DCIS Connect Newsletter (Dec 12-18, 2019)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students December 12–18, 2019 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) DCIS COMMUNICATIONS We're looking at ways to optimize school/community communications and are trialing a new approach this week, which essentially involves culling information from the newsletter and school-related Facebook pages and sending it out in bite-size pieces through the Flyer app. If you don't have the app, you can find instructions for downloading it here. You'll notice an uptick in app notifications, but may find it easier to weed through those and open the ones that interest you rather than scrolling through the newsletter that comes out once a week. On the other hand, you may prefer all your information in one place, as the newsletter provides. In any event, we thank you for your patience as we explore ways to optimize our communications with you. Next week, we'll send out a survey to see what communication channels you primarily use now, which you would prefer to use, how we're doing on communications, etc. HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... Travel and Language Fair: Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm, DCIS Cafeteria and Gym Principal Candidates Forum: Thursday, Dec. 12, 6 pm, Auditorium MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... Dine Out for DCIS: Thursday, Dec. 19, 10 am-10 pm, California Pizza Kitchen inside the Cherry Creek Mall CSC Meeting: Thursday, Dec. 19, 4:30-6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room NO SCHOOL: Dec. 20–Jan. 6 TRAVEL FAIR ...   Please join us on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 pm for the Travel and Language Fair, a free event that is open to the public and will include tacos and coffee for sale, as well as many exhibitors in the cafeteria and gym, and the opportunity to do some holiday shopping at our World Bazaar. Please invite your neighbors, family and friends, and come join us!  FROM THE PRINCIPAL ... Greetings DCIS Community: While I know we are all super busy at this time of the year, I truly hope you can prioritize some time to come to the Travel and Language Fair tonight from 5 to 8 pm here at DCIS.    While education within the walls of a school building is important, I fundamentally believe in the learning that comes from experiences outside of a school building. I believe so much in the power of travel and experiencing other cultures that I moved with my wife and three children to Mexico for three years. Living and traveling abroad is an AMAZING experience, and I know how fortunate my own children are to have had these opportunities. As a father, I'll be there to learn about other opportunities.   Please come, listen, learn and dream about how to help your child experience what will most likely be a life-changing experience.  Cheers, Dr. Gamba PRINCIPAL CANDIDATE FORUM TONIGHT   Please attend the Community Forum at 6 pm TONIGHT, Thursday, Dec. 12, in the auditorium at DCIS. The forum will allow the community to hear from principal candidate finalists. All members of the DCIS community are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be provided. DCIS FOUNDATION ...  Thank you to everyone who donated during Colorado Gives Day. The DCIS Foundation raised $1,809.28, all of which will go toward student scholarships. We are grateful for everyone's donations and consideration. Thank you! Keep checking our website for new information and winter scholarship dates coming soon.  TRAVEL FAIR SPOTLIGHT ...   Global Leadership Adventures operates spring and summer programs for high school students across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. GLA combines meaningful community service and immersion, hands-on learning, and adventure to create the ultimate experience abroad. GLA offers two types of programs. Our traditional Service-Learning programs, with a focus on sustainable volunteer projects, allow students to  work alongside community members in developing countries around a central theme such as Public Health, Children & Education, or Animals & Wildlife. Our Europe Discovery programs offer both country exploration and thematic discovery of some of the most historically and culturally important locations in Europe. Our service-learning philosophy, strong international partnerships, full-service parent support, 5-point safety system and expert staff make GLA a truly life-changing experience for teens!   RAISE YOUR HAND...  COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE Our next meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 19, at 4:30 pm in the Community Room. As always, we welcome public comment at our meetings. If you are unable to attend a meeting, please reach out to one of your constituency members. PTSA Looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can make an impact in the 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 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 select 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. CENSUS BUREAU LOOKING FOR WORKERS 18+   The Census Bureau is looking for workers 18+ — a wonderful opportunity for some seniors, staff and parent/community nembers.   Earn extra income while helping your community! The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count.   Most 2020 Census positions will likely last several weeks. These temporary positions can include census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. They feature: Competitive wages (Census taker positions in Denver and Jefferson counties = $20.50/hour plus mileage reimbursement) Weekly paychecks Flexible hours Paid training You can get additional information and apply online. ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ...  VISUAL ARTS Seventh graders (and a few others) went to see the Monet exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, as well as the Shantel Martin works throughout the museum. They got to see this collection on its only U.S. stop! In the spring, students will learn firsthand how to paint like Monet or create large-scale works like Martin's.     All Art students' artwork will be on display today, Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 pm at the DCIS Travel & Language Fair. Look for artworks and student-artisan-created crafts for sale in the front atrium across from the auditorium doors. This artwork will stand in as part of students' final exam in Art. Please stop by!   Check out the Experience America table if you are interested in an art trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, over Spring Break 2021. This trip will include lots of hands-on art experiences as well as local food and music,  and a visit to Meow Wolf! If you've never been to Santa Fe, it's like going to another world, steeped in Spanish colonial and Native American culture.  Calendar of Visual Art Events DRAMA The One Acts will be on Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, at 6 pm. Students $3, Adults $5. Tickets sold only at the door. TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...  TRAVEL NEWS Sister City trip for high school students to Japan — Application deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 18; cost $3,500; Dates: June 3-18. Sister City trips focus on connection with the people in the towns visited, including home stays. See their website or the Travel Center Facebook page for more information. Walking Tree Guatemala trip — We need just one more student to qualify for two of our DCIS teachers to travel with students. If you have been on the fence, the time to sign up is now! Contact Kristen Miller.  Luby-Jenkins Mongolian-US Student Exchange Program - DEADLINE EXTENDED to JAN. 10; drop by the Travel Center for information and applications. This is a highly impactful program sponsored by the Denver Sister Cities. Please email Sally Bishop for a program description and application.  SUPPORT STUDENT TRAVEL Friday, Dec. 13, 4-7 pm: Festa Italiana at the Alliance Française — Wine tasting, Italian appetizers, silent auction (including mountain cabin retreat, tamales, zoo passes, services, art), contemporary Italian music, and a festive atmosphere. Come support our Italian exchange students! Tickets can be purchased through Venmo at "DCIS Italian Exchange," the Travel Center Facebook page through Eventbrite, the Travel Center on Mondays and Tuesdays, or at the door. Space is limited, so it's best to buy ahead of time. Calling all coffee lovers! The Italian Cultural Exchange will be selling coffee from Copper Door Coffee Roasters that has a location right here in the Baker neighborhood. This women-owned and -run business imports coffee by women-owned coffee farms around the world. Samples will be available at the DCIS play nights, and bags will be sold at the DCIS Travel & Language Fair and by order from any student participating in the Italian Exchange. Support women, support student travel! Buy your delicious coffee from our travelers.  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