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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.
ONE OF OUR OWN HAS SUFFERED A TRAGIC LOSS
A family member of one of our seniors unexpectedly passed away last Thursday, leaving behind three children. Our hearts go out to them during this difficult time. A cousin is reaching out on the family's behalf for financial support to help with funeral arrangements and other expenses. If you would like to contribute, please visit their GoFundMe page. Thank you for any help you can give.
PTSA FAMILY NIGHT: Wouldn't you agree? We need to come together! We need to celebrate! Please join us Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6-7:30 pm, for a potluck social in the cafeteria to wind down the semester and celebrate "DCIS: Our Families, Our Traditions." Come get to know the families of DCIS and celebrate the amazing variety of cultures and traditions of our DCIS family! Bring a family favorite dish to share and/or take part in our holiday cookie challenge (enter our "Best Sweet Treat" contest!). Whether you can stay the whole time or just drop by to say hello and have a bite to eat, we'd love for you to join us. RSVP here to let us know you plan to attend.
SUPERINTENDENT–PARENT FORUM: College and Career Ready (graduation changes), Thursday, Dec. 8, 9:15–11:15 am, Temple Emanuel, Denver (map)
ADOLESCO COOKIE EXCHANGE: Learn about foreign exchange opportunities in France, Germany and Spain for students ages 9–18. Sunday, Dec. 11, 3–6 pm
SHADOWING FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Monday, Dec. 12 (last one)
DEBATE TOURNAMENT: Friday–Saturday, Dec. 16–17, all day, University of Denver (map)
END OF SEMESTER: Friday, Dec. 16
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear DCIS Parents,
I hope you all had a restful week. Students returned in good spirits and full of energy, which is a good thing considering the next two and half weeks will be full of activity! Students are busy studying and learning in preparation for our final exams during the week of December 12th. As mentioned previously, the last day of the fall semester for students will be December 16.
Thanks to everyone who came out for our DCIS Data Night. We shared all kinds of information about how our school performed last year, including CMAS and ACT results, attendance, and student and parent perception surveys. If you didn't have a chance to attend, you can review the data here.
Moving forward, we are working on several major improvement goals, including improving the passing rates for courses at both the middle school and high school levels, decreasing the equity gaps in achievement across a variety of student subpopulations, and improving our school climate and our culture as an international studies school. We will be holding a town hall meeting in mid-January to gather parent and student input on school culture, so look for an invitation with more details soon.
In the meantime, here are a few things we're doing to improve our school climate to empower both teachers and students and to address some of the school's challenges, such as middle school discipline:
Assigning upperclassmen as peer mentors to middle school students.
Assigning volunteer "teacher buddies" to support teachers and provide a safe space where students who need a quick time-out during class can go to refocus. We are seeing that a simple change of scenery and a quiet refocusing activity with a different teacher can really make a difference in our middle school classrooms.
Training some of our seniors as peer mediators who will work with middle school students to resolve conflicts.
Creating a Solutions Committee made up of teachers and administrators who work collaboratively to address some of the issues that arise in the school.
Your ideas here!
We look forward to hearing from you about what we can do to be an even more effective and powerful learning community. The town hall will provide an opportunity to share ideas, and I always welcome input during our Parent-Principal Coffees, which are coming up next week (see event listings above).
Thank you for supporting your children and for sharing them with us every day. They continue to inspire me.
SPECIAL ALERT for 8th grade parents: We are hosting an 8th grade parent (and student) information night about DCIS high school on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6 pm in the DCIS auditorium. Many 8th graders, though they have been at DCIS since the 6th grade, are not fully aware of how things change for them once they become a high school student here. You may be surprised at some of the things you'll learn from current students who made the choice to stay at DCIS for their high school experience. Please plan to attend!
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
HAVE YOU HEARD THE BUZZ?!
DCIS students are selling coffee ... their very own DCIS HOLIDAY BLEND — a crowd-pleasing medium roast created by Pablo's Coffee, one of Denver's first craft coffee roasters, and featuring artwork (at right) by DCIS student Scout Hope on the label.
For about the cost of three lattes, you can buy an ENTIRE BAG ... or two ... or ten! A great gift idea for the holidays. Proceeds go toward cultural enrichment activities for all students, and students/classes who sell the most can win some awesome prizes.
But HURRY ... the deadline is less than a week off! All coffee orders must be received by WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7. For order forms (for payments by check), fundraiser FAQs and to order online, click here.
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT ...
LAKOTA LANGUAGE BOWL — THERE'S STILL TIME TO CONTRIBUTE!
The Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) started as a small basketball tournament 40 years ago. Today the tournament has grown to host 36 basketball teams, bringing 2,500 students and their families to Rapid City, South Dakota, for that one sport alone. In addition to the tournament, the LNI features other sports competitions, a powwow, cheerleading competitions, hand games, art and fashion shows, and various knowledge challenges among the long list of other events and activities planned for the four-day event.
Last year a group of DCIS students competed in the Lakota Language Bowl, marking the first time a group from Colorado participated. Ms. Locke, DCIS's Lakota teacher, would like to take a group of third- and fourth-year Lakota students to compete in the Language Bowl again this year, but they need help raising the needed funds to cover the contest entry fees, gas for travel to Rapid City, hotel accommodations for two nights and some meals. The competition takes place Dec. 14–15, so they're running out of time. To help make a second trip to the LNI a reality for these students, please click here to contribute. Ms. Locke and the Lakota students THANK YOU!
YEARBOOK DEADLINE IN ONE WEEK!
Senior pictures, quotes and baby pictures for the yearbook are due by Friday, Dec. 9! Seniors who do not submit their senior photo, baby picture and senior quote will not be featured in the yearbook. Email submissions to either yearbookatdcis@gmail.com or abby_hoffman@dpsk12.org.
NEW THIS YEAR ... TRIBUTES! Tributes are a special way to honor your student, their friends or their favorite teachers. For just $20, you can include a photo and up to four lines of text in your 1/8-page, full-color tribute in the yearbook. Share a funny memory, honor a special accomplishment or let your senior know how proud you are. Special discounts available for seniors, 8th graders and their families. To purchase a tribute, email Mrs. Hoffman or visit room 216A.
Order your yearbook by Friday, Dec. 16, for just $40. The price goes up to $50 after winter break, so get yours today! Purchase them during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays outside room 109 or anytime in room 216A or by emailing Mrs. Hoffman. Online purchasing is also available — email Mrs. Hoffman for details.
TO YOUR HEALTH ...
This Friday, Dec. 2, during the all-school meetings, Amanda Wilson, a holistic life coach, will speak to the DCIS community about stress management and destressing techniques. Read more about her here.
The end of the year can be stressful for us all, and we hope both students and staff can take advantage of what Amanda has to offer! If you have any questions, please email the school nurse, Lauren Goettsch, RN, BSN, CNRN, AE-C. Here's to your health!
SPORTS ...
The middle school boys basketball team will have its first practice on Monday, Dec. 5, 3:15-4:30 in the gym. Students need a completed physical by Dec. 5 to participate, and must submit the athletic fee of $25 by the end of the season.Any questions? Email Coach Iversen or Coach Saller.
DCIS STUDENT ARTWORK ON DISPLAY AT DENVER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
The artwork of the following 13 DCIS students is featured in the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art's Teen Show through Jan. 8, 2017:
Gisselle Marban Parrish Van Ausdall Marquise Eaves Jakob Von Holdt Hanae Leieritz Eli Masket Avant Yellowhawk Gisselle Ortiz Madelyn Christian Melanin Armendariz Scout Hope Raquel Meza Andrew Hernandez
The show is in the museum's Teen Lounge on the top floor. For directions to and additional information about the Contemporary Art Museum, visit their website.
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
SENIORS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS
College application deadlines are coming up quickly. Students, be sure to give your recommenders and counselors AT LEAST two weeks before your deadlines to send recommendation letters and transcripts.
So far, 57 percent of the senior class has applied to a college or university. Let's keep those numbers growing!
Be sure to complete the FAFSA before we leave for winter break. If you need more support, please set up an appointment with your school counselor.
Deadlines are important, and many have already passed (e.g., the deadlines for the Daniels Fund and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship were yesterday, and the deadline for the Greenhouse Scholars Scholarship is today)! Parents, please reinforce with your student the importance of submitting application materials on time and preferably well in advance of the deadlines.
COLLEGE TERM OF THE WEEK Matriculated: This term simply means your student is enrolled at a particular school. If your student is a matriculated student, then she is a student at a college or university.
ICAP COMPLETION: HIGH SCHOOL Individual Academic and Career Plans (ICAPs) are part of The Denver Plan and a graduation requirement for students graduating after 2011. Starting in sixth grade and continuing through high school, students create and update an ongoing plan that includes counselor-led activities on career interests, goal-setting, college opportunities, financial aid and noncognitive skills that increase academic success.
As of mid-November, more than 75 percent of our high school students had received an ICAP lesson from the counseling department. The lessons differ by grade:
9th grade — Academic planning & goal setting
10th grade — Academic planning & career exploration
11th grade — Academic planning & career exploration
12th grade — Goal setting & financial planning
DCIS PASSPORT TO TRAVEL
The DCIS Travel Committee is hosting "Passport to Travel," a two-day event to promote student travel and share information about all the wonderful travel opportunities out there for students. The last day of the event is Friday, Dec. 2. Students who have traveled will present about the various travel and exchange programs they've participated in. Students attending the event will receive "passports" that they'll get stamped by the individual presenters. Click here for photos!
TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...
MONGOLIA SISTER CITIES EXCHANGE Applications for the Luby-Jenkins Ulaanbaatar-Denver Sister Cities Exchange are now available. The exchange, which is open to current sophomores and juniors, is designed to provide international and cross-cultural learning for students who are interested in leadership, political governance and democracy. The program consists of (1) pre-trip meetings and interactive discussions; (2) four weeks of international exchanges — two in Mongolia and two in Colorado; and (3) individual student post-trip projects that apply and communicate what the student has learned.
Application Deadline: Thursday, Dec. 15 (download the application here)
Program Duration: 9 months
Trip Duration: 2 weeks in Mongolia
Post-trip hosting of Mongolian students: 2 weeks
FAMILIES NEEDED FOR SHORT HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES! JAN. 21-29, 2017 — AMESON SINO-AMERICAN YOUTH AMBASSADORS EXCHANGE. We need host families for 10 Chinese teens and 1 chaperone. A one-week hosting opportunity and a great way to bridge the cultural gap and practice Chinese without a passport! Plus, a summer exchange to China will be offered (details to follow).NEED HOSTS BY FRIDAY, DEC. 9!
FEB. 25-MARCH 11, 2017 — US BRAZIL CONNECT. We need host families for eight Brazilian teens. This will be the fifth year we have participated with USBC!
As a host for either program, you would be expected to (1) pick up and drop off your guest at the airport upon arrival and departure; (2) provide a bed (can be in a shared room if same sex), breakfast and dinner during the week (Chinese students may require lunch) and all meals on weekends; (3) drop off the student at DCIS on weekday mornings (weekday pickup at DCIS or central location late afternoon for USBC).
For more information on these hosting opportunities or to sign up, please contact Geri Badler ASAP (contact info below)!
U.S. YOUTH AMBASSADORS (USYA) EXCHANGE TO BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA/CHILE! The USYA program with South America offers two separate three-week leadership exchanges abroad for U.S. teenagers ages 15-17 and adult mentors: one to Brazil and two to Argentina and Chile in May 2017. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the programs aim to develop a cadre of young adults in the United States who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current and global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills. The programs aim to promote mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between the United States and South America. This program is implemented by World Learning in Washington, DC. Click here to learn more.
STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR:
SISTER CITIES BREST, FRANCE EXCHANGE. Spring Break. Applications due NOW. See Ms. Malnati.
MEET THE MIDDLE EAST: ISRAEL/PALESTINE PROGRAM. Applications due Feb. 6, 2017. Summer travel.
PLANNED OR ANTICIPATED DCIS TEACHER-SPONSORED TRIPS
PANAMA — GLOBAL ISSUES NETWORK CONFERENCE (MARCH 7-13, 2017). Open to high school students who want to change the world. Sponsor: Ms. Hilborn
PERU — INCA TRAIL AND PERUVIAN HEARTS (JUNE 9-19, 2017). Open to high school students. Sponsor: Ms. Finnegan-Doyon. This is a strenuous trip. Students should be prepared to camp, carry 30-40 lbs and hike.
CUBA SUMMER 2017 WITH DCIS MONTBELLO. Open to high school students. This would be a joint trip with Montbello. If interested, please contact Geri Badler (contact info below) ASAP!
TRAVEL CENTER Geri Zabitz Badler Travel Center and Community Partnerships geri_badler@dpsk12.org Office Phone: 720-423-9043
The answer to last week's question: "Alejandro Amaya, Carlos Arruza, Jaime Bravo and Carmelo Torres are famous Mexican ________" is "Bullfighters"! The winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card is 7th grade student Lexie Armijo.
This week's question is one that Starbucks would rather us NOT pose: If you brew your own coffee at home, you will pay about:
A. 30 cents a cup B. 50 cents a cup C. $1 a cup D. $1.50 a cup
Submit your answer here. If you are correct, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Starbucks gift card!
TO YOUR HEALTH ...
