DCIS Connect Newsletter (Nov. 21-27, 2019)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students November 21–27, 2019 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) DINE OUT FOR DCIS TONIGHT: Thursday, Nov. 21, at Panera Bread Dine Out for DCIS fundraising continues to be wildly successful! Please plan to join us at Panera Bread  tonight, Thursday, Nov. 21, between 4 and 8 pm. You can bring this flyer, show it on your phone or order online with the code "PRFUND" to ensure that DCIS benefits from your visit.  The monthly PTSA meeting will be at 7 pm. We look forward to seeing you all there! HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... Dine Out for DCIS: Thursday, Nov. 21, 4–8 pm, Panera Bread, 640 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale PTSA Board Meeting @ Dine Out (everyone welcome): Thursday, Nov. 21, 7–8 pm, Panera Bread, 640 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale CSC Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room CIEE Travel Parent Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 21, 7 pm, Community Room NO SCHOOL: Nov. 25–29 MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... Dining Fundraiser for DCIS Italian Exchange Program: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4–10 pm, at Pizzeria Locale, 6th & Broadway DCIS Drama One-Act Plays: Director applications due by Wednesday, Dec. 4; Auditions, Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 9-10 after school; tech applications due by Tuesday, Dec. 10 Travel and Language Fair: Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm, DCIS Cafeteria and Gym CSC Meeting: Thursday, Dec. 19, 4:30-6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room NO SCHOOL: Dec. 23–Jan. 6 FROM THE PRINCIPAL ... Greetings DCIS Community: Thanksgiving is around the corner, and I have to say, this is indeed my favorite! While I recognize the unacceptable nature of what has happened to the native communities here in the U.S. and, in particular, the inaccurate pilgrim narrative that I grew up with, I love this holiday for its focus on gratitude. I think gratitude is one of the single most important values, and I work hard to make sure that, even in trying situations, I am grateful for what I have. As a father, I am also working hard to make sure that my own children see the importance of gratitude too. More than they would like, I try to take the time to have them share three things that they are grateful for, not just once a year, but once a week. So, after being at DCIS for the past four months, I'd love to share with the community what I am grateful for at DCIS: All the hard work from staff. I know that the staff is showing up each day with positive intentions, doing their best to ensure every child is learning and growing. This is more than a job, and it can be tough! Thanks for engaging in the challenge we call education! I love, love, love getting to sit down and work with students on problems big and small. If you didn't know, the reason all of us work in schools is because we love kids and want them to shine! Our students are the reason we are all in this together. I have deep gratitude and appreciation for the support I have seen from the community at large and, in particular, those folks who volunteer in some capacity at the school. I'm continually amazed by how hardworking our parents are. Our school would be nowhere without you!  Also, I'm grateful for the opportunities I have to learn and grow. Recently, I have learned the importance of context. On many of the newsletters that have been sent out, there was a picture of me with my face painted from a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Mexico (see photo below). I have learned that this picture was offensive to some people and want to take a moment to clarify that this was absolutely not my intention. I apologize if that came across as offensive. Truthfully, I am super proud of the photo and the opportunity that came to me in my third year as a principal of a school in Monterrey, Mexico. I believe so much in the importance of understanding other cultures that I was willing to move with my wife and three children out of our comfort zone to learn and experience everything we could about the Mexican culture. So, as the leader of an international school that has a focus on global competency, I hate that I offended anyone. And, I also need folks to know that I was honored to participate with nine amazing 9th graders as we discussed the importance of altars and other Day of the Dead traditions with our students there.    With gratitude to the entire community for all the work, the conversations and the extra efforts to make DCIS an amazing place to be.   Cheers, Dr. Gamba   ATTENTION 8TH GRADE FAMILIES   Calling all 8th grade parents and guardians! A reminder that there is a special open house in the auditorium TONIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 21, from 5:45 to 7 pm, for current DCIS 8th graders and their families. Come learn about the DCIS high school and hear from current high school student ambassadors about their experience. Our high school has received several awards and accolades, including having been named (by U.S. News & World Report) the top district-run high school in DPS in 2018 and as the No. 2 district-run high school in 2019 (behind DSA). We also had the highest SAT growth scores in DPS in 2019 and the third highest in the state! The high school also won the Colorado Succeeds prize in 2018 for Transformational Impact in a High School.   A reminder also that if your 8th grader has not yet turned in the form at the bottom of the letter that went out to 8th grade families on Nov. 8, those can be turned in to Mr. Adams by tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 22. If it is easier to complete the form digitally, please click here for that option. SENIOR PASSAGES ... For our senior service project, we have decided to help with the beautification of the exterior of the school and improve school spirit by installing "put-in cups" (a chain-link design with our school name and logo; see sample in photo) on one of the fences bordering the school field. In order to do this, we need to raise some funds (estimated $600-$800). If you are interested in supporting our project to improve school spirit, please consider donating to our project. Any amount is welcome. You can contribute online via the PTSA's PayPal account here. Please be sure to note "Passages" in the comments. Thank you for your support! Seniors K, M and A RAISE YOUR HAND...  COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE Our next CSC meeting will be held TONIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, in the Community Room at DCIS. All members of the community are welcome to sit in on these meetings, and we welcome public comment. Want to know more about the role of the CSC? Minutes from past meetings and other information can be found on our page on the DCIS website.   Agenda for Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting: Welcome, Introductions, Public Comment Approval of Bylaws for 2019-20 School Year Review of Confidentiality Best Practices Follow-up on concerns brought up at the October meeting (office phones, new discipline policies) Discussion of Improvement Plan as presented to School Board on Nov. 4 Introduction to Principal Search Process Public Comment PTSA Looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can make an impact in DCIS community? Consider joining the PTSA Board of Directors for a two-year term, beginning next fall with the 2020-21 school year. We are recruiting individuals who are interested in running for the following officer positions: President, Vice President and Secretary. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Lucy Rosas or call 602-315-6257. Elections will be held in March 2020. TEACHER WISH LISTS As we approach the Thanksgiving break, let's continue to be thankful for our DCIS teachers and all they do for our students! If you've been thinking about making a donation by purchasing something from the wish list of a favorite teacher, now's the time! Check out the wish list here. Please don't forget to go to smile.amazon.com before checkout and selecting our organization (search for DCIS PTSA) as your AmazonSmile under My Account. There is no cost to you, and Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to the DCIS PTSA. ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ...  VISUAL ARTS This week in Visual Arts, we said goodbye to the Mobile Art Gallery on Tuesday, the last day of its residency here. Students, teachers and staff were very positive about the way this program enhanced our school culture and our learning about art. Extra thanks to student art docents Madeleine Doyle, Sadie Masket, Atticus Tyler, Oliver Grenz and Emma Chevallard. Parents and prospective students at our Open House last Wednesday also enjoyed taking a docent-led tour.   All Art classes will display artisan crafts (for sale) and original art at the DCIS Travel Fair on Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm. We invite all families to check out our exhibits and sale items (proceeds benefit the Art Club, the fund for the Mobile Art Gallery and the artists too (to support their art)).   Art Club, in collaboration with Ambassadors' Club, are planning some great art surprises around the school. Look for them in December and January! Calendar of Visual Art Events DRAMA One-Act auditions are Monday, Dec. 2, and Tuesday, Dec. 3, by signup outside the auditorium.  One Acts will be performed Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 30-31, Feb. 1, and are open to all grades. Ask Allie Gaty, Ashyah Secrest or Mr. Edwards for more info.  TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...  DEADLINES FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS RAPIDLY APPROACHING! PROGRAMS OFFERING UP TO FULL SCHOLARSHIPS CIEE: Application deadline is Friday, Dec. 6 — Eleven students have taken the plunge and applied for CIEE programs in Korea, Spain, Japan, Italy, India, Ghana and China! If you are still unsure about these programs for your child, please come to the parent meeting TONIGHT, Nov. 21 at 7 pm in the Community Room for a CIEE presentation by Sally Bishop of the Travel Center. There are also parent webinars each Thursday at 6 pm through Dec. 5 for those applying.  LOW-COST PROGRAMS Luby-Jenkins Mongolian-US Student Exchange Program: Program cost is just $400. Application deadline is Saturday, Nov. 30. This is an amazing opportunity for families wanting to truly experience another culture by not only sending a student abroad, but by hosting a Mongolian student in their home. The program is organized and sponsored by Denver Sister Cities Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Committee.  NO-COST PROGRAMS THROUGH THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT  Looking for fully paid, quality educational travel opportunities? The U.S. State Department offers a number of merit-based programs for highly motivated, academically strong high school students. See their website for more details about all their programs. Deadlines for most programs are approaching fast, so don't delay! CALLING ALL COFFEE LOVERS Please support the Italian Cultural Exchange. You can place orders for Costa Rican, Colombian, Brazilian/Colombian espresso and Brazilian decaf via email to Sally Bishop in the Travel Center and pay through Venmo "DCIS Italian Exchange," or with cash or check. Help make travel accessible to all! IMPORTANT DATES TONIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 21, 7–8 pm, Community Room: CIEE parent informational meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4-10 pm: Pizzeria Locale is donating 33% of all purchases made by people mentioning the DCIS ITALIAN EXCHANGE. Please join us!  Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm: DCIS Travel and Language Fair Friday, Dec. 13, 4-7 pm: Festa Italiana silent auction, wine tasting and food extravaganza at the Alliance Francaise, just one block from DCIS.  DCIS PLANNED TRIPS FOR 2019–20 Trips with enrollment still open: China with Ms. Liu for middle and high school students. Trip includes Beijing, the Great Wall, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai—$3,777 (Explorica) June 8 to 16    Guatemala with Ms. Miller for middle and high school students (June 1–10). Students will work on a service project, hike a volcano, learn about Mayan traditions, swim, kayak, zip-line through the jungle, and improve or learn Spanish. Cost is $2,963. Please contact the teachers above for more information about these life-changing opportunities.  TRIPS NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Japan — with Mr. Matsumoto, who promises another one next year! Italy — with Ms. Quesada and Ms. Bishop (student exchange; takes place every two years) Model United Nations trip to  Birkerød, Denmark for International MUN meet, Feb. 14-24 (conference dates: Feb 19-23) TRAVEL FAIR SPOTLIGHT ...   CCD CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE The Community College of Denver Confucius Institute (CCDCI) is one of 500+ centers worldwide of Chinese language and cultural learning.  Established in 2007 with the support of The Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), the CCD Confucius Institute is the only such center in the world to be housed at a community college and focuses on promoting Chinese language training and intercultural understanding. As China grows in international influence, CCDCI, with support from the University of Jinan, is committed to increasing intercultural understanding and Chinese language acquisition by providing valuable resources and services in both academic and cultural aspects to help Denver become an international community. Please visit their website to learn more about the program. CCDCI also organizes China Summer Camp and Study China scholarship programs for college students.   FROM THE DCIS FOUNDATION ...   NEW LOGO, NEW WEBSITE, A FRESH START The DCIS Foundation has been working hard on a new look and various updates, including the new online application that was just used during the fall scholarship season. With a 38% increase in individual applications, the new system has been a success. DCIS students will be getting their scholarship notification letters next week. Please take a moment to check out their new website here.   DCIS TRAVEL AND LANGUAGE FAIR — ARTISANS NEEDED Thursday, Dec. 12   We've recently added 10 more exhibitors for the Travel and Language Fair and are so grateful to each of these companies willing to support our students and community. But we are looking for more local artisans to participate in our Holiday Bazaar at the 2019 DCIS Travel and Language Fair — please help us spread the word to any artisans you know who might be interested. Here's the invitation: Please join us at the Holiday Bazaar where you, along with other select artisans, will share your work with members of the entire DPS community and beyond. The event is free and open to the public and will be held on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 pm at the Denver Center for International Studies (574 W. 6th Ave., Denver, CO), a public middle and high school with a global focus and a unique curriculum. Our students have the opportunity to learn multiple languages, travel abroad with their classmates and participate in foreign exchange programs. All proceeds from this event benefit our community through the DCIS PTSA, a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 68-0664898). If you would like to participate and use this opportunity to interact with members of the entire DPS community and beyond, especially students from elementary to high school and their families, please register here or contact Marie with any questions. Artisans pay a $50 participation fee. We will provide one 6' table and chairs; no electricity is available. Setup starts at 3:30 pm the day of the event. We have plenty of parking in our lot off Delaware Street adjacent to the school for quick and easy load-in. Please comply with the relevant tax regulations. Attendees include teachers, students and parents from DCIS; Denver Public Schools faculty, staff and students; Baker and surrounding neighborhood residents; and our global community. COUNSELORS' CORNER ...  COUNSELORS Tami Handley - 720-423-9006 Ted Brugman - 720-423-9094 Concurrent enrollment registration for Spring 2019: ALL students who plan on taking a concurrent enrollment class ON and OFF CAMPUS need to pick up a concurrent enrollment program agreement and concurrent enrollment student course registration form (it is two-sided and needs to be signed and completed on both sides) from the main office. This form is due Friday, Nov. 22. ALL students who want to take an OFF-CAMPUS concurrent enrollment course need to complete this form by Friday, Nov. 22.   Scott Gallegos, a Community College of Denver representative, will come to DCIS in early December (date TBD) to register students who complete steps 1 and 2. OFFICE OF WHOLE CHILD SUPPORTS ... CONNECTING AS A FORM OF PREVENTION Research shows that youth who feel connected to their parents and other adults in their lives are less likely to engage in risky behavior. As children mature into young adults, they often begin to crave independence and spend more time away from home as they search for their own identity. This is normal teen behavior, but it does not mean that they need their parents any less. Learn more here and read our tips on how to stay connected with your teen. 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   DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Please send questions or comments to dcis.connect@gmail.com.  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 below. 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 noon on the Tuesday preceding the issue date. Email submissions to dcis.connect@gmail.com.  Copyright © 2019 DCIS Connect Newsletter, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email newsletter because you are a member of the DCIS community. If you do not wish to receive the newsletter, please click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. Our mailing address is: DCIS Connect Newsletter 574 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO 80204 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list