdays and Fridays in room 1010
77% of our senior class has applied to a university, community college and/or technical school
10% of students who have applied have been admitted thus far
47% of the senior class has completed their FAFSA
87% of the senior class is remediation-free in math and English
JUNIORS Passages Day is Monday, Jan. 22.
7TH GRADE Students can apply for the Jack Kent Cooke FoundationYoung Scholars Program, a selective five-year pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships and other learning-enrichment opportunities. The application window opened Wednesday, Jan. 17, and closes Wednesday, March 21.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: HAS PASSED The funding capacity has been met. If your student is a junior or sophomore and would like to take college courses off campus in fall 2018, please have them contact Mrs. Springsteen at melisa_springsteen@dpsk12.org. Registration will start in March.
ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESENTATION What has the counseling office been up to? Find out here!
REMINDER APP FOR FAMILIES WITH JUNIORS AND SENIORS The Counseling Office is using the Remind app to notify the parents of juniors and seniors about important dates and deadlines. To sign up for reminders: Parents of juniors: text @co19pg to the number 81010 Parents of seniors: text @co18pg to the number 81010
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