(Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Enjoy the break, and we'll see you next year. The next issue of the newsletter will come out on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017.
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.
TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH
A group of parents is organizing a lunch for teachers on their in-service day on Tuesday, Dec. 20. If you can contribute, please bring food and beverages to the DCIS Community Room (room 103) between 7 and 10:30 am that day.
DEBATE TOURNAMENT: Friday–Saturday, Dec. 16–17, all day, University of Denver (map)
END OF SEMESTER: Friday, Dec. 16
TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH: Tuesday, Dec. 20.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS ...
SCHOOL'S BACK IN SESSION! Monday, Jan. 9, White Day
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY: Monday, Jan. 16, NO SCHOOL
OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6-7:30 pm
CSC MEETING: Thursday, Jan. 19, 4:30-6:30pm, Community Room
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear DCIS Parents,
Happy holidays! As the fall semester draws to a close, I want to thank you for supporting your children and for sending them to DCIS each day.
With lots of events this week, as well as semester-end projects and final exams, students are busy, and no doubt parents are too. The last day for students for the fall semester is this Friday, Dec. 16 — there is no school for DCIS students next week. Students return to school on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017.
Speaking of the calendar, I wanted to let you know about the results of the vacation days survey we sent out last month. Thank you to everyone who took the survey — we value your feedback. While most (53.6%) of the 56 respondents preferred trading some days in the fall in order to get a longer and earlier winter break, others raised concerns that for families with students in different schools, any deviation from the DPS calendar can cause problems.
In an effort to address this concern, our DCIS calendar for the spring semester — which you can view here or on the school website — is almost identical to the DPS calendar. There are a couple of exceptions to accommodate the testing calendar, such as college preparedness testing in April that applies only to sophomores and juniors, with all other students having no school that day. (We will send out the exact date once it is confirmed.) Also, DPS lists Friday, June 2, as a half day of school; however, the last day for DCIS students is Thursday, June 1, in keeping with our past practice related to that last half day.
I wish students and parents alike a healthy, happy and restful winter break. See you in January!
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
COFFEE FUNDRAISER PRIZE WINNERS
Last Friday at the all-school meeting, the PTSA announced the winners of the coffee fundraiser competitions. The students were excited to hear who won!
ADVISEMENT WITH THE HIGHEST SALES 3rd place: Mr. Garvey's class 2nd place: Ms. Cox's class And, with an extra big shout-out to Kaden Porter and Allie Gaty, the advisement winner is Mr. Brown's class! They win a $100 gift card and a gourmet breakfast!
ADVISEMENT WITH THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATION Tied for 2nd place: Ms. Boyle's, Dr. Marion's and Ms. Sandlin's classes The class winner, with big shout-outs to Ethan Hoover, Briana Bootle, Emma Gentry, Jesse Mills and Melissa Hernandez, was Ms. Cox's class! They win a $100 gift card and a gourmet breakfast!
INDIVIDUAL HIGHEST SALES 5th place: Avery Robbins Tied for 4th place: Eli Samford and Stephanie Halpern 3rd place: Evan Westervelt 2nd place: Ethan Hoover And in 1st place, with $572 in sales, Kaden Porter, who gets a $100 gift card!
SO, HOW MUCH WAS RAISED? With 383 bags sold for $5,005, DCIS now has $2,310 more to support cultural enrichment opportunities at DCIS!
Coffee should have gone home with your student on Wednesday, or if we missed them on Wednesday, the coffee will come home today. Thank you to all who participated, and also a huge thank-you to parents Craig and Lisa Conner and Pablo's Coffee!
RAISE YOUR HAND ...
There are many ways for families to "raise their hand" to make a difference at DCIS and in the community. Here's one:
COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE The next meeting is today, Thursday, Dec. 15, 4:30–6:30 pm, in the DCIS Community Room (103). The first 10 minutes of every monthly meeting are open for public comments, and we welcome and encourage ALL families to stick around for the entire meeting. If you have something you would like the CSC to discuss or questions you'd like answered, we encourage you to reach out to one (or all!) of your representatives (student/teacher/parent) and let us know what's on your mind. Check out our most recent minutes here. On this month's agenda:
Public comment
Equity with austerity (how to support all our students in a post-application process world)/school culture
Preliminary priority discussions for budget (include work from last year's priority work and look at how it aligns with our current data)
Strategies for improving parent engagement
LAST CHANCE!!
Attention DCIS families! This is the last week to buy your beautiful, full-color DCIS yearbook for just $40! Prices go up after winter break. To purchase, stop by the table outside room 109 today at lunch or room 216A anytime, or email abby_hoffman@dpsk12.org.
Thank you to all the seniors who sent us your senior and baby photos and quotes! Tributes are still available, with special discounts for families of seniors and 8th graders. Tributes are a wonderful way to show your DCIS student how proud you are, or to commemorate another great year at DCIS. Tributes are 1/8 page, full color and include a photo and up to four lines of text. To purchase, please contact Ms. Hoffman at the email address above.
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
SENIORS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS
College application deadlines are coming up quickly! Students, be sure to give counselors and those writing recommendations for you at least two weeks before your deadlines to get recommendations and transcripts sent.
Currently, 64% of the senior class has applied to college or a university. Let's keep those numbers growing!
Students should complete the FAFSA before leaving for winter break. If you need more support, please set up an appointment with your school counselor.
SEMESTER GRADES The end is in sight — just two more days before the fall semester ends. Please encourage your student to push through the rest of the semester. Final semester grades are important to maintaining a good GPA and eligibility for sports, and these grades will appear on your student's transcript. Students earn 5 credits for every passing grade; student assistants (high school only) earn 2.5 credits.
SCHEDULE CHANGES High school students who have any of the following scheduling issues for spring semester should visit the Counseling Office before leaving for winter break.
Have no schedule at all
Empty period(s)
Placed at the wrong level in math, language, etc.
All other schedule change requests must be handled in the first two weeks of the spring semester, either before or after school or during lunch.
COLLEGE TERM OF THE WEEK General education classes: Classes that give students basic knowledge on a variety of subjects. Students often must take general education classes in order to graduate. These classes vary in content and name at different colleges and universities.
FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR DACA/IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Legal Hour at Emily Griffith Technical College: Free guidance from immigration attorney Hans Meyer
STILL IN NEED OF A FEW MORE HOST FAMILIES! Sino-American Youth Ambassador Program, Jan. 21-29, 2017 — Seeking one or two more families, including someone to host their adult chaperone. Click here for application and info.
US Brazil Connect, Feb. 25–March 11, 2017 — Seeking two more host families. More info here.
At DCIS we travel ... even after we graduate. Congratulations to Mackenzie Hale, DCIS '16, who is taking a gap year to study in Taiwan with NSLI-Y and in October was nominated as the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' American Abroad Student of the Month in October. Read about it here.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE TRAVEL CENTER!
For up-to-date information on trips, scholarships and travel opportunities, please be sure to check the Travel Center page on the DCIS website and the DCIS Travel Center Facebook page. Information is also posted on the Travel Center bulletin board in the hall near the main office (across from the old Travel Center) and outside the new Travel Center (room 204).
TRAVEL CENTER Geri Zabitz Badler Travel Center and Community Partnerships geri_badler@dpsk12.org Office Phone: 720-423-9043
PHOENIX FUN ... The answer to last week's question — "Egg nog originated in which country?" — is England! The winner of the $10 Starbucks gift card is DCIS 8th grader Alondra Lopez.
Phoenix Fun will be taking a break for the holidays. See you in 2017!
